Red-Breasted Sapsucker

Day 178: You have to wonder how this bird got its common name, because although its head is red and the colour continues on the throat, it only extends a small distance down the breast. Why then is this a Red-Breasted Sapsucker? Sphyrapicus ruber is a woodpecker found only in the western part of the US, but occurs along the west coast from the Alaskan border through California and marginally into Nevada. They feed on sap and the insects drawn to it, drilling in a wide variety of native trees including Doug-fir. Mine seems particularly attracted to my Sitka Mountain-ash, as is evidenced by the neat lines of  'pecker holes in the bark. In fact, one particularly diligent bird topped my tallest Sorbus, and although I appreciated the help (it was too tall for me to manage), it was not work I had contracted and came as a bit of a surprise one morning when I looked out and saw a ten-foot length of the main trunk across my driveway. The break point had been holed to such an extent that it snapped under its own weight. Later, I discovered that the bird had apparently been drawn by ash-borers, and was not simply performing pruning duties but was in fact ridding my garden of a nasty pest. Thanks, Sappy!

Recovery

Day 305: You might think that woodpeckers and sapsuckers have to have hard heads in order to jackhammer trees all day, but in fact the opposite is true. These drillers' skulls have a spongy structure called the hyoid bone which, along with a covering of muscles, cushions the brain against impacts. Never was that put to the test quite like it was a few days ago when this little fellow, identifiable by the development of his markings, smacked into my north-side living room window and dropped senseless into the flower bed below. I've nursed a lot of birds back to sensibility after window strikes over the years, so I dashed outside to see if the poor thing might have survived. The juvenile bird was conscious, if barely, but had its eyes shut and did not respond when I touched it gently. After a few minutes, it blinked a couple of times, so I went in the house to get a box, intending to protect it from predators and to move it to a shady location. As I lifted it carefully into the box, it squawked and snapped at my fingers and, once lowered inside the shallow protection, seemed to be struggling to get out. This was a good sign, so rather than leaving it in the box, I tipped the pro-tem shelter on its side to provide shade from the glaring sun. For the next half hour or so, I checked on my young charge every few minutes as the bird seemed to be coming back to its senses, eyes remaining open and turning its head. Finally, much to my relief, it flew into the nearby Sitka Mountain-ash which is always a favourite with my resident Sapsuckers. That was four days ago, and here's my patient, looking for lunch in the Mountain-ash, and obviously over what must have been a horrendous headache.

Sapsucker Art

Day 147: The holes in this tree's bark, looking ever so much like the uniform perforations between postage stamps, are not the product of insect infestation as one might initially assume. Observation over a period of time would reveal the culprit to be a Red-Breasted Sapsucker, a member of the woodpecker family. Often mistaken by novice birders as a "red-headed woodpecker," Sapsucker does indeed have a red head, with the colouration extending only a short way down the breast in the manner of a cowl. Contrary to the popular belief which gave rise to the birds' common name, Sapsuckers' primary diet consists of the insects which are attracted to the sap oozing from drilled trees. The birds drill, fly off, and return later to harvest the bugs which have been attracted to the sweet sap. Sapsucker holes are shallow, but when drilled into small-diameter limbs and trunks may result in injury and breakage of the affected tree. Not a problem here! This non-native English walnut is slated for removal from an area under ecological restoration to native habitat.

You Know The Drill

Day 41: You know the drill...or do you? Can you identify who's been pecking your trees by looking at the holes? Red-Breasted Sapsucker (frequently misidentified as a "red-headed woodpecker" by novice birders) typically drills horizontal lines of evenly spaced holes as shown in the image on the left. Contrary to common belief, Sphyrapicus ruber can't be blamed for killing trees. These birds are drawn to wood which has already been weakened by other stresses (disease, drought, detrimental bugs). Although the name suggests that these birds might feed exclusively on sap, it has been shown that they often drill holes without feeding, and return later to dine on the insects which are drawn to the exudate. Sapsucker likes his bugs sweetened!

Sphyrapicus Ruber, Red-Breasted Sapsucker

Day 198: Until recently, I hadn't paid much attention to how many different bird species were coming to my feeders and yard. Today added two more: Red-Breasted Sapsuckers (a pair) and the first English Sparrow I've seen locally. The Sapsuckers are seasonal, and for all that I love them dearly, I wish they would stop pecking at the Mountain Ash and red Dogwood trees. I've wrapped the trunks loosely in chicken wire, but Sapsucker is not to be foiled so easily. They simply move up the tree, or sometimes even work their way in under the wire. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that in particular, Rufous Hummingbirds take advantage of the sap oozing from Sapsuckers' drill-holes as a source of food. Although I have not personally witnessed this, it may be that I've missed the behaviour. I'll have to pay closer attention to the hummers.

Red-Breasted Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus Ruber

Day 126: I stepped back from close examination of a lichen and in the tail of my eye, caught movement near the base of an alder in a shady spot on the Bud Blancher Trail. By the time my eyes had settled on the tree, there was nothing to be seen but bark and bryophytes. I waited. Suddenly, on the opposite side from where I had initially seen it and about ten feet above, a little red head peeked around the corner. I watched in fascination as a Red-Breasted Sapsucker backed down the tree, tail leading the descent. As I maneuvered into position where I could get an unobstructed view, my little friend skittered out of sight again, reappearing ten feet up just as before. The backwards descent was repeated in shorter increments and not as hastily, and although the bird kept an eye on me to be sure I wasn't up to no good, it was not to be deterred from hunting up breakfast. When I'd got my shot, I moved on, leaving Sphyrapicus to his mining.

Sapsucker Sucking Sap

Day 262: At first, I thought Red-Breasted Sapsucker would move along nicely after having a go at the red dogwood, but not only did he persist, he brought a friend. After two days, the dogwood was nearly ring-barked about three feet from ground level, holes drilled every half inch, and great bare areas weeping sap all down the trunk. The two birds were still diligently pecking away. When I discovered them going after the mountain ash when I got home from work today, it was plain that I needed to intervene. I got a couple of pieces of chicken wire out of the garage and made several loose wraps around the injured areas of both trees so the Sapsuckers could land and drink their fill until the tree stops bleeding, but they are prevented from doing any more active drilling.

Sphyrapicus ruber is trying to do me a favour by removing bugs from beneath the bark of my ornamentals, but he is a bit too enthusiastic, necessitating preventative measures. He has a whole forest populated with sweet-sapped vine maple, chokecherry, alder and big-leaf maple to satisfy his appetite, and within ten seconds' flight of my yard. He doesn't seem to be aware that I am trying to cultivate habitat for my diverse avian friends by planting trees which bear bird-tasty fruit in autumn, but I'm sure he'll thank me some day, even if I have locked him out of the pantry for now.