Learn about the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

[@Nurseblonde]

I give this video 20/20 Saps

[@samkempy5131]

Sweet sugary sap

[@birdecologyidentificationvideo]

Thank you very much. Glad to hear you liked it.

[@bradgowins4812]

Saw my first one yesterday! He sat at his sap wells for well over 30 minutes. I was about 10 feet away but couldn't get a good photo. Pretty awesome to watch!

[@pepperjackttv]

Just saw one of these for the first time this week. New woodpecker unlocked! 😁

[@paulawright5678]

I had the privilege of rehabilitating a yellow bellied sapsucker male bird I named Twiggy. My cousin found him at her workplace on the ground and drove 30 to 45 minutes to my parents' house and I told her her it was a migratory bird, federally protected and that the parents would continue to feed it if she'd left it where it was. But it was now in my hands and I called many rehabilitators and vet's but it was Christmas weekend and no one could take him in. I got crickets for him, some baby food jars of vegetables and beef, etc. He loved all the foods I gave him. I happen to have books on wildlife rehabilitation and vet books and was working at several vet clinics getting experience and vet tech school. Thankfully I had many skills working with animals and rehabilitating a squirrel. I made food in a syringe and he'd drink it all up. Soon I let him eat it off a napkin and then he'd perch on a bowl and such it right up. I mixed warm water with syrup, and boy did he love that! I had other birds, tamed, and they kept him company. My dad made a make shift perch for him to sleep on in the dog carrier and would say be very quiet, he's sleeping. For 3 days around the clock I fed him and took care of him. He flew to my dad's white shirt, clung to it and pecked at it. He rode on my head and would pull up strands of my hair and scratch trying to make a nest in the bathroom. He even began pecking on my head and I said no Twiggy, don't drill a hole in my head! Then he flew up to the Rock wall and started pecking at a hole and I said dont bend your beak Twiggy! My mom got pictures of us of and I'm not sure where they are at the old house. On Christmas morning it was time to let him go. And he came back several times but had drilled many holes in trees in my neighbors' yard and in ours and probably our other neighbor's yard. I would say Twiggy! And he'd been a few feet away on a tree watching me. I said reee! And Twiggy would call out and go reee back, poking his head around the tree looking at me. I miss him, but one winter morning at my apartment I heard a reeee at my window and there was one on my window ledge looking at me years later. It wasn't Twiggy, though. And the past week this year 2024, I saw one on a tree and it's summer time now. Very rare to see them during the hot weather months.

[@Turbo4Joe363]

I'm sitting on my back deck in Severn, Md. watching a female Yellow Bellied Sapsucker working on our neighbor's Maple trees. I've also found straight rows of holes in smaller limbs of our Oak tree. I've never seen them this early in the Fall. (10/9/22) We get LOTS of Downy and some Red Bellied Woodpeckers, but not many YBS.

[@birdecologyidentificationvideo]

They have arrived from up north Joseph. Cool bird!

[@paulawright5678]

Oh I'm sorry! I just now realized I already posted this story here under this video. Sorry folks! I just was excited to get to work with this species of bird. I love birds!

[@lynnstillwell2]

Excellent video! I have seven kinds of woodpeckers visit my yard here in Georgia. Sapsuckers are here less frequently, but they do visit. That was really cool for you to have one pose for you so well!

[@paulawright5678]

I rehabilitated a male yellow bellied sapsucker named Twiggy. My cousin found him and brought him to me. I kept him for 3 days before releasing him. I'd make him tasty meals and syrup mixed with water and Gerber baby beef, veggies etc. Also he ate crickets off my hand and ate every one of them. He would sit on head pecking away and pulling up strands of my hair. We had other birds in separate enclosesures that kept him company. I was up early.and around the clock taking care of him. One time I was holding him and he made a squawk and flew at my eye and I said Twiggy, watch it now! 😂 he was lots of fun. I have pictures and a short video of him at the old house, but I can't go through my room until my mother has time.

[@birdecologyidentificationvideo]

Wow, Is he a free bird now?

[@paulawright5678]

Yes he was a free bird years ago. I'm sure he's no longer around bc it's been several years and even in the wild, they only live for so long. I even have a video of him but I'd have to dig through stuff in my old bedroom at the old house.

[@ShiftingDrifter]

Thank you for helping me identify by gender, how many are visiting my land this winter in Oklahoma!

[@jayburd08]

yellow bellied vs red-naped, I'm still at odds

[@gregsmith3410]

Surprised to have one here in New York at suet feeder..1st time ever seen one in dead of winter.. A little disheveled looking ,but holding her own against the usual cast of other woodpeckers here

[@roscoe9988]

What’s the yellow range …..Short visit area between migration ? I’m in southern New Hampshire . would I most likely see them in early spring ?

[@birdecologyidentificationvideo]

Hi Roscoe, The yellow areas are areas the sapsuckers travel through during migration. You can also check ebird to see when they are in your area. Marty

[@jackmchenry8281]

Just photo a male in Satsuma Alabama 1/31/23

[@birdecologyidentificationvideo]

Great, glad to hear!