Downy Woodpecker vs Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

How to recognise a downy woodpecker?

General appearance

The downy woodpecker is a small bird with a length of about 6 to 7 inches and a wingspan of 9 to 12 inches. It features a black and white color pattern, with a predominantly white belly and black wings that have white spots. The bird has a black tail with outer feathers that are white and often contain black barring. Its head is striped with black and white, featuring a distinctive white stripe down the center of the back and a white throat.

Male vs female

Males and females of the species can be differentiated by a red patch on the nape of the male's head, absent in females. Both sexes share a similar body patterning and coloration, although the male’s red marking is the primary distinguishing feature for identification in the field.

Juvenile

Juvenile downy woodpeckers resemble adults but may have less defined plumage markings. They often have a more brownish tint across their feathers. Juvenile males may show a hint of red on top of their head instead of the nape, providing a subtle distinction from adult males. Their overall body pattern is similar to adult birds.

Size

5.5 - 6.7 in/0.7 - 1.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The downy woodpecker is commonly found in deciduous tree-centric areas including forests, woodlands, orchards, and shade trees. It thrives in wilderness areas, second-growth woods, and suburban yards.

Additional range

While typically found in deciduous areas, in the far north and mountains, where conifers dominate, the downy woodpecker can be restricted to groves of aspen or willow trees.

Range Map

What do downy woodpeckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The downy woodpecker primarily feeds on a variety of insects, with a particular preference for beetles and ants. It also consumes other insects such as gall wasps and caterpillars. In addition to insects, its diet includes seeds and berries.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the downy woodpecker is known to eat suet, which provides a supplementary food source alongside its natural diet.

What does a downy woodpecker sound like?

The vocalizations of the Downy Woodpecker consist of a discrete "pik" sound, often described as quiet. Another characteristic sound they produce is a descending rattle. Their call pattern has a falling, flat tone. The type of calls they make can be categorized into chirps or chips, drums, rattles, and trills. Thus, their vocalization repertoire is quite varied, enabling them to communicate effectively in their habitat.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

How to recognise a yellow-bellied sapsucker?

General appearance

The yellow-bellied sapsucker, about the size of a Robin, features a striking 8 1/2 inch (22 cm) long white stripe on its folded wing. The bird's back is mottled, and its face is striped. Its wings are broad and rounded, and it bears a distinctive, multi-pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

There are distinguishable differences between the male and female yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Primarily, the throat color varies, with males boasting a red throat while females have a white one. Both sexes exhibit a mix of black, brown, red, white, and yellow in their overall coloration.

Juvenile

Young yellow-bellied sapsuckers in their juvenile stage have brown heads in the fall season. As the season progresses towards late winter, the young birds gradually molt, their appearance shifting to closely resemble that of the adults.

Size

8.3 - 8.7 in/1.6 - 1.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The yellow-bellied sapsucker's primary habitat consists of woodlands, particularly mixed coniferous and deciduous woods and aspen groves. It is prevalent in areas with aspens during summer.

Additional range

In winter, it also resides in orchards and other trees primarily deciduous ones. During migration periods, it can be found in various woods or even dry brush.

Range Map

What do yellow-bellied sapsuckers like to eat?

Natural diet

The yellow-bellied sapsucker's diet is diverse and primarily consists of insects, tree sap, fruit, and berries. It consumes a wide variety of insects, with a particular emphasis on ants, which it often harvests from tree trunks. In addition to insects, the bird regularly feeds on the sap of trees, which it accesses by drilling small holes in the bark. The consumption of berries and other types of fruit further supplements its nutritional intake, demonstrating the bird's adaptability in food sourcing within its natural habitat.

Bird feeders

The yellow-bellied sapsucker is less commonly seen at bird feeders compared to other species. However, it may occasionally visit feeders that offer suet, which can provide the necessary fats and proteins similar to its natural insect diet. Feeders with sugar water or fruit offerings might also attract this species, as these can mimic the bird's natural consumption of tree sap and berries. Bird enthusiasts can cater to sapsuckers by including these options in their feeding stations.

What does a yellow-bellied sapsucker sound like?

The yellow-bellied sapsucker vocalizes by emitting mewing and whining notes. The call pattern of this bird is typically falling, flat-type sounds. The key types of calls it makes are categorized as a chirp or chip, a rattle, and a scream. These distinct chirp types and patterns form a major part of the yellow-bellied sapsucker's unique communication style.

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

There's more to learn about Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

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Downy Woodpecker

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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

General appearance

The downy woodpecker is a small bird with a length of about 6 to 7 inches and a wingspan of 9 to 12 inches. It features a black and white color pattern, with a predominantly white belly and black wings that have white spots. The bird has a black tail with outer feathers that are white and often contain black barring. Its head is striped with black and white, featuring a distinctive white stripe down the center of the back and a white throat.

Male vs female

Males and females of the species can be differentiated by a red patch on the nape of the male's head, absent in females. Both sexes share a similar body patterning and coloration, although the male’s red marking is the primary distinguishing feature for identification in the field.

Juvenile

Juvenile downy woodpeckers resemble adults but may have less defined plumage markings. They often have a more brownish tint across their feathers. Juvenile males may show a hint of red on top of their head instead of the nape, providing a subtle distinction from adult males. Their overall body pattern is similar to adult birds.

Size

5.5 - 6.7 in/0.7 - 1.0 oz

There's more to learn about Downy Woodpecker

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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

General appearance

The yellow-bellied sapsucker, about the size of a Robin, features a striking 8 1/2 inch (22 cm) long white stripe on its folded wing. The bird's back is mottled, and its face is striped. Its wings are broad and rounded, and it bears a distinctive, multi-pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

There are distinguishable differences between the male and female yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Primarily, the throat color varies, with males boasting a red throat while females have a white one. Both sexes exhibit a mix of black, brown, red, white, and yellow in their overall coloration.

Juvenile

Young yellow-bellied sapsuckers in their juvenile stage have brown heads in the fall season. As the season progresses towards late winter, the young birds gradually molt, their appearance shifting to closely resemble that of the adults.

Size

8.3 - 8.7 in/1.6 - 1.9 oz

There's more to learn about Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

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How to tell the Downy Woodpecker from the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Visual differences

The Downy Woodpecker is smaller, measuring 6-7 inches in length, compared to the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker's 8 1/2 inches. The Downy features a black and white pattern with a white belly and a distinctive male red nape patch, whereas the Sapsucker has a more mottled back with a red throat in males and a yellowish belly. The Sapsucker also boasts a distinctive white wing stripe and a broad, rounded wing. The Downy has a straight chisel-like beak, while the Sapsucker's beak is also straight but slightly more wedge-shaped.

Key differences and behavior

The Downy Woodpecker and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker exhibit distinct behavioral traits. Downy Woodpeckers, much smaller at 6-7 inches, primarily inhabit deciduous woodlands and suburban areas, feeding quietly on insects and seeds. They drum more for territorial and courtship displays than feeding. In contrast, the larger Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, at about 8.5 inches, inhabits mixed woodlands and is renowned for drilling holes to access tree sap, a behavior shared with hummingbirds. They perform elaborate courtship displays and prefer nesting in aspen and birch trees. While both birds share duties in caring for young, Downy Woodpeckers often visit feeders for suet, whereas sapsuckers primarily rely on sap and insects, seldom frequenting feeders. These differences in diet, drumming purpose, and habitat preference are key for distinguishing them.