Red-Breasted Sapsucker or Red-Naped Sapsucker?
Here's how to tell the difference
Red-Breasted Sapsucker
Red-Naped Sapsucker
Red-Breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruber
General appearance
The red-breasted sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker known for its vivid red head, throat, and chest. Its back is predominantly black with white barring, while the wings are black with white spots. Underparts are pale, and its tail is black with white outer feathers. It has a sturdy bill, ideal for drilling into trees.
Male vs female
The red-breasted sapsucker exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism, making it difficult to distinguish between males and females in the field. Both sexes appear similar in size and coloration. Generally, the red coloration is slightly more intense in males, but this can be challenging to observe without direct comparison.
Juvenile
Juveniles are less vibrantly colored than adults, featuring a mottled mix of brown and gray on their heads and less prominent red on their throats and breasts. The back and wings display the typical patterns but are duller. As they mature, juveniles gradually acquire the distinctive adult plumage.
Size
7.9 - 8.7 in/1.4 - 2.4 oz
There's more to learn about Red-Breasted Sapsucker
View full detailsRed-Naped Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus nuchalis
General appearance
The red-naped sapsucker is a medium-sized bird with considerable variety in its coloration. It is about the size of a robin, roughly 8 to 9 inches, or 20 to 23 cm in length. The bird showcases a mix of black, brown, red, white, and yellow colors. It typically has red markings on its upper nape. Its wings are broad, long, and rounded, while the tail shape is multi-pointed and wedge-shaped.
Male vs female
There are distinct differences between the male and female red-naped sapsucker. The male usually bears more red on the throat area compared to the female. Conversely, the female’s throat is only partly red, not entirely white. So, the male has an extensively red throat while the female shows a mix of red and white in the same area.
Juvenile
Juvenile birds in late fall closely resemble their adult counterparts in color and size. Unlike other species, the young red-naped sapsuckers are not brown-headed. Thus, young birds of this species share more direct physical similarities with adults compared to some other species.
Size
7.5 - 8.3 in/1.1 - 2.3 oz
There's more to learn about Red-Naped Sapsucker
View full detailsHow to tell the Red-Breasted Sapsucker from the Red-Naped Sapsucker
Visual differences
The Red-Breasted Sapsucker is notable for its vivid red head, throat, and chest, whereas the Red-Naped Sapsucker has red primarily on the nape and often on the throat. Red-Naped Sapsuckers feature a mix of black, brown, and yellow in their plumage, while Red-Breasted has predominantly black and white back and wings. Males of the Red-Naped species show more extensive red on the throat compared to females. In size, both birds are similar, measuring around 8 to 9 inches, with Red-Breasted Sapsuckers generally appearing slightly heavier.
Key differences and behavior
The Red-Breasted Sapsucker and Red-Naped Sapsucker, both medium-sized woodpeckers, exhibit unique behavioral traits that aid in distinguishing them. The Red-Breasted Sapsucker, thriving in the mossy forests of the American Northwest and urban parklands, exhibits cooperative behavior with Rufous Hummingbirds, sharing sap from drilled tree holes. It nests predominantly in deciduous trees 50-60 feet high, with courtship involving side-to-side swaying. In contrast, the Red-Naped Sapsucker inhabits mountainous regions and expands to lowlands in winter. Its courtship involves bill-pointing and tapping. Preferring aspen and poplar for nesting, it often uses the same site yearly. While both feed on insects, sap, and fruits, their habitat preferences and social interactions differ significantly, aiding field identification.
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