Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker [dorsal view of male]: Photograph Credit: Stephen J. Stedman; Buffalo Valley Nature Trail, DeKalb County, Tennessee; 14 January 2015.

Abundance: Uncommon during late fall, winter, and early spring; recorded in all Regional counties (Map of UCR Distribution); data from Regional bird-monitoring efforts indicate that the wintering population is probably stable, but the moderate variability of this species' winter population in the Region makes determination of a trend in that population difficult (see also Regional Bird Monitoring Plan and Remarks [below]).

Status: Winter Resident; photograph [female] (Stephen J. Stedman; City Lake, Putnam County, Tennessee; January 2004); and see above.

Regional High Count and CBC/CBB High Count: 43 (20 December 2008, Putnam County, Tennessee [Cookeville CBC]; m. ob.); FBC/FBB High Count: 18 (4 October 2008; White County, Tennessee [FBC]; m. ob.); SBC/SBB High Count: 8 (24&25 April 1967; Putnam County, Tennessee [SBC]; m. ob.; Note: a 2-day count).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Early Fall: 16 September 2000 (Putnam County [FBC], Tennessee; Ginger K. Ensor).

    Late Spring: 2 May 1970 (Putnam County [SBC], Tennessee; observer[s] unknown).

Note: Regional dates of earliest reported fall arrival and latest reported spring departure during winters from 2002–2003 to 2011–2012 follow:

Habitat: Woodlands and other habitats, such as orchards and many yards, containing tree species that are capable of producing a flow of sap when drilled; many fruit trees are included in this group of trees.  Sapsuckers are also attracted to feeding stations where suet, cornbread, and similar foods have been put out.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: Registered on 24 (of 125) monthly check-lists during 2003 and on 52 (of 206) check-lists during 2004, resulting in YardWatch frequency classifications of Fairly Common each year; the sapsucker is a bit more prone to be recorded in Regional yards and neighborhoods than in the Region as a whole, if YardWatch results are an accurate reflection of its prevalence.

Remarks: The presence of sapsuckers is sometimes revealed by their characteristic drill holes, which may remain manifest on tree trunks for decades and which slowly grow larger as the trunks increase in girth. These drill holes may benefit other bird species that are drawn to them to consume sap or to consume insects that are drawn to the sap; see also BUCR species account for Ruby-crowned Kinglet for possible evidence of this behavior.

    Abundance moderately variable from winter to winter, but whether this variability is correlated with weather conditions, availability of food resources, or some other factor or combination of factors is unknown. Data from the Winter Roadside Survey (WRS) in Putnam County, Tennessee, provide evidence of the variability in the abundance of the winter population (LINK to WRS data).  Raw data from Regional Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) reflect this variability in winter abundance in a less precise manner at best; were Regional CBC data to be standardized for party hours of effort, variability in the sapsucker's winter abundance might be more precisely reflected.

    Sapsuckers tend to be solitary during winter though not exclusively so.  WRS data from Putnam County, Tennessee, reflect this tendency to a high degree.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited