Montana Field Guide

Red-naped Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Call a nasal or mewing cheerrr or meeah like yellow-bellied sapsucker; typical drumming pattern is a burst of several rapid thumps followed by several slow, rhythmic thumps (Peterson 1990, Howell and Webb 1995). Like other sapsuckers, leaves distinctive sign in horizontal rows of small, squarish sap wells around tree trunks, especially in broad-leaved trees. See Devillers (1970) and Dunn (1978) for detailed information on identification. Small-medium woodpecker; length 19-21 cm; mass 32-66 g. Black bib on upper breast, prominent red forehead with black band at rear, nape red, black stripe along side of head bordered by 2 white stripes, crown and nape black, large white wing-patch, back blackish, rump white, and underparts buffy or yellow-tinged. Male: throat red. Female: chin and upper throat white, lower throat red (Walters, Eric L., Miler, Edward H., and Lowther, Peter E., The Birds of North America, No. 663, 2002).

Montana Range

In Bozeman area normal migration periods are May 8-20 and Sep 5-20, with no peak dates (Skaar 1969).

Birds have a strong preference for nesting in broken-top larch; optimum habitat is old-growth larch, particularly near wet areas. Excavates a new cavity each spring. Breeds in deciduous and mixed woodlands including aspen groves in open ponderosa pine forests, aspen-fir parklands, logged forests where deciduous groves remain, aspen groves in open rangeland, birch groves, montane coniferous forests and occasionally subalpine forest edges (Walters, Miller, and Lowther 2002).

Creates sap wells in the bark of woody plants and feed on sap that appears there. When Red-naped Sapsuckers first arrive at their breeding areas, they often drill sap wells in the xylem of conifers and aspens. Once the temperatures increase and sap begins to flow, theses birds switch to phloem wellls in aspen or willow, if available. Insects, also bast (inner bark), fruit, and seeds (Walters, Miller and Lowther 2002).

Nest cavities made in dead trees or dead portions of live trees. Pure white, moderately glossy eggs are ovate to elliptical-ovate or rounded-ovate. Clutch size ranges 4 - 7 eggs (Walters, Miller and Lowther 2002). Near Fortine, egg dates are May 26-Jun 3; young in nest from Jun 18-Jul 11. Statewide, nests in Jun and early Jul (Davis 1961).