# Williamson's Sapsucker (*Sphyrapicus thyroideus*) Williamson's Sapsucker is a colorful bird that loves to peck on trees to find tasty bugs. They have a bright yellow belly and a striking black and white head, making them easy to spot in the forest! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Williamson's Sapsucker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Williamson's_Sapsucker_-_Sisters_-_Oregon_S4E1518_%2819038668100%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Williamson's_Sapsucker_-_Sisters_-_Oregon_S4E1518_%2819038668100%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Williamson's Sapsucker has striking differences between males and females. Males are mostly black with a yellow belly, white wing patch, and red chin. Females have a brown head and are barred black and white across their body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Sphyrapicus ## Interesting facts - Males and females look so different they were once thought to be two separate species! - Their sticky, brush-tipped tongue is perfect for soaking up sweet tree sap! - These sapsuckers sometimes get 'tipsy' from fermented sap, wobbling near their wells! - They nest in trees with 'heart rot' fungus, making softer wood to drill into! ## Special abilities - **Tree Tap Engineer:** Williamson's Sapsucker can drill precise, rectangular holes in trees because this unique tapping helps them access sweet, nutritious sap. - **Bug Baiter:** Williamson's Sapsucker has sap wells that attract insects, which helps them easily catch protein-rich bugs for food. - **Woodpecker Power:** Williamson's Sapsucker has a sturdy skull and chisel-like beak that helps them drill into wood without hurting their brain. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 19-25 cm - **Wingspan:** 40-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.04-0.065 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-7 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds drink tree sap and munch on insects caught in sticky wells! - **Primary Foods:** Tree sap, Ants, Beetles, Flies, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Ponderosa Pine (*Pinus ponderosa*) — Provides sap and nesting sites for sapsuckers. - **Hunts:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — Commonly eaten by sapsuckers from sap wells. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — A common bird of prey that hunts sapsuckers. - **Depends on:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Drinks sap from sapsucker wells when migrating. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance without disturbing them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Williamson's Sapsucker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Williamson's Sapsucker? 19-25 cm ### What is Williamson's Sapsucker's wingspan? 40-45 cm ### How much does Williamson's Sapsucker weigh? 0.04-0.065 kg ### How long does Williamson's Sapsucker live? 4-7 years ### How fast can Williamson's Sapsucker move? 55 km/h ### What does Williamson's Sapsucker eat? These birds drink tree sap and munch on insects caught in sticky wells! ### Where is Williamson's Sapsucker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Logging Creek Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/logging-creek-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Williamson's Sapsucker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/williamsons-sapsucker)