Bird Guide

Red-naped Sapsucker vs Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Small48 gWoodland

The red-naped sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker, measuring 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) long and weighing 32–66 g (1.1–2.3 oz). Adults have a black head with a red forehead, white stripes, and a red spot on the nape; they have a white lower belly and rump. They have a yellow breast and upper belly. They are black on the back and wings with white bars; they have a large white wing patch. Adult males have a red throat patch; for females, the lower part of the throat is red, the upper part white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Matt MacGillivray · CC BY 2.0
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Small50 gWoodland

The yellow-bellied sapsucker has a length of around 19 to 21 centimetres (7+1⁄2 to 8+1⁄4 in), and an average weight of 50.3 grams (1.77 oz), although this can range anywhere from 35 to 62 grams (1.2 to 2.2 oz). The yellow-bellied sapsucker has a wingspan that ranges from 34 to 40 centimetres (13+1⁄2 to 15+3⁄4 in). The forehead is coloured bright red in the male (and very occasionally yellow), and a lighter shade of red in the female.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: steve · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (c) scaup, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-naped Sapsucker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.