Red-naped Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus nuchalis
The Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) is a common woodpecker found in 3 countries, weighing about 48 g. The red-naped sapsucker is a medium-sized North American woodpecker.
About the Red-naped Sapsucker
The red-naped sapsucker is a medium-sized North American woodpecker. Long thought to be a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker, it is now known to be a distinct species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in June. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-naped Sapsucker?
- 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). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-naped Sapsucker?
- The Red-naped Sapsucker is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.
- Where can you see a Red-naped Sapsucker?
- The Red-naped Sapsucker occurs in 3 countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Red-naped Sapsucker?
- The Red-naped Sapsucker is most easily confused with the Red-breasted Sapsucker, the Williamson's Sapsucker and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
- Is the Red-naped Sapsucker endangered?
- The Red-naped Sapsucker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-naped Sapsucker for real
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