A VISIT FROM A WOODPECKER OR SAPSUCKER?
If you are a bird watcher, you have probably seen woodpeckers during your travels, but have you met the red-breasted sapsucker? I love the weather in southern Oregon. Even in the winter, the storms are divided by little bursts of sunshine and hints of the gorgeous warmer days to come. During one of these sunny days in the Fall, our family got together for a monthly Pokemon hunting event. Now don’t judge. It was quite a fad for a while. As a result, it was an excuse to meet up, go for a walk, and have some laughs together.
We were walking around beautiful historical Jacksonville and decided to rest for a bit at Doc Griffin Park. My sister, myself, as well as various kids and grandkids, were sitting together at a picnic table when this little fellow landed on a tree ten feet away. He paid us no mind and just started hammering on the bark in search of a tasty lunch. We were barely more than an arm’s reach away, but he was not the least bit rattled. I was fascinated to see a woodpecker close up.
I know that is not the clearest picture but I did not have my nicer camera with me. As a result, I had to make do with the camera on my phone. It was a close encounter of the awesome kind watching him pick away at the bark.
Woodpeckers in Talent Oregon
During the last weekend of December 2018, my husband and I moved to the small town of Talent in southern Oregon. A few days after getting here we were sitting out on the front patio enjoying the peace and quiet when we heard a knocking sound high in a pine tree standing in our front yard. It was another red-breasted sapsucker! This time I was home and could creep into the house to grab my camera and get some better shots to show you. My husband has seen him a couple of times since then and has decided his name is Woody.
This is so amazing to me. I am sure during my lifetime of living in southern Oregon I must have been around the red-breasted sapsucker, but I never really stopped to look up at what was making the noise or watched how they behave. My new philosophy of living in every moment and taking time to cherish the blessings around me is really shaping up. As a result, I am happy you are here so I can share what I learned.
Red-Breasted Sapsuckers
The first thing I learned after doing a little research is that this species of bird is officially called the Red-Breasted Sapsucker of the woodpecker family. They have a red head and upper chest with black and white bars on their wings. These birds live along the western coast of North America in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
See those rows of holes in the bark? I am guessing those were made by one of these little guys. The sapsucker will visit the same tree over and over, drilling holes in the bark in neat rows to create his own little sap cafe with elaborate wells which he will come back and eat from throughout the day. His long tongue has tiny stiff hairs on it which are designed to catch to tasty sap, and he tends to feast on the bugs the sap attracts as well.
Subspecies of Sapsuckers
There are actually two subspecies of the sapsuckers here on the West Coast. The ones in the more northern form who live from Alaska down to Oregon have more red on their head and less white on their back. The southern form from California has more black and white stripes with the feathers on their face tipped in red.
I think we must be kind of just right in the middle because I have seen both variations around here. We have the red-breasted sapsuckers and the other species with more stripes and less red on them. They are all fast-moving critters so it is quite a challenge to get a good picture for you but I will keep trying!
And did you know that sapsuckers and hummingbirds tend to be buddies? We have Rufous Hummingbirds that like to make friends with the Red-Breasted Sapsuckers. They will nest near where the sapsuckers eat and may even follow them around during the day to eat out of the holes they make.
What Does A Woodpecker or Sapsucker Tell You?
Woodpeckers have a deep spiritual meaning in many cultures. They are often associated with wishes, prosperity, and spiritual healing. These birds are also related to perseverance, strength, and hard work. Woodpeckers and sapsuckers are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. If you see one of these red-breasted sapsuckers, they are bringing you a message to unleash your potential. Pay attention to the rhythms around you and use them to unlock your creativity and ingenuity.
Fun Facts About Woodpeckers and Red-Breasted Sapsuckers
Their super long tongues are about twice as long as their bill that wraps around their head between the skull and the skin when they are not using it.
They are designed for clinging to trees with strong tail feathers for support and back toes to help with balance
These birds also have furry noses. Feathers cover their nostrils to keep dust and splinters out while they are pecking.
They do not get headaches. Their bills help to distribute the shock throughout their thick skull so banging does not affect them like it would one of us.
They love many different types of nuts and acorns. Some have even been known to store them for the winter.
Where Do Woodpeckers and Red-Breasted Sapsuckers Live?
Red-breasted sapsuckers like to breed in forests full of evergreen trees. Because of this, these birds are right at home here in southern Oregon. We see them in the pine tree in our yard and in all the cottonwood trees in the park across the creek. They have been spotted in orchards, on telephone poles, and miscellaneous other nearby trees.
What Do Woodpeckers and Red-Breasted Sapsuckers Eat?
We already know these nature’s drummers love to drill holes into tree bark and go after the tasty bugs underneath. They enjoy tree sap and even some varieties of fruit. As I mentioned before, they also enjoy different types of nuts and acorns. You may see them stealing from your squirrel feeders.
How Do Woodpeckers and Red-Breasted Sapsuckers Communicate?
Woodpeckers and sapsuckers will actually drum on various objects to help mark their territory. In addition, the red-breasted sapsuckers use their rhythm to attract mates, find food, or even just for playful exercise. They may not be as vocal as other birds, but they do use some little sounds like churrs, rattles, chatters, and screeches to call to each other.
How Do Woodpeckers and Red-Breasted Sapsuckers Breed?
The parents usually start building their nest in a hole created in a dead tree during the Spring months of April or May. They are quite the perfectionists and create a perfect circle for their nest. The female will lay around five eggs and then both parents will feed the little ones. The babies leave the nest when they are almost a month old, and the family homestead is never used again.
So…these cousins to Woody Woodpecker are Red-Breasted Sapsuckers. I learn something new about this wonderful world we live in every day. It is fun to stop and really pay attention to the little things around you. What kind of critters do you have outside your front door? That’s the love for now!
My Recommended Product
Yes, for each article I would like to recommend a product from Amazon, partially because it helps me generate a little income to help pay for this site and because I hope it will foster your interest in this subject.
If you are interested in woodpeckers, try setting up suet feeders and see if you can attract them to your yard. These are the ones I use.
