Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Introduction

A small North American woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker creates elaborate systems of such sap wells by drilling into tree trunks, maintaining them daily to ensure sap production. This is an extremely rare visitor to Britain & Ireland with single-figure records from Britain and Ireland.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

51g

Seasonality

BTO Records

1 record

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Isles of Scilly, 1975

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant has not been recorded in the UK for many decades and as such cannot be mapped.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Yellow-bellied Sapsucker movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Classification and Codes

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Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Scientific name: Sphyrapicus varius
Authority: Linnaeus, 1766

BTO 5-letter code: YEBSA
Euring code number: 8720

Alternate species names

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Catalan: picot de pit groc
Czech: datel rudohrdlý
Danish: Gulbuget Saftspætte
Dutch: Geelbuiksapspecht
Estonian: mahlarähn
Finnish: mahlatikka
French: Pic maculé

German: Gelbbauch-Saftlecker
Hungarian: sárgahasú cukorharkály
Icelandic: Safaspæta
Irish: Súdhiúlaí Tarrbhuí
Italian: Picchio ventregiallo
Latvian: dzeltenvedera suldziris
Lithuanian: geltonpilvis sulcius
Norwegian: Kanadasevjespett

Polish: oskomik czerwonogardly
Portuguese: pica-pau-de-barriga-amarela
Slovak: miazgojed žltobruchý
Slovenian: apalaški muževnik
Spanish: Chupasavia norteño
Swedish: gulbröstad savspett

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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