Red-breasted Sapsucker
A bird a day keeps the chaos away
Red-breasted Sapsucker
REBSAP
Sphyrapicus ruber
ORDER: Piciformes
FAMILY: Picidae
Southern California, October 2014
Striking medium-sized woodpecker of far western North America. Beautiful plumage with mostly red head and breast and bold white slash on the shoulder. Some show vague pattern of black-and-white on the head, but always more extensive red than Red-naped Sapsucker. Also note limited white mottling on back, and no black on the breast. Juveniles are dark brown on the head and breast. Beware that some hybrids with Red-naped occur, and might be best left unidentified. Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests, descending to lower elevations in winter, as far south as northern Baja. Like other sapsuckers, drills rows of sap wells into tree bark. Listen for irregular drumming (like morse code) and various nasal calls.
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For more information about identifying birds, we suggest the following websites:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology