HEALTH & WELLNESS Photo Š Adobestock / Steve
FLORA + FAUNA OF THE NORTHWEST COAST LUNA LOISEAU-TREMBLAY
THE
RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER Birding is a popular pastime in the Vancouver
are attracted to the sap wells. In addition to this, they
Island area but certainly during the pandemic, with
also catch insects in the air or any that are near the base
most of us home more than usual, many more people
of the tree trunk such as ants, and are also known to eat
are putting up bird feeders and observing the avian
fruits from apple trees and berries.
visitors to their yard. One of my own favourite species to watch is the Red-Breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), a medium sized bird in the woodpecker family.
Interestingly, several species of hummingbirds, but most notably the Rufous Hummingbird, are closely associated with this species of sapsucker. Rufous Hum-
This species is very noticeable, with its striking plum-
mingbirds may nest close to a sap well, feeding on the
age combination of a red breast and head, white lower
sap and insects and are known to follow Red-breasted
belly and rump and a black back, white wing bars and a
sapsuckers on their daily rounds of sap wells.
large white wing patch. They are permanent residents of our coastal areas, as opposed to being migratory for the winter.
This species of sapsucker is a dead tree cavity nester and may have a clutch of 5-7 eggs, with both sexes incubating the eggs from 11-15 days. They have one clutch
This is a common species seen year round in many peo-
per year with both parents feeding the young, bring-
ple's yards, in our damp Pacific coast mixed deciduous/
ing them fruit, sap or insects for about 3-4 weeks after
coniferous forests and regularly seen hammering on
hatching. Once the chicks leave the nest, the parents will
trees that are in public spaces, such as parks and busi-
show them how to forage for food for another 10 days
ness fronts. However, identification can be complicated
and then the juveniles are on their own. Red-breasted
in certain areas of the province, as this species is known
sapsuckers can use the same tree for nest purposes but
to hybridize with other species of sapsuckers in BC,
do not use the same nest cavity.
such as the Yellow-Bellied and Red-Naped Sapsuckers.
Unfortunately, this species has historically been thought
The Red-Breasted Sapsucker drills holes in tree bark,
of as an orchard pest and are regularly targeted and
usually in rows that are regularly spaced and then
killed by gardeners for their woodpecking and fruit for-
returns to them to feed on the sap that wells up in the
aging characteristics. However, as is apparent of the ani-
holes. Its tongue has stiff hairs on it to allow for more
mals and plant species that are native to any area, every
efficient sap collection. They also feed on small bits of
species has its place in the delicate balance of nature.
tree tissue, such as the cambium, as well as insects that 2 0 | C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E | I s s u e 3 1
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