YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 



Sphyrapicus varius Baird. 



]'i.ATH XXXVI. Fig. 1. 



"ONE of our Woodpeckers is so common ditring the migration and so well-known 

 in the northern parts of the country as the Yellow-beli-ied Sapsucker, and 

 none is so much hated and abused. I can assure my readers, however, that tMs beau- 

 tiful bird is comparatively innocent in spite of the many holes which it drills in the . 

 maples, mountain ash trees, and conifers during its northward migration in early April. 

 The well-known "tree-butcher" with his saw and axe does much more harm to our fine 

 ornamental trees by his mostly very injudicious pruning than an army of Sapsuckers. 



Although I have seen these Woodpeckers in Milwaukee every spring in large num- 

 bers, they vi'^ere never so abundant as on the 11th of April, 1896. The trees in the 

 streets, small and large ones, fairly swarmed with Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. On a large 

 silver-leaved poplar I counted forty-four individuals. This was in the heart of the 

 residence part of the cit}', w^here people and vehicles constantly passed.* Wherever I 

 turned my eyes I noticed these birds in great numbers. A few days later all had migrated 

 northward. They were perfectly silent during their stay. As they punctured the maple 

 trees in such a way that the sap w^as flowing freely, many were killed by people who 

 supposed them to be injurious to the trees. In spite of this tapping the trees made a 

 very satisfactory growth during the summer. Indeed, they grew more luxurious than in 

 any of the previous seasons, since I made Milwaukee my home. During the past five or 

 six years I have given the subject my special attention, but I have never found a tree 

 that was destroyed by this Woodpecker's manner of drilling holes in the bark. I have 

 examined many hundreds of maples and apple trees that had been girdled by the Sap- 

 sucker, but none had suffered severely. It is true that many of the fine mountain ashes 

 died during the last few years, but closer examination revealed the fact that this is 

 caused by a borer, who does its destructive work just above the ground. A large num- 

 ber of holes running into the heart wood of the tree and a dust-like brownish substance 

 on the ground showed plainly why the trees were suffering and finally dying. 



When the Sapsuckers arrive in their breeding range early in April, they at once 

 drill small holes in the sugar maples, the sweet sap of which they highly relish. For 

 this purpose and not for the inner bark {cambium) these holes are drilled. Many other 

 birds are also very fond of the sweet drink, especially English Sparrows, who soon find 

 out how delicious the sweet sap of the sugar maple really is. In the woods Nuthatches, 

 Titmice, Kinglets, Palm and Myrtle Warblers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are 

 frequently observed while drinking the sweet sap. The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker has 

 much trouble in keeping away the smaller birds, and in localities where English Sparrows 

 are abundant, it often has to leave the place entirely. 



• Mra. A. C. WWtcomb, a very accurate and painstaking observer, writes me: "After n severe thunder storm on the 

 night of April 10, the Sapsuckers appeared in large flocks Saturday, April 11. They were abundant In Milwaukee for some 

 days, but not so numerous as on April 11." 



