The yellow-bellied bird found in Mexico that is most well known is the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. This medium-sized woodpecker has a yellow underside and throat that distinguishes it from other birds in Mexico.
What does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker look like?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a relatively small woodpecker, measuring around 8.5 inches in length and weighing 1.5 to 2.3 ounces. Its plumage is mostly black and white, with a bright yellow underside and throat. The male has a bold red forehead and crown, while the female has a black forehead and crown. Both sexes have white stripes on their black backs and wings. Their bellies are yellow, as their name suggests.
Some key identifying features of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker include:
- Black and white striped back and wings
- Red forehead and crown on males
- Bright yellow underside
- Small black bill
- White rump
Where does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker live?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has a large range that extends across much of North America. Their breeding range stretches from eastern Canada south to the Appalachian Mountains, and west to the Great Plains. They migrate south to spend the winter in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
In Mexico, they are found in many forested areas from northern Mexico south along both the Pacific and Gulf coasts. Some specific locations they inhabit in Mexico include:
- Northern Mexico down through the mountains of western Mexico
- Central highlands
- Southern Mexico through the Sierra Madre del Sur
- Coastal forests along both the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
- Yucatan peninsula
What does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker eat?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, true to its name, feeds primarily on tree sap. It uses its bill to drill orderly rows of small holes in tree trunks, which provide a steady flow of sap that the birds lap up with their tongues. Favored sap trees include birches, maples, hemlocks, and hickories.
In addition to tree sap, the sapsucker’s diet includes:
- Insects like beetles, ants, moths, and flies
- Berries
- Arthropods
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Fungi
- Nectar
In Mexico, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drills holes in trees like cottonwoods, willows, palms, and ficus to access sap.
What is the habitat of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker resides in forests across its range. It prefers mixed deciduous forests with sap-bearing trees. During migration and winter, the sapsucker will also inhabit orchards, parks, and suburban areas with trees.
Some details about their favored habitat include:
- Forests of aspens, birches, and other deciduous trees
- Riparian woodlands along streams
- Pine forests
- Oak woodlands
- Parks and gardens with trees
In Mexico, they occupy humid montane forests, dry forests, and pine-oak forests. Mangrove forests along the coasts also provide habitat.
How does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker communicate?
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers communicate in a few different ways:
- Drumming – Like other woodpeckers, sapsuckers drum their bills on trees as a territorial display and to attract mates.
- Calls – Their vocalizations include mewing calls, whines, whistles, and twitters.
- Body language – Their posture can communicate aggression, submission, curiosity, etc.
Specific calls include a descending mew, nasal whines, short whistles, and a chatter call. Females may perform a quiet twittering when interacting with their mate.
How does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker move?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is an agile bird well adapted to moving along tree trunks. Their movement patterns include:
- Hopping – They hop up tree trunks in a jerky, irregular fashion.
- Climbing – They use their stiff tails and sharp claws to adeptly climb vertically up trees.
- Flapping – In flight, they have an undulating flight pattern with quick flaps.
- Gliding – They are also capable of gliding between trees.
To access sap, they can hang upside down or sideways on tree trunks and branches.
How does the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker breed and nest?
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers breed between April and July across their range. They are monogamous and may mate for more than one season.
The breeding behaviors of this species include:
- Males attract females by drumming on trees and displaying with calls and postures.
- Once paired, the male feeds the female as part of their bonding.
- They excavate a nest cavity in a live tree, often a birch or aspen.
- Females lay 3-6 white eggs and incubate them for 10-13 days.
- Both parents feed the hatchlings regurgitated insects for 25-30 days until fledging.
In Mexico, they nest in tree cavities in pine-oak and pine forests, usually reusing the same nest site year after year.
What is the conservation status of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker?
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has a large range and stable population trend. According to the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.
Some key facts about its conservation status:
- Global population estimated at 4,100,000 individuals.
- Population appears to be increasing.
- Their habitat is widespread and not considered threatened overall.
- No major threats have been identified.
While still abundant, their populations may face some localized threats from habitat loss and competition with other bird species for nest sites.
Conclusion
In summary, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a unique woodpecker species found throughout Mexico and much of North America. It can be identified by its black and white striped back, yellow underside, and sap feeding habits. This mid-sized bird inhabits forests across Mexico, drilling orderly holes in trees to drink the sap and eat insects and other foods. With stable populations, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker remains a thriving component of Mexico’s avifauna.