The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker that can be found in forests across North America. This species gets its name from its distinctive yellow underside and its habit of drilling holes in tree bark to feed on the sap that flows out. While sapsuckers are common birds in forested areas, they are rarely seen in major cities like New York. However, in recent years sapsuckers have been spotted more frequently in green spaces across New York City’s five boroughs. This has raised questions among birders and wildlife experts about the status of this unusual urban dweller.
What is a yellow-bellied sapsucker?
The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is a mid-sized woodpecker that measures about 7-8.5 inches in length. They have black and white plumage on their back and wings, with a black face and throat and a bright red crown and throat patch. As their name suggests, adult sapsuckers have a distinctive yellow wash on their belly.
Sapsuckers are migratory birds that breed in Canada and the northeastern United States. They winter in the southern U.S. states and in Central America. During migration, they can be found throughout North America.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers drill evenly spaced rows of small wells in the bark of trees, using their sharp beaks. These sap wells allow sap to seep out, which the birds then lap up with their tongue. Their favorite tree species to feed on include birch, maple, and elm. The sapsuckers also eat cambium tissue from the wells, as well as insects attracted to the sap.
Male and female sapsuckers look similar, although males have a red throat patch that extends across the throat, while females have a red patch on the throat that is confined to the lower throat.
Where have sapsuckers been spotted in New York City?
In recent decades, sapsuckers have been increasingly spotted in green spaces and parks across all five boroughs of NYC:
Manhattan
– Central Park: One of the most reliable places to spot sapsuckers in Manhattan is Central Park. They drill sap wells in paper birch and maple trees.
– Inwood Hill Park: This park at the northern tip of Manhattan provides good habitat for sapsuckers, including stands of birch trees.
– Riverside Park: Along the Hudson River, riverside trees attract sapsuckers.
Brooklyn
– Prospect Park: Brooklyn’s largest park hosts sapsuckers, especially around the Ravine and near the Picnic House.
– Green-Wood Cemetery: This historic cemetery contains mature trees that draw in sapsuckers.
Queens
– Forest Park: One of the largest urban forests in the U.S., Forest Park offers quality habitat for sapsuckers year-round.
– Alley Pond Park: The wooded areas of this park are home to several pairs of sapsuckers.
The Bronx
– New York Botanical Garden: The gardens’ collections of birch, maple, and other trees attract sapsuckers.
– Pelham Bay Park: Sapsuckers drill wells in the birch and elm trees around the park’s woodlands.
Staten Island
– Freshkills Park: This park built on a former landfill is becoming populated with saplings and shrubs where sapsuckers can feed.
– Willowbrook Park: Stands of native trees in this woodland park provide habitat for sapsuckers.
Why are sapsuckers appearing in New York City?
There are several possible reasons why yellow-bellied sapsuckers are now fairly common sights in New York City parks, when they were absent just a few decades ago:
– Urban forest growth: NYC has steadily expanded its urban forests over the past 100 years through planting street trees and preserving wooded parks. Mature birch, maple, and other trees provide habitat for sapsuckers.
– Warming temperatures: Milder winters and warmer springs may allow sapsuckers to overwinter farther north and expand their urban ranges.
– Bird feeders: More people feeding birds may allow sapsuckers to supplement their diets. They occasionally visit suet feeders.
– Adaptable feeding: Sapsuckers are flexible and can drill wells in many tree species, allowing them to thrive in urban forests.
– Lack of competition: With limited other woodpecker species in NYC, sapsuckers can fully occupy this niche.
What do sapsuckers eat in New York City?
The diet of sapsuckers in New York City is likely similar to those in their native forest habitat. Their food consists of:
– Tree sap: Sapsuckers drill orderly rows of sap wells in birch, maple, and other deciduous trees in city parks and forests. They lap up the sap using their specialized tongue.
– Cambium: The layer beneath the bark of trees provides an important food source for sapsuckers. They scrape away the bark to eat the nutritious cambium.
– Insects: Ants, beetles, and other insects are attracted to the sap wells excavated by sapsuckers. The birds snatch up these protein-rich insects to supplement their diet.
– Fruits: Sapsuckers sometimes supplement their diet with fruits and berries from shrubs and trees. In NYC parks, they may eat crabapples, chokeberries, and other fruits.
– Seeds: Particularly in winter when other foods are scarce, sapsuckers eat various tree seeds and nuts such as elm and birch.
– Suet: At backyard bird feeders, sapsuckers are attracted to suet. This high fat bird food provides energy.
Unique adaptations of urban sapsuckers
Sapsuckers living in New York City possess some unique behavioral adaptations that allow them to thrive:
– Flexible nest sites: In parks, sapsuckers nest in holes in trees but also readily use nest boxes if available. On residential streets, they will nest in cracks in apartment buildings.
– Comfort with noise: These woodpeckers tolerate high noise levels from urban traffic, construction, leaf blowers, and other city sounds.
– Fondness for ornamental trees: While native trees are preferred, sapsuckers will drill sap wells in introduced trees like Japanese maple, mimicking their feeding on birch.
– Attraction to lights: Sapsuckers are sometimes attracted to street lights at night to feed on insects aggregating around the light. This is an extra source of food.
– Limited migration: Some sapsuckers overwinter in NYC year-round rather than migrating south, taking advantage of artificial feeders.
– Tolerance of people: Urban sapsuckers are relatively indifferent to humans. They allow people to approach fairly close when they are foraging.
Risks and threats to sapsuckers in NYC
Despite their adaptability to urban ecosystems, sapsuckers face some risks living in New York City, including:
– Collisions with buildings: Like many bird species, sapsuckers can fatally collide with glass buildings while flying.
– Nest disturbance: Sapsucker nest cavities in trees are vulnerable to pruning, tree work, and removal if not identified and protected during nesting season.
– Predation: Hawks, owls, squirrels, and other urban predators may prey on adult sapsuckers, eggs, or nestlings.
– Pesticides: Insecticides applied in parks or yards with nesting sapsuckers can reduce their insect food sources.
– Limited habitat: Loss of mature native trees reduces quality nesting and foraging habitat for sapsuckers over time.
– Climate change: Warming trends may cause sapsucker habitat zones to shift northward over coming decades.
– Disease: Sapsuckers, like many birds, face risks from diseases like avian influenza in urban areas with high bird densities.
Protecting and supporting urban sapsuckers
Here are some recommendations for protecting and encouraging yellow-bellied sapsuckers populations in New York City:
– Plant native trees: Expanding birch, maple, elm and other deciduous trees creates habitat. Allow some dead/dying trees to stand for nest sites.
– Monitor nest trees: Track and protect known sapsucker nest trees to prevent damage during vulnerable breeding season. Install nest boxes where appropriate.
– Reduce glass collisions: Apply window decals or external screens on buildings prone to bird strikes. Place tape strips or decorations on windows to alert birds.
– Raise public awareness: Provide educational signs, brochures, and programs to help New Yorkers learn about and appreciate urban sapsuckers.
– Reduce pesticide use: Avoid or limit pesticides in parks and backyards where sapsuckers feed and nest. This maintains their insect food sources.
– Contribute to science: Report sapsucker sightings through apps like eBird so scientists can study this species’ urban adaptions over time.
– Provide suet: Supplement winter food sources by providing suet feeders where appropriate in parks or residential areas.
Conclusion
The increasing appearance of yellow-bellied sapsuckers across New York City is a fascinating example of urban wildlife adaptation. These highly adaptable woodpeckers have discovered they can thrive in city forests by taking advantage of mature trees and other habitat elements. While sapsuckers face certain risks from urban threats, they play an important role in the city’s ecosystems. Protecting existing habitat, reducing building collisions, and engaging the public to support these unusual city dwellers can ensure sapsuckers remain an integral part of New York’s biodiversity. Their presence is a positive sign of the city’s natural environments flourishing.
