The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker that occurs only as a rare migrant or winter visitor in Arizona. Unlike its close relative, the Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), which is fairly common in the state, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is considered an accidental species.
This species is recognized by its pale yellowish belly, black-and-white barring on the back, and distinct white wing patch. Adult males show a red crown and throat, while females have a red crown but a white throat. They resemble Red-naped Sapsuckers, but can be separated by their plainer back, lack of red nape, and overall paler appearance.
In Arizona, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are most often reported during fall and winter in riparian woodlands, orchards, and parks, where they drill rows of sap wells in trees such as cottonwoods, willows, and fruit trees. These wells attract not only the sapsuckers themselves but also hummingbirds and other insect-feeding birds that take advantage of the sap and insects that gather.
