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Sapsucker Damage

Sphyrapicus spp.

Photo by Brian38
Published on Project Noah
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47.142, -122.042

Field Notes

Description:

Sapsuckers are notorious for damaging thin barked trees like birch. The holes are drilled (pecked) in horizontal and vertical rows. The sapsuckers are after the sap of course but will feed on the insects that subsequently show up. The red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) is probably the culprit here in western Washington.

Habitat:

Spotted on a birch or alder tree along a wetland drainage in a mixed forest.

Notes:

For more info on sapsucker damage here is an article:https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/nonpathogenic-p…

Reference Links:

Sapsucker - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Neil Ross
I guess it's akin to ring-barking. No doubt some trees would die, particularly during cold weather?
Brian38
Thanks Neil. They can be relentless on the birch that is for sure.
Neil Ross
A very interesting spotting, Brian. Good info too, plus the link. I didn't think they would peck at wood house siding. Who's knocking at the door?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Pacific Northwest Bioregion
Mission
Beauty of Decay

Tags

Photographed
PublishedDecember 24, 2019

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