Birds Georgia spotlights the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and its drilling bill
These woodpeckers visit Georgia in winter, generally arriving in October and staying through the spring, leaving neat rows of holes in bark.
Birds Georgia picked the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker for its Beak of the Week. The bird's chisel-like bill is designed for drilling into tree bark.
A tree with neat rows of shallow holes in the bark is likely the work of a sapsucker. After drilling a sapwell, the bird laps up the sap, along with any trapped insects, using a specialized, brush-tipped tongue.
The group says these woodpeckers are a winter visitor to Georgia, generally arriving in October and staying through the spring.
From Birds Georgia· Instagram · Oct 15
Open the post“Our Beak of the Week belongs to... a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! This chisel-like bill is designed for drilling into tree bark. If you've ever noticed a tree with amazingly neat rows of shallow holes drilled into the bark, you've likely admired the work of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. After drilling a sapwell, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker laps up the sap (along with any trapped insects) using its specialized, brush-tipped tongue. These woodpeckers are a winter visitor to Georgia, generally arriving in October and staying through the spring.”
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