Red-breasted Sapsucker

It is difficult to confuse the colourful Red-breasted
Sapsucker with any other bird that occurs around the
city. It can be seen in woodlands at any time of
year, and the neat rows of holes that it makes in
tree bark is a good indication of its presence.
Like other woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sap-
suckers nest in holes that they excavate in
decaying tree trunks.
Sapsuckers have developed an inter-
esting food-gathering technique.
Instead of boring into wood for
insects and their larvae, they make
shallow, almost square holes in
the soft bark of trees and feed on
the oozing sap and any insects
attracted to it. Their short
tongues have brush-like bristles
at the end and are different from
those of other woodpeckers, which
are long with barbs at the end to
help them spear prey.

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