Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 41,939 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is a medium-sized woodpecker that breeds in Canada and the north-northeastern United States.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,029 | January | Oct–Mar |
| New York | 3,333 | April | Mar–May |
| Florida | 3,131 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Maryland | 2,408 | October | Oct–Apr |
| Virginia | 2,304 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 2,143 | October | Oct–Apr |
| North Carolina | 2,087 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,484 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 1,471 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 1,459 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Ohio | 1,424 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 1,374 | December | Oct–Mar |
| South Carolina | 1,342 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Michigan | 1,160 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 1,123 | April | Oct–May |
| Georgia | 1,038 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 1,034 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 960 | October | Oct–Apr |
| Alabama | 819 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Maine | 604 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Louisiana | 592 | January | Oct–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 586 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Missouri | 579 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Connecticut | 526 | October | Oct–Jun |
| California | 499 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Arkansas | 434 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 417 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Kentucky | 356 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Mississippi | 345 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Indiana | 316 | April | Apr–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 284 | October | Oct–Apr |
| West Virginia | 208 | October | Oct–Jun |
| Arizona | 151 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Colorado | 143 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Delaware | 140 | October | Oct–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 114 | November | Oct–Apr |
| Iowa | 113 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 99 | December | Oct–Apr |
| New Mexico | 82 | November | Nov–Mar |
| North Dakota | 67 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 45 | January | Nov–Feb |
| South Dakota | 39 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nebraska | 37 | October | Oct–Mar |
| Utah | 10 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Idaho | 8 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Nevada | 7 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Washington | 7 | December | Nov–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Woodpeckers)
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Yellow-bellied Sapsucker?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to May.
Where is Yellow-bellied Sapsucker most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Florida.