Red-naped Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Silhouette: Nancy Wyman (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyPicidae (Woodpeckers)
- GenusSphyrapicus (Sapsuckers)
- SpeciesSphyrapicus nuchalis (Red-naped Sapsucker)
About the Red-naped Sapsucker
The red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) is a medium-sized North American woodpecker. Long thought to be a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker, it is now known to be a distinct species. The red-naped sapsucker is one of four North American woodpeckers in the genus Sphyrapicus. It has no subspecies. First described by Spencer Fullerton Baird in 1858, it was initially thought to be a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker. However, there are significant genetic differences between this species and the yellow-bellied sapsucker, and the American Ornithologists' Union recognized it as a distinct species in the seventh edition of its North American birds checklist, published in 1998. Genetic analysis has shown that the red-naped sapsucker is a sister species with (and very closely related to) the red-breasted sapsucker, and that these two species form a superspecies with the yellow-bellied sapsucker. All three species are known to hybridize with each other, with hybrids between red-naped and red-breasted sapsuckers proving particularly common.
The genus name Sphyrapicus is a combination of the Greek words sphura, meaning "hammer" and pikos, meaning "woodpecker... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Red-naped Sapsucker in Olympic National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Olympic National Park
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruber
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus villosus
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Lewis's Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Picoides dorsalis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Red-naped Sapsucker in Olympic National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-naped Sapsucker sighting in Olympic National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Red-naped Sapsucker in Olympic National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Red-naped Sapsucker in Olympic National Park in our monthly data.