I have had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that shows up every year for about three years now and hangs out for a month or so, pecking on an Ash tree in my yard. I can't say if it is the same bird or not. This year, I have had several Ruby-crowned Kinglets also. My wife and I have observed several times the kinglet flying close to the sapsucker and hovering or sitting on a limb watching it. I think the kinglet has learned that there will be a meal of sap and insects for it when the sapsucker is not around. Has anyone else observed or heard of this?
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Kinglets interacting with sapsuckers in Texas (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter aaron1956
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Certainly heard of other birds visiting sapsucker holes for food; seems reasonable that they'll learn to watch out for new holes being dug.
Haven't observed kinglets visiting sap wells but have seen Yellow-rumped Warblers do so on many occasions, and have also seen them actually feeding at the wells sometimes in the presence of the sapsucker. Insects are also attracted to the wells, and the warblers doubtless feed on them as well as the sap.
