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Bird

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

A winter visitor to Alabama, found in all 67 counties and 17 habitats.

Here
Winter
Nesting
Not known to nest here
Range
All 67 counties
Habitats
17

At a glance

Group
Birds
Here
Winter
Nesting
Not known to nest here
Range
All 67 counties
Habitats
17
Habitat models
Summer, Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in Alabama 17

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 17

Coastal Plain hammocks

In the Jungle, Florida
WinterSouthern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock; Southern Coastal Plain Hydric HammockWinslow Homer, In the Jungle, Florida (1904): cabbage palms, saw palmetto and fallen trunks in a dense, shady hammock, with a wildcat in the branches. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Florida (Winslow Homer, In the Jungle, Florida, 1904), a neighboring state.In the Jungle, Florida, Winslow Homer, 1904. Public domain. Source record.

Forests and woodlands

Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain.
WinterSouthern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine ModifierNamed place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Pine flatwoods

Georgia Pines
WinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine FlatwoodsGeorge Inness, Georgia Pines (1890): tall, straight pines over an open, grassy floor in a south Georgia pine woods. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Georgia pine woods (George Inness, 1890; site not named), a neighboring state.Georgia Pines, George Inness (1825-1894), 1890. Public domain. Source record.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Blue Spring, Florida
SummerWinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and RiparianWinslow Homer, Blue Spring, Florida (1890): clear blue spring water under overhanging palms. Shown: Blue Spring, Florida (Winslow Homer, 1890; National Gallery of Art), a neighboring state.Blue Spring, Florida, Winslow Homer, 1890. Public domain. Source record.

Swamps

Florida, Sunset on the Ocklawaha
WinterSouthern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier; Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall; East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp; Central Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome; Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression SwampFlorida, Sunset on the Ocklawaha (1899): a dark swamp-lined river at sunset, with cypress and hardwoods crowding both banks. Shown: Ocklawaha River, Florida, a neighboring state.Florida, Sunset on the Ocklawaha, Detroit Photographic Co. (chromolithograph), 1899. Public domain. Source record.

Disturbed and introduced wetlands

Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

SummerWinter

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

SummerWinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood; Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier; Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland; Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest; Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

SummerWinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier; Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems; Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian; East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest; Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain

Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone

Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.

WinterRidge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland; Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens

Granite and other acidic rock outcrops

Bare or thin-soil rock on granite, gneiss, sandstone, quartzite and similar acidic rock, including granite flatrocks and domes.

WinterCumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens

Hardwood and oak flatwoods

Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.

WinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods; South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods

Maritime forests and thickets

Salt-pruned forests and shrub thickets behind coastal dunes.

WinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

SummerWinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest; Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

SummerWinterSouthern Piedmont Mesic Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

WinterDeveloped, Open Space

Seeps and springs

Places where groundwater keeps the soil or rock wet, such as seepage slopes and spring runs.

WinterSouthern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall

Tree plantations and managed pine

Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.

SummerWinterDeciduous Plantation; Evergreen Plantation or Managed Pine; Managed Tree Plantation
Other habitats in its models (128)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Alabama. Those recorded in Alabama first, the rest by region.

In Alabama 1

  • Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Winter.
Elsewhere in the South (71)
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Peatland Pocosin Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
  • Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central and Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forest Winter.
  • Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Edwards Plateau Dry-Mesic Slope Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Winter.
  • Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Bottomland Depression Winter.
  • Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Winter.
  • Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Winter.
  • Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Red River Large Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • South Florida Bayhead Swamp Winter.
  • South Florida Cypress Dome Winter.
  • South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Winter.
  • South Florida Hardwood Hammock Winter.
  • South Florida Mangrove Swamp Winter.
  • South Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
  • South Florida Pine Rockland Winter.
  • Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
  • Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer.
  • Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
  • Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
Northeast (9)
  • Appalachian Hemlock-Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Winter.
  • Central Appalachian Oak and Pine Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer and winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Winter.
Midwest (6)
  • North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Northwestern Great Plains Floodplain Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Dry Bur Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
Land cover and other classes (41)
  • Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Winter.
  • Central Appalachian Floodplain - Forest Modifier Summer.
  • Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Developed, Low Intensity Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Northwestern Great Plains - Black Hills Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna Winter.
  • Orchards Vineyards and Other High Structure Agriculture Winter.
  • Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric Summer and winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
  • Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Winter.
  • Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.

All habitats

Seasons in Alabama

  • Winter: does not nest here, in all 67 counties.

Food plants

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Plants matched by genus.

Native plants in these genera 11

Plant genera in its diet records (3)
  • Betula Seeds. 2 diet records. 2 native plants in Alabama
  • Prunus Seeds. 2 diet records. 8 native plants in Alabama
  • Sambucus Leaves. 2 diet records. 1 native plant in Alabama

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in Alabama, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker uses many habitats in Alabama; these are its 3 most characteristic.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Birds 89

Plants 418

All of floodplain and bottomland forests in Alabama

Dry forests and woodlands

Birds 66

Plants 224

All of dry forests and woodlands in Alabama

Swamps

Birds 87

Plants 327

All of swamps in Alabama

USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.

Sources