Bird

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

A winter visitor to Louisiana, found in all 64 parishes and 11 habitats.

Here: Winter
Nesting: Not known to nest here
Range: All 64 parishes
Habitats: 11

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, whole bird — **Male**. (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). CC BY 4.0. iNaturalist photo 606197842. Source-provided large resize; no crop or image edits.

At a glance

Group: Birds
Here: Winter
Nesting: Not known to nest here
Range: All 64 parishes
Habitats: 11
Habitat models: Summer, Winter

Where it lives

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

Habitats in Louisiana 11

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

1 of 11

WinterSouthern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall; West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall; East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp; West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp; Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome; Mississippi River Bottomland DepressionJoseph Rusling Meeker, The Land of Evangeline (1874): moss-hung trees over a still bayou in Louisiana swamp forest. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Louisiana bayou country (Meeker, The Land of Evangeline, 1874)*The Land of Evangeline*, Joseph Rusling Meeker, 1874. 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

Floodplain and bottomland forests

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

WinterMississippi River Riparian Forest; Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest; West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest; West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Red River Large Floodplain Forest; Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest

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 Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods; West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods; Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods; West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods

Maritime forests and thickets

Salt-pruned forests and shrub thickets behind coastal dunes.

WinterMississippi Delta Maritime Forest

Moderately dry forests

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

WinterMississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest

Moist forests

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

WinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest; West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest

Pine flatwoods

Flat, sandy Coastal Plain pine woodlands, wetter than sandhills and denser than savannas.

WinterEast Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier; West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods

Pine savannas

Open, fire-kept longleaf pine stands over grasses and wildflowers on wet to moist sandy soil.

WinterWest Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

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

WinterDeveloped, Open Space

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 (147)

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

In Louisiana 4

West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland 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 Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.

Elsewhere in the South (75)

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 Calcareous Glade and Barrens Winter.
Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Winter.
Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain 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.
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.
Ridge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland 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.
South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Winter.
South-Central Interior Large Floodplain Winter.
South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest Summer and winter.
South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian Summer and winter.
Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Winter.
Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest Summer and winter.
Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest Summer and winter.
Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest Winter.
Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer.
Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock Winter.
Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer and winter.
Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Winter.
Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Summer and winter.
Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Summer and winter.
Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock 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 (53)

Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood Summer and winter.
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.
Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems Summer and winter.
Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems Summer and winter.
Central Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems 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 Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine 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.
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.
South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier Winter.
Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric Summer and winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Winter.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer and winter.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Winter.
Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Winter.
Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Winter.
Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.

All habitats

Seasons in Louisiana

Winter: does not nest here, in all 64 parishes.

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 10

River Birch
Betula nigra
Tree. Native
American Plum
Prunus americana
Tree. Native
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Tree. Native
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina var. serotina
Tree. Native
Carolina Laurel Cherry
Prunus caroliniana
Tree. Native
Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
Tree. Native
Hog Plum
Prunus umbellata
Tree. Native
Mexican Plum
Prunus mexicana
Tree. Native
Oklahoma Plum
Prunus gracilis
Native
Common Elderberry
Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis
Tree. Native

Plant genera in its diet records (3)

Betula Seeds. 2 diet records. 1 native plant in Louisiana
Prunus Seeds. 2 diet records. 8 native plants in Louisiana
Sambucus Leaves. 2 diet records. 1 native plant in Louisiana

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in Louisiana, 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.