Red-Naped Sapsucker and Rufous Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker and Rufous Hummingbird
An interesting case of Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) making use of Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis) workings was observed July 14-15, 1934, in a canyon a few miles northwest of Strawberry Reservoir, Wasatch County, Utah. The tiny stream of water in the bottom of the canyon was lined with clumps of willows, with stems up to an inch in diameter. The sapsuckers were observed in several places, working on the stems in the usual woodpecker fashion, holding with the feet, bracing with the tail, and picking at the stem.
Upon investigation, it was found that large numbers of stems had small patches of bark removed, np to one or two inches in length. Sap juices were slowly exuding from the cambium layer under the bark on to the edge of the bare area.
Our observations seemed to indicate that in some cases the sapsucker had taken not only the exuding sap, but also some pieces of bark from the edge, thus enlarging the area. It was noted also that the Rufous Hummingbiids made use of these same bare spots by standing in the air on their flutterings wings, probing with the bill as if sipping the exuding juices, and m;oving from bare spot to hare spot to repeat the probing. Whether the hummingbirds also picked up some of the insects collected around the exuding sap could not be determined ;but our observations of the Western Yellow Warblers (Dendroica aestiva morcomi) flitting about in the willows, at least aroused the suspicion that they were taking such insects.
A. M. Woodbury
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 5, 1938
