Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are medium-sized woodpeckers with a distinctive pattern. They have a red forehead and throat (in males), a black and white face pattern, and a yellowish wash on their lower breast and belly. Look for their white wing patch in flight.

Sapsuckers leave distinctive rows of small, shallow holes in tree bark, often arranged in neat horizontal or vertical lines. These sapwells can attract other insects, which the sapsuckers then feed on. Repeated drilling can weaken or even kill young or stressed trees in your Myrtle Beach yard.

MBPC does not directly handle bird control, as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, we can offer advice on deterrents and protecting vulnerable trees. Contact the SC Department of Natural Resources for further guidance.

Wrap vulnerable trees with burlap or hardware cloth to deter sapsuckers from drilling. Remove dead or dying trees, as they are more attractive to these woodpeckers. Encourage a healthy ecosystem in your Myrtle Beach yard by providing a water source and planting native trees that can withstand sapsucker damage.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are migratory birds that visit the Myrtle Beach area primarily during the non-breeding season. They prefer wooded areas, parks, and suburban gardens with a variety of trees. They are commonly seen in coastal South Carolina from fall through spring.

Peak activity: Fall-Winter