Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Maryland
When yellow-bellied sapsuckers are present in Maryland, when they nest, which native Maryland plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Maryland
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Maryland
In Maryland, yellow-bellied sapsuckers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters in the east with regular snow in the western mountains. While here they rely on sap and fruit on wintering grounds.
Humid subtropical on the Chesapeake coastal plain, cooler in the Appalachian west.
Native Maryland plants that attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Maryland, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-bellied sapsuckers use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding yellow-bellied sapsuckers through the Maryland year
Sapsucker wells feed hummingbirds too; Ruby-throats often follow them north in spring.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Maryland's winter: Mild winters in the east with regular snow in the western mountains.
Full diet breakdown for yellow-bellied sapsuckers · Best feeder for yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Frequently asked
Are yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Maryland year-round?
No. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are winter visitors in Maryland and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Maryland?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maryland that provide food or cover for yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maryland
Sources
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maryland
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.