Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Massachusetts
When yellow-bellied sapsuckers are present in Massachusetts, when they nest, which native Massachusetts plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Massachusetts
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
When to expect yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Massachusetts
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are summer residents in Massachusetts, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on sap and ants.
Humid continental with maritime influence on Cape Cod and the islands.
Nesting in Massachusetts
Across Massachusetts, yellow-bellied sapsuckers typically nest from May–June. Nest site: cavity in live aspen or birch with heart rot. Females lay 4–5 eggs, incubate for 10–13 days, and young leave the nest after 25–29 days.
Warm summers; nesting peaks late May to July.
- Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Massachusetts plants that attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts year
Sapsucker wells feed hummingbirds too; Ruby-throats often follow them north in spring.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Massachusetts's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for yellow-bellied sapsuckers · Best feeder for yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Frequently asked
Are yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Massachusetts year-round?
No. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are summer breeders in Massachusetts and leave for the winter.
When do yellow-bellied sapsuckers nest in Massachusetts?
Nesting in Massachusetts typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days.
What native plants attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Massachusetts?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Massachusetts that provide food or cover for yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Massachusetts
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 — Massachusetts
- 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.