Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Wisconsin
When yellow-bellied sapsuckers are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in Wisconsin
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Wisconsin
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are summer residents in Wisconsin, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on sap and ants.
Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Nesting in Wisconsin
Across Wisconsin, yellow-bellied sapsuckers typically nest from 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, humid summers.
- Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Wisconsin plants that attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Wisconsin, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-bellied sapsuckers use:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding yellow-bellied sapsuckers through the Wisconsin year
Sapsucker wells feed hummingbirds too; Ruby-throats often follow them north in spring.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin year-round?
No. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are summer breeders in Wisconsin and leave for the winter.
When do yellow-bellied sapsuckers nest in Wisconsin?
Nesting in Wisconsin typically runs June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days.
What native plants attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers in Wisconsin?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wisconsin
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 — Wisconsin
- 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.