How long do yellow-bellied sapsuckers live?
The oldest Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on record lived to 7.8 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild yellow-bellied sapsuckers live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 7.8 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 7.1–8.7 in, 1.5–1.9 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 7 of 7
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 4–5 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 10–13 days to hatch.
How yellow-bellied sapsuckers compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other woodpeckers on this site.
- Red-bellied Woodpecker20.7 years
- Acorn Woodpecker17.2 years
- Pileated Woodpecker13 years
- Northern Flicker12.5 years
- Gila Woodpecker11 years
- Red-headed Woodpecker10 years
More about yellow-bellied sapsuckers
Frequently asked
How long do yellow-bellied sapsuckers live?
The longest-lived Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on record reached 7.8 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild yellow-bellied sapsuckers live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ever recorded?
7.8 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–5 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info