Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Gleaning from Leaves

Also yesterday morning, a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was gleaning something from the gray-green leaves and branches of some privet at the edge of the woods. She was very pretty, with a rich lemon-yellow breast, pure white throat and crimson crown. She raked the branches and leaves of the shrub through her bill, and once flew up and appeared to hawk a flying insect from the air. I could not tell if she was getting insects or maybe water or some kind of plant excretions from the privet.

One Response to “Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Gleaning from Leaves”

  1. Anonymous says:

    Left a comment yesterday, but it didn’t show up. I suspect I didn’t understand how to register. Anyhow, here’s another try. This is a very interesting blog, and I hope to send remarks. Nancy Ortiz, Thomasville, GA

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