Pressing its tail feathers against the tree for balance.

The red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) ascends tree trunks using its strong gripping feet with two toes facing forward and two backward. This provides a stable grip on vertical surfaces. Pointed tail feathers act as a brace, aiding balance as it climbs.

They use their chisel-like bill to excavate small, evenly spaced holes in the bark of trees, forming horizontal rows known as sap wells. These wells tap into the tree’s phloem or xylem layers, allowing sap to flow to the surface. The sapsucker returns to feed on both the sap and the insects attracted to it. This feeding strategy classifies it as both a sap feeder and an opportunistic insectivore.

By drilling sap wells, sapsuckers create feeding sites not just for themselves but for other species like hummingbirds, bats, and insects that rely on the sap or the insects it attracts.