The bushy tongue of a sapsucker effectively soaks up sap. Sapsuckers inhabit forests, orchards, and woodlots. The sapsucker is the most migratory of our woodpeckers. Call is a jay-like mewing note. This woodpecker has a vertical white stripe down the center of its back, black wings stippled with white on the upper sides, white feathers forming the outer edge of the tail, and white breast.
Sexes are similar, but the female lacks the male's small red patch on the back of the head.
Larger size and a proportionately longer bill distinguish it from the downy woodpecker. Primary habitat is forest land and wooded swamps. Flickers, also known as yellowhammers, have brown backs, no white on the wings, a prominent black band high on the breast, and bright red on the nape of the neck. In flight, the white rump patch and yellow underwings show up well. Flickers are often seen on the ground or on sidewalks eating ants, a preferred food.