sapsucker

noun

sap·​suck·​er ˈsap-ˌsə-kər How to pronounce sapsucker (audio)
: any of a genus (Sphyrapicus) of North American woodpeckers that drill holes in trees in order to obtain sap and insects for food

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Four redheads at Jamaica Pond and four more redheads at the Chestnut Hill Reservation, a rough-legged hawk and a glaucous gull at Rumney Marsh and a yellow-bellied sapsucker at Belle Isle. Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Jan. 2023 Three redheads, a northern pintail, and a Bonaparte’s gull at Turners Falls, three greater scaup and a red-breasted merganser at gate 22 at Quabbin Reservoir in New Salem, and a yellow-bellied sapsucker in Sunderland. BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022 Several noteworthy species of birds were observed: brown creeper, rusty blackbird, wood thrush and yellow-bellied sapsucker. Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 27 Oct. 2022 On the front wall, a pair of Bullock’s orioles feeds three chicks, and a red-breasted sapsucker feeds two. James F. Lee, Washington Post, 7 July 2022 Hampden County: The area hosted a Barrow’s goldeneye on the Connecticut River in Chicopee, lingers included a gray catbird at Laughing Brook Sanctuary and a yellow-bellied sapsucker in Springfield. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022 For trees in stress with yellow leaves, mistletoe, sapsucker damage, dead tip growth and other symptoms, apply the entire Sick Tree Treatment. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2021 Other North American woodpeckers that cache are downy, red-headed, hairy, Lewis, red-bellied, gila, golden-fronted and red-bellied sapsucker. Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 24 Nov. 2020 Prior to Hercules' tenure at the airport, wildlife strikes have included at least two coyotes, two deer, three bats, three geese and a yellow bellied sapsucker. Rick Steelhammer, chicagotribune.com, 25 Aug. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sapsucker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sapsucker was in 1805

Dictionary Entries Near sapsucker

Cite this Entry

“Sapsucker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapsucker. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

sapsucker

noun
sap·​suck·​er ˈsap-ˌsək-ər How to pronounce sapsucker (audio)
: any of various North American woodpeckers that drill holes in trees in order to obtain sap and insects for food

More from Merriam-Webster on sapsucker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY