sapsucker
noun
sap·suck·er
ˈsap-ˌsə-kər 
: any of a genus (Sphyrapicus) of North American woodpeckers that drill holes in trees in order to obtain sap and insects for food
Examples of sapsucker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Olympic National Park - Washington Birds of Olympic National Park:Bald eagle, Western gull, Red-breasted sapsucker, Woodpecker, Belted kingfisher, Steller’s and Gray jay, Blue grouse, Peregrine falcon and Northern pygmy owl.
—
Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023
Many types of insects and animals, including sapsuckers, detect the sweet tree sap and will be attracted to the area.
—oregonlive, 23 July 2023
Other methods include sticky repellents and hanging bright, shiny objects in the tree to scare the sapsuckers.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
For oak wilt, scale infestation, sapsucker and other animal damage, mistletoe invasion, chlorosis, canopy die-back, heavy gall growth, and other serious maladies, apply the Sick Tree Treatment, explained in detail under GUIDES on the home page of dirtdoctor.com.
—Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 31 May 2021
The most common treatment is to prevent further feeding using control methods that discourage the sapsucker from returning.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
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
Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023
Many types of insects and animals, including sapsuckers, detect the sweet tree sap and will be attracted to the area.
—oregonlive, 23 July 2023
Other methods include sticky repellents and hanging bright, shiny objects in the tree to scare the sapsuckers.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
For oak wilt, scale infestation, sapsucker and other animal damage, mistletoe invasion, chlorosis, canopy die-back, heavy gall growth, and other serious maladies, apply the Sick Tree Treatment, explained in detail under GUIDES on the home page of dirtdoctor.com.
—Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 31 May 2021
The most common treatment is to prevent further feeding using control methods that discourage the sapsucker from returning.
—oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2023
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sapsucker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1805, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sapsucker
Cite this Entry
“Sapsucker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapsucker. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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sapsucker
noun
sap·suck·er
ˈsap-ˌsək-ər
: 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
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sapsucker
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