Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at work

Photographed NW of Calgary on May 15th. I always love seeing the very clever lines of "holes" made by Sapsuckers. No pencil lines, no ruler used, ha. I watched both the male and female return over and over again to this tree. The male made so much loud vocalization each time he came back - and off flew the female!

"Although most non-birders believe that the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a fictitious bird created just for the humorous name, in fact it is a widespread species of small woodpecker. Its habit of making shallow holes in trees to get sap is exploited by other bird species, and the sapsucker can be considered a "keystone" species, one whose existence is vital for the maintenance of a community."

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-bellied_Sapsucker/id