Sapsucker woodpeckers are small, colorful birds that are found in North America. They are known for their unique feeding behavior, which involves drilling holes in trees and drinking the sap and insects that are attracted to it.
While sapsucker woodpeckers do not typically kill trees, they can cause damage, especially to young trees and trees that are already stressed. The holes that they drill can weaken the tree's structure and make it more susceptible to disease and insect infestation. Sapsuckers can also attract other pests, such as ants and woodpeckers.
In addition to the damage caused by the holes that they drill, sapsucker woodpeckers can also damage trees by girdling them. Girdling is when a bird removes a ring of bark around a tree's trunk. This cuts off the flow of nutrients and water to the tree, which can eventually kill it.