The Red-naped Sapsucker

Josephine Saddle is a popular hike, and it is not unusual to share the trail with lots of other hikers. If you are looking for solitude, try hiking the Josephine Saddle trail from the Patagonia side instead. This is used far less, and has great views of the south down into Mexico.Hiking to Agua Caliente Saddle is a tough hike, especially if you use the trail from the west side of the Santa Ritas, or take the Very Steep Trail (aka Vault Mine Trail) from the Madera Canyon side. But this steepness means more chances to see wildlife, as there are fewer hikers. View the list »
Hiking in the Santa Rita Mountains will provide all kinds of wildlife viewing opportunities, including seeing many birds species. The Red-naped Sapsucker is just one you might see along the Old Baldy Trail to Mt. Wrightson. Certainly, it is not necessary to hike to the top, but it’s worth the trip if you are up to the 10.5 mile trek.

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The Red-naped Sapsucker is in the woodpecker family, and a resident of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson and east of Green Valley.

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This is a medium sized woodpecker, covered with black and white speckles. The head is red on top while the throat and breast is black. It has a white mustache stripe at the base of the nape. The underside of the bird is pale yellow. Look for a black beak, legs and feet. Their black wings have wide white stripes.

The Red-naped Sapsucker will interbreed with the Yellow-bellied sapsucker and sometimes the Red-breasted Sapsucker. At one time they were considered the same race. With all this interbreeding, it can be difficult to correctly identify the species.

Although the name implies that this birds sucks sap, they do not. They are sippers, using their tongues to collect sap, much like a cat drinks water.

Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; Whatbird.com

View the list
  • Hiking in the Santa Rita Mountains will provide all kinds of wildlife viewing opportunities, including seeing many birds species. The Red-naped Sapsucker is just one you might see along the Old Baldy Trail to Mt. Wrightson. Certainly, it is not necessary to hike to the top, but it’s worth the trip if you are up to the 10.5 mile trek.
  • Hiking to Agua Caliente Saddle is a tough hike, especially if you use the trail from the west side of the Santa Ritas, or take the Very Steep Trail (aka Vault Mine Trail) from the Madera Canyon side. But this steepness means more chances to see wildlife, as there are fewer hikers. 
  • Josephine Saddle is a popular hike, and it is not unusual to share the trail with lots of other hikers. If you are looking for solitude, try hiking the Josephine Saddle trail from the Patagonia side instead. This is used far less, and has great views of the south down into Mexico.
View the list

, Santa Rita Mountains Outdoor Recreation Examiner

Ms. Strader is 40-year resident of Southern Arizona. She began her Forest Service career as a fire fighter in the Santa Rita Mountains which was the beginning of her dedication to learning as much as she could about the mountains she used to protect. ...

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