Sapsucker Hybridization in British Columbia: Changes in 25 Years

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Abstract
Interbreeding of races of yellow-bellied sapsuckers Sphyrapicus varius ruber, S. v. nuchalis and S. v. varius was studied. Phenotypic scores of 51 sapsuckers from various localities in Alberta and British Columbia [Canada] are compared, and a diagrammatic comparison is given of the distributions of S. v. ruber, S. v. nuchalis and S. v. varius observed with those observed by Howell in 1950 in the Cariboo region, British Columbia. Ruber-like birds now occur less commonly at the southern edge of the area of contact, and nuchalis-like birds now occur much farther north, at least as far as Bouchie Lake. The presence of a breeding female S. v. varius at Stoner indicates that this race has now penetrated farther south in British Columbia than formerly. Data collected also support the view that ruber and nuchalis are species. Intermediates are scarce where the 2 populations are in contact.

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