yellow-bellied Sapsucker 119 R.E. Johnson 1967 March 3 Tilden Regional Park, Alameda County, Calif. (cont.) in diameter. Holes smaller & less deep in smaller branches. Max. depth in largest limbs (thickest bark) - 3/4". More commonly depth is 1/2 inch on large branches. Barked removed from edges of holes may aid in (Allows face to go deeper). pecking through bark, since it occurs only on biggest limbs. Holes often oval to elliptical laterally. living. Holes occur on limbs laying on ground. Perhaps size of limbs drilled in is determined with 1) minimum side size they can perch on + 2) maximum size they can drill through. Small (up to 3/8") chips of fresh bark were found in branch crotches. (On Jan 12 sapsuckers trace) were seen feeding high in Eucalyptus trees - see Journal).