Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific name:	Sphyrapicus varius
Date:	October 21, 2011
Time:	mid-day
Length of time observed:	5-10 min.
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	female
Location:	Beaver Dam Wash upstream of Lytle Ranch
County:	Washington
Latilong:	19
Elevation:	~ 850 m
Distance to bird:	4-10 m
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 binoculars
Weather:	clear and calm
Light Conditions:	full sun
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Medium sized black and white woodpecker. Head with red crown and black-and-white striped face, white stripes on face broader than black stripes. Completely white throat bordered by black malar stripes connecting to large black breast patch. Sides of breast off-white with black vermiculations and belly yellow. Back heavily mottled with buffy off-white feathers dispersed across back. Wings black with large white scapular patch, and black and white secondaries and primaries. Tail black and white. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	meowing and whining calls
Behavior:	Actively foraging and moving about in ashes and cottonwoods
Habitat:	Riparian habitat along Beaver Dam Wash
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Distinguished from Red-naped Sapsucker by black and white head pattern (broader white stripes on face), white throat, and white speckling diffused across back.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	yes
References consulted:
Description from:
Observer:	Rick Fridell
Observer's address:	Hurricane, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	rfridell@redrock.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	11-20-2011
Additional material:	Photo
Additional_Comments:	information copied from field notes