Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2015-30
| Common name: |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
| Scientific name: | Sphyrapicus varius |
| Date: | 10-06-2015 |
| Time: | 11:00am |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | juvenile |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Garr Ranch,Antelope Island |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4250ft |
| Distance to bird: | 5m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x50 Binoculars, Canon SX50 hs Digital Camera |
| Weather: | Sunny and clear, 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Excelent |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium sized woodpecker |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | typical woodpecker |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brownish with some black and white barring |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Medium |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
What caught my eye in the field was a very pale sapsucker in juvenile plumage,
so I took many photos and compared them to online articles. I had direct
comparisons of this bird with several Red-naped Sapsuckers nearby, most also
juveniles. This bird was in nearly fully retained juvenile plumage, with only a
tiny amount or red on the throat and in the forehead. It also had a very barred
buffy back, and no red on the nape. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
none heard |
| Behavior: | clinging to tree trunks, feeding in sapsucker wells. Very tame and cooperative, but being harassed by other sapsuckers |
| Habitat: | Cultivated trees in a picnic area at Garr Ranch, a known migrant trap |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-naped Sapsucker: All the other immature Red-naped present had moulted into
near adult plumage, and had red on the forehead and crown as well as the nape,
and much more on the throat as well
Red-naped X Yellow-bellied Sapscuker hybrids should have at least some red on the nape, and also should be in more advanced plumage. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, I've seen an adult male at Lytle ranch a few years ago, and last year at Lytle I saw a hybrid Yellow-bellied X Red-naped Sapsucker |
| References consulted: | [internet PDF file] |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105, SLC, UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Matt Pendleton saw the same bird 2 day later in the same spot. His photos are included. |
| Date prepared: | 10-14-2015 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | eBird chcecklst: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25320973 |