Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-60
| Common name: |
Red-breasted Sapsucker |
| Scientific name: | Sphyrapicus Ruber |
| Date: | Saturday, October 13, 2018 |
| Time: | 10:30 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | First year |
| Sex: | Suspected Male |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch Orchards |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 37° 8'40.94"N 114° 1'12.36"W |
| Elevation: | 2795 |
| Distance to bird: | 10 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 10x42 Swarovski EL Binoculars; Panasonic Lumix GX7 Camera |
| Weather: | Clear, Approx. 55 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | Bird was mostly in shaded area of tree trunk. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Approx. 8 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Sapsucker shape with round head, prominent straight-tapered bill; split tail tip |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Red head, black and gray body with gold and white barred stripes on either side of back. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Straight and pointed with blunt tip. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Medium woodpecker with rounded red head and nape and red upper breast except for
small gray spot on breast that appeared to be molt; lower breast light yellow
wash; small creamy spot of feathers at base of bill; small area of gray feathers
on lower side of neck appear to be the beginning of white stripe suggesting
first year southern bird. Stripes on both sides of back made up of mostly gold
and
white barring. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Not vocalizing |
| Behavior: | Drilling sap wells; relatively sedentary, mostly working one small area of one tree |
| Habitat: | Low on trunk of hardwood tree. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
No black on rear of crown and no black border around red throat patch,no white on chin, so not a red-naped. There were several red-naped in the same grove of trees, making for good comparisons. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Moderate experience seeing red-naped and yellow-bellied sapsuckers; have seen another red-breasted sapsucker (but northern subspecies) in northern Utah and have photos of that bird. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds; Cornell Lab Online species account; Bryant Olsen consulted. |
| Description from: |
Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Mike Malmquist |
| Observer's address: | 1957 E LONGVIEW DR. SLC Utah 84124 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Max Malmquist; Terry Reid, John Doty |
| Date prepared: | 10/31/18 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |