Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-65
| Common name: |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
| Scientific name: | Sphyrapicus varius |
| Date: | 11/06/2018 |
| Time: | 6:00 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Hatch-year |
| Sex: | Female? |
| Location: | Royal Oaks Park, St. George |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 37.086323°, Long: -113.568874° |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 30 feet (approx) |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 200-500mm lens, Leupold 10X50 binoculars |
| Weather: | Clear, calm |
| Light Conditions: | Good evening light |
| Description: Size of bird: | About 8 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Typical woodpecker |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brown, gray, white, yellow, red |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Straight, woodpecker-like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Dusky-brownish overall, including head, back, breast, and throat. Extensive
"messy" brownish pattern on back extending up nape to crown. Some black also on
back. Black and white facial pattern, but not heavily contrasting like an adult
plumage bird. White wing coverts. Reddish crown with some mottled brownish
feathers mixed in, and some black. Black and white barring to wingtips and tail
(more white on wingtips than tail). Pointed tail feathers. Straight, pointed
woodpecker-bill. Dull yellow belly. No red on throat or nape. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Silent |
| Behavior: | Climbing high, exposed branches of a tall cottonwood tree. Observed very little drumming. At one point, it was chased off of its branch by a ladder-backed woodpecker but remained in the same tree for several minutes. |
| Habitat: | Small riparian zone: cottonwood trees and thick brushy vegetation including willow and tamarisk. Some large planted conifers were also nearby. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-naped sapsucker: Can appear very similar.
However, I would expect red-naped sapsuckers to be almost fully transitioned
into adult plumage by early November. Red-naped would have a more contrasting
black and white face pattern with less brown, and would show more clean white on
back. Most red-naped would also show red on the nape and red on the throat, both
of which are absent on the reported individual. Other species of sapsuckers should be fairly distinctive, especially this time of year, and none should still be in juvenile plumage. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yellow-bellied sapsucker: I observed a juvenile sapsucker in October that I
thought was a good candidate for a yellow-bellied, but never got very good
looks. This is my only previous experience with this species. Red-naped sapsucker: many previous observations |
| References consulted: |
Sibley Western Field Guide BirdFellow journal entry on sapsucker ID: http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2008/12/23/dont_be_suckered_by_sapsuckers Other various online resources |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Mike Schijf |
| Observer's address: | 354 Vermillion Ave |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Re-found on November 8th by Rick Fridell and Seth Topham. Possibly seen by others. |
| Date prepared: | 11/09/2018 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |