Red-naped Sapsucker throat variations

["Tim Avery" <tanager at timaverybirding dot com>]

While out the last 3 weeks in Wyoming I photographed this Red-naped 
Sapsucker along the Upper Hoback River south of Jackson.  The throat is 
bordered completely by a rather thick black stripe, which struck me as 
odd, because this is a trait exhibited by Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  The 
back pattern however is definitely Red-naped, not to mention the nape.  
I know that Yellow-bellied can exhibit a red-nape in some cases, but is 
unlikely in this location.  Is there any possibility in a hybrid bird, 
or is this just a far end of the spectrum for RNSA?  So my question is, 
how much of a variation is there within the species on the throat 
border?  

http://www.timaverybirding.com/rnsa_01.jpg

Any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Good Birding

Tim

http://www.timaverybirding.com
Salt Lake City, UT or Wherever the Birds Take Me!
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