Documentation of
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2011-203
Observer Information
Reporter:
Ted Floyd
2009 S Fork Dr,
LAFAYETTE,
CO 80026-3136
E-mail:
tedfloyd73@gmail.com
Other Observers:
Jeff Gordon, Liz Gordon, Hannah Floyd, Andrew Floyd.; Jeff Gordon pointed the bird out, and Ted Floyd identified it.
Species, Date, Time and Location Information
Species:
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
First Date/Time:
2/27/2011
Last Date/Time:
Duration (total time in view):
2 minutes
County:
Otero
Specific Location:
37.7177968 North, 103.5175234 West. Additional site description provided at: http://tinyurl.com/4flp7f5
Number:
1
Age:
Unknown
Sex:
Unknown
Plumage:
Other/Unknown
Viewing Conditions
Optics:
10X binoculars for me and, I believe, for Jeff Gordon.
Distance:
Between 40 and 125 feet.
Light:
Diffuse hazy sunshine. Bird moved around, being to the left of, the right of, and right in the sunlight.
Description of the Bird
We first saw the bird climbing up a tree, jerkily so, like a woodpecker.
Easily identified as a sapsucker by its small-medium size, bold vertical white wing bar (upper wing coverts) on bird at rest, and dusky gray/black/brown barring all over.
The bird appeared to have no red on the head. Thus it retained much of its juvenal plumage, which point is relevant to separation from Red-naped Sapsucker (see below). It was dusky and barred all over, with extensive barring on the back.
Behaviors: Woodpecker-like, it climbed up a tree. It flew from branch to branch among several trees.
Call: None heard.
Plumage: juvenile
Similar Species Discussion
Based on overall plumage and time of year, only the Red-naped Sapsucker is really a contender. These two can be quite tricky, of course! A key point in favor of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is that the bird retained most of its juvenal plumage. By late February, I would expect a Red-naped Sapsucker to have a mainly adult plumage aspect, certainly not shown by this bird. The extensive pale barring on the back was also good for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, as was an overall pale-brownish plumage aspect.
One other thing is that I think Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is the more likely species, by probability, in southeastern Colorado in the winter.
Previous Experience
I have seen hundreds of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Red-naped Sapsuckers within their typical ranges. I have also seen a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers previously in Colorado.
Notes
Notes made AFTER observation
Materials Available
No files uploaded.
Date Documentation Submitted
3/29/2011 4:14:00 PM