Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Gilded Flicker
Scientific name:	Colaptes Chrysoides
Date:	10/02/04 & 10/06/04
Time:	8:30am & 10:00am
Length of time observed:	About 10 -15 minutes each observation
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Silver Valley Estates, west of Leeds
County:	Washington
Latilong:	N 37.23458 W 113.37738
Elevation:	3539
Distance to bird:	30 ft first observation, 60 ft second observation
Optical equipment:	8x 40 Bushnell Binoculars first observation, 10x42 Pentax binoculars second observation
Weather:	clear
Light Conditions:	Sun at oblique angle first observation, sun overhead second observation
Detailed description of bird:	First observation; the bird flared to a perch in a dead Ash tree about 30 feet away. Tail and primary wing feathers were well lighted and were clearly yellow shafted. Red malar stripe on each side of the face. Face was gray but I could not see the crown or nape.Second observation; the bird was in the company of 3 female Red-shafted Flickers and all were foraging on the ground about 50 to 70 feet away. The subject bird perched on a rock facing slightly away but the underside of the tail feathers showed yellow. As the bird preened its breast feathers I looked for any markes on the nape. None showed, the nape and crown appeared to be unmarked and a dark gray in color. The subject bird, along with its Red-shafted companions, flew to roof ridge of an adjacent house. In the close proximity of the other Flickers the subject bird appeared to be slightly smaller in size.
Song or call & method of delivery:	The calls of this bird sounded just the same as the other Flickers in the area at the time.
Behavior:	Forages on the ground. Clings to nearby power poles or exposed, dead branches of trees.
Habitat:	Rural, desert shrub nad nearby irrigation pond riparian.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker has a black malar stripe annd a red mark on the nape. Apparently, a hybrid red-shafted x yellow-shafted would also have a mark on its nape.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen multitudes of red-shafted Northern Flickers. Yellow-shafted only as a boy in Minnesota.
References consulted:
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Charlie Sheard
Observer's address:	P.O. Box 460972 Leeds, UT 84746
Observer's e-mail address:	mcsheard@redrock.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	10/22/04 (General Public)
Additional material:
Additional comments: