Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-34
| Common name: |
Red-breasted Sapsucker |
| Scientific name: | Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti |
| Date: | 09-30-10 |
| Time: | 5:45 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | orchard, Lytle Ranch, Beaver Dam Wash |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | ~ 850 |
| Distance to bird: | 5 m |
| Optical equipment: | 10 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | clear, calm, and hot |
| Light Conditions: | bright sunlight, in shade of orchard |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | woodpecker shape |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | black and white and red |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long, stout, and pointed |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Medium-sized woodpecker with bright red head, nape, chin, throat, and breast.
Red on breast extending to yellow belly. Sides pale yellow with black speckling.
Long, sharp, black bill. Face red with black in front of eye and white stripe
angled back from above bill to to below eye. Large black eye. Back black with
two yellowish series of parallel spots down center. Wings black, with a
prominent white scapular patch and a few white spots in primaries and
secondaries. Tail mostly black with little white limited to central retrices.
White undertail coverts. Large gray feet. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | Hanging out in orchard eating persimmons with 10 or so additional sapsuckers. Much more tame and approachable than nearby Red-naped Sapsuckers and hybrid sapsuckers |
| Habitat: | mixed fruit tree orchard adjacent to desert riparian system |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-naped and Yellow-breasted Sapsuckers with complex black and white face
pattern with limited red, more prominent white spotting on back, and broad black
bid on upper chest. Hybrid sapsuckers typically show more intermediate face pattern with more black and white on head and some black on chest separating red head and yellow belly. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 10-01-10 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |