Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific name:	Sphyrapicus varius
Date:	10-05-2018
Time:	6:05pm
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	juvenile
Sex:	male
Location:	Salt Lake International Center
County:	Salt Lake City
Latilong:
Elevation:	4250ft
Distance to bird:	10m-5m
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x42
Weather:	sunny, mild-60F
Light Conditions:	good
Description: Size of bird:	8.5 inches
(Description:) Basic Shape:	typical woodpecker
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	mostly mottled brownish
(Description:) Bill Type:	typical woodpecker
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	First noticed a Sapsucker flush from a tree, bird was very wary and spooky, but eventual allowed a good look. Immediately noticed Sapsucker had retained full juvenile plumage. Mottled brownish over the back,breast and face, black limited to wings.Red limited to a few spangles on crown and throat. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none heard
Behavior:	Clinging to trunks and branches of trees
Habitat:	Cultivated trees and lawn in business park at south end of Great Salt Lake, known migrant trap.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-naped Sapsucker is similar, however juveniles mostly molt into first cycle plumage before migrating, and therefor juvenile Red-naped appear much like adults with mostly black white and red plumage, very little to no mottled brown juvenile feather left after this molt by October 1st. Red-breasted Saspucker juvenile are much darker sooty brown on the head and breast, and also molt into fist cycle plumage before October My understanding is any Sapsucker in full juvenile plumage this late in the fall can only be a Yellow-bellied
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I seen 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, adults and juveniles in Utah, I've also seen many Red-naped Sapsuckers, at least 3 hybrids of the two, and 2 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and several hybrid Red-breasted X Red-naped, and I've also seen 1 Red-breasted X Yellow-bellied hybrid in Utah. Very familiar with Sapsucker ID.
References consulted:	Memory
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Bryant Olsen
Observer's address:	84102
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Max Malmquist was with me
Date prepared:	10-07-18
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48964172