Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Gilded Flilcker
Scientific name:	Colaptes chrysoides
Date:	12/15/2018
Time:	8:45 AM
Length of time observed:	1 minute (approximate)
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:	Male
Location:	Coalpits Wash, Zion National Park
County:	Washington
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	Varied - 50 to 100 feet (approximate)
Optical equipment:	Nikon 200-500mm lens, Leupold 10X50 binoculars
Weather:	Clear, calm
Light Conditions:	Good morning light
Description: Size of bird:	Mid-size woodpecker
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Typical flicker/woodpecker
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Gray, brown, black, yellow
(Description:) Bill Type:	Straight, woodpecker-like
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Observation Details: On the morning of the Zion NP Christmas Bird Count, I began birding Coalpits Wash with two other bird count participants. About 100 yards from the trailhead, I saw a flicker fly overhead, which caught my attention as it obviously had yellow under-wings. The flicker landed in the top of a tree in the wash. After it landed, I immediately noticed the yellow under the tail. Although I was still quite far away, I took out my camera and snapped a few distant documentation photos. I was hoping to get better looks as we approached. Unfortunately, we were not able to get any closer before the flicker flew out of view in the opposite direction of our approach. I was unable to get a decent look at the flicker again, and it flew out of the wash a short while later and out of view. Description: Medium-sized woodpecker. Mostly brown and gray. Small, black spots on underside (too distant to make out shape). Red malar stripe. Yellow underwings obvious when observed in flight. Yellow and black undertail (about 50/50 yellow and black). Thick, black upper-chest patch, which didn't appear to come to an obvious point on the sides. Cinnamon crown, which appeared to extend well behind the eye. Grayish face. Unfortunately, I was unable to photograph the bird in flight to capture the yellow underwings. Field marks not seen - back pattern, nape. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	I heard a flicker call moments before observing this bird. Unfortunately, there were northern flickers also in the area and I'm unsure which I heard.
Behavior:	Flying, then perched. No drumming or foraging observed.
Habitat:	Riparian wash in desert lowlands of Zion National Park.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted): This was my initial thought when first observed, but male YSFL would have a black (not red) malar stripe. YSFL would also have a brown face and gray crown, which is the opposite of the bird I observed. Northern Flicker (red-shafted): The bird I observed obviously lacked red under the wings and under the tail. Northern Flicker (RSFL/YSFL) Intergrade: I would expect intergrade flickers to show traits of both subspecies, including hints of both yellow and red feathers (or orange) under the wings and tail. The bird I observed appeared to have solidly yellow underwings and under-tail feathers. Although it was only seen for a few seconds in flight, I was struck by the yellow underwings and nothing hinted "red-shafted" to me. Male intergrades may also show black in the malar, and sometimes other head/facial markings similar to a yellow-shafted flicker. Eliminating all Northern Flicker Subspecies: Gilded flickers show a 50/50 ratio of black and yellow on the underside of their tail. This is consistent with the bird I observed. Northern flickers show less black (closer to 1/3 of their tail). This field mark is noted and illustrated by Kenn Kaufman in his flicker ID write-up (see attached in References Consulted). This is also described in Sibley's field guide. In addition, the black breast patch of the bird I observed appears quite thick, and does not come to a distinct point on the sides like the narrow crescent pattern on many northern flickers. Gilded X red-shafted Northern Flicker (Hybrid): This is probably the trickiest one to definitively eliminate. Although I can find reference to this hybrid online, I can't find many details. I would expect that this hybrid would show red in the wings and/or tail, which was apparently lacking on the bird I observed.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Gilded flicker: very limited experience, but I observed a few several years ago while visiting southern Arizona Northern flicker (yellow-shafted): One previous observation Northern flicker (red-shafted): Many (probably hundreds) of previous observations No experience with intergrades or hybrids.
References consulted:	Kenn Kaufman flicker ID article: https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nab/v045n05/p01172-p01175.pdf Sibley Guide to Birds National Geographic Field Guide
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mike Schijf
Observer's address:	354 Vermillion Ave
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	12/21/2018
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	This bird was also observed by Sharon and Penelope (last names unknown) - Zion NP Christmas bird count participants.