Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific name:	Sphyrapicus varius
Date:	12/6/2022
Time:	3:40pm
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	immature
Sex:	male
Location:	Copperton City Park
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	40.563833, -112.098784
Elevation:	5,500ft~
Distance to bird:	Less than 10m at closest
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x42 Binoculars
Weather:	Partly cloudy, calm, 38F
Light Conditions:	good
Description: Size of bird:	medium sized woodpecker
(Description:) Basic Shape:	typical woodpecker
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	mostly a mix of brown, black and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	Chisel shaped
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I first hear some tapping then started looking around for a woodpecker, caught movement of one interacting with a Magpie in a small pine, woodpecker then flew into a nearby maple. Naked eye I noted it was smaller than the Flickers I has just seen but seemed brownish, not bold black and white like a Downy/Hairy. I quickly got the binos on it and noted it was a Sapsucker. This Sapsucker was in mostly retained juvenile plumage on the back with lots of brown mottling, it also had no red on the nape and a red crown. Sapsuker then flew back to small pine, interacted with Magpie again, then flew high into some elms and I lost it. I then briskly walked toward the elms, only to have the sapsucker launch and fly directly at me, I had to duck to avoid being hit, it then alighted in a small maple a few feet away and looked at me seemingly stunned I was there, then it flew to the top of a nearby pine. All that happened so fast I couldn't even get binos on it, but again was taken by the mottle brown plumage. I then located it in the top of the pine and got a long good look as it fed in some wells it had, again noted mottled brown back, no red on nape, I finally saw the throat which was solid red making it a male. Photos show a brown belly as well although I admit I didn't see that in the field. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	only tapping heard
Behavior:	Very flighty bird, flying from tree to tree on the west side of the park, briefly settled to feed on wells in a pine.
Habitat:	City park-mix of deciduous and coniferous cultivated trees with lawn and residential neighborhood nearby
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-naped Sapsucker-most likely to be confused with this species but juvenile RNSA usually complete their 1st formative molt into Basic 1 plumage by October, which is very adult like and have a black back with white stripes, most show red on the nape except some females which should have a red and white throat, unlike this bird. The combination of mottled brown juvenile back and no red on the nape but a solid red throat should not be seen in any age/sex combination of RNSA or hybrid RNSA X YBSA, in my experience hybrids usually molt into Basic 1 by October as well and most show some red in nape or red and white in throat. This bird shows no intermediate characteristic in molt or plumage to indicate a hybrid. Williamson's Sapsucker-female WISA can superficially be very juvenile YBSA like, but should never have red on the crown. Red-breasted Sapsucker-have a molt strategy like RNSA and juveniles molt into basic 1 by October and should have a solid red head and breast, and black back with yellowish stripes by this date.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, my 8th YBSA in Utah plus 3 in Texas, both juveniles and adults. I've also seen countless Red-naped, many Williamson's and 4 Red-breasted. I've also seen at least 2 YBSA X RNSA, 1 YBSA X RBSA, and 4 RBSA X RNSA, including both a YBSA X RNSA and RBSA X RNSA this fall at Garr. I'm very familiar with the challenges of 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:	None that I know of as of writing of this record
Date prepared:	12/6/22
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123566987