Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Audio only observation  [see audio page]

The call was what was distinct. Similar to red naped sapsucker, but lower pitched and less harsh sounding. Still shaky and descending like the red naped, but with less energy, so to speak. This is the most likely confusion of species. I am aware of my inexperience and I don't know how much call pitch varies with range and such. I could be unaware that red naped sapsuckers have a lower and more relaxed call in Utah than in Oregon and other places. This is still where the uncertainty lies in this comparison, but the yellow bellied still was a better audio match.

Green tailed towhees make a meow call as well and are found in the same area, but towhee calls are ascending, and I heard descending calls. Towhee calls are also more nasal and harsh than what I recorded.

Gray catbirds were also an option, but I ruled them out because their calls are too scratchy and maintain volume throughout the call, whereas my recording indicated a call that sort of trails off. Habitat also was somewhat off for gray catbirds. This bird was in a pine and there were no real bushes around. Tall, thick grass, but no bushes or thickets. No streams in the immediate vicinity either, but the call alone ruled out the catbird for me.

If I was totally off, I considered the possibility of other animals making sounds that just threw my brain for a loop, because they provided a unique sound. There are lots of chipmunks and squirrels in the area and in the beginning of my birding experience, I (embarrassingly!) have mistaken squirrel calls for belted kingfishers or warbler chip calls. However, the recording is similar enough to a red naped or yellow bellied sapsucker that I could easily tell it wasn't simply a mammal.
(Tape)