Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific name:	sphyrapicus varius
Date:	March 26, 2025
Time:	2:39 PM
Length of time observed:	6 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Wallsburg, Utah
County:	Wasatch
Latilong:	40.379 111.42
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	40 feet
Optical equipment:	Canon EOS R1, 100-500 mm lens, 1.4 Est.
Weather:	Clear, sunny, 74 degrees F
Light Conditions:	The bird was in shadow of trees.
Description: Size of bird:	About 8 inches
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Thin, profile view, looked like a woodpecker.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Black, Red, White
(Description:) Bill Type:	Long, straight
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Red crown and throat. Black and white wing. Back of head and wings black and white. (see photos & video)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Only heard his tapping on tree.
Behavior:	Constant tapping in same location on tree.
Habitat:	Semi-rural area, homes nearby.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-naped Sapsucker. I zoomed my photo on the camera screen. No red on back of head and the red on the throat was completely surrounded by black. The Red-naped shows a larger area of red on the throat and a red area on the back of it's head.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I previously lived in the Chicago area. Had seen the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker several times. No prior experience with the Red-naped Sapsucker. Have seen Flickers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers many times. Pileated, Red-headed and Red-bellied also. Moved to Utah in 2005. When I submitted the Yellow-bellied I did not realize it was rare here. The Red-naped would be a lifer for me.
References consulted:	First by Googling Utah Woodpecker Species on my phone. Later at home, my Sibley Birds, 2nd Edition. ABA Article, linked here: In it they reference all Adult Red-naped Sapsuckers have red na;es. The article references many variation in all types of field marks. The bird I photographed seems to have Yellow-bellied Sapsucker field marks, no red on back of head and black around the smaller red patch on it's neck.
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Janice Vander Molen
Observer's address:	12724 South Rodwell Court, Herriman, UT 84096
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jeff Cooper with eBird, who advised me it was rare and confirmed my sighting.
Date prepared:	April 3, 2025
Additional material:	Photos Video
Additional comments:	Thank you. Photos and video will be emailed.