Email sent in by Ryan O'Donnell:

Dear Committee:

Pasted below are the three expert opinions I solicited on the Gilded Flicker record, 2012-27. Below their names are their positions (added by me, not part of their signature).

Ryan P. O'Donnell
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I have a problem with this being a Gilded Flicker based solely on the photos for a couple of reasons. First, the feather shafts and base of the tail feathers don't look Gilded Flicker yellow on my monitor, but more of a dull salmon color. Also, the head pattern looks better for a Red-shafted Flicker to me, with the forecrown warm cinnamon brown, but the top of the crown with a lot of gray mixed in and without a really sharp contrast between the face color and crown color so that the result is a thick cinnamon frons. I typically see Gilded with an entirely cinnamon crown and sharp contrast with the gray face. The description is more intriguing, but doesn't seem to really match up with the images exactly. (?)

Enjoying hearing about all of the crazy stuff showing up on Saint Paul.

Chris Benesh
Tucson, AZ
Tour Leader for Field Guides; member of AZ Bird Records Committee

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I concur completely with Chris here. This bird does not say Gilded Flicker to me, and in addition to his comments the birds back pattern also looks much better for Northern.

Gavin Bieber
Tucson, AZ
Senior Tour Leader for WINGS
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Based on the photos, I'd say this is not a Gilded Flicker. The crown should be uniform cinnamon all the way to the nape, while the bird in the photos has a browner brow, which still isn't quite the right cinnamon color. I was looking at a Gilded Flicker just a couple days ago, and the black breast patch was narrower and deeper than that on the bird in the photos.

Rich Hoyer
Tucson, AZ
Senior Tour Leader for WINGS