[cobirds] Re: Boulder Sapsucker ID help please (Boulder County)

Consensus is that this bird is a young female Yellow-billed Sapsucker. The white wing patch seems to be obscured by chest feathers in my photos. 

This morning she was back at the same pine tree as yesterday.  

Thanks to those who helped me with the ID!

Richard Trinkner

Boulder

On Dec 17, 2024, at 4:43 PM, Richard Trinkner <Rtrinkner@icloud.com> wrote:



Hi folks,

This morning I photographed a sapsucker at the Boulder Community Gardens. My tentative ID is that it's a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, but it confuses me because it doesn't show white wing patches. I'd appreciate any ID suggestions. 

Photos are at https://ebird.org/checklist/S205728343.

I'm thinking that this bird is a young female, transitioning between juvenile and adult plumage. There's a red patch on the top of the head but a white throat patch. It's speckled overall, with a general dark appearance. It has faint yellow coloring to the belly. Maybe the white wing patches are actually covered by the wind-blown chest feathers. 

I saw the same bird exactly a week ago to the hour on the same tree. It puzzled me a week ago because I didn't see white wing patches then either.  A week ago, I didn't have my camera.

The habitat is north-central Boulder on the edge of a suburban housing development about 3/4 east of the foothills. 

Thanks,

Richard Trinkner

Boulder County