Re: [cobirds] Re: Unknown Woodpecker, Montrose Colorado, Dec 04 25

I observed the bird for over 2 minutes and noted on the spot that it had a short tail.  A Flicker doesn't move around on a tree with that massive tail hidden for over 2 minutes.  

On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:46:12 PM UTC-7 Susan Rosine wrote:

I can't hide it, but a Flicker can. The tail is in the usual location. 

Sorry, but I have no horrid photos of Flickers to show you, because I don't keep my bad photos of common birds.

Just go on believing your belief, and we'll go on believing ours, and the sun will still rise in the morning and set in the evening. There is no battle to be won or lost here.
Susan Rosine 

Brighton 

On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 9:41 PM Ron W <ourwil...@gmail.com> wrote:

For those in the Northern Flicker camp...where's the tail?  You can't hide a Flicker's tail, and it's not there on this bird.

On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 4:35:18 PM UTC-7 David Suddjian wrote:

CoBirders,

Unless there is something of substance to add or a point that has not already been made, I recommend we please now end this CoBirds thread. The eBird reviewer can evaluate the report for the eBird public record, and the observer can do what he likes with it as far as his personal records are concerned.  

Thanks,

David Suddjian

CoBirds list moderator

Littleton, CO

On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3:49:40 PM UTC-7 Tony Leukering wrote:

All:

The bird in question is certainly a Northern Flicker and, perhaps, identifiable as a Red-shafted Flicker. I lightened a screen grab of one of the photos and, with no other alterations, present it below. The upperparts are brownish, the nape and crown are noticeably grayer, the sides are white with dark spotting, and the whitish rump contrasts strongly with the dark tail.

As can be seen on the bird here, Black-backed Woodpeckers entirely lack white on the upper side of the body (excluding tail), so that white rump rules that species out. Additionally, the extensively white side to the bird is not a feature of Black-backed, which has the sides so heavily barred (see here) that in relatively poor views (such as on your bird), the birds look dark-sided (see here).

In my extensive birding experience in Michigan, New York, California, and Montana, I've seen many, many Black-backed Woodpeckers, so I immediately recognized the subject of the checklist's photos as not a Black-backed. I've also seen 10s of 1000s of Northern Flickers, and your bird struck me immediately as one.

You're welcome to reject my advice (as you have that of others), as it's no skin off my back.

Sincerely,

Tony Leukering

Denver

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