ML614494145

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Seen at the NE corner of Hardy Pl/Stewart Ave, mostly using pecan trees but also large pine and another UI deciduous tree, probably also using eucalyptus when it disappears? This bird looked like “pure” S. r. daggetti, the southern form that constitutes most or all of AZ's records. On the front, the red extended well below throat, down onto the breast with no black around border of red and little to no black seeping through red color. My photos don't show the breast very well, but the extent to which is went down onto the breast as well as the lack of black bordering it is apparent. On the sides of the face, there was thick black line going through eye and white stripe directly underneath, but barely any white or black above the eye--this was instead covered by red. Going through the face was a diagonal red strip connecting the throat and crown, with the color appeared most intense when viewed straight on. The crown and nape were dark red, with no black showing between as commonly seen in hybrids between RBSA and RNSA. The red on the nape generally followed the contour of the black eye stripe, ending at the bottom of the nape; i.e. the part of the back of the head that would be white on RNSA or YBSA was red instead--no more, no less. While this amount of red on the back of the head is on the low side, this seems to be within normal range of variation for this form especially in combination with breast, according to the Johnson scale and many eBird photos, including some from AZ. Down the back, there are two thin, straight mottled lines separated by black in center. I didn't bring camera because I didn't think it would be appropriate to carry around here, so I had to settle digibins, so quality suffers. However, I think the diversity of angles, in particular the ones showing part of the breast, the side of the face, and the angle showing no black between nape and crown show the major fields marks consistent with RBSA and not of hybrids with RNSA. The only feature that is notably not present in any photos is the full breast, which I did observe on a few occasions and noted a lack of black; however, an apparently more reliable feature in sapsucker identification is the lack of black bordering red, a feature that was present on this individual and which can be seen in a few angles. I met the owner of this house a few days after this observation when trying to relocate the bird to obtain better photos, and she was very kind and accommodating, being genuinely interested in the bird.

Technical information

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