ML70444861

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Bird 2.

Observation details

I believe both of these Picoides woodpeckers might be Ladder-backed x Nuttall's hybrids (including backcrosses). Both species are regularly recorded from this location. Two birds photographed together. Bird 1: Outer tail feathers extensively barred, ruling out pure Nuttall's. Back laddered but upper back black, probably outside the range of pure Ladder-backed. Nape more black than typical Ladder-backed, more like typical Nuttall's. Face with more black than typical Ladder-backed and probably within the range of typical Nuttall's if a bit on the light end. Crown red to forehead which is rare for pure Nuttall's, but not unheard of and might be explained by age. Nasal tufts buffy like Ladder-backed. Bird 2: Adult (based on red nape and worn plumage in May). Outer tail feathers extensively barred, typical of Ladder-backed but a bit thinner than usual (and much sparser than Bird 1). Back barring fades out toward nape, ending with a black upper back like Nuttall's. Facial pattern appears intermediate between Ladder-backed and Nuttall's, perhaps not outside the range of variation for either. Red at back of crown more typical of Nuttall's (with some overlap).

Technical information

Model

NIKON D5300

ISO

500

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

3895 pixels x 2817 pixels

Original file size

3.37 MB