ML647740806

Behaketaren xehetasunak

Likely a hybrid due to bold white strap above the eye and partial black strap above the white showing, whereas a Red-breasted daggetti would show only red or mostly red there mostly covering the black and white. Very limited red spattering over the black eye-stripe not typical of daggetti. Also, the black nape patch is not typical of a Red-breasted Sapsucker and implies Red-naped parentage. The slight black speckling along the upper breast-sides and below the red upper breast is OK for a daggetti; I'm open to debate on this feature. This ID conclusion has been both an individual and team effort by several people and to my knowlege, at least four have concluded the bird is a hybrid. Birders may not visit this bird due to its hybrid nature, but that's exactly why visiting it is a good idea. This is a challenging hybrid that inspires deep research and extends skills, at least for me, anyway.