3 replies to this topic

[Niebla]

See photos: Woodpecker 1a, 1b and 2
There are a lot of Woodpeckers in the mountains near Denver where I shoot but they are not easy to photgraph so forgive the photo quality. I'm thinking that these are either hairy or downy woodpeckers but I'm confused.

Woodpecker 1 has a red nape and I'm thinking it might be a Hairy WP because I see no "black-spotted white outer tail feathers"

Woodpecker 2 (different bird) has me perplexed. What kind has a red chin spot? (I was experimenting with "Vivid Colors" setting when I shot this and the colors are not very true, but it that red chin spot reallyl shows.)

I have a few other shots if other views might help the ID let me know and I will try to upload what you need.

When I listened to the call for Downy WP the tapping sounded like a machine gun. Neither of these taps nearly that fast. Just a steady knock-knock-knock.

Niebla 

[David Lukas]

We would agree with your identification of the Hairy Woodpecker. Typically this species is best identified by its longish bill (vs. the tiny little bill of a Downy), but it's hard to get an accurate read on the bill in this photo so we'd look at the second best feature which is the white outer tail feathers that you already noticed.

The other woodpecker is a male Williamson's Sapsucker. The red chin on a relatively dark woodpecker is a fairly diagnostic mark!

David and Simone

[Niebla]

Dear David and Simone

See Photos: Woodpecker 3, Sapsucker

Thanks again! How did anyone do this before digital photography and the internet? 

Regarding Hairy Woodpecker: Here's one I shot today displaying the very long beak. No red nape so I guess its a female or juvenile.

Regarding the Williamson's Sapsucker: What threw me off was that I couldn't see much yellow underneath.

Also the map on Percevia shows this bird only on the Western Slope. However, this map I found  http://www.mbr-pwrc....617/ra4040.html does show the bird thinly distributed in summer as far as the Eastern Slope near Denver.

The shot previously posted was from late August and this new one I shot just today. It's just starting to turn cool here so I guess I was lucky to get a clearer picture before the Sapsuckers head south.

Niebla

 

[David Lukas]

Sapsuckers are year round residents, though they wander from their breeding grounds in fall and winter which may explain their appearance in your area (?).