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Nutalls Wood Pecker

Picoides nuttallii

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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37.2469, -119.622

Field Notes

Description:

Saw this wood pecker which is barred on it's back and has a red crown and nape. It is smaller than a robin and bigger than a sparrow. Seems fearless . Was on top of a birch tree.White on the under parts.

Habitat:

Flew into our neighbourhood from the protected wild life ,limeridge open space.

Notes:

Have been hearing calls of the ladderback woodpecker in my neighborhood.

Reference Links:

Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Orni…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (16)
HemaShah
This is a male. We are having a discussion on whether it is a Ladder back at all?
KatCuff
Those pics are cool! Look at this website - It gives a few very good examples of the male and female differences. http://www.bird-friends.com/BirdPage.php?name=Ladder-Backed%20Woodpecker
HemaShah
Liam,I went with Ladderback ,because of the typical call.
SeEttaMoss
The red on the crown really does not extend all the way to the forehead as on Ladder-backed. Also, per Sibley, there is a solid black patch on upper back just below head and I see that on this bird. Other characteristics not clearly seen on photos
HemaShah
Makes me wonder if these are two different birds. First two have facial markings of Ladder back. The others of nutall. Nutall, Ladder and Gila are similar and they are known to hybridize!
HemaShah
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/ladder-backed-woodpecker/#
HemaShah
Gene,California does fall in the range. Range Texas, California, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Plains http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=BD0479 The last picture too really is very suggestive of the nutall!! I agree!
GeneY
Well to be honest, I don't see Buffy feathers! And the last pic makes me think Nuttall's but others make me think Ladder! Range should be Nuttall's but if you heard calls that were Ladder, that should verify!
HemaShah
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ladder-backed_Woodpecker/id/ac here is the call of the wood pecker. Sounds almost lie the call of the Belted Kingfisher
HemaShah
Thanks ,thanks and Thanks a million times! and Gene thank to you to! I tis the call that I have been hearing that made me suspicious!
Liam
Yes, a Ladder-backed. The extensive red on the head and the buffy nasal feathers (visible in first photo) clinch the ID. Congrats! :)
HemaShah
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is very similar in appearance to Nuttall's Woodpecker, but has much less black on its head and upper back, and the range of the two species only intersects a minimal amount in southern California and northern Baja California. Hybrids are known.
GeneY
Where in CA? Could be Nuttall's male too!
HemaShah
Gene , I would be overjoyed if it was a Ladderback. I have not spotted that one yet. What is the possibility of it being a Nutalls?
GeneY
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (male)

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Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 9, 2012

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