Bird ID Question

[robbie_robertson]

<p>I’ve seen this bird only twice in six years, and I am mighty confused about identification: Three toed; Too much mottling on the back to be a Black-Backed Woodpecker when compared to both my western U.S. field guides and all internet resources, and too dark on the breast to be a Three-Toed Woodpecker, again when compared to my field guides/resources. There are also the double white spots on the wings that I don’t see in either species in the field guides, and no eye line that is typical of the two woodpecker species I’ve mentioned. Would this be a dark variant of the Three-Toed Woodpecker? It would out of its normal range if either species, which might explain why I’ve only rarely seen it.<br>

The location is the inland (eastern) slope of the Coast Range in northwest Oregon at 640 feet in altitude. The terrain is forested, primarily in Douglas Fir.<br>

I’m going to post two other shots, so a delay in response would be appreciated till I get them uploaded.</p>

[robbie_robertson]

<p>Whoops- Try again...</p><div></div>

[robbie_robertson]

<p>Second image.</p><div></div>

[robbie_robertson]

<p>OK, last (and most detailed) image.</p><div></div>

[peter_mounier]

<p>Just throwing out a guess, but could it be a yellow bellied sapsucker?</p>

<p>Peter</p>

[stemked]

<p>It's not a Three toed Woodpecker, they have very large heads and a yellow cap. Since you are out West I would guess a Williamson Sap Sucker, but will have to actually a check a book to be sure.</p>

[charedan]

<p>I'd go with first year female yellow bellied sapsucker.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Got the Western Peterson guide out and we were both incorrect. It is juvenile Red-Breasted Sapsucker. The white marking above the beak without any white on the neck (Williamson's) and lacking a white stripe near the eye (Red-Naped Sapsucker).<br>

Nice find.</p>

 

[stemked]

<p>Oh, and not a 1st year Yellow Bellied either.</p>

[charedan]

<p>Thanks Douglas.</p>

[Two23]

<p>Crying out loud here! How many sapsuckers are out there anyway? Is there really all that much sap to suck?</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

[paul_de_ley]

<p>I've always wondered. Is a sapsucker both a sap and a sucker?</p>

[robbie_robertson]

<p>I hadn't logged on for a couple of days, so please accept my belated thanks for the steer. I'll go hit the field guides again to see what you found.</p>