I have also seen "yellow-shafted flickers" at Montlake - however, the ones I
have seen are not true yellow-shafted, but yellow-shafted crosses with
red-shafted. Look for the red cheek patch in combination with the red nape
patch, this indicates one of many crosses between red-shafted and
yellow-shafted flickers. This particular type of cross can have either
yellow shafts or red shafts (I have seen it both ways).
----------
From: tweeters
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: american black duck
Date: Mon, Nov 21, 1994 11:20AM


Tweeters --

A very blustery wet walk on the shortened Nisqually NWR trail saturday
morning (Nov. 19) yeilded very few birds, but among the few was an
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, conveniently paddling around with two male and one
female mallards for easy comparison. Back at the "interesting bird
sightings" list at the office, someone had noted the same duck with
mallards on Oct. 28. Other birds out braving the elements included a
peregrine falcon, a rough-legged hawk, at least one northern harrier,
buffleheads, golden-crowned kinglets, chickadees, yellow-rumped warblers
and a great horned owl.

Sunday morning (Nov 20) at the Montlake Fill were a northern shrike,
coopers hawk, a pair of kingfishers, and numerous northern flickers, at
least two of which were yellow-shafted. Does anyone know how common the
yellow-shafted flickers are here? I was under the impression that "ours"
are supposed to be the red-shafted variety, yet the first flicker I ever
identified (2 years ago) was also yellow-shafted. Thanks.

Katie Sauter
sauter at u.washington.edu