Mark Freeland reported a gilded flicker from Federal Way. This bird is
very unlikely to occur in Washington, more likely a hybrid yellow-shafted x
red-shafted with yellowish wings and red malar stripe. Shows you the
problems inherent in using field guides that don't show all the
possibilities (you'd need a page with nothing but hybrid flicker
illustrations). I have a female flicker in my yard with a very pale back,
superficially like a gilded but larger (same size as and apparently paired
with a male with red shafts but yellow-shafted head). Flickers have
thoroughly mixed their genes in this area; have they no shame?

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416