Andy Stepniewski wrote:

>Your mention of
>Red-breasted Sapsuckers is of interest too. That site is somewhat higher
>and moister than those occupied by Red-naped, but many birds east of the
>crest show evidence of being hybrids between the two.
>
>By the way, there is a cottonwood tree 1,7 miles upstream from the Clear
>Creek bridge at the inlet to Clear Lake near Rimrock Lake (east of White
>Pass) that now has a pair of nesting Red-naped and Red-breasted Sapsuckers
>in the same tree!. This is the report I've gotten anyways...haven't gone to
>check em out yet though.

That really is interesting and should be checked. Like Andy, on looking
very closely at them, I have found that a surprisingly large number of
"Red-naped" Sapsuckers in some areas on the east side of the Cascades show
evidence of Red-breasted genes, usually manifested as more red on the side
of the head and a more extensive red throat patch, washing over the black
breast. I still think the question of the specific status of these two has
not been fully answered.

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