Hi tweets, I thought a few people might be interested in the recent
appearance of a Red-naped Sapsucker in Port Alberni (mid vancouver island).
This species has never before been recorded locally (although there are a
few other records for the island) and has been rather cooperative over the
past few days.

I am uncertain as to the sex of the bird and perhaps someone may be able to
comment on the following:

1) the red on the throat and chin is extensive and bright however there is a
weak white line along the lower mandible (amount of white is variable in
females)
2) the black facial markings (lines) are not as solid or as dense as I
thought they should be for a male, (assuming of course that its moult is
complete) thus the red on the throat becomes confused with the black lines
that are supposed to be along its border
3) the red nape is really not all that red. The red nape colour is
approaching orange and is clearly not as red nor as bright as the throat and
crown.


any comments?
cheers,

Don Cecile (dcecile at sd70.bc.ca)
Vice-Principal
Mount Klitsa Junior Secondary
5100 Tebo Road
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 6Z5
tel: (250)723-8195
fax: (250)723-3583