Subject: Flicker Intergrades
Date: Nov 13 11:03:44 1999
From: Korpi, Raymond - RKorpi at clark.edu


I think the reason that we see a lot of intergrades is that flickers are far
more migratory and dispersive than we give them credit for--we tend to think
that the bird is "our" flicker when in fact there is a lot of movement.
Another interesting thing to watch is the facial and nape colorations--those
vary as much as the wing linings. I have seen birds with one red moustache
and one black moustache.

Ray Korpi, PhD
rkorpi at clark.edu
Portland, OR/Clark College, Vancouver WA
President, Oregon Field Ornithologists


-----Original Message-----
From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn [mailto:avosetta at hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 7:22 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Flicker Intergrades


To Lydia, Danene, Jane and all those in the early October flicker
discussion: See Birding, Oct '97 p420: "Flicker Futures," by Paul A.
Debenedictis. This article discusses the ongoing research into whether or
not red-shafted and yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKERS are one or two species,

and gives a handy "Hybrid Index" chart to assess individual birds. Back
issues can be ordered from ABA, or I can give you highlights if you e-mail
me privately.

In my neighborhood, only about fifty percent of the many flickers are 100%
Red-Shafted, though some of the plumage variations can be subtle. And yes,
there are many variations of color from yellow to orange to dark red-orange,

in the shafts. The mystery is how such a far-flung corner of the country
turns out to be an overlap range.

Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Gig Harbor, WA
Avosetta at hotmail.com

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