** Reply to message from Rolan Nelson <rnbuffle at yahoo.com> on Tue, 27 Aug 2002 12:15:39 -0700 (PDT)

> Bru Helmboldt wrote:Hi Tweets,
>
> I looked out at the backyard waterfall this morning and caught a new "yard
> bird" having a bath. All field guides show the juvenile Yellow-bellied
> Sapsucker with a brown - not red - head. They also show range maps that do
> not include western Washington.
>
> This guy had black wings with a nice white bar, and a laddered
> black-and-white back (more black than white). The whole crown area was
> _brown_, although it was wet, but definitely NOT red.
>
> So do immature Red-breasted Sapsuckers change body plumage, then the head?
> Or could this be a Yellow-bellied? Any comments?

> Bru,
> Juvenile Red-Breasted Sapsuckers also have very brown heads, in fact, browner than the Yellow-Bellied, and they tend to be more black than white on the back. But anything is possible! Try to get a photo or a second pair of eyes on it if it returns.
> -Rolan
>


If it were late September or October and you were still seeing brown-headed juvies, then you could be pretty sure it was a Yellow-bellied. Much more likely to be a young Red-breasted where you are in August.

Jack


> bruce h

Jack Bowling Prince George, BC mailto: jbinpg at shaw.ca