Hi Kevin and everyone,



I had two intergrade Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted Flickers at my feeders off and on during the winter.? Both showed noticeably 'yellower' underwing plumage than on our normal Red-shafted subspecies.? They also have both red malar stripes and a red v-shaped mark on the nape as you describe.? Based on Tweeters posts and talking with other birders, it seems like intergrades (or even pure Yellow-shafted birds) have become more common in our area over the last few years - this impression?isn't based on any study data, though I have wondered if such scientific information might be out there somewhere.? Our two birds mingled with other 'regular' flickers with no apparent difference in interactions among the birds (we have had as many as eight flickers in our yard at the same time).?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Mack" <kevin_mack at comcast.net>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 4:42:01 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [Tweeters] Northern Flicker- yellow-shafted x red-shafted cross at Snoqualmie Point Park

Hi All,

My wife and I took a quick trip out to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center in North Bend this morning. ?On our way back we stopped at Snoqualmie Point Park (Exit 27 off of I-90, head south on Winery Road). ?I noticed a flicker feeding on the ground in a grassy area that made me do a double-take. ?He had a red malar stripe, but he also had two red lines on the back of his neck forming a distinct ?v?. ??I never got a look at the color on the undersides of his wings or tail (we didn?t have long to spend at the park and I didn?t want to disturb his feeding just to get a look at his feather color). ?Pretty cool bird though. ?I think he should be called the V-necked Flicker :o).

I uploaded four photos of the flicker to my new photos gallery here: ?

http://www.goatislandimages.com/photogalleries/ImageViewMain.html?s=new_photos

They can be found in the gallery with today?s date.

Happy Birding!
--
Kevin D. Mack
Edmonds, WA
www.goatislandimages.com
http://everydaywild.blogspot.com/
????
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