Subject: [Tweeters] Yelow-shafted Northern Flicker
Date: Feb 16 19:19:52 2011
From: Janet Ray - janetlaura at earthlink.net




The Yellow-shafted subspecies of the Northern Flicker may not be a local
oddity, but we saw TWO at our suet feeder today in Preston. We've been
keeping track for over 25 years and this is a first occurrence for us here
and I'd be curious as to how frequently they are seen around the area.



Both were females. The first had NO red crescent at the nape but brightly
yellow undertail and wings. The second had a brilliant red crescent typical
of the Yellow-shafted but the undertail and wings were shading more to the
typical orange of our Northern. Both had the brown face extending down
around the cheeks and onto the throat. Intergrades do you think?



They were preceded at the feeder by a standard western-type female.



Thanks for any insight anyone might have on these birds.



Jan



*****************************

Janet P. Ray

Preston, WA

janetlaura at earthlink.net