I’m a little rusty on sapsuckers, but the additional photos help rule out a
pure yellow-bellied because, in addition to the extensive red on the nape,
the white/creamy barring on the back is arranged into 2 neat rows divided
by a distinct black stripe, whereas a yellow-bellied would show broader
white (or golden) barring all the way down the back, not strongly arranged
in 2 narrow and separate rows.

The better-lit photos from RL (is it definitely the same individual?) make
me wonder if we can even rule out a pure red-naped. Jason’s original photo
looked like the bird has a thick and complete black border all the way
around the red throat patch, but on RL’s photos you can see that there is
extensive bleeding of red into the black border, such that it no longer
looks particularly complete.

Interesting bird and a great find for CBC week (and hopefully refound
tomorrow), regardless.

Carl Lundblad,
Moscow, ID

On Fri, Dec 15, 2017 at 1:19 PM, Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com
[ible] wrote:

>
> [Attachment(s) <#m_-4404947117027617330_TopText> from Jason Talbot
> included below]
>
> Attached are a couple more photos from RL
>
> On Friday, December 15, 2017, 1:42:41 PM MST, Jason Talbot
> jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] wrote:
>
>
>
> [Attachment(s) <#m_-4404947117027617330_TopText> from Jason Talbot
> included below]
>
> I found a possible YBSA at Morris Hill Cemetery today. Attached is a poor
> photo. I called RL and he took some better photos. We can’t rule out hybrid
> right now. I’ll send better photos later. I wanted to send this out in case
> you wanted to see it today in case it is a YBSA.
>
> Section M in big pine behind section M and P signs directly west of yellow
> building at entrance.
>
> The biggest thing for me was the thicker black line all the way around the
> red throat. It had more red on the nape than I’d like but it’s a lighter
> red (pinkish). It also had yellow surrounding black bib. The rear crown
> feathers were raised to form a crest when I first saw it. I realize there
> is variability between RNSA & YBSA in everything I mentioned but I’ll send
> out better photos for better input. I’m not sure what to look for in
> hybrids.
>
>
>