Yes, very nervous sort, almost as bad as kingishers. We usually see the red-shafted in SoCal, rarely the yellow. They usually perch at the very top of tall trees
Can you help ID this bird please?
- Thread starter Marilynne
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Yes, very nervous sort, almost as bad as kingishers. We usually see the red-shafted in SoCal, rarely the yellow. They usually perch at the very top of tall trees
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
As said, female Northern Flicker, eastern/yellow shaft (refers to coloring under the wings) form. Make will have a black "mustache" extending from the bill (western variety has a red one).
Flickers are predominantly ground feeders but will occasionally hit our suet feeders. Definitely more skittish than Red-bellies and far more than the Downy. Heck, I'll be standing 3 feet from the suet feeders on my deck and the Downy will come in and eat for as long as I don't make any quick movements.
I thnk this is a Red Bellied Woodpecker... but the marking on my reference book "Life Size Birds" by Nancy J Hajeski have different markings. So I am not totally sure.
Can anyone confirm? This guy is a lot more careful to approach the feeder and flies away at the slightest sound or disturbance. The Downy is a lot more less shy.. even feeding within a few feet away from the feeder.
Carpenter by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
sO.. Is this the male... or a different type? Behaves almost identical...
... Actually.. this one fits the markings of the Red Bellied Woodpecker... Right?
Hitting the Suet by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
Hitting the Suet by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
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That's the red-bellied woodpecker
sO.. Is this the male... or a different type? Behaves almost identical...
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
No, not "the male", as in the male Northern Flicker. But yes, a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker as the red across the head reaches all the way to the beak (female has a slight gap).
Andy W
Senior Member
I meant the red bellied woodpecker.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
And when @Wolfsatz asked, "sO.. Is this the male... or a different type?", and you replied, "Yes, that's the male", I figured it might just require some clarification.
These two visited again.. always in the same order.. which may be coincidence.. but that is three in a row. I can post a few pics if you'd like. How can you tell male vs female on the Red Bellied Woodpecker?
Here they are back to back!
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Red Bellied Woodpecker by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker by Wolfsatz, on FlickrRed Bellied Woodpecker
Red Bellied Woodpecker by Wolfsatz, on Flickr
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
It's migration time in VA so it's a good bet that it is. Best I can come up with is a Female Cerulean, though I am by no means well versed in these - that's my wife's territory.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Looks like the Yellow Rumps I got in my yard in Texas.
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BackdoorArts
Senior Member
The books I was looking through didn't show as definite a wing bar but yeah, I'm inclined to agree here. Like I said, they're not my wheelhouse. LOL
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
It is hardly mine. I just happened to have an image.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
Thinking it's too brown for a Brewers. I'm leaning towards a Song Sparrow. Not nearly as marked on the belly out there as they are elsewhere. Nothing else seems to fit.
Thanks for the input, Pete.
I've never seen a Song Sparrow with such light coloration around here, and they always have very pronounced markings on the chest, and the grey makings on the head are normally quite noticeable. I suppose it could just be a very lightly colored Song Sparrow, though. Hmmm.
Almost certainly. I have song sparrows all year long and they are never this bland, which is an attribute of the Brewer's.