Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), McCormick Park, Pima County

This Red-breasted Sapsucker was discovered by Mark Stevenson and photographed by Rick Taylor on 17 October 2010 and by Mark Sharon and Andrew Core on 18 October.  This is presumably the same individual that wintered in this park last year.  It was discovered on 18 October 2009!

Casual transient and winter visitor to Arizona.  Care must be taken to separate them from hybrids with Red-naped Sapsucker.  Such hybrids are perhaps more common in Arizona than pure Red-breasted Sapsusckers.

Red head and breast lack underlying black nape-band and chest-band that hybrids with Red-naped Sapsuckers generally show.

17 October 2010, photo by Rick Taylor

18 October 2010, photo by Mark Sharon

18 October 2010, photo by Andrew Core

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