Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), Private Yard, Lower Stump Canyon, SE Huachuca Mountains, Hereford, Cochise County

This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was discovered and photographed by Liz Sockness on 18 February 2011 in her backyard. 

Rare fall transient and winter visitor with a few reported every year.  There seem to be a higher number of reports this year than typical.  Prior to this year, there were 3 total documented reports of this species in the AZFO archive, but this is the sixth documented report for this winter.

These images clearly show the classic field marks of adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  There is no red on the nape.  This by itself is diagnostic for adult Yellow-bellied Sapsucker except in late summer when extremely worn Red-naped Sapsuckers may lack the red.  The photos also clearly show the complete, thick black frame that completely surrounds the red throat.  Finally, most Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, like this bird, tend to have buffier back stripes than typcial Red-naped but this is not always definitive. 

18 February 2011, photo by Liz Sockness

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