Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), Sweetwater Wetlands, Pima County

This juvenile-plumaged Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found and photographed by Andrew Core and Philip Kline at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson on October 29, 2011.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a rare but regular fall and winter visitor to the state. With an Increase in observer awareness and scrutiny of sapsuckers, the number of reports has apparently increased in recent years.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Red-naped Sapsuckers differ in the timing of molt. This makes Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers of this age relatively easy to identify. Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers molt on the wintering grounds and retain much of their dull, brownish head, back, and underparts feathering until early winter. Red-naped Sapsucker juveniles on the other hand molt into first-basic plumage before they leave the breeding grounds and sport an adult-like facial pattern and back pattern in the fall and winter. 

29 October 2011, photo by Andrew Core

29 October 2011, photo by Philip Kline

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