Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), Lower Madera Canyon, Pima County

This Red-breasted Sapsucker was photographed by Laurens Halsey on 20 November 2012

This bird was first reported (to eBird) by Michael Andersen on 19 November 2012.  Laurens Halsey found and photographed it on 20 November 2012.

Casual transient and winter visitor to Arizona. It is possible that this is the same individual that was present the previous two winters in the same vicinity (seen in the same tree used last winter).

Red feathering extends down the breast without evidence of a black breast band, and feathers on the back of the crown and nape are red-tipped. The black visible in the bib area is an artifact of the slightly raised feathers exposing the black feather bases and shadowing. The feathers of the bib area are tipped red not black. The sapsucker face pattern is very indistinct.

20 November 2012, photo by Laurens Halsey