Dilute Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis), near the San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Pinal County

This dilute Gila Woodpecker was found and photographed by Vicki Hire on 01 November 2015

This Gila Woodpecker appears to have reduced melanin throughout the plumage and soft parts. It lacks much of the brown/dusky tones throughout the body plumage, and black is reduced in the upperparts and remiges. There appear to be two generations of tertials showing the same dilute pattern. The feet appear to lack pigment altogether, and pigment is reduced in the bill and orbital ring. Note that the red on the cap and yellow on the belly are unaffected, and yellow on the nape may also show through where it would normally be masked by darker plumage.

01 November 2015, photo by Vicki Hire

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