Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus), Empire Gulch, Las Cienegas NCA, Pima County

This Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker was found and photographed by Andrew Steuer on 22 October 2019

Northern Flickers seen in Arizona that show yellow shafts are mostly intergrades of Red-shafted X Yellow-shafted forms. A "pure" Yellow-shafted individual is rare in Arizona.

No outward signs of intergression with a brown face, gray crown, bright yellow in the wings and tail, black malar, and red nape patch. Intergrades usually have an intermediate face pattern with gray in the cheek and brown in the crown.

22 October 2019, photo by Andrew Steuer

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