Rare Bird Report #51-B-08

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM


SPECIES:  


Williamson's Sapsucker 


HOW MANY:


1 male


REPORTER:  


Shirley Sturts


REPORTER EMAIL:  


s.sturts@verizon.net


OTHER OBSERVERS:


Keith Sturts, Carrie Sturts 


DATE REPORT PREPARED:  


January 1, 1989


DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:  


December 27, 1988


LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:


Heyburn State Park, Benewah County. (Indian Mt. CBC) 


HABITAT:


Coniferous forest (including Ponderosa Pine)  to the west,  Lake (frozen) to the east, lake homes and campground nearby


CONDITIONS:


There was about 6 inches of snow on the ground and it was cloudy. As we drove up and parked next to a poderosa pine, we saw a woodpecker near the bottom of a ponderosa pine tree trunk.  It was about 20 feet away from the car.  We studied it through binoculars (7x35)for about 15 minutes. We observed it flying to other trees and then back to this same tree.  


DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:  


Yes, during the observation


DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:  


Yes, during the observation


WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:


Peterson's Western Birds 


DESCRIPTION:  


The size of a Hairy Woodpecker - all black back and chest - black head with 2 white stipes - red chin patch - yellow belly - white wing and rump patch.    In our first observation,  the white wing patch was very narrow but it was seen clearly in flight. When it returned to the original tree trunk the wing patch was very noticeable.  The white rump patch was seen both in flight and while the bird was on the trunk of the tree.  






BEHAVIOR:  


The sapsucker was working its way up and around a tree trunk.  It flew to some trees up the hill and then back to the original tree.  


HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?


size - all black back - large white wing and rump patch - red chin patch, yellow belly - black head with two white stripes - all clearly visible 


HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?


The Hairy Woodpecker and the Three-toed Woodpecker do not have an all black back, red chin patch, or yellow belly. The Black-baked Woodpecker (although it has an all black back) does not have a white wing patch, red chin patch or yellow belly. The other sapsuckers (Red-breasted, Red-naped and Yellow-bellied have more extensive red on the throat and red on the head.  They have the white wing patch but their backs are black and white stripped.   


EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):  


 My life bird was observed while hiking in the Seven Devil Mts., Idaho Conty, on August 4, 1976.  I saw one again (a pair)  in the  Umatilla Forest in Washington on June 14, 1977. I've seen many Hairy Woodpeckers and red-naped Sapsuckers, and a few Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers.  


GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:  


 I have have been birding seriously since 1965. I started doing BBS with Tom Rogers in 1977 and took over as observer in 1985.  I've been doing the Indian Mt. CBC since 1967 and also the Spokane CBC.  


WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:  


None