1st Round

2nd Round

09-15-2009
Sturts--Accept

Well documented - the timing of the molt between the Red-naped and Yellow-bellied convinced me.

11-21-2009
Sturts --Accept

I'm still convinced of a correct identification.

09-18-2009
chuck trost--Reject, specific identification not established

It is obviously a juvenile bird, molting into adult male plumage. But my reading of kaufman (178-179) is that this could have been a late molting RNSA.

11-19-2009
Chuck Trost--Reject, specific identification not established

This bird was obviously in molt, and the difference between red on the back of the crown and the nape is very slight.

09-18-2009
Dave Trochlell--Accept

An impressive and convincing report!

010-11-2009
Dave Trochlell--Accept

I'm still convinced.

20 September 2009
Hardy--Accept

The molt timing seems borderline for determining species (Pyle says "after September...most likely Yellow-bellied..."), but the medium brown crown (rather than dark) and brownish tones on the back point strongly towards YBSA.

2 November 2009
Hardy--Accept

Same comments as first round.

010-05-2009
Doug Ward--Reject, specific identification not established

While typically a good clue, I don’t believe it is advisable to use molt timing as the basis for definitive identification of a species; in this case Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) from Red-naped (S. nuchalis). Even though the genetic clocks for most species are set to trigger such changes as molt, too many variables play into the health of an individual, particularly vagrants, to rely solely on molt timing as a diagnostic feature.

I do think this bird was likely a Yellow-bellied based on the observer’s description of back coloration, however, I would have liked to have seen more comparative analysis of this key mark, in conjunction with molt timing as a supportive argument, to accept the record.

11-06-2009
Doug Ward--Reject, specific identification not established

I’m still not comfortable accepting on molt timing alone.

10/05/2009
Darren Clark--Accept

Plumage description and molt timing seem to fit Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

11/11/2009
Darren Clark--Accept

I do think molt timing alone is not a 100% reliable field mark for identifying sapsuckers. However, the other descriptions also support the identification of the bird as a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

10-5-09
Carlisle--Accept

good description of an immature Yellow-bellied

10-30-09
Carlisle--Accept no change from round 1.

I'll add that all immature Red-napeds in Sept I've seen - in hand or in the field - have already molted into an adult-like plumage