Date: 12/7/25 7:08 am From: Ron W <ourwildplaces...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Unknown Woodpecker, Montrose Colorado, Dec 04 25
Williamson's? No eye stripe, and that would have been easily seen here. No
wing patches.
Three-toed? No white spots or coloration of any kind on the back. No
coloration seen on the head.
Lewis's? Not green. No collar.
Northern Flicker? Coloring/markings are off, not a large tail species, as
images show.
On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:54:37 PM UTC-7 Ron W wrote:
> I observed the bird for over 2 minutes and noted on the spot that it had a
> short tail. A Flicker doesn't move around on a tree with that massive tail
> hidden for over 2 minutes.
>
> On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:46:12 PM UTC-7 Susan Rosine wrote:
>
>> I can't hide it, but a Flicker can. The tail is in the usual location.
>> Sorry, but I have no horrid photos of Flickers to show you, because I
>> don't keep my bad photos of common birds.
>> Just go on believing your belief, and we'll go on believing ours, and the
>> sun will still rise in the morning and set in the evening. There is no
>> battle to be won or lost here.
>> Susan Rosine
>> Brighton
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 9:41 PM Ron W <ourwil......> wrote:
>>
>>> For those in the Northern Flicker camp...where's the tail? You can't
>>> hide a Flicker's tail, and it's not there on this bird.
>>>
>>> On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 4:35:18 PM UTC-7 David Suddjian wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> CoBirders,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unless there is something of substance to add or a point that has
>>>>>>>> not already been made, I recommend we please now end this CoBirds thread.
>>>>>>>> The eBird reviewer can evaluate the report for the eBird public record, and
>>>>>>>> the observer can do what he likes with it as far as his personal records
>>>>>>>> are concerned.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> David Suddjian
>>>>>>>> CoBirds list moderator
>>>>>>>> Littleton, CO
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3:49:40 PM UTC-7 Tony Leukering
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> All:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The bird in question is certainly a Northern Flicker and,
>>>>>>>>>> perhaps, identifiable as a Red-shafted Flicker. I lightened a screen grab
>>>>>>>>>> of one of the photos and, with no other alterations, present it below. The
>>>>>>>>>> upperparts are brownish, the nape and crown are noticeably grayer, the
>>>>>>>>>> sides are white with dark spotting, and the whitish rump contrasts strongly
>>>>>>>>>> with the dark tail.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> [image: NOFL-not-BBWO.jpg]
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> As can be seen on the bird here
>>>>>>>>>> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/326303601>, Black-backed
>>>>>>>>>> Woodpeckers entirely lack white on the upper side of the body (excluding
>>>>>>>>>> tail), so that white rump rules that species out. Additionally, the
>>>>>>>>>> extensively white side to the bird is not a feature of Black-backed, which
>>>>>>>>>> has the sides so heavily barred (see here
>>>>>>>>>> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/615176281>) that in
>>>>>>>>>> relatively poor views (such as on your bird), the birds look dark-sided
>>>>>>>>>> (see here <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/646203877>).
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> In my extensive birding experience in Michigan, New York,
>>>>>>>>>> California, and Montana, I've seen many, many Black-backed Woodpeckers, so
>>>>>>>>>> I immediately recognized the subject of the checklist's photos as not a
>>>>>>>>>> Black-backed. I've also seen 10s of 1000s of Northern Flickers, and your
>>>>>>>>>> bird struck me immediately as one.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> You're welcome to reject my advice (as you have that of others),
>>>>>>>>>> as it's no skin off my back.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Tony Leukering
>>>>>>>>>> Denver
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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