English and Scientific names:

Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Number of individuals: 

one (1) male

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Acadia

Specific Locality:

About 5 miles south of Crowley near the corner of Arpent and Premier Road.

Date(s) when observed:

14/Dec/05

Time(s) of day when observed:  

9:15 am

Reporting observer and address:

Michael Musumeche

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

none

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

somewhat subdued

Optical equipment: 

Zeiss 10x40

Distance to bird(s): 

~30 yards

Duration of observation:

~five (5) minutes

Habitat: 

Scrubby vegetation with smallish tallow and hackberry trees situated on banks of a small coulee

Behavior of bird: 

actively feeding on bark of tallow tree.

Description:

Similar to Yellow-bellied Sapsucker morphology but had ..
1) reddish nape
2) white dots on dorsal side running in two (2) parallel rows
3) reddish of throat bleeding onto white of face stripe

Voice:

n/o

Similar species:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker without fieldmarks noted in #15 above

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

yes

Previous experience with this species: 

yes, in western US

Identification aids:

at time of observation: none
after observation: National Geographic

This description is written from: 

memory

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

not 100%.  The white face stripe seemed too wide for Red-naped.  Could have some genes from both species.

Reporter: 

Michael Musumeche

Date and time: 

18/Dec/05, 2:11 pm