[Tweeters] Odd Red-breasted Sapsucker in Burien

[Tom Benedict via Tweeters]

This afternoon I noticed (heard) a Sapsucker in a tree in our yard. We don’t see them often but they are regular yard birds and a few of the trees, cedars, have many rows of sap ‘taps’ in them.

The birds are usually easy to identify, especially since here in the Puget Trough we typically only have the Red-breasted Sapsucker. Today, however, the bird looked different. The red on the head and neck was subdued and there was distinct facial patterning including bold white lines from the bill to nap. The facial markings suggested Red-naped Sapsucker, but there was definitely no red nape. I considered that it might be a juvenile, but the other markings, especially the white/black on the back and tail, were quite distinct. 

I’ve browsed a lot of photos at Cornell Lab and All About Birds and am wondering whether it might be a hybrid.

I took some low quality photos with my phone but I don’t have a site to upload them to. I’d be happy to send some photos to anyone who’d like to see them.

Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA