[obol] (no subject)

[Brandon Green]

Steve,

Thanks for the info.  I supopse that a hybrid would be a possibilty, although it'd have to be much closer in size to the Nuttall's.  I find it odd that Nuttall's are so reluctant to cross the CA/OR border, as it looks like their range extends into the higher elevations near Mt. Shasta.

Unfortunately, I only got a good look at the side profile and could not see whether the back was spotted (or lattered) or had the characteristic white stripe seen on Downies and Hairys.  I've been told by more than one person that the Downies and Hairys in the NW have a duller shade of white plumage.  The male Downy that regularly visits my suet feeder is definitely whiter than the bird I saw today... and it had dull spots on its
 under-side.  If it was a Hairy, it had to be either a juvenile with a much duller white or some sort of a hybrid.

I'll keep watching this cluster of pines and let you guys know if I see it again.  If so, I'll have some of you come over and have a look.

Thanks to everyone for their insight...

Brandon



----- Original Message ----
From: Steve Shunk <steve at paradisebirding.com>
To: dpvroman at budget.net; bjgreen34 at yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, December 3, 2006 2:20:20 PM
Subject: 

Hello Brandon,
As Dennis notes, a Nuttall's in Oregon would be a huge deal. There are a
handful of records of Nuttall's x Downy hybrids (in California), and this
should probably be considered if you still have any question. Of course, a
photo would be outstanding!

Below is a peek at two sections in the Nuttall's Woodpecker
 species
account for my upcoming woodpecker book. Hope it helps. Let me know if you
have any other questions.
Steve Shunk

---------------
Oregon
Very rare vagrant, possibly former resident of Ore. Four known records:
two birds taken Feb 1881 near “Ashland, Og’n”; one bird from the Umpqua
Valley, Aug 1885; one found dead in 1991 near Shady Grove, Jackson Co.;
all of which are now in museums. On the subject, s. Ore. birder John
Kemper said, “One could argue that, if you are a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and
yearn to be in a museum collection, the thing to do is cross the border
into Oregon.”
-------------
Downy x Nuttall’s
Rare combination; less than 10 confirmed occurrences. Black bars on backs
of hybrids tend to be narrower than pure Nuttall’s; genes responsible for
back barring may be dominant over those catalyzing white back in Downy.
Best features to note when attempting to ID this hybrid are back
 pattern
and undermarkings (see Similar Species, below).

Male hybrid reported from 1887, unconfirmed Cal. location; broad nape
patch and barred back the most prominent Nuttall’s characters; bill and
wing length and facial and tail patterns intermediate.

Two female hybrids collected Sept. and Oct. 1949 along San Diego R., near
Lakeside and Santee, s. Cal., where Nuttall’s outnumbered Downy 10 to 1;
one bird most resembles Nuttall’s in tail pattern and greater extent of
white in wings; second in wing and tail length and wing-barring, esp. in
secondaries.

One male hybrid, first suspected by its aberrant call, taken May 1984 on
San Luis Rey R., northeast of Bonsall, San Diego Co.; most notable
Nuttall’s character was the barred back pattern.

Apr. 1999, purported hybrid female photographed at a nest with male
Ladder-back at Lukeville, Ariz.

Hybrid male mated successfully with a Nuttall’s female in Sonoma
 Co., May
2002; individual hybrid males were seen twice in the same location, Apr.
1999 and Nov. 2000, believed to be the same individual.
--------------------

---------------------------------------------
Message: 35
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 11:28:05 -0800
From: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman at budget.net>
Subject: Re: [obol] Nuttall's Woodpeckers in W. Oregon?
To: "Brandon Green" <bjgreen34 at yahoo.com>, "OBOL"
        <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Message-ID: <001501c71711$28a5b5e0$4c371c40 at Warbler>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Brandon,

Any sighting of a Nuttall's Woodpecker in Oregon would draw attention. 
There has
been past sightings in Jackson Co, but nothing of recent I'm aware of.

One really distinctive thing to look at is their backs, they are a
"ladder-back"
Woodpecker.  The call is also distinctive as compared
 to a Downy.

In California the seen to like riparian habitat with large-sized trees
with decay.
Have seen them along the Sacramento River and at Tomales Bay and Andrew
Molera S.P.

I have been wishing one would turn up down here is sw Oregon some day, but
have not
found any yet, Dennis (north of Grants Pass)

  OBOL,

  Earlier this morning, I saw a woodpecker up about 30 feet in a pine tree
in my
yard.  It appeared to be a little larger than a Downy with similar
markings, but
the breast/stomach area was spotted and the white was a duller shade.  The
occipital patch also appeared to be a bit larger than that of a Downy.  I
didn't
get a good look at the beak because it was partially-obscured by the tree
branches
and I only got to see it for 20-30 sec.

  It looks like it may have been a Nuttall's WP, but my understanding is
that
 the
northern ege of their range is Northern CA.  Have there been any sightings of
Nuttall's Woodpeckers in Western Oregon?


  Thanks,
  Brandon
  Eugene

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