Ladder-backed or Gila Woodpecker Nevada (1 Viewer)

[Birds4Kathy]

On Nov. 18, 2021 I was at a birding hotspot just north of Las Vegas (Desert NWR Corn Creek, Nevada) where I took a couple of photos of a woodpecker before it flew away. It was quite far away so the photos are pretty grainy and I didn't get an ideal head shot. It's back looks like a Ladder-backed Woodpecker but it's head doesn't appear to have the typical markings I associate with a ladder-backed. Actually, the absence of markings on it's head reminds me of a Gila Woodpecker but they are not found this far north in Nevada. Perhaps someone can help me with this puzzle? Any insight would be appreciated. Kathy

 

[KC Foggin]

A Gila Woodpecker has a dull beige front so I'm going with Ladder-backed WP

 

[Butty]

Tail-pattern and head-pattern are wrong for ladder-backed woodpecker. Gila woodpecker seems to be correct - despite being c. 90 mile out of range.

 

[D Halas]

Couldn't it be a female Williamson's Sapsucker?

 

[Butty]

female Williamson's Sapsucker

Good - must be 👍🏻 (though I don't know how you'd separate it from Gila woodpecker on this view other than by range).

 

[Jos Stratford]

Even though the flanks are mostly hidden, shouldn't the sapsucker show more barring on the flanks? This appears to have only minor barring at the rear, not further forward. Would seem closer match to Gila.

 

[Birds4Kathy]

I really appreciate all of these suggestions! As Butty mentioned, the Gila Woodpecker is 90 miles out of range and I certainly didn't get a good enough photo to support this rare citing. Williamson's Sapsucker are reported for this region in September and nearby in October. I agree the flanks should have more barring but perhaps it's just my poor photos? I'm thinking of reporting it as a female Williamson's Sapsucker although the reviewers for ebird may simply tell me to call it either a "Woodpecker Sp" or a "Sapsucker Sp". When I took these photos I thought it was a Flicker until I got home to really look. Too bad, I would have tried much harder. Kathy

 

[AveryBartels]

I think this looks much better for Gila Woodpecker as there are a few things that look off for Williamson's Sapsucker (WISA). First, the lack of barring on the flanks, as already mentioned. Second, the patterning of the white and black in the wings with roughly equal amounts black/white whereas on WISA there tends to be more black with the white looking more like thinner wavy "stripes". The tail also appears to have more extensive white then I am seeing on most pics (among a selection of ~20-30 pics of females) on eBird of WISA.