USA, South Mississippi, Percy Quin (1 Viewer)

J

Jon K.

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2020

• #1

I spent a morning in Percy Quin State Park yesterday and was hounded by Woodpeckers. It was quite a nice morning . . . . .

I am (obviously) trying to figure out how to get better shots, my next step will be a monopod. These were freehand at a couple hundred feet.

Low light. F 5.5 ISO400 I let the camera pick the shutter speed. I am certainly not that good. |8.|

My question, is there enough photograph here to ID this guy?

Amazing how difficult it was to get him to pose . . . .

I have it down to "Hairy Woodpecker" or "Downy Woodpecker".

I will say, it did not strike me as "tiny". Certainly smaller than a Red Bellied but I would say a bit bigger than a Wren. And I spent quite a bit of time with him. As I gain experience (still sorta new!) I will probably not have questions such as these.

What say the sage gallery?

 

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Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Oct 26, 2020

• #2

Maybe a Yellow-bellied/Red-naped sapsucker

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2020

• #3

Hi Jon K,

On range might be Red-cockaded Woodpecker?

Cheers

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Oct 26, 2020

• #4

KenM said:

Hi Jon K,

On range might be Red-cockaded Woodpecker?

Cheers

Click to expand...

If that prominent white line is where it appears to be on the first image, I think it has to be a sapsucker

 

J

Jon K.

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2020

• #5

Larry Sweetland said:

Maybe a Yellow-bellied/Red-naped sapsucker

Click to expand...

Not nearly large enough. 🙂
Thank you though;

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Oct 26, 2020

• #6

It's a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker based on the first photograph.

 

J

Jon K.

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2020

• #7

KenM said:

Hi Jon K,

On range might be Red-cockaded Woodpecker?

Cheers

Click to expand...

That would be most awesome!!

Sadly, still not large enough. Habitat is wrong as well.

I have been fortunate enough to (once!) encounter a "troop" of Red Cockaded Woodpeckers on my journeys in South West Louisiana in the long leaf pine forests. I was inspecting the plants and butterflies on the Kisatchie National Forest, and a handful came noisily through the area, inspecting seemingly every tree. Musta been six of them. I had a good look at them and they were definitely RCWs.

RCW would be unheard of in this area of Mississippi.

This bird strikes me as a Downy or a Hairy Woodpecker.

 

J

Jon K.

Well-known member

• Oct 26, 2020

• #8

This is a small bird. Just a shade larger than sparrow size.

I need better photos . . . .

I will work on that!

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Oct 26, 2020

• #9

Jon K. said:

This is a small bird. Just a shade larger than sparrow size.

I need better photos . . . .

I will work on that!

Click to expand...

impression of size is the least reliable thing to go on when trying to identify a bird. And Yellow-bellied Sapsucker isn't much bigger than Downy, and is smaller than Hairy.

 

Last edited: Oct 26, 2020

The Bird Nuts

Birding Duo

• Oct 26, 2020

• #10

Definitely a sapsucker (long white patch at the front of the wing is diagnostic) and Yellow-bellied is most likely based on markings and range. It's on a big deciduous tree which is the right habitat... Size can be difficult to judge.

 

Birdbrain22

Well-known member

• Oct 27, 2020

• #11

I am in with the definite YB Sapsucker... you can see the white wing patch which is diagnostic.

 

J

Jon K.

Well-known member

• Oct 27, 2020

• #12

Ha.

Yellow Belly Sapsucker.

I had not even looked at a photo, as I had "Northern Flicker" in my mind when you guys mentioned Sapsucker. No idea why.

Duh . . . .

My apologies for my doubts.

An interesting note. I watched these birds (there were at least two) for thirty minutes or so trying to get the shot. At one point, one came winging straight at me and flared up to reveal a scarlet throat. For less than an instant. I imagined it. Is what I told myself. I intentionally didn't mention it here, as it was that fleeting.

The male.

So thank you guys for the ID, and showing me that I should not disregard an observation (or a suggestion) quite so quickly.

This is fun!

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Oct 27, 2020

• #13

Sure thing Jon K. Feel free to come back again with other questions.