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Does Any red-bellied woodpecker have yellow between bill and forehead (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter oldsquaw
- Start date
Paul Collins
Well-known member
Yes, you can find some yellow between the bill and forehead of RBW, but of course with all that red on the head, it is barely noticeable most of the time. The ones that I have seen all looked red, but probably had I looked more closely, I would have noticed it.
With GFW (I haven't seen this species, but I have a Peterson guide in front of me, so i.e. very reliable book), there is a lot less red. I shall describe both male and female to make this easier, because you may have seen a female RBW:
Whilst the male RBW has a red topped head all the way, the female RBW has a small stripe of gold above the beak, followed by a chunk of orange, and then a faint bit of more gold. Then there is a head cap of grey, ending at the back of the head in bright red.
With the male GFW, there is a large chunk of gold at the bill, followed by a bit of grey, then a red cap, more grey, and some firy orange. The female GFW has a gold tuft, then completely grey head ending in a gold back to the head.
On these notes, I would say you were looking at a female RBW.
With GFW (I haven't seen this species, but I have a Peterson guide in front of me, so i.e. very reliable book), there is a lot less red. I shall describe both male and female to make this easier, because you may have seen a female RBW:
Whilst the male RBW has a red topped head all the way, the female RBW has a small stripe of gold above the beak, followed by a chunk of orange, and then a faint bit of more gold. Then there is a head cap of grey, ending at the back of the head in bright red.
With the male GFW, there is a large chunk of gold at the bill, followed by a bit of grey, then a red cap, more grey, and some firy orange. The female GFW has a gold tuft, then completely grey head ending in a gold back to the head.
On these notes, I would say you were looking at a female RBW.
Paul Collins
Well-known member
Actually, I can't rule out either gilded or Northern flicker - that is, if you didn't get a good view of its wings. If you did, probably not these.
The Falcon
Registered Birder
It's indeed a female Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Paul Collins
Well-known member
definitely female red-bellied. If you look at the notes that I accumulated earlier (from Peterson's "Western Birds"), you will see that the head patterns follow it exactly.
dantheman
Bah humbug
. . . even southeast georgia ?? lol
well it does get very hot here!!!!
Storm-Petrel
registered dude
can you please explain why you think it is not a red-bellied? it looks like one to me.
thaw
Active member
this certainly looks like a red bellied female. although, the red of the nape usually wraps around the side a little more. and the red eye is a little bit of a throw off. i get these only 8" from my living room window, and the nape is too red to not be a rbwp. but the location isn't so much of a factor, as i've seen a few birds that are not a regular around here.
i live in southwestern ontario. and two years ago had a red napped sapsucker for the summer. climate change, i believe, is messing with the birds.
i live in southwestern ontario. and two years ago had a red napped sapsucker for the summer. climate change, i believe, is messing with the birds.
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