Juvenile Sapsucker? Reston, VA, USA (1 Viewer)

[gsimonel]

Am I correct in assuming that this is a juvenile yellow-bellied sapsucker? I took this photo today along the edge of a lake.

 

[Bewick]

Yes yellow-bellied sapsucker

Edit- wouldn't be a juvenile (too late in the year), seems to be an immature- someone who's more experienced imaging sapsuckers will give you a more accurate age.

 

[gsimonel]

Yes yellow-bellied sapsucker

Edit- wouldn't be a juvenile (too late in the year), seems to be an immature- someone who's more experienced imaging sapsuckers will give you a more accurate age.

What is the difference between juvenile and immature? Is there a certain age cut-off?

 

[Bewick]

What is the difference between juvenile and immature? Is there a certain age cut-off?

Basic possibly faulty explanation of my understanding- juveniles are birds that have not yet had their first moult. An immature bird is from first moult to full adult plumage.

 

[Butty]

'Immature' covers all distinct plumages before adult (ie including juvenile) - so, for most woodpeckers (in which 1st-year birds are essentially the same as adults), that means juvenile plumage only.
From memory I recall that there is at least one North American woodpecker whose juvenile plumage persists much longer than is usual and I rather think it's yellow-bellied sapsucker. So, this may well in fact be a juvenile. Others will correct me.

 

[rkj]

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do retain juvenile plumage longer than other similar species; this is one way they can be distinguished at this time of year.

 

[Bewick]

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers do retain juvenile plumage longer than other similar species; this is one way they can be distinguished at this time of year.

Yes, read a bit about it- apparently they seem to keep juvenile plumage until spring.