Mexico woodpecker family? (1 Viewer)

[kstennett]

Hi,
I'm looking for some help to identify this bird. The photo was taken from the window of our hotel in the centre of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
The plumage seems closest to Red-bellied woodpecker but our bird seems much greyer than any other example we can find and the barring on the back much closer, also more red just above the bill. None of my photos show the belly! Also the range of red-bellied does not seem to include Mexico.

Looked at Yucatan Woodpecker but again our example not an exact fit for plumage shown in books or in other peoples pictures.

Can anyone advise please?

Thanks

Kath

 

[njlarsen]

Compare to this page and click the link at the end for more pictures

Niels

 

[njlarsen]

Having now gone to the book (Howell and Webb) this looks like the Yucatan form (dubius) of Golden-fronted Woodpecker. I now see that Stanley got into the same train of thought on your image in the gallery. It even seems to be the first example of this form in the gallery!

Niels

 

[markieobrien]

http://search.pbase.com/search?q=yucatan+woodpecker&b=Search+Photos&c=sp

 

[njlarsen]

Yucatan Woodpecker should have nasal tufts yellow while this one shows red nasal tufts as expected from the local form of Golden-fronted.

Niels

 

[kstennett]

Oh yes, thanks. This picture looks very much like mine http://www.pbase.com/image/78853326 doesn't it.

 

[Jacana]

Just so you are aware the Golden-fronted Woodpeckers on the Yucatan Peninsula have been split by some authorities to Velasquez's Woodpecker. True Golden-fronted Woodpeckers are now only known from North/Central Mexico and USA.