[mou] Hairy Woodpecker - Pacific Race?

[Holly Peirson]

Nancy:

Here's another possibility, much more probable since Hairy Woodpeckers are
(usually) totally non-migratory...

I'm not sure which way it goes, but the Downy and Hairy have tan on their
new plumage feathers that is either below or above the white, so in new
plumages you'll see the tan before it wears to white, OR you'll see the
white before it wears to tan.

>From John K. Terres' Encyclopedia of North American Birds, on feather wear,
p. 616-17: "A change in the brilliance of a bird's plumage may be brought
about by a wearing away or breaking off of the tips of the feathers. A Male
House Sparrow acquires its black bib of the breeding season through the
gradual wearing away of gray feathers in winter, which hide it. Male
Bobolinks acquire their attractive black-and-white breeding plumage by a
wearing away of the yellowish tips of feathers that hide the black."

Full molt is achieved only once annually, but if a feather is lost, a new
one will grow. Most birds do both a partial molt of body feathers and a full
molt of both body and wing feathers annually, spaced out to allow for
breeding season.

I'm sorry I cannot tell you which is happening in the woodpeckers, but I'm
sure someone on this listserve can!

Holly Peirson
Forest Lake, Anoka Co.


-----Original Message-----
From: mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu [mailto:mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu]On Behalf
Of Nancy Dowling
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 9:25 AM
To: mou-net@cbs.umn.edu
Subject: [mou] Hairy Woodpecker - Pacific Race?

Hello,

I'm trying to get some information on this hairy
woodpecker that I photographed at my parents' feeder
near Green Bay, WI over the past weekend.  According
to the Sibley Guide, it appears to be a Pacific Race
of the species.  But I'm not sure.  Can you provide
any information (or forward it to someone who is
knowledgeable)?

A few weeks ago, it was more yellowish.  Now it is a
dusky tan (where it's usually white).

Thank you!

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nancoix/detail?.dir=/Mail+Attachments&.dnm=
a7f3.jpg


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