SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #15

California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.

Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Williamson’s Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Name Roots: (Gr. sphyra, “a hammer”; L. picus, “a woodpecker” – Gr. thyreos, “a shield’; oidos, “like” [the breast])

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Male is unmistakable, with white wing coverts, rump, supercilium, and moustachial stripe contrasting strongly with iridescent black upperparts, head, and breast; red patch on chin and upper throat in adult; belly yellow.

Adult female, in striking contrast to male, has a brownish head with obscure moustachial striping; wings, flanks, and upperparts heavily barred with shades of white, brown, and black; and no white wing coverts; it has a partly black breast, yellow belly, and white rump

DISTRIBUTION & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA

The Williamson’s Sapsucker is a Fairly Common Yearround Resident in the Sierra Nevada of the Upper Montane and Subalpine biotic zones.

CONSERVATION STATUS – IUCN Red List Category

The Williamson’s Sapsucker is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Redlist Classification Justification: The Williamson’s Sapsucker has a very large range, its population is very large and appears to be stable. (DataZone WISA Link)

PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP – Dry Brush Filter