Probable Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid
Image by K Schneider
Probable Red-naped Sapsucker x Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid (Sphyrapicus nuchalis x ruber), McBean Park, Lincoln, Placer County, California – 8 December 2012. Seen during a CVBC field trip led by Bruce Webb, Chris Conard and Ron Pozzi. Although I initially thought this could be a "pure" nuchalis, better photos from another birder with our group revealed some red breast feathers, likely representing some ruber ancestry. Comments welcome. Linked to eBird checklist.