Gilded Flicker in Yosemite? (1 Viewer)

[hgee]

Hi
I am going through my bird records and I am puzzled by a record on Sept 28th 2010 in Yosemite NP
that says " resembles N Flicker... bright golden yellow wings in flight"
However , ebird shows no records of this species in Yosemite
So can someone explain what is going on? I would regard myself as pretty good at US bird ID
and I know it was a flicker , so did I get lucky with a rare sighting or is there another explanation?
thanks

 

[rkj]

It was probably a yellow-shafted form of Northern Flicker or an intergrade between the yellow- and red- shafted forms. Such birds are not uncommon in California in fall and winter.

 

[TicoTyler]

I assume it would be the Yellow-shafted subspecies of Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus

ML432627171 - Northern Flicker - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML432627171; © Felipe Pimentel; New York, New York, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[hgee]

I assume it would be the Yellow-shafted subspecies of Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus auratus/luteus

ML432627171 - Northern Flicker - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML432627171; © Felipe Pimentel; New York, New York, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

Hi
Thanks for replies ; my full description is "resembles N Flicker , red cheek mark , yellowish nape bright golden yellow wings in flight"
is the red cheek consistent with yellow shafted or more likely intergrade?
This is getting v technical for a UK birder!

 

[Ruff-Leg]

Red cheek or moustache points to an intergrade.

 

[hgee]

Red cheek or moustache points to an intergrade.

thanks again ; this shows the value of checking range maps which throws doubt on your IDs!