TexBirders,
Last year I asked for photographs of the Lafitte's Cove apparent Ladder-backed
x Downy Woodpecker. Â My goal was to figure out how long this bird had been
present. Â To my surprise, David McDonald sent me a photograph of the same very
distinctive bird from November 2006. Â eBird shows records from that location
starting in 2009. Â Furthermore, I have seen no documentation that suggests
there ever has been a "pure" Ladder-backed from that location. Â If you have
some please send it to me. Â Therefore, I have added a hybrid designation to
the eBird checklist for Galveston County which will pop up on your smartphone
or computer.
So why am I so sure it is a hybrid? Â Take a look at the Texas Bird Images page
and take a look at the bird in question. Â Hybrids - Texas Bird Image Archive
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Stephen Shunk whose new book, Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North
America, actually has some of Greg Page's pictures of this bird in it, Â
believes it is a hybrid. Â I asked him why he felt that way. Â I also sent him
another David McDonald photograph of a apparent Ladder-backed with a broken
face mask from Pedernales SP for comparison asking him how he would separate
the two. Â Below are Stephen's comments. Â He sold me and everyone else I have
consulted. Â Please send any comments to TexBirds on this topic so we can all
learn together.
Bill length - the purported LBxDO has a proportionately shorter and more
conically shaped bill than your LBWOLores - the lores on the LBxDO appear
noticeably lighter than those on the LBWONasal tufts - the nasal tufts on the
LBxDO appear puffier--more DOWO-like--than those on the LBWOFlanks/Sides - The
flanks/sides of your bird appear to be far more heavily marked than those of
the other bird, which appears just barely markedFacial striping - The LBxDO
appears to have LB-like markings Back markings - The markings on the LBxDO
seem to broader in the center than at the ends; a LBWO should have lines of
even width all the way acrossOuter tail feathers - The LBWO appears to be more
heavily marked on these feathers, but the LBxDO's outer recs are very hard to
see  Primary projection - The LBxDO seems to have shorter projection than the
LBWO, but this is difficult to see on the LBWOGIS - The DOxLB just looks more
compact, smaller-headed, shorter-billed; the LBWO "longer", leaner, and larger
head and bill shapeÂ
Ron WeeksLake Jackson
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