I welcome any thoughts on this Hairy Woodpecker with bright yellow patches in place of the normally deep red on the back of the head I found in my yard last week, photos here: http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2013/01/hairy-woodpecker-with-yellow-patches.html Yet another example of why we should always examine even our most expected guests. -- Scott Kruitbosch Stratford, CT

Perhaps genetic, as you suggest on the site, but perhaps also diet, either the presence or absence of some chemical? That accounts for changes in other birds's feathers (as well as human skin colors). On Jan 10, 2013, at 3:57 PM, Scott Kruitbosch <kbosch@gmail.com> wrote: > I welcome any thoughts on this Hairy Woodpecker with bright yellow patches > in place of the normally deep red on the back of the head I found in my > yard last week, photos here: > http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2013/01/hairy-woodpecker-with-yellow-patches.html > > Yet another example of why we should always examine even our most expected > guests. > > -- > Scott Kruitbosch > Stratford, CT > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

I had thought of diet - like House Finch as a couple people have mentioned - but I would think that this would then be a more common (in relative terms) phenomenon. I can't begin to total the likely dozens of orange or yellow HOFI I've seen at my feeders over the years. However, I have not (and this is not to say I have seen or read all, far from it) come across or heard of Hairy looking like this one. And who knows, diet still could be the ultimate answer that impacts an extremely small percentage of the species. Nearly anything feels possible! It's a good idea, keep em coming. Scott On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 4:17 PM, Arthur Shippee <ashippee@snet.net> wrote: > Perhaps genetic, as you suggest on the site, but perhaps also diet, either > the presence or absence of some chemical? That accounts for changes in > other birds's feathers (as well as human skin colors). > > On Jan 10, 2013, at 3:57 PM, Scott Kruitbosch <kbosch@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I welcome any thoughts on this Hairy Woodpecker with bright yellow > patches > > in place of the normally deep red on the back of the head I found in my > > yard last week, photos here: > > > http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2013/01/hairy-woodpecker-with-yellow-patches.html > > > > Yet another example of why we should always examine even our most > expected > > guests. > > > > -- > > Scott Kruitbosch > > Stratford, CT > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > -- Scott Kruitbosch Stratford, CT