Weekly Bird Identification Quiz
January 23, 2012 - January 29, 2012
How to Identify:
Identifing this bird is made more difficult by the tree limb that is blocking most of the bird's head. Based upon the body shape, position and coloration of this bird, most people are able to determine that it is some species of woodpecker. From there, we notice that this bird has a white belly with small black spots and a heavily barred back. The black spots eliminate, Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers and the barring eliminates several other species. The only possibility we are left with are Red-cockaded, Nuttall's, and Ladder-backed. Red-cockaded is ruled out by the black stipe through the check and Nuttall's does not fit because there is not enough black on the head. This leaves us with Ladder-backed Woodpecker.
Answer: Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Photo Location: Salineno, Texas
Photo Date: January 2012
Correct Answers:
Melissa Mayntz, Orem, UT
Skip Powers, Fortville, IN
Mary Ann Anderson, Wauseon, OH
Landon Neumann, Logansport, IN
Other Answers:
Red-cockaded Woodpecker - 1