Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Okay, let's start off with the obvious. This is not the best picture you've ever see of a yellow-bellied sapsucker (juvenile).

But I will bet it's the best photo you've ever seen of a yellow-bellied sapsucker that was taken by a person sitting on her bed in the cabin, shooting through a semi-dirty picture window that was four feet away, into a spot in the forest about 20 feet further away. Then when I got the shot, I used the zoom to further blow the shot up so the bird is recognizable.

So what do you think now?

I thought so.

Considering how I got the shot, it's not bad at all.

I see yellow-bellied sapsuckers uncommonly in winter--this was my first of this season. I have sightings every 2-3 years, though about half of the sightings in those years are often pretty regular, sometimes daily, for weeks at a time. Virtually all of them of are juveniles who hang around long after the older birds have gone to warmer climes.

I have had juveniles before well into December. Typically, they disappear with the first big snow. This year, I have yet to have a big snow, so it really isn't a surprise to have one hanging around in late January. As I haven't seen this particular bird before, I'm going to guess that it has already come from someplace north of me and is now on its way south. Whether it will keep moving or hang around in this area until I get more snow is the open question on this bird.