I had one day where I had three different intergrades at the same time. One female and one male each of which had strong red red chevron on the nape. Another male had a weak red chevron. I've always wondered if they were siblings.
On Friday, March 15, 2024 at 8:25:42 AM UTC-6 David Suddjian wrote: > The intergrades presumably originate from an area of the species' range > that is to the east of the Colorado Springs region and more in the zone of > overlap between the core ranges of the two forms. I include here a map of > this zone from the Birds of the World species account (Fig 2. in the > systematics section) If indeed they are departing your area at this time, > perhaps they are making a seasonal movement to another part of the species' > range. > > [image: Screenshot (885).png] > > The intergrades can indeed reproduce successfully, which is a big element > in considering the Yellow-shafted and Red-shated flickers to be one > species. > > David Suddjian > Littleton, CO > > On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 10:14 PM Marty W <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Courtney speaking of intergrade Northern Flickers, spurs me to comment >> that, not for the first year (maybe the third?) I've had several male >> intergrades around the neighborhood, yard & feeders (along with at least >> three female Red-shafteds) during the late fall & winter (this fall/winter >> without *any* Red-shafted males). But then once "spring"/March comes >> along the male intergrades all disappear. This week their disappearance >> coincided with the sudden appearance of a very vocal, drumming male >> Red-shafted Flicker, and typically now I won't see any more intergrades >> until the fall... >> >> 1) Has anyone else noticed this pattern? >> 2) Are the male intergrades unable to reproduce, and/or might they have >> lower levels of male hormones, causing them to vacate when a "robust" >> Red-shafted male shows up? >> 3) Or has anyone actually observed successful nesting/clutches from >> pairings of intergrade males and Red-shafted females? >> >> I didn't see anything about it in the *Birds of the World* entry for >> Northern Flicker (Geographic Variation section). For what it's worth, the >> intergrade males (& one female) I've had around here over the years have >> all been individuals with varying degrees of red napal crescent (from the >> Yellow-shafted genes) but otherwise having Red-shafted features/phenotype. >> Maybe the particular visible/phenotypic trait of the given intergrade >> individual (e.g., the red napal crescent in otherwise Red-shafted features >> in this case) might correlate with decreased fertility? >> >> Or just coincidence? I'm just curious. >> >> Marty Wolf >> NW Colo. Spgs. >> >> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 5:23 PM Courtney R <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> Well. I should not have waited to reply until after Mary Kay’s list 😄. >>> >>> >>> My list will definitely not address any species gaps, but this is a fun >>> activity, and at least some of the more interesting and memorable accounts >>> are a delight to share to fellow bird lovers. I live in a condo complex in >>> Lafayette, so it’s quite urban, but at least has several older trees and >>> backs up to an open space. I’ve definitely bordered desperate bird lady >>> with the variety of feeders and foods that I keep out for our flighted >>> friends; but one can only do so much with a tiny and mostly concrete >>> backyard. >>> >>> >>> >>> - How long have you been keeping your list? On eBird, since late >>> 2023 but I’ve been attentive of rarities since moving here about 2.5 >>> years >>> ago. >>> - What's your style of yard listing: Obsessed when home (I work >>> remotely and specifically placed my desk next to the sliding glass door >>> to >>> be able to watch outside at all times. If you have seen the movie “Up”, >>> I >>> embody the dog character, except I react every time there’s a bird >>> rather >>> than a squirrel; although, to be honest, I react to squirrels too) >>> - How many species? Literal yard—40; with condo complex backing up >>> to an open space, the broader open space list increases to over 100. >>> - Rarest, or favorite species? Literal yard: lazuli bunting pair in >>> summer 2022, one pine siskin, one leucistic common grackle, intergrade >>> northern flickers, and yesterday a red winged blackbird male with AKD >>> (avian keratin disorder); open space: common nighthawks, swallows, >>> flyover >>> sandhill cranes, male NOHA, Merlin, bats. >>> - Most memorable experience? So many! Seeing a flicker’s full tongue >>> extend to reach seed (image below), GHOW pair duetting then copulating >>> on >>> my chimney, blue Jay attacking a GHOW just hanging out on the fence ( >>> https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GHjz2JByVtsivh1r/?mibextid=K35XfP). >>> Also, while I’m not a morning person, hearing a Cooper’s hawk in an >>> argument with blue jays will wake me up in the best mood possible—it >>> happened a few times last summer. Lastly, I love how often the blue jays >>> mimic either red tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, or something that sounds >>> more Phoebe like. >>> >>> >>> - Location/habitat: Urban. In a condo complex near open space and >>> with aged trees (back yard is a small fenced in one, mostly >>> concrete) >>> >>> Some pics! (Pardon any door distortion—the glass has had a rough life >>> since the late 80s) >>> >>> NOFL tongue >>> [image: image0.jpeg] >>> >>> >>> RWBL with avian keratin disorder of upper mandible/maxilla >>> [image: image1.jpeg] >>> >>> COGR with leucism >>> [image: image2.jpeg] >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you, >>> Courtney >>> >>> *Courtney Rella, PhD* >>> *[email protected]* >>> >>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 13:36, Mary Kay Waddington <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> This has been fun to see what's shown up in yards. I do this daily by >>> participating in the e-bird yard tallies, but I've noticed that many of >>> these fantastic lists people have been sending in, are not included! I'd >>> like to recommend that people go to eBird, click "explore", go down to >>> "yard birds" then click "add a yard". Put in the location name you use >>> for your yard. Then at the top where it says "region", click that and >>> enter Colorado. It's fascinating to watch what different people have >>> seen. You can even follow a bit of migration patterns by seeing who has >>> seen what, where. There are rules to follow -- any bird you see while in >>> your yard. Don't cheat! I've often seen a bird while outside the yard and >>> had to see if I could still see or hear it when I'd crossed over my >>> property line back into my own yard. If no, it doesn't go on the list. Of >>> course if some of these wonderful yards that you've all posted here are >>> included in eBird's yard list, my ranking will go way down! But that's >>> ok. >>> >>> My own stats: >>> >>> How long have you been keeping your list? Have lived here 60 years but >>> only birded a lot here for 25. Then discovered during the pandemic that >>> exploring my own yard daily was really as exciting as driving around >>> chasing birds in different places. >>> >>> What's your style of yard listing: I'd have to say obsessed -- a minimum >>> of 3 trips around the property every day, often more. >>> >>> How many species? 139 >>> >>> Rarest, or favorite species? The Bobwhite was unexpected (escaped?) and >>> the Snipe that blew in after a storm and let me walk right up to it. >>> Northern Parula and Chestnut-sided are the rare warblers. The 200 Bohemian >>> Waxwings were definitely exciting, but I actually prefer the Cedars and >>> love seeing them. Just yesterday had a pair of Hooded Mergansers in the >>> Creek. But I actually love being able to show people my Eastern Screech >>> Owls. Many people got a lifer seeing them peek out of their holes. >>> Birders always welcome. >>> >>> Most memorable experience? Maybe it was watching a Bushtit hung up on a >>> twig 20' up and hanging by its tail. Other Bushtits tried to free it but >>> couldn't, so a Chickadee finally came over and snipped off the twig, >>> freeing the Bushtit. >>> >>> Location/habitat: suburban. Lucky enough to have 2.5 acres with big >>> trees and a bit of creek. And I let it go completely wild. >>> >>> Other location in foothills above Westcliffe: >>> >>> species: 105 >>> >>> The Saw-whet was pretty special, and a 5-woodpecker day (can't compete >>> with Duane!). but nothing could beat the 3,000 Sandhills flying over in one >>> day. >>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds >>> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >>> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate. >>> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAA-Db7eF8BnRxAANcugKYTpiXQV71piqK7FNtJZRxrVhONBueA%40mail.gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAA-Db7eF8BnRxAANcugKYTpiXQV71piqK7FNtJZRxrVhONBueA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds >>> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >>> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate. >>> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/7704A150-F5D0-4414-8A9F-D5EAB622A691%40gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/7704A150-F5D0-4414-8A9F-D5EAB622A691%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds >> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate. >> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADoSYTOnTFF2z7sbwoz6sq3E2hcJ_nAu2F3Ym5AbcvfG0bT2Zg%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CADoSYTOnTFF2z7sbwoz6sq3E2hcJ_nAu2F3Ym5AbcvfG0bT2Zg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate. * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5394ed18-6d33-43d3-89d4-fbbcccb41bden%40googlegroups.com.
