Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Description:

From the Woodpecker family.
Black on back and wings, with white bars. Black head with one white line going from above the eye to the back of head and one from the top of the bill across and down the side of neck. Red crown and throat (females have white throat). Black bib, yellow breast and upper belly (yellow is sometimes pale). White lower belly and rump. Black tail with white bar. It is similar to the Red-naped Sapsucker. The Yellow-bellied has a full black outline on the red-throat and it lacks the red patch below the crown of the Red-naped.

Habitat:

Near hardwoods and conifers. But this one preferred a Willow tree.

Notes:

This bird has been identified by some members of the Golden Gate Audobon society and I get emails on sightings of birds. I went out there to see for myself that it is a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. Most field guides do not show any being in the area. But some references have said they are rare sightings. This one has been spotted about a week ago and has not moved on. Today I heard knocking from another willow tree and believe there maybe another one nearby. This one is not shy as it let me stand there and take pictures while the other bird took off.