What Woodpecker is This?

[Chris Hansen]

These pictures were taken on July 1, 2009 near Willits, California in Mendocino County. The habitat was open ranchland or pastureland with some Valley oaks. My inclination is that it is a Nuttall's. However the buff area above the beak throws me off. Could it possibly be a Hairy or a Ladder Backed?

[Dan Brown]

Hi Chris. This looks like a female Nuttall's Woodpecker to me. She does seem to have a bit more white in the nape area, but the face pattern of white and the sparsely spotted outer tail feathers indicate Nuttall's. The buff on the nasal tuft could be a pollen stain from some food source. IMO:)