American Three-toed Woodpeckers in RMNP (Grand Co. side), found by a visiting birder from St. Louis

[Joe Roller]

4 July, on the Colorado River Trail between the trailhead and the Lulu City site (3.5 miles), Margaret and I had a total of five American Three-toed Woodpeckers: a group of three (male, female, and one of undetermined sex) roughly halfway along the trail, and two other males, one closer to the trailhead and one about 0.2 mi. from Lulu. All were in dense forest; no nest sites noted. Also saw two additional black-and-white woodpeckers flying at distance, either Hairy or Three-toed. Given how quiet the species is (and these birds in particular, for the most part), I suspect there is a considerable population present. Had only a single Hairy, but there must be a lot more of those too.

Bill Rowe

Visiting from St. Louis, as we do every summer

This was sent to Joyce via the RBA and I thought that the details in this note might be useful

to other birders.

Joe Roller,

Denver