What specific feature characterizes the plumage of the Red-naped Sapsucker (*S. nuchalis*)?
Answer
A black-and-white head pattern and a red patch on the nape.
The plumage differences are key indicators used to distinguish the members of the sapsucker superspecies complex. The Red-naped Sapsucker is specifically identified by its black-and-white pattern on the head and, most distinctively, the presence of a red patch situated on the nape (the back of the neck). This contrasts with the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker's heavy barring and the Red-breasted Sapsucker's extensive red coloration covering the head and breast.
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