My "Brown-winged Red-headed Woodpecker"!

Something is up with the woodpeckers here on the Bayou.  A normal Red-headed Woodpecker is noted for its tuxedo-like plumage.  Other than the bright red head, the bird is normally black and white. Both the male and female look exactly alike in that there is no distinguishing features to be seen in their feathers.  Now, I am seeing one Red-headed Woodpecker that has a good bit of tan on its wings.  This should not be!  The difference in plumage colors has me pondering the cause.  Is this a mutation from perhaps some crossbreeding or is it some change in the bird's diet that created a change in coloration?  I find the diet thing a bit hard to believe since this bird seems to be feeding a lot at the sunflower seed feeder which attracts the most woodpeckers of all sorts.  As for the other option, crossbreeding seems a bit ridiculous since there are plenty of other Red-heads inhabiting the area.  I am at a loss.

Red-headed Woodpecker with its black, white and red plumage.

I watched this bird a good bit today as it worked the feeders.  There appears to be only the one and it has chosen a nesting site within view of my front door.  This made me happy as now I can observe the offspring to see if the tan-wing trait is passed to the little ones.  Of course, I will have to wait for the birds to fledge since the nesting hole is a good thirty feet off the ground!  There is no way for me to peek in that nest!  For the moment, I cannot tell if this is the mother or father Red-head.  Both birds are entering the nesting hole.  Once some serious setting occurs, I will be able to make the assumption that the one staying in the hole the most is the mother bird.  The dad will hang close to keep a protective eye on the nesting site.  Other marauding birds will be chased away with a vengeance.

Red-headed Woodpecker with unusual tan markings on its wings.

If the trait is passed on to the chicks, I will contact some experts to see just what is up with my woodpeckers.  I am thinking that this is not something to cause worry but, then again, I would hate for there to be some problem in the area.  Hopefully, I will be told that this occurrence is not that rare and I can leave well enough alone.  I worry that with all of the construction going on in the area, my Bayou might be coming polluted with runoff from new yards.  This would effect not only the birds but every critter that calls the place home.  I hope not.  I truly hope that I am wrong and my "Brown-winged Red-headed Woodpecker" is of the norm!