The local birding community in Northern California is abuzz following an extraordinary sighting right here in Fremont. A beautiful Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was recently (Oct/Nov, 2025) discovered foraging in the oak trees of Nile Community Park. This is a highly unusual record, making this striking woodpecker an instant celebrity.
The Red-naped Sapsucker is a western bird, but its usual range is well to the east of the Bay Area. It is typically found breeding in the Rocky Mountain and Great Basin regions of North America, including eastern portions of California like the Modoc Plateau. During winter, it’s a short-distance migrant, generally moving south into the Southwestern US, the lower Colorado River, and Mexico.
Fremont is located along the western coastal side of California, far from the bird’s main migration route and wintering grounds. Given its preference for the interior mountains and deserts, this individual has strayed significantly—likely hundreds of miles—from its expected location, making it a true vagrant on the move.
The news of the sighting spread quickly through local birding networks and social media, turning Nile Community Park into a temporary hotspot. Birders, photographers, and nature enthusiasts from across Northern California, and possibly even further afield, have flocked to the park to catch a glimpse of the colorful visitor.
The bird has been quite cooperative, displaying its distinctive plumage: a black-and-white patterned back, a long white wing stripe, and the male’s namesake red cap and nape (the back of the neck). It has been actively drilling its characteristic neat rows of sap wells on the local trees, seemingly unbothered by its sudden fame. Its presence offers a unique opportunity for local birders to observe a species they might otherwise have to travel great distances to see.