The Bird Book Part 53

Range.--Rocky Mountain region of the United States and southern Canada south to Mexico and west to California.

This variety differs from the last, chiefly in addition of a band of scarlet on the nape in place of the white on the Yellow-bellied species.

Coming as it does, midway between the ranges of the preceding species and the following, this variety, with its extension of red on the head and throat, may be regarded somewhat as a connecting link between the two species, but it is perfectly distinct and does not intergrade with either. There appears to be no difference in the nesting habits of the two varieties, except that the present one, according to Bendire, shows a preference to nesting in live aspens. The eggs measure .90 .65.

[Ill.u.s.tration 256: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 255

403. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus ruber ruber._

Range.--Pacific Coast from Lower California to Oregon.

Except for a whitish line from the eye to the bill, the entire head, neck and breast of this species is red, of varying shades in different individuals, from carmine to nearly a scarlet; the remainder of their plumage is very similar to that of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. This is an abundant species and in most parts of the range they are not timid.

Like many of the Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs, they spend a great deal of their time in drumming on some dead limb. They nest commonly in aspens, preferably living ones, and are said to build a new nesting hole each year rather than use the old. The eggs are laid during May or June, being glossy white, five to seven in number, and measuring .90 .70.

403a. NORTHERN RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to Alaska.

404. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. _Sphyrapicus thyroideus._

This is a deeper and brighter variety, and is more yellowish on the belly. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the southern form.

Range.--Mountain ranges from the Rockies to the Pacific; north to British Columbia.

This oddly marked species shows a surprising number of variations in plumage; the normal adult male is largely black on the upper parts and breast, with only a narrow patch of red on the throat, and with the belly, bright yellow. The female is entirely different in plumage and for a long time was supposed to be a distinct species; she is brownish in place of the black in the male, has no red in the plumage, and is barred with black and white on the back and wings. They nest at high alt.i.tudes in mountain ranges, either in coniferous forests or in aspens.

There is no peculiarity in their nesting habits; they lay from four to seven eggs, glossy white. Size .97 .67.

405. PILEATED WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Phlotomus pileatus pileatus._

Range.--Southern and South Atlantic States.

This heavily built Woodp.e.c.k.e.r is nearly as large as the Ivory-bill, being 17 inches in length. They are not nearly as beautiful as the Ivory-bills, their plumage being a sooty black instead of glossy, and the white on the wing, being confined to a very small patch at the base of the primaries; the whole crown and crest are vermillion, as is also a moustache mark in the male. They breed in the most heavily timbered districts, and generally at a high elevation; excavating a cavity sometimes 25 inches in depth and eight inches in diameter. In most localities they are very shy and difficult to approach. During April or May they lay from three to six white eggs. Size 1.30 1.00.

[Ill.u.s.tration 257: Pileated Woodp.e.c.k.e.r.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 256

405a. NORTHERN PILEATED WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Phlotomus pileatus abieticola._

Range.--Local throughout North America, from the northern parts of the United States northward.

This variety is only very slightly larger than the preceding, it otherwise being the same. It is still abundant in many localities, but its range is rapidly being reduced, on account of cutting away the forests. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the southern variety.

406. RED-HEADED WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Melanerpes erythrocephalus._

Range.--United States, east of the Rockies, except New England; north to northern Canada; winters in southern United States.

This beautiful species has a bright red head, neck and breast, glossy blue black back, wings and tail, and white underparts, rump and secondaries. It is the most abundant of the family in the greater portion of its range, where it nests in any kind of trees or in telegraph poles at any height from the ground; they also sometimes nest in holes under the eaves of buildings. They are the most pugnacious of the Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs, and are often seen chasing one another or driving away some other bird. They are also known to destroy the nests and eggs of many species, and also to kill and devour the young, they being the only Woodp.e.c.k.e.r, so far as known, to have acquired this disreputable habit; they also feed upon, besides ants and larvae, many kinds of fruit and berries. Their nesting season is during May and June, when they lay from four to eight white eggs, with less gloss than those of the Flicker.

Size 1.00 .75.

407. ANT-EATING WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Melanerpes formicivorus formicivorus._

Range.--Mexican border of the United States, southward.

This species may be identified by the black region around the base of the bill, the white forehead, red crown and nape, yellowish throat, and blackish upper parts, extending in a band across the breast, this variety having the band streaked with white posteriorly. The habits of this variety are the same as the next which is most abundant in the United States.

[Ill.u.s.tration 258: Williamson Sapsucker Northern Pileated Woodp.e.c.k.e.r.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Red-headed Woodp.e.c.k.e.r.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 257

407a. CALIFORNIA WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi._

Range.--California and Oregon.

This bird differs from the last in having fewer white stripes in the black breast band. In suitable localities, this is the most abundant of Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs on the Pacific coast. They have none of the bad habits of the Red-heads, appear to be sociable among their kind, and are not afraid of mankind. It nests indifferently in all kinds of trees at any height from the ground, laying from three to seven eggs. Size 1.00 .75. This species has the habit of storing food for future use developed to a greater extent than any other of the family. They sometimes completely honeycomb the exterior surface of decayed trees, with holes designed to hold acorns.

407b. NARROW-FRONTED WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Melanerpes formicivorus angustifrons._ Range.--Southern Lower California.

This variety differs from the others in being slightly smaller and in having the white band on the forehead narrower. Its nesting habits are the same, but the eggs average smaller. Size .95 .75.

408. LEWIS'S WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Asyndesmus lewisi._

Range.--Western United States from the Rockies to the Pacific coast; from British Columbia south to Mexico.

A very oddly colored species, 11 inches in length having a dark red face, streaked red and white under parts, a gray breast band, and glossy greenish black upperparts. They are not uncommon in the greater part of their range, can not be called shy birds, and nest in all kinds of trees at heights varying from six to one hundred feet from the ground, the five to nine white eggs measuring 1.05 .80, and being laid during May or June.

409. RED-BELLIED WOODp.e.c.k.e.r. _Centurus carolinus._

Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States north in nearly all parts of their range, frequenting the more heavily timbered regions, where they nest in any place that attracts their fancy; in some localities they also commonly nest in telegraph poles.

They are quite tame, and during the winter months come about yards and houses, the same as, and often in company with Downy Woodp.e.c.k.e.rs. Their eggs, which are laid during May, are glossy white, average in size 1.00 .75 and number from four to six.

[Ill.u.s.tration 259: Red-bellied Woodp.e.c.k.e.r.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]