WOODPECKERS 217 



always have a great deal to say, whether it be in a canyon of the 

 Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico, where their chatter interrupts 

 the solemn hooting of the baud-tailed pigeon, or on the campus of a 

 California university, where much is to be learned by silent listeners. 

 But their small talk never seems to interfere with their work, and 

 the acorn-filled tree trunks and telegraph poles attest their industry. 

 Of all our woodpeckers they are the prime storers, and though they 

 do not live in a land of snow, ground squirrels infest most of their 

 territory and make it important to have secure cupboards. Dr. 

 Mearus says their stores are the source of unending quarrels between 

 them and their numerous pilfering enemies, and confesses that when 

 short of provisions in the mountains he himself has filled his saddle- 

 bags with acorns from under the bark of a pine. The birds are true to 

 their Melanerpes instincts, although they do spend so much of their 

 time storing acorns, and vault into the air after insects in regulation 

 flycatcher style. 



407a. M. f. bairdi Eidgw. CALIFORNIAN WOODPECKER. 



Like M.farmicivorus, but with heavier bill and chest band solid black. 



Distribution. Breeds in Upper Sonoran zone of the Pacific coast region 

 from Oregon south to northern Lower California. 



Nest. - - 15 to 25 feet from the ground in oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods. 

 willows, and telegraph poles. Eggs : usually 4 or 5. white. 



Food. Acorns during- the greater part of the year ; also grasshoppers, 

 caterpillars, ants, beetles, flies, small fruits, berries, and green corn. 



Subgenus Asyndesmus. 



Bill combining- characters of Colaptes and Melanerpes : wing's long-, fold- 

 ing nearly to end of tail ; feathers of under parts and nuchal collar bristly. 



408. Melanerpes torquatus (Wils.). LEWIS WOODPECKER. 



Adults. Upper parts iridescent greenish black except for -gray collar ; 

 face dull crimson ^ throat and chest 

 gray changing to soft rose on belly ; 

 plumage of lower parts harsh and hair- 

 like. Young : head without red. neck 

 without collar, under parts with less 

 red. Length : 10.50-11.50, wing 6.50-6.80. tail 4.40-4.70. 



Distribution. Breeds in Transition and Upper Sonoran zones from 

 Black Hills and eastern slope of Rocky Mountains to Pacific slope ; from 

 southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta to Arizona ; winters in 

 southern California and western Texas ; casual in western Kansas. 



Nest. 6 to 100 feet from the ground, usually high up in tall pines or 

 cottonwoods, or in decayed branches or stumps of oaks, sycamores, junipers, 

 and willows. Eggs : usually 6 or 7. white. 



Food. In summer mainly insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, ants, 

 beetles, flies, larvae, acorns, pine seeds, wild berries, and in cultivated 

 districts fruit. 



When you reach the mountains on the west-bound Overland, from 

 the car windows you recognize with delight the crow -like figure of 



