140 



A bird of the northern coniferous forest, seldom coming under the 

 notice of the ordinary observer, except towards the verge of present settle- 

 ment where it is of regular occurrence. 



Economic Status. This woodpecker is of growing importance for the 

 protection of the coniferous forest from introduced and other insect pests 

 which have greatly increased in recent years. 



401. American Three-toed Woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, fr. — le 

 PIC d'am^irique. Picaides americanus. L, 8-75. Almost exactly similar to the Arctic 

 Three-toed, but with the middle of the back barred with white. 



Distinctions, The yellow crown of the male is distinctive of the Three-toed Wood- 

 peckers. This species can be distinguished from the Arctic by the white-barred instead 

 of solid black back. Except the Red-belUed, the only woodpecker in eastern Canada with 

 a barred back. 



Field Marks. Yellow crown of male and the black and white barring in the middle 

 of the back. 



SUBSPECIES. The form occurring in eastern Canada is the Eastern Three-toed 

 Woodpecker, the type race of the species. In the west, other forms occur. 



A much rarer bird than the preceding, but of similar habits, status, 

 and distribution, and extending into the western mountains in subspecific 

 form. 



402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. fr. — le pic macui-:^. Sphyrapicus varixis. L, 

 8-56. Plate XIX A. 



Distinctions. The well-defined red cap just covering the top of the head will usually 

 distinguish this species. Some females have a black crown, but the general coloration 

 is always recognizable even in young birds, although in them it is veiled and indicated 

 rather than expressed. 



Field Marks. The red cap of both sexes and red throat of the male are the most cons- 

 picuous field marks. In other plumages the broad white bar that shows along the wing 

 and the black gorget below the throat are distinctive. 



Nesting. In holes in dead trees. 



Distribution. Eastern North America from well north of cultivation, southward. 

 Breeds everywhere in eastern Canada excepting in the most southerly portions. 



SUBSPECIES. The eastern form of the Yellow-beUied Sapsucker is the type 

 race — the Eastern Sapsucker. In the extreme west another subspecies occurs. 



The Sapsuckers have departed somewhat from their ancestral wood- 

 pecking habits. Although numerous during migration through southern 

 Canada, they are scarce breeders in the lower Great Lakes region though 

 common elsewhere. 



Economic Status. This is the only bird of the family that seems 

 to be harmful. The harm is done in quest of sap, by girdling the trunks 

 and branches of orchards and other smooth barked trees with rows of small 

 squarish pits regularly spaced in horizontal lines penetrating both outer 

 and inner barks to the sap-wood beneath. Several trees may be so tapped 

 and visited in turn as the sap exudes. Though it is primarily the sap 

 which is sought, the insects attracted are also eaten, for though sap is 

 a large item in the Sapsucker's diet, animal food is also necessary. 



Although the damage to trees so girdled is not nearly as great as 

 might be expected, they are sometimes permanently injured and even 

 killed. All are weakened and a lodgment prepared for fungoid growth 

 and insects. Unless severely and repeatedly attacked, however, most 

 survive and completely recover. Even forest growth suffers considerable 

 damage; valuable timber trees are attacked and the consequent burr 



