. FAMILY PicidcB 



the Cascades; red-naped sapsucker, found in 

 western North America from British Colum- 

 bia south to Mexico, and from the Rocky 

 Mountains west to the Cascades and the 

 Sierra Nevadas, sparingly west of the moun- 

 tains in Oregon and Washington. 



The red-breasted sapsucker is found in 

 coniferous timber and mixed woods from sea 

 level to high mountains. It is common in 

 parts of its range and rare in others. One 

 never sees more than one or two pairs at a 

 time. It is a shy bird, keeping behind the 

 trunk of a tree as you approach it, all the 

 while peering at you cautiously from first one 

 side of the tree, and then the other. Some- 

 times it is seen clinging to a rail fence, or in 

 small trees, but more often in tall firs or 

 cedars in heavy timber. 



The all-red head, neck and breast of this 

 bird make its identification easy, since no 

 other woodpecker on the Pacific Coast is like 

 it in appearance. 



The call notes of the red-breasted sap- 

 sucker are varied and unusual for a wood- 

 pecker. One of its calls sounds more like a 

 squirrel than a bird, while another reminds 

 one of a hawk. The latter is unique as com- 

 ing from a woodpecker, it is so loud and 

 unexpected. 



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