WOODPECKERS 205 



the red-shafted flicker and the ant-eating woodpecker, and in south- 

 ern Texas with the golden-fronted woodpecker. The thin voice of 

 bairdi betrays his presence when he is hidden, but he is often in 

 evidence, peeking around a post or tree trunk at you. 



Where there are trees he nests in them, where there are none he 

 accommodates himself to circumstances and nests in yuccas, fence 

 posts, and telegraph poles. On throwing open a gate the traveler 

 is sometimes surprised by the screams of a brood in the gate post. 



396a. D. S. lucasanus [Xantus). Saint Lucas Woodpecker. 



Similar to bairdi. but outer tail feather barred only on terminal half 

 or less, except sometimes on inner web. and primary coverts with at least 

 one row of small white spots. Length: 7.25-7.75, wing- 3.95-4.10, tail 

 2.70-2.90, exposed culmen .9 1 -.94. 



Distribution. — From about latitude 34^ in the Colorado Desert, Califor- 

 nia, south through Lower California. 



397. Dryobates nuttallii (Gamb.). Ncttall Woodpecker. 



Adult male. — Upper parts barred with black and white, but forehead 

 dingy ; crown black, sometimes streaked with 

 white ; back of head with red patch ; hind neck 

 white ; shoulders crossed by wide black band ; 

 middle tail feathers black, and outer feathers pj„ 072 



with not more than two distinct black bars ; 



under parts almost pure white ; sides spotted with blaok. Adult female : 

 similar, but without red on head. Young : similar, but top of crown red, 

 nape black, and under parts more thickly barred with black. Length : 

 7, wing- 3.90-4.20, tail 2.60-3.05, exposed culmen .77-.82. 



Remarks. — The difference in color pattern of head and outer tail feath- 

 ers distinguish nuttallii from scalaris bairdi. 



Distribution. — Resident in Upper Sonoran (and Transition ?) zone, west 

 of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains, from southern Oregon south 

 to northern Lower California. 



Nest. — In dead limbs or old stubs of oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, 

 elders, and willows, at no great height from the ground. Eggs : 4 to 6, white. 



Food. — Mainly insects and larv;e, including caterpillars, ants, weevils, 

 seeds, and probably occasionally berries and fruit. 



The cross-bars on the back and the white feathers on the sides of 

 the tail mark this little woodpecker as it clings to a tree tr\mk or 

 flies across to another bole. It has a nuthatch-like way of flying up 

 to light on th(! under side of a limb, and when hanging upside down 

 turns itself around with as much ea.se as a fly on a ceiling. 



At times the small Nuttall waxes excited, and shakes his wings 

 as he gives his thin, rattling call. All his notes are thin, and his 

 quee-quee-quee-fjneep' has a sharp quality. His chit'tah is a dimin- 

 utive of the jn'roh of the California woodpecker. He is a sturdy 

 little fellow, and in flight will sometimes rise high in air and fly 

 long and steadily, dipping only sliLrhtly over the brush. lie has 

 the full strength of his convictions and will drive a big flicker from 



