WOODPECKERS 219 



orange, or red; back finely 

 barred with black and white : 

 rump plain wliite, tail black, 

 outer feathers barred with 

 white ; under parts lig-ht gray, 

 washed with yellowish on belly. 

 Adult female : similar, but with- 

 out red crown, and yellow of 

 plumage paler. Young : colors 

 duller, markings less distinct 

 Wing: 5.20-5.65. tail o.40- 

 :5.T5, bill 1.20-1.40. 



Distribution. — Central and 



southern Texas, south to the _. -,orr r, ^^ r i. j w ^ 



. p T^ . ^ Fig. 285. Golden-fronted Woodpecker. 



Nest. — 6 to 25 feet from the ground, generally in raesquites, pecans, 

 oaks, or telegraph poles. Eggs : 4 to 7. white. 



Food. — Insects of various kinds, such as beetles, ants, grasshoppers, 

 and larvae — among them one injurious to corn ; also acorns, Indian corn, 

 wild berries, and fruit. 



In San Antonio tlio golden-fronted woodpecker nests in telegraph 

 poles and bird boxes about houses as well as in pecans, oaks, and 

 mesqultes. In Eastland County. Texas, Mr. Hasbrouck says it is 

 often seen in the same tree with the red-bellied. On the mesquite 

 prairie of southern Texas the little Texan woodpecker is the only 

 one occurring at all commonly with aurifrons and there is no dan- 

 ger of confusing them. 



Avrifrons makes noise enough for a dozen, his loud penetrating 

 voice ringing across the road as you drive through the mesquites. 

 One of his conmion calls is a rattle like that of the California wood- 

 pecker. When he flies he shows his white rump and wing spots, and 

 on the rare occasions when you catch a glimpse of him you can see 

 the yellow of his neck above the black and white barring of his back. 



411. Melanerpes uropyglalis (Baird). Gila Woodpecker. 

 Adult iiHi/f. — Head and iiiidtM- ]i;nts grayish brown, crown red ; middle 



of belly yellowisli ; back and rump 



X 



rineli/ barred with black and 

 white ; middle and outer tail feath- 

 ers marked with white. Adult 

 female : similar, but without red. 

 Vouiifi : similar, but colors dulK-r, 

 and nuirkings less distinct. M'//((/; 

 5.00-5.30, tail ;;.50-o.U0, bill .!!.")- 

 1.25. 



Remarks. — This species may 



' be disringuishtMl from aurifrons 



by its brownish tinu<', tln' abs.nct^ 



of yellow on its head, harn-d 



y^ rump, wliiti- markings on midiUe 



^ tail feathers, and absence of 



Fig. 286. marks ou those next the middle. 



