378 LAND BIRDS 



inches wide at the bottom, and one and three-fourths 

 inches in diameter at the entrance. Incubation lasts 

 seventeen days, and the young remain in the nest about 

 three and a half weeks. They are fed upon the larvae of 

 black beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and fruit. At certain 

 seasons of the year this species is almost exclusively a 

 fruit-eater, and at all times it prefers vegetable to animal 

 food. Its call is a loud, clear two-syllable note, wliich 

 it usually utters when perched on top of a stump, where 

 it loves to sit and drum. It returns to the same nest 

 tree year after year, but usually excavates a new cavity, 

 frequently utilizing the old one as a shelter for the male 

 on stormy nights. 



411. GILA WOODVECKER. — Melanerpes uropi/gialis. 



Family : The Woodpeckers. 



Length: About 10.00. 



Adult Male: Head, neck, and under parts light grayish brown ; middle 



of crown red ; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts barred with black 



and white ; middle of belly yellowish ; middle and outer tail-feathers 



marked with white. 

 Adult Female : Like male, but no red on crown. 

 Young: Like adults, with colors duller and markings less distinct. 

 Geographical Distribution: Southeastern California, southern part of 



Arizona and New Mexico, south through Lower California. 

 California Breeding Range : Around the Lower Colorado River, near Fort 



Yuma. 

 Breeding Season : May. 



Nest : In excavations in trees or in giant cacti. 

 Eggs: 3 to 5 ; white. Size 0.96 X 0.71. 



The range of the Gila Woodpecker in California is 

 restricted to the southeastern corner, bordering on the 

 Lower Colorado River, in the vicinity of Fort Yuma. 



