WOODPECKERS 209 



Nest. — Usually in dead trees or stumps rarely above 8 feet from the 

 ground. J!^ggs : generally 4, white. 



Food. — Almost wholly wood-boring insects and larvae. 



"The arctic three-toed woodpecker is essentially a bird of the 

 pine, spruce, fir, and tamarack forests, and is rarely seen in other 

 localities. It is generally a resident, rarely migrating to any distance. 

 . . . Like the hairy woodpecker, they are persistent drummers, rat- 

 tling away for minutes at a time on some dead limb, and are espe- 

 cially active during the mating season in April. I have located more 

 than one specimen by traveling in the direction of the sound when 

 it was fully half a mile away." (Bendire.) 



401. Picoides americanus Brehm. American Three-toed Wood- 

 pecker. 



Adult male. — Upper parts mainly black, with whitish nuchal band and 

 light spotting or barring on head and back ; wing quills lightly barred with 

 white, outer tail feathers mainly plain white ; crown with yellow patch, 

 back of head glossed with blue ; under parts white, sides and flanks barred 

 with black. Adidt female : similar, but without yellow on crown. Length : 

 9, wing 4.40-4.60, tail ;J.10-;5.75, bill 1.10-1.2."). 



Distribution. — Northern North America east of the Rocky Mountains ; 

 south to the northern border of the United States. 



Nest. — In holes in coniferous trees, 4 to 12 feet from the ground. Eggs : 

 usually 4, white. 



Food. — Principally wood-boring insects and their larvae. 



The habits of the American are similar to those of the arctic 

 three-toed woodpecker, though it is considered by Mr. Williams of 

 Montana a much more silent bird, its calls resembling those of 

 Dryobates rather than Picoides. 



401a. P. a. fasciatUS Baird. Alaskan Three-toed Woodpecker. 



."Similar to /'. a. dorsalis. but back usually distinctly barred witli black 

 (rarely continuously white along middle line), secondaries more distinctly 

 spotted with white (sometimes wing-coverts also sjwtted. more or less 

 numerously with white), white spots on quills larger, and female some- 

 times with white prevailing on top of head. Length: *.•..")(), wing 4.50-4. T»>, 

 tail.S.lO-.J.T.-), bill 1.10-1.2.-). 



Distribution. — Alaska, south to northern Washijigton. 



401b. P. a. dorsalis Baird. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker. 



Adult iHdle. — Similar to nmerintnus, but middle of hark n>nfitiii'>usli/ 

 while, mostly sticakt'd : side of bead with two 

 conspicuous white strijx's. Adult female: 

 similar, but browner, and undtT jKirts dingy 

 wliite ; head without yellow patch, blue black, 

 lightly flecked with white. Young: like fe- 

 male, bnt with more or less yellow streaking on crown. Length: \K')0. 

 wing 4.0.V.-..00, tail ;;.2( »-;;.('..■). bill i.i.-)-i.:;(». 



/>>j's/rj/)M//o». — Breeds in Iloreal /one irom .Vii/.on;i .ind New Mexico 



