CxATRDNER'S WOODPECKER 49 



DRYOBATES PUBESCENS GAIRDNERI (Audubon) 

 GAIEDNER'S WOODPECKER 



HABITS 



This subspecies of our well-known downy woodpecker is one of 

 those well-marked dark-colored races that occur in the humid North- 

 west coast region, ranging in the Transition Zone from southern 

 British Columbia to Mendocino County, Calif. It is practically a 

 small edition of the equally dark Harris's woodpecker, which in- 

 habits the same region. Its characters are so well marked that it was 

 recognized and named by Audubon (1842). Kidgway (1914) de- 

 scribes it as "similar to D. p. turati, but color of under parts darker 

 (often light brownish gray or drab), the white of back often tinged 

 with brownish gray." 



D. E. Brown, in his notes from western Washington, says : "Gaird- 

 ner's woodpecker is next to the commonest woodpecker in western 

 Washington, the northwestern flicker being the only one that out- 

 numbers it. This, the smallest of the woodpeckers in this locality, is 

 fond of old river beds, willow swamps, and the deciduous trees along 

 streams. It is found here at all times of year but seems to be more 

 in evidence in winter, probably because the leaves are off the trees 

 where it is usually found." 



Nesting. — Mr. Brown states further that "it digs its nesting cavity 

 usually in a dead willow stub of small size, but at times it excavates, 

 with much labor, a cavity in a growing tree. Nests have been found 

 as low as 3 feet from the ground, and they are seldom more than 30 

 feet up. Three to six eggs are laid, five being the usual number. 

 The first week in May is the best time for fresh eggs. The incubat- 

 ing bird has a habit that, I think, saves its eggs many times ; when 

 the stub that contains the eggs is rapped, the sitting bird comes to the 

 opening with its bill full of chips from the bottom of the nest ; these 

 are dropped outside, and the bird drops back into the nest, only to 

 repeat this action when the rapping is repeated. I have seen this 

 performance not once but many times, and I think it a regular occur- 

 rence when the eggs are well incubated." 



Dawson and Bowles (1909) write: "Gairdners place their nests at 

 inconsiderable heights in deciduous trees, and those, if possible, among 

 thick growths on moist ground. Both sexes assist in excavation, as 

 in incubation. Partially decayed wood is selected and an opening 

 made about an inch and a quarter in diameter. After driving 

 straight in an inch or two, the passage turns down and widens two 

 or three diameters. At a depth of a foot or so the crystal white 

 eggs are deposited on a neat bed of fine chips. Incubation lasts 

 twelve days and the young are hatched about the 1st of June." 



