AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 121 



the Downy and the Hairy Woodpecker, but less loud and penetrating. Still 

 it carried well and under favorable conditions could be heard fully one quar- 

 ter of a mile away. • * * 



After drumming a dozen times or more he gave a long vocal call closely 

 similar to the Kingfisher-like rattle of the Hairy Woodpecker. 



Field marks. — The American three-toed woodpecker is the only 

 woodpecker likely to be seen in the northern woods that has a black 

 back transversely barred with white, white under parts banded with 

 black on the flanks, and a black crown, with or without a yellow crown 

 patch; the yellow patch is very prominent in the adult male and less 

 so in the young birds of both sexes, but lacking in the adult female. 

 In flight the "ladderback" is more conspicuous than when the bird 

 is at rest, and the tail flashes white. 



Winter. — Both species of three-toed woodpeckers are mainly resident 

 throughout the year within their breeding ranges, as their normal food 

 supply is as easily available in winter as in summer. Consequently 

 few species of birds are less inclined to migrate than these wood- 

 peckers. However, on rare occasions this woodpecker has been known 

 to appear in winter somewhat south of its summer range. Probably 

 these southward movements have been due to some shortage of food 

 in its summer home, or an unusual supply of it further south, or, 

 possibly, an unusually successful breeding season may have over- 

 crowded the home range and caused an exodus. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — Northern Europe, Asia, and North America, south through 

 high mountainous regions to about latitude 35° N. ; nonmigratory. 



In North America the range of the three-toed woodpecker extends 

 north to northern Alaska (Kowak River, Tanana, Beaver Creek, 

 Fort Yukon, Circle, and Charlie Creek) ; northern Yukon (Forty 

 Mile and probably Coal Creek) ; Mackenzie (Fort McPherson, Fort 

 Goodhope, Fort Anderson, Fort Rae, and Fort Smith) ; northern 

 Manitoba (Fort Du Brochet and Churchill) ; northern Ontario (Fort 

 Albany); northern Quebec (Fort Chimo) ; and Labrador (Okak). 

 East to Labrador (Okak and Nain) ; Newfoundland (South Exploit 

 River) ; northeastern Maine (Presque Isle) ; and New Hampshire 

 (Lake Umbagog and Mount Jefferson), South to northern New 

 Hampshire (Mount Jefferson) ; northern New York (Long Lake and 

 Moose River) ; probably northern Michigan (Isle Royal) ; northern 

 Minnesota (Lake Itasca) ; northern New Mexico (Pecos Baldy and 

 Chuska Mountains) ; Arizona (White Mountains, San Francisco 

 Mountain, and Kaibab Plateau) ; east-central Nevada (Snake Moun- 

 tains) ; and south-western Oregon (Four-mile Lake). West to west- 

 ern Oregon (Four-mile Lake) ; Washington (Blue Mountains, prob- 



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