RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER 145 



borings. I shot two of the birds at this mesquite, and there was still 

 one there the last time I visited the tree, although I had never seen 

 but one at a time there." 



W. L. Dawson (1923) remarks: "In lieu of maple sap the west- 

 ern bird makes heavy requisition on the fresh-flowing pitch of pine 

 and fir trees. As for cambium, that of the aspen {Populiis tremu- 

 loides) has marked preference, and the summer range of the bird, so 

 far as it goes, is practically controlled by the occurrence of the tree. 

 Inasmuch as this tree is short-lived and of slight economic impor- 

 tance, the depredations of the bark-eaters are not seriously felt." 



Mr. Skinner says, in his Yellowstone Park notes : "I have seen the 

 red-naped sapsucker pick and hammer on dead aspens and on the 

 trunks of lodgepole pine for insects. On June 28, 1917, I saw one 

 make frequent flycatcher-like sallies from an aspen out into the 

 open." 



Behavior. — John H. Flanagan (1911) witnessed a rather remark- 

 able performance by a red-naped sapsucker, such as I had not seen 

 recorded elsewhere. He had chopped out a nest containing two fresh 

 eggs and was intending to leave them for a possible addition to the 

 set, as he had done successfully before, when one of the birds, "both 

 of which remained in sight, flew to the tree, perched a moment upon 

 the edge of the cut hole, then went in, and shortly reappeared with 

 one of the eggs in its beak. It flew to a nearby stub, not more than 

 forty feet from where" he "was sitting, calmly devoured the Qgg and 

 dropped the empty shell." 



Winter. — Apparently the fall migration of this woodpecker con- 

 sists largely of a withdrawal from the high altitudes, in which it 

 breeds, to winter resorts in the lowlands. Major Bendire (1895) says: 

 "During the winter months, I have occasionally observed a red-naped 

 sapsucker in the Harney Valley, in Oregon, busily engaged in hunting 

 for food among the willow thickets found growing along the banks 

 of the small streams in that sagebrush-covered region, often long dis- 

 tances away from timber of any size." 



Dr. Grinnell (1914) noted it, as a winter visitant, among the willows 

 and mesquites in the lower Colorado Valley. And M. French Oilman 

 (191.5), referring to the Arizona lowlands, says: "The red-naped sap- 

 sucker {Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis) is a winter visitant along the 

 Gila River, and while not to be called abundant, is frequently noticed. 

 I have seen individuals from October 6 to as late as April 17, and in 

 all the months between these two dates. Once I saw three in one mes- 

 quite tree. Signs of their work are frequently present on cottonwood 

 and willow trees and occasionally on an Arizona ash. If there are any 

 almond trees in the country they are sure to be attacked, as they are 

 favorites with these birds. Only once or twice have I seen mesquite 

 trees attacked." 



