294 BULLETIN 17 4, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Field marks. — The white rump is the most conspicuous recognition 

 mark for both species, and the color pattern is similar for both, but 

 the flashing colors in the wings and tail, as well as the other contrast- 

 ing colors, will serve to distinguish the red-shafted from the yellow- 

 shafted species. 



Winter. — Durmg the winter that I spent in Pasadena, flickers were 

 common or abundant all winter in an arroyo on the outskirts of the 

 city. I could always find them picking up food among the dry leaves 

 on the ground, or flying about among the large sycamores and live 

 oaks. On a bright, sunny morning, after a frosty night, they could 

 be seen perched in the tojDmost branches of the tallest trees, which 

 were the first to catch the warmth of the rising sun. On February 

 14, 1929, I saw two males perched close together facing each other, 

 bowing and nodding, or bobbing up and down, as if beginning to 

 feel the urge of spring. 



DISTEIBUnON 



Range. — ^Western North America south to the Isthmus of 

 Tehuantepec. 



Breeding range. — The red-shafted flicker breeds north to south- 

 eastern Alaska (Sitka and Portage Cove) ; central British Columbia 

 (158-mile House and Horse Lake) ; west-central Alberta (Jasper 

 House) ; southern Saskatchewan (Cypress Hills) ; and North Dakota 

 (Fort Union, Oakdale, and Fort Clark). East to central North 

 Dakota (Fort Clark) ; South Dakota (Eeliance and Yankton) ; 

 northwestern Nebraska (Chadron) ; Colorado (Fort Morgan, Den- 

 ver, Colorado Springs, and Beulah) ; extreme western Oklahoma 

 (Kenton) ; central New Mexico (Santa Fe, Cloudcroft, and Mesilla) ; 

 western Chihuahua (San Luis Mountains and Pinos Altos) ; Durango 

 (Rio Sestin, Arroyo del Buey, and Durango City) ; Tamaulipas 

 (Ciudad Victoria) ; Hilaygo (Real del Monte) ; Vera Cruz (Jalapa 

 and Orizaba) ; and eastern Oaxaca (Villa Alta and Totontepec). 

 South to Oaxaca (Totontepec) ; Guerrero (Omilteme) ; and Jalisco 

 (Zapotlan and Volcan de Colima). From this southwestern point 

 the species ranges north through the mountains of western Mexico, 

 including northern Baja California and (formerly) Guadalupe 

 Island, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, to 

 southeastern Alaska (Sitka). 



Winter range. — The red-shafted flicker is a resident species over 

 most of its range, withdrawing from the more northern parts only 

 during severe winters. At this season it is found north regularly 

 to southern British Columbia (Comox, Okanagan, and Edge wood); 

 northern Montana (Fortine and Great Falls) ; eastern Wyoming 

 (Midwest); and rarely southeastern South Dakota (Yankton). 



