BIRDS—PICIDAE—COLAPTES, uae 
Section Colapteea. 
This section, formerly embracing but one genus additional to Colaptes, has recently had 
three more added to it, by Bonaparte. The only United States representative, however, is 
Colaptes. 
COLAPTES, Swainson. 
Colaptes, Swainson, Zool. Jour. II], Dec. 1827, 353. (type C. auratus. ) 
Geopicos, Matuerse, Mem. Acad. Metz, 1849, 358. (G. campestris.) 
Bill slender, depressed at the base, then compressed. Culmen much curved; gonys straight, 
both with acute ridges, and coming to quite a sharp point with the commissure at the end; the 
bill, consequently, not truntate at the end. No ridges on the bill. Nostrils basal, median, 
oval, and exposed. Gonys very short; about half the culmen. Feet large; the anterior 
outer toe considerably longer than the posterior. Tail long, exceeding the secondartes, the 
feathers suddenly acuminate, with elongated points. 
The only two well defined species found within the limits of the United States are readily 
characterized. They have, as the common character of Colaptes: the back transversely banded 
with black and brownish ; the head and neck all round nearly uniform grayish or brownish, 
with a short maxillary stripe, and with or without a nuchal patch ; a black crescent on the 
breast, and the belly marked with round black spots. The most conspicuous features are as 
follows : 
1. Maxillary stripe black ; a scarlet nuchal crescent ; shafts, and the under surfaces of 
wing and tail feathers yellow..................- cn auiea cau ceailcmadee aneaceses opoadaaucone C. auratus. 
2. Maxillary stripe red ; no nuchal crescent ; shafts, and the under surfaces of wing and 
tail feathers brownish orange red................00008 see caereeeeee deseschoresiesec(s MVCLICOMUS: 
A hybrid between the two occurs on the upper Missouri. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
| : 
| Specimen mea- 
Catal.) Species. Locality. | Sex. Length, Extent. Wing.| Tail.) Tarsus.| Middle iIts claw. Bill Along 
| | toe. above. | gape. sured. 
| 
No. 
Oi |leeces .«-| 6,60 | 5.22 . : 1260) nls 4 Skin veecectee creer 
1886 | Colaptes mexicanus..| Columbia river 12 
Ft. Vancouver, N. T. 12.90 | ener | 6 1.68) 1,68 |Skin.........., 
Heese ‘ | 13.75 | 23.95 |... sesseeeeleneonene |ROSM soeseuee 
Ft. Laramie | 12.50 |.....08- | 6.2 1.46 1.54 | Skin, (le 
Senco | 13 21. | 6. teeeeeee) tree eeee | Fresh 
Mexico lEtsiere. Sadepeac 5. 1.64] 1.64 | Skin . 
Carlisle vesce geese Gyn |LOs96 i sere once 6. 1.42} 1.46 | Skin 
1} SERED SERGI] GEOTSH ee,” ol esoeess oes coed Heeseaod) Hee ocedl Recooece reshisscceseaee 
DVS 5O) | eiecciare ain 6 1.48 148) | /SKini cowcescicces 
Oy BUNS | GK. «| lecocinbl lodadaa GacaoAcal hoodaoes| bodbiacen Mocécaaac | a6accco INreshivecccclece’e 
4569 | Colaptes chrysoides ?.| Werovao) peeseae 5 | 1.42| 1.44 |Skin.......000. 
| Mex. boundary star. | 
5214 Colaptes ayresii...... | Farm Island, near rol Ie OOM (erate crereiaie 6.28 1.52 1.60) (Skin <\c cece 
| | Fort Pierre. | | 
don Seeeceee doe otesaecea| ag Beda essences vessel 13.05 | 19.50 | 6250) emote taco eeeeataaleety ceed ll econtea ceeseses Fresh .esesesees 
