THE NORTHWESTERN FLICKER. 449 



hollow, and are ready to set up a clamor upon the appearance of food. This 

 noise has been compared to the hissing of a nest of snakes, but as the fledg- 

 lings grow it becomes an uproar equal to the best efforts of a telephone pole 

 on a frosty morning. 



The young are fed entirely by regurgitation, not an attractive process, 

 but one admirably suited to the necessities of long foraging expeditions and 

 varying fare. When able to leave the nest the fledglings usually clamber 

 about the parental roof-tree for a day or two before taking flight. Their 

 first efforts at obtaining food for themselves are usually made upon the 

 ground, where ants are abundant. These with grasshoppers and other ground- 

 haunting insects make up a large percentage of food, both of the young and 

 adults. It will appear from this that the Red-shafted Flicker is not onlv harm- 

 less but decidedly beneficial — save in the matter of hostility to school boards, 

 above mentioned. 



No. 179. 



NORTHWESTERN FLICKER. 



A. O. U. No. 413 a. Colaptes mexicanus saturatior Ridgway. 



Description. — Like C. m. collaris but darker; ground color of upperparts 

 burnt umber with a purplish tinge ; ground color of underparts vinaceous buff 

 to color of back; sides of head and throat deep smoke-gray; pileum cinnamo- 

 meous. Specimens in the Provincial Museum at Victoria indicate hybridization 

 between this form and C. auratus luteus. Of twenty-seven males from Van- 

 couver Island nine possess in whole or in part the scarlet nuchal patch character- 

 istic of auratus. Length up to 14.00 (355-6) ; av. of five Glacier specimens : wing 

 6.55 (166.4); tail 5.13 ( 130.3); bill 1.55 (39.4). 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding; darker. 



Nesting. — Nest: much as in preceding, but usually higher up. Eggs: usually 

 6, somewhat less glossy than those of C. in. collaris. 



General Range. — Northwest coast from northern California to Sitka, 

 hybridizing with C. a. luteus northerly. 



Range in Washington. — Common resident west of Cascades, breeding from 

 tide-water to timber-line, migrating irregularly to East-side in winter; probably 

 some substitution of northern birds for local summer residents on Puget Sound 

 in winter. 



Authorities. — ? Picas mexicanus, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V., 1839, 174, pi. 416. 

 Colaptes mexicanus Swains. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX., 1858, pp. 120, 121. 

 C&S. Rh. Kb. Ra. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— U. of W. P. Prov. B. BN. E. 



