:^HE NORTHWEST SAFSUCKER. 435 



No. 173. 

 NORTHWEST SAFSUCKER. 



.'\. O. U. Xo. 403 a. Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis Suckow. 



Synonyms. — Xuktiikr.n Rkd - I'.rkastkd Sapsuckkk. Crimson - headed 

 \\'(Kii)ri:cKi:R. 



Description. — Like ])rcceilini; Imt darker, rcit a def]) crimson or maroon 

 purple. Original markings of .b". raiiiis niiiiuilis still further eflfaced. Av. meas- 

 urements of two adults from (ilacier : Length, 9.94 1 232,5 ) ; wing 5.24 (1 33. 1 ) ; 

 tail 3.40 (86,4) : bill 1.03 (26,2L 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size; dark crimson of head, neck, and breast 

 distinctive. 



Nesting. — Xcst: An unlined cavity excavated in dead fir or living deciduous 

 tree, usuallv at considerable height. Bcjgs: 5-7, white. Av. size, .92 x .6g (23.4 x 

 17.51. Season: May or June; one brood. 



General Range. — Breeding in Northwest coast district of Nurth America 

 from < )regon to Sitka, .Alaska; south in winter to southern California. 



Range in Washington. — .Summer resident west of the Cascades; also ])ar- 

 tiallv resident in winter. 



Authorities. — Spli\raf>icus ruber Raird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R, R. Surv, L\. 

 185S, pp. 104, 105. C(S:'S, Rh. Ra. B. K. 



Specimens. — P. Prov. V>. E. 



VICTOR S.A\'INGS, of Blaine, pointed out a hole fifty feet up in a l)ig 

 fir stub as the Sai)sucker's nest. Soon the female flew to the entrance ; where- 

 upon the male bird emerged, gorgemis in crimson panopl\% and flew away, the 

 female taking his ])Iace on the eggs, .\fter a bit X'ictor pounded on the tree 

 to raise a jjossible Harris fiu'ther u]), for the tree above is riddled with nesting 

 Iioles. Tlie female Sapsucker promptly thrust out her head and studied the 

 situation for fi\e minutes or so, after which she dropped back content. The 

 only notable thing about the nest externally was a round smooth patch, tlie size 

 of a diillar. upon the tree about foiu' inches below the nest, worn and polished 

 by the tail-feathers of the alighting birds, Jvidgcd by this mark of identifica- 

 tion, only one of the imused holes al)o\e lielonged td ihe Sapsucker: the 

 remainder to the Harris Woodpecker, 



The stub C'lnimands a \'iew of the Savings"s urchard, where. X'ictor savs. 

 the Sapsuckcrs do immense damage, especially to the pear trees. This nesting 

 tree was sixteen feet arf)imd at the base, above the root bul.ge. and perfectly 

 desolate of limbs. Fortunately, also, it liafl long since disjxised of its shaggy 

 coat of bark, — fortunately. I say. for when a fir stub sheds its fir coat it does 

 so suddenly, and great is the fall thereof. 



It was a far cry u]) that b.irren shaft with one knew not wdiat possibilities of 



