446 11 IK KIID-SIIAFPEI) FLISkKK. 



Acconling t<j Ntlsun, this bird is aljiiiulantly distributed tliruuui the tim- 

 bered ix)rti<>ns of Alask.!, west even to the neiglilxtrlioinl of Bering Straits, and 

 it is only surprising that so few of lliein come straiglit soutli to winter. 



L'|)on tlie eastern borders of the range of C. cafcr, viz., ujxin the eastern 

 slopes of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, Malio, Montana, and 

 southward, specimens showing mi.xed characters of citfcr and miraliis are 

 found — in such numbers, indeed, that they were formerly given a distinctive 

 name, Ci'laf^lcs hyhriiliis Baird. This half-breed stock is jierhajis tlie most 

 interesting e.xample of hybridization in .\merican ornithology, presenting, as 

 it does, not the familiar border-line of types being differentiated by varying 

 environment, but the re-amalgamation of related tyjies. ditTerentiatetl ages ago 

 fn)m a common slock, presiunably in Mexico. 



No. 17S. 

 RKD-SllAl TED 1 I.IC KHR. 



A. < ). r. .\i>. 41^. Colaptes mexicanus cullaris (\igors). 



Synonyms. — Ri:r)-wiNc,i:i> Wimiupixkkk. IIic.n-iioi.DF.R. "Vi:i.i.ow-ii am- 



.\IKR." I'lLl-oN WooDPKCKi:!*. 



Description. — .hiiilt mole: Similar to C'. uiiratiis lutciis. but yellow of 

 featluT-sliafts. etc.. replaced by orange-vermillion : cast of u])per ])lumagc cor- 

 res]Hindinglv reddish (very faintly, a mere vinaceous tinge to the brown ): nn 

 scarlet nuchal i)atcb : a broad malar stri])e of scarlet (replacing the black stripe 

 of C". (I. Iiiti-iis) : sides of head and throat clear blui>ili ash; iuidcn>arts tinged 

 with lilaceous. .Idiilt female: Like male but scarlet malar <tripe replaced by 

 brown. Between this and Colaf'tes aiiratiis liiteiis every form of gradatitni 

 exists. Ilvltrids (for such they really are » most fre<|uently reveal themselves 

 by the presence of three scarlet patches (in the male), i. e.. two malar an<l one 

 nuchal. Length: averaging larger than (". </. Iitteus. up to 14.00 (.^.S.S.'O: wing 

 r).i)o ( 175..^ I : tail 5.00 ( 127 • : bill 1.50 ( 3S. 1 ). 



Recojjnition Marks. — Little Hawk size; brown tinely barred with black 

 alKive; nn<ierpart> heavily -iintted with black: flame-color of umler wing surface 

 |)roniinent in flight: -larkt malar ^triiH' of male distinctive; lighter than suc- 

 ceeding. 



Nesting. — Much as in C". «;. Iiiteus. and eggs indistinguishable. For nesting 

 sites makes use of wooden buildings or earth-banks in default of trees. Season: 

 .Mav ; one brood, rarely two. 



General Range.— Western I'nited States and I'.rilish Columbia from the 

 Rockv Mountains to the Pacific and south into northern Mexico, giving place to 

 succecfling form on northwest coast slopes, to C. chrysoiiies in extreme south- 

 west, and hvbridizing with C. aiiratus liileiis in northeastern and northern portion 

 of ranjjc. 



Ran^e in W .ishinv'tnn. — Fast-side, common snnimer resideiU and migrant. 



