364 LAND BIRDS 
It is usually resident — and probably breeds — wher- 
ever found, although not very numerous in any one 
locality. Its nesting site is usually in deciduous trees, 
at a distance from four to twenty feet from the ground. 
The entrance hole is round, about an inch and a half in 
diameter; and the cavity excavated is from six to nine 
inches deep. Both male and female share in the work of 
excavating, and after the nest is finished, the male some- 
times prepares a shallower one for himself in the same 
tree. Nesting begins as early as the middle of April in 
Southern California, and four weeks later in Sacramento 
County. Four to five glossy white eggs are laid, and 
for fourteen days both male and female share the cares 
of incubation. After the young are grown, they separate 
from the parents as soon as they can feed themselves, 
preparing shallow excavations for their own shelter in 
dead trees or rotting fence posts. Here they spend not 
only the nights but the stormy days of winter as well, 
feeding upon the larvee of insects in the bark. 
The call-notes of the Gairdner vary, being a low 
“pshir, pshir,’ when searching for food ; a “ tchee-tchee- 
tchee,” rapidly repeated, which is its commonest call; 
and a soft “kick-kick” uttered in the mating season. 
397. NUTTALL WOODPECKER. — Dryobates nuttallit. 
Famity : The Woodpeckers. 
Length: 7.00. 
Adult Male: Crown black, sometimes streaked with white ; occiput scar- 
let ; hind-peck white ; upper parts barred black and white ; middle 
tail-feathers black ; outer tail-feathers barred black and white ; under 
parts white, spotted with black on sides. 
