[384] 



BIRDS OF OREGON 



Montana, western Nebraska, and Colorado. In Oregon: Blue Mountain area and 

 desert ranges of Malheur, Harney, and Lake Counties, including Warner Moun- 

 tains. (See Figure 10.) 



BAIRD (Baird, Cassin, and Lawrence 1858) first reported the small Batch- 

 elder's Woodpecker from the range now occupied by this race, and 

 Bendire (1877) considered it rare in the John Day Valley. We believe 

 the various Fort Klamath records of Bendire and Merrill probably should 

 now be referred to one or the other of the two other races of this species. 

 Peck (191 1 a) recorded it from Malheur County, and there are numerous 

 specimens and field records in the Biological Survey from the territory 

 outlined above. We have records and specimens covering every month 

 from the territory outlined but know of no definite breeding records for 

 eastern Oregon, though the bird is a permanent resident. We have found 

 the species to be scarce in this State and consider it a noteworthy day 

 when more than one individual is seen. Like its relatives, it frequents 

 the cottonwood and willow growth along the streams, being seen very 

 infrequently in the coniferous timber. It is rather quiet except at mating 

 time and may consequently escape detection even when present. 



Gairdner's Woodpecker: 



Dry abates pubescens gairdneri (Audubon) 



DESCRIPTION. " 'Adult male: Upper parts black, with dingy whitish forehead, scarlet 

 nape, and white stripe down back: middle and greater wing coverts plain black, or only 

 lightly spotted with white; outer tail feathers white, barred with black; under parts 

 smoky gray or light smoke brown. Adult female: similar but without scarlet on nape. 

 Young: similar, but with red of nape extending partly or wholly over crown. Length: 

 6.X5-7.oo, wing 3.55-4.15, tail i-.^o-^.jo, bill .70-. 80." (Bailey) Nest: A freshly 

 excavated hole, usually in deciduous tree. Eggs: 4 or 5, white. 

 DISTRIBUTION. General: Coast zone from southern British Columbia to Mendocino 



FIGURE 10. Distribution of three forms of woodpeckers in Oregon: i, Batchelder's Wood- 

 pecker (Dryobates pubescens leucurus); i, Gairdner's Woodpecker (D. p. gairdnerf); 3, Willow 

 Woodpecker (D. p. turatii). 



