196 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



409. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Centurus carolinus. 



Range. United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States north 

 to Virginia and in the Mississippi Valley to Canada; casually north to southern 

 New England. 



The Red-bellied "Zebra Woodpeckers," as they are called, are very numerous 

 in nearly all parts of their range, frequenting the more heavily timbered regions, 

 where they nest in any place that attracts their fancy; in some localities they 

 also commonly nest in telegraph poles. They are quite tame, and during the 

 winter months come about yards and houses, the same as, and often in company 

 with Downy Woodpeckers. Their eggs, which are laid during May, are glossy 

 white, average in size 1.00 x .75 and number from four to six. 



410. Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Centurus aurifrons. 



m 



Range. Mexico and southern Texas, resident. 



This is also one of the "zebra" or "ladder-backed" 

 Woodpeckers, having the back and wings closely barred 

 with black and white, the same as the preceding; the 

 | forehead, nasal tufts and nape are golden yellow, and 

 the male has a patch of red on the crown. This is a 

 very common resident species in the Lower Rio Grande 

 Valley in Texas, where it nests in trees or telegraph 

 poles, sometimes so numerously in the latter situations 

 as to become a nuisance. Their nesting habits are not 

 in any manner peculiar, and the eggs cannot be distin- 

 guished from those of the preceding. Size 1.00 x .75. Laid during April and 

 May. 



I White.] 



411. Gila Woodpecker. Centurus uropygialis. 



Range. Mexican border of the United States, in southern Arizona and New 

 Mexico. 



Like the preceding but without any yellow on the head, the male having a red 

 patch in the center of the crown. They are locally distributed in New Mexico, 

 but appear to be abundant in all parts of southern Arizona, where they nest 

 principally in giant cacti, but also in many other trees such as cottonwoods, 

 mesquite, sycamores, etc. Besides their decided preference for giant cacti, 

 there is nothing unusual in their nesting habits, and the eggs are not different 

 from those of others of the genus. They lay from three to six eggs in April or 

 May. Size 1.00 x .75. 



