210 



WOODPECKERS 



north through the Rocky Mountains region of the United States and 

 Canada to Fort Liard. 



Nest. Described by Dr. Mearns, in a pine 30 feet from the ground, 

 containing 5 white eggs. 



Food. Largely wood-boring larvse. 



The Alpine three-toed resembles the American, being found like it 

 largely in the fire-blackened timber. 



GENUS SPHYBAPICUS. 



General Characters. Bill not so stout and chisel-like as in Dryobates 

 and Picoides, wedge-shaped, pointed, nasal groove extending only about 

 half way to tip of bill ; tongue scarcely extensile, the tip brushy ; tail 

 feathers long, pointed ; feet with inner toe extremely short. 



KEY TO ADULT MALES. 



1. Head, neck, and chest red. 



2. Belly yellow ruber, p. 211. 



2'. Belly olive yellow. Northwest coast . . . notkensis, p. 212. 

 1'. Head, neck, and chest with black, white, and red. 



2. Upper parts glossy black thyroideus, p. 212. 



2'. Upper parts black, spotted with white. 



3. Nape brownish white varius, p. 210. 



3'. Nape more or less tinged with red . . . . . nuchalis,p. 211. 



402 Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.). YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKEK. 

 Adult male. Similar to the red-naped sapsucker (402a), but nape 



brownish white, and black malar 

 stripes separating red of throat 

 from white cheek stripes. Adult 

 female : throat entirely white, and 

 crown sometimes without red. 

 Young : head, neck, and chest 

 mottled brown, the color pattern 

 of adults only faintly indicated. 

 Length: 7.75-8.75, wing (male) 

 4. 80-5.00, tail 2.90-3.20, bill 1.00- 

 1.08. 



Distribution. Breeds in east- 

 ern North America, from north 

 of Fort Simpson to Massachu- 

 setts ; south in winter to West 

 Indies, Mexico, and Costa Rica. 



Nest. In dead or decaying 

 trees, 15 to 60 feet from the 

 ground. Eggs : 4 to 7, white. 



Food. Large numbers of ants 

 and flies, also bugs, wasps, crick- 

 From Biological Survey, TJ. S. Dept. of Agriculture, ets, and other insects, wild fruits, 

 Fig. 276. seeds, nuts, inner bark, and sap. 



The eastern yellow-bellied sapsucker occasionally wanders as far 

 west as Wyoming. Like the other sapsuckers it leaves a blazed 

 trail behind it, a girdle of squarish holes on its food trees. If 



