WOODPECKERS 



219 



orange, or red; back finely 

 barred with black and white ; 

 rump plain white, tail black, 

 outer feathers barred with 

 white ; under parts light gray, 

 washed with yellowish on belly. 

 Adult female : similar, but with- 

 out red crown, and yellow of 

 plumage paler. Young : colors 

 duller, markings less distinct. 

 Wing: 5.20-5.65, tail 3.40- 

 3.75, bill 1.2(X-1.40. 



Distribution. Central and 

 southern Texas, south to the 

 city of Mexico. Flg> 285 ' ^olden-fronted Woodpecker. 



Nest. 6 to 25 feet from the ground, generally in mesquites, pecans, 

 oaks, or telegraph poles. Eggs : 4 to 7, white. 



Food. Insects of various kinds, such as beetles, ants, grasshoppers, 

 and larvae among them one injurious to corn ; also acorns, Indian corn, 

 wild berries, and fruit. 



In San Antonio the golden-fronted woodpecker nests in telegraph 

 poles and bird boxes about houses as well as in pecans, oaks, and 

 mesquites. In Eastland County, Texas, Mr. Hasbrouck says it is 

 often seen in the same tree with the red-bellied. On the mesquite 

 prairie of southern Texas the little Texan woodpecker is the only 

 one occurring at all commonly with aurifrons and there is no dan- 

 ger -of confusing them. 



Aurifrons makes noise enough for a dozen, his loud penetrating 

 voice ringing across the road as you drive through the mesquites. 

 One of his common calls is a rattle like that of the California wood- 

 pecker. When he flies he shows his white rump and wing spots, and 

 on the rare occasions when you catch a glimpse of him you can see 

 the yellow of his neck above the black and white barring of his back. 



411. Melanerpes uropygialis (Baird). GILA WOODPECKER. 



Adult male. Head and under parts grayish brown, crown red ; middle 



of belly yellowish ; back and rump 

 finely barred with black and 

 white ; middle and outer tail feath- 

 ers marked with white. Adult 

 female : similar, but without red. 

 Young : similar, but colors duller, 

 and markings less distinct. Wing : 

 5.00-5.30, tail 3.50-3.90, bill .95- 

 1.25. 



Remarks. This species may 

 be distinguished from aurifrons 

 by its brownish tinge, the absence 

 of yellow on its head, barred 

 rump, white markings on middle 

 tail feathers, and absence of 

 Fig. 286. marks on those next the middle. 



