48 BIRDS OF THE PAPAGO SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT. 



in the deserted hole. In one Saguaro I found occupied nests of the gilded 

 flicker, Gila woodpecker, and ash-throated flycatcher. A cactus wren was in 

 an ironwood at the base of the cactus and beyond reach of the ladder were 

 holes giving signs of occupancy by owls. 1 



GILA WOODPECKER. 



Centurus uropygialis Baird. 



Recognition marks. A medium-sized woodpecker, about 10^ 

 inches long. Upper parts barred with black and white, in zebra-like 

 fashion. A large, white spot on each wing, conspicuous in flight; 

 white markings on middle tail feathers, also rather conspicuous on 

 the flying bird. Quite noisy when disturbed, with all the call notes 

 of a whining, querulous character. 



Occurrence. The Gila woodpecker has its center of abundance in 

 the United States in the valley of the Gila River. It is a familiar 

 inhabitant of the lowlands of southern Arizona, both on the desert 

 mesa and along the wooded river bottoms ; and an excellent example 

 of a desert bird that has taken kindly to civilization and the cultiva- 

 tion of the land. It is a common species about Phoenix and Tempe, 

 as also about Roosevelt Lake. Nests were found in giant cactus on 

 the Papago Saguaro Monument, in cottonwood trees along irriga- 

 tion ditches near Tempe, and again in a canyon near Roosevelt Lake. 

 These all contained young birds at the time of observation. 



The habits of the Gila woodpecker, as observed at Sacaton, 

 Arizona, have been set forth by Gilman in part as follows : 



Were it not for the Gila woodpecker (Centurus uropygialis) what would be- 

 come of the several species of birds that use already prepared cavities for 

 their domiciles? In some cases these tenants do not even await the pleasure 

 of the excavators, but take forcible possession. In holes excavated by Gila 

 woodpeckers there may regularly be found nesting the elf owl, ferruginous 

 pigmy owl, ash-throated flycatcher, and Arizona crested flycatcher. Occa- 

 sionally a cactus wren makes use of the handy hollow, and once I saw 

 one occupied by the nest of a Lucy warbler. A big " rough-neck ", scaly 

 lizard frequents the holes when not too high in the cactus, and in two 

 holes in willow trees I found snakes. It is not pleasant to insert one's 

 hand and have a big lizard or snake crawl up the arm to escape. Rats 

 and mice are sometimes found in the deserted holes, especially if the tree be 

 much decayed and with cracks and hollows connecting holes at different 

 heights in the tree or branch. So these woodpeckers may be considered among 

 the class of innocent or unintentional benefactors. 



As a neighbor, the Gila woodpecker is permanently on the map, and is afraid 

 neither of being seen nor heard. He is much in the public ear with a variety 

 of notes and calls. His sociable conversational notes somewhat resemble those 

 of the California woodpecker, but are shriller. In such of his notes as are 

 directed at humanity there is a peevish complaining tone, especially if closely 

 approached when feeding on fruit or some other delicacy. In such cases there 

 is only one term that exactly describes his attitude and utterances, and that 



1 Condor, XVII, 1915, pp. 160-1S3. 



