124 PICI: Woodpeckers 



NUTTALL WOODPECKER 



(397. Dryobates nuttalli) 7 in. 



Black above, back crossed with narrow white bars; wings 

 heavily white-spotted; under parts soiled white, with sides 

 dusky-spotted. Male has red nape-band. Immatures have 

 crown feathers red-tipped. 



The only " ladder-back" Woodpecker of the Pacific slope, 

 apparently never occurring eastward of the desert divide. Its 

 finely broken color-pattern harmonizes closely with bark of 

 trees among which it works. 



CACTUS WOODPECKER 



(396. Dryobates scalaris cactophilus) 7 in. 



Back black, heavily white-barred; wings white-spotted; soiled 

 white or buffy below, with sides dusky-spotted. Male: Crown 

 and nape feathers red-tipped. Female: Crown wholly black. 

 Resembles the Nuttall, but white markings larger, the whole 

 bird whiter. 



The small " ladder-back " Woodpecker of our desert and semi- 

 desert areas, where it fills the same "niche" occupied by the 

 Nuttall on coastal slopes. Neither seems ever to infringe upon 

 the other. 



CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER 



(407a. Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi) 9 in. 



A strongly marked black-and-white bird, with red crown, and 

 white of face tinged with yellow. Females have a black strip 

 separating white forehead and red crown. Open wing shows 

 large, white spot. 



The most sociable and noisy of our Woodpeckers. Stores 

 great quantities of acorns in individual holes drilled in bark or 

 dead wood of favored pines or oaks, for winter food. 



Call, "yacob, yacob." 



