146 



the little Chickadee and Nuthatch. In fact, these three species often travel 

 in company in the winter and there is little in the food line that is overlooked 

 when the three species work together. The food of the Downy Woodpecker 

 is similar to that of the Hairy Woodpecker, but, as would be expected 

 from its smaller size and its more common presence in summer, includes 

 more of the smaller insects. The various scale-insects make a larger item 

 in its food and it takes more moth-caterpillars, including the tent cater- 

 pillar and those of the codling moth. 



Genus Picoides. Woodpeckers. 



400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. FR. LE PIC 

 ARCTIQUE. Picoides arcticus. L, 9-50. Plate XVIII B. 



Distinctions. A Woodpecker with three instead of four toes and a solidly black back. 



Field Marks. Except the Red-headed, the only solidly black-backed Woodpecker in 

 eastern Canada. The all-black back for specific, and the yellow crown patch of the male 

 for generic, recognition. Plate XVIII B. 



Distribution. The northern coniferous forests, west to the prairie provinces. 



A bird of the northern coniferous forest, seldom coming under the 

 notice of the ordinary observer, except towards the verge of present settle- 

 ment where it is of irregular occurrence. 



Economic Status. This Woodpecker is of growing importance for the 

 protection of the coniferous forest from introduced and other insect pests 

 which have greatly increased in recent years. 



401. American Three- toed Woodpecker. LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER. FR. LE 

 PIC D'AMERIQUE. Picoides americanus. L, 8-75. Almost exactly similar to the Arctic 

 Three-toed but with the middle of the back barred with white. 



Distinctions. The yellow crown of the male is distinctive of the Three-toed Wood- 

 peckers. This species can be distinguished from the Arctic by the white-barred instead 

 of solid black back. Except the Red-bellied, the only Woodpecker in eastern Canada with 

 a barred back. 



Field Marks, fellow crown of male and the black and white barring in the middle 

 of the back. 



SUBSPECIES. The form occurring in eastern Canada is the Eastern Three-toed 

 Woodpecker, the type race of the species. In the west, other forms occur. 



A much rarer bird than the preceding, but of similar habits, status, 

 and distribution, and extending into the western mountains in other sub- 

 specific forms. 



Genus Sphyrapicus. Sapsuckers. 



402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. FR. LE PIC MACULE. Sphyrapicus varius. L, 

 8-56. Plate XIX A. 



Distinctions. The well-defined red cap just covering the top of the head will usually 

 distinguish this species. Some females have a black crown, but the general coloration 

 is always recognizable even in young birds, although in them it is veiled and indicated 

 rather than expressed. 



Field Marks. The red cap of both sexes and red throat of the male are the most con- 

 spicuous field marks. In other plumages the broad white bar that shows along the wing 

 and the black gorget below the throat are distinctive. 



Nesting. In holes in dead trees. 



Distribution. Eastern North America from well north of cultivation, southward. 

 Breeds everywhere in eastern Canada excepting in the most southerly parts. 



SUBSPECIES. The eastern form of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is the type 

 race the Eastern Sapsucker. In the extreme west another subspecies occurs. 



