BIRDS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



105 



CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD 



(Stellula calliope): 23/4-3/2 in. Above 

 metallic green; below white; sides 

 greenish-brown; iridescent throat patch 

 of reddish-purple feathers which, es- 

 pecially when bird is excited, radiate 

 like spread fingers of one's hand. Fe- 

 male: Head and back green, washed 

 with bronze; white throat, flecked with 

 dusky; under parts washed with red- 

 dish-brown; tail feathers tipped with 

 white. Smallest hummingbird in the 

 United States. 



S. V. in the Transition and Cana- 

 dian life-zones in the Yosemite region. 

 Seen from March to September in Yo- 

 semite Vallev where it breeds. 



CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD 



BELTED KINGFISHER 



11-14 



ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS: 

 Order Coraciiformes 



KINGFISHERS: Family Alcedinidae 



BELTED KINGFISHER (Mega- 

 ceryle alcyon): 11-14 in. Above slaty 

 blue; white band around neck; brown- 

 ish-blue band across breast; prominent 

 slaty blue crest; bill long and strong; 

 below white; sides with gray and, spar- 

 ingly, brown. Female: Chestnut band 

 across belly and chestnut on sides. Call 

 loud, harsh, rattling sound, often heard 

 in flight. Nests in holes in earthen 

 banks near water. 



Attracted to both salt and fresh 

 water where it feeds on small flshes. 

 Frequents lakes, ponds, larger streams, 

 and the seacoast. Widespread R. chief- 

 ly west of the deserts. Frequently seen 

 along streams in the Yosemite region 

 to an elevation of about 8.600 feet in 

 Tuolumne Meadows. Nests in the banks 

 of the Merced River in Yosemite Val- 

 ley. 



WOODPECKER-LIKE BIRDS: 

 Order Piciformes 



WOODPECKERS: Family Picidae 



RED-SHAFTED FLICKER (Colap- 

 tes cafer): 13-14 in. Crown brownish; 

 back barred with black; throat bluish- 

 gray; lining of wings and tail reddish- 

 orangr; large, black crescent on spotted 

 breast: white spot on rump; male has 

 red stripe on side of head. Omnivorous, 

 feeding on insects, berries, and plant 

 materials. Often seen on the ground 

 searching for ants, grasshoppers, etc. 

 Nests in self-made cavities in cotton- 

 woods, willows, oaks, and conifers. 



Widespread R. in Yosemite region. 

 In late summer and fall may be se^n 

 nearlv to timberline. Observed at 10.200 

 feet near Parsons Peak. 



PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dry- 

 ocopus pileatus): 17-18 in. Top of head 

 including crest and bar on cheek bright 



