BIRDS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



107 



sition life-zones. Likely to be seen al- 

 most anywhere in the Yosemite region 

 except in the denser forests. Has been 

 seen at 9.500 feet above Ten Lakes 

 and in Yosemite Valley. 



YELLO W -BELLI ED SAPSUCKER 

 (Sphyrapicus varius): 8-9 in. Red- 

 naped yellow - bellied sapsucker, sub- 

 species uuchalis: Top of head bright 

 red. encircled by narrow black line 

 which separates crimson line across 

 nape from red on crown; back and 

 wings black, boldly marked with white; 

 black tail with white markings down 

 middle; throat crimson, red color re- 

 duced in female: black patch on breast, 



YELLOW-BELLIED 



SAPSUCKER 



8-9 





WILLIAMSON'S 

 SAPSUCKER 



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solid on male, flecked with gray in fe- 

 male; under parts whitish, tinged with 

 yellow; sides flecked or streaked with 

 blackish; white patch at wing bend. 



Sierra yellow-bellied sapsucker, sub- 

 species dat^getti: Head, neck, and breast 

 dark red; back black, mottled with 

 white; distinctive white stripe along 

 bend of icing, prominent even on im- 

 mature birds which lack reddish of 

 head and breast; white stripe from bill 

 to under eyes. 



Sapsuckers circle trunks and large 

 branches of trees with small holes when 

 foraging for sap and the tender growth 

 layer (cambium) beneath the bark. 

 They are especially fond of willows. 



The red-naped yellow-bellied sap- 

 sucker breeds in the northeastern part 

 of California and w'inters in the south. 

 Occasional W. V. to the Yosemite re- 

 gion. The Sierra yellow - bellied sap- 

 sucker breeds in northern California 

 south through the Cascade - Sierran 

 mountain system to certain of the high- 

 er mountains of southern California, 

 dispersing in winter to lower elevations. 

 It is R. in the Transition and Canadian 

 life-zones in the Yosemite region. Seen 

 in Yosemite Valley all year. 



WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER 

 (Sphyrapicus thyroideus): 8-9/2 in. 

 Top of head, hack, and tail black: large 

 white patch at wing bend : red streak on 

 chin and throat; yellow area on belly 

 below black chest; sides and under tail 

 feathers with black marks on whitish; 

 white streak under and one above eye ; 

 rump white. Female: Much difTerent 

 from male, at one time considered a 

 difTerent species. Wings, back, and 

 sides streaked with whitish and black; 

 head brown ; throat streaked : black 

 band on chest; belly yellow; rump 

 white. Feeds principally on sap and 

 cambium, obtained by drilling rows 

 of small holes. 



Breeds chiefly in the coniferous for- 

 ests of the Canadian life-zone. Often 

 associated with lodgepole pine and red 

 fir. Inhabits high mountains in sum- 

 mer and slightly lower levels in winter. 



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