DESCRIPTIVE LIST 191 



Range. Southern States, from North Carolina southward. 



Range in North Carolina. Eastern portion of the State, mainly east and south of a line drawn 

 from Norfolk, Va., to Raleigh, and thence to Charlotte. 



The Red-cockaded Woodpecker, intermediate in size between the Hairy and 

 Downy Woodpeckers, is an abundant bird in the pine woods of the Lower Austral 

 region in this State. So far it has been noted only in Bertie, Carteret, Craven, 

 Brunswick, Bladen, Moore, New Hanover, Currituck, and Wake counties. In the 

 last named county it seems to be merely a straggler, only four specimens having 

 been observed in thirty years of observation. A. L. Feild reports it also from 

 Chapel Hill, in March and April, 1909. 



This species, when about to nest, excavates a hole in a living pine tree. All 

 around the tree for two or three feet above the entrance, and for a distance fully 

 -as great beneath it, the birds make numerous punctures through the bark, from 

 which the resin flows and forms a sticky mass over the entire area. This makes 

 a conspicuous mark, and the tree containing a nest may often be noticed by this 

 means at a distance of two or three hundred yards in the open pine woods. While 

 the purpose of this custom is not known, it may be reasonably asserted that the 

 nest is thus effectually guarded from the inroads of ants and squirrels. Our only 

 North Carolina record of eggs of this species comes from Bertie County, where a 

 set of four was taken by Smithwick, April 29, 1897. Pearson has found occupied 

 nests in New Hanover and Brunswick counties, but did not cut the holes out to 

 examine the contents. 



These woodpeckers are often found in small troops, possibly formed of the 

 parents and their brood. They frequent mainly the upper branches and terminal 

 twigs of pine trees. 



Genus Sphyrapicus (Baird) 



177. Sphyrapicus varius varius (Linn.). YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. 



Description. Upperparts black, varied with white; belly yellowish; crown, red in male and 

 usually in female; throat and chin red in male, white in female; a black patch on breast in both 

 sexes. Im. Brownish, much mottled, the markings of the adults but little indicated. L., 

 8.75; W., 4.90; T., 3.25. 



Range. Eastern North America, wintering from Southern States to Central America. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State in winter, breeds in the mountain region. 



The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a common winter resident throughout the 

 greater portion of the State, occurring from September to late April or early May. 

 Our summer records come from Highlands, Macon County, where the birds were 

 observed breeding by Brewster in 1885, and mentioned as breeding by Huger in 

 1910; Roan Mountain, Mitchell County, a breeding pair observed by Rhoads on 

 June 18, 1895; Joanna Bald Mountain, Cherokee County, a breeding pair seen by 

 C. S. Brimley and Sherman, May 14, 1908; Buncombe County, recorded by Cairns 

 as breeding on the higher mountains, and by Pearson, who found an immature bird 

 on Graybeard Mountain, Buncombe County, in July, 1903. 



Their nesting season is May and June. Five to seven eggs are said to be laid. 

 Their general breeding habits are similar to those of other woodpeckers, and the 

 holes they dig for nests are usually in dead trees. 



