188 LAND BIRDS 



lighted the lowlands, and during the day it floated 

 through the wood like a wandering voice. It was diffi- 

 cult to tell by the sound just how far away he was, but 

 I knew that he was busy feasting where the tent cater- 

 pillars nested. In my heart I blessed him for his choice 

 of food, for he is the only bird that will touch these 

 pests, and even he clips off the hairs before he swallows 

 the morsel. 



413. RED-SHAFTED FLICKER. — Colaptes cafer collarw. 

 Family : The Woodpeckers. 



Length: 12.75-14.00. 



Adult Male : Genera] color of body and head brownish, becoming no- 

 ticeably grayer on back of neck ; rump white ; back narrowly barred 

 with black ; tail black ; nuchal band and mustache red ; a black 

 crescent on chest ; under side of wings and tail red ; under parts 

 thickly spotted with round black dots. 



Adult Female : Like male, but malar stripe usually buffy. 



Young : Like adults, but with no mustache. 



Geographical Distribution : Western United States from Rocky Moun- 

 tains to the Pacific coast ; north to Sitka, south to Mexico. 



California Breeding Range : In suitable localities throughout the State. 



Breeding Season : May and June. 



Nest : In trees or stumps, from 2 to 70 feet from the ground ; and also 

 in sides of banks. 



Eggs: 5 to 10 ; white. Size 1.12 X 0.86. 



The Eastern flicker, known as " yellow-hammer," 

 " high-holer," or " golden-shafted woodpecker," is repre- 

 sented in California by the Red-shafted Flicker, a bird 

 similar in everything except his red malar stripe and the 

 under surface of the wing-quills and tail-feathers, which 

 in his case are rose-color or soft scarlet instead of yellow. 

 In call-notes, nesting habits, and food the Western is 



