84 BIRDS OF COLORADO. 



404. Sphyrapicus thyroideus. Williamson's Sapsucker. 

 Summer resident ; common. Breeds from 5,000 feet to the 



upper limit of the pines. In southern Colorado is most com- 

 mon from 9,000 to 10,000 feet; in northern Colorado from 6,000 

 to 9,000 feet includes the great bulk of the birds. Arrives the 

 first week in April and eggs are laid the last half of May. 



405. Ceophlceus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker. 

 Resident ; very rare. The A. O. U. Check List gives its 



geographical distribution as "Formerly the heavily wooded 

 region of North America south of about Lat. 63°, except in the 

 southern Rocky Mountains ; now rare or extirpated in the more 

 thickly settled parts of the Eastern States." That it is rare in 

 the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is certain, and it is not sure 

 that it occurs there at all. F. M. Drew says that in southwest- 

 ern Colorado "I have been told of a great big woodpecker and 

 from the description think it is this bird." (B. N. O. C. VI. 

 1881, 85 and 138.) H. G. Hoskins writes that while passing 

 Tuttle Ranch he saw a large crested Woodpecker that he took 

 to be this species. Tuttle Ranch is only a few miles from the 

 Kansas line and as this species is known to occur only a little 

 farther east, it is probable that Mr. Hoskins' identification is 

 correct. 



406. Melanerpes erythrocephaius. Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker. 



Summer resident; common. Breeds on the plains and up 

 to 10,000 feet. Rather more common on the plains than in the 

 mountains. One of the latest migrants, not reaching northern 

 Colorado until the last week in May. Eggs are not laid until 

 late in June. 



408. Melanerpes torquatus. Lewis's Woodpecker. 

 Resident ; common. Winters from the plains to the lower 



foothills and breeds from the edge of the plains to about 8,000 

 feet. Regularly passes but a few miles out on the plains, but 

 has been taken in Finney County in southwestern Kansas, 

 April 23, 1893, ^^^ Capt. P. M. Thurne saw two at Fort Lyons 

 on the Arkansas River. A very characteristic bird of the lower 

 foothills and has been seen as high as 10,000 feet in southern 

 Colorado, though probably does not breed above 9,000 feet. 

 Performs a slight southward migration, but most of its move- 

 ments are merely to retire a few feet lower during the winter 

 season. Breeds late in June. 



409. Melanerpes carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker. 

 Summer visitant ; rare, if not accidental. A southern and 



eastern species not regularly occurring farther west than central 



