The Red-shafted Flickers 



directly south. Grinnell in his Distributional List (1915) allows three 

 such "pure blood" records, including one, a female, from Los Angeles 

 (Feb. 20, 1901). I have noted two occurrences at Santa Barbara, which I 

 am thoroughly satisfied were those of true auratus; first, Nov. 4, 191 1, a 

 single bird seen in the sand dunes west of La Patera; and second, four birds, 

 Nov. 29, 1919, two of which, both females, were closely studied by the 

 Bird Club in a walnut grove near Goleta. 



No. 204 



Red-shafted Flicker 



No. 204a Red-shafted Flicker 



A. O. U. No. 413. Colaptes cafer collaris Vigors. 



Synonyms. — Red-winged Woodpecker. High-holder. "Yellow-hammer." 

 Pigeon Woodpecker. 



Description. — Adult male: Similar to C. auratus borealis, but yellow of feather- 

 shafts, etc., replaced by orange-vermilion (flame-scarlet on shafts, quills, and rec- 

 trices; grenadine on lining of wings); cast of upper plumage correspondingly reddish 

 (very faintly, a mere vinaceous tinge to the brown); no scarlet nuchal patch; a broad 

 malar stripe of scarlet (replacing the black stripe of C. a. borealis); sides of head, and 

 throat, clear bluish ash; underparts tinged with lilaceous (palest orient pink). Adult 

 female: Like male, but scarlet malar stripe replaced by vinaceous brown, or else 

 gray like throat. Young birds are like adults, but duller; top of head overlaid with 

 warm brown, and throat more or less washed with brownish. Length (averaging a 

 little more than that of C. auratus borealis): 279.4-336.55 (1 1. 00-13. 25) ; wing 165 

 (6.50); tail no (4.34); bill 37.5 (1.48); tarsus 29.3 (1.15). 



Remarks. — Between this and C. auratus borealis or luteiis every form of gradation 

 exists. Hybrids, for such they really are, most frequently reveal themselves by the 

 presence of three scarlet patches (in the male), i. e., two malar and one nuchal. The 

 "illumination" of the wings and tail in these hybrids also varies interminably through 

 muddy yellows, ochres, and cadmiums. These two species illustrate in the most 

 perfect manner the effect of contact between closely related stocks, long separated, 

 which meet again after specific differences have become thoroughly established. The 

 hybrids produced along the line, or rather, throughout the interpenetrated area of 

 contact, are fertile, but so constant is the influx of fresh, pure stock that there is no 

 evidence of a tendency to fix a standard of intermediate character. The "Hybrid" 

 Flicker (C. auratus x C. cafer) is not yet a species. 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; brown finely barred with black above; under- 

 parts heavily spotted with black; flame-color of under wing surface prominent in flight; 

 scarlet malar stripe of male distinctive; lighter than succeeding. 



Nesting. — Much as in C. a. borealis, and eggs indistinguishable. For nesting 

 sites bird makes use of wooden buildings or earth-banks, in default of trees. Av. size 

 of eggs 28.4 x 21.6 (1.12 x .85). Season: May; one brood, rarely two. 



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