The Nuttall Woodpecker 
sparingly (but with increase both in size and abundance toward hind-crown) with 
white; nape, broadly, scarlet-red; superciliary, expanding on side of neck, and a sharp 
rictal stripe under eye, white; a broad postocular area and a malar stripe, connecting 
behind and continuous with broad band across cervix, upper tail-coverts, and tail 
above, glossy black; back and wings black, shading posteriorly to dusky, barred or 
spotty-barred with white; underparts white, tinged on breast and belly with pale 
yellowish buff, or brownish buff; sides of breast and sides coarse-spotted, flanks and 
crissum coarse-barred with black; graduated series of exposed under lateral rectrices 
white, crossed by three or four broken or irregular black bars. Bill and feet dark horn. 
With the advance of the season and usually in spring and summer the white tips of 
the coronal feathers wear off, leaving a solid black crown. Adult female: Like male, 
but without red on head, a few scattering coronal or nuchal white specks wear off in 
spring. Young male: Like adult male, but red shifted forward to crown, where 
mingled with white specks. Young female: Like young male but red restricted to 
crown; the white speckling similarly restricted to middle of forehead and crown. 
Length of adult male about 177.8 (7.00); wing 102.7 (4.04); tail 63.8 (2.51); bill 20.8 
(.82); tarsus 18.4 (.72). Females perceptibly smaller. 
Remarks. — D. nuttalli bears closest relationship to D. scalaris, of which it is 
undoubtedly an early derivative. Presumably a zonal or associational connection 
suitable to the advance of nuttalli’ s ancestors once existed between California and Mex¬ 
ico. This zonal bridge was later destroyed, and nuttalli evolved in southern California 
in the direction of increase of black and in the clearing of the underparts. It is note¬ 
worthy also that the shifting of red from crown to nape of the male approaching ma¬ 
turity, follows the example of D. villosus and D. pubescens , this tendency, although 
manifest, having been retarded in the case of D. scalaris. D. scalaris cactophilus, 
now acclimated to arid conditions, has latterly overtaken its long-lost brother, and 
there is a bit of a fight on along nuttalli' s southeastern borders. 
Recognition Marks. —Sparrow size; black-and-white-barred upperparts dis¬ 
tinctive within range, except with regard to D. scalaris cactophilus (see ante). 
Nesting. — Nest: A hole excavated at any height in tree, live or dead, lined 
copiously with chips. Eggs: 4 or 5; white, glossy. Av. size 21.3 x 16.2 (.84 x .64). 
Season: April 10-May 20; one brood. 
Range of Dryobates nuttalli (Chiefly confined within California).—Resident 
in the Upper Sonoran life zone west of the Sierras from southwestern Oregon to north¬ 
western Lower California. Casual on the edges of the deserts. Not found in the 
northwest humid district nor upon the islands. 
Authorities.—Gambel ( Picus nuttallii), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. i., 
1843, p. 259 (orig. desc.; Los Angeles); Gault, Bull. Ridgway, Orn. Club, no. 2, 1887, 
p. 78 (range, habits, etc.); Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds, vol. ii., 1895, p. 65; 
J. Mailliard, Condor, vol. ii., 1900, p. 13 (plumage changes); Mailliard and Grinnell, 
Condor, vol. vii., 1905, p. 75 (apparent hybrid). 
ALTHOUGH one who is forming the acquaintance of the Nuttall 
Woodpecker soon learns where to look for him, his range is hard to char¬ 
acterize in terms of associations. LTpper Sonoran, foothill, oak, live 
oak, chaparral, deciduous trees bordering narrow stream beds—all these 
apply to nuttalli well enough, but they are not exhaustive, save for the 
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