The White-headed Woodpeckers 
in my experience, the more valiant of the two in defense of young. The 
female, however, is probably the closer sitter, as there are several instances 
in which she has submitted to the hand rather than forsake her trust. 
Fresh eggs, typically four, are deposited on a generous cushion of sawdust 
about the 20th of April. Incubation lasts two weeks; and when the 
chicks are astir the father is fairly beside himself with joy and apprehen¬ 
sion. In fact, if you ever require a symbol of doting solicitude, picture 
a male Nuttall Woodpecker thrusting his head into a dark hole to make 
sure that nothing has spilled out of it since his last inspection—which 
occurred exactly three seconds ago. Nothing could happen, you know; 
but then again, it might. Voyons! 
No. 194 
White-headed Woodpecker 
No. 194 Northern White-headed Woodpecker 
A. O. U. No. 399. Xenopicus albolarvatus albolarvatus (Cassin). 
Description. — Adult male: General plumage black and white; head and neck 
white, nasal tufts sometimes tinged with brownish buffy, the crown sometimes ashy 
or buffy or even dingy plumbeous through abrasion of white tips, interrupted by narrow 
postocular stripe of black, and bounded behind by nuchal band, spectrum red; flight- 
feathers dull black; a large white patch on primaries and outer secondaries, involving both 
webs but extending much further on outer webs of primaries, often echoed by dis¬ 
connected distal spots; remaining plumage glossy black. Bill and feet black; iris 
brownish red. Adult female: Like male, but without red on nape. Young male: 
Like adult male, but black duller; the red shifted forward to crown, broader, lighter 
(to flame-scarlet or grenadine), often interrupted or streaky. Young female: Like 
young male without red, or only faintly streaked with red on hind crown. Length of 
adult 203.2-241.3 (8.00-9.50); wing 127 (5.00); tail 81 (3.19); bill (male) length 28.1 
(1.11), depth at base 7.6 (.30); bill (female) length 25.3 (.996), depth 7.1 (.28); tarsus 
21.5 (.847). 
Recognition Marks. —Towhee to robin size; white head contrasting with solid 
black, distinctive. 
Nesting. — Nest: A hole in conifer, live or dead, at moderate height. Eggs: 
3 to 7, usually 4; pure white. Av. size 24.1 x 18 (.95 x .71). Season: June. 
Range of Xenopicus albolarvatus. — Resident in Transition zone in the Sierra- 
Cascade Mountains with their outliers from southern British Columbia to southern 
California, east to western Idaho and western Nevada. 
Range of X. a. albolarvatus. —That of the species minus the mountains of south¬ 
ern California. 
IOO3 
