The Red-breasted, Sapsuckers 
Bay region and Santa Cruz district, at least to Monterey” (Grinnell). Intergradation 
with ruber characterizes many California-taken specimens. 
Authorities.—Audubon (Picus ruber), Orn. Biog., v., 1839, p. 179 (upper 
Calif.); Grinnell, Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 12 (orig. desc.; type locality, Pasadena); 
ibid., Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. v., 1908, p. 63, pis. 14, 15 (San Bernardino Mts.; 
habits, nest, distr.); McAtee, U. S. Dept. Agric., Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 37, 1912, p. 31 
(food); Pierce, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 179 (San Bernardino Mts.; desc. nest). 
IT IS all very well for the economic ornithologist to tell us that Sap- 
suckers are somewhat injurious to orchard trees, but the sight of one of 
these splendid creatures, dropping with a low cry to the base of a tree and 
hitching coquettishly up its length, is enough to disarm all resentment. 
From what spilled chalice of old Burgundy has the bird been sipping? 
Or from what baptism of blood has he lately escaped that he should be 
dyed red for half his length? Recrudescent mythology, ill at ease in these 
commercial times, nevertheless casts furtive glances at him, and longs to 
account in its inimitable way for the telltale color. 
For myself, if young fruit trees will lure such beauty from the woods, 
I will turn orchardist. Nor will I begrudge the early sap from my choicest 
pippins. I am fond of cider myself, but there are worthier. Drink, pretty 
creature, drink! 
Well, of course, there are biographical details; but what of it? Flave 
you not yourself been so smitten with beauty that you forgot to inquire 
pedigree? Tut, now; you do not even remember a single sentence she said 
that day. But you remember her. Enough! 
Once when the bird-man was camping on a Cascade trail, this crimson 
vision appeared at the edge of a clearing, and proceeded to inspect our 
plant approvingly; and while the bird-man’s heart was in his mouth, it lit 
on the tent-post and gave it two or three inquiring raps. What need of 
details! 
No. 197 Sierra Red-breasted Sapsucker 
A. O. U. No. 403a. Sphyrapicus ruber ruber (Gmelin). 
Synonyms.— Red-breasted Woodpecker. Sierra Sapsucker. Daggett’s 
Sapsucker. 
Description. —Adult male: Somewhat as in S. varius nuchalis, but distinctive 
markings of head and neck and chest nearly obliterated by all-prevailing carmine, 
which reaches well down on breast; marks alluded to persistent only in anterior portion 
of transverse (white) cheek-stripe and in black of lores; breast (posterior to carmine) 
and remaining underparts, except lining of wings, strongly suffused with yellow (pinard 
yellow); white spotting of upperparts greatly reduced, the residual marks on scapulars 
tinged with yellow; white wing-bar fully persistent, but sometimes yellow-tinged— 
thus an evolved form of 5 . v. nuchalis, with which males are said to exhibit every 
degree of gradation. Adult female: Like male, but plumage just perceptibly duller, 
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