290 



RED- SHAFTED WOODPECKER. 



4-PlCUS MEXICANUS, SwCllUS. 

 PLATE CCLXXIV— Male and Female. 



This beautiful species was first described by Mr. Swainson from Mexican 

 specimens. The extent of its distribution is as yet imperfectly known, 

 especially toward the north. My friend Mr. Nuttall states, that "among 

 the narrow belt of forest which borders Lorimie's Fork of the Platte, we 

 met with the Mexican Colaptes, and never scarcely lost sight of it to the 

 shores of the Pacific. Its manners in all respects are so entirely similar to 

 those of the common species, that the same description applies to both. It 

 is, however, always a much shyer bird, and frequents the ground less. In 

 the breeding season it utters the same echoing note of ivhittoe, whittoe, 

 luhittoe; the males at the same time dodging after, and pursuing each other 

 in jealousy and anger. They also burrow into the oak or pine trees, and 

 lay white eggs, after the manner of the whole family. How far they 

 proceed to the north I am unable to say." Mr. Townsend informs me that 

 it is known to the Chinook Indians by the name of Jl-Koptil-Koiv, and in 

 regard to habits is similar to Picus auratus, the male equally partaking of 

 the task of incubation. 



I have represented the male and the female. 



Colaptes mexicands, Swains. Synop. Birds of Mex. Phil. Mag. N. 84. 



Colaptes mexicands, Red-shafted Woodpecker, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 



ii. p. 315. 

 Red-shafted Woodpecker, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 603. 

 Red-shafted Woodpecker, Picus Mexicanus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 174. 



Male, 13 J, wing, 6*-§. Female, 13. 



Rocky Mountains, Columbia river, and northward to the Saskatchewan. 

 Abundant. Migratory. 



Adult Male. 



Bill slightly arched, strong, nearly as long as the head, angular, com- 

 pressed at the tip, which is scarcely truncate or cuneate. Upper mandible 

 with the dorsal line somewhat arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping, 

 the lateral angle quite close to the ridge, the edges sharp and overlapping; 

 lower mandible with the angle long and rather narrow, the crural outline a 



