WOODPECKERS 
394. Southern Downy Woodpecker. 
Dryobates pubescens pubescens. 
Range. — Gulf and South Atlantic States; 
north to South Carolina. 
This species, which is the smallest of the 
North American Woodpecker (length 6 inches), 
is similar in plumage to the Hairy Woodpecker, 
but has the ends of the white, outer tail feath- 
ers spotted with black. Like the last species, 
it is represented by sub-spe- 
cies in all parts of North 
America, the nesting habits 
of all the varieties being the 
same and the eggs not dis- 
tinguishable from one an- 
other. They nest in holes in 
trees, very often in orchards 
or trees in the neighborhood of houses, 
not nearly as shy as the Hairy Woodpeckers, and 
also associate with other birds very freely. The 
three to six eggs are laid upon the bottom of 
the cavity, with no lining. The height of the 
nesting season is during May or June. The 
white glossy eggs are .75 x .60. 
white, glossy 
They are 
Southern Downy 
394a. Gairdner’s Woodpecker. Dryobates. 
pubescens gairdneri. 
Range.— Pacific coast from northern California to British Columbia. 
This sub-species is like the last, but is without spots on the wing coverts and 
is a dingy white below, differing the same as Harris Woodpecker from the Hairy. 
394b. Batchelder’s Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens homorus. 
Range. — Rocky Mountain region of the United States. 
Like the last but whiter below. 
394c. Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens medianus. 
Range. — North America, east of the Plains and north of South Carolina. 
Similar to the southern variety but slightly larger and whiter. 
394d. Nelson’s Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens nelsoni. 
Range.— Alaska. 
Similar to the northern variety but still larger. 
894e. Willow Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens turati. 
Range. — California except the northern parts and the ranges of the south. 
Similar to Gairdner Woodpecker, but smaller and whiter. 
395. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Dryobates borealis. 
Range. — Southeastern United States, from South Carolina and Arkansas, 
southward. 
This black and white species may be known from any other because of 
the uniform black crown and nape, the male having a small dot of red on 
either side of the crown, back of the eye. They are quite abundant in the 
Gulf States and Florida, where they nest during April and May, and in some 
localities in March. They build in hollow trees or stumps at an elevation 
from the groppd, laying from three to six glossy white eggs; §i?e .95x.70. 
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