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400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker. Picoides aro 
ticus. L, 9-50. Plate XXXI V B. A Woodpecker with three, instead of four, toes (Figure 
241 c), and a solidly black back; male with a yellow crown cap. 
Distinctions. With three, instead of four, toes, likely to be confused only with the next 
species. The back is solid black, however, instead of brokenly barred with white. 
Field Marks. The yellow cap will identify the male as a Three-toed Woodpecker. 
This is the only Woodpecker with white breast and solidly black back. 
Distribution. The northern coniferous forests across the continent, southward in the 
mountains. 
401. American Three- toed Woodpecker (Including Eastern and Alaska Three- 
toed Woodpeckers). ladder-backed woodpecker. Picoides americanus. L, 8*75. A 
Woodpecker with three, instead of four, toes (Figure 241 c). Back, black with broken 
white bars, and male with yellow crown cap. 
Distinctions. Except for the banded, instead of solid black, back, almost exactly 
similar to the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, which is the species moat likely to be con- 
fused with it (compare with Plate XXXIV B). 
Field Marks. The yellow cap will identify the male as a Three-toed Woodpecker, 
and the barring of the back will indicate this species. Much like a Hairy Woodpecker, 
but back barred with white, instead of a longitudinal mass of that colour; flanks also heavily 
barred with black. The female Williamson’s Sapsucker also has a barred back, but the 
barring is not confined to the centre of the back, and the crown is never black. 
Nesting. In holes excavated in tree trunks, often living ones. 
Distribution. The northern coniferous forests of North America, southward along 
the mountains to New Mexico. 
SUBSPECIES. Several subspecies are accepted. Of these, two occur in Canada. 
The Eastern American Three-toed Woodpecker extends west to Alberta, where its place 
is taken by the Alaskan Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides americanus fasciatus, character- 
ized principally by more white on back. 
The Three-toed Woodpeckers are typically north woods birds, and in 
summer come south only in the higher altitudes of the mountains. In 
the winter they may occur in migration in the foothills on the prairies in 
suitable localities. 
Sapsuckers 
The Sapsuckers form a group of Woodpeckers that are adapted for 
drinking sap rather than boring for grubs. In consequence the tongues 
are short and modified at the end into a sort of brush (Figure 241 e), instead 
of into a sharp, barbed spear. The remarks made under heading of Yellow- 
bellied Sapsucker are largely true of the two other species dealt with here. 
402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Including Eastern and Red-naped Sapsuckers). 
Sphyrapicus varius. L, 8-56. Plate XXXV A. Variegated above with black and 
white without sharp contrast or very definite pattern; below, strongly tinged with yellow 
and a strong black crescentic gorget across the breast. Male with crimson crown and 
throat; female the same, or with dull white throat and, occasionally, with black cap. 
Juveniles lack the red crown and throat, and the black gorget, the whites are tinged with 
ochre and the breast is dull, dirty brown. 
Distinctions. To be mistaken only for the Red-breasted Sapsucker of the west coast, 
which is similar in general coloration, but which has head, neck, and throat a solid crimson 
which is suggested even in juvenile birds. 
Field Marks. The red cap and throat are conspicuous in life. When these are absent, 
the black gorget in the adult is usually distinctive. Otherwise, the indefinite black and 
white pattern, with a broad white bar on forward part of closed wing, make best field 
marks, but will not separate from the Red-breasted Sapsucker of the west coast. The 
rolling tattoo made by the Sapsucker in drilling is distinctive from that of the other Wood- 
peckers. It ends in four or five isolated taps with appreciable intervals between, instead 
of stopping abruptly as if in the middle of the roll. 
Nesting. In holes excavated in dead trees and stubs. 
