234 
brids, because these two colour pigments in bird plumage are intimately 
related, chemically and physiologically, and may, perhaps, be regarded as 
one and the same substance in different concentration. The fact that, 
in spite of the readiness with which these two species cross, both species 
are not completely mongrelized, is suggestive that such hybrids have some 
handicap against indefinite persistence, and are continued only through 
constant fresh crosses of purer blood. 
Economic Status. Ants constitute nearly half the food of the Flicker. 
The remainder of its insect food consists of both beneficial and harmful 
species, but the latter noticeably predominate. It takes some fruit, grain, 
and mast; but on the whole must be considered beneficial rather than 
harmful. Perhaps the most serious charge that can be made against the 
species is its scattering of the seeds of the poison oak and ivy and so aiding 
in the spread of these harmful plants. 
413. Red-shafted Flicker (Including Northwestern Flicker). Colaptes cafer. L, 
12. Similar to the Yellow-shafted Flicker, but the face and throat slate grey, instead 
of vinaceous; red moustache mark, instead of black; normally with no red on nape, 
the lining of wings and tail pinkish-red, instead of bright yellow. 
Distinctions . To be confused only with the Yellow-shafted Flicker from which it 
differs as above. 
Field Marks. Size, general coloration, with red under the wings visible in flight, and 
the white rump. As a Flicker, by its easily recognizable calls. 
Nesting. In holes in dead trees or stubs. 
Distribution. Western North America from southern Alaska to Mexico. In Canada, 
southern and central British Columbia, intermixing and hybridizing with the Yellow- 
shafted over much of its range, and well into adjacent Alberta. Specimens with strong 
Red-shafted tendencies have been taken as far east as Manitoba. 
SUBSPECIES. Owing to a late and interesting relocation of stations visited by 
Captain Cook, the navigator, it has lately been discovered that the specimen that first 
received the name of cafer came from Vancouver island, and hence our British Columbia 
coast bird, the Northwestern Flicker, hitherto known as Colaptes cafer saturatiorAs the type 
of the species and should be called Colaptes cafer cafer. It occupies the Pacific Coast region 
west of the Coast range from Sitka to northern California. It is characterized by being 
generally darker coloured than the Red-shafted Flicker of the interior, Colaptes cafer 
coUaris. 
Everything said of the Yellow-shafted Flicker (See page 233) applies 
to this species. 
Order — Macrochires. Goatsuckers, Swifts, and Hummingbirds 
In this order are grouped a number of birds that after further inves- 
tigation may be rearranged. The present classification of the American 
Ornithologists’ Union is avowedly tentative and adhered to only until 
a permanent system can be agreed upon. The various suborders of the 
division are more easily recognized by their differences than by their 
agreements, and those points in which they differ will be emphasized in 
the following descriptions. 
SUBORDER— CAPRIMULGI. GOATSUCKERS 
This is a widely distributed suborder divided into a number of families. 
A description of the one family represented in North America will serve 
for the recognition of the native species. 
