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PICIFORMES 
393. Hairy Woodpecker, lb pic chevelu. Dryobales villosus. L, 9-40. Plate 
XL B. A black and white woodpecker, the only other colour on it is in the two bright 
red nape spots on the male. Near the west coast, the whites may be slightly, to heavily, 
tinged with smoky brown. Juvenile males just from the nest show more or less red wash 
on crown, a character that is soon lost. 
Distinctions. With its sharply contrasted black and white, or black and smoky white, 
most likely to be confused with its smaller relative, the Downy Woodpecker, which par- 
allels it in all its plumages, and of which it is a larger edition. An additional difference 
is the outer tail feathers, which in the Hairy are solid white instead of being barred with 
black (Figure 391b, compare with Plate XLI A). 
Field Marks. Black and white, or black and smoky white, coloration. Many white 
spots on wings. Separated from the Downy Woodpecker by larger size. 
Nesting. In holes drilled in tree trunks. 
Distribution. The wooded parts of North America. In Canada, wherever there is 
timber. 
SUBSPECIES. Divided into a number of geographical races. The type form, 
Dryobates villosus villosus, is the eastern one extending into southern Manitoba, and per- 
haps into adjoining parts of the other Prairie Provinces. North of this is found the Northern 
Hairy (le Pic chevelu du Nord) Dryobates villosus septentrionalis which differs from villosus 
only in slightly larger size. It occupies the great north woodlands of the interior, south to 
northern British Columbia, and most of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The 
Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker (le Pic chevelu des Rocheuses) Dryobates villosus monti - 
cola, as its name suggests is the bird of the interior of southern British Columbia, extending 
southeastward to Colorado. It is of the size of septentrionalis, but with the white spotting 
of the wing-coverts reduced. Harris’s Woodpecker (le Pic chevelu de Harris) Dryobates 
villosus harrisi is the Plairy Woodpecker of the Pacific coast, from Oregon north to Sitka. 
It is a very different looking bird from those before mentioned, having the whites of the 
breast decidedly tinged with smoky brown, and the spots of the wing-coverts almost 
absent. The Queen Charlotte Hairy Woodpecker (le Pic chevelu de Reine-Gharlotte) 
Dryobates villosus picoideus occupies the islands of that name, and is a darker and still 
more smoky bird than harrisi. The Sitka Hairy Woodpecker (le Pic chevelu de Sitka) 
Dryobates villosus sitkensis is the bird of the southeastern Alaskan coast, and perhaps 
northwestern British Columbia. In coloration, it is between harrisi and monticola. 
Some of these subspecies are founded on average characters, and there 
are many intergrades, as would be expected from the many geographical 
contacts between them. The extremes of the white and smoky-breasted 
types are very distinct. 
The Hairy Woodpecker gets its name from the white feathers of the 
back, which fall over the black borders in a loose, disconnected way faintly 
suggestive of hair. It is one of the common woodpeckers and quite typical 
of the family in its habits. It is not as familiar about houses or orchards as 
the Downy Woodpecker, preferring the woods to orchards or shade trees. 
Economic Status . Insects constitute 77 per cent of the food of this 
species; they are mostly beetles, but include ants, scales, and sawflies; 
22 per cent is vegetable, almost entirely wild fruit. 
394. Downy Woodpecker. le pic minule. Dryobates pubescens. L, G-83. Plate 
XLI A. A very small, black and white woodpecker, the only other colour on it is in the 
small, bright red nape bar on the male. Hardly distinguishable in colour from the Hairy. 
In the far west, the whites may be lightly, to heavily, tinged with smoky brown. Like the 
Hairy Woodpecker juvenile males just from the nest show more or less red wash on crown, 
a character that is soon lost. 
Distinctions. With its sharply contrasted black and white, or black and smoky 
white, to be confused only with its larger relative, the Hairy Woodpecker, which parallels 
it in all plumages. The principal difference, besides size, is in the outer tail feathers, which 
are barred with black instead of being solid white (compare with Figure 391b). 
Field Marks. Black and white, or black and smoky white coloration. Many white 
spots on wings. Separated from the Hairy Woodpecker by smaller size. 
Nesting. In holes drilled in trees. 
