210 
WOODPECKERS 
north through the Rocky Mountains region of the United States and 
Canada to Fort Liard. 
Nest. — Described by Dr. Mearns, in a pine 30 feet from the ground, 
containing 5 white eggs. 
Food. — Largely wood-boring larvae. 
The Alpine three-toed resembles the American, being found like it 
largely in the fire-blackened timber. 
GENUS SPHYRAPICUS. 
General Characters. — Bill not so stout and cliisel-like as in Dryobates 
and Picoides, wedge-shaped, pointed, nasal groove extending only about 
half way to tip of hill; tongue scarcely extensile, the tip brushy; tail 
feathers long, pointed ; feet with inner toe extremely short. 
KEY TO ADULT MALES. 
1. Head, neck, and chest red. 
2. Belly yellow. ruber, p. 211. 
2'. Belly olive yellow. Northwest coast . . . notkensis, p. 212. 
1'. Head, neck, and chest with black, white, and red. 
2. Upper parts glossy black . thyroideus, p. 212. 
2'. Upper parts black, spotted with white. 
3. Nape brownish white.varius, p. 210. 
3'. Nape more or less tinged with red.nuchalis. p. 211. 
402 Sphyrapicus varius {Linn.). Yellow-bellied Sapsuckek. 
Adult male. — Similar to the red-naped sapsucker (402a), but nape 
brownish white, and black malar 
stripes separating red of throat 
from white cheek stripes. Adult 
female: throat entirely white, and 
crown sometimes without red. 
Young: head, neck, and chest 
mottled brown, the color pattern 
of adults only faintly indicated. 
Length: 7.75-8.75, wing (male) 
4.80-5.00, tail 2.90-3.20, bill 1.00- 
1 . 08 . 
Distribution. — Breeds in east¬ 
ern North America, from north 
of Fort Simpson to Massachu¬ 
setts ; south in winter to West 
Indies, Mexico, and Costa Rica. 
Nest. — In dead or decaying 
trees, 15 to 00 feet from the 
ground. Eggs : 4 to 7, white. 
Food. — Large numbers of ants 
and flies, also bugs, wasps, crick- 
From Biological Survey, U. 8. Dept, of Agriculture, ets, and other insects, wild fruits, 
Fig. 276. seeds, nuts, inner bark, and sap. 
The eastern sapsucker has been found west of the hundredth 
meridian in Texas. Like the other sapsuckers it leaves a blazed 
trail behind it, — a girdle of squarish holes on its food trees. If 
