WOODPECKERS 
219 
orange , or red; back finely 
barred with black and white ; 
rump plain white, tail black, 
outer feathers barred with 
white ; under parts light gray, 
washed with yellowish on belly. 
Adult female: similar, but with¬ 
out red crown, and yellow of 
plumage paler. Young : colors 
duller, markings less distinct. 
Wing: 5.20-5.65, tail 3.40- 
3.75, bill 1.20-1.40. 
Distribution. — Central and 
southern Texas, south to the no _ ~ 4 , _ , , 
city of Mexico. Flg ‘ 2851 Golden * fr0nted Woodpecker. 
Nest. — 6 to 25 feet from the ground, generally in mesquites, pecans, 
oaks, or telegraph poles. Eggs: 4 to 7, white. 
Food. — Insects of various kinds, such as beetles, ants, grasshoppers, 
and larv* — among them one injurious to corn; also acorns, Indian corn, 
wild berries, and fruit. 
In San Antonio the golden-fronted woodpecker nests in telegraph 
poles and bird boxes about houses as well as in pecans, oaks, and 
mesquites. In Eastland County. Texas, Mr. Hasbrouck says it is 
often seen in the same tree with the red-bellied. On the mesquite 
prairie of southern Texas the little Texan woodpecker is the only 
one occurring at all commonly with aurifrons and there is no dan¬ 
ger of confusing them. 
Aurifrons makes noise enough for a dozen, his loud penetrating 
voice ringing across the road as you drive through the mesquites. 
One of his common calls is a rattle like that of the California wood¬ 
pecker. When he flies he shows his white rump and wing spots, and 
on the rare occasions when you catch a glimpse of him you can see 
the yellow of his neck above the black and white barring of his back. 
411. Melanerpes uropygialis (Baird). Gila Woodpecker. 
Adult male'. — Head and under parts grayish brown, crown red ; middle 
of belly yellowish ; back and rump 
finely barred with black and 
white ; middle and outer tailfeath¬ 
ers marked with white. Adult 
female : similar, but without red. 
Young : similar, but colors duller, 
and markings less distinct. Wing: 
5.00-5.30, tail 3.50-3.90, bill .95- 
1.25. 
Remarks. — This species may 
be distinguished from aurifrons 
by its brownish tinge, the absence 
of yellow on its head, barred 
rump, white markings on middle 
tail feathers, and absence of 
Fig. 286. marks on those next the middle. 
