Part 13

As might be supposed the Woodpeckers are great of economic value. Professor Beal states that at least two-thirds to three-fourths of the food of our common Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers consists chiefly of noxious insects.

Woodpeckers

=392. Ivory-billed Woodpecker= (_Campephilus principalis_). L. 20; B. 2.7, ivory white. _Ad._ [Male]. Crest scarlet. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to the [Male], but crest black. _Notes._ A sharp, penny trumpet-like _yap-yap_.

Range.--Florida west to eastern Texas; north to southern Missouri and Oklahoma; formerly north to North Carolina, Illinois, and Indiana.

=400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker= (_Picoides arcticus_). L. 9.5. Back shining black _without_ white; toes two in front, one behind _Ad._ [Male]. Crown yellow. _Ad._ [Female]. Crown black. _Notes._ A sharp, shrill, _chirk_, _chirk_. (Hardy.)

Range.--"Northern North America, from the Arctic regions south to northern United States, (New England, New York, Michigan, Minnesota and Idaho), and in the Sierra Nevadas to Lake Tahoe." (A.O.U.)

=401. American Three-toed Woodpecker= (_Picoides americanus_). L. 8.7. Back _with_ white: toes two in front, one behind. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown yellow; white bars on back broken, detached _not_ confluent. _Notes._ A prolonged squealing, rarely uttered. (Turner.)

Range.--Northern North America; west to Rocky Mountains; breeds from Maine, mountains of New Hampshire, northern New York, and northern Minnesota northward; south in winter, rarely to Massachusetts, central New York, and northern Illinois.

=401a. Alaskan Three-toed Woodpecker= (_P. a. fasciatus_). Similar to No. 401, but white bars on back confluent forming a more or less continuous white patch.

Range.--"Alaska Territory; casually? south through western British Columbia to northwestern Washington (vicinity of Mt. Baker); east irregularly to Great Bear Lake and the Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest Territory." (Bendire.)

=401 b. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker= (_P. a. dorsalis_). Similar to No. 401a, but larger. W. 5; bill narrower. _Notes._ A harsh, nasal cry; a sudden, sharp _whip_, _whip_, _whip_, (Mearns.)

Range.--"Rocky Mountain region from British Columbia and Idaho south into New Mexico." (A.O.U.)

=405. Pileated Woodpecker= (_Ceophlœus pileatus_). L. 17. W. 8.9. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown, crest, and streaks on sides of throat red; sides of neck and patch on wing white. _Ad._ [Female]. Forehead brownish, no red on sides of throat. _Notes._ A sonorous _cow-cow-cow_, repeated slowly many times and a _wichew_ call when two birds meet; both suggesting calls of the Flicker.

Range.--Southern United States, north to South Carolina.

=405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker= (_C. p. abieticola_). Similar to No. 405, but slightly larger, W. 9; T. 6.2.

Range.--Locally distributed throughout more heavily wooded regions of North America, except in southern United States, north to Lat. 63°.

=393. Hairy Woodpecker= (_Dryobates villosus_). L. 9; W. 4.7 Outer tail-feathers white _without_ terminal black marks. _Ad._ [Male]. Wing-coverts spotted, underparts white; nape with a red band. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but nape band white. _Notes._ A sharp _peek_ and a Kingfisher-like rattle.

Range.--Eastern United States from North Carolina to Canada.

=393a. Northern Hairy Woodpecker= (_D. v. leucomelas_). Similar to No. 393, but larger; L. 10; W. 5.2.

Range.--British America north to Alaska.

=393b. Southern Hairy Woodpecker= (_D. v. audubonii_). Similar to No. 393, but smaller; L. 8; W. 4.2.

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to South Carolina.

=393c. Harris Woodpecker= (_D. v. harrisi_). Similar to No. 393, but wing-coverts usually _without_ white spots; underparts dirty, dusky, brownish.

Range.--Pacific coast from northern California to British Columbia.

=393d. Cabanis Woodpecker= (_D. v. hyloscopus_). Similar to No. 393c, but whiter below.

Range.--California, east to Arizona.

=393e. Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker= (_D. v. monticola_). Similar to No. 393c, but pure white below; larger, size of No. 393a.

Range.--Rocky Mountain region from northern New Mexico north to British Columbia.

=393f. Queen Charlotte Woodpecker= (_D. v. picoideus_) Similar to No. 393c, but middle of back barred and spotted with black; flanks streaked with black. (Osgood.)

Range.--Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.

=394. Southern Downy Woodpecker= (_Dryobates pubescens_). L. 6; W. 3.5. Outer tail-feathers white _with_ terminal black marks. _Ad._ [Male]. Nape-band red; smallest of group, underparts dingier than in No. 394c; white of less extent; wing-coverts spotted. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but nape-band white. _Notes._ A sharp _peek_ and a rattle similar to that of No. 393, but not so loud.

Range.--South Carolina, Georgia, and Gulf States to Texas.

=394a. Gairdner Woodpecker= (_D. p. gairdnerii_). Similar to No. 394b, but underparts sooty gray; the darkest below of any form in the group.

Range.--Pacific coast from northern California north to British Columbia.

=394b. Batchelder Woodpecker= (_D. p. homorus_). Similar to No. 394c, but wing-coverts with few or no white spots, under tail-coverts without dusky streaks.

Range.--"Rocky Mountain region of the United States." (A.O.U.)

=394c. Northern Downy Woodpecker= (_D. p. medianus_). L. 6.5; W. 3.7. Similar to No. 394, but larger; whiter below; white markings of greater extent.

Range.--Eastern North America south to South Carolina.

=394d. Alaskan Downy Woodpecker= (_D. p. nelsoni_). W. 4. Similar to No. 394c, but still larger and whiter; largest of the group.

Range.--Alaska.

=394e. Willow Woodpecker= (_D. p. turati_). Similar to No. 394a, but smaller, W. 3.8. superciliary patch and underparts whiter; tertials always more or less spotted with white. (W. K. Fisher.)

Range.--"California, _except_: desert ranges and eastern slope of Sierra Nevada, coast region north of Marin Co., and region north of upper end of Sacramento Valley." (W. K. Fisher.)

=395. Red-cockaded Woodpecker= (_Dryobates borealis_). L. 8.4. Sides of head and neck white bordered by black below. _Ad._ [Male]. A nearly concealed red tuft on either side of the hindhead. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but no red on head. _Notes._ A loud, hoarse, _yank_, _yank_.

Range.--Southern United States; west to eastern Texas; north to Virginia and Arkansas.

=396. Texan Woodpecker= (_Dryobates scalaris bairdi_). L. 7.5. Outer tail-feathers barred to their base; nasal tufts brownish. _Ad._ [Male]. All crown feathers tipped with red; back barred: below _brownish white_, spotted and streaked with black. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but top of head wholly black.

Range.--Northern Mexico, north to Texas boundary, New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and southeastern California.

=396a. Saint Lucas Woodpecker= (_D. s. lucasanus_). Similar to No. 396, but outer tail-feather barred with black only on terminal half or less, except sometimes on inner web. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Lower California, north, rarely to Colorado Desert, California.

=397. Nuttall Woodpecker= (_Dryobates nuttallii_). L. 7.5. Below white only _slightly_ soiled; outer tail-feather barred only on end half. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown _black_ streaked with white; nape red. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but top of head entirely black, usually, with a few white spots. _Yng._ Top of head dull red. _Notes._ A sharp _quee-quee-quee-queep_; a diminutive _chittah_. (Bailey.) Loud rattling notes. (Henshaw.)

Range.--Northern Lower California, north locally, to southern Oregon.

=398. Arizona Woodpecker= (_Dryobates arizonæ._). L. 8.2. Above _brown_, below _spotted_. _Ad._ [Male]. A red nape band. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but no red on nape, brown of crown continuous with that of back. _Yng._ Whole crown red.

Range.--Northwestern Mexico north to southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

=399. White-headed Woodpecker= (_Xenopicus albolarvatus_). L. 9. Whole head and part of wings white. _Ad._ [Male]. Nape red. _Ad._ [Female]. Nape white. _Notes._ A sharp, clear _witt-witt_; a rather silent bird. (Bendire.)

Range.--Mountains of western United States from southern California north to southern British Columbia; east to western Idaho and western Nevada.

=402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker= (_Sphyrapicus varius_). L. 8.5; W. 4.8. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown and throat red; a _whitish_ band from eye to eye across nape; belly washed with yellow; breast patch black _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but throat white; crown rarely black. _Yng._ Breast grayish with internal dark rings or bars; crown dirty yellowish margined with dusky; red feathers soon appear on throat and crown. _Notes._ A clear ringing _cleur_ repeated; a low snarling cry resembling _mew_ of Catbird. (Brewster.)

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from Massachusetts and northern Illinois north to about Lat. 63° 30'; south in Alleghanies to northwest Georgia; winters from southern Illinois and southern Virginia to Central America.

=402a. Red-naped Sapsucker= (_S. v. nuchalis_). Similar to No. 402, but slightly larger. W. 5; the nape band red; _red_ of throat encroaching on black bordering streaks; female the same but chin white.

Range.--Rocky Mountain region; breeds from Colorado and northeastern California (?), north to British Columbia; winters from southern California south to northwestern Mexico.

=403. Red-breasted Sapsucker= (_Sphyrapicus ruber_). L. 9. _Ads._ Crown, whole throat and _breast_ dull red; in other respects resembling No. 402. _Notes._ _Jay_ or _chaē_, _peeye_, _pinck_, and _peurr_: (Bendire.)

Range.--Breeds in mountains from northern Lower California north to southern Oregon.

=403a. Northern Red-breasted Sapsucker= (_S. r. notkensis_). Similar to No. 403, but colors deeper, red brighter; belly yellower.

Range.--Pacific coast region from Santa Cruz Mountains, California, north to southern Alaska.

=404. Williamson Sapsucker= (_Sphyrapicus thyroideus_). L. 9. Belly _bright_ yellow; rump white. _Ad._ [Male]. Above black;, a red stripe on throat; lesser wing-coverts white. _Ad._ [Female]. Crown and throat brownish; back and lesser wing-coverts barred black and whitish. _Yng._ Similar to [Female], but breast barred like sides. _Notes._ A shrill _huit-huit_ uttered when flying. (Bendire.) The roll of this Woodpecker is not continuous, but is broken or interrupted.

Range.--Higher mountain ranges of western United States; breeds from northern New Mexico, Arizona, and southeastern California north to Wyoming and southern British Columbia; winters from southern California and western Texas into Mexico.

=408. Lewis Woodpecker= (_Asyndesmus torquatus_). L. 11. _Ads._ Breast and a collar around the neck gray; region about base of bill dark red; belly pinkish red; above shining green black. _Yng._ No gray collar; crown suffused with red. _Notes._ A weak, peeping twitter. (Lawrence). Generally a silent bird.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California north to southern Alberta and British Columbia; winters from southern Oregon and Colorado south to western Texas and southern California.

=406. Red-headed Woodpecker= (_Melanerpes erythrocephalus_). L. 9.7. _Ads._ Whole head and breast red; end half of secondaries white. _Yng._ Whole head and breast grayish streaked with blackish; back black margined with grayish; end half of secondaries white with black bars. _Notes._ A tree-toad-like _ker-r-ruck, ker-r-ruck_.

Range.--Eastern United States west to Rocky Mountains: breeds from Florida and Texas north to New York and Manitoba; local and irregular in northern parts of range; winters from Virginia, and occasionally from New York, southward.

=407. Striped-breasted Woodpecker= (_Melanerpes formicivorus_). L. 9.5. Breast band _streaked with white_; rump white. _Ad._ [Male]. Forehead, white, _crown_, nape, and breast-spot red. _Ad._ [Female]. Center of crown with a black band of _same_ width as white band on forehead. _Notes._ A loud _tchurr, tchurr_.

Range.--Mexico north to southwest Texas and Arizona.

=407a. Californian Woodpecker= (_M. f. bairdi_). Similar to No. 407, but black breast-band with white only on its posterior margin.

Range.--Pacific coast region from northern California to southern Oregon.

=407b. Narrow-fronted Woodpecker= (_M. f. angustifrons_). _Ad._ [Male]. Similar to No. 407, but smaller, W. 5.2; the throat brighter yellow. _Ad._ [Female]. With black crown-band _wider_ than white forehead band.

Range.--Cape Region of Lower California.

=409. Red-bellied Woodpecker= (_Centurus carolinus_). L. 9.5. Center of belly reddish. _Ad._ [Male]. Top of head and nape entirely red. _Ad._ [Female]. Nape red, crown grayish, forehead tinged with red. _Notes._ A hoarse, _chûh-chûh_.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains; breeds from Florida and Texas to Maryland, Ontario, and South Dakota; winters from Virginia and southern Ohio southward; casually north as far as Massachusetts.

=410. Golden-fronted Woodpecker= (_Centurus aurifrons_). L. 10.5; center of belly yellow. _Ad._ [Male]. Forehead yellow, crown-patch red, nape orange. _Ad._ [Female]. Forehead and nape yellow, crown entirely gray. _Notes._ Loud and penetrating. (Bailey.)

Range.--Mexico, north to central Texas.

=411. Gila Woodpecker= (_Centurus uropygialis_). L. 10. Center of belly yellow. _Ad._ [Male]. Top of head and nape _sooty_ gray; a red-crown patch. _Ad._ [Female]. Top of head and nape entirely sooty gray. _Notes._ _Dchūrr, dchūrr_; when flying, a shrill _huit_ like call-note of Phainopepla. (Bendire.)

Range.--Northwestern Mexico, north to southwestern New Mexico, and Lower California.

=412. Southern Flicker= (_Colaptes auratus_). Smaller than No. 412a, W. 5.6.

Range.--Southeastern United States north to South Carolina.

=412a. Northern Flicker= (_C. a. luteus_). L. 13; W. 6.4. Crown bluish gray; throat pinkish brown; a scarlet nape-band; lining of wings and tail yellow. _Ad._ [Male]. With black patches on the sides of the throat. _Ad._ [Female]. Without black throat patches. _Notes._ A loud, emphatic _keé-yer_; a low chuckle when taking flight; a _weéchew_ repeated and used only when two or more birds are together; and a mellow _cûh-cûh-cûh-cûh_, repeated, doubtless a song.

Range.--Eastern North America west to the Rocky Mountains and Alaska; rare on the Pacific coast; apparently hybridizing with No. 413 at the western border of its range.

=413. Red-shafted Flicker= (_Colaptes cafer collaris_). L. 13. No red nape band; crown brownish; throat bluish gray; lining of wings and tail reddish. _Ad._ [Male]. Patches at side of throat red. _Ad._ [Female]. No red throat patches. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 412.

Range.--Western United States, except northwest coast region; east to the Rocky Mountain region; apparently hybridizing with No. 412 at the eastern border of its range.

=413a. Northwestern Flicker= (_C. c. saturatior_). Similar to No. 413, but much darker throughout, back vinous-brown.

Range.--Pacific coast region; breeds from Oregon north to southern Alaska; winters south to northwest California.

=414. Gilded Flicker= (_Colaptes chrysoides_). L. 12; W. 5.7. Crown cinnamon; under surface of wings and tail yellow. _Ad._ [Male]. No red band on nape; throat bluish gray, its sides with a red patch. _Ad._ [Female]. No red on sides of throat. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 412. (Bendire.)

Range.--"Central and southern Arizona from Lat. 34° to southern Sonora, and Lower California south of Lat. 30°." (A.O.U.)

=414a. Brown Flicker= (_C. c. brunnescens_). Similar to No. 414, but slightly smaller; upperparts darker. (Anthony).

Range.--Lower California north of Lat. 30°.

=415. Guadalupe Flicker= (_Colaptes rufipileus_). Similar to No. 413, but bill 1.6 or more; more slender, wing averaging less than 6.2; crown cinnamon-brown; rump vinaceous-white. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

Order XVI. GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMINGBIRDS.

MACROCHIRES.

Family 1. GOATSUCKERS. Caprimulgidæ. 6 species, 6 subspecies.

Family 2. SWIFTS. Micropodidæ. 4 species.

Family 3. HUMMINGBIRDS. Trochilidæ. 17 species.

The Goatsuckers are birds of the dusk and early morning. They live chiefly on insects which they capture on the wing, their enormous mouths being especially well adapted to this kind of hunting. Our species build no nest but lay their two mottled eggs on the bare ground or leaves. The young are hatched covered with down and can follow their parents about long before they acquire the power of flight. Goatsuckers are noted for their singular calls, most of the species uttering loud, characteristic notes which, heard at night, are especially effective.

Swifts are birds of world-wide distribution; about half the seventy-five known species being found in America. They are pre-eminently birds of the air with wings so well developed that few birds can surpass them in power of flight, but with feet so weak and small that many species cannot perch as do most birds, but, when resting, cling to a vertical surface and use their tail to aid their feet in supporting themselves. Their nests are often marvels of architectural skill and constructive ability. The eggs, four to six in number, are white.

Hummingbirds are found only in America where they range from Patagonia to Alaska, but the larger part of the some five hundred known species are found in the Andean region of Columbia and Ecuador. Only one species is found east of the Mississippi, and nine of our sixteen western species advance but little beyond our Mexican border.

Hummingbirds nests are the most exquisite of birds' homes. Their eggs, so far as is known, number two, and are pure white. The young are born naked and, in the case of our Ruby-throat, at least, spend about three weeks in the nest.

The notes of some tropical Hummingbirds are sufficiently varied to be classed as songs but our species utter only sharp squeaks and excited chipperings.

Goatsuckers

=416. Chuck-will's-widow= (_Antrostomus carolinensis_). L. 12. Mouth bristles with fine, hair-like branches near their base. _Ad._ [Male]. End half of outer tail-feathers white, _rusty, and black on outer webs_; chin chiefly _rusty_; throat-patch buffy. _Ad._ [Female]. No white in tail. _Notes._ A loudly whistled _chuck-will's-widow_, repeated many times.

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; breeds north to Virginia and Illinois; west to Kansas and central Texas; winters from southern Florida southward.

=417. Whip-poor-will= (Antrostomus vociferus). L. 9.7. Mouth bristles _without_ branches. _Ad._ [Male]. Three outer tail-feathers _broadly_ tipped with white; white on inner vane of outer feather 1.4 or more wide; throat patch white; chin chiefly black. _Ad._ [Female]. Three outer tail-feathers narrowly tipped with rusty buff; throat patch rusty buff. _Notes._ A rapid, vigorous, whistled _whip-poor-will_, repeated many times.

Range.--Eastern North America, west to the Plains; breeds from Gulf States north to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters from Gulf States southward.

=417a. Stephens Whip-poor-will= (_A. v. macromystax_). Similar to No. 417, but slightly larger, W. 6.5; mouth bristles much longer; male with throat-patch rusty; white on inner web of outer feather _less_ than 1.3 wide.

Range.--"Arizona, New Mexico, and southwestern Texas, south over mountains bordering tablelands of Mexico to Guatemala." (Bailey.)

=418. Poor-will= (_Phalænoptilus nuttallii_). L. 7.7. Primaries _rusty_ barred with black. _Ad._ [Male]. Three outer tail-feathers _evenly_ tipped with white; a _large_ white throat patch; plumage above suggesting in color the wings of certain moths. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but tail-tips buffy. _Notes._ Variously rendered _poor-will_, _cow-day_, _pearl-rob-it_, _puir-whee-er_.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota west to eastern slope of Sierra Nevadas: north to Montana and British Columbia; winters from Mexican border southward.

=418a. Frosted Poor-will= (_P. n. nitidus_). Similar to No. 418, but paler, the upperparts especially whiter, more _frosty_.

Range.--"Texas to Arizona and from western Kansas south to northern Mexico." (Bailey.) Lower California.

=418b. California Poor-will= (_P. n. californicus_). Similar to No. 418, but darker.

Range.--Breeds on coast of California, north to Butte County; winters from southern California southward.

=419. Merrill Parauque= (_Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli_). L. 12; T. 6.2. Outer tail-feather without white. Two color phases, one gray, one rusty. _Ad._ [Male]. Outer tail-feather black with sometimes a little rusty, next feather white on inner web, third feather white except at base. _Ad._ [Female]. Outer tail-feathers brownish with broken rusty bars; next two with white at tip. _Notes._ A vigorous _ker-whee-you_ repeated and sometimes running into a _whit-whit-whit_, _ker-whee-you_.

Range.--Mexico north to southern Texas; winters chiefly south of Rio Grande.

=420. Nighthawk= (_Chordeiles virginianus_). L. 10; W. 7.8. Primaries blackish with a white bar and no rusty spots; darkest of our Nighthawks. _Ad._ [Male]. Above black with white and buff markings; throat and band near end of tail white. _Ad._ [Female]. Throat rusty, no white band in tail. _Notes._ A nasal _peent_; and in the breeding season, a booming sound produced by diving from a height earthward.

Range.--Eastern United States, chiefly, breeds from Florida to Labrador, west and northwest to northern California, British Columbia, and Alaska; winters south of United States.

=420a. Western Nighthawk= (_C. v. henryi_). Similar to No. 420, but markings above rusty and more numerous; belly washed with rusty.

Range.--Western United States, east to the Plains, wintering south of United States; exact distribution unknown.

=420b. Florida Nighthawk= (_C. v. chapmani_). Similar to No. 420, but smaller (L. 8.6; W. 7.1;) and paler; white and buff markings above larger and more numerous.

Range.--Florida, west along Gulf Coast to eastern Texas; south in winter to South America.

=420c. Sennett Nighthawk= (_C. v. sennetti_). Similar to No. 420b, but still paler, white and buff prevailing on back and scapulars; palest of our Nighthawks.

Range.--Great Plains north to Saskatchewan; winters south of the United States.

=421. Texan Nighthawk= (_Chordeiles acutipennis texensis_). Wing quills _with_ rusty spots; outer primary shorter than one next to it; belly conspicuously washed with rusty buff. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat-patch and band near end of tail white. _Ad._ [Female]. No white band in tail. _Notes._ A mewing call and a tapping accompanied by a humming sound. (Merrill.)

Range.--Central America; breeding north to southern Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Nevada, and Lat. 38° in California; winters south of United States.

Swifts

=422. Black Swift= (_Cypseloides niger borealis_). L. 7; W. 6.5. Tail without spines, slightly forked. _Ads._ Sooty black, paler below; a black spot before the eye; forehead whitish. _Notes._ Generally silent. (Bendire.)

Range.--Breeds from Central America north, in mountains of western United States, to British Columbia; east to Colorado; winters south of United States; more common in Pacific coast states.