BREWSTER’S WOODPECKER
HABITS
In the Cape region of Baja California, we find this local race, which Ridgway (1914) describes as “similar to C. u. uropygialis but smaller, with relatively (often absolutely) larger bill, bars on back, etc., averaging decidedly narrower (the white ones about 1.5-2 mm. wide), black bars on lower rump and upper tail-coverts narrower or more numerous, and white bars on lateral rectrices as well as black ones on inner web of middle rectrices narrower.”
William Brewster (1902) says: “In the Cape Region the Gila Woodpecker has apparently much the same distribution as Dryobates lucasanus. Neither Mr. Belding nor Mr. Frazar found it in the higher mountains, but both note its abundance throughout the low country, and Mr. Frazar obtained many specimens at Triunfo which is within the lower edge of the oak belt.”
Griffing Bancroft (1930) referred the woodpeckers of this species that he found breeding in central Lower California to this southern race. Probably they are intermediate between this and cardonensis. He says of it:
The most abundant bird of its order, ranging throughout the territory examined. It is to be found in the suburban gardens of Santa Rosalia, among the palms of San Ignacio, and everywhere through the desert cactus belt. Its favorite choice of a home is a site high in a candelabra cardón; but it will also nest, even when not driven by necessity, in palms and tree yucca.
Its breeding season is quite long, fresh eggs being found from the latter part of April until well into June. The number laid is irregular. About half the sets are of two, but there are four’s and even five’s. Sixteen eggs taken in the vicinity of San Ignacio average 24.0 by 18.9 mm.
The birds are quite tame and often cannot be flushed. More than once, on opening cavities, we have lifted an adult from eggs or young, or even from an empty hole. Repeatedly a bird has been seen flying into a nest, either to feed young or to go onto eggs, while people were standing at the foot of the tree. When their homes are being examined the birds often approach within a few feet to voice their protests. Such fearlessness is unusual on this desert.