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 Williamson Sapsucker
Northern Pileated Woodpecker. 405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker. Phlœotomus pileatus abieticola. Range.--Local throughout North America, from the northern parts of the United States northward. This variety is only very slightly larger than the preceding, it otherwise being the same. It is still abundant in many localities, but its range is rapidly being reduced, on account of cutting away the forests. Its nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the southern variety. 406. Red-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Range.--United States, east of the Rockies, except New England; north to northern Canada; winters in southern United States. White. This beautiful species has a bright red head, neck and breast, glossy blue black back, wings and tail, and white underparts, rump and secondaries. It is the most abundant of the family in the greater portion of its range, where it nests in any kind of trees or in telegraph poles at any height from the ground; they also sometimes nest in holes under the eaves of buildings. They are the most pugnacious of the Woodpeckers, and are often seen chasing one another or driving away some other bird. Red-headed Woodpecker. They are also known to destroy the nests and eggs of many species, and also to kill and devour the young, they being the only Woodpecker, so far as known, to have acquired this disreputable habit; they also feed upon, besides ants and larvæ, many kinds of fruit and berries. Their nesting season is during May and June, when they lay from four to eight white eggs, with less gloss than those of the Flicker. Size 1.00 × .75. 407. Ant-eating Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus formicivorus. Range.--Mexican border of the United States, southward. This species may be identified by the black region around the base of the bill, the white forehead, red crown and nape, yellowish throat, and blackish upper parts, extending in a band across the breast, this variety having the band streaked with white posteriorly. The habits of this variety are the same as the next which is most abundant in the United States.
Page 257 407a. California Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Range.--California and Oregon. This bird differs from the last in having fewer white stripes in the black breast band. In suitable localities, this is the most abundant of Woodpeckers on the Pacific coast. They have none of the bad habits of the Red-heads, appear to be sociable among their kind, and are not afraid of mankind. It nests indifferently in all kinds of trees at any height from the ground, laying from three to seven eggs. Size 1.00 × .75. This species has the habit of storing food for future use developed to a greater extent than any other of the family. They sometimes completely honeycomb the exterior surface of decayed trees, with holes designed to hold acorns. 407b. Narrow-fronted Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus angustifrons. Range.--Southern Lower California. This variety differs from the others in being slightly smaller and in having the white band on the forehead narrower. Its nesting habits are the same, but the eggs average smaller. Size .95 × .75. 408. Lewis's Woodpecker. Asyndesmus lewisi. Range.--Western United States from the Rockies to the Pacific coast; from British Columbia south to Mexico. White. A very oddly colored species, 11 inches in length having a dark red face, streaked red and white under parts, a gray breast band, and glossy greenish black upperparts. They are not uncommon in the greater part of their range, can not be called shy birds, and nest in all kinds of trees at heights varying from six to one hundred feet from the ground, the five to nine white eggs measuring 1.05 × .80, and being laid during May or June. 409. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Centurus carolinus. Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States north in nearly all parts of their range, frequenting the more heavily timbered regions, where they nest in any place that attracts their fancy; in some localities they also commonly nest in telegraph poles. They are quite tame, and during the winter months come about yards and houses, the same as, and often in company with Downy Woodpeckers. Their eggs, which are laid during May, are glossy white, average in size 1.00 × .75 and number from four to six.




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 408--411. 410. Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Centurus aurifrons. Range.--Mexico and southern Texas, resident. White. This is also one of the "zebra" or "ladder-backed" Woodpeckers, having the back and wings closely barred with black and white, the same as the preceding; the forehead, nasal tufts and nape are golden yellow, and the male has a patch of red on the crown. This is a very common resident species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where it nests in trees or telegraph poles, sometimes so numerously in the latter situations as to become a nuisance. Their nesting habits are not in any manner peculiar, and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the preceding. Size 1.00 × .75. Laid during April and May. 411. Gila Woodpecker. Centurus uropygialis. Range.--Mexican border of the United States, in southern Arizona and New Mexico. Like the preceding but without any yellow on the head, the male having a red patch in the center of the crown. They are locally distributed in New Mexico, but appear to be abundant in all parts of southern Arizona, where they nest principally in giant cacti, but also in many other trees such as cotton-woods, mesquite, sycamores, etc. Besides their decided preference for giant cacti, there is nothing unusual in their nesting habits, and the eggs are not different from those of others of the genus. They lay from three to six eggs in April or May. Size 1.00 × .75. 412. Flicker. Colaptes auratus auratus. Range.--Southeastern United States. White. Flickers are well known, large Woodpeckers (13 inches long), with a brownish tone to the plumage, barred on the back and spotted on the breast with black. The present species has a golden yellow lining to the wings and tail, and the shafts of the feathers are yellow; it has a red crescent on the nape, and the male has black moustache marks. This species and its sub-variety are the most widely known Woodpeckers in eastern North America, where they are known in different localities, by something like a hundred local names, of which
Page 259 Northern Flicker. Pigeon Woodpecker and Yellow-hammer seem to be the most universal. They have the undulating flight common to all Woodpeckers and show the white rump patch conspicuously when flying. They are often found on the ground in pastures or on side hills, feeding upon ants; they are more terrestrial than any others of the family. They nest anywhere, where they can find or make a suitable cavity for the reception of their eggs; in trees in woods or solitary trees in large pastures, in apple trees in orchards, in fence posts, in holes under the roofs of buildings, etc. They ordinarily lay from five to ten very glossy eggs, but it has been found that they will continue laying, if one egg is removed from the nest at a time, until in one case seventy-one eggs were secured. Fresh eggs may be found at any time from May until August, as they frequently raise two broods a season. Size of eggs, 1.10 × .90 with considerable variations. 412a. Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus luteus. Range.--Whole of North America, east of the Rockies, except the southeastern portion. Averaging larger than the preceding, but individual specimens of the northern variety are frequently found to be even smaller than the southern, and vice versa, making the distinction one of the study rather than Nature. Red-shafted Flicker. 413. Red-shafted Flicker. Colaptes cafer collaris. Range.--United States west of the Rockies. White. This species is marked similarly to the preceding, but the top of the head is brownish instead of gray, and the underparts of the wings and tail, and their quills are reddish. Neither sex has the red crescent on the back of the head, except in the case of hybrids between the two species, but the male has red moustache marks. There are no differences in the nidification between this species and the preceding, but the eggs of this average a trifle larger (1.15 × .90). 413a. Northwestern Flicker. Colaptes cafer saturatior. Range.--Pacific coast, breeding from Oregon to Alaska. This is a much darker variety of the Red-shafted Flicker, but its nesting habits or eggs do not differ in any way.



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NORTHERN FLICKER.
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NEST AND EGGS OF NORTHERN FLICKER.
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 414. Gilded Flicker. Colaptes chrysoides. Range.--Arizona and southward through Mexico to southern Lower California. This pale species has the yellowish lining to the wings and tail as in the Flicker, but has a pale cinnamon brown crown, no crescent on back of head, and the male has red moustache marks. It is a common species in all localities where the giant cactus abounds, and shows a preference to nesting in these strange growths, to any other trees. Their habits are, in all respects, the same as those of the other Flickers and their eggs cannot be distinguished. Size 1.10 × .90. 414a. San Fernando Flicker. Colaptes chrysoides brunnescens. Range.--Northern Lower California. This is a slightly smaller and darker variety of the Gilded Flicker. 415. Guadalupe Flicker. Colaptes rufipileus. Range.--Guadalupe Island. Similar to the Red-shafted Flicker, but with the crown darker and the rump a solid pinkish white. They are common in a large cypress grove in the middle of the island, but rarely found on any other portions. The eggs have been described by Mr. Walter E. Bryant, who found them breeding on the island, to be indistinguishable from those of the others of the genus. [Illustration z264.] GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMINGBIRDS.
Order XVI. MACROCHIRES. GOATSUCKERS, Family CAPRIMULGIDAE. Goatsuckers are long winged birds, with small bills, but with an extraordinarily large mouth, the opening of which extends beneath and beyond the eyes. They are chiefly dusk or night fliers, their food consisting of insects which they catch on the wing. Their plumage is mottled black, brownish and white, resembling the ground upon which they lay their eggs.
Page 263 Chuck-will's-widow. 416. Chuck-will's-widow. Antrostomus carolinensis. Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, breeding north to Virginia and Indiana, and west to Arkansas and eastern Texas. Grayish white. These birds are abundant summer residents in the southern portions of their range, but as they are silent and hiding in the woods during the day time, they are not as popularly known as are most birds. They rarely fly during the day time unless disturbed from their roosting place which is on the ground under underbrush or in hollow logs. Their notes, which are a rapid and repeatedly uttered whistling repetition of their name, are heard until late in the night. They nest during April, May or June, laying two eggs on the ground amid the leaves in woods or scrubby underbrush. The eggs are grayish to creamy white in color, handsomely marked with shades of lilac, gray and brownish; size 1.40 × 1.00. 417. Whip-poor-will. Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. Range.--North America east of the Plains; north to the southern parts of the British possessions; winters along the Gulf coast and southward. Whip-poor-will. This species is well known, by sound, in nearly all parts of its range, but comparatively few ever observed the bird, and probably the greater number mistake the Nighthawk for this species. The two species can readily be distinguished at a distance by the absence of any pronounced white marking in the wings, and by the white tips to the outer tail feathers in the present species, while the Night Hawk has a prominent white band across the tail, but the top is black, and the tail slightly forked. Creamy white. The Whip-poor-will, rarely leaves its place of concealment before dark, and is never seen flying about cities, as are the Nighthawks. In their pursuit of insects, they glide like a shadow over fields and woods, their soft plumage giving forth no sound as their wings cleave the air. Until late at night, their whistling cry "whip-poor-will," repeated at intervals, rings out in all wooded hilly districts. Their two eggs are deposited on the ground among dead leaves, generally in dense woods. They are grayish white or cream color marbled with pale brown and gray, with fainter markings of lilac. Size 1.50 × .85.





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 Merrill's Paraque.
Poor-will. 417a. Stephen's Whip-poor-will. Antrostomus vociferus macromystax. Range.--Arizona and New Mexico, south through the tableland of Mexico. This sub-species is slightly larger and has longer mouth bristles than the eastern bird. Their nesting habits are the same and the eggs differ only in averaging lighter in color, with fainter markings, some specimens being almost immaculate. 418. Poor-will. Phalænoptilus nuttalli nuttalli. Range.--United States west of the Mississippi, breeding from Kansas and northern California northward to Montana and British Columbia. White. This handsome species is the smallest of the family, being under 8 inches in length. Its plumage is mottled black, white and frosty gray, harmoniously blended together. They can easily be distinguished from all other Goatsuckers by their size and silvery appearance. They nest on the ground, either placing their two eggs upon a bed of leaves or upon a flat rock. The breeding season is from the latter part of May through July. The eggs are pure white and glossy; size 1.00 × .75. 418a. Frosted Poor-will. Phalænoptilus nuttalli nitidus. Range.--Texas and Arizona, north to western Kansas. This variety is like the last but paler, both above and below. Eggs indistinguishable from those of others of the genus. 418b. Dusky Poor-will. Phalænoptilus nuttalli californicus. Range.--A darker race found on the coast of California, having the same nesting habits as the others. The egg figured is of this species. Data.--Los Angeles, Cal., June 24, 1900. 2 eggs on the ground at the foot of an oak tree on the side of a hill. Collector, F. M. Palmer.
Page 265 419. Merrill's Parauque. Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli. Range.--Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas. Salmon buff. This species is the same length as the Chuck-will's-widow, but is not as stoutly built, and has a slightly longer tail. It can be distinguished from any other of the family by its tail, the outer feather on each side being black (or brownish barred with black in the female), and the next two having white ends for nearly half their length. Their eggs are laid on the ground in open localities, and generally under the protection of an overhanging bush. They are two in number and differ greatly from those of any other American member of this family, being a buff or rich salmon buff in color, spotted and splashed with gray, lavender, and reddish brown; size 1.25 × .90. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, April 16, 1900. Eggs laid on the ground in a dense thicket. Collector, Frank B. Armstrong.
NEST AND EGGS OF WHIP-POOR-WILL.