RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
MALE, NEARLY LIFE SIZE
From a Water-color Painting by Allan Brooks
No. 173.
NORTHWEST SAPSUCKER.
A. O. U. No. 403 a. Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis Suckow.
Synonyms.—Northern Red-breasted Sapsucker. Crimson-headed Woodpecker.
Description.—Like preceding but darker, red a deep crimson or maroon purple. Original markings of S. varius nuchalis still further effaced. Av. measurements of two adults from Glacier: Length, 9.94 (252.5); wing 5.24 (133.1); tail 3.40 (86.4); bill 1.03 (26.2).
Recognition Marks.—Chewink size; dark crimson of head, neck, and breast distinctive.
Nesting.—Nest: An unlined cavity excavated in dead fir or living deciduous tree, usually at considerable height. Eggs: 5-7, white. Av. size, .92 × .69 (23.4 × 17.5). Season: May or June; one brood.
General Range.—Breeding in Northwest coast district of North America from Oregon to Sitka, Alaska; south in winter to southern California.
Range in Washington.—Summer resident west of the Cascades; also partially resident in winter.
Authorities.—Sphyrapicus ruber Baird, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, pp. 104, 105. C&S. Rh. Ra. B. E.
Specimens.—P. Prov. B. E.
Victor Savings, of Blaine, pointed out a hole fifty feet up in a big fir stub as the Sapsucker’s nest. Soon the female flew to the entrance; whereupon the male bird emerged, gorgeous in crimson panoply, and flew away, the female taking his place on the eggs. After a bit Victor pounded on the tree to raise a possible Harris further up, for the tree above is riddled with nesting holes. The female Sapsucker promptly thrust out her head and studied the situation for five minutes or so, after which she dropped back content. The only notable thing about the nest externally was a round smooth patch, the size of a dollar, upon the tree about four inches below the nest, worn and polished by the tail-feathers of the alighting birds. Judged by this mark of identification, only one of the unused holes above belonged to the Sapsucker; the remainder to the Harris Woodpecker.
The stub commands a view of the Savings’s orchard, where, Victor says, the Sapsuckers do immense damage, especially to the pear trees. This nesting tree was sixteen feet around at the base, above the root bulge, and perfectly desolate of limbs. Fortunately, also, it had long since disposed of its shaggy coat of bark,—fortunately, I say, for when a fir stub sheds its fir coat it does so suddenly, and great is the fall thereof.
It was a far cry up that barren shaft with one knew not what possibilities of defeat at the end of it; but, of course, if one wanted eggs, one had to go after them. First, we laid out a liberal supply of stout two-foot fir cleats, and a couple of pounds of small spikes. A ladder gave us a twenty-foot start, after which I nailed up the cleats with the aid of a three-quarter-inch rope passed round the tree and my body. My companion at the bottom of the tree supplied building materials which I hoisted from time to time by means of another rope.
In this laborious fashion the nest was reached. The birds, meanwhile, having become increasingly anxious, made frequent approaches from a neighboring tree, crying, kee-a, kee-aa, in helpless bewilderment. Several times they lighted near the scene of operations, but were frightened off by the resounding blows of the hand-axe. When all was over, they raised a high, strong qué-oo,—qué-oo, never before heard, and reminding one generically of the Red-headed Woodpecker of boyhood days.
Taken near Blaine. Photo by Victor Savings.
NESTING SITE OF THE NORTHWEST SAPSUCKER.