AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 401. Picoides americanus. 9 inches.
The greatest difference between this bird and the last is on the back, it having several narrow bars of white near the neck or a patch of white in place of the bars. Breeding habits are the same.
ALASKA THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 401a. Picoides americanus fasciatus. 9 inches.
In every particular similar to the last, with the patch of white on the back possibly a little larger. Habits just the same (not illustrated).
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. 402. Sphyrapicus varius. 8½ inches.
This is one of the most handsomely marked of the family; they may be identified easily by the red crown and throat (female having white on the throat), each bordered by black, forming a wide breast band, with a band of white, black and white back of it. The under parts yellow. This species and the two following are the only real sapsuckers, a crime that is often attributed to the most useful of the family. While they without doubt will take some of the sap from trees, their food consists more of insect life, ants in particular.
Nest.—Is placed in a cavity of decayed trees. Four to seven glossy white eggs (.85 × .60).
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. 403. Sphyrapicus ruber. 8½ inches.
A Pacific coast bird from Lower California to Oregon. The entire head, neck and breast of this species is red, of varying shades in different individuals, from carmine to nearly a scarlet. The remainder of their plumage is similar to the above. Nesting habits the same.
WILLIAMSON SAPSUCKER. 404. Sphyrapicus thyroideus. 9 inches.
A great variation in the plumage of this oddly marked bird is found. The male is mostly black on the back and breast, with a white rump, and with only a narrow patch of red on the throat; the under parts are bright yellow. The female is entirely different, being brownish in place of the black on the male, has no red on the throat, and on the back is barred with black and white.
Their nesting habits are the same as those of the family previously mentioned. Four to seven white eggs (.97 × .67).
NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER. 405a. Phlœotomus pileatus albieticola. 17 inches.
This is one of the largest and strongest of the Woodpeckers; they are a sooty black on the upper parts and breast; the crest is long and bright red, and the male has a red line back of the eye; sides of the neck pure white, and patch of white on the wings. Female is more of a grayish black color than the male. As the large trees are being cut away in many localities where these birds were to be found, they are gradually driven farther north or into the mountain regions, where they can find the heavy timber in which they make their homes.