(cardon) association in the northern section of the Lower Californian
peninsula, from about latitude 30° to latitude 31°. Life-zone, Lower
Sonoran.” The 1931 Check-list extends the range northward “along the
western rim of the Colorado Desert to about latitude 32°.”
A. W. Anthony (1895a) says of the haunts of this woodpecker in Baja
California: “The range of this species along the Pacific slope is
exactly coextensive with that of _Cereus pringlei_, becoming common
with that cactus a short distance below Rosario and seldom if ever
being seen at any distance from the shelter of its mighty branches. At
the mission, where the cardons were very large and abundant, to within
a short distance of the mesquite thickets, this Woodpecker delighted
in making frequent forays into the lesser growth, spending hours in
hammering on the mesquite trunks and hunting through their branches,
always beating a precipitate retreat to the cactus on the hillsides
above at the first sign of danger.”
I can find nothing further of consequence published on the habits of
the cardon woodpecker, which doubtless do not differ materially from
those of its Arizona relative.
The eggs are similar to those of the Gila woodpecker. The measurements
of 11 eggs average 23.59 by 18.30 millimeters; the eggs showing the
four extremes measure =25.6= by 18.1, 24.5 by =19.8=, =21.9= by 17.8,
and 22.1 by =17.3= millimeters. Griffing Bancroft has a still larger
egg, which measures 26.4 by 21.8 millimeters.
CENTURUS UROPYGIALIS BREWSTERI Ridgway
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.
COLAPTES AURATUS AURATUS (Linnaeus)
SOUTHERN FLICKER
PLATE 35
HABITS
The type name _auratus_ is now restricted to the flickers of the South
Atlantic and Gulf States, from North Carolina to southern Florida
and central Texas north to extreme southern Illinois and Indiana,
southeastern Missouri, and southeastern Kansas, because the above
Linnaean name was based on birds described by Catesby, which belonged
to the smaller southern race.
The habits of the southern flicker are so similar to those of the
northern flicker that the following account given for the northern race
will serve very well for both. It is a common bird, widely distributed
and well known throughout its range. In Florida we found it rather
partial to open, burned-over tracts in the flat pine woods, nesting
in the charred stumps, but it was also common in more open country in
thinly settled regions, where we often found it nesting in isolated
trees or dead stubs of palmettos or pines.
W. J. Erichsen (1920) says of its haunts in Chatham County, Ga.:
“Wherever there are areas of cut-over lands on which remain an
abundance of dead trees this species will be found in large numbers.
At all seasons it exhibits a preference for open pine barrens, but,
particularly during the breeding season, is occasionally met with
about the edges of swamps if they contain suitable nesting sites. It
is abundant on all of the wooded islands, particularly Ossabaw island,
where I observed it in large numbers in May, 1915. Here it is oftenest
seen in the woods close to the salt marsh or adjoining the beach,
apparently not frequenting in any numbers the more heavily forested
interior of the island.”
_Nesting._--Capt. H. L. Harllee writes to me that southern flickers
raise two broods in a season in South Carolina and are not very
particular as to their nesting sites. They nest in holes of their
own excavation in dead trees of many species, 3 to 100 feet from
the ground, either in thick woods or in a lone dead tree in an open
cultivated field; they also nest in natural cavities in trees. He
found one pair of these birds nesting in a hole made by fire in an old
burned-out stump; the cavity was about two feet deep and eight inches
in diameter; “the opening was slightly arched over with grass growing
around it; a small quantity of pine straw was the only lining.”
Arthur H. Howell (1932) says: “The nests are placed in pines, oaks,
cabbage palms, or other trees, at heights varying from a few feet to
60 feet above the ground. At Ponce Park, in May, 1925, I observed a
Flicker using a hole in a palmetto pile under the dock on the shore
of the Halifax River, only 2 feet above the salt water at high tide.
Nicholson found a nest 12 inches above the ground in a sawed-off stump
of a palmetto on a ditch bank.”
Alexander Sprunt, Jr. (1931), mentions a concentration of hole-nesting
birds in a tree in a yard in Beaufort, S. C.; the tree measured only 20
feet in height and contained nests of two pairs of flickers, and one
nest each of crested flycatcher, screech owl, and downy woodpecker.
“All five cavities were contained in a radius of ten feet, and four
were within six feet of each other.”
A. F. Ganier (1926) writes:
While in the suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee, last
spring, I noticed a Flicker engaged in what appeared to
be a hopeless task in the way of nest excavation. An iron
water tank, supported by steel columns forty feet high,
was fed by a large iron pipe through its bottom, and, to
keep this pipe from freezing in winter, it had been encased
with a plank shaft two feet square that was filled with
cedar sawdust. Our friend _Colaptes auratus_ had evidently
sounded the boards, and, sensing easy digging, had drilled
a hole in the middle of one side about thirty feet up. When
espied, he was enthusiastically pitching out quantities of
sawdust, which I presume caved in about as fast as he dug,
but during the half hour I was engaged near by there was
no let up in the work. About a month later I was again in
the vicinity and made it a point to go by the tank. On the
ground below the hole was at least a bushel of sawdust, and
in a few minutes I had the pleasure of seeing a Flicker
enter the hole with food in its mouth, presumably to feed
the young that had come to reward his perseverance.
_Eggs._--The southern flicker lays five to ten eggs, ordinarily, but
shares with its northern relative its reputation as a prolific egg
layer; it will continue to lay again and again after being robbed,
as many as 30 or 40 eggs and often three or four sets. The eggs
are similar to those of the northern flicker, except for a slight
difference in size. The measurements of 44 eggs from South Carolina
average 28.57 by 22.01 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes
measure =30.15= by =24.56= and =24.13= by =20.32= millimeters. These
seem to run larger than eggs from farther north.
In all other respects, the habits of the southern flicker are similar
to those of the species elsewhere, with due allowance for the
difference in environment. Two items of interest, however, are worth
quoting. Charles R. Stockard (1904) writes from Mississippi:
On April 18 a burrow of a Flicker containing only one fresh
egg was found. The egg was not disturbed. When visiting
the nest again on April 28 a flying squirrel was found in
possession. On my arrival the bird was at the entrance of
the burrow peering in at the intruder. It was supposed that
the squirrel was eating the eggs, but on examining the nest
it was found to contain one spoilt egg. The squirrel had
then probably been in possession for the ten days since the
nest was observed, so the bird had been unable to enter and
lay. * * * The Flicker must then have remained about her
nest for this length of time, and as soon as the squirrel
was removed she again took charge. On visiting the nest
May 5, seven days later, it contained seven fresh eggs and
the old one that had been left. * * * This was undoubtedly
a case of discontinuous laying unless she had dropped her
eggs on the ground while the squirrel was occupying the
nest.
Mrs. Sanford Duncan (1932), of Nashville, Tenn., tells an interesting
story of a flicker that was captured by a bullsnake. She heard a great
commotion among the birds in her yard and went out to investigate
the cause of the excitement. “The Flickers were leading the battle,
dashing and darting at a bundle of something on the ground. Closer
inspection with field glasses showed it was a snake, all tied up in
a curious knot. He was too big for me to attack with the hoe I had,
so I shot into the ‘bundle’ with a shotgun. As if by magic the snake
flung himself into the air and fell, straightened out, over five feet
long, and disclosed a full-grown Flicker that he had wrapped himself
around many times. The Flicker was still alive, but died very shortly,
probably from the gunshot that killed the bullsnake.”
Lester W. Smith writes to me that he watched a southern flicker digging
white grubs out of a lawn and killing them by repeated blows and
shaking; meantime a loggerhead shrike was attempting to rob the flicker
of its prey.
DISTRIBUTION
_Range._--North America, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, and from
the limit of trees south to the Gulf coast.
_Breeding range._--The breeding range of the flicker extends =north=
to Alaska (Circle); northwestern Mackenzie (probably Fort McPherson,
Fort Anderson, McVicar Bay, Fort Rae, and Hill Island Lake); northern
Saskatchewan (Reindeer Lake); northern Manitoba (probably Lake Du
Brochet and Fort Churchill); Ontario (Lac Seul and probably Moose
Factory); Quebec (probably Fort George, probably Lake Mistassini,
Godbout, and Mingan Island); and Labrador (Cartwright). From this
northeastern point the range extends =southward= through Newfoundland,
along the Atlantic coast to Key West, Fla. The =southern= limits of
nesting are the Gulf coasts of Florida and Alabama, thence in the
interior to Louisiana (St. Francisville and Genoa); and Oklahoma
(Okmulgee and Norman). =West= to Oklahoma (Norman); central Kansas
(Harper, Hay, and Stockton); Nebraska (Red Cloud, Alda, and Chadron);
eastern Wyoming (Midwest and Newcastle); Montana (Terry, Fairview, and
Great Falls); Alberta (Morrin, Henry House, and Lesser Slave Lake);
northwestern British Columbia (Telegraph Creek and Atlin); Yukon
(Caribou Crossing and Selkirk); and eastern Alaska (Circle). This
species, more or less crossed with the red-shafted flicker (_Colaptes
c. collaris_), also is found occasionally in eastern Colorado
(Hallvale, Denver, and Fort Morgan).
_Winter range._--During the winter season the flicker is found with
more or less regularity =north= to southeastern South Dakota (Yankton,
Vermillion, and Sioux Falls); southern Minnesota (Hutchinson and
Minneapolis); southern Wisconsin (North Freedom and Milwaukee);
southern Michigan (Kalamazoo, Jackson, Ann Arbor, and Detroit);
southern Ontario (Plover Mills, Hamilton, and Toronto); New York
(Rochester, Syracuse, and Rhinebeck); and rarely Maine (Waterville).
From this point it is found =south= along the Atlantic coast to
southern Florida (St. Lucie and Fort Myers). The southern limits of
the winter range are found on the Gulf coast from Florida (Fort Myers)
to Texas (Brownsville). =West= to Texas (Brownsville, San Antonio,
San Angelo, and Abilene); central Oklahoma (Norman, Oklahoma City,
and Tonkawa); Kansas (Wichita and rarely Hay); Nebraska (Red Cloud
and North Loup); and southeastern South Dakota (Yankton). It also has
been taken or observed at this season north to southern Saskatchewan
(Eastend); Quebec (Montreal); New Brunswick (St. John); and Nova Scotia
(Bridgetown).
The range as outlined is for the entire species, of which two
subspecies are currently recognized. The typical form, known as the
southern flicker (_C. a. auratus_), is found from southern Florida and
Texas north to southeastern Kansas, southeastern Missouri, southern
Illinois and Indiana, and North Carolina. It probably is nonmigratory.
The rest of the range is occupied by the northern flicker (_C. a.
luteus_).
_Spring migration._--Early dates of arrival in regions north of the
winter range as outlined, are: Nova Scotia--Wolfville, March 26;
Halifax, April 7. New Brunswick--Scotch Lake, April 5; Grand Manan,
April 12. Quebec--Quebec City, April 27; Godbout, May 2; Paradise,
June 5. North Dakota--Fargo, March 29; Charlson, March 30; Grand
Forks, April 2. Manitoba--Winnipeg, March 30; Alexander, April 14;
Raeburn, April 15. Saskatchewan--Eastend, April 3; McLean, April 3.
Wyoming--Cheyenne, April 7; Laramie, April 12. Montana--Great Falls,
April I; Terry, April 4; Jackson, April 14. Alberta--Banff, April 4;
Flagstaff, April 13; Edmonton, April 17. Mackenzie--Fort Simpson, May
4; Fort Reliance, May 2. Alaska--Fairbanks, April 25; Fort Yukon, May 1.
_Fall migration._--Late dates of fall departure are: Alaska,--Wrangell,
October 11; Craig, October 21. Mackenzie--near McVicar Bay, September
10; Great Slave Lake, September 11; Fort Simpson, October 16.
Alberta--Lac La Biche, September 25; Glenevis, October 2; Calgary,
October 10. Montana--Bozeman, September 24; Saskatchewan--Eastend,
October 14. Manitoba--Alexander, October 22; Aweme, October 27. North
Dakota--Arlington, October 19; Argusville, October 21; Fargo, October
21. Northern Michigan--Sault Ste. Marie, October 24. Quebec--Montreal,
November 25. New Brunswick--St. John, November 5; Scotch Lake, November
22. Nova Scotia--Wolfville, November 19.
The records of flickers that have been banded and subsequently
recovered throw much light upon the migrations of this species. In
the files of the Biological Survey there are long series of cases
where birds banded at their nests in the northern parts of the
breeding range (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Michigan, New York,
and Massachusetts) have returned to the same point one to four years
later. These birds probably all belonged to the subspecies _luteus_.
Similarly, similar data also are available for areas (Missouri,
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida) within the range of _C. a. auratus_,
which probably is nonmigratory.
Definite migrations of individual banded birds are indicated by the
records of flickers banded in Saskatchewan and recovered in Iowa,
Oklahoma, and Texas; banded in Missouri and recovered in Texas;
banded in Iowa and recovered in Louisiana; banded in South Dakota
and recovered in Arkansas and Oklahoma (4); banded in Illinois and
recovered in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas (2), and Louisiana
(3); banded in Indiana and recovered in Mississippi; banded in Michigan
and recovered in Arkansas and Louisiana; banded in Ohio and recovered
in Alabama and Mississippi; banded in Pennsylvania and recovered in
Georgia; and banded in Nova Scotia and recovered in North Carolina.
_Casual records._--In southern British Columbia a specimen was
collected at Sumas on April 8, 1903, and two were seen at Vernon on
December 26, 1906; a specimen was taken at Orcas Island, Wash., on
October 15, 1907; one was collected at Blaine, Oreg., on November 3,
1921; and one was taken at Cliff Spring, Nev., on September 29, 1931.
There are several records for California as follows: Furnace Creek,
April 12, 1917; St. Geronimo, December 18, 1893, and January 14, 1895;
Point Lobos, December 14, 1934; Los Angeles, February 20, 1901; San
Diego, December 4, 1931; and Eldridge, January 4, 1913.
At least four occurrences well north of the breeding range in Alaska
have been recorded: St. George Island, fall of 1904; Cape Etolin,
September 14, 1927; Wainwright, a specimen in 1924; and Cape Halkett,
in the fall of 1927.
A specimen was collected on Okpatok Island in Hudson Strait in October
1882, one was taken in Sandwich Bay in August 1908, and a specimen
has been reported from Cape Wolstenholme on the Ungava Peninsula. The
species also has been recorded from Bermuda where at least one specimen
was collected in 1871.
_Egg dates._--Arctic America: 6 records, June 3 to 16.
Florida: 18 records, March 25 to July 18; 9 records, April 16 to
May 18, indicating the height of the season.
Illinois: 22 records, April 30 to May 30; 11 records, May 13 to 21.
Michigan: 16 records, April 17 to June 24; 8 records, May 12 to 30.
New York: 15 records, May 13 to June 15; 8 records, May 25 to 29.
COLAPTES AURATUS LUTEUS Bangs
NORTHERN FLICKER
PLATE 36
HABITS
I can remember as clearly as if it were only yesterday my boyish,
enthusiastic admiration for this beautiful bird, though it was between
50 or 60 years ago that my father first showed me a freshly killed
flicker. I was simply entranced with the softly blended browns, the
red crescent on the head, the black crescent and bold spotting on the
breast, and, above all, with the golden glow in the wings and tail. Few
birds combine such charming colors and pleasing contrasts. I have never
lost my admiration for it, and still consider it one of nature’s gems.
It, and its close relative, the red-shafted flicker, together are
widely distributed over nearly all the wooded regions of North America.
Consequently it is widely known and over most of its range is a common
and familiar species. Its prominence and popularity are attested by the
long list of vernacular names by which it is locally known. Franklin L.
Burns (1900), in his monograph of the species, lists 123 such names;
and later he adds nine more, bringing the list up to 132 names. These
are far too many to be quoted here, and many of them are “very local or
very slight orthographical or cacographical variants.” I have always
loved our local name “partridge woodpecker,” suggestive of my boyhood
days, when flickers, meadowlarks, and robins were considered legitimate
game. But now the name yellow-shafted flicker seems appropriate to
distinguish it, from the red-shafted flicker.
The haunts of the flicker are almost everywhere in open country or
lightly wooded regions; it can hardly be called a forest-loving
species, though I have often found it nesting in more or less extensive
deciduous woods; its favorite haunts during the summer seem to be in
the rural districts among the farms, orchards, and scattered woodlots;
it seems to be at home, also, in villages and small towns, and even
in some of the smaller cities, where spacious grounds and gardens
provide suitable surroundings. In fall and winter it is more apt to
wander about in open woodlands, fields, and meadows or seek shelter in
coniferous woods or swamps.
_Spring._--Although many flickers remain all winter in the Northern
States, there is a decided spring migration of the great bulk of
northern-bred birds that have wintered in the Southern States. These
birds gather in flocks during the late winter, and the northward
movement starts with the first mild weather, the migration being
largely performed during the night. Mr. Burns (1900) says that at
Berwyn, Pa., the forerunners, consisting of solitary old males, appear
“as early as Feb. 2 or as late as April 6, according to the promises of
the season, correlating in a measure with the date at which the first
frog is heard peeping. * * *
“It becomes common soon after the hardy willow has unfolded its leaves,
and about the time the fragrant spicewood blossoms, when the ants,
spiders and beetles become active once more, and just in the height of
the arbutus season. The northward movement is far from being steady
or regular, being largely governed by weather conditions; Mr. Burns
calculates from his mass of data that the average distance traveled
daily is about 12 miles, varying according to season and weather
conditions from 7 to 48 miles per night. It is absolutely certain that
it does not move steadily night after night, but only as the weather
permits or necessitates and its physical condition allows.”
Flickers often migrate in companies of considerable size, in
loose, scattered flocks, noisy and active, flying from tree to
tree and calling excitedly. Their arrival is announced by the loud
challenge-call, given from the top of some tall tree, _wicker_,
_wicker_, _wicker_, or _wake-up_, _wake-up_, _wake-up_, as the male
challenges his rivals or invites his prospective mate to join him in
courtship. This, one of the most welcome sounds of early spring, is
indeed a call to “wake up,” for all nature is awakening, buds are
swelling on the trees, verdure is appearing in the woods and fields,
the early flowers are beginning to blossom, the hylas are peeping in
the warming pools, insects are becoming active, and the songs of the
early birds announce that spring is here. Another spring sound soon
strikes our ears, a loud, far-reaching, vibrant sound, the long, almost
continuous roll of the flicker’s drumming, another challenge-call, a
preliminary of the courtship performance; at frequent intervals, often
repeated over a long period in early morning, he beats his loud tattoo
on some hollow, resonant limb.
_Courtship._--The courtship of the flicker is a lively and spectacular
performance, noisy, full of action, and often ludicrous, as three or
more birds of both sexes indulge in their comical dancing, nodding,
bowing, and swaying motions, or chase each other around the trunk or
through the branches of a tree. From the time of Audubon to the present
day, many observers have noted and described the curious antics of this
star performer. But I prefer to quote first from some extensive notes
recently contributed by Francis H. Allen, as follows: “The courtship
of the flicker is an elaborate and somewhat puzzling performance.
Two birds face each other on the branch of a tree or cling side by
side, though at a little distance apart, on the trunk, and spread
their tails and jerk their heads about in a sort of weaving motion,
frequently uttering a note that is peculiar to this performance, a
_wick-up_ or _week-up_. The head motion is a series of backward jerks
with the bill pointing up at an angle of perhaps 60° and the head at
the same time swinging from side to side. Sometimes a short, low _wuck_
is uttered from time to time during the performance. These bouts occur
not only between male and female, but frequently between two males or
two females.