Genus Cyanocorax, Boie, in Oken’s Isis, 1826, part II., p. 977.
Bill rather large and strong, with the ridge of the upper mandible
curved gradually from the base to the point—ridge of the lower mandible
curved upwards. Nostrils at the base of the bill, in rather a large
membrane, and partially concealed by projecting feathers. Wings
moderate, rather rounded, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries usually
longest; secondaries long, exceeding some of the shorter primaries. Tail
rather lengthened and rounded; tarsi robust, rather long; toes and claws
strong. Head usually with a crest or with the frontal plumes erect and
crest-like. Plumage of various colors, mostly with some part of greater
or less extent, blue. Exclusively American. Type _C. pileatus_.
(Wagler.)
Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Lesson.)
Garrulus luxuosus. Lesson Revue Zoologique 1839, p. 100. (Paris.)
Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Less.) Du Bus, Esquisses Ornithologiques, part
IV. pl. 18. (Brussels.)
Form. Feathers of the head in front or at the base of the upper
mandible, short, erect and rigid—other plumage of the head above
somewhat elongated; wings rather short, with the fourth and fifth quills
slightly longest; tail ample, and rather long, with the central feathers
longest; bill strong, tarsi and feet moderate, claws strong and curved.
Dimensions.—Total length (of skin) from the tip of the bill to the end
of the tail, about 10½ inches, wing 4¾, tail 5½ inches.
Colors.—Short feathers at the base of the bill, blue, which color is
succeeded by a transverse band of bluish white; cheeks and head above,
pale azure blue; sides of the head in front of and behind the eyes,
throat and neck in front fine silky black, which forms a wide mask
extending to the breast.
Body above, wings and central tail feathers, fine parrot-like green,
deepest on the tail, entire inferior surface of the body pale yellowish
green. External tail feathers, pale yellow. Bill and feet dark colored.
The green feathers of the tail running into blue at their ends, and
nearly black on their under surface.
Sexes similar.
Habitat. Mexico and Texas—Specimens in the Museum of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.
Observations. The present species we regard as deviating in some degree
from the characters of the typical species of this genus, as is the case
with other species to which it is nearly related. We do not at present,
however, consider them as presenting peculiar characters sufficient to
constitute a distinct genus, though that excellent ornithologist, the
Prince of Canino, has given to this group the generic name of
_Xanthoura_, which embraces the species now before us, _C. yucas_
(Boddaert) and _X. quatimalensis_. Bonap. (Consp. Av. p. 380.)
[Illustration: Plate 2
The Californian Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus (_Swains._)]
MELANERPES FORMICIVORUS.—(Swainson.)
The Californian Woodpecker.
PLATE II.—Male and female.
The most richly colored Woodpeckers of North America, at least in our
Opinion, are two of the most abundant species. We allude to the bird now
before us, and to the well-known red-headed Woodpecker, _Melanerpes
erythrocephalus_, (Linn.) in both of which the prevailing colors are a
fine glossy black and a rich crimson.
Were the latter bird less common in the Atlantic States, his claims to
be considered one of our finest plumaged species would perhaps be more
distinctly recognised, and his very showy head of the finest crimson
could not fail to attract admirers. As, however, he has the disadvantage
of an attributed disposition to take liberties entirely forbidden by the
farmer and gardener, and is moreover to be seen in almost every woodland
in the summer season, his gay appearance is by no means duly
appreciated, nor his general character held in high estimation. He is
however not so abundant as formerly, and with the destruction of the
large trees of the forest, which is constantly carried on to make room
for the increasing population in the more densely settled States, the
time may arrive when the sight of the red-headed woodpecker, with his
brilliant plumage, will be an unusual and pleasing circumstance to the
young, and serve to remind the aged of perhaps long-forgotten incidents
and associations of early life when remnants of the forest yet
flourished even in proximity to cities, or varied the aspect of
cultivated districts.
Our present species is one of the most abundant of the birds of
California. It appears to take the place of the red-headed woodpecker in
the countries west of the Rocky Mountains, extending its range from
Oregon into Mexico, and probably to Guatimala and other countries of
Central America. It is not inferior to that species in the beauty of its
colors, is quite as unwary and familiar in its disposition, and when the
population of the great Western States shall have arrived at such a very
desirable stage of progress as to possess a generation of juvenile
sportsmen, our bird will no doubt be quite as great a favorite on
holiday shooting excursions.
Several species of woodpeckers have had ascribed to them the habit of
accumulating stores of provisions in anticipation of the approach of
winter, but we have no knowledge of this being done by any American
species, except that now before us. For it we can claim this degree of
instinctive prudence on undoubted evidence, and shall have the pleasure,
in the present article, of laying before our readers an account of it,
which is not only a remarkable illustration of instinct, but shows a
singular method of mechanical preparation and management.
Our valued friends, Mr. John G. Bell of New York, and Dr. A. L. Heermann
of Philadelphia, both of whom have made extended visits to California
for the purpose of investigating its Natural History, found this
woodpecker very abundant in all the parts of that country which either
of them visited.
The former gentleman has had the kindness to inform us, that he
considers it by far the most extensively diffused and common woodpecker
of that country. He represents it as somewhat disposed to gregariousness
in its habits, and has frequently seen individuals on the same tree so
numerous and so close together, that several might have been killed at a
single discharge. According to Mr. Bell, its note very considerably
resembles that of the red-headed woodpecker, which it much resembles
also in flight and other general characters. He observed it only on
trees, particularly on the pines; and upon examination found the
contents of the stomachs of all the specimens which were procured by
him, to be composed principally of ants, of which several of the species
of California habitually frequent trees. The large collection of birds
brought home by Mr. Bell contained numerous specimens of this species.
The account given by Dr. Heermann of this bird is of a highly
interesting character, and he has identified, for the first time, the
species of woodpecker of which previously nothing could be accurately
made out from the statements of travellers respecting a bird which
possessed the provident and curious instinct of storing away a supply of
food for the winter in holes made for that purpose in the bark of trees.
His remarks are in his “Notes on the Birds of California observed during
a residence of three years in that country,” published in the Journal of
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. II. p. 270.
(Quarto 1853,) from which we transcribe the following:
“This is the noisiest and most abundant of the woodpeckers of
California. Perched on the topmost branch of a tree, it darts suddenly
into the air in pursuit of an insect, and having secured its object,
soon again returns to the same place, only to repeat this manœuvre in a
few moments.
“In the fall season this species is busily engaged in digging small
holes in the bark of the pines and oaks, to receive acorns, one of which
is placed in each hole, and is so tightly fitted or driven in, that it
is with difficulty extracted. Thus the bark of a large pine, forty or
fifty feet high, will present the appearance of being closely studded
with brass nails, the heads only being visible. These acorns are thus
stored in large quantities, and serve not only the woodpecker during the
winter season, but are trespassed on by the jays, mice and squirrels.
“The nest of this bird is dug out in the body of a tree, and is from six
inches to two feet in depth. The eggs, four or five in number, are pure
white.”
The following graphic and intelligent account, to the same purpose, is
from Kelly’s Excursion to California, and is evidently from the pen of
an excellent observer and an agreeable writer:
“In stripping off the bark of this tree, I observed it to be perforated
with holes, larger than those which a musket ball would make, shaped
with the most accurate precision as if bored under the guidance of a
rule and compass, and many of them filled most neatly with acorns.
Earlier in the season I had remarked such holes in most of all the
softer timber, but imagining that they were caused by wood insects, I
did not stop to examine or inquire, but now finding them studded with
acorns, firmly fixed in, which I knew could not have been driven there
by the wind, I sought for an explanation, which was practically given me
by Captain S——’s pointing out a flock of woodpeckers, busily and noisily
employed in the provident task of securing the winter’s provision. For
it appears that this sagacious bird is not all the time thriftlessly
engaged in ‘tapping the hollow beach tree’ for the mere idle purpose of
empty sound, but spends its summer season in picking these holes, in
which it lays its store of food for the winter, where the elements can
neither affect nor place it beyond their reach, and it is regarded as a
sure omen that the snowy period is approaching when these birds commence
stowing away their acorns, which otherwise might be covered by its fall.
I frequently have paused from my chopping, to watch them in the
neighborhood, with the acorns in their bills, half clawing, half flying
around the tree, and have admired the adroitness with which they tried
it at different holes until they found one of its exact calibre; when,
inserting the pointed end, they tapped it home most artistically with
the beak, and flew down for another.
“But the natural instinct of this bird is even more remarkable in the
choice of the nuts, which are invariably found to be sound, whereas it
is an utter impossibility in selecting them for roasting, to pick up a
batch that will not have a large portion of them unfit for use, the most
smooth and polished frequently containing a large grub generated within.
Even the wily Digger Indian, with all his craft and experience, is
unable to arrive at any thing like an unerring selection, while in a
large bag full, that we took from the bark of our log, there was not one
containing the slightest germ of decay. These woodpeckers never encroach
on their packed stores until all the nuts on the surface of the ground
are covered with snow, when they resort to those in the bark, and peck
them of their contents without removing the shell from the hole. The
bark of the pine tree, from its great thickness, and the ease of boring,
is mostly sought for by these birds as their granary for the winter
season.”
This extraordinary example of instinct is scarcely surpassed by any
other which has been observed in the animal kingdom, and it is to be
hoped that further accounts will be furnished by observers in the
countries which it inhabits, respecting the bird which is endowed with
such interesting and unusual habits.
This woodpecker is common in Mexico in woods on the table lands, and was
observed by Mr. Pease also in the upper part of the _tierra caliente_.
It was first introduced to notice from Mexican specimens received from
the vicinity of Real del Monte by Mr. Swainson, a distinguished English
naturalist, who first described it in the Philosophical Magazine, 1827,
p. 439 (London.) It was observed in California previous to that country
having become a part of the United States, by Mr. Nuttall, the eminent
botanist and zoologist, who gave it a place in his Manual of the
Ornithology of the United States and of Canada. Vol. I., p. 682 (Boston,
1840.)
Our figures are rather less than one-third of the size of life.