Page:Stebbins, C. A. - A Guide to the Birds of the Pacific Coast.djvu/11

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Gairdner Woodpecker—Size of the English sparrow. Upper parts black, marked with white; forehead white; white patch down back and rump; outer tail feathers white, barred with black; crown with red stripe or crescent.

Harris Woodpecker—Not quite so large as the robin; upper parts black, with scarlet nape; white patch down back; wing black, or possibly lightly marked with white; outer tail feathers plain white; under parts dingy gray.

Willow Woodpecker—Similar to Gairdner woodpecker, but smaller; tertails always more or less spotted with white.

Red-breasted Sapsucker—Not quite so large as the robin; crown, head, nape, throat and breast dull red; back, wings and tail black marked with white; abdomen yellowish.

Nuttall Woodpecker—Smaller than robin; nape red; back barred with black and white; under parts a soiled white; sides spotted with black. The convict stripes on back make the bird easily recognized.

Climbers, Not Woodpeckers.

Slender-billed Nuthatch—About the size of the English sparrow; back of head and nape banded with a wide black stripe; back and shoulders grayish; white bars on wings; outer tail feathers white; breast light gray. He runs up and down the tree trunk regardless of position.

Red-breasted Nuthatch—Smaller than English sparrow. Head and neck black; white stripe passing through and over the eye to the shoulder; upper parts bluish gray; tail, dark with white on tips of outer tail of feathers; below, reddish-brown. Call, a drawn-out nasal "Yna, yna."

California Creeper—Smaller than English sparrow; head and upper parts generally rusty brown, becoming brighter at rump; long curved bill; under parts white. He climbs persistently in a spiral about limbs and branches. The tail feathers are stiffened and pointed to assist his creeping.

Sierra Creeper—Smaller than English sparrow. As its name signifies it is a mountain resident. Similar to California creeper, but colors are darker.

Louisiana Tanager—Smaller than robin; head, nape and throat reddish; wings black with yellowish bar; tail black; rest of body yellow. These birds are numerous during the fruit season.

Northwestern Red-wing—Size of robin; shoulders tipped with scarlet and white; the rest of the body is black.

Bicolored Blackbird—Similar to Northwestern red-wing, but shoulders are tipped with scarlet, scarlet only, thus giving the bird its name—two-colored bird.

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