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WESTERN BELTED KINGFISHER

Other common names: Old English "King's Fisher".

This noisy fisherman may rattle past you in any section of the park, when near stream or lake. In summer he may be seen at Reflection Lake, or Marjorie Lakes or any of our mountain waters; in winter along any of our flowing streams as they pass through the low lands. It is a bit of colored animation that plunges into the dark waters of the beaver pond at Longmire on a winter day with the snow perhaps four feet deep on the level.

The kingfisher is certainly a queer bird, and does not resemble or live like any other of our feathered neighbors. He has a large head and a very large, strong bill. His body is short and small compared to his head, tail short and feet very weak. The latter are more like little hands and are used only for perching. However, there is an explanation for all this; old Dame Nature never makes a mistake. Kingfishers are expert divers - they have to be in order to secure a livlihood - so Nature has shaped them like a plummet to dive straight and hard, and seldom do they miss their prey.

These birds are grayish-blue above and on the head, with a broad white collar, underparts white with a blue belt across the chest. The female, perhaps because she is feminine, wears a reddish sash around her waist! Both birds have a top-knot that is raised or lowered at will.

Kingfishers nest by tunneling into a vertical bank. The high bluffs around Puget Sound afford many ideal nesting locations. Most of the holes I have examined extend in some six feet and always turn at an angle, usually to the right, before reaching the nesting chamber. The chamber itself seems large for the accommodation of the white eggs, but when six or more young birds are kept there until they are fully grown, the reason for the large bedroom is apparent. None of the nests I have examined contained fish bones, but when viewed in the darkened chamber the eggs appear to be surrounded by a fringe of white frost. This fringe consists of tiny fish scales picked from the feathers of the sitting bird. I was usually able to identify an occupied hole by the presence of several flies buzzing about the entrance.

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NORTHWESTERN FLICKER

Other common names: Yellow-hammer; High Holder.

Museum Specimen - Longmire (2700).

Flickers are true woodpeckers in every way, but they have some ways of their own that differ from those of other woodpeckers. For instance, they are at times a ground-feeding bird, collecting their bugs and insects by hopping over the ground instead of clinging to the tree trunk. In the fall they vary their diet by partaking of wild seeds and fruits, which the other woodpeckers seldom do. They have little fear of civilization and become as tame as robins about our houses and lawns.

In numbers, our flicker in the park may be considered common but are not as plentiful as in the low country. Above timberline, where there are a few dead snags, we find a nesting pair. These snags are not altogether attractive; they are hard, dead timber without bark, and therefore the supply of bugs is limited. The ridges around Paradise are nesting localities, and the burned-over country about Nickel Creek probably contains more birds than do other parts of the park. They are seldom seen in the dense timber.

Northwestern flickers differ from the eastern bird in that they have red feathers instead of yellow. This shows prominently when the bird is in flight when the under side of the wings is exposed. Another difference is the bright red mustache on our flicker. On our own females we find this stripe brown. The back coloration is brown, finely barred with black. Flickers are one of our three common birds wearing a black bib, the other two being the meadow lark and the varied thrush.

Flickers nest by making a hole in a tree or snag, using the chips as nesting material. From six to ten shiny white eggs are laid about May 15 in low countries and at least a month later in the high mountains. When the eggs are fresh the yolks show through the white shall, giving a pinkish tint. When an occupied hole is approached a steady humming sound is carried on by the young. Later, when the family is grown and fully feathered, we may see several heads and bills looking out on their new world. The nesting cavity is now crowded and there would not be room for all if they did not cling to the sides of the wall.

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WESTERN PILEATED WOODPECKER

Other common names Log-cock; Cock of the Woods.

Museum Specimen - Eagle Peak (4000).

We sometimes wonder if this great, big crow-like woodpecker is really on the increase, or is it the decrease of our thick timber that seems to give us more chance of seeing them? In the old days of much virgin timber they were seldom seen. Now that they are more in the open they seem to be getting accustomed to civilization and seem less afraid. In the spring, their loud, noisy call is heard - not unlike that of the flicker, but much louder. When undisturbed they will keep pretty much to one wood and will return to nest in the same neighborhood, often using the same nesting hole.

As their numbers go, they are not uncommon in the park and may be seen frequently either in the heavy timber or the dead, burned-off sections - the woodpeckers' paradise. They nest up to timberline. In winter, however, they are close to the boundaries or outside the park. Here one may come across a decayed stump torn to shreds - perhaps one week's work of one bird hunting for grubs.

Pileated woodpeckers show decidedly black in flight. However, the under wing lining is white, as is a long streak down each side of the head and neck. The male has a brilliant scarlet patch on the head (this is much duller on the female) and red molar stripes which are lacking on the female. Their large size (over 15 inches) is almost sure identification, being surpassed only by the ivory-billed woodpecker of the south.

These birds are close sitters and a tap on the tree will not flush them as it will some woodpeckers. The tip of a bill from the inside as the bird looks down to see whom or what is causing trouble, will be the only chance of learning if it is an occupied nest. Four shiny white eggs is the usual number laid, and the size of the entrance hole almost identifies the tenant.

These woodpeckers seem to have a bump of curiosity. Twice I have had a bird follow me down a woodland road for half a mile or more, following from tree to tree but never getting ahead of me. I can think of nothing but curiosity that would make the bird do this.

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LEWIS'S WOODPECKER

Other common names: Black Woodpecker.

Museum Specimens - Sunset Park (5500).

We are rather proud of this bird in Washington. To us he is historic as well as handsome. When the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition returned in 1806 they took back from this region three birds new to science. One of them was the Lewis's woodpecker, the other two being Clark's nutcracker and the Louisiana tanager (now the western tanager).

The Lewis's woodpecker is a handsome bird but its colorings are hard to describe, no two persons using the same description. We might quote from Dawson and Bowles "Birds of Washington" - "Above shining black with a greenish, bronzy luster; "face" including extreme forehead, space about eye, cheeks and chin, rich crimson; a collar around neck continues with breast hoary-ash, this ashy mingled intimately with carmine, or carmine-lake, on remaining underparts, save flanks, thighs and crissom which are black; feathers of nape and underparts black and compact at base but finely dissected on colored portion of tips, each barb lengthened and bristly in character". So there you are; how would you say it.

With us, Lewis's woodpecker takes the place of the red-headed woodpecker of the east. They are about the same size and their feeding habits are very similar. Add to this their belief in large families - from five to nine eggs are laid about the third week in May, The entrance hole is large and seldom round, being more like the capital O in shape.

This bird breeds in the Transition zone at the southern boundary of the park where tall, dead snags still stand high above the new growth. From the tops of these snags the birds can be watched feeding as they launch out after passing insects, then returning to their bases to await the next victim. These actions are identical with those of the red-headed woodpecker operating from the dead oaks in the eastern states. Taylor and Shaw also recorded them on the northwest side of the park.

These woodpeckers seem to fluctuate in numbers in western Washington, seeming to be more numerous some years than others, In parts of the Puyallup Valley they are common, attracted, no doubt, by the berry crop as they do at times indulge in small fruit together with the insect diet that more than compensates for the amount of fruit eaten.

It was my good fortune to witness a heavy migration of the Lewis's woodpecker at Sunset Park on September 1, 1938. The birds were passing through an old burned area at an altitude of 6300 feet. It would be difficult to estimate the numbers seen. They would appear in groups of from six to a dozen, each bird alighting on the tip of a dead tree, remaining for a few seconds. Then, launching out after passing insects, they would continue on over the hill. A minute or so later another group would appear in the same manner, then a wait and another group, this continuing steadily during the two hours I was in the area. They were still passing as I descended homeward.

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NORTHERN RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER

There may be a reverse in the movements of this bird as compared with those of other birds of the park. It is certain that we have more winter records than summer. The bird is seldom seen during the warmer months, but in winter they are not uncommon about the Nisqually Entrance. All the trees selected for their drilling seem to be the Alaska cedar. They are not found in the bare alders or willows along the river beds, nor have we any breeding records in the park. In the lower country they choose the large maple trees in which to nest in summer. The birds are far from common, so there is little complaint from orchardists in this section.

These sapsuckers can readily be distinguished from our other small woodpeckers by their brilliant red heads and breasts, yellowish underparts, black backs, black wings with broad white stripes across and a few white spots near the tip. They are quiet birds and seem always busy attending to the sap operations or lazily hanging to a tree below the sap line in a somewhat dopey condition.

They seem very tame in the park and unafraid of man. One lit on a tree trunk within two feet of my head and just looked down at me for some time, perhaps wondering what kind of mammal I was.

The nesting site is often in a live maple tree. The birds seem to know by tapping the trunk which trees are rotten in the center. They begin by drilling a very small round hole through the live section until they get to the rotten part. The rest is easy. The collecting of a set of eggs is a long, difficult task. One has to cut through several inches of live, tough wood to reach the egg chamber - work that may take several hours. From four to seven white eggs are laid.

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HARRIS'S WOODPECKER

Museum Specimen - Longmire (2700).

We may consider this the most common woodpecker in the park; at least it is the most frequently seen. It is found at all times near the Nisqually Entrance, and we have records at Van Trump Park, Longmire, Mystic Lake, Sunset Park, Lake James, and other locations. They are fond of the deciduous trees as well as of the burned-over sections.

Harris's woodpeckers are the western Washington representatives of the well-known hairy woodpecker of the east, and only here can they be confused with the Gairdner's woodpecker. Their larger size is their chief mark of identification in distinguishing them from the "downy". Under parts are a smoky-gray, back black with white markings downward, and wings spotted with white. The red patch on the nape of the neck of the male bird is lacking on the female.

These birds are early nesters and should have fresh eggs in April. At this time the birds are absolutely silent and give no indication, by their actions, of the nesting sites, so that they are difficult to locate at that time. A fresh hole is made each year and the chips are carried some distance by the working bird before they are dropped. The entrance hole is round and only large enough to admit the bird. Often it is placed just below a broken branch on some dead snag. The site is often near the ground, seldom higher than 35 feet. Usually four white eggs are laid.

But what a difference when the eggs are hatched! The woods resound with the calls of the parent birds. They show little fear of their nesting secrets and fly fearlessly with food to the young. A nest with young was found near the Nisqually Entrance, the hole being about seven feet high in a dead snag. The park naturalist had little difficulty in taking movies of the adult birds as they passed in and out of the hole, at a distance of not over three feet. They showed little concern for the photographer.

These birds can often be located in the forest by their tap-tapping on some dead limb, then a pause, and again more tapping as they search for food beneath the bark.

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MODOC WOODPECKER

In Washington, the Cascade Mountains separate the range of this and the preceding bird - the Harris's woodpecker. Now and again we have a visit and a record of this bird on the west side. In the park, Taylor and Shaw record one at Reflection Lake, and the writer records another as noted in the following paragraph.

I happened to be standing on the bank of the Nisqually River below Longmire one day in October, 1934, when my attention was attracted by a woodpecker's "tap" nearby. At close range, I was delighted to recognize this stranger by the white breast as the Modoc woodpecker. I followed it from tree to tree for almost an hour until it finally crossed a stream, which terminated our visit. It was quite aware of my presence and seemed to enjoy the mutual company as much as I.

The Modoc woodpecker is another "sub" like the Harris's woodpecker, differing from it by having a white breast instead of the smoky-gray color of the latter bird. In habits and nesting, however, they are very similar.

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GAIRDNER'S WOODPECKER

Other common names: Downy Woodpecker.

Museum Specimens - Longmire (2700).

Every suburbanite, and many city folk who can boast of trees in their gardens, knows this familiar small, black and white woodpecker. He has been much photographed, and appears in the Audubon Society's Bulletin as well as in the Sunday papers in winter, picking at its bit of suet. It makes little difference whether he is the "downy" of the east, Nelson's of Alaska, the willow of California, Batchelder's of eastern Washington, or Gairdner's - the bird assigned to our part of the state. They are all friendly little neighbors wherever found.

The chief difference in these sub-species is apparently the number of white spots on the black wings, the number being reduced until the Gairdner's is reached, it having less than the others. The next time you have a bird in hand count the spots. There might be, say, 15 instead of 16, giving you a chance to name another "sub" and receive everlasting (?) glory! However, our bird has the smoky-gray breast to distinguish it from its white-breasted cousins.

Gairdner's woodpeckers are more common at low levels than in the mountainous country. They prefer the willow swamp as a summer residence. Here the dead bough of a willow is soft and ideal for drilling the nesting cavity. They nest later than the Harris's woodpecker and should have fresh eggs by May 5. Four to six white eggs are laid on fresh chips made by the excavation.

In our park they are not common, but are occasionally seen near the boundaries and at Longmire meadows. We also have a winter record on the west side highway below Mount Wow. This bird was trying to glean a meal from the naked boughs of the vine maple and preferred the deciduous trees to the coniferous growth.

Gairdner's woodpeckers are the smallest of our black and white wood peckers. The male has the red patch on the nape of the neck; upper parts are black: with a white patch downward; wings more or less spotted with white; underparts, as stated before, smoky-gray.

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ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

Other common names: Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker.

Museum Specimens - Rushingwater Canyon (4500).

This three-toed woodpecker is extremely rare in Washington - at least we have very few records for the State and only one in the park. It is supposed to be a resident where found, so we have little additional chance during migratory seasons of becoming better acquainted with the bird or its habits.

For mere than 25 years I have hunted the woods and forests of Washington, hoping that some time I would encounter a Harris-like woodpecker with a black back. It was not until October 3, 1937, that this opportunity came while down the watershed of Rushingwater Creek on the west side of the park. I heard the "tap" of a woodpecker close by, but before I could get over toward the sound of the bird, two of them had come to me. They lit directly overhead in a high, dead tree and were busily engaged in bug hunting, climbing over and under the limbs and giving the watcher below an excellent view of the plain, black back. It was a day of days.

Comparison of the two birds in the museum shows the arctic specimen. to be stouter and larger than the Alaskan three-toed, with the bill decidedly stronger.

The Arctic three-toed woodpecker measures from nine to ten inches. The back is a shiny black; underparts white; sides more or less marked and spotted with black. The male has a bright yellow crown. This bird can easily be identified from all but the Alaska three-toed from the fact that it has three toes instead of four, and from the latter by the absence of white markings on the back.

It drills its hole in an old snag at no great distance from the ground and lays four or five white eggs.

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ALASKA THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

Other common names: Ladder-back Woodpecker.

Museum Specimens - Nickel Creek (3300); Golden Lakes (5000).

The Alaska three-toed woodpecker is really a common bird in the park, and is found in the dense timber as well as in the burned-off areas on all sides of the mountain. We have records at Lake James, Yakima Park, Sunset Park, Narada Falls and Nickel Creek. It is, perhaps, most common in the thick timber along the Cowlitz Divide where it undoubtedly winters.

It is Harris-like in size, but the white markings extend across the back in bars, (giving it the name of "ladder-back") not downward in one broad mark. The yellow-crowned head of the male is distinctive as is, of course, the foot with three toes instead of four.

In the thick timber one may observe a single bird feeding quietly on the live tree trunks, but in the fall they become more noticeable in the dead burned tree-trunks where they do more hammering and are more in the open. I have repeatedly seen two birds working on one trunk, one above the other, and always a male and female. This might be a coincidence as we really know so little about our rarer birds.

These woodpeckers breed in the park and we have a record of a pair at Narada Falls (4700') feeding young in the nest early in June. They usually lay four white eggs.

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Descriptions continued...