Part 4

Sub-Species.—Northern Downy Woodpecker (medianus) North America east of the Rockies and north of the Carolinas. This variety is slightly larger than the southern, others are found west of the Rockies.

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER 395. Dryobates borealis. 8¼ inches

Male with a small patch of scarlet on both sides of the head; female without. The actions and habits are very similar to those of the Downy. The birds can readily be identified at a distance by the cross-barring of white on the back. Their notes are harsher than those of the Downy and have more of the nasal quality, like those of the nuthatches.

Range.—Southeastern United States, west to Texas and north to Virginia.

TEXAN WOODPECKER 396. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. 7¼ inches

On account of its numerous cross-bars, this species is often known as the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. They are quite similar to the Nuttall Woodpecker that is found on the Pacific Coast, but differ in having the underparts brownish-white instead of white, and the outer tail feathers heavily barred. They are found from Texas to southeastern California and north to Colorado.

ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 400. Picoides arcticus. 9.5 inches

Back glossy black, without any white. Only three toes, two in front and one behind. This is the most common of the two species found within the United States. They breed from the northern edge of the Union north to the limit of trees.

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 401. Picoides americanus. 8¾ inches

Back barred with white; outer tail feathers barred with black; yellow crown patch on male mixed with white. Except on some of the higher mountain ranges these birds appear in the United States only during winter. They are very hardy and commence nesting before snow leaves.

Note.—A shrill, loud, nasal shriek, sometimes repeated.

Nest.—In holes of trees as is usual with Woodpeckers. The white eggs measure .95 × .70.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 402. Sphyrapicus varius. 8½ inches

Male with a scarlet crown and throat; female with a scarlet crown and white throat; young with the head and neck mottled gray and white, with a few scarlet feathers.

This species has gained some ill-repute because of its supposed habit of boring through the bark of trees in order to get at the sap, and thus killing the trees. However, I very much doubt if they do any appreciable damage in this manner. I have watched a great many of them in the spring and fall and have clearly seen that they were feeding upon insects in the same way as the Downy.

Note.—A loud whining “whee,” and other harsh calls similar to the scream of a Blue Jay.

Nest.—In holes in trees, at heights from the ground varying from eight to fifty feet. Late in May they lay from four to seven white eggs (.85 × .60).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding from Virginia and Missouri to Hudson Bay, and wintering in southern U. S.

PILEATED WOODPECKER 405. Phlœotomus pileatus. 17 inches

Male with a scarlet crown and crest, and a red moustache or mark extending back from the bill; female with scarlet crest but a blackish forehead and no moustache.

Next to the Ivory-bills, these are the largest of our Woodpeckers. Like that species it is very destructive to trees in its search for food. While engaged in this pursuit, they often drill large holes several inches into sound wood to reach the object of their search. Like all the Woodpeckers, they delight in playing tattoos on dry, resonant limbs with their bills.

Note.—A whistled “cuk,” “cuk,” “cuk,” slowly repeated many times, also a “wick-up” repeated several times.

Nest.—In large cavities in trees, in which they lay four to six white eggs (1.30 × 1.00).

Range.—Southern United States. The Northern Pileated Woodpecker (abietocola) is locally found in temperate N. A.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 406. Melanerpes erytrocephalus. 9¾ inches

Adults with entire head and breast red; young with a gray head and back, streaked with darker.

This very handsome species is common and very well known in the Middle and Central States. They are the ruffians of the family, very noisy and quarrelsome. One of their worst traits is the devouring of the eggs and young of other birds. To partially offset this, they also eat insects and grubs and a great deal of fruit.

Note.—A loud, whining “charr,” “charr,” besides numerous other calls and imitations.