Part 16

The Hairy is a large edition of the Downy with white, unmarked outer tail-feathers. The male has a red head-band. L. 9-1/2.

Range. Middle and northern states; a permanent resident. The southern Hairy Woodpecker (D. v. auduboni) inhabits the southeastern United States north to southern Virginia. It is smaller than the Hairy and has less white in the plumage. L. 8-1/10.

The Northern Hairy Woodpecker (D. v. leucomelas) is found from the northern United States northward. It is larger and whiter than the Hairy. L. 10.

The Newfoundland Hairy Woodpecker (D. v. terrænovæ) is larger and darker than the Hairy; it inhabits Newfoundland.

Washington, rare P.R. Ossining, rare P.R. Cambridge, uncommon W.V., one summer record. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, fairly common P.R.

The Hairy is not so common as his small cousin the Downy, and does not so readily make friends. He prefers the woods to our orchards and is for these reasons less often seen at our feeding-stands. The Hairy's notes are noticeably louder than the Downy's. The nest-hole is usually in a dead tree. The 2-4 white eggs are laid the last half of April.

DOWNY WOODPECKER

Dryobates pubescens medianus. Case 2, Figs. 26, 27

The Downy differs from the Hairy Woodpecker in color by having the outer tail-feathers with black bars, but it is the bird's obviously smaller size that will serve to distinguish it. L. 6-3/4.

Range. From Virginia northward into Canada. A Permanent Resident. The Southern Downy Woodpecker (D. p. pubescens, Case 3, Fig. 25) is smaller, darker below and with the white markings smaller. L. 6. It inhabits the south Atlantic and Gulf States north to North Carolina.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, common P.R. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

Our commonest Woodpecker; an alert, active little driller for insects and their eggs and larvæ, and frequent visitor to our lunch-counters, particularly if we supply them with suet. His sharp peek, peek, running at times into a diminishing string of peeks, and his rolling tatoo, as he pounds a limb with amazing rapidity, are prominent parts of every-day bird language, the tatoo being a 'song' of the breeding season.

Four to six white eggs are laid in a hole, usually in a dead tree, the first week in May. The Southern Downy nests in April.

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

Dryobates borealis

Between the Downy and Hairy in size (L. 8-1/2) with a general resemblance to both, but the male with a small tuft of red feathers on each side of the back of the head.

Range. Southeastern States north to North Carolina.

An inhabitant of the pine woods, who utters a coarse yank-yank note and may at times be seen feeding from the terminal tufts of pine 'needles' in the higher branches. The nest is usually in a living pine; the 2-5 white eggs are laid in April.

ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

Picoides arcticus

Two toes in front and one behind, a solid black back and an orange-yellow crown in the male distinguish this from all our other Woodpeckers. Size of the Hairy, L. 9-1/2.

Range. Canada, and northern parts of our border states, rarely south in winter, as far as Nebraska and Ohio.

Cambridge, one record. N. Ohio, rare W.V. SE. Minn., rare.

An inhabitant of the spruce and balsam forests of our northern states, occasionally straggling southward in winter. Nests in May.

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

Picoides americanus americanus

Two toes in front and one behind, an orange-yellow crest in the male, and a black back closely and evenly barred with white distinguish this bird; it is somewhat smaller than the preceding, L. 8-3/4.

Range. Canada, south to the northern parts of our boundary states; unknown south of Massachusetts.