192 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE CLAPE, OR GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



PlCUS AURATUS. 

 PLATE XV. FIG. 33. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Pirns auratus. Linn^ds, Syst. Nat. p. 174. Pennant, Arot. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 270. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 



1, p. 45, pi. 3, fig. 1. Vieillot, Ois. de PAm. pi. 100. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 



2, p. 44. Audubon, fol. pi. 37. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 561. 



Colaptes id. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 314. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 162. Peabody, Mass. 



Eep. p. 333. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 282, pi. 273. 

 Colaptes auratus. Bonaparte, Gcog. and Comp. List, p. 40. 

 Picus id., Golden-winged Woodpecker. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 181. 



Characteristics. Brown, barred with black : a black crescent on the breast : a red occipi- 

 tal band : shafts of the wings and tail yellow. Female, no black streak 

 on the chin. Young, without the black crescent. Length, 12-13 

 inches. 



Description. Bill compressed, carinate, smooth and curved. First quill very small ; 

 third and fourth longest. Tail-feathers ten, broad and acute, extending 2-1 beyond the tips 

 of the closed wings. 



Color. Head and neck bluish grey : a transverse red band across the back part of the neck. 

 Upper parts brown, spotted with black. A black streak on each side of the cinnamon- 

 colored neck, and a black lunated spot on the breast. Belly white, spotted with black. Under 

 side of the wings salmon-colored ; of the tail, saffron-yellow : the tips black ; in some, bor- 

 dered with dull whitish. Rump white ; tail above black. Female, the black lunate spot on 

 the breast smaller, and the lateral streaks on the throat wanting. 



Length, 12-0-13-0. Alar extent, 17-0-19-0. 



This species, from the extreme beauty of its plumage, has attracted general attention, and 

 received many popular names in different districts. It is called High-hole, YucJcer, Flicker, 

 Wake-up, and Pigeon Woodpecker, and usually Clape in this State. This last I suppose to 

 be some provincial word, introduced by the early English colonists. In Louisiana, Pique- 

 hois jaune. Its food, incubation and habits as in the preceding. It is a southern species, 

 residing in the Southern States during the whole year, and ranging across the whole conti- 

 nent between the parallels of 25° and 63° north latitude. In this State, it often remains until 

 the winter has fairly set in, and a few remain during the year. Although occasionally feed- 

 ing on indian corn, it is, like all its congeners, of great benefit to man. 



