142 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



rather high, usually from 30 to 60 feet, and is sometimes excavated in 



living trees. The opening is perfectly circular, about 2 inches in diameter, 



leading backward 2 or 3 inches through the solid wood, then downward 



for 8 to 16 inches, where the cavity is enlarged and a few chips left on the 



bottom as a bed for the eggs. These vary from 3 to 5 in number, usually 4, 



pure white, and average .95 by .73 inches. In this State fresh sets have been 



taken from April 25 to May 30. Like all our woodpeckers, this species 



rears only one brood in a season, but if the first set of eggs is destroyed she 



will lay again. 



Dryobates villosus leucomelas (Boddaert) 



Northern Hairy Woodpecker 



Larger and lighter colored than villosus. 



Length 10.3-11; wing 5-5.4; tail 3.8; bill 1.3.-1.5. 



This subspecies breeds in the Boreal Zone; in winter entering the northern border 

 of the United States. Many specimens of Hairy woodpecker taken in Northern New 

 York, especially winter birds, are on the border line between this form and typical 

 villosus, some being well within the limits of leucomelas. 



Dryobates pubescens medianus (Swainson) 

 Downy Woodpecker 



Plate 59 



Picus ( D e n d r o co pu s) medianus Swainson. Fauna Bor. Am. 1S31 (1832). 



2:308 

 Picus pubescens DeKay. Zool. of N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 187, fig. 35 

 Dryobates pubescens medianus A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. 



p. 187. No. 394c 



pubescens, Lat., downy, pubescent; medianus, middle 



Description. Our smallest woodpecker. Color black and white; white 

 stripes on side of the head and a median white band down the back; wings 

 and wing coverts spotted with white; crown of the head plain black; outer 

 tail feathers white slightly spotted or barred with black; under parts plain 

 dull white; male has scarlet occipital patch. 



Length 6.5-7 inches; extent 1 2-1 2.4; wing 3.5-4; tail 2.2-2.9; bill 

 .7-. 8; weight 1.5 ounces. 



Distribution. This species is generally distributed in New York State, 

 being a permanent resident in all counties, our commonest woodpecker, 



