574 ZYGODACTYLI. 



YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



(Picus varius, Wilson. 1. p. 147. pi. 9. f. 2. [male]. Bonap. Am. 

 Orn. 1. p. 75. pi. 8. f. 1. 2. [young]. Phil. Museum, No. 2004.) 



Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white, the back spotted with 

 pale yellow ; front, crown, and anterior part of the throat crim- 

 son ; breast and belly, light yellow. — Female, with the throat 

 and hind-head whitish. — Young, without yellow nearly on 

 the back, with a broad white band across the wings ; the belly 

 yellowish. 



This species extends over the whole American conti- 

 nent, from the 53d degree to the tropic, where they are 

 seen in Cayenne. They likewise inhabit the table land 

 of Mexico ; and are believed to frequent the borders of 

 lake Baikal in Asia. In most part of this extensive 

 region, the species dwell and breed. During the sum- 

 mer, it is seldom seen beyond the precincts of the forests 

 in which it selects the most solitary recesses, leaving 

 its favorite haunts only at the approach of winter, and 

 seeking from neccessity or caprice, at this roving season, 

 the boundaries of the orchard. Its habits are but little 

 different from those of the Hairy and Downy Woodpeck- 

 ers with which they are often associated in their foraging 

 excursions. The nest, as usual, is made in the body of 

 some decayed orchard or forest tree, the circular en- 

 trance to which is left only just sufficient for the passage 

 of the parties, the depth of the cavity is about 15 inches, 

 and the eggs 4 or upwards, are likewise white. Their 

 principal food is insects, for which they sometimes bore 

 the trunks of the orchard trees. 



This species is about 8^ inches long, with the alar extent (or stretch 

 of the wings) 15 inches. Sides under the wings, dusky yellow, 

 spotted longitudinally with black. The red of the throat surrounded 

 with black extending over the breast. Tail black, the two central 

 feathers white on their inner vanes and spotted with black. Legs 

 and feet dusky blue, inclining to green. Bill, dusky horn-color, 

 rather long and stout. 



