188 



North American Birds Eggs. 



^c. "a' 



WOODPECKERS. Order XV. 

 Family PICID/E. 



PICI. 



I 



Woodpeckers are well known liirds having sharp chisel-Iike bills, sharply 

 pointed and stil^ened tail feathers, and strongly clawed feet with two toes forward 

 and two hack, except in one genus. Their footl is insects and grubs, which they 

 get by boring in trees, and from under the bark, clinging to the sides of trunks 

 or the under side of branches with their strong curved nails, aided bj' the 

 tail, for a prop. They are hirgely resident where found. 



392. Ivory-billed Woodpecker, ('amjxjjhilu.s principalis. 



Range.— Locally distributed, and rare, in Florida, along the Gulf coast and 

 north casually to South Carolina and Arkansas. 



This is the largest of the Woodpeckers found witliin our borders, being 20 

 inches in length. But one other American species exceeds it in size, the Im- 

 perial Woodpecker of Mexico, which reaches a length of nearly two feet: as this 

 species is found within a few miles of our Mexican border, it may yet be classed 

 as a North American biril. The present species has a large, heavy, ivory-white 

 bill. They can readily be identified, at a great distance, from the Pileated 

 Woodpecker by the large amount of white on the secondaries. They used to be 

 not uncommonly seen in many sections of the southeast but are now found very 

 locally and only in the largest and remote woods. They nest in holes in large 

 trees in the most impenetrable swamps: laying three, and probably as many as 

 six pure white glossy eggs measuring 1.45 x 1.00, 



393. Hairy Woodpecker. Drijohates villosu.s. 



Range.— I'nited States east of the Plains and from North Carolina to Canada. 

 The Hairy Woodpecker or its sub-species is found in all 

 parts of North America. The nesting habits and eggs of all 

 the sub-species are not in any way tfifferent from those of 

 the eastern bird, consequently what is said in regard to the 

 eastern form will apply equally to all its varieties. 



Except during the winter months, this species is not as 

 commonly seen about houses or orchards as the Downy 

 Woodpecker. During the summer they retire to the larger 

 woods to nest, laying their eggs in holes in the trunks or 

 limbs of trees at any height from the ground, and generally using the same 

 hole year after year, and often twice or three times during one season, if the first 

 sets are taken. They lay from three to six glossy white eggs: size .it5 x 70. The 

 species can he distinguished from the Downy Woodpeckers by their larger size 

 (0 inches longj, and the white outer tail feathers, which are unspotted. 



, \\ hite.] 



393a. Northern Hairy Woodpecker. Dnjolxitrs rillosus leucomelas. 



Range. — North America, north of the United States. 

 Slightly larger than the preceding. 



393b. Southern Hairy Woodpecker. Bryobatcs rillosus audnbonii 



Range.— Southeastern United States; north to South Carolina. 

 Similar to the Hairy Woodpecker, but smaller. 



