NORTHERN FLICKER 217 



The ordinary call-note of the Flicker is a high-pitched 

 ti-err, often confused by beginners with the teer of the 

 Blue Jay. The Flicker's note is sharper, less prolonged, 

 and has a marked downward inflection ; it is, moreover, 

 usually given but once, or repeated only after a little in- 

 terval, whereas the Jay generally screams two or three 

 times in quick succession. 



When two or more birds come together, the males spread 

 wings and tail, bowing and turning, while both sexes utter 

 a note, like the syllables yuck'-a yuck'-a yuck'-a. At such 

 a time the full beauty of the plumage is displayed, the 

 large black dots on the breast, the red band on the ashy 

 nape, the black collar on the breast, and the black mus- 

 taches of the male. Ordinarily, however, the bird looks 

 merely brown. When uttering the long, loud call, the male 

 often perches across a large twig or small limb, but as a 

 rule he alights on the upright trunk of a tree after the 

 fashion of other Woodpeckers. In spring and summer 

 Flickers spend much 'time on the ground, feeding on ants ; 

 and in autumn they eat greedily of black cherries. 



The eggs are laid in a hole excavated by the birds, gen- 

 erally in a dead limb, with a large circular opening. The 

 same nest is often used over and over. If one raps on the 

 trunk of a tree so occupied in May, the startled female often 

 appears for an instant in the opening and then hurries off. 

 At such a time, when the bird flies directly overhead, the 

 golden under sides of the icing and tail-feathers show ; or- 

 dinarily, the Flicker is readily identified by its size and pecu- 

 liar flight (see Woodpeckers, p. 215) and by the white rumj), 

 which shows as it flies from one group of trees to the next. 



Eed-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus 



9.75 



Ad. — Whole head and upper breast crimson ; upper back, wings, 

 and tail bluish-black ; lower back, wide band across iving, and 



