PILEATED WOODPECKER. 



405. Phloeoiomus pileatus. 17 inches. 



Male with a scarlet crown and crest, and a red 

 moustache or mark extending back from the bill ; female 

 with scarlet crest but a blackish forehead and no mous- 

 tache. 



Next to the Ivory-bills, these are the largest of our 

 Woodpeckers. Like that species it is very destructive 

 to trees in its search for food. While engaged in this 

 pursuit, they often drill large holes several inches into 

 sound wood to reach the object of their search. Like 

 all the Woodpeckers, they delight in playing tattoos 

 on dry, resonant limbs with their bills. 



Note. — A whistled "cuk," "cuk," "cuk," slowly re- 

 peated many times, also a "wick-up" repeated several 

 times. 



Nest. — In large cavities in trees, in which they lay 

 four to six white eggs (1.30x1.00). 



Range. — Southern United States. The Northern 

 Pileated Woodpecker (abieticola) is locally found in 

 temperate N. A, 



