RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



409. Centurus carolinus. 9^ inches. 



Male with whole top of head and back of neck red; 

 female with forehead and hind head red but crown gray. 

 Both sexes have the center of the belly reddish, and have 

 red eyes. 



Like the Red-heads, these birds are noisy, but they 

 have few of the bad qualities of the others. Besides the 

 regular Woodpecker fare, they get a great many ants and 

 beetles from the ground and fruit and acorns from the 

 trees. They are said to also be fond of orange juice. In 

 most of their range they are regarded as rather shy and 

 retiring birds. 



Note. — A sharp, resonant "clia," "cha," "cha," re- 

 peated. 



Nest. — In holes bored usually in live trees and at any 

 height from the ground. Their five or six eggs are glossy 

 white ( 1.00 X, 75). 



Range. — United States east of the Plains, breeding 

 from Florida and Texas to southern Pennsylvania and 

 Minnesota. Winters along the Gulf coast; occasionally 

 strays to Massachusetts. 



