WOODPECKERS 



1 6 = 



lie is in reality the Yellow-shafted Wood- 

 ])ccker or GoIdcMi-\\in.<;ed \\'t)od])ecUer because 

 of the bright yellow undersides of the wings and 

 shafts of the wing feathers. In the northern 

 part of its range the Flicker averages a trifle 

 larger in size, and he is there known as the 

 Northern Flicker iColaptcs anralus liitnis). 

 W'est of the Mississippi the yellow bcconics red 

 and we lind there the Red-shafted Wocjdpeckcr 

 (Cohif'tcs cafcr collaris). 



The I""licker is a friendly neighbor. His in- 

 terest is so hearty in the life about him. He may 

 be on the limbs of the trees in the characteristic 

 Woodpecker fashion, or he may be on the ground 

 making a dcs]icrate noise in the leaves, or he may 

 be up and down, out and in a pasture in the 

 most erratic fashion. His dis])Osition to make 

 friends with the Robins and Bluebirds and even 

 with the linglish Sparrows has often been noted, 

 and even Swallows and Hawks often meet him 

 on friendlv terms. F. Niclson Nichols. 



Photo by H. L. Ferguson Courtesy of Nat. Asso. Aud. boc. 



A GROUND-BUILT NEST OF A FLICKER 



This resourceful Flicker lived on Fishers Island, New York. 

 No nesting-site, measuring up to Woodpeckers' standards, was 

 available and she therefore hollowed out a place on the ground. 

 The imprint made by her tail as she turned around can be 

 plainly seen 



^ 



Photo by 1'. C. I'lllctl CuurU-sy o£ Nat. Asso. Aud. Soc. 



YOUNG FLICKERS 



Four of a family of seven raised in this box 



From the jjoint of view of the food analyst 

 the farmer and the horticulturist have very little 

 quarrel with the Flicker. It eats only a few 

 ]iredacious ground beetles. The remainder of 

 the animal food is entirely of harmful species. 

 In its vegetable diet, grain and fruit are the 

 only useful products eaten, and the quantities 

 are insignificant. The bird, like many others, 

 has the bad habit of sowing broadcast the seeds 

 of the poison ivy, but there seems no remedy 

 for this. 



