THE BIRD BOOK 



Williamson Sapsucker 

 Northern Pileated Woodpecker 



405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker. 

 Phloeotovius pileatus abieticola. 



Range. — Local throughout North America, 

 from the northern parts of the United States 

 northward. 



This variety is only very slightly larger 

 than the preceding, it otherwise being the 

 same. It is still abundant in many localities, 

 but its range is rapidly being reduced, on ac- 

 count of cutting away the forests. Its nesting 

 habits and eggs are the same as those of the 

 southern variety. 



406. Red-headed Woodpecker. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 



Range. — United States, east of the Rockies, 

 except New England; north to northern Can- 

 ada; winters in southern United States. 



This beautiful species 

 has a bright red head, 

 neck and breast, glossy 

 blue black back, wings 

 and tail, and white under- [■ ) 



parts, rump and second- 

 aries. It is the most abund- 

 ant of the family in the 

 greater portion of its 

 range, where it nests in 

 any kind of trees or in telegraph poles at any 

 height from the ground; they also sometimes 

 nest in holes under the eaves of buildings. They 

 are the most pugnacious of the Woodpeckers, 

 and are often seen chasing one another or driv- 

 ing away some other bird. They are also known 



White 



to destroy the nests and eggs of many species, 

 and also to kill and devour the young, they 

 being the only Woodpecker, so far as known, 

 to have acquired this disreputable habit; they 

 also feed upon, besides ants and larvae, many 

 kinds of fruit and berries. Their nesting sea- 

 son is during May and June, when they lay 

 from four to eight white eggs, with less gloss 

 than those of the Flicker. Size 1.00 x .75. 



407. Ant-eating Woodpecker. 



Melanerpes formicivorus formicivorus. 



Range. — Mexican border of the United States, 

 southward. 



This species may be identified by the black 

 region around the base of the bill, the white 

 forehead, red crown and nape, yellowish throat, 

 and blackish upper parts, extending in a band 

 across the breast, this variety having the band 

 streaked with white posteriorly. The habits of 

 this variety are the same as the next which is 

 most abundant in the United States. 



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Red-headed Woodpecker 



