NORTHERN DOWNY WOODPECKER 53 



The ornithologists of a century ago show unanimity in their char- 

 acterization of the bird. Audubon (1842) remarks that it "is per- 

 haps not surpassed by any of its tribe in hardiness, industry, or 

 vivacity"; Wilson (1832) says that "the principal characteristics of 

 this little bird are diligence, familiarity, perseverance" and speaks of 

 a pair of the birds working at their nest "with the most indefati- 

 gable diligence"; and Nuttall (1832) characteristically shares Wilson's 

 opinion even to the extent of employing his exact words, "indefat- 

 igable diligence," in his own account of the building of the nest. 

 Nearly a hundred years later Forbush (1927), when near the end of 

 his long life, put the seal of his approval upon this sentiment, ex- 

 pressed long ago, by summarizing the downy as a "model of patient 

 industry and perseverance." 



Backed by these authorities we may regard the downy woodpecker 

 as a bird with a stable and well-balanced nature, a bird which, un- 

 concerned by the rush and traffic "of these most brisk and giddy-paced 

 times," still perseveres in its "indefatigable diligence." 



Spring and courtship. — As spring advances, the downy woodpecker 

 seems to wake up; it attracts our notice by its more frequent notes 

 and increased activity. During the cold months of the year the bird 

 has been comparatively silent, although even in the depth of winter 

 we may occasionally hear its single chip and even the long whinny, 

 but in April, for so sedate a bird, it becomes a lively personality ; it 

 moves about quickly — sometimes with lightninglike agility — and takes 

 a voluble interest in the members of its own species. 



Francis H. Allen, in his notes, gives the two following graphic 

 accounts of the initial stage of the bird's courtship : "April 10, 1904. 

 West Roxbury, Mass. I found two downy woodpeckers courting — at 

 least, I suppose that was what they were up to. They acted like 

 mating flickers, chasing each other about from tree to tree, keeping 

 almost constantly on the move and only pausing now and then to ex- 

 ecute a sort of dance, spreading their wings and tails. From time to 

 time I heard from them a long call resembling the flicker's which^ 

 lohich which which, etc., but higher pitched than the flicker's and, of 

 course, not so loud. Less often I heard another note — a softer, 

 slighter, more hurried call, similar in quality. I did not make out 

 whether, these two calls were made by different sexes, nor did I posi- 

 tively make out that the birds were a pair, they kept in such con- 

 stant motion. At least once one lit crosswise of a twig. At last one 

 flew off, and then the familiar and characteristic long call of a downy 

 sounded from another direction, and the remaining bird flew over 

 to the third bird, which was clinging to the trunk of an elm. Then 

 these two stayed in each other's company but did not conduct so 

 elaborate a dance as the first couple. 



