LEWIS'S WOODPECKER 233 



its mastery of the air in flight. It also indulges in some rather re- 

 markable aerial evolutions, which one would hardly expect from a 

 member of the woodpecker family. On this subject, Robert Ridg- 

 way (1877) writes: 



In its general habits and manners this beautiful species resembles quite 

 closely the eastern Red-headed Woodpecker {M. erythroccphalus), being quite 

 as lively and of an equally playful disposition. Some of its actions, howeYcr, are 

 very curious, the most remarkable of them being a certain elevated flight, 

 performed in a peculiar floating manner, its progress apparently laborious, as 

 if struggling against the wind, or uncertain, like a bird which had lost its 

 course and become confused. At such a time it presents the appearance of a 

 Crow high in the air, while the manner of its flight is strikingly similar to 

 that of Clarke's Nutcracker (Pkicorvus coliimbianus) . * * * After per- 

 forming these evolutions to its satisfaction, it descends in gradually contracting 

 circles, often to the tree from which it started, 



Herbert Brown (1902) evidently saw a similar flight, of which he 

 says : "In flight they have little or none of that laborious midulating 

 movement so common to its kind, but in action and flight they seem 

 possessed of peculiarities supposed to belong to birds of a totally 

 different family. Today not less than fifty of them were circling 

 through the air, at an elevation of about 500 feet, with all the ease 

 and grace of the Falconidae. Not a stroke of the wing was ap- 

 parent. * * * Those high in the air were sailing in great circles. 

 They kept it up indefinitely and had the appearance of being so 

 many miniature crows. When sailing they appear to open their 

 wings to the fullest extent possible." 



Mr. Neil" (1928) states that "these birds love the hottest sunshine, 

 and are commonly found perched in the tiptop of some tall partly- 

 dead tree, whence they can scan the air for insect food. They rarely 

 sit vertically upright on a branch as do most other woodpeckers, but 

 perch cross-wise with ease. They seldom climb up the trunk or 

 branches, although perfectly capable of doing so, and are rarely 

 heard tapping." They perch occasionally on wires, an uncommon 

 habit with other woodpeckers. 



Major Bendire (1895) observes: "On its breeding grounds Lewis's 

 woodpecker appears to be a stupid and rather sluggish bird ; it does 

 not show nearly as much parental affection as most of the other 

 members of this family, and is much less demonstrative. It is not 

 at all shy at such times, and will often cling to some convenient limb 

 on the same tree while its eggs are being taken, without making the 

 least complaint." 



Voice. — Bendire (1895) says: "It is by far the most silent wood- 

 pecker I have met, and, aside from a low twittering, it rarely utters a 

 loud note. Even when suddenly alarmed, and when it seeks safety 

 in flight, the shrill 'huit, huit' given on sucli occasions by nearly all 

 of our woodpeckers is seldom uttered by it. Only when moving about 



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