248 BULLETIN 174, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of Woodpeclvers, I found to be excavations made by the birds in 

 search of a large species of borer that works in the dry wood." 



Roy W. Quillin writes to me that "this species has an odd habit of 

 placing shelled mesqnite beans in the nesting holes. I have not yet 

 found any reason for this which seemed plausible." 



Behavior. — In general habits and behavior, the golden-fronted 

 woodpecker is much like the red-bellied woodpecker, to which it is 

 closely related; and it reminded me also of our more familiar red- 

 headed woodpecker. It is a lively, active, noisy bird, being much 

 in evidence wherever it is found. It loves to perch for many minutes 

 in the dead top of some tall tree or on some telegraph or telephone 

 pole, where it can obtain a good outlook. Mr. Burrows (Bendire, 

 1895) says: "During the fall and winter they may be found traveling 

 about from place to place in pairs, and are easily located by the call 

 note, which somewhat resembles that of the red-bellied woodpecker, 

 the habits of the two birds being in many respects quite similar. In 

 the spring, when nesting, they become very noisy, and when ap- 

 proached, utter their alarm note with great vigor. I have never 

 known this species to drum on a dead limb, as most of the other 

 woodpeckers do. When searching for food they may be seen very 

 diligently at work near the base of old trees, among the thick bushes, 

 or even on the ground." 



Voice. — Mr. Simmons (1925) says that this bird is "extremely 

 noisy," and describes its notes as "a harsh, rapid, scolding chuh- 

 chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh-chuh ; a metallic whah-iohah; a loud, 

 long-drawn sh-h-h-h-ah-er-r-r-r or tcher-r-r-r^ tcher-r-r-r; a short 

 chech, check-check. Both this species and the red-bellied woodpecker 

 have the same chow, chow., chow., choio call; however, there is a 

 striking difference in the tone; the call of the Red-bellied Wood- 

 pecker may be imitated by completely filling the mouth with air and 

 keeping the lips pushed well forward, while that of the golden- 

 fronted woodpecker — choogh-choogh — is best given by pulling the 

 lips back tightly, tautening the vocal cords, and making a hoarse, 

 croupy noise in the throat, since the bird at times sounds as if it had a 

 bad cold." 



Mr. Hasbrouck (1889) writes: "Their note is peculiar, combining 

 the 'chirp, chirp' of carolinus with a certain shrillness and accent 

 of their own, while the call note, either flying or at rest, is similar 

 to that of M. erythrocephalus and at the same time not unlike that 

 of Colaptes auratus. While their notes once learned are readily 

 recognized, still it takes not a little practice to distinguish between 

 a red-head in one tree and the gold-front in the next, or between a 

 gold-front and a flicker when both are on the opposite side of a ravine 

 and hidden from view; and I have more than once shot carolinus 

 even when morally certain it was what I wanted." 



