NORTHERN FLICKER 265 



ern-bred birds that have wintered in tlie Southern States. These 

 birds gather in flocks during the late winter, and the northward move- 

 ment starts with the first mild weather, the migration being largely 

 performed during the night. Mr. Burns (1900) says that at Berwyn, 

 Pa., the forerunners, consisting of solitary old males, appear "as early 

 as Feb. 2 or as late as April 6, according to the promises of the season, 

 correlating in a measure with the date at which the first frog is heard 

 peeping. * * * 



"It becomes common soon after the liardy willow has unfolded its 

 leaves, and about the time the fragrant spicewood blossoms, when the 

 ants, spiders and beetles become active once more, and just in the 

 height of the arbutus season. The northward movement is far from 

 being steady or regular, being largely governed by weather condi- 

 tions; Mr. Burns calculates from his mass of data that the average 

 distance traveled daily is about 12 miles, ''varying according to season 

 and weather conditions from 7 to 48 miles per night. It is absolutely 

 certain that it does not move steadily night after night, but only as 

 the weather permits or necessitates and its physical condition allows." 



Flickers often migrate in companies of considerable size, in loose, 

 scattered flocks, noisy and active, flying from tree to tree and calling 

 excitedly. Their arrival is announced by the loud challenge-call, given 

 from the top of some tall tree, luicker^ luicker^ laicker^ or wake-up^ 

 wake-up^ vmhe-up^ as the male challenges his rivals or invites his pro- 

 spective mate to join him in courtship. This, one of the most welcome 

 sounds of early spring, is indeed a call to "wake up," for all nature 

 is awakening, buds are swelling on the trees, verdure is appearing in 

 the woods and fields, the early flowers are beginning to blossom, the 

 hylas are peei^ing in the warming pools, insects are becoming active, 

 and the songs of the early birds announce that spring is here. An- 

 other spring sound soon strikes our ears, a loud, far-reaching, vibrant 

 sound, the long, almost continuous roll of the flicker's drumming, 

 another challenge-call, a preliminary of the courtship performance; 

 at frequent intervals, often repeated over a long period in early morn- 

 ing, he beats his loud tattoo on some hollow, resonant limb. 



Courtship. — The courtship of the flicker is a lively and spectacular 

 performance, noisy, full of action, and often ludicrous, as three or more 

 birds of both sexes indulge in their comical dancing, nodding, bowing, 

 and swaying motions, or chase eacli other around the trunk or through 

 the branches of a tree. From the time of Audubon to the present day, 

 many observers have noted and described the curious antics of this 

 star performer. But I prefer to quote first from some extensive notes 

 recently contributed by Francis H. Allen, as follows : "The courtship of 

 the flicker is an elaborate and somewhat puzzling performance. Two 

 birds face each other on the branch of a tree or cling side by side, 

 though at a little distance apart, on the trunk, and spread their tails 



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