GREEN AND SPOTTED WOODPECKERS 121 



ha-ha- 



Nesting Period. — End of April or early May. 



Site of Nest. — Same as last species. 



Materials Used. — Same as last species. 



Eggs. — Four to Seven. Glossy white; 1.3 by .92 inch. 



Food. — Acorns, fruit, nuts, seed, insects, their larvae and 



pupae. 

 Voice. — Characteristic notes, a laughter - like 



ha-ha." 

 Chief Features. — One of the most handsome 



British birds. Fond of visiting ant-hills, 



but, with this 



exception, 



rarely seen 



on ground. 



Laughter - like 



notes a feature 



of woodland 



sounds. When 



uttered, notes 



are said to 



foretell rain. 

 Plumage. — Olive- 

 green above ; 



yellow rump ; 



greenish - grey 



underneath; 



Fig. 49. Head and Tongue of Green Woodpecker. 



crimson crown, back of head, and moustaches; black face. 

 Female has less crimson on head, and has black moustaches. 

 Length. — Thirteen inches. 



WOODPECKER, LESSER SPOTTED (Dendrocopus minor) 

 Local Names. — Barred Woodpecker, Crank Bird, French Magpie, 



Hickwall, Least Spotted Woodpecker, Little Black and White 



Woodpecker, Little French Woodpecker, Pump-Borer, Wall 



Hick. 

 Haunt. — Woods, groves, and parks. 

 Nesting Period. — End of May or early June. 

 Site of Nest. — Same as other species. 

 Materials Used. — Small chips of wood. 

 Eggs. — Four or Five. White; .76 by .58 inch. 

 Food. — Usual Woodpecker diet. 

 Voice. — A loud " chee-chee-chee-chee-chee," like that of Wryneck, 



but less shrill. Call, " kink-kink." 

 Chief Features. — A common inhabitant of woods. Very vociferous 



