Land Birds of Sac County^ Iowa 119 



Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus aviericanus) . 



This species is the common cuckoo of Sac county, according 

 to my observations, and I have looked at the bill of every cuckoo 

 I got close enough to. A pair or more are found in nearly every 

 grove. My* first seen dates in spring range from May 14 to June 3. 

 I have seldom heard its loud " kelp, kelp," until the first week In 

 June, which makes it appear probable that it is quiet for some 

 days after arrival. I have at several different times seen one with 

 a dragon fiy in its bill. I have known them to attack and drive 

 away domestic fowls which came near the tree in which their nest 

 was located. 



Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erthrophthahnus) . 



This species is very rare about Wall Lake. I saw one July 

 28, 1913, another July 23, 1914, and my sister saw one in the spring 

 of 1917. Mrs. George May also reported it. 



Belted Kingfisher {Ccryle alcyon alcyon) . 



During the spring migration, I have noted this species at Wall 

 Lake and very rarely in the " Goosepond." I have seen it in sum- 

 mer along the Raccoon river, and in the summer of 1916 I saw one 

 several times along the B|oyer river west of Wall Lake. I think it 

 nests along both rivers. 



Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus villosns). 



The hairy woodpecker is a tolerably common winter visitant 

 about Wall Lake. I have never found a nest or seen it in summer. 



Northern Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens viedianiis) . 



This species is somewhat more common than the hairy wood- 

 pecker in winter and I have seen an occasional one in summer. I 

 have found them in July, apparently breeding, in the woods along 

 the Raccoon river at Sac City. 



Yellow-bellied Sapsucker {Sphyrapicus variiis varius). 



I have found this bird as a rare spring migrant only. I saw 

 one individual May 20, 1909, and another May 23, 1913. Many 

 years ago, one nearly killed some Scotch pine trees in our front 

 yard by drilling holes in the bark. 



Northern Pileated Woodpecker (Phloetovius pileatus abieticola). 



According to Mr. Hugh Cory of Sac City, a very large wood- 

 pecker, which in the vernacular was called " woodcock," was found 

 in the timber along the Raccoon river in early days. Mr. Cory 

 said that the early settlers considered them good eating. This 

 resulted in their early extinction, as Mr. Cory stated that the last 

 one he saw was in 1865. 



