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FLICKERS are the largest of our 

 common woodpeckers and are exceed- 

 ed in size only by the rather rare 

 crested species known as the Pileated. 

 The present birds are unusual in that 

 they are so often found on tlie ground 

 in fields and pastures. They like ants 

 and it is while satisfying their crav- 

 ing for these delicacies that we start 

 tliem up so often. They may easily be 

 recognized by the white rump patch 

 which shows so plainly as they go away 

 in their undulatory flight. To enable 

 them to easily secure the food tliey like 

 best, the tips of tneir tongues are 

 sticky enougli so tliat tlie ants will ad- 

 here. Their notes consist of a single 

 sharp piercing wliistle, a rapid and 

 long-continued series of whistles on 

 the same pitcli and anotlier tliat sounds 

 like "wick-up, wick-up." tliis last being 

 the love song and often accompanied 

 by grotesque bowing on the part of the 

 performers. Tliey nest in holes of 

 trees laying ordinarily six or seven 

 pure white glossy eggs. 



are sometimes a-wing, they spend sleeping lengthwise of 

 the branch of a tree, on fence rails, flat stones in pastures 

 or often on gravel roofs of city buildings. They some- 

 times lay their two stone-colored eggs in the latter situ- 

 ations as well as on the ground in sandy or rocky places. 



Woodpeckers are climbers ; their toes are arranged two 

 in front and two behind so as to firmly grip the bark, and 

 their tail feathers are pointed and stiffened to act as props 

 to hold them against the sides of trees. RED-HEADED 

 WOODPECKERS are handsome species abundant in the 

 southern states and of local occurrence in New York and 

 and southern New England. The large areas of solid 

 color make them very conspicuous either when in flight or 

 while perching. The entire head is bright crimson, the 

 rump, under parts and middle of wings white, sharply de- 

 fined against the glossy black back, wings and tail. They 

 frequent orchard and shade trees to some extent, but are 

 most abimdant in old swamps containing many dead trees. 

 The diet of this species is quite varied for a woodpecker 

 and consists of insects, M'hich he gets by boring or some- 

 times catches in the air, various nuts, fruits and berries, and 

 too often eggs and young of other smaller birds. They are 

 quite noisy, especially during spring, making a loud, dis- 

 agreeable whining noise. 



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