80 PICID^ : WOODPECKERS. 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Z.) Sw. 



Chars. Glossy blue-black ; whole head, neck, and forebreast crim- 

 son ; under parts from the breast, rump, and secondaries pure 

 white ; primaries and tail feathers black. Sexes alike : Young, 

 •with the head plain gray, and the white secondaries barred with 

 black. Length, 9.00-9.50; extent, 16.50-17.50; wing, 5.25- 

 5.50 ; tail, 3.50. 



The "red, white and blue" of this brilliant bird 

 makes by far the most artistic display of color-contrast 

 to be seen in the green woods of our country — not 

 even the Scarlet Tanager or the Rose-breasted Gros- 

 beak can compare with such flashing hues. Besides 

 being arrayed in the handsomest of attire, this Wood- 

 pecker is inexhaustible in fertility of inventions for 

 pleasure or profit, and so versatile in the exhibition of 

 resources for those ends as to partake of the character 

 of genius. Its habits are therefore not easy to describe 

 in a few words — its traits cannot be labelled in con- 

 ventional phrase, and filed away with those of other 

 woodpeckers — they require a pigeon-hole of their own, 

 which might be filled with anecdotes illustrating what 

 has been said, did not the limits of our work forbid us 

 that indulgence. 



The appearance of the bird in New England is irreg- 

 ular, like most of its habits. Comparisons of the older 

 with most recent authorities on the subject indicate 

 that the species is now much less numerous than for- 

 merly. This can hardly be owing to the progress of 

 civilization, for the bird is as much at home in the 

 garden and park as in the depths of the woods. The 



