SONGLESS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 249 



Chickadee, or even the Tree Swallow ; those of the Hairy 

 Woodpecker may be used by Bluebirds, Martins, or Swal- 

 lows ; those of the Flicker by the Screech Owl and the Wood 

 Duck. The excavations made by Woodpeckers in securing 

 insects are often used by the Chickadee or the Wren. 



Notwithstanding their usefulness, however, the Wood- 

 peckers have been subject to the most senseless and unjust 

 persecution for many years, merely because a single species, 

 which rarely breeds in Massachusetts, feeds largely on the 

 sap and cambium la} er of both fruit trees and forest trees. 

 This species (the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) has not the 

 strong, barbed tongue of the typical Woodpeckers. 



Eight species of Woodpecker occur in Massachusetts, but 

 only two, the Downy Woodpecker arid the Flicker, are com- 

 mon residents throughout the State. The Hairy Wood- 

 pecker is also common, though less so than the others, and 

 more local. All other species are usually rare migrants, 

 except the Sapsucker, which is seen regularly in spring and 

 fall, and the Pileated Woodpecker, which is local. 



It is a popular error to speak of all Woodpeckers as either 

 Sapsuckers or Red-headed Woodpeckers. The males of all 

 our Woodpeckers have red on the back of the head or nape ; 

 but the Red-headed Woodpecker has the head, throat, and 

 neck red all round. Although once common locally in Mas- 

 sachusetts, it is now rare ordinarily, and seldom breeds in 

 the State. The birds now generally known in Massachu- 

 setts as " Red-headed Woodpeckers " are the species herein- 

 after described under their proper names. 



Downy Woodpecker. 



Dryobates jmbescens medianns. 



Length. — About six and one-half inches. 



Adult Male. — Upper parts black, strii^ed, and barred with white ; a small scarlet 



patch at the back of the head. 

 Adult Female. — Similar, but without the scarlet on head. 

 Young. — The scarlet patch m the male gives place to reddish-brown. 

 Nest. — In a hole made by the birds in a dead stump or limb. 

 Eggs. — White. 

 Season. — Resident. 



This sprightly little bird, the smallest of the Woodpeckers, 

 is also the most useful. It is found commonlj^ throughout 



