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PICUS ERYTHROCEPHALUS— LINN. 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



Red-headed Woodpecker, Picus erythrocephalus, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Picus erythrocephalus, Boiiap. Syn. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker, Sw. & Rich. 

 Red-headed Woodpecker, Picus erythrocephalus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Adult, head, neck, all round, and fore part 

 of breast, crimson ; secondaries white, at base black, of which co- 

 lor are the spots and the tail feathers. Young- with the head and 

 neck blackish-gray. Adult with the head and neck all round 

 bright crimson, edged with black on the lower neck ; back, scapu- 

 lars, wing coverts, primaries, outer secondaries, and tail feathers, 

 glossy bluish-black ; rump and lower parts, with a large patch 

 on the wings formed by the inner secondaries, pure white. — 

 Length of male nine inches, wing five and three-eighths. Female 

 smaller. 



The Red-headed Woodpecker is rendered conspicuous by its 

 bright, varied, and distinct colors. With us, it is not as abundant 

 as it was a few years since ; formerly it was one of our most com- 

 mon Woodpeckers, but now it seems less plentiful. In the north- 

 ern part of the State of New York this species is more abundant — 

 and I found it quite common in the vicinity of Utica. 



The Red-headed Woodpecker arrives among us early in the 

 month of April, and during the spring, its favorite resort is among 

 the heavy timber. At this season it subsists chiefly on insects. In 

 the summer it frequents the fruit-trees, ripe cherries and pears 

 seeming to be a favorite repast. In the fall it feeds on berries and 

 acorns, the latter at this season forming a large portion of its food. 

 Late in autumn it migrates southward, though in sheltered situa- 

 tions I have occasionally observed it during winter. 



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