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PICUS AURATUS— LINN. 



GOLDEN- WINGED WOODPECKER. 



polden-winged Woodpecker, Picus auratus, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Picus auratus, Bonap. Syn. 



Oolaptes auratus. Golden-shafted Woodpecker, Sw. & Rich. 

 Flicker or Golden-winged Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. 

 Golden-winged Woodpecker, Picus auratus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — A broad black band on the fore neck ; lower- 

 parts distinctly marked with round black spots ; under surface of 

 wings and tail golden yellow. Adult with the upper part of head 

 and hind neck ash-gray ; a band of carmine on the latter ; a black 

 patch on the sides of the throat ; cheeks, throat, sides and fore neck 

 pale purplish-red ; back, scapulars, and secondaries light greenish- 

 brown, barred Avith black ; rump white ; tail coverts whitish, mark- 

 ed with black ; primaries and tail feathers blackish-brown ; their 

 shafts, as well as those of the secondaries and tail coverts yellow ; 

 those of the tail feathers black toward the end ; a large patch of 

 black on the fore part of the breast ; lower parts reddish-white, 

 tinged with yellow, deeper on the abdomen, and handsomely mark- 

 ed with round spots of black ; lower surface of the wings and tail 

 feathers yellow, the latter deeper and black toward the ends. Fe- 

 male with the black markings wanting on the sides of the throat. 

 Length twelve inches and a half, wing six and one-eighth. 



This handsome bird is well known by a variety of names, such 

 as " Fligh-hold," " Wake-up," and " Flicker ;" by some it is 

 called " English Woodpecker." It is very generally distributed 

 over the United States, and with us it is only partially migratory. — 

 A few remain during the winter. During spring it subsists on in- 

 sects, which it collects on the ground, and with its strong bill pene- 

 trates the decayed branches of trees in search of a further supply of 

 food. During the summer, when small fruits ripen, such as cher- 

 ries and berries, it prefers this rich and nourishing fare, and makes 

 an enemy of the farmer by visiting the corn-fields, and regaling on 



