^°J"^"^n Stockard, Woodpeckers and Vultures i7i Mississipfi. 4^3 



NESTING HABITS OF THE WOODPECKERS AND 

 THE VULTURES IN MISSISSIPPI. 



BY CHARLES R. STOCKARD. 



Observations on the nesting and laying of the Woodpeckers 

 (Picidse) and the Vultures (Cathartidse) have shown several very 

 interesting phenomena. The following will be an effort to bring 

 out the rather peculiar and often unexpected actions on the part 

 of these birds without any attempt to go into detail or record the 

 many familiar nesting habits that are well known to all ornitholo- 

 gists. The notes are taken entirely from my data that were made 

 while collecting and observing in the field in the east central and 

 southwest portions of Mississippi. 



Ceophlceus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker. — This bird 

 has become rare in many parts of Mississippi but is still rather 

 common in certain portions. During three seasons seventeen 

 nests were watched in Adams County. In the vicinity where 

 observations were made every small woods had its pair of these 

 large woodpeckers. The individuals of this species seemed to 

 occupy very small feeding areas. Of the seven nests that were 

 found in 1902 five pairs of the birds were located in their respec- 

 tive woods during the previous December and January. When- 

 ever a pair was once seen feeding in a wood during the winter the 

 same pair could always be found very close to that place. At the 

 beginning of the nesting season they would invariably make their 

 burrow in some dead but sound tree near the edge of the brake. 

 From continued observation it appeared certain that whenever a 

 pair were found in a small wood during the winter they were sure 

 to nest there the following spring. 



The burrow is very large and requires in most cases about one 

 month for construction, being commenced in this locality about 

 the latter part of February. But it was found very difficuk to 

 note the exact length of time consumed in burrowing, as the birds 

 try so many parts of the same tree before striking one to suit their 

 taste. The nest tree and other dead trees close at hand were 

 often scarred from top to bottom. In two cases they began a 

 nest, then seemed to start one in another place, and then returned 



