24 Hess, Breeding Birds of Central Illinois. [f^n 



sometimes nesting up the dry runs. Earliest nesting, 5 eggs, May 6, 1897; 

 latest, 7 eggs. May 31, 1908. 



22. Dryobates villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. — Common resident of 

 the woods but visits the village during the winter months. Villosus is our 

 earliest nesting woodpecker and sits so closely on the eggs that rapping 

 the tree will seldom flush the owner. After the young appear, however, 

 the female is vigilant and it is difficult to surprise her on the nest. This 

 habit makes the occupied nests difficult to locate until the brood is hatched. 

 My earliest nesting record is 4 eggs, April 24, 1900. The female had to be 

 lifted from her eggs. Latest record, 3 eggs. May 9, 1901. 



23. Dryobates pubescens medianus. Downy Woodpecker. — Com- 

 mon resident. Nests early in May and nesting cavities range from 3 to 60 

 feet from the ground. Most abundant in creek bottoms where the dead 

 willows afford them easy excavating. Earliest nesting, 5 eggs. May 6, 

 1900; latest, 3 eggs, May 20, 1909. 



24. Centurus carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker. — Rather rare 

 summer resident. Inhabits only the wilder timber bottoms. Although 

 an extremely shy bird, I record from one to four pairs each season. My 

 only set is of four eggs taken May 27, 1900. On May 20, 1908, I flushed 

 one from her nest with one egg in a dead stump of Lynn Grove. Am not 

 positive whether or not this woodpecker leaves during the winter months. 



25. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. — Com- 

 mon suinmer resident. Not nearly so nvimerous as in former years. The 

 Redhead seems to be decreasing at about the same rate that the Flicker 

 is increasing. Arrives April 5 to 10, but nests nearly a luonth later than 

 the Flicker. Earliest nesting, 4 eggs, May 20, 1897; latest, 5 eggs. May 27, 

 1907. 



26. Colaptes auratus. Flicker. — An abundant and yearly increasing 

 bird, a few remaining during the winter months. Begins nesting early in 

 May and deposits seven to ten eggs. Earliest nesting, 8 eggs. May 2, 

 1898; latest, 9 eggs. May 17, 1901. 



27. Antrostomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. — Common summer 

 resident. Arrives April 25 to May 1. Found only in the upland woods 

 after their arrival from the south. Here they stay but a few days, leaving 

 for the low daiup woods for nesting. I have succeeded in finding but one 

 set of eggs. This was a set of two taken May 16, 1901. A great deal has 

 been written about tliis bird's night notes and the number of times they are 

 repeated. At midnight on a moon-light night in May, 1905, I counted 

 175 repetitions of "whip-poor-will" before a pause was taken. 



28. Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. — Abundant summer resident. 

 Arrives April 19 to 28. All leave at once for the south August 27 to Sep- 

 tember 5. The bulk now nest in chimneys although a number still stick 

 to the primitive sites in the old hollow stumps in the forest. Earliest 

 nesting, 5 eggs, June 5, 1902; latest, 4 eggs, June 22, 1907. 



29. Archilochus colubris. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Common 

 summer resident. Arrival is very regular, as following dates will show: 



