3 6 4 



Trees, Stars, and Birds 



in orchards. The red-headed woodpeckers have the 

 bad habit of sometimes eating the eggs and young of 

 other birds. Their bright colors and loud calls may 

 excite our admiration, but some of their habits give 

 ground for prizing them less than other kinds of wood- 

 peckers. They drum on telephone poles and roofs, as 

 well as on dead trees. Apparently they enjoy the sound ; 

 or they may be communicating with others of their 

 kind, which can be heard to respond in a similar manner. 

 The California woodpecker. The California wood- 

 pecker belongs to the same genus as the red-headed 

 woodpecker. It is famous for making numerous holes 

 in the bark of spruce and other trees and inserting an 

 acorn in each hole so securely that neither other birds 

 nor squirrels are likely to get it out. Thus a store of 

 food is provided that can be utilized when acorns on the 



ground are buried beneath 

 the snow. 



The flicker. This wood- 

 pecker is often called the 

 yellow-hammer or high-hole, 

 or by one of many other 

 names. It is the largest of 

 the common woodpeckers, 

 and has a white rump which 

 helps an observer to recognize 

 the bird as it flies away. 

 Both sexes have a broad 



Finley&Bohlman 



its tail. 



breast and bright scarlet* on 

 the nape, but the female has 



