JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



163 



Family PICID^. Woodpeckers. 



Bill, strong and sharp; toes, four or three, never more than two 

 in front; nostrils, partly concealed by small bristly feathers; tail 

 feathers, stiff and pointed. Woodpeckers are commonly seen climb- 

 ing about on trunks of trees. 



GROUP 1. 



Wing, less than 4.25 inches long. 



Back, black, streaked with 

 white; crown, with red nuchal 

 patch (male) ; without red nu- 

 chal patch (female); tail feath- 

 ers, stiff and pointed ; toes, four, 

 two in front, two behind. 

 Dryobates pubescens medianus. 

 Downy Woodpecker. 

 See No. 190. 



GROUP 2. Wing, 4.25 to 5.50 inches long. 



SECTION 1. The following species have three toes; no trace of red 

 on the crown or nape : 



Toes, three; crown, with patch of yellow; back, black, without 

 white (male ) . Picoides arcticus. 



Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. 

 See No. 191. 



* For directions for measurement, see page 21. 



