32 



FLICKER. 



412. Colaptes aurattis. 13 inches. 



Male with a black moustache mark; female without, 

 although young females in the first plumage show some 

 black. 



These birds are very often known as "Golden-winged 

 Woodpeckers," "High-holes" and about a hundred other 

 names in different localities. Flickers are found com- 

 monly in woods, orchards or trees by the roadside; on 

 pleasant days their rapidly uttered, rolling whistle may 

 be heard at all hours of the day. 



Note. A rapidly repeated whistle, "cuk," "cuk," 

 "cuk"; an emphatic "quit-u," "quit-u," and several 

 others of a similar nature. 



Nest. A cavity in a tree, at any distance from the 

 ground. The white eggs usually vary in number from 

 five to ten, but they have been known to lay as many as 

 seventy-one, where an egg was taken from the nest each 

 day. 



Range. South Atlantic States. The Northern Flicker 

 (luteus) is found in North America east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



