264 HANDBOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



off pieces of bark, and even to cut holes into partially 

 decayed wood ; and in this way he finds many insects which 

 are out of reach of most birds. His tongue is awl-shaped, 

 and provided with a barbed, horny tip, which enables him 

 to hook the worms in their holes. 



Other common woodpeckers are the small Downy Wood- 

 pecker, the Red-headed Woodpecker, and the Flicker ; the 

 last two are migratory. 



All woodpeckers nest in holes in trees, which they hollow 

 out themselves. Sometimes they catch insects on the ground, 

 but their movements there are awkward. All woodpeckers 

 are useful birds ; their nests are always built in dead trees, 

 or in the dead wood of living trees; no boy should ever 

 molest them. 



Could you tell a woodpecker from a pigeon by its mode 

 of flight ? 



One of our most common winter residents is 



60. The Chickadee. Parus atricapillus. 



This little bird, considerably smaller than a house spar- 

 row, is often seen in small flocks, or in pairs, busily climb- 

 ing about on the twigs and branches, carefully searching 

 for concealed insects, pupae, and insect eggs. They are best 

 identified by their call note, chickadee, day, day, day. 

 Above, they are gray ; below, almost white ; the crown, 

 nape, chin, and throat are black; the bill and feet lead- 

 black. The nest, which is placed in the holes of stumps, 

 consists of wool, fur, feathers, and other soft material. The 

 eggs, which may be looked for in May, are white, thickly 

 sprinkled with brown. The song is very simple, sounding 

 like chickadee-dee-dee-dee. Although they are with us the 

 year around, you are likely to notice them most in fall 

 and spring, when they are most numerous in groves and 

 gardens. 



