139 



Nesting. In holes drilled in dead stubs or living trees. 



Distribution. The Hairy Woodpecker in its various subspecies is found over all the 

 wooded parts of Canada, breeding everywhere except perhaps in the most southern portions 

 of Ontario. 



SUBSPECIES. The species in eastern Canada is divided into two geographical 

 races, the Eastern Hairy, the type form, and the Northern Hairy, >. v. leucomelas. The 

 latter is the one usually but incorrectly given as the bird of southern Canada. It is of 

 slightly larger size and of more northern distribution, only occasionally coming down into 

 settled districts in winter and perhaps never appearing in the Lower Great Lakes region. 



The Hairy Woodpecker gets its name from the white feathers of the 

 back, which fall over the black borders in a loose disconnected way faintly 

 suggestive of hairs. It is one of the common woodpeckers and quite 

 typical of the family in its habits. It is not as familiar about houses or 

 orchards as the Downy Woodpecker, preferring the woods to orchard or 

 shade trees. 



Economic Status. Insects constitute 77 per cent of the food of this 

 species; they are mostly beetles, but include ants, scales, and sawflies; 

 22 per cent is vegetable, almost entirely wild fruit. 



394. Downy Woodpecker. FR. LE PIC MINTJLE. Dryobates pubescens. L, 6-83. 

 Plate XVIII A. 



Distinctions. The Downy can be separated from the Hairy Woodpecker by its smaller 

 size and the black barring on the white outer tail feathers. 



Field Marks. Size is the best field mark. 



Nesting. In holes drilled in dead trees and stubs. 



Distribution. The Downy Woodpecker with its various subspecies occupies all of 

 temperate America, breeding in Canada wherever found. 



SUBSPECIES. The species is divided into several geographical races. The form 

 of eastern Canada, the Northern Downy D. p. medianus, is separated from the type form 

 only by a slight difference in size. 



The Downy Woodpecker is our commonest woodpecker. It comes 

 close about the house and is quite at home in the orchard and among the 

 shade trees of towns and parks. As it is resident in Canada throughout 

 the year it is of particular value to the husbandman. 



Economic Status. Being the most fearless of the woodpeckers and 

 coming close about the fields and houses where it is most needed, it is an 

 invaluable bird. Peering into every crack and crevice of shade and fruit 

 trees and drilling for deeper lying insects it well complements the work of 

 the little Chickadee and Nuthatch. In fact, these three species often travel 

 in company in the winter and there is little in the food line that is overlooked 

 when the three species work together. The food of the Downy Woodpecker 

 is similar to that of the Hairy Woodpecker, but, as would be expected 

 from its smaller size and its more common presence in summer, includes 

 more of the smaller insects. The various scale insects make a larger item 

 in its food and it takes more moth caterpillars, including the Tent Cater- 

 pillar and those of the Codling Moth. 



400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. PR. LE PIC 

 ARCTIQTJE. Picoides arcticus. L, 9-50. Plate XVIII B. 



Distinctions. A woodpecker with three instead of four toes and a solidly black back. 



Field Marks. Except the Red-headed, the only solidly black-backed woodpecker in 

 eastern Canada. The all black back for specific, and the yellow crown patch of the male 

 for generic recognition. Plate XVIII B. 



Distribution. The northern coniferous forests, west to the prairie provinces. 



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