116 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



southern part of the state, but less numerous in the northern 

 part. It is a resident everywhere, nesting in the deeper 

 woods. 



In addition to its usual diet of insects and worms it is a 

 lover of ripe apples, and in winter finds acorns and beech- 

 nuts good forage. It has been detected in the act of storing 

 away acorns and nuts for winter consumption. 



157. (412a.) COLAPTES AURATUS LUTEUS Bangs. 147. 

 Northern Flicker. 



Synonyms: Colaptes auratus, Picus auratus Cuculus auratus. 

 Golden-winged Woodpecker, Flicker, High-holder. For the 

 remainder of the 125 English synonyms see "The Wilson 

 Bulletin," No. 31, for sale by the author at 25 cents a copy. 



Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838. 162. 



The Flicker is probably strictly migratory in its habits, 

 in spite of the fact that it is resident throughout the state 

 in small numbers in the north, common in the south. It is 

 abundant as a migrant, but hardly more than common dur- 

 ing the nesting season. In winter it will eat anything that 

 can be found. In summer it seems to crave ants, of which it 

 consumes quantities. During harvest days it becomes lazy 

 and then feeds on the ground like a Meadowlark, catch- 

 ing the young grasshoppers and crickets and fattening upon 

 them. It must be classed among the distinctly useful birds, 

 both as a destroyer of insects and as an alarm clock if you 

 have been so unwise as to cover any part of your roof with 

 tin ! 3 :30 in spring, 4 :00 in summer and 4 :30 in autumn are 

 the hours which he loudly heralds for the beginning of day. 

 You can't drive him away. 



The migrating host of Flickers reaches northern Ohio 

 during the third week in March. Its numbers are con- 

 siderable up to the middle of October, or even the first of 

 November. 



