WOODPECKERS 215 



The Red-bellied and Red-cockaded are southern 

 species, distinguished by the amount and position 

 of red on the head. In the Red-cockaded the 

 red scarcely shows, but in the Red-bellied the 

 whole top of the head and back of the neck are 

 bright scarlet. 



Comparing the Woodpeckers with other groups 

 of birds we have become familiar with, their 

 habit of living on tree trunks would separate 

 them from all but the Nuthatch, whose grayish 

 blue back and small size distinguish him. The 

 habit of nesting in tree trunks is shared with Nut- 

 hatches, Chickadees, Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, 

 and Swifts, though the Swift nests in hollow 

 trees. As a family the Woodpeckers 

 are black and white, very different 

 from the brown-toned Grouse and 

 Quail, the Doves, Wrens, Thrash- 

 ers, Cuckoos, Waxwings, and Spar- 

 rows, as from the gray Flycatchers 

 and green Vireos ; and on the other 

 hand from the brilliant Orioles and FIG. 133. 

 Tanagers. Their heavy, blunt bills Foot of Wood- 

 (see Fig. 108, p. 192) are adapted pecker, two toes 



, .,,. , , . , in front and two 



to drilling and drumming the behind 



Mexican name for them is ' Car- 

 pentaros ' their feet in most cases have two toes 

 behind instead of one as in ordinary birds (see 

 Figs. 202, and 204, p. 351), which seems to better 

 support their weight in climbing and hanging on 



