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growths and wood stains in the manufactured lumber, marking the old, 
healed attacks of the Sapsucker, reduce the marketable value of the lumber 
products. The whole question of the damage done by Sapsuckers has been 
exhaustively discussed in a United States Biological Survey Bulletin, No. 
39, ‘‘Woodpeckers in relation to trees and wood products,’’ by W. L. 
MeAtee. Under the heading of defensive measures against Sapsuckers 
the author advises a limited use of the gun where the species is doing 
appreciable harm, or the use of poison. If the gun is used care should be 
taken that only Sapsuckers are killed and it must be remembered that 
with poison, Hummingbirds and other small birds, especially warblers, 
are likely to suffer also. 
405. Pileated Woodpecker. COCK-OF-THE-WOOD. FR.—LE PIC A HUPPE ECARLATE. 
Phleotomus pileatus. L,17. Plate XIX B. 
Distinctions. The size of this woodpecker makes identification easy. It can be 
confused with no other Canadian Woodpecker. 
Field Marks. Large size, striking, red crest, and the white on the outspread wings. 
Distribution. Once ranging over all of eastern Canada it is now practically con- 
fined to the wilder parts and the wilderness of the north. 
SUBSPECIES. The Pileated Woodpecker is divided into two subspecies, of which 
only the Northern Pileated P. p. abieticola occurs in Canada. 
On account of the wanton destruction of this beautiful bird which 
was once of wide distribution, it is now to be found only in the quiet of the 
north woods. The colloquial name ‘‘Cock-of-the-woods’’ has been locally 
corrupted into ‘‘Woodcock’’, and its use for this species is a source of 
confusion and misunderstanding. The Pileated Woodpecker is not a 
legitimate object of sport; it will not ‘‘lie to a dog’’, cannot be hunted 
by sportsman-like methods, and is too small for use as food, but has great 
value as a forest preserver. It should, therefore, be rigidly protected 
for economic as well as sentimental reasons. 
Economic Status. The Pileated Woodpecker is now restricted to the 
wildest sections. It is mainly beneficial in the protection of forest trees 
and, therefore, its greatest value is to the lumberman. Its food is much 
the same as that of the other woodpeckers, but its superior strength enables 
it to dig deeply and exhume larve and insects that are safe from a less 
powerful bird. 
406. Red-headed Woodpecker. FR.—LE Pic A Thre ROUGE. Melanerpes erythro- 
cephalus. L, 9-75. Plate XX A. 
Distinctions. The bright red head and contrasting broad masses of black and white 
body-plumage are easily recognized. 
Field Marks. The striking coloration of this species makes it easily recognizable. 
Nesting. Generally in holes in dead stubs and occasionally in telegraph and other 
such poles. 
Distribution. A bird of rather southern distribution, only regularly and commonly 
entering Canada on the southern border along the lower Great Lakes. 
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the familiar species about 
orchards and wood lots. It is, therefore, well known wherever it 
occurs. The Red-headed has rather less of woodpecker habits than 
the forms hitherto considered, or it has evolved other flycatcher-like 
traits in addition to its ancestral ones. 
Economic Status. The Red-headed eats fewer larve and grubs than 
other species, and more useful, predaceous ground-beetles. However, 
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