BIRDS OF INDIANA. 839 



ii-iuicL'. l)iit. il also utters a tack-tack-tack, which is several times re- 

 peated (N. A. Birds, PL xvi., p. 411). Eggs may be looked for with 

 us late in April and through May. Its nests are excavated in dead 

 trees or snags from 12 to 75 feet up. The opening is 3 to 3 inches in 

 diameter, and the excavation is from 7 to 30 inches deep, being larger 

 ;il I lie bottom, which is covered with chips, or, sometimes, sand. A 

 new one is generally built each year. They also use a nest or excavate 

 ;i shelter for protection in severe weather. An egg is laid daily. The 

 period of incubation is about 18 days. In this, as in digging the nest 

 and caring for the young, both birds share. But one brood is raised 

 each year. 



This, is the largest Woodpecker in the United States except the 

 Ivory-bill. Its powerful bill enables it to tear off tough bark, and 

 dig deep into trees for grubs, borers and ants. Such is its work. Prof. 

 Beal examined 23 stomachs, all taken in fall and winter; 51 per cent, 

 of the contents was animal, and 49 per cent, vegetable matter. The 

 animal matter was chiefly insects, of which ants, beetles, and wood- 

 boring larvae formed the greater part (Bulletin No. 7, Div. 0. and M., 

 U.S. Dept. Agr., p. 32). 



96. OENUS MELANERPES SWAINSON. 



'. Head and neck deep red or grayish brown; back black. 



M. erythrocephalus (LiNN.). 164 



ft 2 . Head grayish, more or less red on crown; back and wings banded transversely 

 with black and white. M. carolinus (LiNN.). 165 



Subgenus MELANKRPRS. 



164. (40H). Melanerpes erythrocephalus (LiNN.). 



Bed-headed Woodpecker. 

 Synonym, RED-HEAD. 



Adult. Head, neck and breast, crimson; rump, end of secondaries 

 and remaining under parts, white; back, glossy blue-black; bases of 

 secondaries, primaries and tail, black. Immature. Crimson parts re- 

 placed by grayish-brown. 



Length, 9.25-9.75; wing, 5.30-5.70; tail, 3.60-3.75. 



RANGE. Eastern United States, west to Rocky Mountains; from 

 Florida to northern New York, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba. Rare 

 cast of Hudson River. Accidental in Utah and Arizona. Winters ir- 

 regularly throughout northern New York, Pennsylvania. Indiana. 

 Michigan. Breeds throughout its range. 



