WOODPKCKERS. 



22; 



the sides bluish pray — in iinmaturo 8[ie('iiiu'ns tinjjecl with nifdiis— liiwer 

 hrta.st and lu'liy wliite. .((/. 9 .— Siniihir to tliu male, hut the sides and u 

 bund on the belly rufuiis. L., 1302; W., tjl7 ; T., .'VOO ; B., 'ivO. 



liaiiije. — N\)rth Anieriea; breeds from Fhjridu to Labrador, and winters 

 from Virginia to South America. 



Washiuirton, eonnnon 1*. K. Sln^r Sin;r, eoimnon S. H., Apl. 1 ti) Nov. 215; 

 casual in winter. (,"and)ri(li,'e, e mnnon S. K., Ajil. lo to < >ot. 



^\'(A(', in a hole in a bank, about six I'eut I'rom llie entrance. J:]/i/s,&ve 

 to eight, white, 1'34 x 1-05. 



The sliores of wooded streams or ponds are the chosen haunts of 

 the Kinjrtisher. Silently he perches on some limb overhanji^ing the 

 water, ever on the alert for food or foe. I'addle toward him as quietly 

 as you please, just as you reach his danger line he drops from his 

 perch and with loud, rattling call flies on ahead. This may be re- 

 peated several times, until finally the limits of his wandering- are 

 reached, when he makes a wide detour and returns to the starting point. 



The Kingfisher hunts after the manner of the Fish Hawk. In 

 passing over the water it needs only the glint of a shining fin or scale 

 just beneath the surface to catch his watchful eye. On (piickly mov- 

 ing wings he hovers over the place, waiting only a fair chance to 

 plunge on the unsuspecting fish below. Emerging from tiie water 

 with his prey in his bill, he shakes the spray from his plumage, and, 

 with an exultant rattle, flies away to .some favorite perch. 



OBDEB, PICI. WOODPECKERS, WRYNECKS, ETC. 



Family Picid^. Woodpeckers. 



Woodpeckers are found in all the wooded parts of the world ex- 

 cept Australia and INIadagascar. About three hundred and fifty 

 species are known, of which nearly one half are confined to the 

 New World. Some twenty-five of this nnmbor are found in North 

 America. Woodpeckers are rather solitary birds, but are sometimes 

 found a.ssociated in scattered companies during their migrations. 

 Above' all other birds they are especially adapted to creep or climb. 

 The peculiar structure of the foot, with its two toes directed for- 

 ward and two backward (except in one gentis), assists them in cling- 

 ing to an upright surface, while the pointed, stiffened tail-feathers 

 serve as a prop when the bird is resting. The stout, chisel-like bill is 

 used to cut away wood and expose the hiding places of grubs, etc., 

 when the long, distensible tongue with its horny, spearlike tip is 

 thrust in. the food impaled and drawn out. The vocal powers of 

 Woodpeckers are limited, and the bill is also used to beat the long, 

 rolling call which is their love-song. The eggs of Woodpeckers are 





