Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



163 



Family PICIDiE. Woodpeckers. 



Bill, strong and sharp; toes, four or three, never more than two 

 in front; nostrils, partly concealed by small bristly feathers; tail 

 feathers, stiff and pointed. Woodpeckers are commonly seen climb- 

 ing about on trunks of trees. 



■■•■' GROUP 1. Wing, less than 4.25 inches long. 



Back, black, streaked with 

 white; crown, with red nuchal 

 patch (male) ; without red nu- 

 chal patch (female); tail feath- 

 ers, stiff and pointed ; toes, four, 

 two in front, two behind. 

 Dryobates pubescens mediamis. 

 Downy Woodpecker. 

 See No. 190. 



GROUP 2. Wing, 4.25 to 5.50 inches long. 



SECTION 1. The following species have three toes; no trace of red 

 on the crown or nape: — 



Toes, three, crown, with patch of yellow; back, black, without 

 white (male ) . Picoides arcticus. 



Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. 



See No. 191. 



* For directions for measurement, see page 21. 



