THE HAIRY WOODPECKER. 343 



headers in the air, returning sharply and producing a loud booming daw-w, 

 — whether by the rushing of the air through the wings or across the open 

 mouth will perhaps never be determined. 



While the Nighthawk prefers open situations, and is not found much 

 in heavily timbered regions, it takes readily to the life of the city, because o£ 

 the abundance of insects there afforded. In Columbus it is a familiar feature, 

 hawking fearlessly above High Street, and nesting, as in many other cities, 

 upon the tarred and gravelled roofs of flat-topped buildings. During migra- 

 tions scores of these birds are sometimes seen moving aloft in loose array, 

 and customarily, at this season, silent. Locally they never appear to be so 

 abundant as in the West, where I have seen several hundred gathered to 

 gyrate in social fashion within the limits of a single pasture. 



The eggs of the Nighthawk are more heavily colored than those of the 

 Whippoorwill, as becomes their more exposed situation. The young birds 

 place great reliance upon their protective coloration, and even permit the 

 fondling of the hand rather than confess the defect of their fancied security. 



No. 149. 



HAIRY WOODPECKER. 



A. O. U. No. 393. Dryobates villosus (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult male: Above, in general, black, — glossy, at least on 

 crown and cervix, dull on tail, fuscous on wings ; a narrow, scarlet band on the 

 nape; white superciliary and rictal stripes, separated by a black band through 

 eye, continuous with nape; a black malar stripe, broadening behind; white nasal 

 tufts; a lengthened white patch on middle of back; wing-coverts spotted with 

 white, — a round blotch on the tip of each ; wing-quills and primary coverts white- 

 spotted on each web, the blotches on the outer webs confluent in bars on the closed 

 wing; tail black centrally, the two outer pairs of feathers white on exposed por- 

 tions, the third pair white-tipped and tinged with rusty ; entire under parts soiled 

 white ; bill and feet light plumbeous. Adult female : Similar, but without scarlet 

 band on hind neck. "Young with the crown mostly red or bronzy or even yellow- 

 ish" (Coues). Length 8.50-9.50 (215.9-241.3); wing 4.63 (117.6); tail 3.31 

 (84.1); bill 1. 13 (28.7). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size; black and white above (male with red 

 band on hind neck), and soiled white below; rattling call notes. 



Nest, in a hole excavated in tree, usually in dead portion, unlined. Bggs, 

 4-6, white. Av. size, .94 x .73 (23.9 x 18.5). 



General Range. — Northern and middle portions of the United States from 

 the Atlantic Coast to the Great Plains. 



Range in Ohio. — Common throughout the State. Resident. 



