RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 



( See Frontispiece ) 



Head, neck and throat all crimson ; back and part of wings 

 black; remainder of wings, rump, breast and belly white; tail 

 black tipped with white ; bill and feet dark. Male and female 

 alike. Length, ten inches. 



The nest is generally in a dead tree. Eggs, four to six in 

 number, glossy white, 1.00 x .75 inches. This Woodpecker is 

 found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. He 

 winters from Virginia southward, though a few remain north 

 during the whole year. 



He feeds on insects and worms, and those which 

 he likes best live in trees. Sometimes these are in the 

 bark, and sometimes in the wood of the trees to which they do 

 great injury. This bird seems to know just what trees con- 

 tain the insects he wants, for he does not touch other trees. He 

 pecks a hole in a tree with his sharp bill just over the food 

 which he wishes to get, and then he thrusts in his long sharp 

 tongue, spearing the insect with it. The tongue is drawn back, 

 bringing the insect into the bird's mouth- It is believed that 

 the Woodpecker hears the grub boring in the wood and, there- 

 fore, he is able to make a hole directly over it. Everyone has 

 heard the loud tapping of the Woodpecker as he strikes the 

 tree with his bill while drilling for food. 



This bird can run up the trunk of a tree as easily as other 

 birds can walk on the ground. How can he do this? Most 

 birds have three toes in front and one behind, but the Wood- 

 pecker has two in front and two behind. This gives great 

 strength to his feet and, as his toes are tipped with sharp claws, 



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