188 



North American Birds Eggs. 



WOODPECKERS. Order XV. 

 Family PICID/E. 



PICI. 



Woodpeckers are well known liirds having sharp phisel-like bills, sharply 

 pointed and stil^ened tail feathers, and strongly clawed feet with two toes forward 

 and two back, except in one genus. Their food is insects and grubs, which they 

 get by lioring in trees, and from under the bark, clinging to the sides of trunks 

 or the under side of branches with their strong curved nails, aided by the 

 tail, fcjr a prop. They are largely resident where found. 



392. Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Campephilufi pri i)ri})alis. 



Range. — Locally distributed, and rare, in Florida, along the Gulf coast and 

 north casually to South Carolina and Arkansas. 



This is the largest of the Woodpeckers found within our 

 inches in length. But one other American species exceeds 

 perial Woodpecker of ^lexico, which reaches a length of near 

 species is found within a few miles of our Jlexican border, it 

 as a North American bird. The present species has a large, 

 bill. They can readily lie identified, at a great distance. 

 Woodpecker by the large amount of white on the secondaries 

 not uncommonly seen in many sections of the southeast but 

 locally and only in the largest and remote woods. They nes 

 trees in the most impenetrable swamps; laying three, and pr( 

 six pure white glossy eggs measuring 1,45 x 1.00. 



borders, being 20 

 it in size, the Im- 



ly two feet; as this 

 may yet be classed 

 heavy, ivory-white 

 from the Pileated 



. They used to be 

 are now found very 



t in holes in large 



obabl}' as many as 



393. Hairy Woodpecker. Drynbaten villomisi. 



Range.— United States east of the Plains and from North Carolina to Canada. 

 ,— - The Hairy Woodpecker or its sub-species is found in all 



, ' parts of North America. The nesting habits and eggs of all 



the sub-species are not in any way different from those of 

 the eastern bird, consequently what is said in regard to the 

 eastern form will apply ecjually to all its varieties. 



Except during the winter months, this species is not as 

 commonly seen about houses or orchards as the Downy 

 ,^^.. .J /, ' Woodpecker. During the summer they retire to the larger 



woods to nest, laying their eggs in holes in the trunks or 

 limbs of trees at any height from the ground, and generally using the same 

 hole year after year, and often twice or three times during one season, if the first 

 sets are taken. They lay from three to six glossy white eggs; size .95 x 70. The 

 species can he distinguished from the Downy Woodpeckers by their larger size 

 (0 inches long), and the white outer tail feathers, which are unspotted. 



393a. Northern Hairy Woodpecker. Pryobatcst rillosun kucomclas. 



Range.— North America, north of the United States. 

 Slightly larger than the preceding. 



393b. Southern Hairy Woodpecker. Dri/obatcf: rillosus audiibiinii 



Range.— Southeastern United States; north to South Carolina. 

 Similar to the Hairy Woodpecker, but smaller. 



