WOODPECKERS, CUCKOOS, ETC. 229 



"The drumming song is a series of about twelve taps, 

 increasing in rapidity and growing less in strength to the 

 end. I have heard this woodpecker give three vocal songs 

 or calls. One is an exultant, ringing laugh; at a distance 

 this call sounds metallic, but when at close range it is the 

 most untamably wild sound that I know among the bird- 

 notes. Another call might be suggested by the syllables 

 cow-cow-cow repeated indefinitely, but sometimes inter- 

 mittently, resembling the flicker's call. When two birds 

 approach each other they often carry on a wheedling con- 

 versation, analogous to the ' Wichew ' note of the flicker, but 

 it is so given as to lead one to believe that the birds have 

 their bills closed while making the sound. 



"In its search for food the logcock strikes deliberately, 

 but with force, often giving the head a powerful twist to 

 wrench off a piece of wood. Sometimes quite a large frag- 

 ment is thrown back by a toss of the head. JNIuch time is 

 also spent about fallen tree-trunks, where, in addition to 

 grub and other insect larvae, it subsists largely upon ants.'* 

 (Dawson.) 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 



The Red-headed Woodpecker, abounding throughout 

 eastern North America, is readily recognized in the adult 

 plumage by the red head and wliite under parts, with the 

 steel blue and white covering. The red-headed woodpecker 

 is found as far west as Colorado, sometimes California. In 

 summer it may be met with as far north as Ontario and 

 Quebec, but is rare east of central New York. It is a 

 striking bird when seen at a distance moving about the 



