Birds of Indiana. 845 



(Treenland. Breeds throughout its range. Winters from Pennsylvania 

 and Indiana, irregularly from New Brunswick, Maine and Michigan, 

 southward. 



Nest, a hole in a tree. £lggs, usually 5-9; glossy white; 1.10 by .85. 



Eesident, very common southward. Eaxe in the north part of the 

 State; common everywhere throughout the warmer parts of the year. 

 Breeds. 



The nearer the Ohio Eiver in winter, the more numerous this bird 

 becomes. It is, however, tolerably common from the Wabash River 

 south. In both Tippecanoe and Carroll counties it is a common resi- 

 dent. In the following northern counties it is found, at least some 

 years, throughout the winters: Porter, rare (Parker); Dekalb, rare 

 (H. W. McBride, Snyder); a few also winter in Wayne County, Mich. 

 (Trombley). The migratory birds return to their homes in February 

 and March, and during the latter month and October and late No- 

 vember, they are very abundant, frequenting pastures, meadows and 

 stubble. 



This species is decidedly terrestrial, spending much time upon the 

 ground. During the colder months, they are semi-gregarious. With 

 us, they sometimes begin mating by March 7 (1882), other years, not 

 until March 30 (1893). Eggs may be found, perhaps, late in April, 

 but the earliest date full sets are recorded is May 4. Through May 

 and June they may be found. Like other woodpeckers, it nests in the 

 woods, but it also loves to make its home in an old apple limb, or 

 dead snag in the lawn. It uses either a natural or artificial cavity. 

 Although found so much upon the ground, its high nesting has given 

 it the name of "High-hole." Usually, but one broodisraisedinaseason, 

 but if the eggs are removed as laid, the fecundity of this bird is re- 

 markable. Between May 4 and June 33, 1885, Prof. B. W. Evermann, 

 in Carroll County, took 37 eggs from a single nest. Between those 

 dates they rested 14 days. There is one instance recorded where by 

 leaving a nest-egg, a Flicker laid 71 eggs in 73 days. An egg is laid 

 each day. Usually incubation does not begin until the full set is laid, 

 but sometimes it does. It has the greatest number of calls of any 

 member of its family. Its Wake-up, wahe-up, have, in some localities, 

 given it a local name. Its Quit-tu, quit-tu, recalls the stroke of a 

 master hand with a scythe-stone upon a scythe. Chuck-up, chuck-up, 

 is another well-known sound. These, with a dozen more vocal expres- 

 sions to represent every phase of courtship or variation of bird-feeling, 

 are known to all who live where the Flicker does. 



The Flicker, with its curved bill, can not chisel its way into trees 

 as the other species do. It, therefore, does not destroy so many insects 



