FLICKER (Colaptes auratus) 



Length, 13 inches. The \ellow under surface 

 of the wing, yellow tail shafts, and white rump 

 are characteristic. 



Range : Breeds in the eastern United States 

 west to the plains and in the forested parts of 

 Canada and Alaska; winters in most of the 

 eastern United States. 



Hahits and economic status: The flicker in- 

 habits the open country rather than the fcircst 

 and delights in park-like regions where trees 

 are numerous and scattered. It nests in any 

 large cavity in a tree and readily appropriates 

 an artilicial Ijox. it is possible, therefore, to 

 insure the presence of this useful bird about 

 tlie farm and to increase its numbers. It is the 

 most terrestrial of our woodpeckers and pro- 

 cures much of its food from the ground. The 

 largest item of animal food is ants, of which 

 the flicker eats more than any other common 

 bird. Ants were found in 5.24 of the 684 stom- 

 achs examined and 98 stomachs contained no 

 other food. One stomach contained over 5,000 

 and two others held over 3,000 each. VVhile 

 bugs are not largely eaten by the flicker, one 

 stomach contained 17 chinch bugs. Wild fruits 

 are next to ants in importance in the flicker's 

 dietary. Of these sour gum and wild black 

 cherry stand at the head. The food habits of 

 this bird are such as to recommend it to com- 

 plete protection. 



YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 

 (Sphyrapicus varius) 



Length, about 8)2 inches. Only woodpecker 

 having top of head from base of bill red, com- 

 bined with a black patch on breast. 



Range: IJreeds in northern half of the 

 United States and southern half nf Canada; 

 winters in most of the States and south to 

 Costa Rica. 



Habits and economic status : The yellow- 

 bellied sapsucker is rather silent and suspicious 

 and generally manages to have a tree between 

 himself and the observer. Hence the bird is 

 much better known by its works than its ap- 

 pearance. The regular girdles of holes made 

 liy this bird are common on a great variety of 

 trees; in all about 250 kinds are known to be 

 attacked. Occasionally young trees are killed 

 outright, but more loss is caused by stains and 

 other blemishes in the wood whieli result from 

 sapsucker punctures. These blemishes, which 

 are known as bird pecks, are especially nu- 

 merous in hickory, oak, cypress, and yellow 

 popl.ir. The two principal components of the 

 \-egctable food are wild fruits of no impor- 

 tance :ind camliiuiu (the layer just hene:itb the 

 bark of trees). In securing the cambium the 

 bird does the dam.age abo\-e described. The 

 yellow-bellied sapsucker, unlike other wood- 

 peckers, thus does comparatively little good 

 and much harm. 



Photograph by Georgt- Shira;, Jnl 



SAP BASINS MADE IN B.\RK BY A SAPSUCKER 



The regularity of the holes shows that this bird is methodical. The basins were made 

 in six weeks, probably by one bird, and served not only to collect sap, but also Uj catch flies 

 attracted by the sweet fluid. 



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