520 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



I 



Northern Flicker. 



Adult female : Similar, but lacking the black streaks on the cheeks. 



Immature birds are similar, but often show more red on the head. 



Length, 12.50; wing, 6.10; tail, 4.50; bill, 1.40. 



An abundant summer resident in Illinois and Wisconsin, the 

 majority arriving early in April and remaining with us until October. 

 A few remain in northern Illinois all winter, and it is common in win- 

 ter in the southern part of the state. Specimens are occasionally 

 taken having the yellow on the tail feathers replaced by orange red, 

 possibly due to reversion or hybridization of the eastern form with 

 the red-shafted western species. 



It breeds in May and early June. The nest is usually built in a 

 hole in a tree, but occasionally in such places as hollow piazza posts 

 or holes in roofs of summer houses. The eggs are usually from six to 

 nine in number, pure white, and measure about 1.08 x .85 inches. 



This species is known by various local names, such as High-hole, 

 Yellow-hammer, Golden-winged Woodpecker, etc. The cry is loud 

 and piercing, and it has a curious song or call which may be poorly 

 described as wick-er-wick-er-wick-er-wick-er-wick-er. 



