Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 



392. Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Campephilus principalis 



(Linn.) 



Adult $ — Upper parts black, with two white stripes beginning 

 at the bill and meeting on the back ; the wings have the 

 secondaries white, so that in flight these seem to be a broad 

 white band across the bird ; crest scarlet ; under parts black ; 

 bill white. 



Adult ? — Has the crest black, but is otherwise the same. Length 



— 20.00. 

 Breeding Range — The Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley. 



The nest is in a hole in the upper part of a tall tree ; eggs 

 white, complement undetermined. Size — 1.45 x i.oo. 



This, the largest as well as the wildest of our woodpeckers, 

 has been but little observed during the breeding season. In 

 former years it was found in North Carolina, and even as far north 

 as Indiana ; but the presence of man has forced it farther south, 

 and now it is to be found chiefly in the dense cypress swamps 

 of the Gulf States, where in some parts it is fairly common, 

 though always shy and difficult of approach. The breeding 

 season begins in all probability towards the end of March. 



393. Hairy Woodpecker: Dryobates villosus (Linn.) 



Adult $ — Upper parts black, divided by a broad white line ; head 

 black, with nape deep scarlet, and a broad white line above 

 and another below the eye ; wings spotted with white ; 

 under parts white. 



Adult ? — Lacks the scarlet on the head. Length — 9.40. 



Breeding Range — From North Carolina northward. The eggs are 

 laid in a hole in a tree ; usually a dead or partly dead tree is 

 chosen, a new hole being made every year. 4 to 5 and 

 sometimes 6 white eggs are laid. Size — .97 x .70. 



This bird might easily be mistaken for the downy wood- 

 pecker, its markings and colour being very similar ; it is, how- 

 ever, so much larger that there should be little difficulty in its 

 identification. When searching for a tree suitable for their nest- 

 ing purposes, these birds commence excavations in a great num- 

 ber of places, often making holes several inches deep before de- 



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