170 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



the true Woodpeckers. In this species the crown 

 and throat are red, the back is irregularly marked 

 with black and white, with a yellowish tinge, there is 

 a black patch on the breast, and the under parts are 

 pale yellow. 



The Common Flicker, or Golden-winged Wood- 

 pecker of the United States, is a very beautiful bird, 

 differing in habits from the other members of its fam- 

 ily. In colour it is very charming, a delicate pinkish 

 grey over most of the body, the under surface of wings 

 and tail a bright golden yellow, the under parts white, 

 washed with yellow and thickly spotted with black. 

 There is a band of red across the back of the neck, a 

 black crescent on the breast, and a black patch on each 

 side of the throat. This bird has many popular names. 

 High-hole being one of the most common. 



Unlike other Woodpeckers, the Flicker spends much 

 time on the ground. It nests in holes in trees, how- 

 ever, like other members of the group, and lays from 

 five to nine white eggs. 



Though in its colouration unlike the typical Wood- 

 peckers, the Wryneck, or Cuckoo's-mate, nevertheless 

 is of the Woodpecker tribe. In the soft, mottled grey 

 and brown colours of its plumage, this bird more 

 closely resembles the Goatsuckers. The tail-feathers, 

 too, as may be seen in the figure, are not stiff and 

 pointed, as in the typical Woodpeckers, but are soft 

 and rounded. These birds never use their beak, which 

 is small and delicate, as a pick; hence they have no 

 need of support from spiny tail-feathers. But the 

 Wryneck is undoubtedly a Woodpecker, in spite of 

 these differences, as is shown by the structure of the 



