62 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



This is not the Flicker's fate. When the woods 

 are felled, he comes to live in our orchards and 

 gardens. If the pruner and forester leave him no 

 dead limbs to nest in, he drills a hole in a fence- 

 post or accepts the boxes we offer him. 



He wins his way peaceably if he can, but will 

 defend his rights courageously if necessary. That 

 new bird settler, the Starling, often tries to take 

 possession of Flicker's home, and is doubtless sur- 

 prised to find that although when undisturbed Flicker 

 minds his own affairs, when aroused he is a foe to 

 be feared. 



Flicker owes his success to his ability to change 

 his diet as well as his nesting site. If you compare 

 his bill with that of our other Woodpeckers you will 

 observe that it is longer, more slender and slightly 

 curved. His tongue, also, is unlike that of the 

 Downy or Hairy Woodpecker, the tip being prac- 

 tically without barbs. 



Although more like a probe than a chisel. Flicker 

 can make the chips fly from an old log or dead limb 

 when grub-hunting, but his favorite fare is ants. 

 These he usually captures at their homes and this 

 explains why we so often see Flicker on the ground. 

 In the distance we might think he was a Robin tug- 

 ging at a worm, as he rapidly probes an ant-hill. 

 The long tongue, covered with a gummy secretion, 



