WOODPECKERS 



(400) Picoides arcticus 



{S-wainson) (Lat., a woodpecker, Gr., 

 resemblance). 



ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOOD- 

 PECKER. But three toes, two in 

 front and one behind. Ad. cT — 

 Crown patch glossy yellow; whole 

 back glossy black; outer tail feathers 

 white, unmarked. The 9 has the 

 whole crown black, with no yellow. 

 L., 9.50; W., 5.25; T., 4.00. 



Range — Canadian zone, from Me., 

 northern N. Y., Mich., and Cal. 

 northward. 

 (401) Picoides americanus 

 americanus Brehm. 



THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 

 Plumage as shown by the upper bird. 

 Back barred with white; outer tail 

 feathers marked with black, o^ 

 with the yellow crown patch mixed 

 with white anteriorly. 



remove. At most seasons their food is chiefly of various 

 insects, their eggs or larv£e, but during summer they eat a 

 good many berries and considerable fruit, feeding their 

 young also upon much of this kind of food. 



THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS are pecuhar in several 

 respects. They have but two toes in front and one behind; 

 the crown patches on the males are bright yellow, whereas 

 on nearly all other species they are red; and they are very 

 northerly distributed, only being found in northern United 

 States during severe winters, except in a few mountains 

 where they breed. We have two distinct species, the Arctic 

 Three-toed Woodpecker, which is the most abundant and 

 most southerly in its distribution, and the American. They 

 are very easily distinguished, for the latter has white bars 

 on the laack, while the former has a solid black back. They 

 are of about the size and simOar in their habits to the Hairy 

 Woodpecker, but their notes are a rather prolonged squeal- 

 ing similar to that of the Sapsucker. 



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