WOODPECKERS 



(412) Colaptes auratus auratus 



{Linn.) (Gr., a chisel; Lat., golden). 



FLICKER; GOLDEN-WINGED 

 WOODPECKER; YELLOW- 

 HAMMER; HIGH-HOLE; PIGEON 

 WOODPECKER. A large handsome 

 species with plumage as shown. Both 

 se.xes with a red crescent on the 

 nape and a prominent black crescent 

 on the breast; linings of wings and 

 shafts of primaries and tail feathers 

 golden-yellow; cf with black mous- 

 tache marks as shown by the upper 

 bird. L., 12.50; W , 6.00; T., 4.50. 



Range — South Atlantic and Gulf 

 States. 



(412a) C. a. luteus Bangs 



NORTHERN FLICKER. A 

 slightly larger variety, common 

 throughout the U. S. and Canada; 

 resident except in northern parts. 



because their plumage is so attractive and their bad habits 

 not universally known. Their \'oices are very disagreeable, 

 their notes all being harsh and squealing. 



RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are abundant in 

 southern states and also those in the Mississippi Valley and 

 Great Plains. Their notes are loud and harsh, a squealing 

 "churr, churr, " similar to that of the Red-head. Their 

 food is about equally made up of various forms of insect 

 life and fruits and berries. In some sections they are said 

 to do considerable damage to oranges, but before the fruit 

 is ripened they must of necessity do a greater amount of 

 good by cleaning out insects that would damage the crop 

 to a much greater e.xtent than they. 



FLICKERS are probably more generally known than 

 any others of our woodpeckers, not even excepting the 

 familiar little Downy. They are abundant almost every- 

 where and especially so on the outskirts of cities and on 

 farms. Their popularity is well shown by the fact that 

 they have more "nicknames" than any other species of bird. 



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