FLICKERS 



(416) Antrostomuscarolinensis 



iGmd.) (Gr., a cave, mouth — referring 

 to the enormous gape of these birds). 



CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW. Our 

 largest representative of this Order. 

 Mouth opening to a point under 

 the eyes; stiff bristles with lateral 

 branches fringing the bill. Plumage 

 very soft and loose; finely vermicu- 

 lated, variegated and blended with 

 browns and grays. Tail feathers 

 very broad and with the whole inner 

 webs' white. L., 11.50; Ex., 25.00; 

 W., 8.25; T., 6.10. 9 differs only 

 in lacking the white inner webs to 

 the tail feathers, these being colored 

 lil<e the outer. Eggs — Two, white 

 blotched with gray and lavender, 

 1.40 X 1. 00; on the ground in under- 

 brush. 



Range — From southern Va., Ohio, 

 and Ind. southward. 



very fond of ants, wliich explains why they frequent the 

 ground so often. Their long tongues, which are capable of 

 great extension, are quite sticky toward the tips — just 

 enough so to hold fast every ant mth which they come into 

 contact. 



Flickers nest in cavities at any height in any kind of 

 trees, in poles, posts, or even in cornices of buildings. Nor- 

 mally they lay about six eggs — one each day until the nest 

 is lull; they are wholly unable to keep count, for it has been 

 found that by taking an egg each day, lea-ving one in the 

 nest, they will lay an almost indefinite number. Little 

 Flickers are very noisy during their last few days in the 

 nest; if the tree is tapped, they all commence to whine and 

 buzz like an immense swarm of bees. This outcry may be 

 due to expectancy of food from returning parents, but at any 

 rate it might easily deter a squirrel or a person from attempt- 

 ing to examine such a "beehive." Besides the "wick-up" 

 notes, the adults have a single shriek of alarm and a long 

 rolling whistle "kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk," etc. 



250 



