266 



THE ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 



■+Picus arctictjs, Sivains. 

 PLATE CCLXVIIL— Males and Female. 



This curious species of Woodpecker is found in the northern parts of the 

 State of Massachusetts, and in all portions of Maine that are covered by 

 forests of tall trees, in which it constantly resides. I saw a few in the 

 Great Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, and my friend, the Rev. John Bach- 

 man, observed four near the Falls of Niagara, about twelve years ago, and is 

 of opinion that some may breed in the upper part of the State of New York. 



It is a restless, active bird, spending its time generally on the topmost 

 branches of the tallest trees, without, however, confining itself to pines. 

 Although it cannot be called shy, its habitual restlessness renders it difficult 

 of approach. Its movements resemble those of the Red-cockaded Wood- 

 pecker, but it is still more petulant than that bird. Like it, it will alight, 

 climb along a branch, seek for insects there, and in a very few moments 

 remove to another part of the same tree, or to another tree at more or less 

 distance, thus spending the day in rambling over a large extent of ground. 

 Its cries also somewhat resemble those of the species above mentioned, but 

 are louder and more shrill, like those of some small quadruped suffering 

 great pain. During the middle hours of the day it becomes silent, and often 

 retires to some concealed place to rest awhile. In the afternoon of warm 

 days, it very frequently makes sorties after flying insects, which it seems to 

 secure in the air with as much ease as the Red-headed Woodpecker. Besides 

 insects, it also feeds on berries and other small fruits. 



Its flight is rapid, gliding, and deeply undulated, as it shifts from one 

 place to another. Now and then it will fly from a detached tree of a field 

 to a considerable distance before it alights, emitting at every glide a loud 

 shrill note. When alighted, the rolling tappings of its bill against a dead 

 and dried branch are as sonorous as those of the Redhead. I never saw one 

 on the ground, but I have not unfrequently met with them searching the 

 decayed wood of a prostrate tree. 



The nest of this species is generally bored in the body of a sound tree, 

 near its first large branches. I observed no particular choice as to the 

 timber, having seen it in oaks, pines, &c. The nest, like that of other allied 

 species, is worked out by both sexes, and takes fully a week before it is 



