28 



THE FOOD OF WOODPECKERS. 



YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER OR SAPSUCKER. 



(Sphyrapicus varius. ) 



This species is probably tlie most migratory of all our woodpeckers, 

 breeding only in the most northerly parts of the United States, and in 

 some of the mountains farther south. Iii the fall it ranges southward, 

 spending the winter in most of the Eastern States. It is less generally 

 distributed than some of the other woodpeckers, being quite unknown 

 in some sections and very abundant in others. For instance, Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam states that in the Adirondack region during migration it 









Fig. 4— TcUowliplIied Woodjuxker <>r Sapsuoker. 



outnuml)ers all other species of the family together, and throughout the 

 sumiiuT is second in mimbers only to the Hairy Woo(lpe<ker: and at 

 Mount Chocorua, New Hampshire, Mr. Frank UoUes fouml it the most 

 abundant si)ecies. In ^Minnesota also it is very common. On the other 

 hand, near my iiome in Massacliusetts only two or tinee were observed 

 each year; and during a residence of eight years in Iowa it was noted 

 only tlireeor four times. 



