20 THE PILEATED WOODPECKER NEAR BUFFALO 



year, their drumming on the trees being heard in the woods on 

 the coldest days of the winter. The largest bird of this family, 

 the ivory bill, so called from the appearances of the beak, is not 

 found in our locality, and is practically extinct in the regions of 

 the southern states where it was at one time quite common. 



The largest and most powerful of the wood-peckers of our 

 own state is the pileated, so called because of the bright red 

 crest or cap covering the top of the head. The bird is of a 

 general dull black color, relieved by the crimson crest and a 

 white stripe running from the nostrils on either side of the head 

 and neck to the side of the breast and under surface of the 

 wing. The feathers of the flanks and breast are occasionally 

 tipped with white. The female resembles the male excepting 

 that the crest is not so brilliantly colored, especially on the 

 front portion. The bird is about eighteen inches long and 

 spreads about 28 inches, the female being slightly smaller. It 

 was at one time common throughout most of the northern 

 United States up to the 63 parallel, but owing to its timid na- 

 ture is one of the first to withdraw and disappear before the 

 progress of civilization. For that reason it is now but seldom 

 seen in our neighborhood, although resident in the Adirond- 

 acks and some other parts of the state. 



This bird is also honored by several local names, being 

 called the black woodpecker, the black cock and the cock of the 

 wo >ds. It is very energetic, going at its work with great en- 

 thusiasm, but keeping an eye open for any possible danger so 

 that it is very difficult to approach. The flight of the pileated 

 woodpecker differs somewhat from the movement of the other 

 woodpeckers. Most of these birds move through the air in al- 

 ternating descending and ascending lines, but this bird pro- 

 ceeds forward in a more uniform direction. In common with 

 the other woodpeckers he does not make very long flights, 

 gliding easily from one tree to another in search of food. 



The mating season of these birds is usually in April. They 

 excavate a deep hole in a decayed tree, cutting away the wood 

 with such vigor that the chips are sometimes from four to five 

 inches long and half an inch in thickness. The eggs are from 

 three to five, of a beautiful white color, as is the case of the 

 eggs of the other woodpeckers. Frequently the nest is used 

 season after season for a number of years. 



