THE BRITISH GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 41 



of greater and median coverts white forming with white scapulars 

 a large white patch on each side. This plumage is acquired by 

 -complete moult Aug. -Oct. Summer. — A moult confined to body- 

 feathers, and probably involving only some of the body-feathers, 

 takes place Jan. -April. Plumage as winter. 



Adult female. — Like adult male but without crimson band on 

 nape. 



Nestling. — Down absent. 



Juvenile. Male and female. — Like adult female but whole crown 

 -crimson, feathers being tipped crimson ; black line from base of 

 mandibles narrower and mixed with white and its continuation on 

 sides of breast broken, feathers being only partially black ; under- 

 parts generally paler than adults ; crimson of vent much duller and 

 feathers of belly tinged yellow and with scarcely any crimson ; flanks 

 often with a few blackish shaft-streaks ; outer tail-feathers with 

 rather more white and 2nd pair from centre often with a little white 

 at tip ; wing -feathers except inner secondaries tipped white ; inner 

 greater and median coverts with some black spots or bars and 

 scapulars usually with a few black marks or blackish shaft-streaks. 



First winter. Male and female. — Like adults. The juvenile 

 plumage is completely (including wings and tail) moulted Aug. -Oct. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 126-135 mm., tail 78-86, 

 tarsus 21-24, bill from skull 29-33, width at nostrils 8-10 (15 

 measured). $ wing 127-136. Primaries as D. m. major and rest 

 of structure as Green Woodpecker, but 4th toe rather larger than 

 3rd. Bill distinctly finer than in D. m. major. 



Soft parts. — Bill lead -grey, paler at base ; legs and feet greenish- 

 grey ; iris crimson (adult) brown (juvenile). 



[Field -characters. — Identified by boldly pied plumage, black 

 and white with vivid crimson under tail-coverts, and, except in 

 adult female, crimson patch on head. On wing resembles Starling 

 in size and shape, but even at distance when colours cannot be 

 made out its dipping flight is characteristic. More strictly arboreal 

 than Green Woodpecker ; affects woods and groves, particularly 

 where there is old timber, and, to a less extent, isolated trees in 

 fields and hedgerows. Cry a loud, sharp " tcheck, tcheck," 

 repeated so quickly when nest is threatened as to become a scream. 

 Hunger-cry of young in nest a continuous " itty, itty, ti titty, itty." 

 A loud, grinding rattle, which apparently functions as a song, is 

 made in spring by extremely rapid and vibrating blows of bill on 

 trunk or branch of a tree. 



Breeding-habits. — More of a forest bird than Green Woodpecker. 

 Breeds generally at a good height, cutting a hole into tree trunk, 

 which descends perpendicularly into a rounded chamber. Average 

 breadth of entrance If -2 inches. Eggs. — Normally 5-6, sometimes 

 7, rarelv 8 ; white and with some gloss. Average of 100 British 

 eggs, 26~.4 x 19.5. Max. : 29 X 19.6 and 27 X 21.9. Min. : 21 X 17.3 



