212 
ORDERS OF BIRDS— WOODPECKERS 
protected, it has been so greatly reduced in 
number that it is seldom seen. It is an omniv- 
orous feeder, eating insects, fruit, beech-nuts, 
corn and other grain, according to necessity. 
Its cry is loud and far-reaching, and sounds like 
“Choor! Choor!” As to migrating, it seems 
unable to make up its mind whether to become 
a “regular migrant” or a “winter resident.” 
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 
Sometimes it migrates southward during the 
early winter, and sometimes it winters in the 
North. 
An examination of the stomachs of one hun- 
dred and one Red-Headed Woodpeckers re- 
vealed 50 per cent of animal food and 45 per 
cent vegetable. Of the former, ants made up 
11 per cent, and beetles 31 per cent. The fruit 
and vegetable food represented five kinds of 
cultivated fruit (strawberries, blackberries, cher^ 
ries, apples and pears), and fifteen kinds of wild 
fruit and seeds. The insect food consisted of 
ants, wasps, beetles, bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, 
moths, caterpillars, spiders and thousand-legged 
worms. In the fruit season, the Red-Head un- 
doubtedly does considerable damage to fruit 
crops, more by mutilating fruit, perhaps, than 
by actual loss through fruit wholly consumed; 
and if these birds were as numerous as sparrows, 
it would be necessary for fruit-growers to take 
precautions against them during the fruit season. 
The damage done to corn appears to be quite in- 
significant. (Professor F. E. L. Beal’s report.) 
The great fondness of the Red-Head for beech- 
nuts, and its habit of storing them up for winter 
use, in holes and crevices, are well known. 
The Ant-Eating Woodpecker 1 of the Pacific 
slope is the most conspicuous and interesting 
bird of this Order in that region, either around 
the suburban home, on the ranch, or in the moun- 
tain forests. This is the species which is now 
celebrated in word and picture for its habit of 
digging hundreds of holes in soft bark or dead 
tree-trunks, and “storing” an acorn in each 
hole, for future food. 
The Downy Woodpecker 2 is a small gray- 
and-black species, modest and quiet in demeanor, 
but quite as common about the haunts of man 
as the golden-wing. It is the smallest species 
found in the United States and is the one which 
is most in evidence in winter. 
This bird ranks high as a destroyer of insects, 
and in the percentage of insect food consumed 
leads all other woodpeckers that have been 
studied by the Biological Survey of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. An examination of one 
hundred and forty stomachs revealed 74 per cent 
of insect food and 25 of vegetable. The vege- 
table food consisted chiefly of seeds of the poison 
ivy, poison sumac, mullen, poke berries, dog- 
wood and woodbine. The fruits consisted of 
service berries, strawberries and apples. 
Apparently this bird is almost worth its weight 
in gold to the farmer who has valuable trees 
and fruit ; and in winter, the farmer who is wise 
will put up suet, fat pork, and bones bearing 
some raw meat, on the trees in his orchard and 
woods. 
1 Mel-an-er'pes f or -mi-civ’ o-r us. 
2 Pi'cus pu-bes'cens me-di-an'us. Length, 7 inches. 
