THE BIRD BOOK 
Williamson Sapsucker 
Northern Pileated Woodpecker 
405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker. 
Phloeotomus pileatus abieticola. 
Range.— Local throughout North America, 
from the northern parts of the United States 
northward. 
This variety is only very slightly larger 
than the preceding, it otherwise being the 
same. It is still abundant in many localities, 
but its range is rapidly being reduced, on ac- 
count of cutting away the forests. Its nesting 
habits and eggs are the same as those of the 
southern variety. 
406. Red-headed Woodpecker. 
Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 
Range. — United States, east of the Rockies, 
except New England; north to northern Can- 
ada; winters in southern United States. 
This beautiful species 
has a bright red head, 
neck and breast, glossy 
blue black back, wings 
and tail, and white under- 
parts, rump and second- 
aries. It is the most abund- 
ant of the family in the 
greater portion of its 
range, where it nests in 
any kind of trees or in telegraph poles at any 
height from the ground; they also sometimes 
nest in holes under the eaves of buildings. They 
are the most pugnacious of the Woodpeckers, 
and are often seen chasing one another or driv- 
ing away some other bird. They are also known 
to destroy the nests and eggs of many species, 
and also to kill and devour the young, they 
being the only Woodpecker, so far as known, 
to have acquired this disreputable habit; they 
also feed upon, besides ants and larvae, many 
kinds of fruit and berries. Their nesting sea- 
son is during May and June, when they lay 
from four to eight white eggs, with less gloss 
than those of the Flicker. Size 1.00 x .75. 
407. Ant-eating Woodpecker. 
Melanerpes formicivorus formicivorus. 
Range. — Mexican border of the United States, 
southward. 
This species may be identified by the black 
region around the base of the bill, the white 
forehead, red crown and nape, yellowish throat, 
and blackish upper parts, extending in a band 
across the breast, this variety having the band 
streaked with white posteriorly. The habits of 
this variety are the same as the next which is 
most abundant in the United States. 
Red-headed Woodpecker 
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