EGGS: 
The complement of eggs is four or five. They are pure, pearly white, with a fine polish, and 
measure from .90 to 1.00 in long-diameter, by from .70 to .78 in short-diameter. A common size is about 
.72 x .95. Maynard gives the dimensions as follows: “1.04 x .80 to .95 x .75.” “ North American Birds” 
says : “ The eggs vary from an oblong to a somewhat rounded oval shape, are of a bright crystalline 
whiteness, and their measurements average 1.02 inches in length by .88 of an inch in breadth.” 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 
The eggs of the five Woodpeckers known to be summer residents differ from each other only in 
size and shape. All are pure white, and almost all have highly polished, pearly shells. The largest are 
the eggs of the Golden-winged Woodpecker, the smallest those of the Downy Woodpecker. In the 
following list they occur according to their size : 
C. auratus — long-diameter, 
.93 to 
1.19 
short-diameter, 
.79 to .90. 
M. erythrocephalus — “ 
.90 to 
1.10 
U 
.70 to .85. 
C. carolinus — “ 
.90 to 
1.00 
it 
.70 to .78. 
P. villosus— “ 
.87 to 
1.05 
U 
.68 to .75. 
P. pubescens — “ 
.78 to 
.88 
u 
.57 to .67. 
The Pileated Woodpecker is possibly a summer resident in certain sections of the State, but I have 
been unable to obtain an undoubted record of its occurrence. 
It will be seen from the above dimensions that it is not possible to differentiate eggs of the first 
four species with any degree of certainty unless a large number of specimens are considered. 
REMARKS : 
Pig. 2, Plate LXIY, represents three eggs of the Red-bellied Woodpecker of the common sizes and 
shapes. They were selected for me from a number of sets in the possession of Mr. F. T. Jenks, of 
Providence, R. I. 
I frequently see this handsome Woodpecker along the country roads in Central Ohio, but never in 
the nesting season. It is always alone, and usually not very wild. I hope yet to be able to find its 
nest in Pickaway County, and thus add one more of the family to my local list. 
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