574 
ZYGODACTYLI. 
YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
( Ficus varius , Wilson. 1. p. 147. pi. 9. f. 2. [male]. Bonap. Am. 
Orn. 1. p. 75. pi. 8. f. 1. 2. [young]. Phil. Museum, No. 2004.) 
Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white, the back spotted with 
pale yellow ; front, crown, and anterior part of the throat crim- 
son ; breast and belly, light yellow. — Female , with the throat 
and hind-head whitish. — Young , without yellow nearly on 
the back, with a broad white band across the wings ; the belly 
yellowish. 
This species extends over the whole American conti- 
nent, from the 53d degree to the tropic, where they are 
seen in Cayenne. They likewise inhabit the table land 
of Mexico ; and are believed to frequent the borders of 
lake Baikal in Asia. In most part of this extensive 
region, the species dwell and breed. During the sum- 
mer, it is seldom seen beyond the precincts of the forests 
in which it selects the most solitary recesses, leaving 
its favorite haunts only at the approach of winter, and 
seeking from neccessity or caprice, at this roving season, 
the boundaries of the orchard. Its habits are but little 
different from those of the Hairy and Downy Woodpeck- 
ers with which they are often associated in their foraging 
excursions. The nest, as usual, is made in the body of 
some decayed orchard or forest tree, the circular en- 
trance to which is left only just sufficient for the passage 
of the parties, the depth of the cavity is about 15 inches, 
and the eggs 4 or upwards, are likewise white. Their 
principal food is insects, for which they sometimes bore 
the trunks of the orchard trees. 
This species is about 8J inches long, with the alar extent (or stretch 
of the wings) 15 inches. Sides under the wings, dusky yellow, 
spotted longitudinally with black. The red of the throat surrounded 
with black extending over the breast. Tail black, the two central 
feathers white on their inner vanes and spotted with black. Legs 
and feet dusky blue, inclining to green. Bill, dusky horn-color, 
rather long and stout. 
