The Red-bellied Woodpecker. 
(Oenturus carolmufi ) — (Lin) sw. 
BY D. E. L., MANHATTAN, KAN. 
In this part of Kansas four species of Picidae 
are common and permanent residents. These 
are the Downy, the Hairy, and the Red-bellied 
Woodpecker and the Yellow-shafted Flicker. 1 
The first and the last mentioned are more abund- 
ant than the others. The Red-headed Wood- 
pecker is a common Summer resident, rarely re- 
maining later than Sept. 1. It is also a late arrival 
in Spring migration. The Red-shafted Flickers : 
( Colciptes auratus and liybriduts) are rather com- \ 
mon in Winter. The Pileated Woodpecker, al- 
though common in more-lieavily timbered por- 
tions of the State, is rare here, only two specimens ! 
having been observed in a residence of six years. ; 
Of the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker but one 
specimen has ever been observed in this locality. 
There is so much uniformity in the breeding 
habits of our Picidae that one would think there 
is nothing new to learn. Yet I feel that I have ; 
been amply repaid for the casual attention given : 
to our common Centurm earolinus.. Knowing 
that many of the readers of the O. and O. have 
not had opportunities for an intimate acquaint- 
ance with it, I take for their benefit, a few notes 
from my records. 
One of the first facts to be noted about our 
western Woodpeckers is their familiarity and j 
boldness even in the breeding season. None but ! 
the Hairy seem to have the retiring habits so 
often noticed in the east. The Flicker, the Red- 
headed, and the Downy Woodpeckers come into 
the door-yards in the most thickly settled parts 
of our towns, and excavate holes for their nests 
in the decayed limbs of shade trees. The first 
two frequently make holes in the cornices of 
buildings, and rear their young under the same 
roof that shelters us. Singularly enough, the 
Red-bellied Woodpecker shares in this familiarity, 
and receives the protection of those whom he 
favors with his noisy company. 
My first acquaintance with its nest was in 1882, 
when I found a nest near the Big Blue river. 
This nest was in a large Elm tree which grew in 
an open space not far from a farm-house, and 
near the edge of the timber. The excavation was 
in a large dead limb, about twelve feet from the 
ground. On climbing to it, I found three fresh 
eggs, and left them for the full set which I found 
to be five eggs. These were taken May 12. Dur- 
ing last season I found about a dozen nests of 
these species from which I collected several sets. 
The nests present nothing new in choice of 
position, being usually less Ilian twenty feet from 
the ground. My earliest date for a full set was 
May 10. On May 13 two. sets were taken, one of 
four and the other of five eggs ; both were slight- 
ly incubated. It was a great surprise to me to 
learn how devoted this bird is to its nest. After 
incubation lias commenced, no noise or distur- 
bance is sufficient to drive the bird away. In 
several cases it was neccessary to remove it by 
force before the eggs could be secured. After 
being robbed, it almost immediately begins the 
excavations of a hole for a second set of eggs. 
This is always in the vicinity of the first, often in 
the same tree. Their attachment for their nests 
is an additional trait of character which should 
commend these birds to our protection. Besides, 
the fact of its being a permanent resident and 
thus an ever useful “ insecticide,” renders it one of 
the most beneficial of the Picidae, 
The eggs of this species are in size and general 
appearance so much like those of the Red-headed 
Woodpecker that they cannot be distinguished. 
In making exchanges of Woodpecker’s eggs with 
others, faith in the reliability of the collector is an 
essential factor. O.&O. X. Jan. 1885. p.'o-// 
A Crosse-billed Woodpecker. 
BY W. F. .WEST, GREENSBURG, INK. 
While out collecting one day this winter, j 
shot a male Red-bellied Woodpecke r in normal 
plumage, but with the mandibles of the bill 
crossed. When the tips of the mandibles were 
placed together, there would be a space of about 
i inch between the upper and the lower. 
This bird was in good shape, but it would seem 
almost impossible for it to feed after the fash- 
ion of woodpeckers. 
~ “ .1888 p.95 
W 
