230 
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of eighteen specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 8-87; stretch, 17-00; wing, 5-30; 
tail, 3-45; bill, 101; tarsus, -90. Longest specimen, 9-75; greatest extent of wing, 17-50; longest wing, 5*60; tail, 3-80; bill, 
1-12; tarsu s, -95. Shortest specimen, 8 - 00; smallest extent of wing, 16-50; shortest wing, 5-00; tail, 3-10; hill, -90; tarsus, 
•85. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in cylinder-shaped holes, usually excavated in dead trees. Dimensions, diameter of external orifice, 2'00, 
greatest internal, 5-00. Internal depth, 18'00. 
Eggs, four or five in number, elliptical inform, pure, polished pearly-white in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 
•75x-90 to-80x1-00. 
HABITS. 
Although I have met with the Red-headed Woodpeckers at intervals from Massachu¬ 
setts to Florida, I have nowhere found them more abundant than in Pennsylvania; indeed 
this latter named section appears to be head-quarters for them in the more eastern portions 
of the section of which I write and they exceed in number any other species of Woodpeck¬ 
ers, not excepting even the Golden-winged. I have said that the two last species described 
were noisy birds but the Red-heads by far exceed them in this respect and their loud and 
repeatedly given cries may be heard in all directions. This is especially noticeable in the 
open country for these Woodpeckers frequent the orchards or small groves which border 
streams, in preference to the woodlands. Although not as gregarious as some other spe¬ 
cies of the family, yet they are fond of the company of their own kind and it is not unu¬ 
sual to see four or five sporting together. The sycamore or buttonwood grows to a large 
size in the fertile valleys of the creeks which empty into the Susquehanna River and as the 
top branches of this tree frequently die, they form convenient roosts for these Woodpeckers 
as the withered limbs protrude above the foliage and thus the birds have an uninterrupted 
view of the surrounding country. Particular birds appear to choose certain trees on which 
to rest and, in autumn, will spend some hours every day upon them. This habit is observ¬ 
able during the fine days of autumn and an entire brood, consisting of the two parents and 
their dull-colored progeny, may be frequently seen upon one tree. 
In spring, however, the Red-headed Woodpeckers are too busy to spend much time 
in idleness for they soon begin the duties of nest building, usually excavating the hole in 
an old apple-tree or in some stub that stands in the open, seldom building in the woods. 
At this season, they are very unsuspicious and will construct their domiciles in any tree 
that strikes their fancy, no matter how near a dwelling it may stand. Thus I once knew 
of a pair that chose an old stub, in which to place their home, which not only stood within 
a dozen yards of a railroad, but was also not fifty feet from a dwelling, while a foot path 
that was traversed daily, passed directly beneath its withered branches. Another pair had 
selected a dead limb in a buttonwood that grew by the side of an elevated tram-way, only 
a short distance from a saw-mill and the hole in which the nest was placed could almost be 
reached with the hand as one stood upon the wooden railway over which workmen were 
constantly pushing cars laden with lumber. In both cases, the birds appeared to be per¬ 
fectly accustomed to all the bustle and din attendant upon localities which were in such 
close proximity to the busy haunts of man. I have frequently passed within a few feet of 
