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BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
Genus COLAPTES Swainson. 
Colaptes auratus (Linn.). 
Flicker. 
Description ( Plate 22). 
Bill differs from other of our woodpeckers. It is long, slender, slightly curved, 
without lateral ridges ; nostrils exposed. Shafts and under surface of wing and 
tail feathers gamboge-yellow ; a black patch on each side of the cheek ; a red cres¬ 
cent on the upper part of hind-neck, throat and stripe beneath the eye pale lilac- 
brown. A crescentic patch on the breast and rounded spots on the belly, black ; 
back and wing-coverts with interrupted transverse bands of black ; neck above and 
on sides ashy. In the female the black cheek patch is usually absent; eyes brown. 
Length about 12| inches ; extent about 20 ; wing about 6 inches. 
Habitat .—Northern and eastern North America, west to the eastern slope of the 
Rocky mountains and Alaska. Occasional on the Pacific slope from California 
northward. Accidental in Europe. 
This species, one of the most common of all our woodpeckers, is found 
in some sections of Pennsylvania during all months of the year ; but it 
is far more numerous in the summer season than at other times. The 
Flicker, like all of the woodpeckers, flies in an undulatory manner. 
When flying it is easily recognized from other species by the conspicu¬ 
ous golden-yellow under parts of the tail and wings, and the white rump. 
As previously remarked, woodpeckers are not commonly seen on the 
ground; in this particular, however, the subject of this present sketch 
differs from other of his kin, as he is frequently to be observed hopping 
about in grass fields, meadows or along the roadside searching for food. 
Although the Flicker commonly lays about six eggs, I have known as 
many as seventeen eggs to have been taken from the nest of one bird. 
Flickers are great destroyers of ants; they also subsist on various forms 
of noxious insects, and in the fall and winter season eat, in addition to 
insect food, berries, wild cherries, small seeds of grasses, etc. 
Insects that Woodpeckers Eat. 
In February, March and April, 1885, I collected a large number of woodpeckers 
at different points in Florida, in the region about the St. John’s river, from Welaka 
to Sanford. The stomach contents of thirty-three of these birds were kindly deter¬ 
mined for me by Prof. C. V. Riley, the eminent entomologist of the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, and are given below, with a letter that came with the list: 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Division of Entomology, 
Washington, D. C., January 28, 1886. 
B. H. Warren, M. D., West Chester , Pa.: 
Dear Sir : I hand you herewith a full list of the insect material contained in the 
vials of birds’ stomachs which you have submitted for examination. The determi¬ 
nations are as specific as the condition of the material would permit, and in almost 
every instance the generic reference is given, which is sufficient to indicate the habit 
of the insect. 
Yours very truly, 
- C. Y. Riley. 
