44 
OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 250 
The rasping: call-note is uttered frequently while the bird is on the 
wing-, which characteristic booming- sound is produced by the air 
rushing through the wing quills as the bird, with great rapidity, 
rushes earth-ward on set wings. A large white patch in each wing, 
which is easily seen when the bird is in the air, is a good distinguish¬ 
ing mark. 
WHIP-POOR-WILL, Antrostomus vociferus Tjociferus ( Wils .) 
This species and the preceding are frequently confounded. The 
Whip-poor-will is the more terrestrial and is confined to the heavier 
timber, where it nests, the two elliptical eggs being deposited on the 
dry leaves beneath the undergrowth. In consequence of this choice 
of habitat, its occurrence is local. To many, the bird is but a 
wandering voice, being known only by the familiar call from which 
the bird derives its name. The insect food of this species is com¬ 
posed of such forms as are flying abroad at night and are taken near 
the ground. 
WOODPECKERS 
The Woodpeckers are guardians of the forests, and their dis- 
t /ibution depends largely upon the presence of timber. The stiff- 
pointed tail feathers, which assist them to sustain their weight against 
tree trunks, their strong, chisel-like bills and barbed, distensible 
tongues, admirably fit them for the destruction of wood-boring 
larvae and other forms of insect life, inaccessible to most other birds. 
The uniformly glossy white eggs are deposited in cavities, usually 
excavated by themselves. All are songless, but have call-notes. 
The drumming of the male seems to take the place of song, and is 
produced by the vigorous and rapid striking with the bill on a dead, 
resonant branch. 
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.) 
Our commonest summer woodpecker, at least locally; it usually 
winters, even to the lake shore, in small numbers. It prefers open 
woodland, parks or orchards. The black, white, and red plumage of 
this species makes it one of the most conspicuous of our birds. The 
capturing of insects, after the manner of the Flycatchers, is quite 
characteristic, and they sometimes repair to the ground for food. 
Beetles and grasshoppers form 36 percent of their food. Some corn, 
wild and cultivated fruit, acorns and other mast, is also eaten. The 
few berries and cherries and the little corn that is eaten is more than 
compensated for by the injurious insects destroyed. Live wood is 
not injured by this species. 
NORTHERN FLICKER, Colaptes auratus luteus (Bangs.) 
The Flicker, also called Golden-winged Woodpecker, Pigeon 
Woodpecker, Yellow Hammer, and by many other names, varying 
