BIRD LIFE IX WASHINGTON 
63 
NORTHWESTERN FLICKER 
Here is one of the most conspicuous of 
Washington birds. Everybody knows 
him although few call him by his right 
O t/ o 
name. He is called the “Higliholder,” I 
presume because his holdings are so high. 
Fie is also called “The Yellow Hammer,” 
because his eastern cousin is known by 
that name. Ours had better be called the 
Pink Hammer. He hammers and the un¬ 
dersides of his wings are pink. 
When we flush him from a precious 
wormy log and he flies low, the clear 
white rump shows conspicuously. When 
he flies high, the rose on the undersides of 
Ins wings is in evidence. When he stands 
upon a roof anxiously calling for his 
mate, his spotted breast crossed by a 
black crescent identifies him. 
He spends a great part of the year free¬ 
ing the trees from harmful insects. In 
the autumn Mr. Flicker comes for his 
share of ripe apples. He has earned some 
for he has helped to take care of the apple 
trees. 
“Wick up, wick up, wick up,” he saj^s, 
as he clings to the trunks of the trees. 
“Chap,” he calls from the house tops, or, 
as he flies, he sings a rolling song, a good 
imitation of which you can make by All- 
ing the lungs with air, closing the lips 
and forcing the air through the lips while 
they rapidly open and close. 
