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Range (Eastern North America) (VI)

Eastern North America, from Labrador to Florida; resident throughout its range.

Washington, common P. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. Cambridge, common P. R. Nest, generally in a dead tree. Eggs, four to six, 75 x 60. Woodland, orchards, and the shade trees of lawns are alike frequented by this, the smallest and most familiar of our Woodpeckers. Sometimes he tells of his presence by an industrious tap, tap-tapping as he patiently digs out the grubs and larvæ which form his bill of fare. Again he hails us with a businesslike peek, peek-a note closely resembling the sound produced by a marble quarrier's chisel, and which WOODPECKERS. sometimes is prolonged into a rattling call. Like other Woodpeckers, in the spring he beats a rolling tattoo on a resonant limb, sounding a reveille which is a credit to so small a drummer.

The Downy is a sociable Woodpecker, and when the gay summer visitors have returned to their southern homes and the wind whistles drearily through the leafless trees, he joins the Chickadees and Nuthatches, and during the winter they are inseparable companions. Perhaps they share with him the snug quarters in some old trunk which he has hollowed out for a winter home. 395. Dryobates borealis (Vieill.). RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. Ad. .-Crown black, a small tuft of scarlet feathers on either side of the back of the head; back barred with black and white; wings spotted with black and white; middle tail-feathers black, outer ones with broken black bars; ear region white, separated from the white throat by a black stripe running from the bill to the shoulder; sides and under tail-coverts spotted and streaked with black; rest of the under parts white. Ad. 2.-Similar, but without scarlet on the head. L., 8.40; W., 4.65; T., 3·10; B., 80.