RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Melanerpes erythrocephalus erythrocephalus (Linnæus)
Other Name.—Red-head.
Description.—A little smaller than a Robin. Adults: Head, neck, and upper breast, rich, deep red; upperparts glossy blue-black; the terminal half of the secondaries, rump, and upper tail-coverts, white; tail black, the outer feathers tipped and somewhat edged with white; lower breast and belly white, a reddish or buffy cast in the middle. Immature birds: Head and neck grayish brown, somewhat mottled; upper back glossy black, barred with gray; wings black, the terminal half of secondaries barred with black and white; tail usually as in adults; underparts white; the sides more or less streaked and spotted with dark brown or gray. Length: 9½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A local but usually common summer resident from April 15 to October 1; casual in winter.
Nest.—A cavity drilled in a dead tree or telegraph-pole, usually from 15 to 30 feet from the ground, often in an oak. Eggs: 3 to 5, glossy white.
Red-headed Woodpecker
The white wing-patches of this bird are conspicuous, particularly in flight, and its loud cry, kree-er, kree-er, is a familiar roadside sound. It is given to capturing insects flycatcher-fashion and is an accomplished acrobat in the air. The food of the Red-head is varied, and while it often eats grubs, it also takes other insects and much small fruit. Occasionally an individual develops the habit of eating the eggs of other birds.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Centurus carolinus (Linnæus)
Other Names.—Ladder-back; Zebra Woodpecker; Chiv; Sapsucker (erroneous).
Description.—A little smaller than a Robin. Adult male: Top of head and back of neck bright, glossy scarlet; rest of head, neck, and underparts, ashy gray, the region about the bill and the belly usually tinged with red; upperparts, including wings, strikingly barred with glossy black and white; upper tail-coverts white, with median streaks or sagittate markings of black; tail black, the feathers considerably marked with white. Adult female: Similar, the forepart of the head gray. Immature birds are similar to the female, but the belly is often tinged with brownish rather than red. Length: 9½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common in the extreme southwestern counties; local, sometimes common, in other western counties as far north as Crawford County, and through the southern tier of counties; a permanent resident wherever found.
Nest.—A cavity drilled from 20 to 60 feet from the ground, usually in a forest tree. Eggs: 3 to 6, glossy white.
The squirrel-like cry of this woodpecker, which may be written chiv, chiv, is a familiar sound in some of the woodlands of Greene County. Its call-notes resemble those of the Red-head and Flicker, and are considerably varied. The principal range of this species is the southern United States. It is gradually moving northward, however, like the Cardinal, and should be looked for in all central counties. The bright red top of the head and prominently barred back are good field-marks.
NORTHERN FLICKER
Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs
Other Names.—Golden-winged Woodpecker; Yellow Hammer; Wake Robin; Ground Woodpecker; Wickup; Clape; Yarrup; High-hole; Plickah; Ant-bird, and many other names, most of them colloquial.
Description.—A little larger than a Robin. Male: Top of head gray, scarlet patch on nape, black patch extending backward from each lower mandible, rest of head cinnamon-brown; back and wings olive-brown, barred with black, the wing-linings and shafts of feathers bright yellow, noticeable in flight; rump and upper tail-coverts white; tail-feathers black above, edged with whitish, bright yellow below; breast with prominent black patch; underparts light cinnamon-brown, each feather with round black spot at tip; under tail-coverts barred with black. Female: Similar but lacking the black marks which extend backward from the lower mandibles. Immature birds: Similar to the female, but with red sprinkled over top of head. Length: 12 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant and widely distributed summer resident and migrant from March 15 to November 15; casual in winter.
Nest.—A cavity drilled in a living or dead tree, often an apple or maple, from 4 to 40 feet from the ground. Eggs: 5 to 11, usually 7 or 8, glossy white.