Comes north in May—often stays all winter—most commonly seen in the fall.
Song—shrill, lively call resembling the voice of the tree-frog.
Male and female have crimson head and neck—upper parts black with white marking—white band across wings—most conspicuous when bird is in flight.
Lower parts white—bill wedge-shaped, strong, and sharp—tail strong and stiff, used as a brace when clinging to a tree-trunk and tapping with bill—toes arranged two in front and two behind for better support in clinging to tree trunks, etc.
Young birds resemble the parents, except that in colour they are a mottled gray.
Food is largely fruit—green corn, nuts, and larval insects procured from tree-trunks.—Sometimes stores away nuts, etc.
Place chosen for nest is usually a rotting tree, which is easier to bore.—Hollow from fifteen to eighteen inches deep.—Eggs pure white, generally six in number.