Read Ebook: Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies from Parrots to Bluebirds by Reed Chester A Chester Albert

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Nest.--Flat, shabby platforms of twigs placed at low elevations in thickets or on the lower branches of trees. The four greenish-blue eggs are 1.15 x .85.

Range.--United States and southern Canada, east of the Rockies. Arrives in May and leaves in September for northern South America.

BELTED KINGFISHER 390. Ceryle aleyon. 13 inches

The male has the breast band and sides blue-gray, like the back, while the female has chestnut-colored sides and breast band in addition to a gray band.

Kingfishers may be found about ponds, lakes, rivers, the seaside or small creeks; anywhere that small fish may be obtained. Their food is entirely of fish that they catch by diving for, from their perches on dead branches, or by hovering over the water until the fish are in proper positions and then plunging after them.

Note.--A very loud, harsh rattle, easily heard half a mile away on a clear, quiet day.

Nest.--At the end of a two or three foot tunnel in a sand bank. The tunnel terminates in an enlarged chamber where the five to eight glossy white eggs are laid upon the sand.

Range.--Whole of North America north to the Arctic regions. Winters from southern United States southward.

TEXAS KINGFISHER 391. Ceryle americana septentrionalis. 8 inches

The adult male of this species has a rufous breast band, while the female has only a greenish one.

The Texan Green Kingfisher is the smallest member of the family found within our borders. You will notice that all Kingfishers have the two outer toes on each foot joined together for about two thirds of their length. This has been brought about through their habit of excavating in sand banks for nesting sites. It is quite probable that at some future distant period the three forward toes may be connected for their whole length, so as to give them a still more perfect shovel.

Note.--A rattling cry, more shrill than that of the Belted Kingfisher.

Nest.--The four to six glossy white eggs are laid on the sand at the end of a horizontal burrow in a bank, the end being enlarged into a chamber sufficiently large to allow the parent bird to turn about.

Range.--Southwestern border of the United States, from southern Texas to Arizona.

IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER 392. Campephilus principalis. 20 inches

Male with a scarlet crest, female with a black one.

These are the largest and most rare of the Woodpeckers found within our borders. Their decline in numbers is due, to a certain extent, to the killing of them because of their size and beauty, but chiefly on account of cutting off of a great deal of the heavy timber where they nest. They are very powerful birds and often scale the bark off the greater portion of a tree in search for insects and grubs, while they will bore into the heart of a living tree to make their home.

Note.--A shrill two-syllabled shriek or whistle.

Nest.--In holes of large trees in impenetrable swamps. On the chips at the bottom of the cavity, they lay from three to six glossy, pure white eggs .

Range.--Formerly the South Atlantic States and west to Texas and Indian Territory, but now confined to a few isolated portions of Florida and, possibly, Indian Territory.

HAIRY WOODPECKER 393. Dryobates villosus. 9 inches

In summer these Woodpeckers are found in heavy woods, where they breed, but in Winter they are often seen on trees about houses, even in the larger cities, hunting in all the crevices of the bark in the hope of locating the larva of some insect. They usually are more shy than the Downy, from which they can readily be distinguished by their much larger size.

Note.--A sharp whistled "peenk."

Nest.--In holes in trees in deep woods; three to six glossy white eggs .

Range.--Eastern U. S. from Canada to North Carolina.

Sub-Species.--393a. Northern Hairy Woodpecker , British America and Alaska; larger, 393b. Southern Hairy Woodpecker , South Atlantic and Gulf States; smaller. The difference between these birds is small and chiefly in size, although the southern bird often has fewer white marks on the wing coverts. Other sub-species are found west of the Rockies.

SOUTHERN DOWNY WOODPECKER 394. Dryobates pubescens. 6 inches

The male has a red nuchal patch while the female has none. Downies are one of the commonest of our Woodpeckers and are usually tame, allowing a very close approach before flying. They remain in orchards and open woods throughout the summer, and in winter often come to the windows in places where they are fed, as many people are in the habit of doing now. Their food, as does that of nearly all the Woodpeckers, consists entirely of insects, grubs and larvae.

Note.--A sharp "peenk" or a rapid series of the same note, usually not as loud as that of the Hairy Woodpecker.

Nest.--In holes in trees in orchards or woods; the four to six white eggs being laid on the bare wood; size .75 x .60.

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States.

Sub-Species.--Northern Downy Woodpecker North America east of the Rockies and north of the Carolinas. This variety is slightly larger than the southern, others are found west of the Rockies.

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER 395. Dryobates borealis. 8 1/4 inches

Male with a small patch of scarlet on both sides of the head; female without. The actions and habits are very similar to those of the Downy. The birds can readily be identified at a distance by the cross-barring of white on the back. Their notes are harsher than those of the Downy and have more of the nasal quality, like those of the nuthatches.

Range.--Southeastern United States, west to Texas and north to Virginia.

TEXAN WOODPECKER 396. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. 7 1/4 inches

On account of its numerous cross-bars, this species is often known as the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. They are quite similar to the Nuttall Woodpecker that is found on the Pacific Coast, but differ in having the underparts brownish-white instead of white, and the outer tail feathers heavily barred. They are found from Texas to southeastern California and north to Colorado.

ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 400. Picoides arcticus. 9.5 inches

Back glossy black, without any white. Only three toes, two in front and one behind. This is the most common of the two species found within the United States. They breed from the northern edge of the Union north to the limit of trees.

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 401. Picoides americanus. 8 3/4 inches

Back barred with white; outer tail feathers barred with black; yellow crown patch on male mixed with white. Except on some of the higher mountain ranges these birds appear in the United States only during winter. They are very hardy and commence nesting before snow leaves.

Note.--A shrill, loud, nasal shriek, sometimes repeated.

Nest.--In holes of trees as is usual with Woodpeckers. The white eggs measure .95 x .70.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 402. Sphyrapicus varius. 8 1/2 inches

Male with a scarlet crown and throat; female with a scarlet crown and white throat; young with the head and neck mottled gray and white, with a few scarlet feathers.

This species has gained some ill-repute because of its supposed habit of boring through the bark of trees in order to get at the sap, and thus killing the trees. However, I very much doubt if they do any appreciable damage in this manner. I have watched a great many of them in the spring and fall and have clearly seen that they were feeding upon insects in the same way as the Downy.

Note.--A loud whining "whee," and other harsh calls similar to the scream of a Blue Jay.

Nest.--In holes in trees, at heights from the ground varying from eight to fifty feet. Late in May they lay from four to seven white eggs .

Range.--U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding from Virginia and Missouri to Hudson Bay, and wintering in southern U. S.

PILEATED WOODPECKER 405. Phloeotomus pileatus. 17 inches

Male with a scarlet crown and crest, and a red moustache or mark extending back from the bill; female with scarlet crest but a blackish forehead and no moustache.

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