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runks and branches of trees through fair and wintry weather； industriously scanning every inch for the well…known signs of the boring worm or destructive fly。
In the autumn the male begins to excavate his winter quarters； carrying or throwing out the chips； by which this good workman is known； with his beak； while the female may make herself cosey or not； as she chooses； in an abandoned hole。 About her comfort he seems shamefully unconcerned。 Intent only on his own； he drills a perfectly round hole； usually on the underside of a limb where neither snow nor wind can harm him； and digs out a horizontal tunnel in the dry； brittle wood in the very heart of the tree； before turning downward into the deep； pear…shaped chamber； where he lives in selfish solitude。 But when the nesting season comes； how devoted he is temporarily to the mate he has neglected and even abused through the winter！ Will she never learn that after her clear…white eggs are laid and her brood raised he will relapse into the savage and forget all his tender wiles？
The hairy woodpecker； like many another bird and beast； furnishes much doubtful weather lore for credulous and inexact observers。 〃When the woodpecker pecks low on the trees； expect warm weather〃 is a common saying； but when different individuals are seen pecking at the same time； one but a few feet from the ground； and another among the high branches； one may make the prophecy that pleases him best。
The hairy woodpeckers love the deep woods。 They are drummers； not singers； but when walking in the desolate winter woods even the drumming and tapping of the busy feathered workmen on a resonant limb is a solace； giving a sense of life and cheerful activity which is invigorating。
DOWNY WOODPECKER （Dryobates pubescens） Woodpecker family
Length 6 to 7 inches。 About the size of the English sparrow。 Male Black above； striped with white。 Tail shaped like a wedge Outer tail feathers white； and barred with black。 Middle tail feathers black。 A black stripe on top of head； and distinct white band over and under the eyes。 Red patch on upper side of neck。 Wings； with six white bands crossing them transversely； white underneath。 Female Similar； but without scarlet on the nape； which is white。 Range Eastern North America； from Labrador to Florida。 Migrations Resident all the year throughout its range。
The downy woodpecker is similar to his big relative； the hairy woodpecker； in color and shape； though much smaller。 His outer tail feathers are white； barred with black； but the hairy's white outer tail feathers lack these distinguishing marks。
He is often called a sapsucker though quite another bird alone merits that name from the supposition that he bores into the trees for the purpose of sucking the sap； but his tongue is ill adapted for such use； being barbed at the end； and most ornithologists consider the charge libellous。 It has been surmised that he bores the numerous little round holes close together； so often seen； with the idea of attracting insects to the luscious sap。 The woodpeckers never drill for insects in live wood。 The downy actually drills these little holes in apple and other trees to feed upon the inner milky bark of the tree the cambium layer。 The only harm to be laid to his account is that； in his zeal； he sometimes makes a ring of small holes so continuous as to inadvertently damage the tree by girdling it。 The bird； like most others； does not debar himself entirely from fruit diet； but enjoys berries； especially poke…berries。
He is very social with birds and men alike。 In winter he attaches himself to strolling bands of nuthatches and chickadees； and in summer is fond of making friendly visits among village folk； frequenting the shade trees of the streets and grapevines of back gardens。 He has even been known to fearlessly peck at flies on window panes。
In contrast to his large brother woodpecker； who is seldom drawn from timber lands； the little downy member of the family brings the comfort of his cheery presence to country homes； beating his rolling tattoo in spring on some resonant limb under our windows in the garden with a strength worthy of a larger drummer。
This rolling tattoo； or drumming； answers several purposes： by it he determines whether the tree is green or hollow； it startles insects from their lurking places underneath the bark； and it also serves as a love song。
YELLOW…BELLIED WOODPECKER （Sphyrapicus varius） Woodpecker family
Called also： THE SAPSUCKER； ＇YELLOW…BELLIED SAPSUCKER； AOU 1998＇
Length 8 to 8。6 inches。 About one…fifth smaller than the robin。 Male Black； white； and yellowish white above； with bright…red crown； chin； and throat。 Breast black； in form of crescent A yellowish…white line； beginning at bill and passing below eye； merges into the pale yellow of the bird underneath。 Wings spotted with white； and coverts chiefly white。 Tail black； white on middle of feathers。 Female Paler； and with head and throat white。 Range Eastern North America； from Labrador to Central America。 Migrations April。 October。 Resident north of Massachusetts。 Most common in autumn。
It is sad to record that this exquisitely marked woodpecker； the most jovial and boisterous of its family； is one of the very few bird visitors whose intimacy should be discouraged。 For its useful appetite for slugs and insects which it can take on the wing with wonderful dexterity； it need not be wholly condemned。 But as we look upon a favorite maple or fruit tree devitalized or perhaps wholly dead from its ravages； we cannot forget that this bird； while a most abstemious fruit…eater； has a pernicious and most intemperate thirst for sap。 Indeed； it spends much of its time in the orchard； drilling holes into the freshest； most vigorous trees； then； when their sap begins to flow； it siphons it into an insatiable throat； stopping in its orgie only long enough to snap at the insects that have been attracted to the wounded tree by the streams of its heart…blood now trickling down its sides。 Another favorite pastime is to strip the bark off a tree； then peck at the soft wood underneath almost as fatal a habit。 It drills holes in maples in early spring for sap only。 If it drills holes in fruit trees it is for the cambium layer； a soft； pulpy； nutritious under…bark。
These woodpeckers have a variety of call…notes； but their rapid drumming against the limbs and trunks of trees is the sound we always associate with them and the sound that Mr。 Bicknell says is the love…note of the family。
Unhappily； these birds； that many would be glad to have decrease in numbers； take extra precautions for the safety of their young by making very deep excavations for their nests； often as deep as eighteen or twenty inches。
THE CHEWINK （Pipilo erythrophthalmus） Finch family
Called also： GROUND ROBIN； TOWHEE； TOWHEE BUNTING； TOWHEE GROUND FINCH； GRASEL； ＇EASTERN TOWHEE； AOU 1998＇
Length 8 to 8。5 inches。 About one…fifth smaller than the robin。 Male Upper parts black； sometimes margined with rufous。 Breast white； chestnut color on sides and rump。 Wings marked with white。 Three outer feathers of tail striped with white； conspicuous in flight。