. Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations. Birds. ^ 172 BIBDS OF PENNSYLVANIA â 4 Genus MELANERPES Swainson. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.). Red-headed Woodpecker. Description (Plate 21). Head and neck all around crimson red, margined by a narrow crescent of black on the upper part of the breast; back, primary quills, and tail bluish-black ; under parts generally, a broad band across the middle of the "wing, and the rump white : belly usually tinged with reddish. Bill and feet blue-black; iris br
. Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations. Birds. ^ 172 BIBDS OF PENNSYLVANIA â 4 Genus MELANERPES Swainson. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.). Red-headed Woodpecker. Description (Plate 21). Head and neck all around crimson red, margined by a narrow crescent of black on the upper part of the breast; back, primary quills, and tail bluish-black ; under parts generally, a broad band across the middle of the "wing, and the rump white : belly usually tinged with reddish. Bill and feet blue-black; iris brown. P"'emale is not dilTerent. Young.âHead, neck and back dull gray, varied with blackish; secondary feath- ers, usually crossed with dark bands. The head in nearly all specimens taken in ^all and winter, with more or less red feathers. Length Oj inches ; extent aljout 18 ; wing 5^ inches. Habitat.âUnited States, west to the Rocky mountains, straggling westward to Salt Lake valley ; rare or lo<'al east of the Hudson river. The Red-lieaded Woodpecker, readily recognized l)y its red, white and blue pluiriage, is found in Pennsylvania at all seasons, but during the summer is much more al)undant than at other periods. I have repeat- edly obsei-ved these birds during the autumn and winter mtmths, in small parties numbering from eight to a dozen or sometimes twenty in- dividuals, but never found them in large flocks. In many localities in eastern Pennsylvania during the past few years these beautiful birds have become quite scarce. As farmers and fruit growers very generally seem to fully appreciate the beneficent services these birds render, and seldom subject them to persecution, I attribute this scarcity largely to the fact that the adult lied-heads find a ready market for millinery purposes. Wlien pursued by gunners, these wood- peckers first endeavor to escape by flying to the topmost branches of the tallest trees; then, if further molested, they will conceal th(^mse
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