bird neighbors-第8章

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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。　Bill　black　and　stout。　Red　eyes；　feet　　　brown。　Female　　Brownish　where　the　male　is　black。　Abdomen　shading　from　　　chestnut　to　white　in　the　centre。　Range　　From　Labrador；　on　the　north；　to　the　Southern　States；　　　West　to　the　Rocky　Mountains。　Migrations　　April。　September　and　October。　Summer　resident。　Very　　　rarely　a　winter　resident　at　the　north。

The　unobtrusive　little　chewink　is　not　infrequently　mistaken　for　a　robin；　because　of　the　reddish　chestnut　on　its　under　parts。　Careful　observation；　however；　shows　important　distinctions。　It　is　rather　smaller　and　darker　in　color；　its　carriage　and　form　are　not　those　of　the　robin；　but　of　the　finch。　The　female　is　smaller　still；　and　has　an　olive　tint　in　her　brown　back。　Her　eggs　are　inconspicuous　in　color；　dirty　white　speckled　with　brown；　and　laid　in　a　sunken　nest　on　the　ground。　Dead　leaves　and　twigs　abound；　and　form；　as　the　anxious　mother　fondly　hopes；　a　safe　hiding　place　for　her　brood。　So　careful　concealment；　however；　brings　peril　to　the　fledglings；　for　the　most　cautious　bird…lover　may；　and　often　does；　inadvertently　set　his　foot　on　the　hidden　nest。

The　chewink　derives　its　name　from　the　fancied　resemblance　of　its　note　to　these　syllables；　while　those　naming　it　〃towhee〃　hear　the　sound　to…whick；　to…whick；　to…whee。　Its　song　is　rich；　full；　and　pleasing；　and　given　only　when　the　bird　has　risen　to　the　branches　above　its　low　foraging　ground。

It　frequents　the　border　of　swampy　places　and　bushy　fields。　It　is　generally　seen　in　the　underbrush；　picking　about　among　the　dead　leaves　for　its　steady　diet　of　earthworms　and　larvae　of　insects；　occasionally　regaling　itself　with　a　few　dropping　berries　and　fruit。

When　startled；　the　bird　rises　not　more　than　ten　or　twelve　feet　from　the　earth；　and　utters　its　characteristic　calls。　On　account　of　this　habit　of　flying　low　and　grubbing　among　the　leaves；　it　is　sometimes　called　the　ground　robin。　In　the　South　our　modest　and　useful　little　food…gatherer　is　often　called　grasel；　especially　in　Louisiana；　where　it　is　white…eyed；　and　is　much　esteemed；　alas！　by　epicures。


SNOWFLAKE　（Plectrophenax　nivalis）　Finch　family

Called　also：　SNOW　BUNTING　＇AOU　1998＇；　WHITEBIRD；　SNOWBIRD；　SNOW　　　LARK

Length　　7　to　7。5　inches。　About　one…fourth　smaller　than　the　　　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Head；　neck；　and　beneath　soiled　white；　with　a　　　few　reddish…brown　feathers　on　top　of　head；　and　suggesting　an　　　imperfect　collar。　Above；　grayish　brown　obsoletely　streaked　with　　　black；　the　markings　being　most　conspicuous　in　a　band　between　　　shoulders。　Lower　tail　feathers　black；　others；　white　and　all　　　edged　with　white。　Wings　brown；　white；　and　gray。　Plumage　　　unusually　variable。　In　summer　dress　（in　arctic　regions）　the　　　bird　is　almost　white。　Range　　Circumpolar　regions　to　Kentucky　（in　winter　only）。　Migrations　　Midwinter　visitor；　rarely；　if　ever；　resident　south　　　of　arctic　regions。

These　snowflakes　（mentioned　collectively；　for　it　is　impossible　to　think　of　the　bird　except　in　great　flocks）　are　the　〃true　spirits　of　the　snowstorm；〃　says　Thoreau。　They　are　animated　beings　that　ride　upon　it；　and　have　their　life　in　it。　By　comparison　with　the　climate　of　the　arctic　regions；　no　doubt　our　hardiest　winter　weather　seems　luxuriously　mild　to　them。　We　associate　them　only　with　those　wonderful　midwinter　days　when　sky；　fields；　and　woods　alike　are　white；　and　a　〃hard；　dull　bitterness　of　cold〃　drives　every　other　bird　and　beast　to　shelter。　It　is　said　they　often　pass　the　night　buried　beneath　the　snow。　They　have　been　seen　to　dive　beneath　it　to　escape　a　hawk。

Whirling　about　in　the　drifting　snow　to　catch　the　seeds　on　the　tallest　stalks　that　the　wind　in　the　open　meadows　uncovers；　the　snowflakes　suggest　a　lot　of　dead　leaves　being　blown　through　the　all…pervading　whiteness。　Beautiful　soft　brown；　gray；　and　predominating　black…and…white　coloring　distinguish　these　capricious　visitors　from　the　slaty　junco；　the　〃snowbird〃　more　commonly　known。　They　are；　indeed；　the　only　birds　we　have　that　are　nearly　white；　and　rarely；　if　ever；　do　they　rise　far　above　the　ground　their　plumage　so　admirably　imitates。

At　the　far　north；　travellers　have　me