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As for the nuisance of a big established roost of starlings； it may be abated by nightly salvos of Roman candles or blank cartridges； continued for a week or at most ten days。
So much for the starling in his aspect as an undesirable citizen。 Government investigators； by a long…continued study； have discovered that his good deeds far outnumber his misdemeanors。 Primarily he feeds on noxious insects and useless wild fruits。 Small truck gardens and individual cherry trees may be occasionally raided by large flocks with disastrous results in a small way。 But on the whole he is a useful frequenter of our door…yards who 'pays his way by destroying hosts of cut…worms and equally noxious' insects。 〃A thorough consideration of the evidence at hand indicates that； based on food habits； the adult starling is the economic superior of the robin； catbird； flicker； red…winged blackbird； or grackle。〃 Need more be said for him？
BIRDS CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE
Red…headed Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Yellow…bellied Woodpecker Chewink Snowflake Rose…breasted Grosbeak Bobolink Black…poll Warbler Black…and…white Creeping Warbler
See also the Swallows； the Shrikes； Nuthatches and Titmice； the Kingbird and other Flycatchers； the Nighthawk； the Redstart； and the following Warblers： the Myrtle； the Bay…breasted； the Blackburnian； and the Black…throated Blue Warbler。
BIRDS CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE
RED…HEADED WOODPECKER （Melanerpes erythrocephalus） Woodpecker family
Called also： TRI…COLOR； RED…HEAD
Length 8。50 to 9。75 inches。 An inch or less smaller than the robin。 Male and Female Head； neck； and throat crimson； breast and underneath white； back black and white； wings and tail blue black； with broad white band on wings conspicuous in flight。 Range United States； east of Rocky Mountains and north to Manitoba。 Migrations Abundant but irregular migrant。 Most commonly seen in Autumn； and rarely resident。
In thinly populated sections； where there are few guns about； this is still one of the commonest as it is perhaps the most conspicuous member of the woodpecker family； but its striking glossy black…and…white body and its still more striking crimson head； flattened out against the side of a tree like a target； where it is feeding； have made it all too tempting a mark for the rifles of the sportsmen and the sling…shots of small boys。 As if sufficient attention were not attracted to it by its plumage； it must needs keep up a noisy； guttural rattle； ker…r…ruck； ker…r…ruck； very like a tree…toad's call； and flit about among the trees with the restlessness of a fly…catcher。 Yet； in spite of these invitations for a shot to the passing gunner； it still multiplies in districts where nuts abound； being 〃more common than the robin〃 about Washington； says John Burroughs。
All the familiar woodpeckers have two characteristics most prominently exemplified in this red…headed member of their tribe。 The hairy； the downy； the crested； the red…bellied； the sapsucker； and the flicker have each a red mark somewhere about their heads as if they had been wounded there and bled a little some more； some less； and the figures of all of them； from much flattening against tree…trunks； have become high…shouldered and long…waisted。
The red…headed woodpecker selects； by preference； a partly decayed tree in which to excavate a hole for its nest； because the digging is easier； and the sawdust and chips make a softer lining than green wood。 Both male and female take turns in this hollowing…out process。 The one that is off duty is allowed twenty minutes for refreshments； 〃consisting of grubs； beetles； ripe apples or cherries； corn； or preferably beech…nuts。 At a loving call from its mate in the hollow tree； it returns promptly to perform its share of the work； when the carefully observed time is up。〃 The heap of sawdust at the bottom of the hollow will eventually cradle from four to six glossy…white eggs。
This woodpecker has the thrifty habit of storing away nuts in the knot…holes of trees； between cracks in the bark； or in decayed fence railstoo often a convenient storehouse at which the squirrels may help themselves。 But it is the black snake that enters the nest and eats the young family； and that is a more deadly foe than even the sportsman or the milliner。
HAIRY WOODPECKER （Dryobates villosus） Woodpecker family
Length9 to 10 inches。 About the size of the robin。 MaleBlack and white above； white beneath。 White stripe down the back； composed of long hair…like feathers。 Brightred band on the nape of neck。 Wings striped and dashed with black and white。 Outer tail feathers white； without bars。 White stripe about eyes and on sides of the head。 FemaleWithout the red band on head； and body more brownish than that of the male。 RangeEastern parts of United States； from the Canadian border to the Carolinas。 MigrationsResident throughout its range。
The bill of the woodpecker is a hammering tool； well fitted for its work。 Its mission in life is to rid the trees of insects； which hide beneath the bark； and with this end in view； the bird is seen clinging to the trunks 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 roll