The British bird book (1921) (14775456943)

Identifier: cu31924022566420 (find matches)
Title: The British bird book
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Wood, Theodore, 1862- Pycraft, W. P., (William Plane), b. 1868 Green, Roland, 1895-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London : A. & C. Black
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
od, then,you may expect to find woodpeckers—though you willoften be disappointed, for they are by no means always to beseen. But the task of identification will be easier if one hasa mental picture ready of the birds appropriate to the place. The green woodpecker, our largest native species, oftenbetrays itself by its remarkable cry, reminiscent of a laugh— ha, ha, ha, and pleu, pleu, pleu. Keep quite still, andpresently, as hkely as not, it wiU suddenly make its appear-ance with a rapid, undulating flight. As it alights on someneighbouring tree-trunk, its identity will be finally estab-lished by its green back and wings, yellow rump, and crimsoncrown. It ascends the tree by jerky leaps. Where ant-hills abound it may often be seen on the ground, movingabout with awkward hops, exploring the hills for ants. Thegreater and lesser spotted woodpecker may also sometimesbe seen here, especially if there is much old timber about.In spring its presence is often made known by a peculiar 228
Text Appearing After Image:
Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming sound—never forgotten when once heard—madeby excessively rapid blows with its beak on the trunk, orbranch, of a tree. On the wing it may be recognized by its dipping flight, and strikingly piebald appearance. Atclose quarters the strongly contrasted black and whiteplumage is relieved by crimson undertail-coverts, and acrimson crown. The lesser-spotted woodpecker is a muchsmaller bird—about the size of a sparrow, or chaffinch—andis barred with black and white ; there is a patch of crimsonon the head of the male. It has a habit of keeping more tothe upper branches of the tree than the other species : but,like its greater cousin, it drums on the tree during thespring, but less loudly. Its spring cry, pee-pee-pee, islike that of the wryneck. This is a near relation of the wood-peckers, but very different in coloration, being beautifullymottled and vermiculated with grey and brown. But forits spring cry, just alluded to, it would escape notice alt