. Issued May 24, 1911, We S% DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY—BULLETIN No. 37 HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief FOOD OF THE WOODPECKERS OF THE » — UNITED STATES BY PF, KE. L, BEAL Assistant, Biological ‘Survey < “ WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE < 3 . 4 1911 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924090316021 Bull. 37. Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Plate | ie Se BREUKFR & KESSLER CO LITH PHIL* HAIRY AND DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Issued May 24, 1911. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY—BULLETIN No. 37 HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief FOOD OF THE WOODPECKERS OF THE UNITED STATES BY F. E. L. BEAL ' Assistant, Biological Survey WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1911 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, . BrotocicaL SURVEY, Washington, D. C., December 23, 1910. Str: I have the honor to transmit herewith for publication as Bulletin No. 37 of the Biological Survey, a report on the Food of the Woodpeckers of the United States, by F. E. L. Beal, assistant, Bio- logical Survey. The diminished supply of timber and its greatly increased cost render the conservation of our remaining forests exceedingly important. It has been estimated that within the United States insects destroy trees and lumber to the value of upward of $100,000,000 annually. As boring insects are the natural enemies of trees, so birds are their natural allies. Of all birds that further the welfare of the forest; woodpeckers are the most important, many of them indeed being specially adapted to dig into wood in order to reach insect larve safe from all other enemies. While most wood- peckers are thus highly beneficial, the sapsuckers are injurious, since they subsist to a considerable extent on the cambium or inner bark of trees. This bulletin is meant to serve a practical end by describ- ing the food habits of the several species, and by pointing out the extent to which each is beneficial or injurious, so that the forester, the farmer, and the orchardist may know friend from foe. Respectfully, H. W. Hensnaw, Chief, Biological Survey. Hon. James WIzson, Secretary of Agriculture. CONTENTS. Introduction Bias asseasickwisos o 2s ebeseeee eee s ses hoa eee on yeaa Hairy wood peckeriw: cossgiasy sud ss ssaeeew ease bees io kcieeeeeee eye eee ss Downy wood pecker... eave sche csa aed ceiewst cn edeeteegetintececs Soe Red-cockaded woodpecker............ 22-22-2202 eee cece cece eee eee eee eee ee Nuttall wood pécket...