File:Our bird friends; containing many things young folks ought to know-and likewise grown-ups (1908) (14565745180).jpg

Identifier: ourbirdfriendsco00burb (find matches)
Title: Our bird friends; containing many things young folks ought to know--and likewise grown-ups
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Burba, George Francis, 1865-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, The Outing publishing company

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e flicker makes two entrancesto its home, one above the other, and sometimes on oppositesides of the snag. When a bad boy climbs up and puts hishand over one hole the flicker can dart out of the other. A flicker lays four eggs, pure white, and when the young birdsare first hatched they are covered with down. The first feathersshow some color, but it is not until the flicker gets full-grownthat he comes out in his best suit. When the mother bird is sitting upon the eggs the gentlemanof the house is very attentive. He will catch a nice juicy antand carry it to his wife. Occasionally he will take the place ofthe female upon the nest while she goes out for exercise and toget a little water, but if his good wife does not hurry home hewill go out and look for her. He seems to get tired sitting thereby himself. It should have been stated that the flicker is also called theground woodpecker, because it feeds upon the ground a greatdeal. Its feet are made for climbing trees and it can stick to
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I SS5 fe JS >R THE FLICKER OR YELLOW-HAMMER 25 the side of a telegraph pole and scoot around on the other sideas a boy comes in sight, but it enjoys getting down on the groundand hunting the nests of ants. And because its foot is built for climbing trees, the flicker isa poor walker. It stumbles over the ground and cannot run atall. It does not scratch like the quail, but it has a long, sharpbill, and a tongue like a piece of wire with a barb upon theend, and it can reach down into an ant hole and draw outthe insects. The flickers flesh is coarse and dark and strong—almost asdark as a piece of liver—and while some people eat them theyare not considered good food. Where they are eaten at all,they ought to be parboiled thoroughly, but there is really no usein eating flickers. In many states it is against the law to killthem, and it ought to be against the law in all states. After you get well acquainted with the flicker you can tell himas far as you can see him by the way he flie

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