L E S S E R S P O T T E D W O O D P E C K E R .
PICUS MINOR.
I T is only in Sussex, that I have met with the chance of closely studying the habits of the Lesser Spotted
Woodpecker. With the exception of two or three [iairs in Norfolk, and a stray bird or two in Middlesex,
Surrey, and Kent, I have novcr positively ideutitled this species in cither England or Scotland. In the
southern and eastern counties, I am of opinion that this Woodpecker is of much more frequent occurrence than
is generally supposed, its small size and common habit of letting its food in the upper branches of large
trees enabling it to escape observation unless closely searched for.
1 notieeil that these birds, daring winter and early spring, appear to have a regular course which they
pursue from day to day. I repeatedly timed them arriving at certain trees frum the same direction almost to
the minute, and, after remaining their usual time among the branches, departing, if undisturbed, in the very
hue they had taken on the previous day. During the hroi-dirig->eusun the care-, of providing for their young
probably compel them to shorten their wanderings; and I liavc never noticed at that season the same
regularity with regard to the course they follow. This custom is, 1 believe, counnou to all our British
Woodpeckers, though I have not so frequently observed it ia the two larger species.
llorings of the Lesser Spoiled Woodpecker arc in he met with in several varieties of forest timber, an 1
also in apple-, plum-, and other fruit time. The breeding-quarters Iheso birds resort to vary considerably in
height. I have often both hoard and seen them excavating boles near the uppermost parts of somo tall
poplars in the well-wooded district just north of the range of the South Dow us; and on two or three occasions
1 observed their nests at no greater elevation than from live to six feet above the ground.
Though usually somewhat shy, and, as a rule, selecting their breeding-stations in -ome quiet spot where
they are free from constant observation or interruption, I discovered a brood uf young in a |>ear-trco standing
not more than four or live yards from the door of u cottage, in a village of some i-onsiderahle size. On
examining the hole, which was placed at such a low elevation as to he easily in-pevled without mounting
the tree, the young (though unable to tly any distauec| hurriedly made their escape, climbing rapidly to the
upper branches, when1 the old birds were fluttering round in the greatest consternation. Being iu want of
specimens at this particular age, 1 had little ditlieulty in capturing the whole brood, consisting of four. Thin
was not the slightest ditferenee in the sue ami plumage uf the three largest, the crovtus of their heads being
strongly marked with red; one was somewhat smaller, and exhibited but few red feathers on the head, from
the observations made while rearing the Ureal Spotted Woodpeckers, I have not the slightest doubt that
iu a few days this bird would have assumed the same plumage as the rest of the brood. It is, I consider,
quite clear that there is little or no difference between the immature males and females till after the lirst
moult. The food brought by the old birds appeared similar to that procured by the Greater Spotted, rift,
flying ants and other small inserts, with a few grubs and caterpillars. This garden appeared to possi-ss some
peculiar attractions for the Woodpecker tribe. The previous season a pair of the Gn-al Spotted Woodpeckers