Arctic Three-Toed Woodpecker
400. Picoides arcticus. 9½ inches.
As implied by the name, members of this genus have but three toes, two in front and one behind. The plumage of this species is entirely black above, and whitish below, with the flanks barred with blackish. The male has a yellow patch on the crown. They breed abundantly in coniferous forests in mountain regions throughout their range, laying their four or five pure white eggs in decayed tree stumps (.95 ×.70). They do more boring for their insect food, and, during mating season, are very persistent in their roll call on dead limbs of trees.