An Unusual Flight of Arctic Three-Toed Woodpeckers

Abstract

IN October, 1923, a remarkable flight of Arctic Three-toed Woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) invaded New England and extended as far south as New York City. At the suggestion of Dr. G. M. Allen I have attempted to gather the scattered records and to find, if possible, something of the cause of the flight. The records of the Nuttall Ornithological Club have been the source of the largest number of these reports. Second only to these are the records generously furnished me by Mr. E. H. Forbush from his capacious files. I am also much indebted to the numerous isolated observers who have answered my many letters and whose names will be found with their respective records. Before detailing the records of this abnormal invasion I shall summarize very briefly the normal status of the bird on the Northeast. Maine-Uncommon winter visitor; rare resident in the northern and western counties. New Hampshire.-Rare resident above 3,000 feet in the White Mountains. Elsewhere a rare visitor. Vermont.-Rare resident in the north and in the high peaks; occasional winter visitor to the lowlands. Masnachusetts.-Occasional fall and winter visitor. Connecticut.-Two previous records (winter). New York City Region.-Two Long Island records in the winter of 1886-87. New Jersey.-No previous records. That these Woodpeckers normally do not move southward in winter is shown by the fact that this is the first flight of such proportions that has occured since there have been enough observers in the Northeast to note its occurrence. Perhaps the last such flight was in 1860-61 when Brewster (Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, Vol. 8, p. 121) records that George 0. Welch found this