At Libertyville Monday morning, a combat to the death was witnessed between two golden shafter flickers. The birds, both males, attacked each other in mid-air and fell to the middle of the street fighting furiously.
    There they continued their combat quite unmindful of teams or pedestrins until one of them received a blow to the head from the other’s beak which stretched him insensible. The victorious bird then struck the slain rival for some feathered sweetheart’s affection, repeatly in the head until life was extinct.
    With a shrill victorious cry he then flew away towards the woods. The golden shafter flicker is commonly called a “high hole” by country boys who designate the bird thus from the fact that he usually nests in a hole high up in some dead tree.
Post a Comment