The red tuft on the head, which marks all the woodpecker family, would be too conspicuous on the ground.
"Ways of Wood Folk"
William J. Long
Here Master Simon made a pause, pulled up a tuft of flowers, threw them one by one into the water, and at length, turning somewhat abruptly upon me, asked me if I had ever been in love.
"Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists"
Washington Irving
I told him my story, and he listened, swallowing his mouthful, then cast his eyes down and rubbed his chin, which had a small tuft of hairs growing on it, and finally said, "I don't know.
"Afoot in England"
W.H. Hudson