Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924090189998 A aBeee LIST cl NOINN ATT BIRDS, BY . FRANK w. LANCDON. ae Pri ated by Tas s Barciay,,269 °V ine. Sire ct, Oin nati, 0. ~ From the Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, January, 1879. A REVISED LIST OF CINCINNATI BIRDS. By Frank W. Lanepon.. The favorable reception accorded to the original list! of the Birds of this vicinity, and the numerous additional facts relating to the subject that have accumulated since its appearance, have seemed to warrant the inference that its complete revision would be an acceptable contri- bution to the Natural History of this locality. It has, therefore, been thoroughly revised and remodeled, and the following list is believed to represent the present state of our knowledge of “ Cincinnati Birds,” so far as their local distribution is concerned, as well as the later conclu- sions of the most approved authorities in respect to classification and nomenclature. ; For important additions to the list, and other information, I am especially indebted to Mr. Charles Dury, of Avondale, whose — ornithological collection contains many of our rarer species; Dr. M. Byrnes, Dr. J. H. Hunt, Dr. H. H. Hill and Mr. John W. Sen of Cincinnati; Dr. Rufus Haymond and Mr. Edgar R. Quick, of Brook- ville, Ind., endl the several other naturalists elsewhere mentioned, have also contributed notes and observations of interest. Acknowledge- ments are likewise due to Professor J. M. Wheaton, of Columbus, O., whose writings on Ohio Birds are frequently referred to; to Mr. Robert Ridgway, of the Smithsonian Institution, who has kindly furnished me with various recent ornithological papers bearing on the subjects of classification and nomenclature; and to Mr. William H. Whetsel, of Madisonville, for interesting additions to my collection. The collections and observations upon which the list is based, have been chiefly made at two or three points, in the territory lying between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, and within ten or twelve miles of the Ohio. These limits are only exceeded in the case of the thirteen species identified by Dr. Haymond and Mr. Quick, at Brookville, Ind.;? and as these are mainly migrants on the Whitewater, which, at its con- fluence with the Great Miami, approaches within twenty miles of Cin- cinnati, they are fairly entitled to a place in our list on inferential grounds at least. Although not characterized by extraordinary topographical features, the south-western corner of Ohio presents a pleasing variety of surface 1 ‘'A Catalogue of the Birds of the vicinity of Cincinnati,’’ with notes, by Frank W. Langdon.—Salem, Mass., The Naturalists’ Agency.—April, 1877. 2 Brookville, Ind., is about forty miles northwest of Cincinnati. 2 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. and productions that is exceedingly favorable to the development an maintenance of a highly diversified fauna; and in respect to th number of species represented, its Avian-fauna will compare favor ably with that of other North American inland localities in the same latitude. Moreover, it has been well established that river valleys, owing to their luxuriant vegetation, and, consequently, abundance of insect life, are favorite routes of migration with birds,—this being es-_ pecially true of those valleys extending in a general north and south direction; situated therefore, as it is, inthe midst of a highly culti- vated section, and traversed by the fertile valleys of the two Miamis and the Whitewater—here converging toward the Ohio, this locality is doubtless one of the most prominent concentrating and distributing points in the Ohio Valley for many migratory species. The classification and nomenclature have been brought down to date so far as practicable; the “Land Birds” being arranged in ac- cordance with “ North American Birds” by Baird, Brewer and Ridg-° way; the “ Water Birds ” according to Dr. Coues’ “‘ Key” and “ Check List.’’ The changes in nomenclature which have been required since the publication of these works, have been duly noted in the present list so far as the literature at hand would admit, and the authorities referred to in the accompanying footnotes. The nomenclature of the higher groups is that proposed by Dr. Coues, and adopted by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway in ‘‘ North American Birds.” In this arrangement, Dr. Coues recognizes two primary groups of existing birds,—the Ratite or Struthious Birds and their allies, re- presented by the Ostriches, Apteryx, etc.; and the Carinate or birds with a keeled sternum, which includes all the remaining species of re- cent birds. These are further divided into minor groups, called or- ders and sub-orders for convenience, although not distinguished by characters that would be considered of ordinal value in other classes of vertebrates. Of the Carinate birds, under which head all our species come, there are fourteen of these orders, al] of which are represented here excepting one—the Sphenisci or Penguins. ‘Species known to breed in this vicinity are designated by an aster- isk (*); those inferred to do so, by an obelisk ({). The dates of arrival and departure are of course approximate, being the average of obser- vations extending through several years, j A Revised List of Cincinnati Birds. 3 LAND BIRDS. List of Identified Species. Class AvEs: Birps. Sub-class Cartnar# : Carinate Birps. Order Passrres: PERcHERs. Sub-order Osctnes : Sincinc Prrcuerrs. Family Turpipz : The Thrushes. 1. *Turpus mustetinus, Gmelin. Wood Thrush. A common sum- mer resident. April 20th to October Ist. 2. TurDus ruscescens, Stephens.—Wilson’s Thrush.—A rare mi- grant in April. 3. Turpus aticia, Bd.—Alice’s or Gray-cheeked Thrush.—Spring and fall migrant. Rather common early in October, feeding on the. berries of the sour-gum. 4, Turpus swarnsont, Cabanis.—Swainson’s Thrush.—Common mi- , grant in April and September. 5, *Turpvs PALiasi,Cabanis.— Hermit Thrush.—A common migrant about April 10th, and Qctober Lith. Nest and eggs taken May 10th, 1877 (Dury). * 6. *Turpus MIGRAToRIUS, Linnseus.—Robin.—Represented from February till December. Remaing during the summer in limited num- bers however, compared with the large flocks which pass north in Feb- ruary and March, and return in October and November. 7. *HarRPoRHYNCHUS RUFUS, Cahanis.—Brown Thrasher.—A com- mon, but not abundant summer resident. April 10th to Sept. 20th. 8. *Mimus poLyeLotrus, Boie-—Mocking Bird.—A rare summer resident. One specimen taken in winter—January 1st, 1877, 9, *GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS, Cabanis.-—Catbird.—-Common summer resident. April 29th to October Ist. Family Saxiconip#: Bluebirds; Stonechats. 10. *Srauria siaxis, Baird.—Hastern Bluebird.—A eommon resi- dent. Less numerous in winter. 1 See the writer’s ‘‘ Observations on Cincinnati Birds’’—this Journat, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 111, Oct. 1878. 4 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. Family Sytvipa: Sylvias. 11, Reeurus satrapa, Lichtenstein.—Golden-crowned Kinglet.— Common winter visitant. 12. ReeuLus caLenpuLa, Lichtenstein.—Ruby-crowned Kinglet.— Migrant in April and October. 13. *Portoprira ca#rRutea, Sclater.—Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.—A common summer resident. April 10th to August 15th. Family Parip#£: Titmice. 14. *LopHorHANES BICOLOR, Bonaparte.—Tufted Titmouse.—A com- mon resident, 15. Parvus arricaritius, Linneus.—Black-capped Titmouse.—Rare winter visitant. Two specimens only, 1872 (Dury). 16. *Parus carorinensis, Audubon.—Carolina Chicadee.—A com- mon resident. ; 17. *Sirra CAROLINENSIS, Latham.—White-bellied Nuthatch—A common resident. 18, Srrra cawapensis, Linnzeus.— Red-bellied Nuthatch.—An irregu- lar winter visitant. Also observed in September and October, 1878. Family Crrrarape£: Creepers. 19. CERTHIA FAMILIARIS, Va7. AMERICANA, Bonaparte.—Brown Creep- er.—Winter resident; October to April. Family TrogLopytipz: Wrens. 20. *THRYOTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS, var. LUDOVICIANUS, Bonaparte.— Great Carolina Wren.—Common resident. A vigorous and attractive songster. 21. THRYOTHORUS BEWICKII, va7. BEWICKII, Bonaparte.—Bewztch’s Wren.—One specimen taken at Brookville, Ind., in April, 1877 ; three seen (Z. R. Quick). 22. *TRoGLoDYTES £DoN, Vieillot—House Wren.—A common sum- mer resident in some localities before the introduction of the European Sparrow. Avondale (Dury) ; Mt. Auburn (Douglass). Now quite rare. 23. TROGLODYTES PARVULUS, var. HyEMALIS, Vieillot.— Winter Wren. A common winter resident. October lst to April 15th. 24, CisrorHoRus PALusTRIs, Baird.— Long-billed Marsh Wren.— Migrant in May and September. Family Motacitiipz : Wagtails. 25, ANrHus LuDovicrANus, Lichtenstein. — Titlark,— Migrant in March and November, in flocks. A Revised List of Cincinnati Birds. 5 Family Sytviconipa£ : American Warblers. 26. *MnrotitTa varia, Vieillot.—Black-and-white Creeping War- dler.—Common summer resident. May lst to September 30th. 27, + HELMIrHERUS vERMIVoRUS, Bonaparte. Worm-eating Warbler. —-A rare summer resident. May to August. 28. HEeLMINTHOPHAGA CHRYSOPTERA, Cabanis.—Golden-winged War- bler —Rare migrant; one specimen only (Dury). 29. +HELMintHornaGa PINUS, Baird.—Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. —-A rather common summer resident. May Ist to September 10th. 30. HELMINTHOPHAGA RUFICAPILLA, Baird.—Washville Warbler.— Migrant in April, May and September. ; 31. HetmiInrHoPHAGA PEREGRINA, Cabanis.—Tennessee Warbler.— Common migrant in May and September—October. Unusually abund- ant in the fall of 1877. : 32. PARULA AMERICANA, Bonaparte.—Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. —-Migrant in May and September, Not common. 33. PERissuGLossa TIGRINA, Baird—Cape May Warbler,—Rare mi- grant in May and September. 34. *Denpraca astiva, Baird.— Yellow Warbler. — A common summer resident. April 15th to August 10th. 35. Denpraca coronata, Gray.—Yellow-rumped Warbler,—Com- mon migrant. March and April—October and November. 36. Denpraca Macutosa, Baird.—Black-and-yellow Warbler._Spring and fall migrant. Common in September. 37, *DENDRECA CARULEA, Baird.—— Blue Warbler.—Common mi- grant and summer resident. April 20th to August 15th. 38. DENDR@CA BLACKBURNI&, Baird.— Blackburnian Warbler.——Mi- grant in May and September. Very common during the latter month. 39. DENDR@CA DOMINICA, var. ALBILORA, Ridgway.— White-browed Yellow-throated Warbler—-A rather common migrant along the Little Miami “ Bottoms ” in the latter part of April and early in May. Also taken in October at Brookville, Ind., by Mr. Quick. 40. DENDR@CA PENNSYLVANICA, Baird.—Chestnut-sided Warbler. Migrant in May and September. Quite common in the fall. 41, Denpraca striata, Baird.—Black-poll Warbler.—A rather un- common migrant in May and September---October. 49, Drenpraca castanes, Baird.—Bay-breasted Warbler.—Migrant in May and September. Very common in the fall. The difficulty of distinguishing between this species and D. striata in the fall has been frequently commented on. In addition to the dif- ferences noted by the standard works on Ornithology, a comparision of 6 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. specimens of both species shows that the chin, or feathered space be- tween the forks of the lower mandible, is considerably wider in cas- tanea than in striata,—arguing a greater width of base of bill in the former species. The bill of castanea is generally the larger in every way, but its greater width at the base is especially evident. This character appears to be constant in a number of specimens from this and other localities, and being an anatomical peculiarity, it is, of course, much more reliable as a diagnostic mark than any slight dif- ferences in coloration. 43. DenDRa@CA CHRULESCENS, Baird.—Black-throatea Blue Warbler. —Migrant in May and September. Rather common. 44, Denpraca viRENS, Baird.—Black-throated Green Warbler.— Common migrant in May and September—October. 45, DeNDRa@CA PINUS, Baird.—Pine-creeping Warbler.—A rare mi- grant in April. 46. DenpRa@ca KIRTLANDI, Baird.—Kirtland’s Warbler.—A specimen of this extremely rare warbler, taken in May, 1872, at Avondale, is now in Mr. Dury’s collection. 47, DENDR@CA PALMARUM, var. PALMARUM,: Baird.— Yellow Red-poll Wurbler.—Migrant in April and October. Common along hedgerows and fences in the fall. 48. Drnpraca piscoLor, Baird.—Prairie Warbler.—A rare migrant in May. 49, *Srurus? AURICAPILLUS, Bonaparte.—G'olden-crowned Thrush or. Wagtatl—Common summer resident. April 20th to September 15th. 50. S1urus n&vius, Coues.—Small-billed Water Thrush.—A. rare. migrant in May. ; 51. *Srorus MoTACILLA, Bonaparte.—Large-billed Water Thrush.— Summer resident. April 10th to September Ist. 52. OpoRoRNIS AGILIS, Baird.—Connecticut Warbler—One specimen only; May, 1876 (Dury). 53. {OPORORNIS FORMOSUS, Baird.— Kentucky Warbler—Summer resident. Arrives early in May and remains until September, 54, *GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS, Cabanis.—Maryland Yellow-throat.--A common summer resident. May Ist to September 15th. 55. GEOTHLYPIS PHILADELPHIA, Baird.—Mourning Warbler.—A rare migrant in May (Dury) and August (Shorten). 1 See Ridgway on ‘* Geographical Variation in Dendroeca palmarum.’’—Bulletin of the Nuttall Orn, Club, Nov. 1876. . 2 See ‘‘Corrections of Nomenclature in the Genus Siurus,’’ Coues.—Bulletin Nuttall Orn. Club, April, 1877, A Revised List of Cincinnati Birds. & 56. *IoTer1a virens, Baird.— Yellow-breasted Chat.—Com mon sum mer resident. April 25th to September Ist. 57. Mytopiocres mirratus, Audubon.—Hooded Warbler—A rare migrant in May (and August?). 58. Myropioctrs pusittus, Bonaparte—Green Black-capped Fly- catching Warbler.—Spring and fall migrant; not common. 59. MyiopiocTEs CANADENSIS, Audubon. — Canadian Fly-catching Warbler.—Migrant in May aud September; rather rare. 60. *SETOoPHAGA RUTICILLA, Swainson. American Redstart.—A common summer resident. May Ist to September 20th. Family Hirunpinipa: Swallows. 61. *PRoGnE susis, Baird.—Purple Martin.—A common summer resident. April lst to September 5th. 62, *PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS, Baird.—Cliff Swallow.—An abund- ant summer resident. April 20th till September 5th. 63. *HIRUNDO ERYTHROGASTER, var. HORREORUM, Coues.—Barn Swallow.—A very common summer resident, Arrives and departs with the preceding species. 64. Hirunpo BICOLOR, Vieillot— White-bellied Swallow.—Migrant in April (and September?). 65. *STELGIDOPTERYX SERRIPENNIS, Baird._-Rough-winged Swallow. —A common summer resident. April 15th till September Ist. Nests in barns, bridges, etc., as well as in burrows along the banks of rivers and creeks. ; 66. *CoryLe RipARIA, Boie.— Bank Swallow.—An abundant summer resident. Arrives and departs about the same time as the preceding species. In this vicinity the burrows of the Bank Swallow, appear to be ex- clusively confined to the river-bluffs, where it nests in large commu- nities; while the burrows of the Rough-winged Swallow are frequently seen, in small groups of from three to a dozen, along the banks of the smaller creeks, as well as in the other locations above mentioned. Family Virronipa: Viéreos or Greenlets. 67. *VIREOSYLVIA OLIVACEUS, Bonaparte.—Red-eyed Vireo.—A very common summer resident. April 25th to October Ist. 68. VIREOSYLVIA PHILADELPHICUS, Cassin.—Philadelphia Vireo.—A rare migrant in May and September. 8 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 69. *VirrosyLvia Gitvus, Cassin —Warbling treo —Common summer resident. May to September. 70. LANIVIREO soLiraRius, Baird.—Blue-headed or Solitary Vireo. —Rare migrant in May (Byrnes, Dury); and September (Shorten). 71. +LANIvirEo FLAVIFRONS, Baird.— Yellow-throated Vireo.—Com- mon migrant in May and September ; a few remaining through the summer. 72. *VIREO NOVEBORACENSIS, Bonaparte.— White-eyed Vireo.---A com- mon summer resident. April 25th to September 20th. Family AmprLipz : Waxwings. 73. *AMPELIS CEDRORUM, Sclater,---Cedar Waxwing.---An irregular but often abundant migrant, and a summer resident in limited numbers. Appears during the fall and winter in large flocks, feeding on wild grapes and the berries of the sour-gum and cedar. Family Lanipa : Shrikes. 74, CoLLURIO BOREALIS, Baird.---Great Northern Shrike ; Butcher Bird.—Rare fall and winter visitant. 75, *CoLLURIO LUDOVICIANUS, var, LUDOVICIANUS, Baird.--- Loggerhead Shrike.---An uncommon summer resident. Arrives about March 15th, and remains until September. = 75a. COLLURIO LUDOVICIANUS, var, EXCUBITOROIDES, Coues.---A well marked example of this variety taken at Madisonville, August 22d, 1878. Family Tanacripz: Tanagers, 76. *PyRaNnGa RUBRA, Vieillot.—Scarlet Tanager.—Summer resident. More common however during the migrations in May and September. 77. *Pyranca astiva, Vieillot.—Summer Redbird. A rather com- mon summer resident. May 1st to September 25th. Family Frinettiuipa: Finches, Sparrows, etc. 78. CaRPoDACUS PURPUREUS, Gray.— Purple Finch,—Migrant in fall, winter and spring, usually in flocks. Feeds largely on the buds of the slippery elm, its flesh being strongly flavored thereby. 79. *CHRYSOMITRIS TRISTIS, Bonaparte.— American Goldfinch; Thistle Bird.—A common resident, Less numerous during the winter, but appears about the Ist of March in large straggling flocks, sometimes containing a hundred or more individuals, which are then just begin- ning to assume their summer dress. These flocks soon break up into A Revised List of Cincinnati Birds. 9 smaller ones, and for the greater part of the year it is seen in smail parties numbering from six to a dozen. 80. CHRysomITRIS PINUS, Bonaparte—Pine Linnet.—Abundant in the winter of 1868-69 (Dury). Not observed since. 81. Loxia CURVIROSTRA, var. AMERICANA, Baird.—Red C' Occasional fall and winter visitant, 1868-9; 1874-5. 82. Loxra Leucoprera, Gmelin.— White-winged Crossbill—Quite abundant during the winter of 1868-9 ( Dury). 83. AXGorrnus LINARIUS, Cabanis.— Lesser Redpoll Linnet.—One spe- cimen only; January 1869 (Dury). 84. PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS, Meyer.—Snow Bunting.—Occasional winter visitant. Not observed for several years. 85, PLECTROPHANES LAPPONICUS, Selby.—Lapland Longspur.—A rare and irregular winter visitant. Avondale (Dury); Madisonville, Dec. 1877 (W. H. Whetsel). 86. *Pyreita pomestica, Cuvier.—Luropean House Sparrow.—In- troduced in 1873. Has multiplied rapidly, and is now abundant every- ‘where within ten or fifteen miles of Cincinnati. 87. PAssERCULUS SAVANNA, Bonaparte.—Savanna Sparrow.—A com- mon migrant in April and October. 88. *Poocamtms GRamineus, Baird.—G@rass Finch; Bay-winged Bunting.—A common summer resident. 89. CoruRNICULUS HENSLOWI, Bonaparte.—Henslow’s Bunting.— One specimen, “ Kentucky, opposite Cincinnati” (Audubon). 90. {CorurNicuLUs passERINUS, Bonaparte.—Yellow-winged Spar- vrow.—A rare summer resident (Dury). 91, {CHonpEstes GRamMica, Bonaparte.—Lark Finch.—An uncom- mon summer resident. 92. ZoNOTRICHIA LEUCOPHRYS, Swainson.— White-crowned Sparrer ow. —Migrant in April and October—November. 93. ZoNoTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS, Bonaparte.— White-throated Sparrow. —-Migrant with the preceding species. 94, JuNco HYEMALIS, Sclater—Black Snow-bird.—A common winter resident. October 25th to April 10th. 95. SpizELLA MONTICOLA, Baird.—Tree Sparrow.—Common winter resident. November to April. 96. *SpizeLLa pusILLA, Bonaparte.—Field Sparrow.—Common resi- dent from March till November. 97. *SpIzELLa Socialis, Bonaparte.—Chipping Sparrow.—A very common summer resident. Arrives about the middle of March and remains until November Ist. 10 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. Y8. *Muosprza MELopIA, Baird.---Song Sparrow---A very common resident. ; 99, Mr ospiza PALUSTRIS, Baird.---Swamp Sparrow.---A common mi- . grant in April and November. 100. PasseRELLA mLtaca, Swainson.---Fox-colored Sparrow.---Com- mon migrant in March and November. 101. *Eusriza americana, Bonaparte.---Black-throated Bunting.--- A very common summer resident. May to September. 102. *HepyMELES Lupovictanus, Swainson.---Rose-breasted Gros- beak.---Migrant in May and September; not common. Marked as breeding on the authority of Audubon, who mentions taking its nest and eggs near Cincinnati. 103. *CyanospizA cyaANngs, Baird.—Indigo Bird——A very common summer resident. May—October. 104. *CaRDINALIS VIRGINIANUS, Bonaparte——Cardinal Grosbeak; Redbird—A very common resident. 105. *PrrILo ERYTHROPAHTHALMUS, Vieillot.—To-whee Finch; Ground Robin.—A common resident. — Family Ataupip#: Larks. 106. *ALAuDA ARVENSIS, Linnzeus.— Huropean Skylark.—Introduced. Breeds sparingly in the parks and suburbs of Cincinnati (A. Tenner). 107. EremoruHiLs ALPESTRIS, Boie.—Shore Lark.—Occasional mi- grant in fall and winter. Family Icrreripz: Orioles. 108. DoLicHOoNYxX URYZIVORUS, Swainson.— Bobolink.—Occasional migrant in May, usually in small flocks. Breeds commonly at Columbus and Yellow Springs ( Wheaton). -109. *Motornrus ater, Gray.---Cowbird.---Common summer resi- dent. March---October. 110. *AcEtarius pHa@niceus, Vieillot.---Swamp Blackbird.---A com- mon summer resident. March Ist to October 15th. 111. *SturneLia MaGNaA, Swainson.—Meadow JLark.---A common resident. Less numerous in winter. 112. *IcreRus spuRtus, Bonaparte.—Orchard Oriole.---Summer resi- dent. May---August. 113. *Icrerus waLtimorge, Daudin.---Baltimore Oriole.---A common summer resident. April 25th to September Ist. 114. ScotecopHacus FERRUGINEUS, Swainson.---Rusty Grakle.---An abundant migrant in March and November. A Revised List of Cincinnatr Birds. 1] 115. *QuiscaLus puRPUREUS, Bartram; var. mamNEUs, Ridgway.--- Bronzed Grakle.---A common summer resident. Represented from February 20th till November 10th. Family Corvipa2: Crows, Jays, ete. 116. Corvus corax, var. CARNIVoRUS, Bartram.—