FIELD KEY i To THE DAND BIRDS 2 an Parana esse a DWAR D KNOBEL moe 2. ‘J a a Pia Bret ms ag eer als i Gh ye rete 6er Nt aii ah Plate I. BIRDS AS LARGE OR LARGER THAN A CROW. Observe: Tails and Breasts. (Breasts of the young of 8, 9, and 10 are like Ila.) BIRDS AS LARGE OR LARGER THAN A CROW. Plate II. Observe: Ears, and breast, if streaked or barred, Side of Neck, Plate IIT. BIRDS THE SIZE*OF ROBIN, QUAIL, ETC. Observe: If breast is spotted, streaked, or barred. BIRDS THE SIZE OF ROBIN, QUAIL, ETC. Plate IV. Observe: If breast is not streaked. BIRDS THE SIZE OF SPARROW. Plate V. Observe: If bright colored. Plate VI. BIRDS THE SIZE OF SPARROW. Observe: If not spotted or streaked. Light around eyes. Dark around eyes. The tails. The throats and wing-bars. BIRDS THE SIZE OF SPARROW. Plate VII. Observe: If breast is streaked. If not streaked, Plate VIII. BIRDS SMALLER THAN A SPARROW. Observe: If black-throated. Breasts not streaked, BIRDS SMALLER THAN A SPARROW. Plate IX. Observe: If streaked in front. 7 ? ¢. - oe! PIELD KEY TO THE LAND: BIRDS ay FIELD KEY Birds ote TO THE moeND BIRDS ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD KNOBEL BOSTON BRADLEE WHIDDEN £599 Copyright, 1899 BY . BRADLEE WHIDDEN ” Ps ~as . f ‘ { ' a t 4 ye ¥ 17m 1) eg i. Rae vs i oa = hl a! Z a hal : es ¥ | : * t , “4 r' é Ye de ay : % »* “ 5 ¥ - = Yl y + = ~~ ° d 4 A C ay { ROCKWELL AND CHURCHILL PRESS BOSTON SAE, CONTENTS HEN-LIKE BIRDS. PAGE QUAILS AND PARTRIDGES ] : : : : ‘ 4 PIGEONS . P : 2 ; 5 : : : : 5 7 Hawks . . ‘ 3 : ; : : 2 : : 8 OwLs : , : : Z : : - : : oe Cuckoos ‘ ; : : 2 : . : ; oe athe WoOoDPECKERS : : : : , ; : 2) ie KINGFISHERS . : : : : : : : : eas fs) GOATSUCKERS . : . 3 : ; . ee ah HUMMING-BIRDS : : : : ‘ 5 : . 20 PERCHING BIRDS. FLYCATCHERS : : : : . : ‘ : in ae LARKS. 2 : ‘ : : ; : : : pe Bs Crows. : : ‘ : ; ‘ ; : : a eee BLACKBIRDS, STARLINGS ; ; : P : : oy 26 FINCHES AND SPARROWS : : ; : ; : 4 es SwWALLows ‘ : ; : : Se : : ss ote W AXWINGS : - i : : : : : ; ae he SHRIKES . : Tenet : : ; ; 2 : - 40 GREENLETS, VIREOS ; : ‘ ‘ : : . 40 Woop WaARBLERS . ‘ , ; : ‘ : ; wt) At THRASHERS AND WRENS d : : : ; : ao? 2G NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES : > : : ; ne ae KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS P , : p ; _ veo THRUSHES F : é s - 5 : s : 50 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. THE object of this field book is to enable any lover of birds, without previous knowledge or study of the subject, to identify readily any of our wild birds. As a bird rarely remains long in one spot, it is neces- sary to be able to handle the book quickly. Therefore the student is requested to familarize himself with its simple plan before attempting to use it in the field. Scientifically, birds are classified according to their feet and bills, which are too small and obscure to serve for the identification of birds in the field; but their size, shape, color, markings, habits, and sometimes their calls can be easily observed. For this reason families have been somewhat broken up in arranging the plates, though in the text the usual classification has been followed. In the arrangement of the plates the plan has been to group the birds according to their size. On Plates I. and II. are all our birds the size of a common crow or larger; on Plates III. and IV. the birds about the size of the robin, blue jay, or pigeon. On Plates V., VI., and VII. are all the birds about the size of a sparrow — on Plate V. those with gay plumage, on Plate VI. those not speckled, and on Plate VII. those which are speckled and brown. On Plates VIII. and IX. are all the birds smaller than a sparrow, like the warblers and wrens. Ail the birds on each plate are drawn in the same proportion, but the large birds on Plates I. and II. are of course drawn on a much smaller scale than those on Plates III. and IV., and these latter on a correspondingly smaller scale-tham those ‘on Plates V;,. VI., and VIL. On each plate those birds which resemble each other 2 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. in color or otherwise are placed close together, to enable the student to observe their differences readily and quickly, and at the foot of each plate are a few remarks to draw attention to points of difference between birds that closely resemble each other. Unless otherwise specified, the male bird in spring plumage has-been chosen for representation, as in some cases he changes his coat later in the year, and becomes similar to the female. The females and young are usually similar to the males in shape and marking, with the black, how- ever, turned to gray or brown, and the other colors gray- ish or faded. Whenever there is a radical difference the female or young, as well as the male, has been repre- sented in the plates, and minor variations have been mentioned in the text. Some birds stay with us in the North the year around ; some breed here in the summer and spend the winter farther south ; while others are here during the winter, and breed to the northward in the summer; and a great number pass through in the spring and fall, breeding to the northward and wintering to the southward. These facts are important to the student, as the number of birds to choose from varies with the season. For example, there are thirty-two sparrows and finches, of which 1 is an all-the-year-round bird, 12 are winter birds, spending the summer northward, 2 are birds of passage, here only in the spring and fall, and 17 are summer birds, spending the winter South. FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 3 KEY. Birds the size of a crow or larger, Plates I. and IT. Birds about the size of a robin, jay. ete. Plates ITI. and IV. Birds about the size of a house sparrow : a. Bright colored . —eblate: Ve b. Without speckles. . Plate VI. c. Brown with speckles . Plate VIL Birds smaller than a house spar- row . . Plates Vit, and x: EXAMPLE OF THE MANNER OF USING THIS BOOK. Suppose you meet with an owl in the woods. It is larger than a crow, and must therefore be on Plate I. or II. On Plate I. there is no bird like it, on Plate JI. there are three owls resembling it. The first, No. 21, the great horned owl, is so much larger than this bird, compared with the crow on the same plate, that it cannot be the one you want. Nos. 22 and 23 are alike in size and color. One has larger ears than the other, but you may not be able to see Beek in your owl on the tree. The long-eared owl, No. 22, has the feathers of the belly barred, ‘that 18, the spots run in bars crosswise of the feathers ; while the short-eared owl, No. 23, has the breast and belly streaked, that is, the spots run lengthwise of the feathers. Which is like your owl? 4 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. HEN-LIKE BIRDS. — Gallinae. nai y es These birds build their nests and live mostly on the ground, and stay the year around in the same district. Bini. — Hard, short, stout, bent but not pointed. Freer. — Hind toe small and ele- vated. WInGs. — Short. Foop. — Seeds, buds, and insects. 1. QUAIL, BOB-WHITE. Colinus virginianus. —Length, 10 inches. Chestnut and black above; underparts white, with black and chestnut markings. Female and young similar in color, the dark parts being faded and the white parts buffish or grayish. Quails spend the summer in fields, meadows, or on the borders of woodlands, and in winter retire to thick woods or swamps. During the breeding season each pair of birds stays by itself, but later they flock together in from one to several families. At FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 9) night they sleep on the ground in a circular bunch, all tails toward the centre and heads outwards, on guard against a hostile surprise. When flushed the whole flock rise at once and generally keep together, flying low for a short distance. Then they alight, on the ground, rarely on trees, and immediately each bird runs for cover and hides. When flushed again the birds rise singly, and fly in different directions. After a quarter of an hour or so, when all seems safe, the leaders call the scattered flock together again. During hard winters and deep snow Quails suffer greatly and often starve, as their food consists mostly of grain and grass seed. They require gravel also to digest their food, and at these times are often found hunting for it in stone walls and in the cuts along roadsides. They never go far from their own districts, even if hard hunted, and when they feel safe become so tame as to feed with the hens around houses and barns. Besides being hunted by man they are relentlessly persecuted by hawks, foxes, and cats, and their nests are robbed by skunks and crows. This is the only Quail east of the Rocky Moun- tains, to the south and west of which there are several other species. ca at rewCh PARTRIDGE .7CANADA GROUSE. Dendragapus canadensis. — Length, 15 inches. Gray and brown above; underparts white, barred and spotted with black; a red spot above the eye; tail black, with tips and outer feathers red- brown. Female similar, but without the black on throat, breast, and belly. This bird lives in the North- ern spruce forests, and feeds on the spruce buds, of which a strong taste permeates the meat, rendering it valueless for food. 3. PARTRIDGE. RUFFED GROUSE: Son- asa umbellus. — Length, 17 inches. Brown above, 6 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. with gray and black spots; underparts white, with black and gray bars; a black ruff on the side of the neck; tail gray or red-brown. This is a thorough wood bird, feeding on seeds, berries, and insects, and in winter on buds, particularly those of apple and black birch trees. Young Partridges are able to run almost as soon as they are hatched, and when sur- prised jump and hide like mice. The old birds are celebrated for the ingenious tricks by which they draw any danger away from the young and centre the enemy’s attention on themselves. With much ado they play at being wounded or crippled, and allow man or dog almost to touch them, fluttering farther and farther until they think the young ones quite safe. Then they suddenly disappear, behind a tree or stone wall, and fly unseen back to the young, leaving their pursuer wondering where they have gone. Partridges stay together in flocks until early fall, and then seem to live singly, though often in close neighborhood on some favorable feeding ground. They remain in a district or even in a single favorite spot for several seasons, and when not hunted are not shy, though never really tame. They are never found in open grounds, and even on their grasshopper hunts stay on the edges of the woods. 4. PRAIRIE HEN, PINNATED: GROUSE; Tympanuchus americanus, AND HEATH HEN, Zym- panuchus cupido, are, with the exception of a few very small differences, exactly alike. Length, 18 inches. Buff above and white below, barred with black and brown; the side of the neck adorned with a tuft of long, narrow, and straight feathers. The Prairie Hen inhabits the prairie lands of the Mis- sissippi, though not in so great numbers as formerly. The Heath Hen used to inhabit the Eastern coast, but is now reduced to a few birds on Martha’s Vine- yard, which, though protected, do not seem to prosper. FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 7 PTARMIGAN. WILLOW GROUSE. Lagopus lagopus. — Length, 15 inches. An Arctic bird, some- times found in winter in the Northern States. En- tirely white except the outer tail-feathers, which are black ; in summer it is brown with black bars. It has no ornamental feathers at the side of the neck, but its feet are covered with feathers to the toe-nails. WILD TURKEY. Meleagris gallopavo. — Length, 48 inches. One of the finest game birds, now nearly extinct east of the Mississippi. SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. Pediocaetes phasia- nellus. — Length, 18 inches. Resembles the Partridge, but is more speckled, and has a pointed tail. ~A Northwestern bird, sometimes found in the markets. PIGEONS. Columbae. Pies biti. — Slender, of medium length, fo: deeply grooved at the = >) nostrils. ZA Lepr. — Hind toe even “with the ae front toes. a Wina. — Long, swift fliers. Foop. —Seeds, grain, acorns, beech- nuts, etc. 5. WILD OR PASSENGER*PIGEON. feto- pistes migratorius. — Length, 164 inches. Slate blue above; underparts reddish; no black dots below the ear. Female and young, brownish gray above; gray- ish below. This is a wood bird, breeding northward and in the mountains, and wintering in the South, It was formerly found in countless swarms, but is now nearly exterminated. 6. MOURNING DOVE. Zenaidura macrura. — Length, 11 inches. Grayish brown above ; under- 5 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. parts pinkish gray. It resembles the Passenger Pigeon, but is smaller and has a few black spots below the ear. It is usually found single or in pairs, in fields or by the roadside. A summer bird. BIRDS OF PREY. Raptores. Bitn. — Short, stout, strongly curved, sharp pointed. Freer. — Strong, with long, curved, pointed nails or talons (vultures excepted). Foop. — Living animals, as birds, mice, frogs, snakes, in- sects. Rarely carrion. HAWKS. %.. RED-TAILED HE N-—TDA W Khu borealis. — Length, 20 inches. Grayish brown above ; underparts white, with streaks on breast and sides ; tail bright rust red, with few narrow bars. Males and females are alike, but the young are more thickly streaked on the underparts, and have a gray tail with many narrow black bars. This is our strongest hawk, and is common in wooded districts. It is his habit to sit for hours on a dead limb of an isolated tree, wait- ing for something to turn up. At other times he hunts circling high in the air, calling to his mate, who flies low over the bushes to start the game. The call- note sounds somewhat like chee-ee-ee-ee. The prey of these hawks is anything they can manage, from rabbits and hens down to mice, snakes, and even insects. They are most destructive to Quails, and will watch a flock day after day, pouncing upon them as soon as they leave cover to go to the open fields to feed. This hawk stays all the year in his chosen dis- trict. FIELD KEY TO: THE LAND BIRDS. 9 8. RED-SHOULDERED HEN-HAWK. Bu- teo lineatus. — Length, 184 inches. Gray and brown above ; underparts white, covered thickly with rust- colored bars; bend of wing rich chestnut; tail black, with four or five narrow white bars. Males and females are alike, and the young are similar, but with the bars on their quills and tail tawny instead of white, and the underparts white with brown streaks, like No. lla on plate, with no reddish anywhere ex- cept on the shoulder. This hawk is not quite so strongly built as the Red-tail, but his habits are sim- ilar. His call sounds like key-you, key-you. 9. BROAD-WINGED HAWK. — Buteo latissi- mus. — Length, 16 inches. Dark gray, brown above ; conspicuous dark cheek patches; underparts mostly tawny buff; tail black, with two narrow white bars. Males and females are alike; the young have the un- derparts white with brown streaks, and the tail with six to eight white bars. : The young of these three species of Buteo are simi- lar, but may be distinguished from each other by the following marks: the gray tail with narrow black bars of the Red-tail; the red shoulder and barred quills of the Red-shoulder ; and besides the smaller size, the dark cheek patches of the Broad-wing. Another distinguishing mark is: the Red-tail and Red-shoulder have the first four quills of their wings notched on the inner van, whereas the Broad-wing has only three quills notched. They all differ from the Accipiters by their tail markings, by being much more strongly built, and by having no round white spots on the feathers of the back between the shoulders. 10. GOSHAWK. Aeeipiter atricapillus. — Length, 22 inches. Ash gray, darker above; top of head, quills, and tail black ; a white line over the eye. Males and females are alike, but the young differ greatly from the old birds. The young of all three 10 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. species of Accipiter resemble each other closely in color and markings, and are distinguishable only by the difference in their size. They are brown above, with a large round white dot on the feathers of shoulder and back; underparts white with brown streaks (see No. lla on plate); tail black and gray bars, of about even width. The Goshawk is a fine hawk; though more lightly built than the Buteos he makes up by his extraordinary boldness for what he lacks in strength. He will some- times sit on the roof of a hen-house, pick up a hen in the yard, and carry her off. He is somewhat rare here, and comes to us only as a straggler, his real home being to the northward. 11. COOPER'S HAWK. Aeeipiter coopers. — Length, 19 inches. Bluish gray above; under- parts white, thickly barred with reddish buff; tail with black and gray bars, and rownded at the end. Males and females are alike, and the young, 11a, are similar to young Goshawks. This is our common Chicken-hawk, and stays with us throughout the year, though less numerous in winter. 12. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. § Accipiter velox. — Length, 12 inches. Exactly like a small Cooper’s Hawk, except that the tail is square at the end. Both these hawks are very destructive to chick- ens and game birds, even more so than the larger hawks, as they overmatch the strength of the latter by their own swiftness and boldness. 18. DUCK-HAWK. PEREGRINE FALCON. Falco peregrinus anatum. — Length, 17 inches. Bluish gray above; underparts light buff and white, streaked, barred, and spotted with black. It has a conspicuous black patch under the eye, and the sharp tooth on the upper bill that is characteristic of all falcons. The young are similar, but blackish brown above. In flight this hawk resembles a pigeon. It MEDD: KEY TO-THE LAND BIRDS. ja! is a straggler anywhere, mostly after ducks and other water birds, and is one of our finest hawks. 14. PIGEON-HAWK. Falco columbarius. — Length, 12 inches. Slate gray above; underparts buff with black streaks. Young black above, with an indication of a red-brown collar around the neck. Otherwise this hawk is lke a diminutive Duck- Hawk, but preys on land birds and small animals. It breeds to the northward and winters in the South, and is the least shy of all our hawks. 15. SPARROW-HAWK. Falco sparverius. — Length, 11 inches. Back and tail chestnut; wing coverts blue-gray; underparts white and buff, barred and spotted with black. Female and young have wing coverts chestnut. This bird is sometimes called the Killi Hawk, after its call. It is a summer bird, and a most elegant little hawk. 16. MARSH-HAWK. MEADOW HARRIER. Circus hudsonicus. — Length, 20 inches. Light pearl 12 FIEL® KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. gray above; underparts whitish. Female and young very different from the male, being dark reddish or yellowish brown all over, except the tail coverts, which are conspicuously white in both sexes, a mark distinguishing this from all other hawks. This is the commonest hawk, and is often seen flying low over the meadows, hunting for frogs and mice. He keeps to the same district all summer, goes South in winter, and often returns to the same place the next year, building his new nest on the top of those of previous years. Though large, he is weak, and shakily built, and even small birds have no respect for him. ‘1%. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Archibuteo lagopus Sancti Johannis.— Length, 22 inches. Brown ; face and upper part of tail feathers whitish, but very variable, being sometimes entirely black. He may, however, always be recognized by his feathered legs. Though a large, strong bird he preys almost entirely on mice and reptiles. A Northern hawk, sometimes found here in winter. 18. OSPREY, OR FISH-HAWK. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. — Length, 23 inches. Black above and white below. The Fish-hawk is easily recognized by his long wings and heavy flight. It is interesting to watch him as he hovers over rivers and ponds in search of fish. He sails perhaps two or three hundred feet above the water, and when he sees a fish near the surface suddenly stops, apparently fastened in the sky, making no visible motions. After a few moments he drops like a shot for about fifty feet, and poises nailed in the sky as motionless as before. He repeats this process until he is about twenty-five feet from the water, and there he stays until the fish offers him a good chance. Then, quick as lightning, he dives entirely below the surface, and shortly after emerges with the fish in his talons. He then shakes off the water, and flies in his heavy way to some favorite tree, where he can devour his prey. This is a summer bird, wandering South in winter. FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 13 19. BALD EAGLE. AHaliaetus leucocephalus. Length, 35 inches. Black; head, neck, and tail white ; bill and feet yellow. Young entirely black. The Bald Eagle is sometimes to be seen high in the air, sailing above a hunting Fish-hawk, and waiting to rob him of his fish. 20. GOLDEN EAGLE. Aguila chrysaetos. — Length, 35 inches. Top of head and back of neck rich yellow-brown; body dark brown. A Rocky Mountain bird, rare to the East. SWAINSON’S HAWK, similar to the Red-tail, sometimes strageles to the East. He may be known by a large red or brown patch on the breast. The white, the gray, and the black Gyrtfalcons, Northern birds, have been known to stray to the East- ern United States. OWLS. (> whe GREAT HORNED OWL. Ay Bubo virginianus. — Length, 22 CS a ay, ! : \ oP es (-~7 ~/ # inches. Gray and brown above; rey 8 white or buff underneath; every- ed ~ where spotted and barred with black. Wn. jrry* s This owl is a bird of great strength, ; and lives in wooded districts, prey- ing on rabbits and poultry. It stays with us summer and winter. 22. LONG-EARED OWL. © Asio wilsonianus. — Length, 14 inches. Resembles the Great Horned Owl in everything except size. This and the next species are our commonest owls, and are often seen at evening hunting over the meadows. This species differs from the ext by having longer ears and barred breast-feathers. 23. SHORT-EARED OWL. Asio accipitrinus. — Length, 15 inches. Upper parts buff and gray, speckled with dark brown ; underparts buff, streaked with black, not barred ; ears small. This owl feeds in 14 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. meadows on little birds and especially on mice. He migrates South in winter. 24. SCREECH-OWL. Megascopu asio. — Length, 94 inches. Similar in color and shape to the Great Horned Owl. It preys on little birds and mice, and stays both summer and winter in the same locality. 25. SNOWY OWL. WNyctea nyctea. — Length, 25 inches. Pure white, or with small black spots, which are larger in the female, forming regular bars ; no outside ears. Its home is from Labrador north- ward, but in winter stragglers come to the United States. This owl hunts in the daytime. 26. BARRED OR HOOT-OWL. = Syrnium nebulosum. — Length, 20 inches. Gray, barred every- where with blackish brown, except from the breast downward, where it is streaked; no outer ears. It is a stupid owl, not at all shy, and may be found sitting almost anywhere. It belongs in Northeastern America, migrating southward in winter. ais DAW-WHET OR - ACADIAN OWE: Nyctato acadica. — Length, 8 inches. Cinnamon brown, streaked, barred, and spotted with white. This is our smallest owl. Its summer home is northward of the United States, but it straggles South in winter. GREAT GRAY OWL. Scotiaptex cinereum. — Length, 27 inches. In appearance like an enormous barred owl, except that the upper breast is streaked and the lower barred. RICHARDSON’S OWL. — Length, 10 inches. Resembles the Acadian Owl. HAWK-OWL. — Length, 15 inches. Dark brown, spotted and barred with white; easily known by its very long tail and daytime habits. These owls all live in high northern latitudes, but have been known to come to the Northern States in winter. FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. Ney CUCKOOS. OCuculidae. Bini. — Medium-sized and bent. FEET. — Small; two toes in front and two behind; nails small. Foop. — Caterpillars and other in- sects. 28. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Coccyzus americanus. — Length, 12 inches. Grayish brown above; underparts grayish white; bill yellow. This is a tree bird, rarely seen on the ground. He flies quietly from tree to tree all day long, searching for caterpillars. Commoner West. 29. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. — Length, 12 inches. Similar to the Yellow-bill, except that the bill is black, the white spots on the tail smaller, and that there is a bare red spot around the eye. This bird is also called the Rain Cuckoo, as his calls are particularly loud and frequent just before a rain. A summer bird, com- moner East. 16 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. WOOD PECKERS. — Picidae. BILL. — Strong and straight. Cae Drees: = Not feathered. —— Tors. — Four, two in front and two behind, or three, two in front and one behind. Nails strongly curved for climbing. Koop. — Insects, particularly wood- boring insects in the trunks of trees. For the purpose of catching these insects Wood- peckers are provided with a long, string-like tongue which has a barbed hook at the point. They insert this tongue into the holes bored by the insects, and pull out. their prey. When the tongue is not long enough they hammer and chisel tioles with thei strong bills, and thus reach the insect. They build PLE KY TO THE LAND BIRDS: WZ their nests in tree-trunks, excavating holes for them in a similar way. 30. YELLOW-HAMMER, FLICKER, GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. Colaptus auratus. — Length, 12 inches. Head ash gray with a red spot where the neck begins; back brown with black bars; tail black; underparts white with round black dots, and a black patch on the breast; wings and tail golden yellow underneath; in the males a black stripe from the corner of the mouth to the neck, wanting in the female. This is the commonest woodpecker east of the Rocky Mountains. In his habits he differs from the other woodpeckers, which are mostly solitary wood birds, by being very sociable, feeding often on the ground. He seems rather more at home near habitations than in the deep woods, being fond of orchards and gardens. Beside feeding on insects he eats berries, in company with robins and other birds. Like the other woodpeckers, he is always busy, but seems to enjoy life more than his brethren. ae LOGO OC Ki. (Pai h Avie Dp W.O OD PECKER. Ceophloeus pileatus. — Length, 17 inches. A large red crest on the top of the head; throat and sides white; at the corner of the mouth a red stripe, wanting in the female; the rest of the body black. Formerly common in large wooded districts, now becoming extinct in the Eastern part of the country. 32. HAIRY WOODPECKER® Dryobates vil- losus. — Length, 94 inches. Black and white; at the back of the head a red spot, wanting in the female. 32a. DOWNY WOODPECKER. Dryobates pubescens. — Length, 62 inches. In color and mark- ings like the Hairy Woodpecker, except the outer tail- feathers, which are white on the Hairy Woodpecker, and white with blackish bars on the Downy Wood- pecker. Its coat is soft and silky. Both these birds stay summer and winter, and rarely leave the woods. 33. YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 18 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. Sphyrapicus varius. — Length, 84 inches. Top of head and throat red; cheeks white; belly lght yel- low; elsewhere black and white, spotted and barred. Winters southward. 34. THREE-TOED ARCTIC WOOD- PECKER. Picoides arcticus. — Length, 94 inches. Forehead with a yellow spot; wing coverts and back black ; underparts white; sides barred with black. Female similar, but without the yellow spot. Lives in the Arctic regions, but in winter wanders south to the Northern States. | AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. Picoides americanus. — Length, 8% inches. Similar to the Arctic Woodpecker in domicile and habits, but has the back barred with white. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. — Length, 9? inches. Head and neck bright crimson; back and tail black ; ; underparts and tail coverts white. In the young the head and neck are gray-brown. This bird is very common in the Western States, but rare on the Atlantic coast. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Melanerpes carolinus. — Length, 94 inches. Top of head, from bill to neck, red; belly with a reddish tint; rest of body white, more or less barred, spotted, and speckled with black. This is a Southern bird, occasionally straying northward. KINGFISHERS. — Alcedinidae. ey Large, stout, straight. FEET. — Small; middle and outer toes joined half their length. 35. BELTED KINGFISHER. Ceryle aleyon. — Length, 15 inches. Head black; upperparts bluish gray with small white dots; underparts white with a MLO, KEY tO THE LAND BIRDS. 19 band across the breast, gray in the male, reddish in the female and young. The favorite haunt of the bird is near rivers and ponds, where he perches on some dead limb overlooking the water. Here he watches for fish, and if frightened from his perch flies away with clattering chatter to some similar spot, where he resumes his watch. When he sees a fish he hovers over the spot for a few instants, dives in and brings it out. Then he shakes off the water from his plumage, and flies to his perch with his prey. If the fish is too large for him to manage alive he either perforates its skull with a stroke of his strong bill and lets it die, or else, watching till it comes to the surface, he flutters over it and pecks out its eyes. This bird moves southward in winter. GOATSUCKERS. — Caprimulqidae. BILL. — Small, mouth large and wide, beset with bristles. Beare smalk- three toes im tromt and one behind. Foop. — Insects. 36. WHIPPOORWILL.