FOR THE PEOPLE
FOR EDVCATION
FORSCIENCE
LIBRARY
OF
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF
NATURAL HISTORY
Frontispiece.
Painted Bunting.
Frontispiece.
I'ainted Bunting'.
FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
OF THE BIRDS OF
EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
BY
Cbarlee 3. flDaijnar5
C. J. Maynard West Neayton Mass.
COPYIIKJIIT
BY
CHAIILE.S J. MAYXARI>
11J16
DEDICATED
TO ALL WHO LOVE
TO STUDY
LIVLNG BIRDS
VALEDICTORY
This book, begun six years ago, has
greatly exceeded in number of pages the
original intentions of the author, but this
will not, he trust, prove disadvantageous
to the reader.
As the title indicates, all the birds,
excepting perhaps a few very recently
described forms, which occur between the
North Pole and the Gulf of Mexico, east of
the Mississippi Kiver, are given. As the
natural geographical western avifaunal
boundaries are the Great Plains, most of the
species which occur east of them are herein
included.
In its scope as an exponent of field
characters it ma}' be regarded as a com-
panion to my Director}' to the Birds of
Eastern North America.
C. J. M.
West Xewlon, April, 1916.
PREFACE.
Among the many books written on birds
it will be difficult to find one which deals
Avholh^ with these beautiful and interesting
creatures as they are seen in the field. Pro-
fessional ornithologists must, ol course, study
external and internal characters of birds from
the specimens themselves in the hand, but to-
day there is another class of ornithologists,
who by far outnumber the professional, and
who want to know living birds as they ap-
pear among the foliage of woodlands and
shrubbery, on the shore, or upon the waters
of lake, pond, and river, or upon the wide
ocean. This class want a book that shall
teach them how they can identify these birds
as they perch, or fly, or swim. It is evident
that such a book, in order to fulfill its mis-
sion, should be written by one who has had
a wide experience with living birds.
2 PKEFACE.
While he who now undertakes this work
does not daim that he knows living birds as
well as he could wish, he has had a wide field
experience with them ; an experience extend-
ing over half a century, for forty years of
which he has been a teacher in bird study.
The author's plan for this book is, to
give onh^ such points in form, flight, habits,
and color which can readily be seen with an
ordinary bird glass, which wdll serve to iden-
tify the species observed, rigidly excluding
all others. In short, points that he has been
teaching his pupils to see when they have been
with him in the held. It goes without say-
ing, that those most conclusive means of iden-
tification, the songs or other sounds uttered
by birds will not be omitted. Breeding hab-
its nests and eggs and the young will also be
noticed. The figures beneath the cuts indi-
cate the comparative size; if there is none,
the cut is life size.
In concluding the author wishes to give
credit for the idea from which this book orig-
PREFACE. 3
inated to his life-long friend, Mr. T. 0. Ful-
ler of Needham, and for the encouragement
to begin its iDublication now to many other
members of his bird classes.
WEST NEWTON,
NOV., 1909.
W '•
■!iSS*'':ll%ii|fv
WATEK BIRDS.
WATER BIRDS.
By these we mean those birds which live
on or near water, both salt and fresh, and
which obtain their subsistence from it. They
are of diverse forms and habits as will be
seen as we proceed. They also belong to
widely different groups. While none are giv-
en under this head which live away from wa-
ter, some which do occur about it are exclud-
ed in order not to break up natural group-
ings. Examples of these may be found in
the Kingfishers, Ospreys, Phalaropes, Coots,
and Gallinules. Most of the species included
in this section swim well, but exceptions to
this rule may be found in the Frigate Birds
which would be as helpless as swallows if they
found themselves in the w\ater. Partial ex-
ceptions are seen in the Terns, but these will
be mentioned later. Most of the young are
covered with down when hatched, see plate
I for an example.
b (JREBES.
GREBES.
Are birds which are seen upon both salt
and fresh water, which when suddenly fright-
ened dive instantaneously and rarely fly.
They may be distinguished from most Ducks
by the short form, absence of tail, shown in
the rounded rump, more slender neck, and
pointed bill. This last named can be seen by
close observation almost as far as the bird
can be distinguished. From Coots, which they
somewhat resemble, they may be known by
the light colors beneath; Coots are dark all
over.
Grebes ride lightly upon the ^vater and
carry their heads well over their backs, see
figs. 1 and 3, thus differing from Loons which
Kwim low and carry their heads forward. If
approached slowly. Grebes sink gradually,
sometimes leaving the head and neck ex-
posed. But when suddenly alarmed, they
dive like a flash, and if much frightened, will
not reappear for a long time, or w^ll only put
their bills out of water in order to breath.
GREBES. 7
Occasionally when startled they patter along
the water, using wings and feet. This move-
ment sometimes ends in flight or a dive. On
account of their rather singular behavior,
these interesting birds are popularly called
Water Witches, and more objectionably. Dev-
il Divers and Hell Divers.
The flight is swift and direct, with neck
and feet outstretched. They never dive from
the air, nor do they ever voluntarily appear
on land, and cannot rise in flight from it, al-
though they can walk and even run. Their
cries, which are usually heard in spring, are
weird, hollow, and quavering.
The nests, which are placed among reeds
on inland bodies of water, are usually float-
ing. Eggs, 6 to 8, greenish, covered with a
chalky incrustation which is usually much
stained. Young, active when hatched, and
follow their parents. They are streaked with
whitish and dark brown.
Although some species of Grebes are gre-
garious in habit, all at times, occur singly.
The males are larger than the females.
GREBES.
1. HOLBOELL GREBE
Our largest species, 18 to 20. The bill
is large, iig. 2, hence the head looks large,
and when the bird is alarmed is carried well
lip, thus straightening the neck, fig 1. The
Fis. 1.
Holboell Grebe. 1-14.
dark back is relieved by the whitish under
parts, but the neck shows grayish in front.
Fi-. 2.
Bill of Holboell Grebe.
GREBES. 9
The cheeks and sides of head below the e3^es
are decidedly gray, but there is a lighter spot
on either side of the back part of the head,
yet this cannot be seen at any great distance.
The bird must also be fairlj^ near to see that
the bill is partly yellow and that it is about
as long as the head. There is a white patch
on the wing that may sometimes be seen
when the bird is swimming and ahvays as it
rises upright on the water to flap its wdngs,
or flies, see fig. 1. In spring the neck shows
some reddish. Not uncommon on salt water
and occasionally on fresh, either singly or in
small companies, from Oct. 15 to May 15
from Me. to N. J. Breeds in the Arctic.
2. HORNED GREBE.
Much smaller than the Holboell, 12 to
15. Carries the head low and even when
alarmed does not straighten the neck wholly,
fig. 3. Is much more silvery white on breast,
neck in front, and on entire cheeks below eye,
extending so far on back of head as to nearly
form a collar there. The bill is shorter than
10
(iKEBES.
tlie head, see lig. 4, and darker than that of
the Holboell; the bird must be near, howev-
er, in order to see this, yet I have known
this species to be so tame that even the red
Homed Grebe. 1-14
Bill of liorned Grebe.
eye could be seen. There is a white patch
on the wing much as in the larger species.
In diving the Horned Grebe quite often
springs out of water. It occurs in large num-
bers on salt water along the coast, and in Ijays
and estuaries, seldom singly, usually in small
companies, but not infrequently in tiocks of
twenty or more, and is sometimes seen on
fresh water. It is hy far our most common
species, being quite al)uudant during the fall
GREBES. 1 1
migration in October and early November.
Some remain as far north as Mass., but the
majority pass the cold season between south-
ern N. E. and Fla.
Fig-. 5.
Horned Grebe in summer. 1-2.
In May this species assumes the elonga-
ted feathers of the head which gives it the
name of Horned Grebe, see fig. 5. The head
is then black above and below, with a broad
line of chestnut on its side which passes
through eye. The neck is also chestnut in
front and this color extends down on the sides
of body. These colors can easily be seen at
some distance. Breeds chiefly north of U. S.
12 GREBES.
In stiKU^ng the two foregoing .species of
Grebes, experience will teach that w^hile one
may mistake a Horned for a Holboell, one
rarely, if ever, mistakes a Holboell for a
Horned.
3. PIED-BILLED GKEBE.
About the size of the Horned Grebe, but
this is our only species that has the head and
neck all around decidedly reddish brown in
Figf. 6.
I'ied-billed Grebe in winter. 1-4.
autumn and winter, and this color extends
along the sides. The throat and under parts
are silvery white, see fig. 6. The bill is thick
an-d large, about the size and form of that of
a domestic hen. It is Ijrown in winter, but
l)ecomes whitish in summer with a black band
(IREBES. 13
crossing the middle which can easily be seen
at some distance, see fig. 7, and which gives
it the name of Pied-billed Grebe. It is also
called Dabchick. The throat is then black.
Fi^. 7.
Yicr 8.
Pied-billed Grebe in summer; bird 1-15.
The young when fully grown retain the
stripings on the head, see fig. 9, but the neck
is reddish brown much as in the adult.
The Pied-billed Grebe may be found on al-
most any fresh water stream or pond, if a lit-
tle remote from habitations and contain
aquatic vegetation into which the bird may
retreat when alarmed. It is very rarely found
on salt water. It is very common, especial-
ly in Sep. and Oct. in northern U. S. It win-
ters from the Carolinas, southward, and breeds
from Fla., northward into Canada. Migra-
14
GREBES.
tion in spring takes place in April upon the
breaking up of the ice. For the differences
between the Pied-billed Grebe and the Rud-
dy Duck, see that species.
Fio-. 9.
Head of youni; Pied-billed Grebe taken Auf;. 27.
LOONJS.
LOONS.
15
Occur on both fresh and salt water in
summer, but are more common on the latter
named in winter. They may be distinguished
from ducks by the pointed bill, long form,
and habit of sitting low on the water. This
last mentioned habit, their method of carry-
ing their head in advance of the body, not oft-
en over it, see fig. 10, and the presence of a
tail, w^hich although short, can easily be seen.
Fig 20.
Loin. 1-10.
will at once distinguish them from Grebes.
Loons dive instantaneously when much
alarmed, and can rarely be made to ily. They
slip under water with the utmost ease, leav-
16 LOONS.
iiig hardly a ripple behind, and occasionally
may be seen with the head and neck only
above the surface.
The flight is swift and direct. The wings
are saber-shaped and look small for the large
body; but they amply serve their purpose,
and a great Loon dashing through the air
with the velocity of a hundred miles an hour
is a fine example of gravity largely overcome
by speed. The feet and neck are outstretcued
in flight, flg. 11. They cannot rise into air
excepting from water, and then are obliged
to flutter along the surface for some distance
Ijefore they can start. In calm water they
may often be seen paddling along the surface
by using both feet and wings, "steamboating"
as it is called. They do this sometimes in
chasing one another, apparently in sport.
Although the nests are placed on land,
they are never far from water, as the birds
cannot walk on land, but are obliged to drag
themselves along by using Avings and feet.
Eggs, 2, dark greenish brown heavily spotted
LOONS. 17
with black. The voiing are active when
hatched and covered with down, dark-brown
above and whitish beneath. Thej- dive well
when quite small, but when very voung are
frequently carried about on the backs of their
parents. Both sexes are similar.
4. LOON.
Our largest species, 32. Easily recog-
nized in summer by the black head and neck.
There are white markings on the npck as giv-
en in the figure on page 15, which, ho.vever,
cannot be discerned any great distance, but
the white spots on the black back are more
easily seen. These are nearly square in form,
and are arranged in pairs at the extremity
of each feather or near it, fig 12. The bird
is white beneath, which may be best seen as
it rises to flap its wings or turns partly over
when preening itself. In winter, when the
head and neck are dusky above and white be-
neath, it may be known from the Red-throat-
ed Loon by the superior size and absence of
18
LOONS.
spots above, fig. 11. The bill is proportion-
ately heavier and the head looks larger. The
neck and back also look darker, and the dusk-
iness extends down on the sides of the head.
Feather from back of Loon in somewhat worn summer
dress.
The weird cries of the Loon are given
throughout the year, but are more varied in
summer. At night a single wailing note,
like "TT7iere" is uttered; to this sometimes
added another note, ^'are\ At early dawn
a shorter sound is heard, terminating these,
and given with a rising inflection ; all togeth-
er then become, ''Where are yoiif The
alarm note, night or day, is, ''Wa-oiL-ou-ar^\
given nearly as one continuous cry; the flight
I.OOXS.
19
utterance, heard frequently in summer, is,
"Go-o-o-along\ Besides these cries, all* of
which are given in a minor tone, Loons con-
verse when together by emitting low sounds.
They may be often attracted toward the shore
by waving anything white, like a handker-
chief, and will usually answer a good mimic-
ry of their cries.
Fig. 11.
Loon in winter dress. 1-8.
Common in winter on salt water along
the coast from Me. to the Carolinas. Rare in
Fla. Breeds from northern U. S. northward
on the borders of lakes and ponds. Occasion-
all^^ found on fresh water during the autum-
20
LOOXS.
iial mifrr.'itions in Sep. and Oct. Returns
north in April.
F]^. 18.
lied-ibroated Loon in wioter dress, ••steamboatino:*'. 1-6.
5. RED-THROATED LOON
Smallest of our Loons, 26. Differs from
the Loon in being decidedly lighter in color,
especially on head and neck. In summer it
has triangular red patch on the throat, and
this is sometimes (though rarely) retained in
autumn. In winter the white of the throat
extends up on the sides of the head to the
LOONS.
21
eye and a little higher behind it, fig. 13. The
back is always marked with white spots ar-
ranged in pairs much as in the Loon, but
they are long, narrow, and placed obliquely
with the vein of the feather, fig 14. In com-
paring this Loon with the Holboell Grebe,
Fig. 14.
Back feather of Red-throated Loon in winter dress.
it is well to remember that while the Grebe
at first usually springs upward in diving, the
Loon simply slips under water.
This species is less suspicious than the
Loon, and sometimes comes quite near shore.
Two or three years ago, when the harbor off
Winthrop, Massachusetts, was filled with
them, some came so near the sea wall, the
tide being high, that they could be seen un-
der water as they dove in pursuit of fish, and
22 LOONS.
their metliod of using their wings as propel-
ling agents could also be seen, fig. 15.
Fis. 15.
Red-throated Loon flyinor under water
The cries of the Red-throated Loon are
not dissimilar to those of the Loon. It breeds
from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward,
cljictly along the coast; Avintering from Mass.
southward, when it is found off the coast, in
bays, sounds, etc. Occasionally occurs on
fresh water. Very common in New England
in Nov. Migrates south in Sep. and Oct. ;
north in April. Common names for it are,
Cape Race and Scape-grace.
LOONS. 2o
6. BLACK-^THROATED LOON.
Intermediate in size between the Loon
and the Red-throated Loon, about 28. Head
and neck above, grayish, but the throat and
neck below are bhick, with longitudinal white
lines down the neck between it and the gray.
The back is black with small ovate spots of
w^iite. The young have the neck grayish in
front and the back unspotted, but Avith each
feather broadly margined with bluish w^hite,
giving the back a scaly appearence. Breeds
in the Arctic regions ; south in winter to ex-
treme northern United States only, where it
is exceedingly rare. While there does not
appear to be any authentic record of this un-
common species having been seen in the Unit-
ed States, it may be well to watch for it, es-
pecially on the coast, as it could be easily ov-
erlooked.
24
AUKS, MURKES, PUFFINS, ETC.
AUKS, MITRRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
A group of birds with bills of varying
forms, but all agreeing in having rather short
bodies and necks, and by these characters
may be distinguished from all other water
birds. They all occur on the ocean and all
swim and dive well. They sit upright when
on land, fig. 14; some walk well, others move
with a waddling gait. The wings are short.
Fig. 16.
Razor-billed Auk in summer dress. 1-8.
but the flight is swift and direct, with very
rapid wing-beats. The birds move with a
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC. 25
swaying motion when flying — thus differing
from other water birds — and can wheel read-
ily in air. The horny outer covering of the
bill is moulted in some of the species, hence
the bill is of a different form in winter than
in summer. All assume a special winter plu-
mage. They nest in cavities on cliffs or
rocky islands, but some species often excavate
holes for themselves. The 3^oung are hatched
covered with down, but are comparatively
helpless and are fed by regurgitation.
7. RAZOE-BILLED AUK.
Size about that of the Ruddy Duck, 16 ;
like that species it often holds its tail up when
swimming. The Razor-bill, however, has a
much shorter neck than that of any duck,
while its singular bill will always serve to
distinguish it when adult, fig. 16. This, and
its manner of carrying its tail, are the only
characters by which it may be known from
the Murres when at any distance, for like it
they also are black above and white beneath.
26
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
with the head all around black in summer,
and with the throat white in winter, fig. 17.
The Kazor-bill also has a white wing band.
Fig. 17.
Razor-billed Auk in winter dress. 1-8.
In regard to the habit of cocking up its
tail, it will be well to remember that the Rud-
dy Duck, which usually carries its tail in the
same way, does not always do so in windy
weather, and the Auk may follow its example.
Unless the tail is always carried upright the
young Razor-bills the first winter w411 be dif-
ficult to tell from Brunnich Murres as then
the bill. is comparatively slender, nearly as
much so as in the Murre.
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC. 27
In common with the Murres, these birds
are apt to sit in long lines side by side on the
water, and they often fly in small flocks also
side by side. Although usually silent, their
cries when given are loud and harsh.
Kazor-bills are found off the coast in Avin-
ter, generally not far from land, sometimes
so near that they may be seen from exposed
sea coasts. Breeds from Grand Menan north-
ward, nesting in rock cavities. Eggs, one or
two, white, heavily spotted and blotched with
dark brown. Winters from Mass. to N. J.;
migrating north in early March. Very com-
mon, but not so often seen from land.
8. MURRE.
About the same size and form as the Ra-
zor-bill, but it may be known by the long,
pointed bill, fig. 18. If near enough when in
in summer dress, the absence of the white
line in front of the eye, seen in the Razor-
bill may be noted. The head is soot-brown.
28
AUKS, MUKRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
all around in summer, but in winter, when
the throat is white, the head is quite black.
Also differs from the Razor-bill when on the
Fis. 18.
Bill of Murre.
water in not cockinf^ up its tail. In common
with the two following species it breeds on
the shelves of rocky cliffs from the (rulf of
St. Lawrence northward. One egg only is
laid. This is very large for the size of the
bird, pyriform, varying in color from white
to a bright blue-green, thickly spotted and
lined with l)la('k. All three species when an-
noyed utter a murmuring note like '^Mur-r-r^'
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
29
often repeated. They are all gentle, friend-
ly, and unsuspicious. It is possible to ap-
proach within a few yards of them at any
time, and when sitting on their eggs will al-
low themselves to be handled without show-
ing much fear.
Fig. 19.
Murre in winter dress. 1-6.
All of the species migrate southward in
Nov. and northward in Feb. and early March.
The Murre winters from northern N. E.
northward off the coast. Although there
does not appear to be any specimens in col-
lections which have been taken as far south
as Mass., it may occur here.
30 AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
9. RINGED MURRE.
Differs from the Murre in having a
white ring around the eye and a line extend-
ing back of it along the sides of the head, fig.
20. The range is the same as that of the
Murre. Not very common.
Fig. 20.
Ringed Murre in summer dress. 1-2.
10. BRUNNICH MURRE.
Differs from the Murre in having the bill
shorter and thicker, with the edge of the up-
per mandible swollen on the basal half and
yellow in color. This may be seen at some
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
31
distance, fig. 21. For comparison with the
Razor-billed Auk see that species. Some
Ficr. 21.
S=5S5^^^___ __ ^^N.
Bill of Brunnich Murre.
birds have the throat nearly black in win-
ter, but as a rule it is white, ^g. 22. The un-
der side of the wing is white, and this shows
as the bird sways in flight. This is the spe-
cies which occurs o:ff the coast of Mass. in
winter, and which may often be seen from
headlands or even beaches when it is migrat-
ing. Sometimes during severe storms it will
seek the shelter of salt water estuaries, and
is occasionally blown inland. Winters from
Mass. to N. J. Summer range like that of
the Murre.
32
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
11. BLACK GUILLEMOT.
The Guillemots are smaller than the
Murres, 13, and differ from them otherwise
in heing black throughout in summer with a
Fig. 22.
Brunnich Murre in winter dress. 1-4.
large, conspicuous white wing patch, which
in the Black Guillemot is wholly, or partly,
divided by a black wedge, fig. 23. In win-
ter the black above is much mixed with
white in irregular mottlings, and the color
below is nearly or quite white, fig. 23. The
white wing patch, however, is about as con-
spicuous as it is in winter. The feet are crim-
AUKS, MUllKES, PUFFINS, ETC. 33
son, showing in flight, or often as the bird
dives, for it springs upward before plunging
beneath the water. It is rather shy, even on
Fiir. 23.
Black Guillemot; figure in front, summer; behind, win-
ter, dress. 1-6.
its breeding grounds. Although the winter
dress shows considerable white, this species
ma3^ be distinguished from the ducks which
show about as much white, like the Buflle-
head and Oldsquaw, by the pointed bill and
habit of carrying the head well forward when
swimming. Guillemots, when at a distance,
quite closely resemble floating bottles.
The Black Guillemot breeds from the
coast of Me. northward, nesting in rock cav-
84 AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
ities; eggs 2 to 4, white or greenish, heavily
marked with black and brown. Note, when
disturbed, a mournful whistle ; also gives a
'chuckling cry. Common in winter off the
coast, not far from land, from N. E. to N. J.
Migrates south in early Oct., north in April.
It is often called Sea Pigeon.
12. MANDT GUILLEMOT.
Ditt'ers from the Black Guillemot in
having the white patch on the wing larger,
and it is never divided by a black wedge. It
breeds from the coast of Labrador, northward.
Southward range in winter not well known.
13. DOVEKIE.
The smallest of the group, 8, easily rec-
ognized by its small size, short neck, and
small bill. It looks tiny on the water, upon
which it rides buoyantly, fig. 25. Like many
of the allied species, the head is black all
around in summer, but the throat is white
to the bill in winter, and there is a whitish
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
35
collar around the neck, fig. 24. If near, the
white tippings to the secondaries and the
white stripes on the wings can be seen. The
Fig. 24.
Dovekie in winter dress. 1.3.
wings are moved very rapidly in flight, and
when the bird is going directly away or com-
ing head on it resembles a winged ball. Al-
though sometimes found singly, it more often
occurs in flocks, from companies of four or
five up to gatherings consisting of hundreds
of individuals, but the large flocks are usual-
ly seen far out at sea.
The Dovekie dives and swims well under
water. It is very unsuspicious and friendly.
36 AUKS, MUllRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
If cau<^lit it is very gentle, showing no signs
of fear, and may be approached quite near
when on the water. It breeds in the far
north, migrating south in Nov. to winter
Dovekie in winter dress. 1-8.
from Mass. to N. J., but usualh' keeps well
out at sea. It is sometimes blown inland du-
ring severe storms which occur when it is
migrating. Goes north in xA^pril. The single,
greenish-white, unspotted ^gg is placed on
the shelves of rocky cliffs. It is often cjilled
Little xVuk, and is known to fishermen by the
rather singular name of Pine Knot.
14. PUFFIN.
These odd little birds, which are about
the size of Teals, 13. are easily distinguished
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC.
Oi
by the grayish white cheeks in strong con-
trast with the black coHar around the neck,
Large head, much compressed, triangular, red,
bill, and short neck. The top of the head
and back are black and the under parts are
Fiff. 26.
/^\
Puffin in summer dress. 1-4.
white, fig. 26. The winter adults and young
have the bill smaller and dark in color, but
it is always triangular in form.
The Puffin rides lightly on the water
and is very expert in diving. Flight very
38 AUKS, MUREES, PUFFINS, ETC.
very swift, with rapid wing beats and with
a slight swaying motion.
At all times it is very tame, allowing a
near approach, and on its breeding grounds
is even more fearless. Although peaceable,
friendly birds, they resist being handled, and
will bite fiercely if removed from their bur-
rows, at the same time uttering a croaking
sound. The Puffins are the only birds of
Fijf. 27.
Pulliu in summer dress. 1-8.
this group which stand upright on their toes,
without touching the tarsi to the ground, fig.
27.
AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS, ETC. 39
The Puffin breeds from tlie Bay of Fun-
day northward, nesting in holes of rocky cliffs
or in burrows which it excavetes for itself in
the soil on the surface of islands. The sin-
gle egg is white, usually much stained, occa-
sionally mottled with greenish. Migrates
south in Oct. to winter from off the coast of
N. E. to N. J. At this season keeps well out
to sea, only occasionallj^ approaching very
near land. Goes north in April. Common.
It is often called Sea Parrot and Paroquet.
15. LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN.
Not to be distinguished at any distance
from the Puffin, the only difference being the
slightly larger size and proportionately larg-
er bill. Breeds in the Arctic regions; south-
ward range in winter not well known.
16. TUFTED PUFFIN.
Differs from the Puffin in being sooty
gray beneath, instead of white, in all stages-
of plumage. In the breeding season the sides
4(1
TETKELS, SHEAKWATERS, ETC.
.-, . ' v'^^#^^/''■
mr-:
.4
.^i 'V . , v,.i;^,V
m"^^
/r\
- ^^; ,^^, ;. . ,V,
I.
<
Younjx Audubon Shearwater two days old.
TUBE-XOfcJED !SAV1MMEES,
41
of the head are ornamented by pendant tufts
of Hilk\', straw-colored feathers, fio-. 28. It
Ficr. 28
M^pV..,y,,^^^
Tufted Puffin. 1-2.
breeds on the coasts and isLands of the North
Pacific ; accidental in the Bay of Funday and
Kennebeck River, Me.
17. ANCIENT MURRELET.
A small, auk-like bird, 10 inches long,
with form and color much like the Dovekie,
but with a broad stripe of white on either
side of the back of the head. Coasts and is-
lands of the North Pacific. Accidental in
Wisconsin.
42
•ETKELS, .SHEAinVATEKS, ETC.
TUBE-NOSED SWlMxMERS.
These are ocean-inhabiting birds of va-
rying sizes. The wings are long and narrow.
The flight is strong, but the wings are moved
rather slowly- with a peculiar downward beat.
In this group are found some of the strong-
est flying birds known. The bill is hooked
with the nostrils opening into tubes, figs. 30
and 32, whence the group name. All swim
well, and although some species pursue their
Fie:. 30.
Bill of Fulmar.
prey beneath the water, none are expert di-
vers. When annoyed, some eject an oily flu-
id from the mouth, which has a strong, rath-
ther disagreeable odor. Food, fishes, squid,
TUBE-X08ED t^WlMMElJIS. 43
and oily refuse cast into the water b\' fisher-
men and whalers. Egg, single, white ; j^oung,
downy when hatched, but are at first help,
less and fed by regurgitation, B.g, 29.
ALBATROSSES.
Very large birds which live upon the
open ocean, remote from continental land.
The wdngs are very long and narrow. The
nests are mound-like structures placed on oc-
eanic islands. All of the species occur in
the Pacific or oceans of the southern hemi-
sphere ; accidental elsewhere.
18. YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS.
Size, large, 36. Grayish throughout,
with the rump and upper tail coverts white.
There is a dark spot before the eye and be-
hind it. Bill, 3^ellow. Occurs in the Indian
and South Pacific Oceans. Accidental in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence.
4 1
iveti:el:s. siieakwatek^, etc.
F U L M A R S .
Birds of the open ocean, ver}' seldom ap-
proaching land in this section. Excepting
in the peculiar flight, characteristic of the
group, noted on page 42, the^^ closel3' resem-
ble gulls, but the bill is shorter and thicker,
iig. 30. Our species have a light and dark
phase of plumage.
Fi<r. 31.
Fulmar. 1-lU.
19. FULMAR.
Al)out the size of a Ring-billed Gull, 18.
The head, neck, and lower parts are white,
with the back pale blue in the light phase,
fig. 31, but in the dark phase the bird is sooty
l)r()\\n tliroughout. Occurs on the North
TUBE-X(^SED SWIMMERS. 45
Atlantic, breeding on St. Kidcla and other
Scottish islands that lie far out to sea.
South on the American side, in winter, as
far as the Georges Banks, where it follows
the fishing vessels to pick up the oily matter
of fish cleanings cast overboard. Rarely ap-
pears in sight of the coast.
20. LESSER FULMAR.
Ver3" similar to the Fulmar, but smaller,
16, yet would be difficult to distinguish from
it at any great distance. Range and habits
about the same.
SHEARWATERS.
Birds of the open ocean, but which oft-
en approach within a few miles of the coast.
They are of varying sizes but none are very
small. Differ from the Fulmars in having a
more slender bill, fig. 32. Graceful, easy-fly-
ing species which seldom rise high above the
water and often fly in small flocks close to
the surface, frequentlj' in lines side by side.
46 TETRELS, SHEARWATERS, ETC.
During boisterous weather they (as well
as most other members of the grouy)) fly along
Fiff. 32.
Audubon Shearwater.
the hollows of the ever-moving billows, and
as they roll under them, the birds cross their
crests diagonally. Thus by shearing the wa-
ter, they allow the spray, which is driven
violently from the wave tops b}' the fierce
ocean winds, to strike on one side of their tu-
bular nostrils. They nest on islands, plac-
ing the egg in rock cavities, or beneath loose
slabs of stone.
21. GREATER SHEARWATER.
Rather large, about the size of the Ring-
billed Gull, but differs from any gull in hav-
TUBE-XO.SED 8W1MMP:RS.
ing the wings longer and more pointed, and
in the smoother, more gliding flight. The
color above is sooty brown, but this looks
nearly black at a distance. The under parts
are white, and this extends up on the sides
Fiff. 83.
Greater Shearwater. 1-6.
of the head, watha sharp line of demarkation
between it and the black. The under part
of the wing is white, with axillaries broadly
banded with black. This is easily seen when
the bird flies near. The bill is black, but the
48
PETKELS, SHEAKWATEES, ETC.
feet are yellowish. The primaries and tail
are black and there is a line of white crossing
the upper tail coverts, fig, 33.
It is very light and easy in flight, turn-
ing from side to side with so little effort that
it appears to float gracefully in air. Breeds
in the Southern Hemisphere, but is very
common off our coast from May until Decem-
ber.
Fig. 34.
Cory Shearwater. 1-2.
TUBE-XOSED SAVIMMERS. 49
22. CORY SHEARWATER.
Diiiers from Greater Shearwater in be-
ing lighter above, in fact, rather ashy brown,
the bill is yellow^ish and the ashy marking
above extend down on the sides of neck and
throat without any sharp line of demarcation
between it and the white below, fig. 34.
The Cor^' Shearwater is an irregular vis-
itor to our coast, but is common some years.
From w^hence it comes or w^hither it goes is
a myster}^, for its breeding jolace and entire
range is unknown. Occurs off the coast of
Massachusetts and on Long Island Sound in
Sept. and Oct.
23. AUDUBON SHEARWATER.
Smaller than the Greater Shearwater, 12,
but generally similar in coloration. There
is an ashy patch in front of the folded wing,
and a dusky space beneath the eye; otherwise
the line of demarcation between the sooty
brown above and w^hite beneath is sharply
defined, fig. 34^. Bill, rather slender and blue-
black, fig. 32.
50 PP:TKELS. ^IIEAKWATEKiS, ETC.
The downy youno' are dusk\' brown
above and lighter beneath, fig. 29. The nests
are placed in cavities of rocks, beneath loose
slabs, in caves, and sometimes in the shelter
of creeping vines. The eggs are deposited
from March loth to April loth.
Flight, sw^ift and direct in the daytime
but more erratic by night, when the birds
visit their breeding grounds.
Cries, w4ien the birds are annoyed, harsh
and discordant; the breeding notes, given on-
ly in the night, are mellow and musical.
They are uttered in a minor tone when the
bird is fl\'ing, like,'' qne-ar-a-var\ accented on
the second and final sylables, but mainly on
the second, with the last prolonged.
Excepting when nesting, occurs far out
on the open ocean, and even w^hen breeding,
is seldom seen within sight of land in the day
time, visiting its nest in the night only.
Audubon Shearw\ater is found in the warmer
portions of the Atlantic Ocean. Breeds on the
TUBE-XOSED SWIMMERS. 51
Bahamas and Bermudas, where it is common.
Casual as far north as Long Island; rare on
the Bahamas in winter.
24. MANX SHEARWATER.
Similarto Audubon Shearwater, butlaror-
er, 14, and with the black of the head extend-
ing somewhat below the eye, fig. 35. Resi-
dent on the North Atlantic, but chiefly on
the eastern side. Casual off our coast and on
the Banks of Newfoundland.
25. SOOTY SHEARWATER.
Similar in form and habits to the Great-
er Shearwater but sooty brown throughout
( appearing black at a distance ), darkest on
the wings and tail; palest beneath, fig. 35. Oc-
curs on the Atlantic Ocean, breeding in the
Southern Hemisphere, occurring off our coast
rather commonly from South Carolina north-
ward from July 1st until September.
-rl I'ETKELS. SllEAKWATEKIS. ETC.
Fi;:. ^b
^ootv t)liearvt atcr.
TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.
53
26. BLACK-CAPPED PETREL.
About the size of the Sooty Shearwater,
but the tail is wedge-shaped, not rounded as
in that species. The top of the head and
upper parts are black with the margins of
the feathers paler. There is a large white
Fie-. 35.
Manx Shearwater
patch on the rump and basal half of the tail.
The sides of the head and neck and the lower
parts are pure white. Occurs in the warmer
parts of the Atlantic; stragglers have been
taken in Florida, Virginia^ New York, Ver-
mont, and Ontario.
54 PETRELS, SHE AK WATERS, ETC.
27. SCALED PETREL.
About the size and form of the black-
capped Petreh Dark bluish ash above with
most of the feathers broadly margined with
ashy white, giving the bird a scaly appear-
ence.
White beneath, irregularly and rather
finely banded with grayish. Known only
from a single specimen which was obtained
in a plowed field, Livingston Co., New York,
in April, 1880.
28. BULAVER PETREL.
A small bird, 10 long, with a doubly
wedge-shaped tail. Sooty brown through-
out, somewhat paler beneath and in a patch
on wing. Occurs in Europe, Africa ; occasion-
al in Greenland and accidental in Bermuda.
29. STORMY PETREL.
The smallest of our Petrals, about 5.50
long. The tail is square. Soot}^ black
throughout, including bill and feet, with a
TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. 55
white patch of varyino? size on the under side
of the wing. Occurs on the North Atlantic;
south to the banks of Newfoundland and west
coast of Africa. Eare in summer.
30. LEACH PETREL.
8 long. Sooty black, paler beneath and
in a spot on the middle wing which shows dis-
tintcly at a distance. Spot on rump white.
The bill is quite large, fig 36, and the wholly
Bill of Leach Petrel.
black feet, when outstretched, do not reach
to the tip of the tail, fig. 37. This and the
next species fly lightly over the water near
the surface with a dancing somewhat erratic,
but very graceful movment, occasionally pat-
tering on the water with their feet, especially
when picking up food.
The Leach Petrel occurs on the north
Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans. brer^rb'Tio-
56
PETRELS, SHEAKWATEES, ETC.
on our coast from Maine northward in June,
Tiesting usually in burrows which it digs for
itself in the peaty soil of islands, or occasion-
ally on the face of earthy or sandy cliffs like
Bank Swallows. Common from June until
October. Winters south of our limits.
Fio-. 37.
Leach Petrel. 1-3.
31. WILSON PETREL.
A little smaller than Leach Petrel, but
much darker as it is without the litrht
TUBE-NOJSED tSWIMMEKS.
0/
patch in the wing. The outstretched feet
reach at least as far as the tip of the tail,
(fig. 38), and the webs of the toes are nearly
yellow. The bill is smaller, fig. 39. Spot
on rump white. Occurs on the north and
Fi^. 38
Wilson Petrel. 1-3.
south Atlantic and Southern Oceans. Breeds
on Kergulen Island in Feb. Abundant off
the eastern coast of the United States from
June until Sept.
58 TOTIPAI.MATE JSWIM.MERS.
3:> WHITE BELLIED PETREL.
8.50. Tail emarginate. Black or dusky
above and on throat. BelW and under tail
coverts white. Intertropical seas, north oc-
casionally to the coast of Florida.
33. WHITE-FACED PETEEL.
About the size of the White-bellied Pe-
trel. Dark above with the upper tail cov-
erts ashy. Forhead, line over eye, and low-
er parts white. Southern Seas, accidental
off the coast of Massachusetts.
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS.
This is a group of easily recognized
birds. They are of somewhat varj'ing size
but none are very small, while others are
quite large.
The external characters possessed in
common, and which bind the group togeth-
er, are, hind toe connected to the anterior
toes Ijv a web, fig. 39, and a more or less well
TROPIC BIRDS. 59
developed extensible pouch beneath the bill
(gular sac), iig. 40, with other minor charac-
ters. The voung; are hatched naked, fig;. 41;
but are soon covered with down. They are
helpless, being at first fed by regurgitation
and do not fly until nearly or quite fully
grown; they subsist wholly upon fish.
The order may be divided into well es-
tablished natural groups as folio ws:-
TROPIC BIRDS.
These are perhaps the smallest of the
Totiplamate Swimmers. In them the gula
sac is reduced to the minimum size ; the beak
is comparatively small, not hooked at the
end but pointed like those of the terns, fig.
40. In fact, the birds have a very tern-
like appearence, but differ from them in
having the central tail feathers greatly elon-
gated and projecting from beyond the oth-
ers, fig. 42. The feet are small, fig. 43.
60
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS,
The single egg is placed in a cavity of
rocky cliffs on ocean islands. It is purplish
Fig. 39.
Wilson Petrel.
brown spotted with darker brown. The
downy young are at first wholly w^hite then
dark feathers appear on the back.
Fig. 40.
Bill of White Pelican.
The flight is steady and direct with rapid
wino;-beats, but the birds can turn in air
and circle with ease. The}- procure their prey
by diving like terns. Their cries are loud
and harsh. Gregarious when breeding, but
solitary at other times. Tropical and sub-
tropical in distribution. The sexes are sim-
lar.
TROPIC BIRDS.
61
Fig. 41. Young Ganner. iinfiedged.
62
TOTirALMATE tSWIMMEKS.
34. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD.
Body about tlie size of that of the Laugh-
inp; Gull, but, including the long central tail
feathers, the bird is 29 long. White through-
out, well tinged with salmon-pink which be-
comes deeper on the elongated central tail
feathers. There is a small curved patch of
black on either side of the head, two on the
back, and one near tlie tip of either wing.
Fig. 39.
Ficr. 43.
Totipalmale foot of Cormoraut. Foot of Tropic Bird. 1-2.
The young are without the elongated central
tail feathers, and are more or less banded
with black. The bill and feet are 3'ellow,
with most of the toes and webs of the latter
l)hick. her. 43.
TROPIC BIRDS.
63
Breeds in the Bermudas, Bahamas, and
West Indies in May. Occurs occasionally in
Florida, and was once taken in western New
York.
Fig. 40.
Head of Tropic Bird, 1-2.
Unless feeding, or about its breeding
ground, the Tropic Bird flies high over the
water, moving with a direct flight.
G4
TOTIPALMATE .SWIMMEKS.
mm
Fig. 41». Vouug Cory GauDet. partly riedsed.
TOTIPALMATE ISAVIMMEIIS. 65
35. RED-BILLED TROPIC BIRD.
Dil^er from the Yellow-billed in being-
Larger, 34, in having the bill coral red and
the elongated tail feathers white. Occurs
along the coasts of Tropical America. Breed-
ing on the islands in the Gulf of California.
Accidental on the Newfoundland Banks.
GANNETS
These are Ocean Birds of from moderate
to large size. They are usually white w^ith,
black or brown primaries, or are sometimes
wholly brown. There is a naked space in
front of the eye, around it, and at the base
of the bill, but the gular sac is not verj^ well
developed The bill is pointed and the tail is
long.
The nests are placed on the ground, on
rocks or on trees. They are bulky struct-
ures, composed of sticks sea-weed, and other
coarse material. The eggs are one or two,
white, and covered with a chalky incrusta-
tion.
66 GANXETS.
The flight is steady and direct with
necks outstretched and rapid wing beats, but
the birds can turn in air with ease. They
procure their prey by diving directly down-
ward, often from a considerable height, be-
coming completely submerged in the wa-
ter.
The feet are usually wholly concealed in
flight. The birds walk well and perch on
trees with ease. Sexes, similar. The 3^oung
in tlie down are white.
36. GANNET.
A large bird of a peculiar silvery white
but becoraming buff about the head and
neck. The primaries look black and the bill
whitish. Fig. 44. The A'oung are dark-
brown streaked and spotted with white, fig.
45. Length, 39.
The Gannet breeds in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence in May, migrating south from Sep.
to Nov. Some few winter off the coast of
New England but more abundantly south of
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. bi
this, going as far as Florida. It returns
north in March and Aprih
It feeds quite near land and ma3^ be seen
off nearly all of the exposed ocean beaches
diving and flying about. It differs from all
gulls in the downward plunge, often from a
Fig. 44.
Gannet. 1-9.
considerable height, and in the silvery gleam
of its plumage. Gulls sometimes dive, but
never with such force as does the Gannet,
which in its downward rush sends the water
68
GANXETS.
high in the air as it plunges into it. In mi-
grating the Gannet moves in irregular, strag-
""lino: lines without svstem.
BLUE-FACED GANNET.
Ditt'ers from the Gannet in being much
smaller, 28, and in having the most of the
wings and tail (except the central feathers
Fio-. 42.
//7 'm
Tropic Bird. 1-t).
and base which are white) dark-brown. The
naked portions of the face are blue. Young,
with the head, neck, and upper parts dark-
PELICANS. 69
brown; lower parts, white. Breeds from the
Bahamas southw^ard in Ma\'; wandering to
Florida.
38. RED-FACED GANNET.
Similar to the last, but with tail whol-
ly white; naked space on face, red or yellow-
ish. Young, brown throughout; lighter be-
neath. Breeds on islands in intertropical seas,
wandering to Florida.
39. BOOBY.
Large, 30.50; brown throughout, ex-
cepting on posterior portion beneath which
is w^hite. Young, brown throughout. Trop-
ical and intertropical coasts of America; com-
mon off east coast of Florida; rare north to
Georgia; accidental in Mass.
PELICANS.
Large water birds, white or brown, with
long, flattened, prominentlyhooked bills, and
large unfeathered gular sacs; tail, short. The
nests, placed in trees or on the ground. Eggs
70 PELICANS.
one or two, similar to those of Gannets. The
downy young are grayish.
Fig. 45.
Brown Pelican. 1-20.
Pelicans are rather awkward birds mov-
ing on the ground with a wadding gate ;
w^hen the the birds are at rest, the bill is
held against the breast, fig. 45. Flight, slow
and direct, with alternate flapping and sail-
ing, the birds often forming lines side by
side or fly in V-shaped flocks; wing beats,
slow ; neck, doubled back in flight ; highly
gregarious at all times. Incapable of pro-
PELICANS. 71
ducing any sound, save a low grunt. Sexes,
similar.
40. WHITE PELICAN.
Very large, 68. White, large portion of
wings black; bill and naked space about face,
yellow. There is a central elevation on bill
in summer, fig. 40, which is absent in winter.
Iris, white in summer, brown in winter.
Feet, yellow.
The White Pelican fishes by swimming
and scooping the small fishes, upon which it
subsists, into its gular sac by a side move-
ment of the head. The sac is then contract-
ed and the water forced out on either side of
the bill and the fish swallowed at once. Aft-
er feeding, many will rise together to a con-
siderable height and circle about for an hour
or more on nearly motionless wings, cross-
ing and recrossing one another constantly.
Rests on isolated sand bars by night and oft-
en resorts to them by day. Breeds in the in-
terior of North America from Utah north-
/ j! PELICANS.
ward in May ; common in Florida and along
the Gulf coast in winter ; rare on the Atlan-
tic coast of Florida, occasionally straying as
far north as Mass. Goes north in April,
south in Sept.
46. BROWN PELICAN.
Smaller, 50, grayish above and black
below where there are some streaks of whit-
Fio- 46
Brown Pelican. 1-15.
ish ; head and stripe on side of neck, white;
back of neck, chestnut-brown; bill, whitish;
COKMORAKTS. 73
naked space about face and gular sac, green-
ish; feet, bluish; iris, white. In winter the
back of the neck is white, fig. 46, right, sum-
mer, left, winter. Young, gra3'ish above and
white beneath.
Brown Pelicans move in a straight line
side by side often fl^'ing parallel with the
coast and yerj near it. In fishing, they usu-
ally fly at a slight elevation over the water,
then by dropping into it with partly spread
wings, secure their pre\\ Breeds in abun-
dance on islands in southern Florida, Car-
ibbean Sea, and West Indies, wandering reg-
ularly to N- C. and accidentally to 111.
CORMORANTS.
More slender water birds of from mod-
erate to large size ; black or brownish ; bill,
shorter than head, it is not flattened, but is
prominently hooked; gular sac^ small, fig
47 ; wings, rather long ; tail long and round-
ed. Nests, placed on rocky cliffs, trees and
bushes, composed of sticks, seaweeds, etc;
eggs, 2-5 ; greenish, covered with a chalky
74 CORMORANTS.
incrustation. Flight, rapid, direct, often in
lines or Vs, but frequently breaking into ir-
regular masses; wing-beats, continuous and
Fig 47.
Double-crested Cormorant. 1-10.
rather rapid ; neck, outstretched, fig. 47; oft-
en perch on buoy's, beacons, roi.'ks, and trees;
CORMORANTS. i O
when sittinof the head is held well up slight-
ly in advance of the body, the neck in the
form of an S, sometimes the wings are wind-
]y spread for a considerable time, fig. 48.
Cormorants walk quite well and dive
with ease, sometimes iiom the wing, but
more often when swimming, and can remain
under water several mintites. In alighting,
they will usually pass the object on which
the\' intend to rest, then turn and go back
to It. In starting from a perch, will drop
nearly to the water, then rise. If suddenly
alarmed by a shout or a gun shot when fly-
ing low over the water, will often drop into
it, diving as soon as they reach it. The cry,
seldom given, is a harsh croak.
The young are hatched naked with the
skin bluish or black and shining as if pol-
ished. Sexes similar. There are usually
white, filamentous feathers about the head
during the breeding season, but these can-
not be seen at anj^ great distance.
CORMORANTS.
47. CORMORANT.
Large, 38, blue black throughout; gra}'-
ish above ; prominent white patch on flanks
and upper throat; gular sac. orange; feet
black. Young, brown above, ver}^ light be-
Double-crested Cormoranr. 1-16.
neath, but there are no white patches as in
the adult.
Atlantic coast of N. A., breeding from
the Gulf of St Lawrence northward in Ma}' ;
goes south in Nov, north in April winters
from Greenland to N. J.; comcuon north of
the U. S., uncommon in N. E. and south of it.
CORMOKANTS. i /
48. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.
Differs from last in being smaller, 32^
in having no white patches any where, and
with white filamentous feathers over the eye
in spring. Young, not as white beneath.
Gula sac, orange ; bill and feet, black, figs.
47-48. Our common species in Kew Eng.
land ; frequent in migration in Sept., Oct.^
and April, off the coast or crossing headlands.
Occasionally seen on fresh waters. Winters
from N. E. south through the Gulf States.
Breeds from the Bay of Fundy, the Great
Lakes, Minn., and Da. northward in Ma\'.
49. FLORIDA CORMORANT.
Smaller, 30, seldom has white feathers
over eye. Resident in South Atlantic and
Gulf States, breeding chiefly in April ; wan-
dering occasionally as far north as 111. Very
common ; also occurs on the Bahamas.
50. MEXICAN CORMORANT.
Small, 26, browner than the others,
more slaty on back, white line adjoining gu-
78 AXIIINGA.
la sac. this and ndked space about face, brown-
ish. Young grayish brown, lighter beneath,
sometimes white on throat and under tail
coverts. Breeds in Texas. Mexico, and Ba-
hamas, w^andering along the Gulf of Mexico
and up the Mississippi Valle}^ tonorthern 111.
Common.
AXHINGAS.
Large, slender birds which occur on in-
land w\aters ; long ne(?ks, small heads, point-
ed bills, long, fan-shaped tails, with central
feathers corrugated, fig. 49. Flight, steady
and direct, wing-beats, rapid, often soar at a
considerable height in circles.
51. ANHINGA.
Large, 35 ; male, greenish black, spotted
and streaked above with gray ; tail, tipped
with ashy. In. spring there are long, ashy,
filamentous feathers on head and neck, fig.
49. Young, more or less whitish on lower
neck. Female differs in having lower part
of neck and upper breast ash}' 3'ellow. Young
brownisli throughout. Resident in tropical
ANHINGA.
and sub- tropical America, north in summer
to the Carolinas, the mouth of the Ohio and
Fig- 49.
Male Anhincra. 1-8. Female, in flight.
southern Kansas. Breeds in Fla. in March.
Nests of sticks placed in trees ; eggs, five or
six, much like those of Cormorants.
80 frictATe birds.
Common on inland waters where it sits
upright on trees which project over the wa-
ter. When suddenly alarmed, drops into the
water and instantly disappears. Has the pow-
er of sinking slowly and swims beneath the
surface with ease and swiftness, thus captur-
ing the fishes upon which it feeds. Sometimes
plunges obliquely into the water when on
the wing and can emerge in flight. Often
swims with the head and neck projecting
above the surface, or even with the bill only
in sight. Crv, seldom given, gutteral and
harsh.
FRIGATE BIRDS.
Coast-wise birds of large size and power-
ful flight ; bill, longer than head and strong-
ly hooked ; head, large and somewhat crest-
ed ; gula sac, rather large ; neck, short ; wings
and tail long, the latter deeply forked; feet,
small and weak, but although the birds perch
well on trees, they are incapable of walking
and swimming well. Nests and eggs, much
as in the Cormorants. Younsr, naked at first.
GULLS. 81
lead-colored, but is soon covered with long,
white down.
Flight, when the birds are moving from
place to place, steady, strong, with slow wing
beats, but when in pursuit of other birds,
very rapid and exceedingly graceful. Cries,
harsh, loud, and resilent. Food is chiefly
procurred by robbing other birds of fishes.
Highly gregarious, even breeding in commu-
nities. Sexes, not similar. Tropical and sub-
tropical.
52. MAN 0' WAR BIED.
Very large, 40; male, black throughout,
back, lustrous with green and purple, fig. 50.
Female with breast and sides whitish. Young,
white beneath. Tropical and sub-tropical
coast regions chiefly north of the equator.
Breeds as far north as the Bahamas, Fla., and
Texas. Accidental in Pa., 0., Kan., Tex., and
Nova Scotia,
Several together may frequently be seen
floating high in air over harbors or islands.
82
LONG-WIN(IED SWIMMERS.
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
Water birds of variable sizes; wings, long;
toes, webbed, wholly or in part, fig. 61; col-
ors, somewhat variable, but often bluish or
slaty above and white beneath. Food, chief-
Fig. 50.
Mau O' War Bird. 1-10.
SKUAS AND JAEGEKS.
Fie:. 52.
Parasitic Jaeg^er. 1-5.
84 long-win(;ed swimmeks.
ly fishes, but some species are scavengers
and some subsist partly on insects. Occur in
all regions of the globe on bodies of salt and
fresh water. Sexes, similar.
SKUAS AND JAEGERS.
Gull-like birds, nu3st species of which
procure much of their food by robbing Gulls
and Terns. Color, dark above and often be-
Fig. 58.
Parasitic Jaeger, adult in aprinjr. 1-10'
low; tail moderate, slightly rounded with the
two central feathers longer and projecting
beyond the others, figs 52-f58. The flight is
swift and the wing beats rapid. Ocean birds,
breeding on the coasts of the colder waters
of the world. Nests placed on ground; eggs^
2-0, l)r()wn spotted w^ith darker.
SKUAS AND JAEGEKS.
85
[Note:. The Southern Skua. Megalestrin antarcticus,
which elosely resembles our Northern Skua, and which
breeds on Kurguelen Island, is said not to rob Gulls and
Terns. Is has hawk-like habits and preys upon other birds,
especially the younj^ of species that nest on the island.
These hawk-like habits are shared to some extent not
only by our Skua, but also by all of our Jaeg'ers, more fre-
quently, however, when on their breeding grounds. All
members of the group are sometimes scavengers.]
53. SKUA.
A little smaller than a Herring Gull, 24.
Central tail feathers, project slightly and are
very bluntly point- Fig. 54.
ed terminally, fig.
54; brown streaked
with pale reddish;
distinct Avhite spot
at base of primari-
es. Young, more distinctly streaked. Breeds
on the coasts and islands of the North Atlan-
tic; not common on our side; casual as far
south as S. C.
54. POMARINE JAEGEE.
Smaller, size of Laughing Gull, 22. Pro-
jecting tail feathers longer, but not sharply
86
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
pointed, llgs. 55-56. Two phases of plumage:
Lio^ht phase; top of head and above dusky,^
sides of head and below white. Dark phase,
Fi^. 55.
~^^'--,'^,,>'~^.
Pomarine Jaeger in autumn. 1-5.
uniform dusky and all intergrades occur be-
tween the two phases. Young, banded below
with buff. Breeds far north. Migrates south
from Aug to Oct; winters far south; north in
May.
55. PARASITIC JAEGER.
Similar, smaller^20, projecting tail feath-
SKUAS AXD JAEGERS.
87
ers pointed, figs. 52, 53,57. Breeds far north.
South from July to Sept; winters from N. J.
southward; north in May and early June.
56. LONG-TAILED JAEGER.
Size of last; central tail feathers
ly elongated, 8 to 10 inches, fig.
58. General colors paler, espe-
cially above. Breeds in the far
north; exact winter range un-
known. South in Aug.; north
in May. Very rare on our coast
Pomarlne Jaeger. 1-2
GULLS .
Of varying size. Adults nearly or whol-
ly white beneath, sometimes rose tinted; blu-
ish or slaty on back
Fig. 52,
and wings — this area
is called the mantle.
The bill is somewhat
Parasitic Jaeger. ^ hooked, fig. 59; tail,
short, square, rarely forked or wedge-shaped,
fig. 60; feet, large and fitted for walking;
toes, fully webbed, fig. 61. Nests, placed on
88
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
the ground, sometimes in trees, composed of
weeds and sticks; eggs, 2-4, brown mottled
Fig. 57. Fig. ^58. ^ith darker. Food, which
XX^>/f Mp^y consists of fishes, other sea
animals, and floating gar-
bage, is securred by the
birds swooping downward
at an angle, and, although
when catching living fish,
gulls occasionally become
submerged, I have never
Jaegers 1-2, Parasitic. Long-tailed, seen OUC dlvC perpeudlcU-
larly. Some eat dead fishes which are cast
on shore, and a few feed upon insects. Cries,
Fig. 5».
Ring-billed Gull.
often harsh but sometimes modulated and
not unmusical. Immature plumage quite
unlike the adult.
GULLS.
89
57. IVORY GULL.
Medium, 19, Pure white; fig. 62. Young,
more or less spotted witli dusky. Breeds very
Fig. 60.
American Herring Gull. 1-8. Young in flight.
far north. South regularly to Labrador and
Newfoundland; casually to N. B. and Mass.
58. KITTIWAKE GULL.
Medium, 17; mantle pale; white below,
on tail and head; bill yellow, feet black; five
^^-- ^^- outer quills have the ter-
minal portions black,
forming a patch the in-
Bonaparte Gull. 1-2. ncr Outline of whicli goes
staright across the wing, fig. 63 and plate 2.
90
LOXG-WIXGED SWIMMERS.
In tlie young this black is more extended,
and a line along bend of wing, a patch on
hind neck, and tip of tail is black, plate 2.
Ficf. 62.
Ivory Gull, i-10.
The Kittiwake is an ocean loving Gull oc-
curring far from land in moderate weather.
Fig. 63.
Kittiwake Gull, adult. 1-10.
but during hard storms often approaches the
land and is then sometimes found associating
GULLS. ' 91
with other gulls in bays and sounds. Flight,
exceedingly graceful, easy, and tern-like and
this distinguishes it from the Herring Gull
when seen at a distance. Common cry in the
breeding season; Kitti-wcike wake wakewak-
er.
Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence
northward in June, migrating southward in
Oct.; winters from off the coast of New Eng-
land south to the Middle States, casually al-
most to the Bahamas. ♦
Nests, usually placed on rock i^helves of
perpendicular cliif s overhanging the ocean.
They are small for the size of the birds, and
are made of sea-weed.
Coast Gulls.
Gulls of this group are of somewhat va-
riable size. Adults are white beneath and if
not white above, then the mantle is bluish
of some shade. If the wing is not entirely
white, the dark tips of the primaries have
white spots in them called mirrors; tail, short
and square. Young are at first brownish and
92
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
assume the adult dress slowly. Very social,
associating in large flocks, especially at night,
in winter when many hundreds gather to
sleep on the water.
59. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.
Our largest common Gull, 30; mantle,
dark slate, but it appears perfectly black in
Fig. 64.
Great Black-backed Gull.
the distance; w^hite elsewhere and there is a
white wing band; bill yellow and feet pink-
ish, fig. 64. Young for the first year, rather
GULLS. 93
pale brownish, darkest above. Adults are
are easily distinguished; the young are pale-
er than those of the Herring Gull, larger,
have slower wing beats, and a more majes-
tic flight. Breeds from the Bay of Funday
northward; south in Sept.; winters from
southern Greenland to Long Island; north in
April, a few often remain as far south as
Cape Ann, Mass., all summer.
60. SIBERIAN GULL.
Smaller than the Black-back, 20; mantle
a little paler; feet yellow. Northern Asia; ac-
cidental in southern Greenland.
61. GLAUCOUS GULL.
About the size of the Black-back, and
the flight is similar, but the mantle is pale
pearl-gray and the wings nearly or quite
white. Young, pale grayish, mottled above
with light brown. Bill yellow, feet pink.
Breeds in the Arctic Regions; south in win-
ter regularly to the Gulf of St. Lawrence;
rarely to Great Lakes and along coast to L. I.
94
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
62. HERRING GULL.
Smaller than the Black-back, 24, man-
tle, pearl gray; white mirror at tip of outer
primary is not interrupted by a black cross
bar, fig. 65; bill, yellow; feet, pinkish. Young
Fig. 65. Fig. 66.
European,
Ameiicau,
Herring Gulls.
the first year, nearly uniform dark brown;
tail, almost black on terminal third. Second
year, pale buff above, much banded and mot-
GULLS. 95
tied with darker, a broad, very dark subter-
niinal tail band; beneath, quite uniform yel-
lowish brown; no white on primary tips.
Third year, although showing some of the
colors of the adult, is more or Jess mottled
throughout with dusky. Bill, brown in all
immature birds. The Old World form, but
also occurs not infrequently on our side of
the ocean.
63. AMERICAN HERRING GULL.
Differs from the last in having the
white on tip of first primary divided by a
black bar, fig. 66. Breeds on both salt and
fresh water from southern Me. northward;
constantly resident on the coast south to
Cape ^Ann, Mass.; winters in great abund-
ance from Me. to the Carolinas and is rather
common to the St. Johns River, Fla.; occa-
ally occurs on the coast of Cuba.
[Note:- Although I am, of course, aware that many or-
nithologists no longer separate the Herring Gulls on eith-
er side of the Atlantic, I still continue to do so for reasons
which cannot wel) be here stated.]
96 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
64. KUMLIEN GULL.
A little smaller than the Herring Gull;
much paler; back, slightly bluish; primaries,
gra3ash, but with the mirrors distinct; the
wings, however, usually appear quite white
in flight; bill, yellow, feet, pinkish. Young,
creamy, mottled with pale brown. Breeds
about Cumberland Gulf; south in winter reg-
ularly to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Mass.
but is rather uncommon with us.
65. ICELAND GULL.
Similar to the above, but pure white;
young, pale brown mottled with a little dark-
er shade. Breeds on the northern coasts of
the north Atlantic; south in winter rather
rarely as far as Mass.
Both the Kumlien and Iceland Gulls
fly with a little quicker movement of the
wings than the Herring Gull with which
they often associate. The Iceland Gull al-
ways appears paler than the Kumlien even
when seen at a distance.
GULLS
66. RING.BILLED GULL.
Smaller than the Herring Gull; similar
in color, but with the mantel a little darker
Fig. 63*.
Kiitiwake GulL Young. 1-6,
bill, green crossed by a black band, fig 59.
Young much lighter than in the Herring
Gull, even in the first year the head, neck,
and lower parts appearing nearly white; the
mantle is pearly as in the adult, but mottled
98
LONCi-WIXCxEI) SWIMMERS.
in irrigular patches with brownish; there is
a conspicuous, sharply defined band of black
on end of tail; bill, black yellowish at tip, fig.
67. In this first plumage much like the Her-
ring Gull of the third year, but aside from
the much smaller size of the Ring-bill, its
black tail band is narrower and more sharp-
ly defined. As in Black-backs, there is no in-
termediate dress between first year and adult.
Fig. 67.
Young King-biiled (xull. 1-5.
GULLS 99
Breeds in northern N. A.; south in au-
tumn over the whole country in Aug. and
Sept.; winters from the Carolinas to Cuba
and Mexico. Not uncommon in Mass. in
migration, but more common elsewhere in
its range.
67. MEW GULL.
Similar in size and general coloration to
the Ring-bill, but the bill is a little stouter.
Europe and Asia, accidental in Labrador,
one record.
Hooded Gulls.
Size medium or small; heads in summer
adults black, grayish in winter; white be-
neath tinged with rosy in summer; white
markings on primaries variable or absent,
but never like those of the Coast Gulls.
68. LAUGHING GULL:
Size, medium, 16; mantle, dark bluish
gray darker than in any species given ex-
cepting in the Black-back; primaries, black,
100
LON (TWINGE I) SWIMMERS.
slightly tipped with white; prominent white
wing bands; bill, crimson-lake; iris and feet,
brown; iig. 68. In winter, head white tinged
Adult Lau^biug Gull in summer. 1-8.
Fio-. 69.
Auuli Lau>iliing Gull iu wiuier. 1-4.
<IULLS
101
with color like that of back, fig. 69. Young,
brownish throughout in fall, tip of tail black;
first winter, whitish beneath, bluish gray on
back, fig. 70. Breeding cries like peels of de-
Fig-. 70.
YouDo- Lauohinsf Gull in -winter. 14-.
risive laughter; adult also gives a short call
note that is answered by the fully grown
young with a snarling cry. Breeds from the
southern coast of Me. southward through the
Bahamas; south in Sept., remaining on coast
of Carolinas until Dec: winters from Mex^^o
102
lox(;-wixgp:i) swimmers.
to S. A.; comes north in April. Not common
north of Cape Cod.
69. FRANKLIN GULL.
A little smaller than last, 14; differs in
being darker above; primaries, bluish-gray
and in all stages ])roadly tipped with white.
Breeds from 0. north through Minn, and the
interior of Canada. Often occurs far from
water subsisting upon insects, and is known
as the Prairie Dove.
70. BONAPARTE GULL.
Smallest of our Gulls, 13; mantle pale bluish,
Fig. 71.
Bonaparte Gull ; upper li^r;. summer auult : lower, young.
tail and lower parts, white; primaries, white
C^ULLS
103
narrowly margined with black outwardly
and more broadly at tip; tail and beneath,
Fig. 72.
Bonaparte Gull, first year. 1-5
white; bill, black, feet, yellow, fig 71 upper;
in winter white with dunky spot back of eye;
young differs in having wing black margined
all around excepting near bend, ^g 72, thus
differing from the young Kittiwake which
has wing black margined all around fig. 63*,
104 J/LXG-WINGEI) SWIMMERS.
in front, but is white behind.
Breeds in the Arctic and migrates over
the whole U. S.; south from Aug. to middle
Nov.; winters from Carolinas to Gulf of Mex-
ico; north March to May. Flight, swift, easy,
graceful, and tern-like. When migrating oft-
en flies along shore, usually in small compa-
nies. In winter occurs more scatteringly fly-
ing over sounds or creeks or often far up riv-
ers. Cry, seldom heard in migration, is harsh
and rasping. Common.
71. LITTLE GULL.
Smaller than the last, 11; little or no
black on wings; in the young the tail is with-
out the black tip. Old World; accidental in
in Bermuda and Long Island.
72. ROSS GULL.
Tail graduated, fig. 73; small, 14; white
tinged with pink; pearl-gray above and on
wings below; outer web of first primary and
collar around neck, black. In winter black
collar absent, head tinged with grayish, black
spot in front of eye. Young clouded with
TERNS.
105
Fig. 73
^/y
dusky above, some of inner tail
feathers tipped with black.
Breeds in the Arctic, south in
winter as far as Disco Bay in
Greenland.
Ross Gull.
73. SABINE GULL.
Small, 13.50; tail prominently forked,
white, head and upper neck dark plumbeous,
Fig. 74.
• Sabine G-ull : summer adult. 1-4.
below this a black collar; mantle, dark blue-
lOG
I.ONd-WlNaEI) SWIMMERS.
gray; primaries, black five inner tipped with
white; bill, black yellow tipped; feet, black,
figs. 74, 75. In winter, head white, spot on
side and patch on occiput plumbeous. Young,
Sabine Gull: summer adult.
brown-gray above; tail, white with a sub ter-
minal band of black. Arctic; south in winter
very rarely as far as Mass., N. Y. and Great
Lakes.
T E R N S .
Variable in size but generally more slen-
der and graceful than gulls; bills, pointed
never hooked; wings, long and pointed; feet.
TERNS. 107
small and rather unfitted for walking in ad-
ults, yet the birds swim well in quiet water.
Ocean coasts and estuaries and fresh waters.
Nests placed on sand, rocks, or bushes; eggs
1-5, similar to those of gulls. Procure their
prey, which usually consists of small fishes,
by diving perpendicularly downward, often
becoming wholly submerged in water. The
flight is swift with graceful, swallow-like
movements; when the birds are searching the
water beneath their bills are pointed down-
ward. After alighting, and at other times
when on land, the wings are often stretched
upward. When a number are flying together,
frequently in response to a signal cry of a
leader, all will dart obliquely downward and
fly rapidly along the water. Downy young,
buffy spotted above with dusky, plate, I.
74. GULL-BILLED TEEN.
Large, 14; bill, thick and gull-like, fig.
76; tail, slightly forked; white, head and
nape, black. In winter, head white mottled
108
LONG-WIXGEI) SWIMMERS.
with dusky on nape and ear-coverts. Young,
Fig. 76.
Gull-billed Tern.
similar, but buffy above. Bill and feet, al-
ways black, fig. 77. Nearly cosmopolitan; in
Fig. 77.
Gull-billed Tern. 1-7.
N. A. breeds from southern N. J. southward
to the Gulf Coast, rarely wandering in late
summer and early fall to Mass. Flight, heavy
and slow; Cries, harsh and rasping.
75. CASPIAN TERN.
Largest of our Terns, 21; form, robust;
bill. long, thick, heavy, dull red; tail, slight-
TERNS.
109
ly forked, feathers not narrowed terminally,
fig. 78. White, black-capped, mantle pale. In
Fig. 7«.
Caspian Tern. 1-2.
winter back of head, streaked with white.
Feet, black. Young, grayish flecked above
with dusky; each tail feather has a subter-
minal dusky spot. Flight, although heavy,
is swift and tern-like. Cries very harsh and
rasping suggesting a rapid honking of the
Canada Goose. Nearly cosmopolitan, breed-
ing south in N. A. to Va., Tex., Nev. and
Mich. Not very common on the coast of N.
E.
no
[/)X(;-^vixrxET) swniMEKS.
76. ROYAL TERN.
Similar to last; tail more deeply forked,
its outer feathers narrowed, fig. 79; flight,
rather heavy and jerky. Cry, a harsh, rosp-
Fis. 79.
Caspian Tern. 1-2.
ing croak. Breeds from coast of Va. south-
ward in June; rare as far north as Mass. and
the Great Lakes; winters from the Carolinas
soutlnvard; Al)undant.
77. CABOT TERN.
Similar in color to last, but smaller, 14,
and more slender; bill, black yellow^ at tip;
feet, black, fig. 80. Cry, single, harsh, often
repeated. Breeds on Gulf Coast and Bahamas,
accidental at Chatham, Mass., one record;
winters from the Fla. Keys southward.
TEKNS. Ill
Pale=backed Terns.
Smaller Terns; tails deeply forked; out-
er feathers narrowed terminally, fig. 81. All
of our species, excepting 79, have black caps
and pale blue-gray mantles. Flight, graceful
and rapid.
78. TRADEAU TERN.
Size of Common Tern, but differs from
this and all others of the group in having
head white with dusky spot on either side
extending from bill to ear coverts enclosing
eye; remaining plumage, pearl-gray; bill;
black, yellow at base and tip; in winter en-
tire under parts white. Southern S. A., acci-
dental in N. J. and Long Island (Audubon).
79. COMMON TERN.
Size, 14; mantle, rather dark; tips of out-
er tail feathers not extending beyond points
of folded wings and their outer webs are dus-
ky, fig. 81; chiefly white below; bill, red
black at tip, fig. 80; in winter, cap white
black on occiput only. Young with forearm
112 I.OXCMVINOEI) SWIMMEFvS.
W
o
o
o
2
O
^^
TERNS.
113
dusky; cap, white anteriorly, dusky behind
wholly across occiput, extending forward
Fig. 80
Cabot Tern, 1-7.
narrowly around eye; mantle, a little darker
than in adult sometimes banded with dusky
bill, nearly black ; wings, much as in adult
tail, shorter, ashy with outer webs dusky
Fig. 81
Common Tern. 1-10.
feet, red. Cry, " te-arr,'' last syllable pro-
longed; alarm, " A;^," repeated rapidly many
times. Greater portion of Northern Hemis-
114 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
phere ; in N. A. breeds on coast and it suit-
able places in interior east of plains from
Fla., Tex. and Ariz., north to the Arctic in
May; south in Sept., but a few linger on
Fig. 82
Young Common Tern.
coast until middle Oct.; winters south of the
U. S. Abundant.
80. FOSTER TERN.
Differs from last in having bill black,
outer webs of tail feathers white, fig. 82; in
winter entire top of head and occiput white,
but there is a wide black space about eye,
fior. 88. Young similar to winter. Bill and
feet, always black. Breeds chiefly, in the in-
TERXS.
115
terior from Va., 111., Tex. and CaL, north to
Manatoba, in May. South in Sept.; winters
from N. C. to Brazil; north in April; rare
Ficr. 88
Forster Tern. 1-2.
on the coast of Mass. Cries, similar to those
of Common Tern but harsher.
81. ARCTIC TERN.
Differs from Common Tern in having
bill wholly red, fig. 85, under parts pearl-
Fiff. 84
Forster Tern.
gray, and feet coral-red. Young have l)ill
black, feet yellow but the rump in all ages
116
LONG-WINGED SWIMMEKS.
Fis. 85
'■'Mf'-'
■^fJh \,(f^^; i ..=: / y
■mm rv" /-•••>./" "^ ^. X
vKyff
Arctic Tern.
TEKXS. 117
is always abruptly white ; cries qviite
similar to those of common Tern but more
interrupted. Northern Hemisphere, now
breedino^ from Me. (formerly from southern
Mass.) north to Arctic. Time of migration
similar to that of Common Tern with which
is then associates at least as far south as
coast of Mass. ; winters in the Antarctic.
82. ROSEATE TERN.
More slender ; tail longer than any of
the preceeding, and this has the outer
feather very narrow terminally and is wholly
white; bill, black; feet, yellow; in summer
tinged with rosy lieneath, fig. 86. Young
have back banded and mottled with dusky
and bill and feet black, fig. 87. Cry O-ar-ar-
ar, harsh and rooling, difficult to imitate.
Temperate and Tropical regions ; breeds,
from south shore of Mass. southward in
May; winters south of U. S., south in Aug.;
north in May ; often wanders in fall north
.of Cape Ann. Common.
lib
LONG-WINGED SWIMMER
Fi<^. 86— Roseaie Tern,
TERNS. 119
83. LEAST TERN.
Our smallest Tern, 9; entire upper parts
including tail, pale pearl-gray; top of head
(excepting lunette on forehead), and two
Fig. 87
Roseate Tern Youngr. 1-10.
outer primaries black; white beneath ; ])ill,
yellow black at extreme tip, fig. 88-89; feet,
yellow; in winter, white of lunette more ex-
tended. Young with a patch of dusky on
wing and V-shaped marks of dusky on back;
tail not as deeply forked. Beeds from south
shore of Mass. (formerly Ipswich), south-
ward from late May (Bahamas) to early
July (Mass.) South in Sept., north in May
120 LONG-WINGED SWIMMEKS.
and June; winters south of U. S. Cries,
Tee-deel-deedle ; alarm a decidedly given
Hoyt repeated irregularly, flight rather
jerky.
Least Tern.
Dusky=backed Terns.
Size, rather large; mantle and head
dusky or black ; bill, slender and with feet
wholly black ; tail deeply forked. Flight,
swift with long, sweeping wing-beats, single
egg lighter than in the preceding groups.
TERNS.
121
84. BRIDLED TERN.
Length 14; pale slate above; white
collar on back of neck; crown, black, lunette
of white of forehead the horns of which
extend over and just back of eye, fig. 90:
beneath, pure white. Young have white
of forehead more extended and the back is
gravish more or less streaked with white.
Fis:. 89
Least Tern. 1-6.
Cries, shrill, ordinary- note " killick " often
repeated: alarm a croak: signal for flock to
dart downward when flying is a shrill, snar-
ling cry, see page 107. Tropical sea coasts
in general; breeds commonly on Bahamas
in May, placing Q<g^ in cavities beneath
122
I.ONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
rocks, comes north in April, goes south in
in fall. Accidental in Fla.
85. SOOTY TERN.
Larger than last: 16; not as slender;
black above; horns of lunette not extending
back of eye, fig. 91. Young, sooty brown
throughout paler below; wing coverts and
Fiff. 90
Bridled Tern.
scapularies narrowly but distinctly tipped
with white. Ordinary note. Quank repeated
irregularly; alarm, Qn-ank rapidly repeated,
signal cry for darting downward like that of
last species.
Flight heavier and less graceful than
tliat of Bridled Tern. Ranire similar, but
TERNS. 128
breeds commonly on Tortugus. Fla., and
occurs regularly but rarely along the coast
of S. C, casually to N. E.
Short=tailed Terns.
Small, dark above and sometimes be-
low ; tail, shorter* than tips of folded wings
and but slightl.y forked. Eggs, 3-4 averaging
darker than others of the family.
Fior. 91
Sooty Tern. 1-
86. BLACK TERN.
Length, 9; black throughout with under
portions of wings and under tail coverts,
white, fig. 92. Winter, head, excepting
124 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
occiput, neck all around and below white.
Young, brown plumbeous above, white on
forehead and below with sides plumbeous.
Flight very light and graceful as it hovers
closely over water. Breeds in interior from
middle U. S., west of Alleghanies. northward
Fior. 92 *
Black Tern. 1-4
in May. South in May and Sept. when not
uncommon on coast of N. E. and near it ;
rare here in June. Winters in S. A.; north
in May.
87. WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN.
Differs from above in having tail and
upper coverts white and wings whitish
111
TERNS.
125
all stages. Europe, a single one taken in
Wis. a number of years ago.
88. NODDY.
Large, lo; tail, much rounded; sooty
brown throughout, white on top of head,
fig. ,93; bill and feet, black. Flight rather
erratic, wdth long, sweeping wing-beats,
Fm. 93
Noddy. 1-5.
keeping low over water w^hen it somewhat
resembles a petrel; when sitting, unlike
other terns w^hich usually keep head on a
level with body, holds head high like a dove.
Cries, a series of croaks. A gentle bird which
126
LONG-WINGED SW1M:SJERS.
may be taken from its nest without making
an effort to defend itself. Intertropical
seas; breeds on the Tortugus and Bahamas
in May; rare on coasts of South Atlantic
and Gulf States.
Fiff. 94
Black Skimmer. 1-5
SKIMMERS.
Birds with a Tern - like appearance
having: lony: wings and a short slightly
forked tail; bill singular, thin and knife-
like with under mandible over-lapping
upper, fig. 94.
TERNS.
12^
89. BLACK SKIMMER.
Large, 18; white beneath, on tail and
forehead, black elsewhere above ; bill, black
with base and feet vermillion. Young
whitish on head and tail tipped wdtli brown-
Fis. 95
Eed Phalaroyje.
ish. Rests in large flocks on isolated sandbars
by day and w^hen started moves with an
excentric flight with long sweeping wing-
beats; at nightfall separates into small com-
Fig. 96
Red Phalarope
panics, and forming lines, sweeps up estuaries
and rivers against tides or current, keeping
close to water with the elongated lower
128
I.ONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
mandible below surface, thus secure what
food floats on surface. Cries harsh and
abrupt, much like the bark of a young
puppy or fox. Eggs placed on sand near
sea; 2-3, white handsomely mottled with
dark-brown and lilac. Coasts of warmer
portions of America breeding on Atlantic
Fiu-. .97
.^r-^
Aault ^ Red Pbalar()])e. 1-4.
side from N. J. southward in May. Winters
from Fla. Keys northward.
SHORE BIRDS.
Long-legged and usually long-winged
with elongated tertiaries; bill variable but
quite long and slender; size, also variable
but never very large. Eggs, usually 4,
pyraform, almost always placed on ground.
TERNS.
129
Young, covered with down and active when
hatched. Inhabit nearly all regions of the
globe.
PHALAKOPES.
Sandpiper-like with duck- like habits;
breed far inland, but pass a greater portion
Fig. 98.
Wilson Phalarope.
of lives on open ocean upon which their
thick plumage enables them to float readily,
while their lobed toes enable them to swim
with ease. Sexes, disimilar the females,
being brighter than males; gregarious.
130
SHORE BIRDS.
90. RED PHALAROPE.
Median size, 8, bill short and thick,
fiof. 95; toes, well lobed. Summer female,
purplish cinnamon beneath and on neck
behind, sides of head and rump, white; top
of head, dark plumbeous; back, light reddish
streaked w^ith Ijlack, fig. 97. Summer male
Fig. 99
Adult 9 Wilson Phalarope. 1-4.
smaller and duller. Winter adult, head,
neck and lower parts, white; back, pearl-
gray. Young, black above and w-hite be-
neath, tinged with buff. Occurs in Northern
Hemisphere, breeding far north ; south in
winter in N. A. as far as off coast of N. E.
in Sept., Oct., and May; rare in the interior.
PHALAROPES. 131
91. WILSON PHALAROPE.
Smaller than last, bill lon<?, slender and
awl-like, fig. 98; has toes less lobed, fig. 98.
Summer female, white beneath, gray-white
above, becoming white on upper tail coverts
and a portion of tail; line of black on side of
head becoming chestnut on sides of neck
. Fig. 100
Northern Phalarope.
and broadening on back, ^g. 99. Summer
male, duller. Winter adult ash-gray above,
white on upper tail-coverts and beneath.
Young, similar but blackish above. Tem-
perate N. A. breeds, from Southern 111. and
and Utah north to Saskatchawan region.
132 SHORE BIKDS.
Winters off coasts of Brazil and Patagonia.
Rare on coast of N. E. in May and Aug.
92. NORTHERN PHALAROPE.
Smaller, 7.50; bill smaller, foot more lobed,
fig. 100. Summer female, black above, white
on rump; distinct way band and under parts
white. Sides of neck and chest rufous,
Fig. 101
Northern Phalarope. 1-4.
fig. 101. Summer male, duller. Winter adult
grayish above with blackish patch on sides
of head, forehead, line over eye and beneath,
white, young, similar, but streaked with
buft' above. Northern Hemisphere, breeds
far north; winters, from coast of N. C.
soutliward. Common off coast of N. E. from
PHALAROPES.
133
middle Aug. to Oct.; occasionally seen on
beaches and rarely on waters of interior;
comes north in May.
AVOCETS AND STILTS.
The longest legged of any of the Shore
Birds ; social and occur near fresh water ;
size rather large.
Fig. 102
American Avocet 1-4
93. AMERICAN AYOCET.
Length, 17; bill longer than head and
decidedly recurved; folded wings not quite
134
SHORE BIRDS.
reaching end of tail; head, neck and chest
light cinnamon, wings and two broad stripes
on back, black; tail, ashy; elsewhere white,
fig. 102 ; in winter cinnamon is replaced by
white. Swims well and frequently alights
Fig. 108
Black-neeked Stilt
on water. Cries, harsh and continuous.
Breeds in the interior west of Mississippi
River from Kansas north to Saskatchawan
and Great Slave Lake; winters south to
Guatemala; exceedingly rare in eastern U. S.
STILTS.
135
94. BLACK-NECKED STILT.
Size. 14; bill longer than head and
nearly straip:ht; top of head to middle of
back and wings, black; tail gray; spot be-
hind eye and plumage not mentioned, white;
bill, black; iris, red; feet, crimson; fig. 103.
Female with back brownish. Young differ
from last in having back banded with dull
PiiT. 104
American Woodcock.
white and top of head finely mottled with
it. Breeding note a loud put repeated many
times at regular intervals as the bird either
sits or flies; alarm, a series of harsh screams.
Flight, steady, not swift, wing-beats rather
slow and low sweeping. When on the wing,
the head is held partly back, but the legs
are fully extended or in short flights are
held dangling. Although it often wades in
136
I.ONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.
water so deeply that it nearly floats, it
seldom swims. A number will sometimes
sit together in the water moving the pri-
maries up an down with a fan-like move-
ment while the secondaries are kept motion-
less. Breeds from northern U. S. west of the
Mississippi southward to Fla., the Bahamas,
and Antilles in late April and early May.
Fig. 105
American Woodcock. 1-6.
Common but rare in Eastern U. S. north of
Fla. Arrives in Fla. in March, goes south
in early Oct.
WOODCOCK AND SNIPE.
Birds of fresh water swamps and marshes.
Bill much longer than head; wings and legs,
WOODCOCK.
137
short; tail, short and rounded, All of the
species are well-known game birds. Sexes
similar.
95. AMERICAN WOODCOCK.
A short-necked stout-bodied species 11
long which lives in wooded or bushy swamps.
Fisf. 106
Wilson Snipe
Wings very short folding, at base of tail,
with the outer j)rimaries much narrowed,
Fig. 107
Wilson Snipe . 1-6.
fig. 104; brown above with the buify bars
crossing top of head, elsewhere faintly
lo8 SHORE BIRDS.
banded with reddish buff and mottled with
ashy brown; beneath, reddish-buff; bill and
feet, brown, fig. 105. Downy-young, rust-
buff throughout mottled and spotted above
wdth brown. Often occurs in alder swamps.
Flight direct and swift, wing beats rapid
Fig-. 108
Dowitcher. 1-6.
often accompanied by a whistling sound.
From early March to July gives the evening
flight sono^ on or near feeding ground.
After giving a series of bleating cries on
ground the male bird rises in a huge ever-
narrowing spiral until at its apix he is
directly over where he started; he then
WOODCOCK.
139
discends on rocking wings to his starting
point, giving a continuous melodious sub-
dued whistle. The performance is often
repeated many times during the evening,
but great caution is necessary in approach-
ing the bird as he is easily alarmed.
Fiff. 109
Stilt Sandpiper.
Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from
Fla., north to Canada in March and April.
Often nests in birch or alder swamps. Goes
south in Oct. and Nov.; north in late Feb.
and March. Once common but becoming
rare.
140
81IOKE lilKDS.
96. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK.
Differs from last in being larger, 13,
and in being distinctly banded beneath.
Northern Eastern Hemisphere; occasional
in Eastern N. A.
Fig. 110
Knot
97. WILSON SNIPE.
More slender than Woodcock but about
the same length; grayer above, mottled and
streaked with darker ; crown with a divided
line of lighter; white beneath with a band
of dusky streaks across breast; a subterminal
band of chestnut on tail, fig. 107. Occurs
in (^pen fresh water marshes; when startled
WILSOX SNIPE.
141
rises quickly and flies swiftly in a zig-zag
course uttering a bleating scape as it goes
and showing the under wing marking which
are banded with black and white, the black
being as wide or wider than the white;
when high in air winds are circles about, but
Fis:. HI
Purple Sandpiper.
1-5.
is quite apt to return and alight near where
it started. In spring on its breeding ground
and sometimes in migration, can be heard
producing the sound called winnowing; it
rises high in air sometimes singly, but often
three or four together and flying in a zig-zag
way utters a soft bleating cr\' . Breeds from
142
SHORE BIRDS.
northern U. S. northward, occasionally
further south. Winters from N. C. south
to northern S. A. North in April and May;
south in Sept. and Oct., but sometimes re-
mains in Mass. into Nov.
98. EUROPEAN SNIPE.
Differs from last in having the white
bandings on wing lining wider then the
Fig. 112
Pectoral Sandpiper.
dark interspaces. Europe, northern Asia and
Africa, frequent in Greendland; accidental
in Bermuda.
SANDPIPERS, ETC., ETC.
Occur chiefly in marshes, either salt or
fresh or on sea beaches, occasionally in dry
SANDPIPERS.
143
fields but never in wooded swamps. Folded
wings reaching bayond tail. Highly grega-
rious in habit. Summer and winter plumage
different, but sexes similar. General flight
swift and direct with a rapid wing-beats;
turning and wheeling in air is performed
Fi?. 113
White-rumped Sandpiper. 1-4.
with ease and grace large flocks moving with
a regularity which is surprising. All species
run swiftly ; although none when adult
swim voluntarily when uninjured, wounded
birds and young often enter the water and
swim with ease.
144 SlIOKE BIRDS.
99. DOWITCHER.
Bill ver3' long, 2.35, nearly twice the
length of the head; size, medium, 10, Sum-
mer; cinnamon throughout streaked with
brown above spotted with dusky beneath;
lower back, rump and tail white, banded w4th
dusky; bill brown; feet, greenish; fig. 108.
Fio-. 114
Baird Sandpiper.
In winter the color above is plain gray;
white beneath banded on lower neck and
sides with gray. Young are darker above
tinged on both surfaces with reddish buff.
Note a mellow whistle uttered as the bird
rises and when on the wing; this call is
often followed by one or two others which
are low and querulous. Occurs about muddy
\
km
^ 't:M^
/ /:
146
SIIOKE 131KDS.
spots on salt marshes and slou<ilis, singly or
in flocks, some of which are very large.
When feeding j)robes with bill by pushing
it straight downward often putting its head
under water. Tame and easih' approached.
Eastern N. A. breeding far north, passes
Fio-. 116
Ked-backed Sandpiper.
south chiefly along the coast in July and
Aug. Winters from N. C. to the W. 1. and
Brazil; north in May; abundant at this
season in the Bahamas but not as common
further north.
SANDPIPERS. 147
100. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER.
Differs from last in having bill longer,
3.10, and being deeper in color beneath
where there are few or no blotches, western
N. A. heeding in Alaska and near Arctic
coast, south through western U. S. including
the Mississippi Vallej', and less commonly
along Atlantic coast to winter in Mexico.
Fi^. 117
Curlew Sandpiper.
101. STILT SANDPIPER.
Slender, 9; bill, longer than head;
summer, tail, white; remaining ujoper parts
dusky brown streaked and banded with
dusk\': patch on side of head, reddish; white
beneath, banded with dusk3^ Winter gray-
ish above, no redish spot on side of head,
beneath, white unhanded, fig. lOL Young,
more huffy above than last and with a buff
tinocing on breast. Note, a chuckling whistle.
-111
X
i
lii
V lii
li H
K
SANDPIPERS. 149
Flight, swift and direct with rapid winir-
beats. Occurs often with Dowitcher in similar
places. In feeding, habituallj^ puts head
wholly l^eneath water-. For comparisons with
Lesser Yellowlegs, see that species..
Eastern X. A. breeding north of the
U. S. Winters in S. A.^ south in July when
Fig. 119
>- ■
Western Sandpiper.
it is not uncommon on coast of Mass. ; north
in April when common in Fla. but rare
further north on the coast.
102. KNOT.
Rather stout, 10.50, witb rather short,
quite thick bill. Summer, ashy-gray above,
mottled with dusky and reddish; upper tail
15U
SIIOKE BIKDS.
coverts, white banded with dusky; pale cin-
namon beneath narrowly streaked on breast
and banded on sides with dnsky. fig. Ill;
bill, brown; feet, greenish. Winter silvery
p-rav above ; white beneath tinofed with
yellowish. Young differs from winter in
Fis. 120
Sanderlin^. 1-4.
being w^ithout the 3'ellowsbip tinge below.
Note, a clear, double whistle not loud nor
often given in migration. Occurs on sand3^
beaches in small flocks, by itself or singly
in company with other beach birds. North-
ern Hemisphere, breeding far north; goes
SAXDPIPEK8.
151
south on the Athunic oohhI of N. A. from
middle July until Nov. Winters from N. C.
southward, but is not found on the Bahamas
and is rare in the W. L; north in May, when
not uncommon on sotuh shore of N. E. but
rare north of Cape Ann.
Fitr. 121
Lesser yellow-le2:.s. 1-5.
103. PURPLE SANDPIPER.
Stout, short-legged, 8.50; bill about as
long as head; summer anpearing nearly
black above and white below; with breast
and sides strongly overwashed with crray-
152 SIIOKS BlRBtS.
isli; bill dark brown, orange at base; feet,
greenish yellow, fig. 109; winter and young
with dark upper parts obscured with gray-
ish which is more extended below; upper
tail coverts and rump black in all stages.
Note, a feeble whistle. Noithern portion
Fis:. 122
[Solitary tSandpiper. 1-4.
of Northern Hemisphere, breeding far north;
migrating south in N. A. in Oct.; appearing
on the coast of N. E. about Nov. 1. Winters
from Canada, south to the Great Lakes and
upper Mississippi Valley and on the x\tl antic
coast locally from Grand Menan to the south
shore of N. E., more rarely to N. J. and
SAXDPirEEiS.
casuall\^ to Fla. Occurs most freqiientlj^ on
rocky islands; pfoes north in April but occa-
sionally remains until May.
104. PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
Rather stout, 8.50, bill about as long as
head; summer, dark brown above with
Fisr. 123
Willet.- 1-4.
feathers marcrined with brownish buff; white
beneath; foreneck and breast cloiuied with
buff streaked with dusk^^; bill, bro\vn; feet,
greenish, fig. 113. Winter more obscured
154
SHORE BIRDS.
with buff above. Young more rusty above
and more buff below; rump and upper tail
coverts always dark. For comparison see
White-rumped Sandpiper. Note, a rolling
whistle, often given harshly and gratingly.
Flight, when startled swift and erratic,
Fig. 124
Ruff.
something like that of Wilson Snipe.
Occurs with other Sandpipers about sloughs
and among the grass of salt niarshes where
it has the habit of squatting to hide when
approached. Breeds in the Arctic of N. A.
SAXDriPEKS.
155
south from the middle of July until the first
of Nov. when abundant on coast and rather
common in interior, not common on Atlantic
coast south of N. J. Winters far south in
S. A., north in May when rare on coast and
common in interior.
Ficr. 125
Bartr-amian Sandpiper. 1-8.
105. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPKR.
Smaller than last, 7, more slender; sum-
mer, rump and upper tail-coverts white,
graj'er above, tinged with reddish; no de-
cided clouding across breast, fig. 113, as in
the last. Winter with no reddish tinge
above. Young more reddish above and bufty
156
SHORE BIRDS.
below. Note a short, sharp whistle. Flight,
ordinary. Occurs on beach, salt marsh and
margins of pounds near sea. Occasionally
occurs in small flocks but are usually found
with other sandpipers. Eastern N. A. breed-
ing far north; winters in southern S. A.
Fio^. 126
Butt-breabiea ^andplpeI•. 1-4.
casualh^ as far north as Fla. This is the
Bull Peep of sportsmen.
106. COOPER SANDPIPER.
Differs from last in being larger, 9.50,
in having only a trace of reddish above, and
in having conspicuous V-shaped marks of
black on upper tail coverts. Only a single
SANDPIPERS. 157
specimen known, obtained on Long Island,
N. Y., May 24, 1833.
107. BAIRD SANDPIPER.
Similar to Pectoral but smaller, 7.25,
and with weaker bill, fig. 114, is much paler
below and there are fewer streakings on
Ficr. 127
"^^^
''^f^
■^
S^jotted Sandpiper. 1-4.
breasts. Young have all of the feathers
above narrowly and abruptly margined w^ith
pale grayish buff which is conspicuous
enough to give the back a scaled appearance.
Note not unlike that of Pectoral but weaker.
Breeds in Alaska and on the Barren Grounds:
158
SHORE BIRDS.
goes south in Aug. and Sept., but chiefly
through the interior of the Western States;
rare on the Atlantic coast from N. E. south-
ward; north in April, but always through
the interior.
Fio-. 128
Marbled Godwii.
108. LEAST SANDPIPER.
Smallest of our Sandpipers, 6.15; in
spring much like a small edition of the
Pectoral, but not as much clouded nor
streaked on breast, fig. 115; winter, grayish
above but with dark markings prominent
and with buffy clouding on breast. Young
SANDPIPEES. 159
with much rufous above and the breast
decidely buff. Bill always brown and feet
greenish yellow. Ordinary call a trilling
whistle; also gives a low piping note when
feeding, besides these gives sweet tremulo
calls as a flight song. This is the Peep or
Fig. 129
Hudsonian Godwit
Mud Peep of gunners and is very abundant,
occurring most frequently about ponds on
the marshes and in sloughs; less seldom on
fresh waters and sea beaches. While it
sometimes occurs singly or in small com-
panies, it also occurs in flocks from 100 to
500 or more. Breeds north of the U. S.;
IGO
SHOKE BIRDS.
passes south in July and Aug.; winters from
N. C. southward into S. A.; comes north
in May.
109. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.
Larirer, 8.25; bill longer than head and
curved, fig. IIG. Summer, above red dis-
Fio-. 180
Lon^billed Curlew. 1-S.
tiuctly spotted with black; wings, gray;
white beneath, wnth large patch of bhack on
l)elly. Winter, ashy above, white beneath
SANDPIPERS.
161
with breast tinged with a.sh\\ Youns: show
traces of rufous. Upper tail coverts, bill
and feet always black. A very unsuspicious
species that occurs on sandy beaches more
often than elsewhere, sometimes singly but
more often in flocks or in company with
Fig. 131
Hudsonian Curlew. 1-8.
other Shore Birds, call, a rather plaintive,
melodious Purre; when alarmed utters a
short cackling cry. N. A. breeding far
north; goes south from Sept. to Nov.; winters
from N.C. southward; north in May. Abund-
ant on Atlantic coast in fall but rather un-
common in spring north of N. C.
162 SHORE BIRDS.
110. DUNLIN.
Differs from the Red-back in having
less red above, the black markings predomi-
nating, is more heavily streaked with black
below, but black of belly is less conspicuous.
Northern parts of Old World; accidental in
eastern N. A. ; one record for Mass.
Fig. 132
Esquimo Curlew.
111. CURLEW SANDPIPER.
About size and form of last with bill
slightly curved, fig. 117; summer, upper
tail coverts white; tail gray, lower parts
reddish chestnut; upper parts varied with
blackish and rusty. Winter, not dissimilar
SANDPIPEKS.
163
to Red-blacked at this season but the upper
tail coverts are white, not black as in that
species. Old World, occasional in eastern
N. A. and Alaska. There are a number of
N. E. records.
Fisr. 133
Black-bellied Plover. 1-8.
(Adult, youns: in tiio^hr.)
112. SEMIPALMATED SANDIPER.
Differs from the Least Sandpiper in
being larger, 6.75, bill, 75; grayer above
with only a slight tinge of reddish on sides
of head in spring and with no clouding
below, but a few streakings on breast,
164
SHORE BIRDS.
fig. 118. Winter there is no bu:ff or reddish
anywhere. Young, slightly marked with
reddish above; the breast is slightly clouded
with no streakings; bill and feet, black.
Are abundant species both spring and fall
Fio^. 134
Golden Plover, 1-8.
all along our coast and often on fresh water
of interior frequently occurring in flocks of
hundreds. Ordinary note not unlike the
peep of the Least Sandpiper and a low roll-
ing note given both when sitting and in
flight; in spring gives a series of musical
SANDPIPERS.
165
notes, a kind of love song as the bird ad-
vances with down-curved pinions and rapid
wing-beats. Occurs throughout eastern N.
A. breeding north of the U. S.; comes south
from middle of July until Nov.; winters
from N. C. throu^rh the Bahamas and W. I.
Fig. 135
Kiildeer. 1-3.
to S. A.; north in May. Stragglers of this
species and of a number of other sandpipers
that usually go north of us are often found
in Mass. all summer. Sportsmen en 11 this
species, Peep, Bhick-legged Peep and Sand
Peep.
166
SHORE BIRDS.
113. WESTERN SANDPIPER.
Similar to the Semipalmated but bill
longer and stouter, and in spring upper
parts and head marked with bright cinna-
mon and distinct streaks and triangular
spots of dusky which extend along sides,
fig. 119, in fall distinguished by a longer and
Fis:. 136
Semipalmated Plover.
larger bill. Breeds far north in western N.
A., goes south about the same time as the
Semipalmated and winters in the same
sections ; common in Fla. in winter and
spring but uncommon further north; a few
occur along the coast in fall as far north as
N. E., but not in spring.
SANDPIPERS.
167
114. SANDERLING.
A medium sized, 7.50. stoutish three-
toed Sandpiper with a rather short bill.
Summer, light rusty above and anteriorly
below, spotted and blotched on back and
breast with dusky; white wing band and
Fis:. 137
^.^^■tei^^
Piping Plover, 1-.3.
conspicuous patch of black on bend of wing.
Winter, the whitest of our Sandpipers; pale
gray above, under parts pure white then
dark patch on wing is very conspicuous,
fig. 120. Young differ from winter adult
in being slight mottled with black above
but are pure white below; bill and feet.
168
SHORE BIRDS.
always black. Common on sand beaches
from middle July to middle Nov. often
occurring in large but straggling flocks.
Winters from N. C. to Patagonia; goes north
in May when it is less common. An un-
Fijr. 138
Wilson Plover.
usually silent bird, the sounds emitted
being a squeeky w^histle and low conversa-
tional notes when feeding.
115. GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
One of our largest Shore Birds, 14; bill
longer than head, 2.25; neck and legs long;
SANDPIPERS.
169
summer, upper tail coverts white banded
with dusk}^; dark gray above spotted with
yellowish white; white beneath, streaked
and spotted on lower neck and banded on
sides, axillaris and under wing coverts with
Fio-. 139
Wilson Plover, Young.
dusk\^; winter and young not noticeably
different. Bill, black; feet and legs, yellow.
Occurs on marshes and mud flats, where it
makes itself conspicuous, especiall}" in flight,
by its loud, clear whistle which consists of
three or four notes and is frequently uttered;
170
SIIOKE BIRDS.
beside this call it gives a kind of scream in
spring, something like put of the common
Tern, and a rolling or scolding note. Common
on the coast and not unfrequent in the in-
terior near water. Flight, steady with long
wing beats varied w^ith intervals of sailing.
Fiff. 140
Turnstone. 1-5.
In settling, the bird sails then suddenly
ab'ghts by dropping its long legs; w^hen
down it often raises its long wings over its
l)ack. Breeds in northern N. A., goes south
from July 1-3 to Aug. 15; winters from N.
C. southward, north in April and May.
SANDPIPEES.
171
116. LESSER TELLOWLEGS.
Smaller than last, 10.25, color very
similar, fio-. 121. Calls not very different
but the whistle usualW consists of two notes
and these and the roll are not as loud; the
whistle is so^netimes p:iven as continuous
Fi2. 141
Oyster-catcher. 1-10.
repetitions as bird sits. Breeds far north in
N. A.; comes south from July 1 to Sept. 15,
when it is common along the coast and not
infrequent in the interior; winters in soutli-
ern S. A.: rare in Fla. at this season; north
172 SHORE BIRDS.
in April and May, when uncommon on
Atlantic coast but abundant in Mississippi
Valley.
117. GREENSHANK.
Differs from Greater Yellow legs in
having the lower back and rump pure white
without markings. Eastern Hemisphere,
breeding far north ; accidental in Fla.
Fi?. 142
White Ibis. 1-20.
118. SOLITARY SANDPIPER,
Slender, small, 8.50, bill, slender; sum-
mer, upper tail coverts, dark but tail is
broadly branded with white; dark above
finely marked with white, white below dis-
tinctly streaked on lower neck, breast and
sides with dusky; bill, black; feet, dark
gn^enish, fig. 122; winter but slightly differ-
SANDPIPERS. 178
ent, young rather lighter. Note, a whistling
peat repeated four or five times when the
bird is on the wing; flight rather rapid, not
very direct with wings kept high and thus
beats are strong. Teters somewhat when
sitting: but not as much as does the Spotted
Sandpiper. Breeds occasionally in northern
Ficr. 143
p:^^^^.
Koseate ISpoonbill. 1-4.
U. S. but more commonly further north;
goes south in Aug., Sept. and Oct. Winters
in extreme southern states, the W. I. and
northern S. A., north in April (Bahamas,
rare) and May. Occurs on fresh waters,
usually ponds and pools, in pairs or at best
in small companies of five or six, never in
large flocks.
174
SHORE BIRDS.
119. GREEN SANDPIPER.
Diilers from the last in being a little
longer, 10, and in having the middle tail
Fiii-. 144
(flossy Ibis. 1-1(3.
feathers broadly banded with white and the
upper tail coverts pure white. Places its
eggs in the abandoned nest of some tree-
building bird, and our closely allied Solitary
probably has the same habit. Northern
parts of Old World; accidental in eastern
N. A.
SANDPIPERS.
175
120. WILLET.
Large, 14, stout with long, thick bill
and large feet. Summer, brownish buff
varied with dark brown. There is a large
white patch on wing and the axillaries and
wing linings are black, best seen in flight,
Fi^. 145
Bitteru. 1-20.
fig. 123; white beneath, head and sides
streaked and banded with dusky; bill, brown;
feet, bluish. Winter, without bands or spots
above or below. Young more yellowish
above and on sides. A noisy bird constantly
crying Pill ie-ivilUe-ivillet in loud, shrill tones.
176 SHORE BIRDS.
also gives a loud rasping crj" and a chuckling
note ^vhen alighting. Occurs singh^, in
pairs, or in small Hocks, on mud flats or
sandy beaches. Occasionally perches on
dead branches of trees. Flight rather slow
and direct; wing-beats strong and well down,
not rapid. Breeds from N. J. to Fla. and
Y\cr. 146
Least Bittern. 1-d.
irregularly north to N. E. Resident from
N. C. southward and in the Bahamas, un-
common on the coast of Mass. in fall and
rare in spring.
' 121. WESTERN WILLET.
Larixer than last with a longer more
slender l)ill, and with fewer and paler band-
SANDPIPERS. 177
ings in summer. Interior of N. A. from the
Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains. Winters
on south Atlantic and Gulf coast.
122. RUFF.
A large, 11, stout Sandpiper, males of
which are remarkable in having a cape of
elongated feathers about neck and a ruff
above it, fig. 124; face naked. Color variable,
ruff and cape, either chestnut, buff, black
or white, plain, streaked or barred; beneath
and on sides of rump, white. Female, with-
out ruff or cape; plumage, barred with
black, wdiite and rusty; white beneath.
Northern parts of eastern Hemisphere, occa-
sional in eastern U. S. but chiefly on coast.
123. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER.
Rather large, 12, with short slender bill;
neck long; buffy throughout, darker above
spotted and barred with black, fig. 125. Call
note, a clear, rather shrill whistle. Flight
strong and direct, with comparatively slow
wing-beats. Breeds in the far north in N. A.;
goes south in Aug. at which time it is not
178
SHORE BIRDS.
uncommon on the coast of Mass., frequent-
ing hills near the sea.
The upland Plover, the popular name
of this species, frequents hill tops near the
coast, especially in Autumn, both in N.E.
Fig. 147
Ward's Heron. 1-12.
and further South, but when breeding is
found in fields.
124. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
Rather small and slender, 8, with a short
bill: buft'y mixed with black above and
SANDPIPERS. 179
spotted with it below, fig. 126, axillaries and
wing lining white, showing in flight. Young
have feathers bordered with w^hite. Flight
rapid, but rather flitting. Call, a clear whistle
given when on the wing. Breeds in the far
northern interior of N. A. where it is
abundant; goes south in Aug. and Sept., but
in fall appears to be nowhere common;
winters in S. A., north in May when seldom
if ever found on Atlantic coast. An in-
conspicuous species.
126. SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
Rather small, 7.50; short leireed; bill,
medium; w4iite beneath, mrirked with
rounded spots of dusky; broad band through
wn!ng, w^hite; greenish brown above streaked
and spotted with dusky, fig. 127; t;nl tipped
with white and outer feathers are banded
with same; in winter is without handings
above or spots below, fig. 127. Young with
buff bandings on wings and tail. Downy
young yellowish gray above, with narrow
black line down back and on eirher side of
180 SHORE BIRDS.
head; white beneath. Flight direct but
slow, the wdng tips being held below the
level of the body and vibrated quite rapidly.
In passing over water flies close to surface
and if attacked by a hawk dives into it out of
sight, to afterw^ards emerge flying. Occurs
singly or in small companies in late summer
or autumn, never in large flocks on both salt
and fresh w^ater. Goes south in late Oct.,
stragglers remaining into Nov. as far north
as Mass., winters sparingly from N. C. to
Fla.,. common from this point, and on the
Bahamas, southward to southern Brazil;
north in April.
126. MARBLED GODWIT.
Large 18.50, with a very long, 4, some-
what recurved bill; pale cinnamon, through-
out, streaked on head and neck and irreg-
ularly banded elsewhere w^ith dusky, fig. 128.
Young, without markings beneath. Cries
in spring a series of shivering notes; in
winter w^hen alarmed, harsh and discordant.
Breeds in interior from Iowa and Neb.
SANDPIPERS.
181
northward to Manitoba and Saskatchewan
where it occurs on dry prairies. Goes south
in Aug. and Sept. when accidental or very
rare on the Atlantic coast from Mass. to N.
C; formerly wintered commonly in northern
and middle Fla. on both coasts, now rarely
Fig. 148
White Heron. 1-30.
found on the east coast, but occurs on the
west coast and in Guatemala and Yucatan;
north in April. Is found on the borders of
pools of both salt and fresh water and on
mud flats in flocks as in eastern Fla. up to
1877 and probably somewhat later.
182 SHORE BIRDS.
127. HUDSONIAN GODWIT.
Smaller, 15, upper tail coverts always
pure white; tail black; otherwise chestnut
spotted with dusk3^;axillaries, black, fig. 129.
In winter chestnut replaced by gray. Young
more bufty. Breeds far north in eastern
Fig. 149
Snowy E^ret. 1-8.
N. A.; south in Aus. and Sept., when un-
common on coast of N.E.; winters in extreme
southern S. A.; north in April and May.
Frequents mud Hats, sloughs and beaches.
Flight, swift and direct. Note, low and
double.
SANDPIPERS. 183.
128. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.
Differs from last chiefly in having axil-
laries white. Europe, accidental in Green-
land.
129. LONG-BILLED CURLEW.
Larger, 24; bill, strongly curved varying
in length from 3 to 8; cinnamon throughout
but more reddish below, marked above and
streaked below on neck, breast and sides
with dusky; fig. 130. Breeds through the
interior of temperate N. A; south in Sept.
when formerly not uncommon on coast of
N. E. now seldom, if ever, found here;
winters chiefly in Guatemala; formerly, up
to 1877 and somewhat later was common
at this season from N. C. to middle Fla. now
none occur over this section; north in April.
Note, a shrill, scream-like whistle. Flight,
slow with long sweeping wing-beats.
130. HUDSONIAN CURLEW.
Smaller, 17, paler. There is a super-
cilliary and central line on head, axillaries
banded with dusky. Breeds in far northern
184
SHORE BIRDS.
N. A.; south in Aug. when not uncomnon
on coast of N. E. and southward, sometimes
remaining until Oct.; winters all over S. A.
call note, a clear whistle, fig. 131. Flight,
strong and direct with rather slow wing-
beats.
Fioj. 150
Green Herou. 1-5.
131. ESQUIMO CURLEW.
Smaller, 13.50, bill 2.25; differs from
last in color in absence of buff on crown
and in having markings on side arrow-
shaped, fig. 132. Call note, a soft, mellow
whistle given in flight. Moves in large,
dense flocks, sweeping about much as sand-
SANDPIPERS. 185
pipers do. Breeds far north in eastern N.
A., south in Aug.; when it was once abundant
on coasts of Labrador and south to N. E..
now exceedingly rare and on the verge of
extinct'on; winters in southern S. A., north
in April when it avoids the Atlantic coast,
passinsr through the Mississippi Valley and
westward to the plains.
132. WHIMBREL.
Differs from the Hudsonian Curlew in
having the rump and axillaries white, the
latter banded w^ith black. Northern parts
of Old World, occasional in Greenland.
P L Y E E .
Difiers from other Shore Birds in having
shorter bills and necks, and larger heads;
toes, three.
133. LAPWING.
About the size of the Black-bellied
Plover, 13; wings round, head crested, top
of head and forehead, throat and breast,
blue-black; back, metallic green, bluish and
180
SHORE BIRDS.
purple; upper and lower tail coverts, rufous;
tail, black with basal half and tip, sides of
head, neck and belly, white; in winter the
throat is black. Active and noisy. Northern
parts of Eastern Hemisphere; occasional in
Greenland and on Lonpr Island.
Fig. 151
Louisiana Heron. 1-6.
134. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.
Our largest Plover, 12. Summer, lower
parts and sides of head, black; forehead,
sides of breast, upper and under tail coverts,
white; above irregularly spotted with dusky
and white, fi^. 133; bill and feet, black; in
winter gray above, white beneath. Young,
like last but have the back spotted with
SANDPIPERS. 187
yellow; in all stages the axillaries nre black.
Breeds in the northern portioQ of northern
Hemisphere, sonth from middle July to
Nov. 1; winters from N. C. and Bahamas
south through the West Indies into S. A.
Common on coasf^rare in interior. Frequents
beaches, but is sometimes seen on mud flats.
Notes, a wild, sweet whistle, also gives a
chuckling sound when alighting. Flight,
swift and strong with rapid wing-beats.
Occurs singly or in small flocks.
135. GOLDEN PLOWER.
Smaller, 10.50, bill, more slender, the
axillaries are always gray and the back
spotted with golden yellow; in winter and
young, grayish beneath, fig. 134. Breeds
in Arctic America; south in Aug. and Sept.
when common on coast of Labrador, rare in
in N. E. when up to the early 7('s it was
common, frequenting the hills on the shore.
Now the greater number fly directly south
from Newfoundland to West Indies on their
way to winter quarters* in southern S. A.;
188 SHORE BIRDS.
north in May, passing through interior of
N.A. Note, a single, mellow whistle. Flight,
as in the last.
136. EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER.
Differs from the last in having the
axillaries and under wing coverts white.
Northern Europe and Eastern Greenland.
137. KILLDEER,
A slender Plover, 10 long; tail, long,
rounded; double black ring on neck. Ashy-
brown above; lower back, rump, upper tail
coverts and tail pale cinnamon, the lattter
tipped with white, preceded by a black
band; band on wing, forehead, and under
parts, white ; eyelids, red; fig. 135. Young,
a little more reddish above. Bill, black;
feet, yellow in all stages. Downy young,
with a single band on neck. Noisy, con-
stantly cr3'ing, hilldee, in loud and shrill
tones as it flies. Flight, rapid, not direct
for the bird twists and turns; wing-beats
quick, but long and decided. Frequents
moist places either on the coast or in the in-
SANDPIPERS. 189
terior, sometimes on the sea beaches or on
bodies of fresh water. Often squats to hide
when approached then rises suddenly with
loud cries. Somewhat nocturnal, flying
readily by night. Breeds throughout tem-
perate N. A. but although it nests in Mass.,
Fig. 152
Little Blue Heron. 1-8.
it is not common here at any time. Goes
south in Oct. and Nov.; winters from N. C.
(rarely from Mass.) south to northern S. A.;
not common in the Bahamas and Greater
Antilles; north in March and April.
138. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER.
Smaller, 7, and not as slender; single
black ring completely surrounding neck,
190
SHORE BIRDS.
paler brown above than last; lunette on
forehead, outer tail feathers, tips of all but
central pair, and beneath, white; bill, black
orange at base; feet, yellow, fig. 136. Young,
with black less bright and more buify above.
Breeds in Arctic and Sub- Arctic N. A. ; south
from middle July to middle Oct., when
Fig-. 158
Black-crowned Night Hertni. 1-6.
abundant on coast and somewhat common
in suitable places in interior; winters from
southern Fla. and Bahamas through the W.
1. to Brazil. Occurs on beaches, sloughs,
and mud flats. North in April and May
when less common on Atlantic coast. Move
in compact flocks but when feeding scatter
SAXDPIPERIS. 191
much, running about in all directions, keep-
ino: head well up. (These two latter named
habits characterize all of the Plovers). Flight,
swift and direct with rather long wing-
beats. Call note, quite a plaintive w4iistle;
also gives a single prolonged note when
sitting.
139. PJNG PLOVER.
Differs from the last in having the
ring much broader. Breeds in northern
parts of Old World and on west shore of
Cumberland Gulf in N. A.
UU. PIPING PLOVER.
Palest of our Plovers, size of last, but
differs in being yellowish brown above, in
having no black on side of head, and the
ring is represented by two spots, one on
either side of neck, fig. 137. Young with
often no trace of ring. Breeds from coast
of Va., north to Newfoundland, in June,
south in Sept., winters on the Fla. keys and
in the Greater Antilles; north from middle
April through May when it is rare on
192
SIIOKE BIRDS.
Bahamas. Note, a long, sweet mournful
whistle. Common but rare on the coast of
Mass., north of Cape Ann in Summer.
141. BELTED PIPING PLOVER.
Differs from last in having the black
band crossing the breast. Mississippi valley,
Fio-. 154
^^
Black-crowned Xiobt Heron. 1-S.
breeding from northern 111., north to Lake
Winnipeg. Occasional on the Atlantic coast.
142. WILSON'S PLOA^ER.
Larger, 8, bill thicker and longer; sexes
not similar. Male, with forehead, stripe
SANDPIPERS. 193
over eye and beneath, white. Fore part of
crown, streak from bill to eye and con-
tinuous band on breast, black; above but
little darker than Piping Plover, fig. 138.
Female, with neck ring brown. Young, more
reddish above. Breeds from Long Island
southward through the Bahamas, W. I. and
along the Gulf coast, in May; casual as far
north as Nova Scotia in summer. Winters
from the FLa. Keys, south, through the W. I.
to S. A. Flight, rather heavy. • Call note,
a single short, but loud, wdiistle; during the
breeding season utters a series of rattling
notes.
143. MOUNTAIN PLOVER.
Larger, 8.o0; similar in general color to
the last, but the black on head is replaced
by a more or less continuous tinging of
brown. J^reeds on the western i)l;uns from
Kansas northward to Canada, in May.
Occurs on dry plains and feeds chiefly on
insects; goes south in late fall to winter in
Southern Cal., Lower Cal., Tex. and Mex.;
194
SHORE BIRDS.
accidental on Key West, Fla. Note, a plea-
sing whistle.
144. TURNSTONE.
Medium, 9.50, forehead, middle and
lower hack, wing hand, upper tail coverts,
tail and helow, white; large patch on hreast.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, adull and young. 1-8.
extending on side of head, V-shaped mark
on rump, subterminal band on tail, hlack;
above varied with black and red, fig. 140;
winter, with less reddish above; young,
wholly without it, but the black V on rump
is always present. Breeds far north, comes
south from Aug. to Oct. Winters, from N.
SANDPIPEKS. 195
C. .south through S. A. to the Straits of
Magellan; goes north in April and May.
Frequents sandy and ston\^ beaches where
it turns' over small stones, seaweed, etc., in
search of food, whence its name. Call, a
clear, melodious whistle, consisting of two or
three notes; also gives a chuckling sound.
Flight, moderately swdft and direct wnth
strong wing-beats. Less common on our
coast, north of X. C. in spring than in fall.
145. OYSTER-CATCHER.
Large, 19; above, head and neck black-
ish; patch on wing and beneath, white. Bill
and eyelids, crimson; feet, pale pink, fig. 141.
Young, marked wutli buff above. Breeds
on the Atlantic coast from N. J. southward;
formerly wintered from N. C. to Patagonia,
now rare on our coast at this season, ac-
cidental north to Grand Menan. Frequents
sandy shores and mud flats, feeding chiefly
upon oysters. Flight slow but direct, with
strong wing-beats. Alarm note when start-
led, a harsh discordant scream, but gives a
196 SPOONBILLS AND IBISES.
series of more mellow, yodeling cries. Now
not very common in eastern U. S.
146. EUROPEAN OYSTER-CATCHER.
Differs from last in being smaller, 16,
and the white of the upper tail coverts ex-
tended on to the lower-back. Europe, oc-
casional in Greenland.
SPOONBILLS AND IBISES.
Large birds with long necks, bills and
legs; wings, broad; tails, short. Aquatic,
frequenting mud-flats and muddy shores of
both salt and fresh water. Food, small
crustaceans and fishes. Flight, direct and
rapid with quick wing-beats, the neck is
extended and the feet held straight out be-
hind. Nests, placed in trees, composed of
sticks. Social, often gathering in large
flocks. Sexes, similar.
147. ROSEATE SPOONBILL.
Large, 30; bill, flattened and spoon-
shaped. Rose pink, patch of crimson on
lower neck in front, on wing, on upper and
IBIS.
197
lower tail coverts; naked head, green; bill,
bluish; feet, pink, fio:. 143. Young have
head feathered, and color pale without crim-
son markings. Resident in southern Atlan-
tic Gulf States. Bahamas and southward to
Fis:. 156
Wood Ibis. 1-10.
Patagonia. Eggs, ashy white spotted with
brown.
148. WHITE IBIS.
Smaller, 24; bill, curved; white; tips of
four outer primaries, black; bill, naked
198
SHORE BIRDS.
Space about head, and legs, yellow, fig. 142.
Young, head, neck and above slate-brown;
lower back, rump, upper tail coverts and
beneath, white. Eesident in Fla. and other
Gulf States, Greater A^ntilles and northern
S. A.; north in summer to N. C. and 111.,
casually to L. I. and Conn.
Fig. 157
Sandhill Crane. 1-4.
149. SCARLET IBIS.
Larirer, 29; scarlet throughout, tips o^
outer primaries, black. Young, brown;
belly, wdiite. Resident on eastern coast of
Troj)ical America; accidental in Fla., La.
and Tex.
SANDPIPERS. 199
150. GLOSSY IBIS.
Smaller, 23; head, neck, lesser wing
coverts and beneath, dark chestnut; above
metallic green, bronze and purple; space in
front of eye, greenish; bill and feet, brown,
fig. 144. Young, gray-brown, head and neck
streaked with white. Warmer parts of
Eastern Hemisphere; not uncommon in ex-
treme southern portion of eastern U. S.
wandering casually north to N. E. and 111.
151. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.
Differs from last in having a narrow
line of w^hite at base of bill, and space in
front of eye, lake-red. Western U. S., south
to the Argentine Republic; occasionally
breeding in Fla.
Herons.
Wading birds with long neck and
legs and long, pointed bills; wings, broad;
tail, short; flight, strong with comparatively
slow wing-beats; the neck is doubled back-
w^ard, but the legs are extended out behind.
Food chiefly fishes, occasionally crustaceans,
:^oo
SHORE BIRDS.
frogs or even small iiiamiiials. Cries harsh.
Young, at first naked, helpless and fed by
regurgitation, but are soon covered with
down, unless otherwise stated; nests are
made of sticks and are placed in trees or
bushes; eggs 3-5, greenish blue.
Fio-. 158
Limpkin. 1-S.
152. AMERICAN BITTERN.
Large, 29, dark-brown streaked and
s])otted with yellow-buif; triangular patch
on side of neck, black; bill and feet, greenish,
fig. 14-5. Young, similar but paler. Nest-
lings covered with long yellowish down.
Breeds throughout temperate N. A. ; south
BITTERNS. -01
in Oct., winters from Fla. southward to
Guatemala; north in April. Common, breed-
ing: habits solitary. Nests, placed on ground
in inaccessable fresh water boyrs or occasion-
ally in salt marshes; ego;s 3-6 green-ash or
brown, when alarmed the bittern often
squats in grrass or will even enter water
leaving the bill only exposed; at other times
will stand motionless with neck perpen-
dicular and bill pointing upward, then re-
sembles a stake. Cries, when startled, harsh
and sharp. In May and June the singular
pimk-a-poy notes are given. Flight, direct
and rather swift with quick wing-beats.
153. LEAST BITTERN.
Small, 13; male; top of head, back and
tail greenish black; sides of head, sides of
neck, upper wing coverts, and beneath,
yellow-buff, fig. 146. Female, with back
brown. Bill and feet alwa\^s yellow. Tem-
perate N. A. breeding from Mass. (w^here it
uncommon) to Fla.; winters from Fla. to
Brazil. Eggs 3-4, pale greenish
202
HERONS.
154. CORY LEAST BITTERN.
Differs from last in being darker above
and uniform reddish chestnut beneath.
Rare, has been taken in Fla., Mich., Mass.,
Wis., 0., N. Y., Toronto. ,
155. GREAT WHITE HERON.
Large, 47. Pure white; bill, yellow;
feet, greenish. Occurs on low, mud-bordered
Fisr. 159
Kiujy-Kail. 1-6.
Fla. Keys. Not common; rare in Fla. as far
north as Ormond and Lake George. Flight,
heavy with slow wing-beats.
156. WURDEMAN HERON.
Differs from last in being darker, ash
above, in having streaks of black and rufous
BITTERNS. 203
on neck in front, bend of wing and tibia
chestnut and top of head white,' streaked
with black. Kesident on Fla. Keys; rare;
possibly a color phase of last.
]57. WARD HERON.
A little smaller than last, differs in
havinor lower parts more broadly streaked
with black, a larp:e black patch on sides of
breast, and the occiput with its plume and
sides of head, black, leaving middle crown
and forehead, white. Neck, yellow gray,
fig. 147. Young, with top of head dull slate;
neck, darker and back marked wnth reddish.
Resident in Fla., breeding in March.
158. GREAT BLUE HERON.
Smaller, 45, bill smaller, usually has
more black below. Breeds throughout entire
N. A. from the Arctic southward, excepting
at least middle and southern Fla., Bahamas
and W. I. nesting in high trees; goes south
from Sept. to Nov.; winters from N. C. to
northern S. A.; occasionally as far north as
Mass.; north in March and April.
204 HERONS.
159. EUROPEAN BLUE HERON.
Smaller, 37, with tibia and bend of wing,
white. Northern portions of Eastern Hemis-
phere; accidental in southern Greenland.
160. WHITE HERON.
88; back with greatly elongated plumes,
stiffened, with barbs separated ; white
throughout; fig. 148. Winter and young
without plumes; bill, orange; feet, black.
Breeds through temperate and tropical
America, from N. J., Minn, and Ore. south
to Patagonia; casual on Atlantic coast as far
north as Nova Scotia. Now not common
anywhere in U. S.
161. SNOWY EGRET.
Smaller, 24, head, breast with egret
plumes which are more or less recurved at
tips; white throughout, fig. 149; winter and
young without plumes; bill and legs, black;
feet and space at base of bill, orange. Tem-
perate and tropical America from N. J.
south to the Argentine Republic and Chili;
casual as far north as Nova Scotia.
EGRETS.
205
152. REDDISH EGKET.
Medium size, 80, back plumes present;
head and neck, reddish; bill, black, purple
at base; feet, black. Young, plain gray.
Resident in southern Fla., chiefly on the
extreme southern and western coasts, west
along the Gulf coast to Texas and both
Fiff. 160
1-4.
Clapper Rail.
coasts of Mexico and Guatemala; in summer
wandering north to southern 111.; recorded
from Cuba and Jamaica; now rare in U. S.
163. CHANGING EGRET.
Differs from last in having the plumage
irregularly mixed with white. Young,
200
HERONS.
similar but frequently without white mot-
tlings. Not rare on west coast of Andros,
Bahamas, casual in Fla.
Fio:. 161
Sora. 1-3.
164. PEALE EGRET.
Differs from the two last in being white
throughout m all stages. Resident in Fla. •
chiefly the east coast, west along the Gulf
coast to Texas, south to Honduras; Andros
and Inagua, Bahamas.
HERONS. 207
165. LOUISIANA HERON.
Medium, 25; neck and bill long and
slender. Head, neck and back plumes
present; above, asli-l)lue; line down neck in
front, reddish and white; beneath, white;
bill, black, bhie at base; feet, gray, fig. 151.
In winter, bill and feet greenish, changing
to yellow towards spring. Young, much
tinged with reddish. Wing-beats, rapid.
Solitary when not mating. Resident in
Gulf States, Mex., C. A., Bahamas and W.
I., casual northward to N. J. and Ind.
166. LITTLE BLUE HERON.
Smaller, 22; dark slaty blue; head and
neck, maroon, fig. 152; this is the usual dress
but specimens occur which have the plumage
much mixed with white. Young, always
white wath the tips of primaries bluish at
base, and feet greenish. Very aocile; springs
quickly into air to fly with rapid wing-beats.
Eastern U. S., from N. J., 111. and Kan.
south to Bahamas, W. I. to northern S. A.,
casually north along coast to Mass. and
Me.; winters, from N. C, south.
208
HERONS.
167. GREEN HERON.
Small, 17.50; above, greenish, looking
dark in the distance; neck, chestnut-red, line
down front black and white, beneath brown,
bill and feet yellow, fig. 150. Young, mot-
tled with reddish above. Agile running on
Ficr. 162
Florida GalUnule. 1-5
ground and springing quickly into air and
flying with rapid wing-beats. Note, a shrill
cry often repeated several times. Common,
frequenting swampy margins of rivers,
ponds and lagoons. Nests in low trees and
bushes. Breeds throughout temperate N. A.
south to Key West Fla. and southern S. A.
Winters, from N. C. southward.
E(iKETS. 209
168. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.
Larger. 26, and stouter; ash-white; top
of head and back bLack; bill, dark; feet,
yellow; slender plume on back of head,
white. Young, brown, white streaked, figs.
153 and 154, small fig., young. Very com-
mon, breeding in large heronry. Flight
and wing-beats, slow. Cry a harsh, abruptly
given qnack uttered in flight and other
gutteral sounds best heard on the breeding
grounds. Social at all time. Although noc-
turnnl, frequently feed by day, especially in
breeding season. Nests from March (Fla.)
to June (northern N. E.)
169. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT
HERON.
Smaller than last, 23; bill, thicker;
head and back plumed, darker above strekaed
with black especially on crown and sides of
head. Young, darker brown, narrowly
streaked with lighter. Cry, similar but not
as harsh and is less seldom given. Often
210
STORKS.
feeds by day; a large portion of its food
consists of crabs. Rather solitary but nests
in small communities. Flight, rapid with
rather quick wing-beats. America from N.
C. and the lower Ohio Valley, south to Brazil
and Peru, casually north to Mass., fig. 155.
Fi2. 163
Purple Gallinule. 1-5.
STORKS.
Large birds with stout bodies, long
necks, legs and bills, head and a portion of
neck destitute of feathers. Young, helpless;
sexes, similar.
CKAXES. 211
170. WOOD IBIS.
Large, 43; bill, strongly curved; white,
primaries tail, bill and legs, black; feet,
yellow; naked head and upper neck, blackish
covered with whitish scales. Young, head
and neck feathered, dull brown throughout.
Cries, harsh and discordant. Head, neck
and legs outstretched in flight, fig. 156;
w4ng-beats slow, frequently rises high in air
to cricle about. Social, nesting in com-
munities in high trees; nests composed of
sticks; eggs, 1-2, chalky-white. Frequents
ponds in swamps and pine woods, in summer;
in winter more in thick swamps, southern
U. S., north to the Ohio Valley, south to
the Argentine Republic.
CRANES.
Our species differ from last in having
hind toe elevated, thus cannot perch on
trees; front of head only destitute of feathers.
Nests placed on ground in fresh marshes,
eggs 1-3, yellowish-brown. Young leave
212 CRANES.
nest early and follow parents. Not very
social; sexes, similar.
. 171. SANDHILL CRANE.
Medium, 41; slaty -blue throughout,
primaries brown, naked space in front of
head lake; bill and feet, black, fig. 157.
Young, somew^hat yellowish above. Give
loud, harsh gobbling cries. Sometimes dan-
ces with half-raised wings. Frequents ponds
in pine woods. Shy and difficult to approach.
Southern N. A.; rather common in unset-
tled i^ortions of Fla.
172. LITTLE BROWN CRANE.
Smaller than last, 35. Northern N. A.
from Alaska to Hudson Bay ; accidental east
of Mississippi.
173. WHOOPINCx CRANE.
Larger, 52; white, primaries, black.
Young, yellowish, otherwise as in the
Sandhill Crane. All the species have slow
wing-))eat.s and hold neck and legs out-
stretched, fig. 157, and sometimes soar high
CRYIXG BIRDS. 213
in air. Interior of N. A. from the Fur
Country to Fla., Tex., Mex. and from 0.
to Col. Not now found in Fla.
CRYING BIRDS.
Bill longer than head; neck and legs,
long; wings of medium length but broad;
tail, short. Color, dull. Sexes, similar.
Fiir. 164
Coot.
174. LIMPKIN.
Length, 26. brown streaked very dis-
tinctly with white; throat, white; bill and
feet, brown, fig. 158. Partly nocturnal,
occurring on the borders of swamps. Cries,
harsh and discordant; when alarmed gives
chuckling notes, the head in jerked back
and forward and the tail held erect; runs
among bushes with swiftness. Food chiefly
the animals of fresh water mollusks. Nests
214 RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS.
composed of sticks placed in bushes near
water; eggs, 5-7, dull buft' spotted with
brown. Flight, heavy with slow wing-beats,
the head outstreatched and the feet dang-
ling, fig. 158. Fla., Greater Antilles and
Central America.
Fig. 165
Coot. 1-5.
RAILS, GALLINULES AND
COOTS.
Medium size or small, legs long, bodies
compressed and thin; wings short and
rounded, all of the species run well but are
])oor flyers, moving in a straight line with
rapid wing-beats and dangling legs; in
aiigiuing will drop from a little height upon
RAILS. 215
ground or water. Food, insects, aquatic
animals and vegetable substance. Young,
covered with down when hatched and active;
black.
175. KING RAIL.
Large, 18; ash-red above, distinctly
streaked with dark-brown, chestnut red on
wing-coverts and beneath; flanks banded
with white; throat, line from bill over eye,
and abdomen, white; bill and feet, brown,
fis:. 159. Usually occurs on fresh-water
marshes, but occasionally found on salt
marshes. Breeds in May. Nests, placed on
grounds, eggs, 5-7, buff spotted with brown.
Cries, harsh and craking. Eastern U. S.,
north to the middle states; casually to Mass.,
Me. and Ontario.
176. VIRGINIA RAIL.
Similar to last in color but smaller, 10.
Young, nearly black. Besides the harsh,
rail-like craking, rapidly given, it utters a
chuckling note when slightly alarmed and a
216 HKKOXS.
sharp squeak when niiich annoyed. The
downy young keep up a constant peeping
when running ahout in the marshes. N. A.
from Canada south in early Oct.; winters
from N. C. to Guntemahi; north in early
April.
177. CLAPPER RAIL
Differs from the King Rail in being
smaller, 14, and in being overwashed with
Fi2. 166
Merganser.
ashy above and below; streakings not as
distinct, Notes fig. 160. The usual rail-like
crake and a harsh scream when annoyed.
Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U. S. north
to Conn.; casual in Mass.; resident from the
Potomac southward. Breeds in March and
April.
RAILS. 217
178. LOUISIANA CLAPPEE RAIL.
Paler than last above, but more dis-
tinctly streaked, and red below deeper.
Coast of Louisiana.
179. FLOPJDA CLAPPER RAIL.
Bill more slender, much darker, nearly
black above, ashy-gray below, mixed with
cinnamon. Salt marshes of Western Fla.
180. SORA.
Smaller, 9, bill shorter than head; face
and throat black; bill, yellow; feet, green;
brownish-yellow above broadly streaked
with brown, dotted and short-lined with
white; breast and sides of neck, bluish; re-
maining under parts, white; sides and flanks
banded with black. Young are over washed
with reddish below and black markings are
absent. Notes not as rapid as with the
Virginia Rail; gives a whistling cry like
cur-iue and some short chuckles. When a
gun is discharged or a stone thrown into
the water of the marsh that it inhabits, will
218
RAILS.
respond by givino^ explosive cries. Tem-
perate N. A. breeding from the middle
states northward; goes south in earl^^ Oct.;
north in April, fig. 161.
181. SPOTTED CRAKE.
A little smaller than last, head neck
and breast thickly spotted with white.
Northern parts of Old World; occasional in
Greenland.
Merganser. 1-10.
182. YELLOW RAIL.
Small, 7; yellow-buH', broadly streaked
on flanks w^ith dark brown, secondaries
white-tipped, conspicuous in flight. Occurs
in marshes but sometimes in weedy upland,
fields.
RAILS. 219
183. BLACK RAIL.
Our smallest Rail, 5.50, very dark-
brown above, spotted and transversly banded
with white; back and neck chestnut-red;
sides of head and under portions, blue-ash,
banded on abdomen and under tail coverts
with white. Breeds, throughout temperate
N. A., north to Mass., northern 111. and
Ore.; winters from Fla., south through the
W. I. to Guatemala. South in Sept. ; north
in April. Very rare everywhere.
184. CORN CRAKE.
Larger, 10.50; dark-brown above, mot-
tled with yellowish; upper, and under tail
coverts, rusty-red; beneath, blue-gray; flanks
barred with reddish. Europe and northern
Asia; casual in Greenland, Bermuda and
eastern N. A.
G A L L I N U L E S .
Rather larger, rail-like, but w^ith stouter
bodies; toes, long and narrow; bill, shorter
than head w^th a frontal shield on fore-
220 GALLINULES.
head; sexes, similar. Inhabit borders of
reed-margined streams or ponds.
185. FLORIDA GALLINULE.
14 long; bluish slate; back, bronzy,
under tail coverts and streaks on flanks,
Fio. 168
Keti-breasted Meroanser. 1-10.
white; head, dusky; bill, yellow at tip re-
mainder and frontal plate sealing-wax red;
fig:. 162. Young, duller with bill and frontal
plate greenish. Rather social. Swims well
and dives with ease; clings to aquatic vegeta-
GALLINULES. 221
tion beneath water; when swimming the
feet are moved as in walking and the head
is moved backwards and forward with them.
Notes, a harsh, Rail-like kea repeated several
times and given more often at night-fall and
a metallic chuck when annoyed. Flight,
direct with rapid wing-beats and dangling
legs. Temperate and tropical America from
Brazil and Chili north to Canada; rare in N.
E. and middle States; resident in Fla., migra-
tory further north.
186. PURPLE GALLINULE.
Smaller, 12.50; bright brown-green
above; blue-purple beneath; sides, greenish;
under tail coverts, white; bill, red tipped
with yellow; frontal plate, larorer and blue;
fig. 163. Young, duller above, reddish
mixed with white below. South Atlantic
and Gulf States south through the W. I.,
Mex., C. A. and northern S. A.; rare or
casual north to Me., N. Y. and Wis., migra-
tory in the U. S., going south in Sept.,
north in May. Habits, similar to those of last.
9>0
COOTS.
COOTS.
Dilfers from Galliiiules in having toes
widely lobated. fig. 164.
187. COOT.
Larger than last, 16, differs from it
in having bill white and white tips to
secondaries, conspicuous in flight; fig. 165.
Fis- 169 Fig. 170
Hooded Merganser. 1-8
Smew. 1-8.
Young, duller with feathers more or less
tipped with white. Notes, half melancholy
whistles followed by a gutteral chuckle.
Flight, direct with rapid wing-beats with
neck outstretched and legs held straight out
behind; in raising from water, swims rapidly
then runs with flapping wings, swims well,
COOTS. 223
but head is moved as in the last; dives but
does not use wings under water. Breeds
chiefly in northern U. S. and southern
Canada; occurring more rarely north to
Greenland and Alaska; goes south, largely
through the interior (but occurring in
immense, compact flocks at this season on
fresh and brackish waters in Fla.); north in
May when less common along Atlantic
border.
188. EUROPEAN COOT.
Differs from last in having edge of
wing and first primary white, and there is
no white on under tail coverts. Northern
Eastern Hemisphere; accidental in Green-
land.
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS.
Water birds which swim readily. They
occur upon both salt and fresh water.
Usually social, frequently assembling in
large flocks. Sexes, dissimilar.
224
MERGANSEliS.
MERGANSERS.
Long-bodied, long-necked Ducks with
slender bills, fig. 166. Males appear in the
eclipse or female plumage in summer.
189. MERGANSER.
Large, 24; head upper neck and anterior
back, black; remainder of back, ashy; white
"%
FiiT. 171
Vicr, 172
^-^--^ 'Zl-'i^^^^
Mallard. 1-12. Black Duck. 1-2.
beneath, stronirlv tinged with salmon; bill
and feet, orange. Large white wing-patch,
iig. 167. Female and summer male; head
and neck reddish with a well defined line of
demarkation between it and the white
beneath; throat, white; back, wholly ashy.
Young, similar to female. Breeds from Pa.
MERGANSEKS. 225
northward; goes south in Sept. and Oct.;
north in April. Winters, from the Middle
States southward to the Gulf of Mexico.
More scatteringly north to Mass. Common
on fresh water; occasionally seen on salt
water. Nests placed in holes of trees; eggs,
6-10 pale buff. Cry harsh, but duck like.
190. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.
Smaller, 22, males with a well defined
crest, breast and sides of neck, buff, streaked
with black, creamy white beneath, fig. 168;
female and summer and fall male, throat
less white and red of head and neck not
separated from white beneath by a well de-
fined line of demarkation. Young, similar
but duller. Nests, on .s;round; eggs, 6-10,
greenish-brown. Breeds chiefly north of
the U. S. : winters from N. E. to Fla. when
it occur off our coast in flocks of thousands
which sit on the water in compact masses
or rise and fly about in a disorderly manner;
south in Oct., north in April.
226
MEKGANSERS.
191. HOODED MERGANSER.
Smaller, 19. head prominently crested;
male, head, neck and collar on lower neck,
black; patch on head and crest, streaking
above; patch on wing and beneath, white;
sides chestnut, finely banded with black;
bill, black; feet, dusky-orange, fig. 169.
Fio. 178
lied-leg^ored Black Uuck. 1-2.
Female and young brown on head, neck and
back; white beneath. Occurs more often on
fresh than salt water; sits low when swim-
ming and does not associate in large flocks;
is apt to turn quickly about on water and
back again. Nests in cavities of trees; eggs,
6-10, white. N. A. south to Mexico and
RIVER DUCKS. 227
Cuba, breeding throughout most of its
range; resident from N. C. southward.
192. SMEW.
Smaller, 17; patch in front of eye, back
and two crescent-shaped bars on side of
breast, black; otherwise, white. Female,
top of head, brown, rest of head and beneath,
white; back, pale brown. Northern Europe
and Asia; accidental in eastern N. A.
RIVEK DUCKS.
Bill, wide and flattened; legs, short, but
the birds walk well and often feed on land.
Terminal portion of inner secondaries, irri-
descent, forming a shining surface, the sper^
ulum. Do not dive but reach down into
shallow water sometimes tipping the body
forward. Nests, on ground; eggs, 6-12^
greenish.
193. MALLARD.
Large, 24; head and neck, green; lower
neck in front and breast, chestnut; lower
neck behind and back, reddish-brown, flnely
228
inVKK DUCKS.
banded with white, but becoming bhick on
upper tail coverts, the tips of w^hich are up-
turned; beneath, back of breast, creamy-
white. Speculum, dark blue bordered by
black, which is marcrined before and behind
with white; bill, greenish; feet, orange.
Female and young, dark-brown, banded and
Fig. 174 Fig. 175
Gadwall. 1-12. Baldpate. 1-12.
spotted w^ith yellowish red; speculum as in
male. Northern parts of Northern Hemis-
phere; in N. A. breeding south to southern
U. S.; most common in northeastern U. S.
during migration in April, Sept. and Oct., a
few remain all winter as far north as Mass.
but the greater portion winter in the south.
In starting from water, rises obliquely.
RlVEli UUCK8. '2'2'\)
Easily tamed and is the origin of many of
our domestic ducks, iisc. 171.
194. BLACK DUCK.
A little smaller, 23; dark brown streaked
with reddish-yellow; speculum, ofreen, bor-
dered by black only; fig. 172. Female ajid
young rather more yellowish; in all stages
the throat is yellowish with few or no spots;
feet, brownish; bill, green. In rising from
water springs into air nearly perpendicularly
to the height of ten feet before darting
away in swift flight. More often occurs on
fresh than salt water. Breeds from Mass.
northward, most abundant during migra-
tion, in April and Sept. Winters from
Mass. to S. C.
195. RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK.
Larger than last, darker; throat, thickly
spotted, fig. 173; bill, yellow; feet, red.
Breeds north of U. S.; goes south in Oct. to
winter in great numbers from Mass. to the
Chesapeake; north in April. Occurs more
often on salt water than on fresh: sometimes
280
DUCKS.
congregating along the coast in flocks of
hundreds.
196. FLORIDA BLACK DUCK.
Smaller, much more yellowish than
Black Duck and more broadly streaked; bill,
Fig. 176 Fig. 177
Green-wing Teal. 1-8.
1-8.
Blue-winged Teal.
greenish; feet, reddish-orange. Central and
southern Fla. Not seen in large flocks.
197. GADWALL.
Smaller, 21; speculum, white bordered
in front with black, grayish above, reddish
on top of head; bill, black; feet, greenish,
fig. 1 74. Female, brown throughout, spe-
culum as in male. Nearly cosmopolitan; in
N. A. breeds in western U. S. where com-
KIVEl: LUCKS. 231
mon; rare on Atlantic coast. Goes south in
Nov. to winter in Central America, north
in May. Nests, on ground; eggs, 6-10, pale
brown-buff.
198. BALDPATE.
Size of last; speculum, bhick; top of
head, white; grayish above, breast and
sides ashy -red; dark stripe behind eye, fig.
175. Female, duller, crown spotted with
dusky. Breeds in interior of N. A., chiefly
north of U. S. Winters from southern
border of U. S. to Central America; south
in Sept. and Oct., north in April; rather
rare on Atlantic border north of Fla. Fre-
quents fresh and brakish waters.
199. WIDGEON.
Differs from last in having crown yel-
lowish and remainder of head and neck
chestnut -red. Female, speculum, gray
bordered with white, excepting below.
Northern parts of Old World; occurs fre-
quently in eastern U. S.
TEALS.
200. GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
Small, 16; speculum, green above,
black below, narrowly bordered by white
behind; head and neck, chestnut-red, green
patch behind eye; grayish brown above;
crescent shaped mark in front of wing, ring
around neck and beneath, white; breast
Fig. 178
Fig. 179.
Shoveller. 1-10.
Pin Tail. 1-10.
purplish with rounded spots of black; bill
and feet, brown, fig. 176. Female, brown
above, white beneath, slightly spotted with
dusky on breast; young similar to female
with all stages occurring between this dress
and that of adult male, speculum always as
in male. Breeds chiefly north of U. S.,
TEALS. 233
winters alono; southern border of U. S.
southward, goes south in Sept. and Oct.,
comes north in March and April. On
Atlantic border occurs more frequently on
salt than fresh water. Nests on ground,
eggs, 6-10, pale buff.
201. EUROPEAN TEAL.
Differs from last chiefly in absence of
white crescent in front of wing and in
having a whitish border to green patch on
head. Female and young, scarcely different
from last.
202. BLUE-WINGED TEAL.
Larger than Green-winged, 16; patch on
wing, blue, speculum, black bordered with
white behind. Head and neck gray; white
crescent in front of eye; top of head, black;
back, brown; outer webs of scapularies, blue,
black and green; beneath, pale purplish
spotted with black; bill, black; feet, yellow,
fig. 177. Female, brown marked with white;
wings as in male. Young, similar to fe-
male with intermediate stages in males.
234 * DUCKS.
Breeds chiefly in the interior of N. A. from
Kan. and southern llh, north to the Saskat-
chewan; winters from N. C. south to north-
ern S. A.; south in Sept., north in April.
Frequents small ponds or even pools usually
of fresh or brackish water, but occasionally
Fit?. 180
'&- z
f^^
Wood Duck. 1-9.
is found on salt water creeks. When alarmed
and in flocks on water gathers into a com-
pact mass. Flight exceedingly swift.
203. CINNAMON TEAL.
Differs from last in having speculum
green, head, neck and lower parts rich pur-
plish chestnut and feet orange. Female
SHOVELLER. z6o
differs in being more heavily mai-ked with
darker. Western America; in N. A. west of
the Kocky Mountains; rare east of the Mis-
sissippi River.
204. SHOVELLER.
Larger, 20; bill greatly widened at tip;
speculum, violet-green, blue patch on wing
Fit?. 181
Redhead. 1-15.
as in last; head and neck, dark -green; breast,
sides of back and wing- band, white; belly,
chestnut;, bill, Llack; feet, orange, fig. 178.
Female, mottled and streaked with pale
brown, dark brown and black; wing like
male. Young male with intermediate plum-
age. Northern Hemisphere; in N. A., breeds
236 DUCKS.
from Tex. to Alaska. Winters, commonly
from N. C. through Gulf States; south in
Sept. and Oct., north in April. Uncommon
in Atlantic coast states north of N. C.
Occurs in small ponds both salt and fresh in
small flocks. Nests, on o^round; eggs, 6-10,
greenish. Note of male, a short, gutteral
thuck; female, quack.
205. PINTAIL.
Larger, 25, neck, long and thin; central
tail feathers, long, narrow, bill not widened
at tip; speculum, violet-green; head, neck
and back, brown; two lines of white extend
down sides of neck with a patch of black
between and join the of lower parts; wing
coverts ashy, greater tipped with reddish;
bill blue, line on top black, feet bluish,
fig. 179. Female, speculum gray; dark-
brown above marked with lighter; yellow-
ish-white beneath; white wing-band in both
sexes. Northern Hemisphere, in N. A.
breeds north of U. S.; south in Sept.-Nov. to
winter from Gulf States to Paraama, when
WOOD DUCKS. Z6 i
very abundant in Fla., frequenting salt
estuaries of coast and fresh waters of in-
terior; north in March. Not common on
Atlantic coast, north of Ga. Male, whistles;
female, quacks.
206. WOOD DUCK.
Our most beautiful species, 18; head,
crested, green; line over eye, one behind it,
Fi<T. 182
Canvasbaek. 1-16.
triangular throat patch, ring around neck
and belly white; breast, chestnut; back,
brown; sides buff finely banded with black
with coarser black and white bandings on
flanks; iris, red; bill, pink; feet brown, fig.
180. Female, young, and eclipse plumage of
238 DUCKS.
adult male (occurring in mid- summer) duller;
head, brown; line at base of bill and space
about eye, white, this being larger in adult
males; breast, streaked. Breeds throughout
temperate N. A., south in Oct.; winters in
Gulf States; north in April. Nests, placed
Fig. 183
Lesser Scaup. 1-10.
in holes of trees; eggs, 6-10, pale brown.
Frequents wooded streams and small ponds
often hiding in thickets; rises suddenly and
flies swiftly aw^ay usually following the
stream. Breeding note, given by both sexes,
a clear, long-drawn, plaintive whistle, re-
peated rapidly.
REDHEAD.
239
SEA DUCKS.
Sea-inhabiting in winter, but some
species breed m the interior. All dive well.
207. RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK.
Of medium size, 21; head, conspicuously
crested; speculum, white; head and neck,
reddish; back, brown; below and rump,
Eig. 184
Scaup, 9 • 1-3-
black; large patch on flanks, white; bill and
feet, bright red. Female, brown; speculum,
gray; crest, small. Eastern Hemisphere;
accidental in eastern U. S.
208. REDHEAD.
A little smaller, 20; bill, low at base
and not projected back on forehead; spec-
240 KEDHEAD.
culuui, 2!:ra3^, bhick margined above; head
and upper half of neck, brown-red; remain-
der of neck and body in front of wings, and
lower back, black; canvassing on back and
sides, dark; feet, bluish, fig. 181. Female,
brown with canvasing of back showing
faintly. Breeds from northern Mich, and
northern Me., northward; south, in Oct.
to winter from Mass. (where it is rare north
of Cape Cod) southward of Fla. ; common
in the middle sections of winter range; north
in April. Nests, on ground; eggs, .8-12,
brownish.
209. CANVASBACK.
Differs from last in having a longer
bill, higher at base, and back much whiter,
fig. 182. Breeds from northwestern states,
northward, migration, winter range, and
nesting habits similar to last.
210. SCAUP.
Smaller, 19; speculum, white; head,
neck and upper breast, black, the former
glossed with green ard violet; back, sides
LESSEK SCAUP.
241
and beneath, appearing white, fig. 183.
Female with black of male replaced with
brown, white space at base of upper man-
dible; bill, blue; feet, black, fig. 184. Young
male similar with intermediate stages.
Breeds from northern North Dacota, north-
ward through northwestern N. A.; south in
Fi<r. 185
Golden-eye. 1-10.
Oct.; north in April. Winters from Mass.
south to Ga.. usually found on salt water,
often in large close tlock or rafts and in
rising flies in a close body. Nesting habits
and eggs, similar to last.
211. LESSER SCAUP.
Smaller than last, IT, head without
greenish gloss. Breeds a little further
242 DUCKS.
south and more in the interior of Canada
away from coast; south in Oct. to winter
from N. C. south to W. I., north in April,
212. RING-NECKED DUCK.
Differs from hist in having speculum
gray, a distinct reddish ring around neck,
FiiT. 186
Barrow Golden-eye. 1-8.
and a hlack bill. Breeding, winter range
and time of migration similar. Occurs
singly or in small flocks on fresh or brackish
waters.
21.3. GOLDEN-EYE.
Larger, 20; head, upper neck and back,
black; lower neck, under parts, and wing
BAKROW GOLDEX-EYE. 243
patch white; bill, black; feet, yellow, fig.
185. Female and young male, black, re-
placed by brown with intermediate stages.
Breeds from northern U. S., northward to
tree limit; south in Oct. to winter from
Mass. to S. C; north in April. Place snest
in cavity trees; eggs, 8-10, ashy-green.
Fig. 187
Buffle-bead. 1-10.
214. BARROW GOLDEN-EYE.
Differs from last in having bill higher
at base and the white spot at its base more
triangular, fig, 186. Breeds from northern
U.S. northward; uncommon in northern U.
S. in winter; south in Oct.; north in Aj^ril.
Nesting habits and eggs similar to last.
244
sguAws.
215. BUFFLEHEAD.
Small, 14; feathers of head elongated;
head and back, bhick; triangular patch,
back of eye, broad line through wing and
beneath, white; fig. 187. Female, brown
above, white below; white patch on wing
and a small one back of eye and below^ it.
Fiff. 188 Fig. 189
1-15.
Harlequin. 1-15. Old Squaw.
Breeds chieHy north of the U. S. ; south in
Oct. to winter from Mass. to Fla. ; north in
March.
216. OLD SQUAW.
18, neck short; central tail feathers
elongated and narrow; summer, head, neck,
breast, upper parts and middle tail, black;
sides of head and body, ashy; patch behind
SQUAWS.
245
eye, longitudinal streak on side of occiput,
under parts and side of tail, white; bill,
black; feet, bluish. Winter differs in having
head, neck, upper breast and back, white;
patch of brown on side of head below one
of ashy, fig. 189. Female differs in lacking
long central tail feathers; head and neck,
Fig. 191
Fig. 190
Northern Eider. 1-3.
American Eider. 1-3.
dusky with whitish patch around eye and
on neck behind. Breeds in the Arctic,
south in Oct., wintering from coast of N. E.
to S. C; north in late April. Frequents
bays along coast in close flocks from a few
pairs to hundreds. In feeding all of the
flock are apt to dive at one time and reappear
simultaneously; sometimes rise in air atid~hy
2i6
DUCKS.
circling about to a considerable liight. Cries
musical and frequently given both when on
the water and in flight, they are: Er-lit ah-
er-lit^ varied by Ah-ah oh-tr-lit. Nests
placed on ground; es^gs, 7-12, ashy.
217. LABRADOR DUCK.
Shorter, 19; head, breast and large
wing patch, white; top of head, collar, around
Fio-. 11)2
King Eider. ]-3.
neck and body, black; bill, black, orange at
base; feet, bluish. Female, ash-brown; wing-
coverts and secondaries, white. Former
breeding range, north of the U. S.; in winter
as far south as N. J. Now extinct; last
specimen captured was at Grand Menan, N.
DUCKS. 247
B., in 1871, but I saw one living in the
mouth of Ipswich River in 1872.
218. HARLEQUIN DUCK.
Smaller, 17, appearing black; triangle
in front of eye. spot on back of head, two
crescents on sides, and markings on back,
white, fi^. 188. Female, ash-brown; face
¥[g. 193
Scorer. 1-3,
and spot on sides of occiput, white. Breeds
in N. A. from Newfoundland northward
chiefly in interior, placing nests in holes of
trees, stumps, etc.; eggs. 6-8, pale-brown.
Winters, from Gulf of St. Lawrence to N.
J., but uncommon from Mass. southward.
South in Nov.; north in Feb.
248
EIDERS.
219. AMERICAN EIDER.
Large, 25; head, neck and above, white;
forehead, line through eye and beneath,
black; portion of head, pale green; naked
space at base of bill, white, fig. 190. Female,
reddish-brown, transversely banded with
dark-brown. Breeds of Atlantic coast from
Fis:. 194
Ficr. 195
Surf Scoter. 1.10. White winged Scoter, 1.10.
Me. to Labrador, south in late Oct. to winter
from Mass. to Del.; on coast of Mass. keeps
well out to sea feeding about remote islands.
220. NORTHERN EIDER.
Differs from last in having naked space
at base of bill narrow, fig. 191. Breeds in
north-eastern N. A. and Greenland, vsoutli
in winter to Mass.
DUCKS. 249
221. KING EIDER.
Size of last, differs from it in having
base of bill considerably swollen and naked
process widened; black of head reduced to a
narrow line about process and there is a V
of black on throat, fig. 192. Female differs
in having swollen process at base of bill.
Fig. 196
Ruddy Duck. 1-2.
Breeds in the Arctic, south in winter as far
as northern N. E. and rarely to Ga.
222. STELLEE DUCK.
Smaller, 15; greater portion of head,
patch on w^ing and breast, white, remainder
of plumage appearing black. Female, head,
neck and breast, brown the last barred and
spotted with black; head and neck, light
250 GEESE.
brown; elsewhere appearing black. Breeds
on Arctic coast of Siberia; winters on coast
of Alaska. Accidental in Greenland and
Quebec.
228. SCOTER.
19; base of bill, slightly swollen and
orange; wholly black, fig. 193. Female,
Fis. 197
Masked Duck. 1-2.
brown whitish on sides of head. Breeds in
Labrador and northw^ard; south in' Oct. to
winter from N. E. to Fla.; north in April.
224. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.
Larger, 21; base of bill, swollen; black
with small spot beneath e\'e and patch on
wing, white, fig. 19-5. Female, differs from
last- in having white patch on wing. Breeds
DUCKS. 251
north of U. S. in Canada; winters, from N.
E. to S. C; time of migration as in last.
Nfests placed on ground; eggs, 5-8, pale
brown.
225. VELVET SCOTEK.
So similar the last as to be indistin-
guishible in field. Northern Old World,
accidental in Greenland.
Fig. 198
Blue Goose. 1-6.
226. SURF SCOTER.
Bill considerably swollen at base and
brightly colored. Black, with spot on front
of head and another on occiput white, fig.
194. Female, brown with light spot at
base of bill and on side of head. Breeding
252 DUCKS.
range and migration similar to last.. In
swimming all Scoters frequently hold tail
upright, as does the Kuddy Duck. They
often associate together in great flocks;
when a small number are together they fly
in line one behind the other close to the
water, but when in large flocks will some-
Fig. 199
Lesser Snow Goose. 1-J8.
times fly higher and in a more confused
manner; all are apt to fly into the months
of estuaries at low tide to feed upon mussels.
227. RUDDY DUCK.
Smaller, 15; neck and upper parts,
chestnut. Top of head, black, spot on its
DUCKS. 253
side, white p beneath, grayish; bill and feet,
bluish, fig. 196. Female and winter male,
chestnut replaced by reddish-brown; throat,
lighter. Breeds locally throughout N. A.
south to Guatemala; south in Oct. to winter
from N. C. to the W. I.; north in April.
Occurs singly or in small flocks on both
Fi^. 200
American White-fronted Goose. 1-4.
fresh and salt water, but seldom on the
ocean, often in small ponds and pools. Very
unsuspicous. Often holds tail erect when
swimming. Dives well. When startled flies
swiftly, but is apt to circle and return to the
place from which it started. Nests placed
on ground; eggs, 6-10, dull white.
254 GEESE.
228. MASKED DUCK.
Smaller, 13; front of head, black; body,
reddish brown, lighter beneath; white w^ing
patch, fig. 197. Female, duller; top of head
and two stripes on its side, black. Tropical
America, accidental in Wis. N. Y. and Mass.
Fio-. 201
Canada Goose. 1-4.
GEESE.
Large wdth long necks, quite long legs
well fitted for walking. Bill, short and high
at base. Sexes, similar; nests on ground;
eggs, 6-10, dirty wdiite or j^ellowish.
229. BLUE GOOSE.
Large, 28; appearing brown; head and
neck, white, fig. 198. Young, dark all over.
Breeds on eastern shore of Hudson Bay; goes
GKESE. 255
south through interior to winter on coast of
Gulf of Mexico, west of La.; rare on Atlantic
coast.
230. LESSER SNOW GOOSE.
Smaller, 25; white; primaries, black,
fig. 199. Young, appearing dark brown.
Breeds in Alaska, south in Oct. and Nov. to
Fisf. 202
Barnacle Goose. 1-4.
winter to southern 111. and southern Cal.;
casual in N. E. Flight and cries much as
in Brant.
231. GREATER SNOW GOOSE.
Differs from above in being larger, 35.
Breeds on eastern coast of Hudson Baj^;
south in winter, very rarely to N. E. and
southward as far as Cuba. Rare in U.S.
256 GEESE.
232. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE.
Smaller, 30; gray above, forehead and
beneath white mottled with black on breast,
fig. 200. Breeds far north in N. A.; goes
Fig. 203
Brant. 1-4
south in Oct. to winter in the south west;
north in March; rare in Atlantic coast.
233. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.
Smaller, with a considerably smaller
bill. Northern parts of Eastern Hemisphere;
accidental in Greenland.
GEESE. 257
235. CANADA GOOSE.
Larger, 40; brown above and on head
and neck; patch on cheeks usually meeting
on throat, and beneath white; head and neck,
black, fig. 201. Breeds in northern U. S.
and Canada; south in Nov. to winter from
Md. to Fla. and Mex.; north ia March.
Flight rather rapid but with slow wing-
beats; moves in lines or Vs but never masses
in front. Cries loud and sonorous.
The Canada Goose is frequently domes-
ticated and breeds readily if kept in suffi-
ciently large enclosures. In order to keep
it from migrating, however, after the first
year one wing should be clipped. It asso-
ciates with the common domesticated Geese
and the ganders sometimes take charge of
their young, but it does not appear to hy-
bredize with other geese. The cries, given
continuously in flight, as a call to keep
members of the flock to straggling; are
also uttered when the birds are on the
ground.
258
J
^^.
.'>^.>
%¥:%
I
J
Fulvous Tree Duck.
GEESE. 259
236. HUTCHINGS GOOSE.
Much smaller than last, 32; otherwise
similar. Breeds in Arctic N. A.; south in
Oct. through western U. S. and Mississippi
Valley to wdnter from Kansas southward;
north in March.
237. CACKLING GOOSE.
Smaller, 24; distinct white collar on
low^er neck; nearly as dark below^ as above.
Breeds on northern Pacific coast; south in
winter into w^estern U. S.; rarely east to
Wis.
238, BARNACLE GOOSE.
26; fore part of head and beneath, white;
back of head, neck and breast, black, fig. 202.
Northern parts of Old World; casual in
eastern N. A.
239. BRANT.
25; no while on head, but streaked
with it in patch on side of neck; gray above;
white beneath, fig. 203. Breeds in Arctic,
in N. A., chiefly on Atlantic coast; south in
260
FLAMINGOES
Oct. and Nov. to winter in southern U. S.;
north in April, occurs chiefly on coast over
Fig. 205
Flamingo. 1-ld.
the sea seklom crossing land. Flight, swift;
wing-beats, rather rapid; moves in lines,
but frequently breaks into irregulur masses
swAxs. 261
in front. Cries more shrill and less sonorous
than in Canada Goose.
240. BLACK BRANT.
Differs from last in having white of
neck clear and meeting beneath. Breeds
in Arctic N. A.; south through West to
winter as far as lower Cal.; casual on
Atlantic coast.
Fig. 206
Bobwhite. rf'. MO.
241. FULVOUS TREE DUCK.
21; head neck and beneath light cinna-
mon; back and bill, black; fig. 204.
SWANS.
Large birds with neck longer than
body; swim with ease and have power of
202 SWANS.
elevating the enlarged secondaries as sails;
fly with great swiftness, when migrating
moving high in air often in V-shaped flocks;
cries, loud and harsh. Nests on ground,
eggs, 3-5.
242. WHOOPING SWAN.
60; white, basal portion of bill, including
nostrils, yellow. Northern Eastern Hemis-
phere; occasional in southern Greenland.
243. WHISTLEING SWAN.
A little smaller than last, and has only
a small spot of yellow at base of bill. Breeds
far north, winters from Md. to Gulf of Mex.;
very rare on Atlantic coast, north of Md.
244. TRUMPETER SWAN.
Larger, 65; bill wholly black. Breeds
in interior of N. A. from Iowa northward;
casual on Atlantic coast.
FLAMINGOES.
Large birds with long necks and legs,
wdth feet and bill abruptly bent in middle.
FLAMINGOES
263
Frequent islands and sea coasts in tropics
or sub-tropics.
245. AMERICAN FLAMINGO.
Large, 45; scarlet; primaries, black, fig.
205. Breeds from Bahamas south through
Fig. 207
Bobwhite, youug.
Atlantic coast of tropical America. Flight,
rapid with rather slow wing-beats and w^ith
outstretched neck and legs. Nests built of
marl piled in form of truncated p3'ramid.
264
LAND BIRDS.
Eggs, 1 or more rarely 2, greenish but
covered with chalky incrustation. Food,
small mollusks. Cries, sonorous and goose-
like.
LAND BIRDS.
Birds which live on land and which,
with a few exceptions, do not procure their
Fiof. 208
Canada Grouse. 1-12.
food from water. While the young of most
of the species are hatched naked and help-
less, a few, as in the first group given, are
covered with down and are active as soon
as they leave the egg. Not migratory.
GROUSE, QUAIL, ETC. 265
GROUSE, QUAIL, ETC.
Of var\dng sizes; young active when
hatched, covered with down and capable of
feeding themselves. All species run rapidly,
often hiding when alarmed to rise suddenly
with a whirl of wings when approached
closely. Nests, placed on ground; eggs,
many. Flight, rapid, direct with very quick
wing-breast.
246. BOB WHITE.
Small, 10, chestnut-brown above; throat,
line over eye and beneath, white; streaked
on upper breast and sides with chestnut;
patch on side of neck extending to bill,
black, fig. 206. Female has throat buff.
Downy young, buff streaked with dark-
brown, fig. 207; unable to fly until well
grown. Notes, Bob-white or More-wet-, some-
times. No more-wet, also a chuckling when
disturbed, and a call when the bevy is
separated. Eastern U. S. from southern
Me. to Fla. Eggs, white.
266 OROUSE .
247. FLORIDA BOBWHITE.
Smaller, darker, with black of breast
considerably extended. Florida.
248. CANADA GROUSE.
Larger, 15, black, blotched and banded
below with white; terminal band on tail,
Fig. 209
^..^^^
Ruffed Grouse. 1-12.
chestnut, fig. 208. Female, duller with
much of black replaced by chestnut, espe-
cially on breast. Young, much more red-
dish. Canada, east of Rocky Mountains
south to northern Minn., Mich., N. Y. and
N. E. Very unsuspicious birds inhabiting
coniferous forests.
GROUSE . 267
249. RUFFED GEOUSE.
Larger, 18; tail long and. when spread,
fan-like; reddish brown above banded and
mottled with darker; white below marked
with brown especially on breast; tail with
subterminal band of black, fig. 209. Female,
duller with a smaller tail. Downy young,
reddish buff lined, mottled, and spotted with
brown, fig. 210; can fly when about a week
old. Eastern U. S. south along the moun-
tains to northern Ga. Frequents bushy
woodlands. Note, a whistling chuckle when
alarmed. Drums in spring, summer and
autumn; this begins loud and distinct, in-
creases in rapidity, but diminishes in volume
until it dies away.
250. CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE.
Differs from last in being grayer, espe-
cially on tail. Spruce forests of northern
N. E., northern N. Y., north to James Bay.
251. THAYER RUFFED GROUSE.
Differs from last in being darker above
and in having the under parts more heavily
268
GROUSE.
Fig. 210
Ruffed Grouse, youno:.
PTARMIGANS. 269
banded. Nova Scotia, and possibly also
New Brunswick. Habits, etc., similar to last.
252. WILLOW PTARMIGAN.
15; winter, white; tail, black, fig. 211.
Summer, reddish-brown spotted and banded
with black; greater portion of wing, middle
under parts, and feet white, fig. 212. Arctic
Fig. 211
Willow Ptarmigan, winter. 1-8.
and Sub-arctic, in N. A. south to Sitka and
British Provinces, accidental Me. and Mass.
253. ALLEN PTARMIGAN.
Similar to last, primaries more or less
mottled with dusky. Newfoundland.
254. ROCK PTARMIGAN.
Scarcely different from 253 in winter;
in summer, grayer above and more coarselv
270 PTARMIGANS.
banded with black above, markings below
darker.
255. REINHARDT PTARMIGAN.
Diifers from last in summer in being
even more coarsely banded above where the
black predominates. Greenland, western
shores of Cumberland Gulf, and northern
Labrador.
Fig. 212
Willow Ptarmigan, summer. 1-8.
256. WELCH PTARMIGAN.
Differs from Allen Ptarmigan in being
much darker above in sumnier and with
more dark bandings elsewhere. Newfound-
land. ^^^ PRAIRIE HEN.
Large, 18; head, crested, elongated
plumes on neck; light brown above, white
GROUSE .. 271
beneath, banded with black, fig. 213. Prairies
of Mich, and Westward.
258. HEATH HEN.
Differs from last in having brown
bandings broaded and feathers of neck tufts
pointed. Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
Fig. 213
Prairie Hen. 1-8.
259. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED
GROUSE.
Differs from above in absence of neck
tufts and in having large rounded white
markings on wings, and in being tinged
with rusty above; white beneath with V
shaped marks of black. Great Plains of U. S.
east to Wis. and northern 111.
272 PIGEONS.
PIGEONS .
Birds of varying size, long wings and
well-developed tails; bills weak. Flight,
rapid, direct, with quick wing-beats. Stick-
built nests often placed in trees in our
species, but sometimes on ground; eggs, 2,
white. Young hatched naked and very
helpless fed by regurgitation. Food, vege-
table substances.
260. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON.
About the size of domestic pigeon, 13;
dark slate-blue; top of head, white. Baha-
mas and some of West Indias; rather un-
common on Fla. Keys. Notes, given in
minor key, ivof, wof wo, co-iuoo, the first
three repeated several times, the last long
drawn out. Social, occurring in flocks and
breeding in communities.
261. PASSENGER PIGEON.
Large, 16.50; tail, long and pointed;
upper parts, sides, neck and head, ash-blue;
beneath, purplish-red, under tail coverts
DOVES. 273
and tip of tail, white; sides and back of
neck, irridescent. Formerly ranged through
eastern N. A. from Hudson Bay southward,
now probably extinct.
Fig. 214
Passenger Pigeon. 1-8.
262. MOURNING DOVE.
Differs from last in being smaller, 12,
more brownish-red and in having tail more
broadly tipped with white and crossed by
a black band above this, fig. 215. N. A.
from southern Me. and Canada south to
Panama; not common in the Bahamas; local
274 DOVES.
in distribution. Social when not breedinj^.
Note, a mournful double coo.
263. ZANAIDA DOVE.
Tail not pointed, but short and rounded,
yellow-brown, a narrow white wing-band,
Figj. 215
Mourning Uove.
small black spot on neck where there is an
irridiscent patch. Common on Bahamas
and in some of the West Indias, rare on the
Fla. Keys. Not social, lives mostly on
sround. Coo of two notes, the first uttered
with a falling inflection, the second fol-
DOVES.
lows quickly, but is not prolonged, then
comes, who, who, ivho, with a decided pause
between the first two, all are loud, but in a
minor key.
264. GROUND DOVE.
Small, 7, slate-brown above, under por-
tion of wing, seen in flight, chestnut, purple-
Fig. 216
Grouud Dove.
red on breast; bill, orange, black at tip,
fig. 216. Female, duller. South Atlantic
and Gulf States. Note, who, often repeated
in a minor tone. Ordinary flight, especially
in thickets, which it frequents, flitting, but
when passing over wider spaces more direct
and rapid.
265. BAHAMA GROUND DOVE.
A little smaller than last, paler; bill,
nearly black. Bahamas; accidental in Fla.
276 DOVES.
266. KEY WEST QUAIL DOVE.
11; dull chestnut, purplish red beneath
glossy above with metallic purple and
bronze; broad white stripe on side of jaw.
Bahamas and some of the W. I. ; casual in
summer on Fla. Keys. Keeps hidden in
scrub most of time. Nests placed on top of
air plants, in trees.
267. RUDDY QUAIL DOVE.
Differs from last in being without
metalic luster above and the white jaw
stripe is less conspicuous, being somewhat
buffy. Tropical America; accidental on
Key West, Fla.
268. BLUE-HEADED PARTRIDGE
DOVE.
A little larger, 12, dark brown above,
more reddish beneath; head, black; crown,
blue; line on side of head beneath eye and
one bordering throat, white. Cuba, casual
on Fla. Keys.
TURKEYS. Z i i
269. WHITE-WINGED DOVE.
A little smaller than last; grayish-
brown, conspicuous white patch and bar on
wing. Female, duller. Western U. S.; ac-
cidental on Key West, Fla.
Fig. 217
Turkey Vulture. 1-12.
TURKEYS.
Large birds with naked heads and necks
with a tuft of black bristles, depending from
upper breast; tail long and fan-like; tarsus
furnished with a spur.
270, WILD TURKEY.
Large, 45; differs from the dark form
of the well-known domestic Turkey in
278 VULTURES.
having rather more brilliant irridescent
tints and in having pink feet. U. S., from
Cbesapeke Bay to Gulf Coast and west to
Plains.
271. FLOKIDA TURKEY.
Darker than last with little white on
wings. Southern Fla.
Fiff. 218
Black Vulture. 1-12.
VULTURES.
Large; head, naked; large wings fitted
for strong flight; feet, adapted for walking,
but not for grasping; food, usually animal
matter found dead and sometimes partly
decayed. Nests in hollow logs, rock cavities,
VULTURES. 279
etc. Eggs, 2, in our species white mottled
with brown. Young, covered with down
when hatched, but helpless. Sexes, similar.
The small figures in circles are silhouettes of the
birds as seen in flight to give the proportions of wings
and tail.
272. TURKEY VULTURE.
Dark-brown; head, liv'td red; tail,
rounded, fig. 217. America from N. J., the
Ohio Valley, and Saskatchewan, southward
to Patagonia, casual in N. E. Flight, steady
with long, sweeping curves, sailing most
of the time without flapping, sometimes at
a considerable height where it moves in
wide circles. Food, mainly freshly killed
animals. Only vocal sound, a harsh hiss.
Social, gathering in large flocks, especially
to roost at night.
273. BLACK VULTURE.
Black, including head; space on wing
beneath, showing in flight, white; tail, short
and square, fig. 218. N. C. to Fla., north
to lower Ohio Valley west to Great-Plains,
south to Mex. and into S. A., casual in N.
280
HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC.
E. and N. Y. Flight by alternate sailing
and flapping with rapid wing-beats; some-
times ascends to a considerable height, but
moves in comparatively small circles. Food,
FiiT. 220
Fig. 219
Mississippi Kite. ]-8.
Swallow-tailed Kite. 1-8.
Rather
largely decaying animal matter
more social than last.
HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC.
Birds of varying sizes; bills, strongly
curved and hooked; feet, strong; claws,
KITES 281
capable of grasping. Young, covered with
down when hatched, helpless and fed by
parents. Females, larger than males.
274. SWALLOW TAILED KITE.
Large, 22; form, slender; tail, deeply
forked; black above; head and lower parts,
white, fig. 219. Breeds in U. S. from N. C.
and Minn, southward, goes south in Oct. to
winter in S. A., north in April; casual in
southern N. E. Flight, swallow-like, very
graceful and easy. Food, chiefly snakes and
other reptiles, which it catches by swooping
downward and, grasping them w^ith its
claws, eats them as at flies. Nests in trees;
eggs, 4-6, green-white marked with brown.
275. MISSISSIPPI KITE.
Smaller, 14; head, neck and beneath,
ashy; back, black; longitudinal stripe on
each wing (showing in flight), chestnut;
white wing bar, fig. 220. Southern U. S.
from S.C. southward; casual north toPenn.,
Wis. and la. Winters in Guatemala.
282
KITES
276. WHITE-TAILED KITE.
Larger, 16 ; head, neck, tail and beneath,
white; above and central tail feathers, ash-
gray; patch on bend of wing, black. Breeds
Fijx. 221 in southern U. S. from S. C. and
southern 111. to Tex. and Cal.;
M^ winters in S. A.; casual in Mich.
277. EVERGLADE KITE.
A little larger, 17 ; black
above, brown beneath; base of
tail and its coverts, white; female,
EvergiadT duller, fig. 221. Breeds in Fla.,
Kite. 1-8. Cuba, and southward into eastern
S. A. Nests placed in low bushes, eggs, 1-2,
bluish white marked with brown. Flies low
over marshes with rather slow wing-beats
and erratic movements. Food, chiefly fresh-
water mollusks.
278. MARSH HAWK.
Larger, 23; above, ashy-blue; upper
tail-coverts, white; white beneath, fig. 222.
Female and 3^oung, brown above, reddish
GYRFAI.COXS
288
beneath. Breeds throughout N. A., south
in early Nov. to winter from N. C. south to
Panama, rarely as far north as Mass.; north
in April. Nests placed in bushes in marshes,
eggs, 3-5, white, slightly spotted with
reddish. Flies, low over fields and marshes,
moving with irregular flight and slow wing-
Fig. 222
Marsh Hawk. 1-6.
beats. Food, frogs, mice, snakes and lizards.
Common.
279. WHITE GYRFALCON.
22, wings pointed, white somewhat
banded on back with dusky, fig. 223. Young,
streaked below with black. Arctic, wander-
284 GYRFALCONS
ing south in winter to northern N. E. Nests,
on cliffs.
280. GRAY GYRFALCON.
Size of last, dusky throughout, rather
hroadly streaked on head and banded on
Fig. 223
White Gyrfalcon.
tail and beneath with white. Arctic, strag-
gling southward in winter.
281. GYRFALCON.
Differs from last in being darker; light
bands much narrower. Young, even darker.
Northern Europe, Greenland and Arctic
America, south to northern Labrador, rare
in winter in Mass. and R. I.
HAWKS 285
282. BLACK GYRFALCON.
Size of last, but appearing nearly black.
Labrador, south in winter, rarely to Canada,
Me., Mass. and N. Y.
283. DUCK HAWK.
Form of last, but smaller, 18; wings,
very pointed; seeming black above, white
Fis. 224
Duck Hawk. 1-6.
below; prominent black markings on side
of head; tail, banded with white, fig. 224.
Young, reddish beneath. N. A., breeding
locally throughout U. S., nesting usually on
cliffs; south in Sept.-Oct. to winter in Fla.,
southward into S. A. Flight, swift with
286 HAWKS
rapid wing-beats, seldom sailing. Captures
its prey, ducks and other birds, on the wing.
Eggs, 3-4, creamy white, very thickl^^ mot-
tled with dark-brown. Not very common.
284. PIGEON HAWK.
Smaller, 11; form of last but appear-
ing black above; white beneath, heavily
Fio-. 225
Pi|2ceon Hawk. l-d.
streaked with dark brown; tail, with four
light bands, one of which is at tip, fig. 225;
wings banded on innner webs with white;
conspicuous in flight. Female, and young,
more reddish below. Flight as in last.
Breeds from northern border of U. S. north-
MERLINS
287
ward; nests, on branches of trees and in
holes of trees and cliffs; south in Sept. and
early Oct. to winter in the Bahamas and
northward.
285. RICHARDSON MERLIN.
Differs from last in having five or six
light bands on tail and both outer and inner
Fig. 226
Sparrow Hawk. 1-4.
webs of primaries banded with white.
Western N. A. from Mississippi River to the
Pacific.
286. MERLIN.
Differs from last in having a large patch
of black on cheek. Old world, accidental
in Greenland.
288 iiAWK^
287. SPARROW HAWK.
Smaller, 10; cinnamon above, lighter
below; two oblique marks on side of head,
some bands above, spots below, subterminal
band on tail and wings, black; top of head,
upper wing coverts and band on secondaries,
ashy-blue; outer tail-feather, throat, cheek
Fio-. 227
Sharp-shinned Hawk. 1-6.
and tip of tail, white, iig. 226. Female,
lighter below, banded above and streaked
below with black. Eastern N. A. south to
Ga.; winters from Mass. southward. Nest,
in holes of trees, cavities in cliffs or houses;
eggs, 4-6, bulf thickly spotted with cinna-
mon. Cry, a rather shrill rattle. Flight,
HAWKS 289
rapid with quick wing-beats, sometimes
suspends itself on rapidly vibrating wings,
like a Belted Kingfisher; frequently jerks
its tail when perching.
288. LITTLE SPARROW HAWK.
Similar to last, but smaller; cinnamon
spot on head, small or absent in male;
female, more broadly banded with black
above. Gulf States, resident.
289. CUBAN SPARROW HAWK.
Differs from last in being nearly slaty-
gray above; beneath, deep rusty. Female,
rusty above and below. Cuba; casual in Fla.
290. KESTREL.
Differs from Sparrow Hawk in being
larger and in having blue of head extending
over a portion of upper parts, and in being
conspicuously streaked below. Europe; ac-
cidental in Mass.
291. PRAIRIE FALCON.
Large, 18; brown above; band on back
of head and beneath, white, heavily streaked
with brown. Western U. S.; casual in 111.
290 HAWKS
292. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
Small, 11; wing, short; tail, long,
square; legs, long slender; brown above,
pale reddish beneath; four black bands on
tail, fig. 227. Young, streaked beneath.
Flies with alternate flappings and sailing;
seldom circles in air. Readily flies through
foliage in pursuit of small birds. Breeds
Fig. 228
Cooper Hank. Silhouette.
throughout N. A. south to Panama; winters
from Mass. southwrad, south in Oct. ; north
in April. Nests, in trees; eggs, 4, blue-
white, spotted. Cries, a series of short
rather shrill screams.
293. COOPER HAWK.
Differs from last in being larger, 17,
and in having tail rounded; ^^. 228. Cries,
HAWKS 291
louder and more whistling. Range, times
of migration and nesting habits, similar to
last.
294. GOSHAWK.
Larger, 21; similar in form to last; dark
slate above, blue-gray beneath; three bands
on tail; top of head and head band on its
side, black. Young, brown above, white
beneath, streaked with black. Breeds from
northern N. E. northward; goes south to
winter from Middle States northward; north
in April. Sometimes common in Mass.
295. MEXICAN GOSHAWK.
Smaller than last, 16; also differs in
having upper tail coverts white, and tail
black with two or three bands of white.
Young, tail banded with black. Mexico and
southward; accidental in southern 111.
296. RED-TAILED HAWK.
Larger, 20; wings, longer; tail, long in
proportion to wings, but somewhat rounded;
legs, stout; brown above; tail, cinnamon,
292
HAWKS
with a subterminal band of black; white
beneath with a band of heavy black streak-
ings across middle of body, fig. 229. Young,
with tail paler and with several black bands
(twelve or more). Breeds throughout eastern
N. A., north to Labrador. Note, a wheezy
Fig. 229
scream, often given as the bird circles high
in air. Nests in trees, eggs, 4, white spotted.
297. KRIDER HAWK.
Differs from last in being lighter above;
no terminal band on tail, and lacks band of
spots beneath. Plains of U. S., from Dakota
and Wyoming to Minn., and 111. south to Tex.
HAWKS 293
298. WESTERN RED-TAIL.
Differs from Red-tail in being darker
above with sometimes three bands on tail,
more rufous beneath. Western N. A. from
Rockies to Pacific; casual in 111.
299. HARLAND HAWK.
Size of last; seeming black above,
varying from black below to white, but, if
white, then streaked across breast and on
sides with black. Young, tail banded with
lighter. Breeds in the Gulf States and
lower Mississippi Valley; occasionally north
to Penn. and la.
300. EUROPEAN BUZZARD.
Similar to Red-shouldered Hawk, but
tail with from 10 to 13 narrow black bands.
Europe, accidental in Mich.
301. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
Smaller than Red-tailed, 21; tail shorter
in proportion to spead of wings; appearing
black above; wings with many white bands.
294
HAWKS
tail with four; fig. 230; white beneath,
banded with reddish. Younp:, streaked w^ith
black beneath; tail with many white bands.
Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Fla.
to Nova Scotia; winters from Mass. south-
ward, south in Oct.; north in April. Note,
Fis. 230
Red-shouldered Hawk. 1-10.
a loud high ke-arr repeated several times
with the last syllable prolonged. Breeding
habits much like Ked-tail.
302. FLORIDA RED-SHOULDERED.
Differs from last in being smaller and
darker. South Atlantic and Gulf States.
HAWKS 295
303. SWAINSON HAWK.
Differs from Ked-shouldered in having
tail tipped with white; there is a dark phase
in which the under parts are dark brown
and intermediates occur between this and
light phase. Young, ash-red beneath thickly
marked with drop-shaped streakings, espe-
cially across breast. Western N, A., east to
111. ; casual to Mass. and Me.
304. BROAD-WINGED HAWK.
Smaller than Red-shouldered, 15, there
are two white bars only on tail. Young,
has throat whiter. Breeds throughout N. A.
from Fla. to New Brunswick; south in Oct.
to winter from Va. to northern S. A.; north
in April. Note, a squeaking whistle.
305. SHORT-TAILED HAWK.
A little larger, 16; dark brown above,
white beneath; seven ashy bands on tail;
reddish on sides of breast. Young, streaked
beneath; red of breast absent. A dark
phase has breast dark brown; forehead al-
ways white. S. A. north to Fla.
296
HAWKS
306. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
Large, 21, six to eight white tail bands;
white beneath, band of spots on breast and
Fi*r 231 broad band on abdomen, black,
fig. 231. Then is also a black
phase with intermediates, but the
basal three -fourths of tail, seen
from below, is always white.
Breeds throughout N. A. north
of the U. S.; winters from N. E.
south to N. C. from Nov. to April.
Legs ver3' short and thus the
bird sits low. Flight, heavy
with slow wing-beats.
307. FERRUGINOUS HAWK.
Size of last; differs in being more
reddish above; beneath, white unmarked;
tail, nearly white; from this varies into a
nearly black phase. Western N. A. west
to the plains; casual in 111.
308. GOLDEN EAGLE.
Large, 35; dark- brown throughout;
bill, brown; feet, yellow; tarsus feathered to
Rou^h-
legged
Hawk. 1-8
EAGLES 297
toes, fig. 232. Young with basal two-thirds
of tail white. N. A. south to Mex. Breeds
chiefly on unsettled mountaneous districts;
nest, usually on cliffs; eggs, 2, white spotted
w^ith brown.
Fig. 232
Golden Eagle. 1-12.
309. BALD EAGLE.
Size of last, differs in having head,
neck and tail white; tarsus, naked; bill and
feet, yellow, fig. 233. Young, dark-brown
throughout. U. S. breeding in unsettled
districts; nests in trees or on cliffs; eggs, 2,
white, unspotted. Cries, harsh and loud,
alarm note, a cackling cry. Ordinary flght,
strong and direct with slow wing-beats.
298 EAGLES
Frequently robs the Osprey of fish, when it
moves with a rapid flight with quickened
wing-beats. Sometimes circles high in air.
310. NORTHERN BALD EAGLE.
Differs from last in being larger. N.
A. north of the U. S.
¥ig. 233
Bald Eagle. 1.16.
311. GRAY SEA EAGLE.
Differs from last in having the head
always brown. Northern Europe, Asia and
Greenland.
312. OSPREY.
23; wings, very long; tail, short; black
above, white beneath; line through eye and
EAGLES
299
band of spots on breast, black, fig. 234.
Breeds from Hudson Bay to Fla. west to
Pacific. Winters from N. C. to northern S. A.
South in Oct., north in April. Food, wholly
fishes. Flight, strong, direct; wing-beats,
slow; often circles over water and drops
into it to secure prey which it carries head
Fis. 234
Osprey. 1-10.
forward. Nests in trees, eggs, 3-5, creamy
thickly spotted with red -brown. Cries,
shrill, whistling screams.
313. AUDUBON CARACARA.
Wings, tail and legs, long; 23; dark-
brown above; base of tail, sides of head,
300
PARROTS
bands on tail and beneath, white, broad
band on abdomen and finer elsewhere, black;
feet, yellow. Resident in Fla., Tex., Ariz,
south to northern S. A. Flight, direct by
alternate flippings and sailings and will
sometimes circle in air like Vultures. Chiefly
terrestrial, feeding much upon dead animals,
fig. 235.
Fis:. ^•:i5
Audubon Caracara. 1-8.
PARROTS, ETC.
Birds of varying sizes and colors, with
strong hooked beaks.
314. FLORIDA PAROQUET.
Medium size, 14; tail, long and pointed,
yellow-green; head and neck, j^ellow; fore-
PARHOTS
;oi
head, sides of head, and inner webs of tail
feathers, orange, fig. 236. Young, with
head and neck green. Flight, very swift
and direct, with rapid wing-beats. Cries,
harsh and loud. Nests in communities.
Former range, throughout the Gulf and
Fig. 236
Florida Paroquet. 1-6.
south Atlantic States. Now nearly extinct,
perhaps still found in a small section of Fla.
315. WESTERN PAROQUET.
Differs from last in being more blue-
green in color. Mississippi Valley south to
northern La. Now wholly extinct.
302 OWLS
WLS .
Well known-birds of varying sizes;
bills strong and hooked; chiefly nocturnal.
Young, inactive when hatched, and covered
with whitish down. Eggs, white, 2-7. Flight,
direct with rather slow wing-beats. Food,
small animals, insects and occasionally fishes.
Fig. 237
/
Barn Owl.
316. BAKN OWL.
Wings, very long; tail, short; 17; pale
yellow -brown spotted with darker; iris,
brown, fig. 237. U. S., rare in northern
portion, resident from middle sections south-
ward.
OWLS 303
317. BARRED OWL.
Larger, 20; banded with black and
white, transvesely on upper breast, longi-
tudinally below this ; iris, brown ; bill,
yellow, fig. 238. Eastern U. S. from Gulf
States to Canada. Frequents woodlands.
Nests in trees. Cries, prolonged hoots,
Fig. 238
Barred Owl. 1-11.
woe woe wu WOO followed by a series of
wock wock wock wo-o-o.
315. FLORIDA BARRED OWL.
Smaller and darker than last. South
Atlantic and Gulf States.
304 OWLS
316. GREAT GRAY OWL.
Larger, 22; gray, irregularly barred
above and streaked below with white; iris
and bill, yellow. Arctic America straggling
south in winter as far as N. J. and 111.
Fig. 289
LoDf^-eared Owl. 1-10.
317. LONG-EARED OWL.
Smaller, 15; wings, long; head with
prominent ear tufts; dark-brown spotted
and mottled with yellow-white which pre-
dominates below, fig. 239. Resident through-
out temperate N. A. Occurs in thick swamps.
Note, a single loud screech. Nests in trees.
OWLS 305
318. SHORT-EARED OWL.
Size of last, differs in having light
markings predominating, fig. 240, prominent
dusky spot on under wing showing in flight.
Occurs in open sections commonly on sea
coast among low bushes ; rises suddenly
Fig. 240
\
Short-eared Owl. 1-10.
when alarmed and flies with long, downward
wing-beats moving with excentric flight.
319. GREAT HORNED OWL.
LargerJ 23, wings shorter, ear tufts
long and large. Dark brown, mottled,
barred and spotted with lighter; patch
on throat and upper breast, white, fig.
306 OWLS
241. Eastern N. A. from Labrador to Fla.
Occurs in unsettled sections in heavy wood-
lands. Cries, not unlike those of the Barred
Owl, but rather louder and more deliberately
given. Nests in trees, sometimes in cavities.
Fig. 241
Great Horned Owl. 1-12.
320. LABRADOR HORNED OWL.
Similar to last, but with the dark
areas more extended. Labrador, Newfound-
land and south in winter to Ontario.
321. ARCTIC HORNED OWL.
Similar to Great Horned, but much
lighter the light areas predominating. North-
central Canada, south in winter to Wisconsin
and northern 111.
OWLS 307
322. SCREECH OWL.
Smaller. 9; reddish above, white beneath,
streaked on back, barred on wings and tail,
barred and streaked beneath, with black,
fig. 242. Above form red varies to gray
with markings grayish in tone. Resident
in temperate eastern N. A. west to the
plains, south to Ga. Yery common, but
Fig. 242
Screech Owl. 1-5.
unless at night, seldom seen on account of
many passing the day in holes. Nests in
holes. Note, a shivering cry often repeated.
Gives a croak of alarm.
323. FLOUDA SCREECH OWL.
Differs from last in being smaller and
darker. South Atlantic and Gulf States.
308 OWLS
324. SAW-WHET OWL.
Smaller, 8, red-brown above; narrow
white lines on bead and face, and spots else-
where; beneath, white, streaked with red-
brown, three bars of spots on tail, fig. 243.
Breeds from Middle States northward. Not
common. Note, a rasping cry.
Fijj. 248
Saw-whet Owl. 1-8.
325. HAWK OWL.
Medium, 15; tail, long, graduated; wings,
long; dark-brown above; lined and spotted
with white; eight lines of white spots on
tail and beneath, white, here transversly
banded with black; face, white, nearly sur-
rounded by black line; spot on neck, black,
fig. 244. Breeds from Newfoundland north-
OWLS
309
ward, wandering south into northern U. S.
in winter. Rather diurnal.
Fig. 2u 326 SNOWY OWL.
Large, 22; white spotted and
barred, especially above, with
black, fig. 245; females, more
heavily banded than males. Note,
a whistlinsr cry. Northern por-
tions of northern hemisphere;
breeds north of U. S., wandering
south in winter to Middle States,
Nov. to April. Flight, heavy and
direct. Frequents sand dunes on coast.
Rather diurnal.
327. BURROWING OWL.
Small, 10; white, barred
and spotted, more heavily
above, with red - brown.
Wings and legs, long; tail,
short. Frequents open sec-
tions. Nests, in holes in
ground. Western U. S. from
Great Plains to Pacific; ac-
Hawk Owl.
1-10.
Fig. 245
\\\\\ -HJftv
cidental in N. Y. and Mass. saowy Owi. i-i5.
310
CUCKOOS.
CUCKOOS.
Slender birds of varying sizes; tails
long; two toes in front and two behind.
Fiff. 246
Ani,
328. ANI.
Large, 14; bill, compressed, ridge, ele-
vated; black, ^g. 246. Cries loud, but minor
CUCKOOS.
311
in tone. Flight, heavy and jay-like. Social
at all times, several females placing their
chalky-white eggs in one nest; probably
polygamous.
Fig. 247
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 1-4. \
329. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.
Smaller, 12; brown above, white below;
tail dark; outer feathers- broadly tipped with
white; wing, strongly tinged with cinna-
mon; under mandible, yellow; space about
eye dark, fig. 247. Breeds in eastern tem-
perate N. A., west to plains: winters in
312 CUCKOOS.
Costa Rica, south in Sept., north in May.
Nests of sticks in bushes; eggs, 4, green un-
spotted. Notes, coiV'CO, given at intervals.
330. MANGROVE CUCKOO.
Differs from last in being strongly
tinged with reddish yellow beneath and in
having dark space about eye larger. Breeds
in West Indies; rare on Fla. Keys and in La.
Fig:. 248
Black-billed Cuckoo.
331. MAYNARD CUCKOO.
Differs from last in being paler beneath.
Bahamas, largely resident; rare on Fla.
Keys. Notes, om-on-on-on-qiia-qua-qua-coo-
coo-co; the first four and last three are
cuckoo-like, but the three middle harsh.
382. BLACK.BILLED CUCKOO.
Differs from Yellow-bill in having tail
like back, and narrowly tipped with black
WOODPECKERS.
313
and white, fig. 248; absnce of cinnamon on
wins: and black on head; under mandible
dark blue; eyelids, red, fig. 249. Breeds
through eastern N. A. west to Rockies, north
to Labrador, winters in S. A. Notes, coo<oO'
Fi^. 249
Black-billed Cuckoo.
COO-COO^ given without interruption. Eggs,
dark blue-green.
WOODPECKRS.
Well-known birds with chisel-shaped
bills, large heads, long wings; tail feathers
stiffened and pointed; toes two in front and
WOODPECKERS.
two behind. Eggs. 6-7, white, polished,
placed ill holes. Young, naked and help-
less. Flight, heavy and undulating, but
often swift. Drum on trees, etc., as a roll
call. Climb head first, but back down.
Fig. 250
3P^
Yellow-bellfed Jiapsucker. 1-6,
.o^. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKEK,
Small, 8.50, longitudinal white patch
on wing; male, with crown and throat,
crimson, fig. 250; female, throat white; both
much mottled above, yellow below, and
with black spot on breast; young with black
spot on breast replaced by gray and with
little red on head; adult plumage gradually
WOODPECKERS. 315
assumed. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
northern Mass., northward to middle Canada
and south along the mountains to N. C.
Cries harsh and rattling; gives the yucka
rather rarely.
334. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.
Larger, 10; male, top of head all scarlet,
ashy beneath, tinged with red; back, banded
Fi^. 251
Red-bellied Woodpecer. 1-7.
with black and white; upper tail coverts,
white, fig. 251. Female, top of head, gray,
nape scarlet. Resident in eastern U. S.
from Pa. southward; casual as far north as
Mass. Cries, often uttered, harsh and quer-
316
WOODPECKERS.
ulous, yucka note rarely given. Frequents
open woodlands.
335. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.
Smaller, 9; colors in masses; head and
neck all around, crimson ; band on second-
aries and rump and beneath, white; remain-
Fiff. 252
Ked-headed Woodpecker. 1-6.
ing upper portions, black, fig. 252. Young,
head, gray; white of secondaries, broadly
banded with black. Sexes, similar. Breeds
in the U. S. west to the Rockies; local east
of the Hudson, usually migratory north of
Penn. Very noisy, cries harsh and loud.
WOODPECKEKS. 317
336. HAIRY WOODPECKER.
lOj black above, white beneath; on side
of head, longitudinal stripe on back trans-
verse bands of spots on wincrs and outer
tail feathers, white, fig. 253; male, with red
on nape. Resident in northern and middle
Fi^, 253
Hairy Woodpecker. 1-
TJ. S. north into southern Canada, south to
Va., cries sharp sometimes rapidly repeated
as a call. Gives yucha notes.
337. NORTHERN HAIRY WOOD-
PECKER.
Differs from last in being larger. Breeds
in northern N. A. north of U. S.
318 WOODPECKERS.
338. NEWFOUNDLAND WOODPECKER.
A little smaller than last with much
less white on back and wings, black spots
on dorsal stripe. Newfoundland.
Downy Woodpecker. 1-4.
339. SOUTHERN HAIRY WOOD-
PECKER.
Smaller than Hairy a little darker.
South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to Va.
340. SOUTHERN DOWNY WOOD-
PECKER.
Smaller than last, 5.50, bill proportion-
ately smaller, white of outer tail feathers
barred with spots of black; dusky beneath.
WOODPECKERS.
319
341. DOWNY WOODPECKER.
Larger than last, white beneath, fig.
254. Eastern N. A. from eastern Ya. and
mountains of Ga. north to Canada.
Fiff, 255
Red- cock ad ed Woodpecker,
342. NORTHERN DOWNY WOOD-
PECKER.
Larger than last, bars on tail narrower.
Northwestern N. A., south in winter to
Wis. and N. Y.
343. RED COCKADED WOODPECKER.
Larger, 8.25; differs from Hairy Wood-
pecker in being transverslj banded on back
320
WOODPECKERS.
with white, without dorsal stripe, red of
head in male confined to a small spot on its
on its side, fig-. 255. Southern N. S. from
Va. southwards; casual in Penn, and N. Y.
Frequents pine barrens. Somewhat social
and very noisy; cries, harsh and querulous.
Fig. 256'
344
Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. 1-6.
ARCTIC THREE. TOED WCK)D-
PECKER.
Larger than last, 9.50; toes three, black
above, wings banded with white; beneath,
white, banded on sides with black. Male^
with top of head yellow, fig. 256, Northern
WOODPECKEKS. 821
N. A.; in winter, wandering south into north-
ern U. S. as far as N. E.
345. AMERICAN THREE-TOED
WOODPECKER.
Differs from last in having the entire
back banded with white, fig. 257, Range
similar to last.
Fig. 257
American Three-toed Woodpecker. 1-6.
346. IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER.
Large, 21, neck thin; black; bill, second-
aries, line extending on side of neck, white;
crest on back of head, scarlet; black in fe-
male, fig. 258. Former range through
most of the southern States^ now restricted
322 GOATSUCKEKS.
to a few isolated localities in the lower
Mississippi Valley and Gulf States, chiefly
Fla.
347. PILEATED WOODPECKER.
Smaller, 18.50, black; throat, line on
side of neck, patch on primaries, basal half
Fi^. 258
Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 1-10.
of wing beneath, showing in flight, white;
maxillary patch, top of head and crest, scar-
let, fig. 259. Female, front of head and
maxillary patches, black. Eastern U. S.
from northern Fla., southern Tex., north to
Md., Penn. and southern 111.
WOODPECKEKS. 323
348. FLORIDA PILEATED WOOD-
PECKER.
Similar to last, but darker and smaller.
Central and southern Fla.
Pileated Woodpecker. 1-9.
349. NORTHERN PILEATED WOOD-
PECKER.
Similar to Pileated, but larger and lighter.
Northern eastern N. A. from Wesst Va.,
western Penn., north into Canada. All of
the Pileated Woodpeckers frequent heavy
forests in the wilder sections. Notes, not
o24 FUCKERS.
unlike those of the flicker, but are louder.
Roll-call also similar but with more volume.
350. FLICKER.
Smaller, 12; bill, curved, white spot on
rump, conspicuous in flight; brown above,
banded with black; ash-red beneath, maxil-
Fijr. 260
lar\' patch, crescent on breast, and round
spots beneath, black; tail and wings beneath,
(rolden-yellow ; scarlet patch on back of
head, fig. 260. Female, without black max-
illary patch. Eastern U. S. from Fla. north
to N. C. and southern Ya., Ind. and TIL
Cries, varied; a whistling scream, an in-
FLICKERS.
325
terrupted call, and in spring a series of
yucca notes. Subsists chiefly on ants in
summer.
351. NORTHERN FLICKER.
Similar to last, but larger. Northern
and Central U. S., east of Rockies, south to
Fig. 261
Chuck-Will's Widow
Va. and southern 111., north to northern N.
E. In winter to Gulf Coast and Tex.
352. BOREAL FLICKER.
Larger than last. From Labrador,
north to limit of tree growth, north west to
Alaska.
326 GOATSUCKERS.
GOATSUCKERS.
Long-winged birds with small bills,
wide gape, large eyes, small feet; colors
dull and inconspicuous, when perching on
trees sit longitudinally. Food, insects.
Fig. 2{)2
VVhip-poor-wi]
253. CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW.
Large, L3, mixed reddish brown and
black; yellow-red crescent on throat; patch
on three outher tail feathers, buff below
white above, fig. 261. Female, lacks the
crescent on throat and white on tail. Breeds
from Va. southward through South Atlantic
and Gulf States, winters in Cuba, eastern
WOODPECKEliS. 327
Mexico, south to Central America; 80uth in
Sept., north in March; rare in Bahaman;
accidental in Mass. Note. chuck-wilV s-widow
rapidly oriven, sometimes also a series of
chuckling sounds. Found in woodlands by
day. often flies about dwelings at night.
Flight, erratic and Hitting.
jS"ighthawk, 1-5.
354. WHIP-POOR-WILL.
Smaller, 10, darker than last, white
crescent on throat and patch on outer tail
feathers white on both surfaces, fig. 262;
female, without crescent on throat. Breeds
throughout eastern N. A. from N. C. north
328 NIGHTHAWKS.
to Canada, west to Plains. Note, ivhip-poor-
luill, ^iven very rapidly and repeatedly,
also a chuckling sound. Found in wood-
lands by day. Flight, similar to last.
355. NIGHTHAWK.
Size of last, gray above, banded with
white and black beneath; large spot on
primaries, crescent on throat and band of
spots on tail, white, fig. 263. Female, lacks
white on tail and crescent is indistinct.
Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from north-
ern Fla. to Labrador; winters in S. A.;
south in Sept., north in May. Eggs placed
in gravely spots, sometimes on gravelled
roofs of buildings. Note, a shrill, rasping
cry repeated when the bird is darting zig-
zag high in air and a booming sound as the
bird descends from this height to a point
near the ground when he turns to ascend.
Often flies in the day time and regularly in
the evening, not by night.
356. FLORIDA NIGHTHAWK.
Smaller and darker than last. Fla. to
Tex.; winters in S. A.
SWIFTS. o2U
357. HOWELL NIGHTHAWK.
Similar to last, but lighter above and
more reddish. Western U. S.. casual in 111.
SWIFTS.
Compact birds with short bills, long
primaries, but other parts of wing short-
ened. Flight swift. Fiv. 264
358. CHIMNEi^ SWIFT.
Small, 5; spindle-shaped, tail
short and spiny at tip; appearing;
black, fig. 264. Young naked and
helpless when hatched. Nests of
sticks fastened together with glue
secreted by the mouth of the bird,
(sticks gathered when bird is on 'J^hiinney
the wing) placed usually in chim- fejwift.
neys or occasionally in hollow trees, caves,
etc. Eggs, 4, white. Flight swift, con-
tinuous by a rapid alternate quivering move-
ment of wing tips and sailing. Food,
insects. Cries, a shrill chatter, always given
in flifrht. never when in the chimnev.
330 llUM^IlNGliiKDS.
HUMMINGBIRDS.
Small birds with winors similar to last,
but differ in having an awl-like bill. Nests
made of tine material covered with lichens;
eggs, 2, white. Young, naked and help-
less. Flight, swift and darting; wing-beats
exceedingly rapid. Food, sweet nectar of
flowers and insects. Found only in America.
359. RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-
BIRD.
Small, 3.50; tail forked in male, rounded
in female; green above, white below% male
with throat metnlic ruby; female with tail
w4iite tipped, fig. 265. Breeds throughout
eastern N. A. from Labrador to Fla. Winters
from Fla. to Mex. Has a weak chirping cry.
KINGFISHERS.
Of varying sizes. Bills and wings, long;
tails, short; feet, small. Food, usually fishes.
360. BELTED KINGFISHER.
12. head crested; bluish above, white
beneath; male with a single band of bluish
llU.MlllNClJinD.S.
Ul
66Z 11UMM1N(;131KI)S.
on breast, fig. 266; female, with an ad-
ditional one of red-brown. Breeds through-
out N. A. from southern border of U. S.
north to Arctic Ocean ; winters from Middle
States, occasionally from Mass., south to
Panama; south in Oct., north in April.
Belled Kingfisher, 1-10.
Nests, in holes in perpendicular banks; eggs,
6, w^iite. Note, a harsh rattle. Flight,
direct, often slow and rather jerky, but
sometimes swift and darting. Poses in air
when fishing and drops into water to
secure prey.
nU3IMI>^GIJlRDS.
333
SONGLESS PERCHERS.
Small birds inhabiting temperate and
tropical regions which are not capable of
producing greatly varied songs. Young,
Fitr. 267
8cissor-tailed Flycatcher. 1-4.
naked and helpless. All of our species are fly-
catchers, taking insects chiefly on the wing.
361. FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER.
Long, 12; tail, very long and forked;
ashy above, white beneath; top and sides
KlNdBlRDS.
of head, l)lack; crown patch, yellow. S. A.
north to Mex.; accidental in U.S. east to N.J.
3G2. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER.
Differs from last in having portion of
tail, under wing coverts and hind parts
beneath, rosy, fig. 267. South-western
Kingbird. 1-4.
States, casual in Fla.; accidental in N. J.,
Md., Va., 111., N. E. and Canada.
363. KINGBIRD.
Shorter, 8.40; black above, white be-
neath and on tip of tail, fig. 268. Crow^n
patch, orange, but rarely seen. Breeds
HUMMINXGBIRDS.
335
throughout eastern N. A. Winters from
Mex. to S. A., south in Sept., north in early
May. Nests in trees and bushes, often uses
everlastino^; eggs, 4, creamy, spotted with
brown. Cries, shrill and loud, sometimes
darts about in air, especially in evening
Gray Kingbird. 1-4.
Uttering a shrill twittering; flight, direct,
with rapid, downward w^ing-beats. Fre-
quents open sections and perches much,
often low, launching out after insects.
864. GRAY KINGBIRD.
Differs from last in being larger, 9.50,
tail somewhat forked, lighter above, no
KIN(UURDS.
white on tail tip, tig. 269, 1-4. Bahamas,
West Indies, coast of Fla., Ga., and S. C.
Winters in S. A.? north in April. More
noisy than last with harsher cries.
Fi^. 270
Crested Flycatcher. 1-4,
365. ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.
Differs from last in being bright yellow
beneath, throat ashy, lighter above. Western
U. S.; accidental in Md., N. J., Mass. and Me.
366. CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
A little smaller, 9, feathers of head
elongated; back, green; throat, ashy; else-
where beneath, yellow; inner webs of wings
FLYCATCHERS.
337
and tail, cinnamon, fi^. 270. Breeds through
eastern U. S. north into southern Canada,
south in Sept., north in May. Nests in
holes of trees, and always uses the cast off
skin of snake among other material; cries,
surprised whistles, follow^ed by a series of
Fi^. 271
Phoebe
chatters, all loud. Frequents open wood-
lands and orchards. Of local distribution in
N. E.
367. PHOEBE.
Smaller, 7.; brown above, yellow^-w^hite
beneath, fig. 271; more so in w^inter; bill,
wholly black. Breeds throughout eastern
O O Q
FLY CAT( HERS.
N. A. from S. C. north to Me. and southern
Canada. Winters from N. C. to Fla. ; south
in Oct., north in April. Moves tail up and
down and switches it immediately after
aliorhting. Note, p/^ee-^ee quickly and rather
harshly given with accent on first syllable,
Fitr. 272
Wood Pewee. 1-4.
sometimes the note is prolonged and then
becomes more musical; occasionally it is
used as a flight song given in spring when
it is quickly repeated with some variation;
heard from spring to late in fall. Nests
placed in shelter of out buildings, bridges,
rocks, banks, etc., composed of moss, grass,
FLYCATCHERS.
339
etc., mixed with mud; egg's, 4-5, white,
occasionally dotted w^ith reddish.
368. SAY PHOEBE.
A little larger than last, paler above
and ash-red beneath. Western U. S., acci-
dental on Cape Cod, Mass.
Fia. 273
Olive-sided Flycatcher. 1-1.
369. WOOD PEWEE.
Smaller, 6.50; darker above
beneath, prominent w^hite wing
under mandible, yellow, fig. 272.
throughout eastern N. A. from Fla. to New-
foundland; south in Oct. to winter in
Central America; north in May. Notes,
w^hite
bands;
Breeds
340 FLYCATCHERS.
pee-ivee or pe-e-ivee oriven in a sweet, long
drawn resigned tone. Frequents open wood-
lands and groves, sometimes in villages.
Nests of grass, etc., covered with lichens,
saddled on a limb of a high tree. Eggs, 3,
creamy blotched with brown.
370. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.
Larger, 7.50; more robust, a band across
breast, olive, a patch' of white on sides of
rump (only occasionally seen), under mandi-
ble yellow, fig. 273. Notes, rather con-
tinuously given, much like those of a young
Robin, but louder and more minor. Fre-
quents open spots near woodlands, and
often perches on dead trees. Breeds in
inoutainous parts of U. S. from northern N.
E., occasionally from Mass. north into
Canada. Nests, of sticks, placed in trees;
eggs, 4, similar to last.
371. LEAST FLYCATCHER.
Smaller, 5.50, brownish-olive above;
yellow-white beneath ; two wing-bands and
FJ.YCATCIIERS.
341
eye-ring, white; under mandible, dark, fig.
274. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Penn.
and N. J. northward into Canada; winters
in Central x\merica, south in Sept.. north
in May. Alarm note a short petvit, song
notes, chehec, given with great energy and
Fifj. 274
Least Flycatcher. 1-4.
repeated constantly as the bird throws its
head up and jerks all over; also gives a low
twitter while wings are slightly raised and
fluttered. Frequents orchards and low
open growths; nests in trees of hempen-
fibers; eggs, 4, white, usually unspotted.
.-)4:Z FI.Y CATCHERS.
372. TRAIL FLYCATCHER.
A little larger than last; eye-ring pale-
yellow; under mandible, yellow. Western
N. A. from Mississippi Valley east into
Ohio. 111. and Mich.
373.
ALDER FLiXATCHER.
Darker than last. Breeds in eastern
N. A. from Me., rarely from Mass., north-
ward. Nests of sticks often placed in
alders; eggs, creamy spotted with red-brown.
Notes, ke-wicky often repeated, but rather
more slowly and harshly than in the Least
Flycatcher. Frequents low growths in
swampy land, often alders.
374. GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
Larger than Alder, green above and
lighter beneath with less olive on sides.
Eastern N. A. north to southern N. Y. and
southern Mich., rare as far north as southern
Mass.; winters in Central America, south
in Sept., north in late May. Notes, se-wink
emphatically given, sometimes followed by
FJ.YCATCUERS. 343
a series of chucklinof notes made with flut-
tering wings; frequents low growths in
wooded glens. Nests of sticks, lichens, and
moss, placed in bushes, usually a witch hazel;
egrgs, 4, creamy, spotted and blotched with
red-brown.
375. YELLOW-BELLIED FLY-
CATCHER.
Smaller than last, \"ellow-green above;
pale greenish yellow on wing-bands, eye-
ring and beneath. Breeds from northern
U. S. northward to southern Labrador; win-
ters in Mexico and Central America; south
in Sept., north in late -May. Occurs in
alder and other thickets, keeps low among
the foliage, not very active. Note a low
peea rather plaintive and long drawn, fre-
quently given; then, less often, a gravely
rendered kil-lick. Nests on ground in
shelter of upturned roots of fallen trees or
in a bunch of moss; eggs, 4-5, white, dotted
w^ith pale reddish.
While all of these four species of Flv-
34-4 FLYCATCHERS.
catchers are not difficult to recognize in
spring when they are giving their notes, in
autumn when they are silent it is extremely
hard to identify them, especially as all are
then in more obscure dress, when the char-
acteristic markings are quite alike. It is
well also to remember that all migrate al-
most as soon as the young are able to do so.
and consequentK' none of the species would
be apt to have time to wander north of
their usual habits in autumn.
376. VERMILLION FLYCATCHER.
Small, 6; head and beneath, scarlet
Vermillion; brown above. Female, dull
white beneath, tinged with orange poster-
ally. South-western U. S. One taken in
Tallahassee, Fla., March 25, 1901.
SINGING PERCHERS.
Usually small birds capable of pro-
ducing varied and more or less musical
sounds. Young hatched naked and helpless.
LARKS. 345
Larks.
Wings, long; secondaries, short; colors,
dull.
377. SKY LARK.
7.50; brown above and streaked with
lighter, white beneath reddish on breast
and sides where streaked; outer tail feather
white.
Europe, accidental in Greenland and
Bermuda. Celebrated in song and story.
378. HORNED LARK.
Size of last, 7.50; pinkish-brown above,
white below; forehead, line over eye, and
throat, black markings about head as in
fig. 275; outer portion of tail showing white.
Breeds in north-eastern N. A., Greenland,
and northern parts of Old World; south in
Oct. to winter, especially along coast from
N. E. to Middle States, less commonly to
S. C; north in April. Nests on ground; eggs
4-5, gray-white spotted with yellow-brown.
Song given when soaring in air. Spend most
of time' on ground, w^here they run about
846
LAKK^.
ver\' activeh^, squat lor concealment, rise
when alarmed and move with a Hitting
erratic flight; gregarious. Give a shrill
double note when on the wing.
378. PRAIRIE HORNED LARK.
A little smaller than last and much
paler above, nearh^ white about head, at
Fig. 275
Horned Lark.
best faintly yellow. Young, mottled black
and buit". Breeds in Mass. quite to coast,
N. H., Vt., N. Y. and west to Mississippi
Valley. Rare in Mass. in winter; south in
Oct. as far as S. C; north in April.
MAGPIES AND JAYS. 347
379. HOYT HORNED LARK.
A little paler than Horned Lark; yellow
of throat confined to middle line; over eye
white. Breeds in British America from
west shore of Hudson Bay to Arctic coast;
south in winter to Mich., Kan., Utah and
Nev.; casually to Oiiio and N. Y.
Fiij. 276
American Magpie. 1-10.
Magpies and Jays.
Large birds with bright colors; wings
short and rounded; tails long, often rounded.
Cries, harsh, seldom musical. Intelligent
and active, somewhat gregarious, not migra-
tory. Flight, heavy and direct. Nests in
MAGPIES AND JAYS.
trees of sticks; eggs, 4-5, gray or bluish,
mottled \vith darker.
380. AMERICAN MAGPIE.
Large, 20, iridescent black; scapularies,
inner webs of secondaries and abdomen,
white, fig. 276; northern and western N. A.;
casual east to Mich, and northern 111.
Vi^. 277
="^^
Blue Jay. 1-6.
381. BLUE JAY.
Smaller, 12; head crested, blue above,
white beneath, black and white markings
on wings; tail, and about head as in fig. 277.
Eastern N. A. from Fla. northward to
Canada. Abundant in woodlands and about
MAGPIES AND JAYS.
349
dwellings. With the harsh and well-known
varied cries has a low song given in spring.
382. FLORIDA BLUE JAY.
A little smaller than last, and duller
blue above. Fla. and Gulf coast to Tex.
Fig. 278
1-6.
383.
Florida Jay.
FLORIDA JAY.
Size of last, tail proportionately longer;
no crest; dull blue above; band of darker
streakings on breast, fig. 278. Scrub lands
of Fla. Gregarious; not shy. Cries and
general habits, very jay-like.
350 :^IAGP1ES AND JAYS.
384. CANADA JAY.
Size of last, tail rounded; gray, darker
on hind head; yellowish on top of head and
hind neck, hg. 279. Frequents heavily
wooded sections from northern Mich., north
Fio-. 279
Canada Jay. 1-8.
to Arctic America. Very unsuspicious.
Cries, varied but jay-like.
385. LABRADOR JAY.
Differs from last in having black of top
and sides of head more extended forward.
Coast of Labrador and Newfoundland.
TITMICE.
351
Titmice.
Small birds resembliDg Jjn^s in form.
Nests in holes of trees; eg-gs, 6-7, white
spotted with reddish. Food, chiefly small
insects and their eggs. Plumage, usually
long and tiuli'y.
Fiff. 280
Black-capped Chickadee. 1-3.
386. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE.
Small, 5.60, gray above; w^iite beneath
crown and throat, black; sides, reddish,
especially in winter, figs. 280-281. Eastern
N. A., north of Potomac and Ohio Valley.
Note, cliick-a-dee-dee-dee, given with energ3^,
a short squeaking chip w^hen disturbed and
6o2
TITMICE.
other low conversational notes, a lon^
drawn cee-clee (given at all seasons, and
often mistaken for the notes of the Phoebe),
and a low, silvery song seldom heard. Flight,
waverino: and unsteady. Nests, often placed
in hole of decaying birches.
Fig-. 281
Black-capped Chickadee.
CAROLINA CHICAKDEE.
Smaller than last with line of demark-
ation between black and white of breast
more sharply defined, fig. 282. Southern
States from N. Y. southward. Sings silvery
sonff more often than last.
CHICKADEES. 353
388. FLORIDA CHICKADEE.
Smaller and darker than last. Lake
Aslib.y region Fla.
389. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE.
Differs from Chickadee in having black
on throat only and in being more rufous
Fisf. 282
Carolina Chickadee.
on sides and above, fig. 283. Northern N.
A. from shore of Hudson Bay northward.
390. ACADIAN CHICKADEE.
Similar to last, but smaller and browner
above. South-eastern British Provinces
and extreme north-eastern U. S., Me. moun-
tains of N. H., Vt., and N. Y., wandering
south in winter to southern N. E.
54
CHICKADEES.
391. TOWNSEND CHICKADEE.
Similar to last, but much darker above
and with no rufous on sides below, dis-
covered in the summer of 1915 by Dr. Chas.
W. Townsend in the wooded section of
Labrador. Described in the Auk for Jan.
1916.
Fijf. 283
Acadian Chickadee.
392. TUFTED TITMOUSE.
Larger, 6.00; gray above, white be-
neath; forehead, black; sides, reddish, fig.
284. Eastern U. S. from southern N. J.
southward, casual as far north as southern
N. E. Notes, similar to those of Chickadee,
but harsher and louder; song, similar.
CROWS.
355
CROWS.
Large birds; wings, long, folding nearly
to tip of tail. All of our species are black.
Cries, harsh. Nest, placed in trees or on
cliffs; e^^gs. 3-6, grayish spotted with darker.
Flight, strong and direct.
Fi^. 284
^
:^^
Tufted Titmouse. 1-3.
393. AMERICAN CROW.
Medium, 20. N. A., excepting Fla.,
fig. 285. Notes, caiv, repeated several times,
more rapidly when alarmed; a series of
croaks given quickly, and various guttural
sounds; some individuals, at least, have quite
a musical but low song; gregarious in winter.
356 RAvr.xs.
394. FISH CROW.
Smaller, 16. Atlantic and Gulf coasts
from Conn, to La.; casual as far north as
Mass. Notes, ha-ha and some guttural cries.
Flight, rather more rapid than last with
quicker wing-beats. Highly gregarious.
Figr. 285
Crow. 1-10.
This species in common with last gathers in
large numbers at night to roost in some
chosen swamp or woodland.
395. NORTHERN RAVEN.
Large, 24. Northern N. A., south to S.
C. in unsettled and mountainous districts.
Note, a harsh croak. Flight, heavy; sails
much. Nests, often on cliffs.
ORIOLES.
396. STARLING.
Medium, 8; wings, long; tail, short,
black, streaked and spotted with buff, fig.
286. Europe, now introduced into eastern
and middle States, where it is common.
Notes, various, whistles, chucklings and
Fig. 286
Starling-. 1-4.
guttural sounds. Flight, not unlike that of
Meadow Lark. Feeds much on ground.
Nests, chiefly in holes.
ORIOLES.
Variable in size and color; bill iDointed.
Eggs, usually bluish, lined with black.
358
MEADOW LARKS.
397. MEADOW LAKK.
Medium, 10.50; wings, long; tail, short,
brown above, streaked with black; yellow
beneath, black crescent on breast; outer tail
feathers, white, fig. 287. "Eastern U. S. from
Canada to Fla. ; winters, from Mass. south-
Fig. 287
Meadow Lark. 1-5.
ward; south in Oct.. north in March. Call
song, you can't see me\ rather high and pro-
longed; a sharp chatter when alarmed; a
song, clearely heard, often, possibly always,
given on the wing, consisting of a sweet,
continuous warble. Flight direct, wing-
beats rapid with wings held low, sometimes
BLACKBIKDS. 359
sails. Frequents open fields. Nests on
grounds; eggs white, brown spotted.
398. FLORIDA MEADOW LARK.
Smaller than last, darker above and
more j^ellow below. Fla. and Gulf coast to
La. Call song, shorter and not as loud
as in last, see me here, rather plaintively
given. Occurs in open savannas and pine
woods.
399. WESTERN MEADOW LARK.
Differs from Meadow Lark in being
much paler. Western U. S. east to 111. Sings
true song while setting and when flying.
400. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.
Smaller, 9; black with red patch on
wing, bordered below with buff. Female,
smaller, streaked with brown and buff.
Young male, like female, gradually assuming
male dress, fig. 288. N. A. from Great
Slave Lake to Fla.; winters from N. C. south-
ward; south in Oct., north in March. Fre-
quents open marshy sections; gregarious.
;60
BLACKlilRDS.
Nests, placed in bushes or on tursocks.
Notes, a sharp chuck, a squealinp^ cry, a
chatter, criven by both sexes, and the oker-
ree song of male. Males and females do
not associate, excepting to breed. Flight
not direct, but erratic.
Fi^-. 288
Red-winoed Blackbird.
401. FLORIDA RED-WING.
Differs from last in being smaller, buff
margin on wing deeper; female, with rather
more pinkish on throat. Fla. and Gulf
coast to Tex. Song, shorter, like cre-e-e.
402. BAHAMA RED-WING.
Bill, longer than last; female, much
paler. Many of the Bahama Islands; casual
BLACKBIRDS.
361
in southern Fla. on the Keys (Ridgway).
The song is considerably more shrill
than that of our Red-wing and the alarm
note is sharper or more squeeky. Fre-
quents mangroves and sometimes scrub
lands.
Fis^. 289
Baltimore Oriole. 1-3.
403. NORTHERN REDWING.
Considerably larger than Fla. Redwing
but like it in coloration, excepting female,
w^iich is much paler. Breeds in interior of
British America, south in winter to Minn.,
la., western 111., northern Ey.
?j()2 ORIOLES.
404. TROPICAL.
9.50; black patch on wing, broad collar
on hind neck, upper back, and beneath
behind chest, orange; patch and stripings
on wing, white. Northern S. A. introduced
into Jamaica and other West Indies; acci-
dental at Charleston, S. C. (Audubon).
Songs, a series of loud clear whistles.
Fig. 290
Orchard Oriole. 1-3.
405. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
Smaller, 7.70; orange; head, upper
breast, back, wings, and band on tail, black,
bar and streakings on wings, white, fig.
289. Female and young duller without
Ijlack on tail. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
ORIOLES. 363
Va. to Canada; winters in Mex. and Central
America; south in Sept.; north in May.
Son.s: loud, clear distinct whistles, but very
variable, given full only in May and June;
heard somewhat shortened in late Aug. and
early Sept. ; has a scolding chatter when
Fig. 291
Yellow-headed Blackbird. 1-6.
anno3'ed; young utter a monotonous piping
when first out of nest in July. Nests in
trees, woven and pendulous.
406. BULLOCK ORIOLE.
Differs from last in having orange of
throat extending on cheeks, often over eye,
oG4 ORIOLES.
large patch of white on wings; tip of tail,
black. Female differs in having broad
wing patch like male. Western U. S., ac-
cidental in Me.
407. OKCHARD ORIOLE.
Smaller, 6.70; differs from Baltimore
chiefly in having oranore replaced by chest-
Fi^. 292
Rusty Blackbird. 1-0.
nut and tail wholly black, fig. 290. Female
green with whiter markings in a male. Young
male like female, gradually assuming full
male dress. Eastern U. S. from Fla. north
to Mass. where it is rare. Winters in Mex.
BLACKBIRDS. 365
and Central America; south in Sept.; north
in May. Nests made of grass woven when
green, then bleached. Song softer and rather
more musical than in Baltimore.
408. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.
Larger, 10.50; black; head, yellow;
white patch on wing. Female, duller, no
Fio-. 29.-;
Brewer Blackbird.
white on wing. Young male like female,
but has white on wing, fig. 291. Western
U. S. east to 111.; casual in Mass., Pa., Md.,
W. Ya., District of Columbia, S. C. and
Fla. Song a wheezy squeak. Largely res-
ident.
366 BLACKBIRDS.
409. RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
Smaller, 9.50; wings and tail, long,
latter a little rounded; black throughout;
iris, white, fig. 292. Female, gray; both
tinged with rusty in autumn. Eastern N.
A. from northern N. E. northward; winters,
on Gulf coast; south in Sept; north in
March; gregarious, often associating with
Red-wings. Nests, in bushes.
410. BREWER BLACKBIRD.
Differs from last in having a thicker
bill, fig. 293; head more irridescent, grayish
in autumn. Female not as gray in summer.
411. BRONZED GRACKLE.
Larger, 12.50; tail, long and graduated;
black; head glossed with green-blue, and
sharply defined against bronze of back, fig.
294. Female, darker. Young, at first brown.
Temperate N. A. east of Rockies, excepting
regions occupied by next two. Winters in
southern States, south in Nov.; north in
March. Notes harsh and grating, not un-
GRACKLES.
36'
like the creaking of a rusty hinge; alarm a
rather, soft chat. Gregarious at all times.
Nests in communities on trees or bushes.
412. PURPLE GRACKLE.
Differs from last in having glossing of
head more greenish and back less bronzy.
Fie?. 1:94
Bronzed Grakle. 1-5.
and mixed with colors of head. Atlantic
coast region east of Alleghanies from north-
ern shore of L. I., Sound and lower Hudson
Valley to Ga. Winter range and migration
as in last. Flight steady and direct.
168
GRACKLES.
413. FLORIDA GRACKLE.
Differs from last in being smaller, in
having head glossing violet-blue which
tinting extends to wings and back. Fla. and
Gulf coast to La.
Fig. 295
Boat-tailed Grackle. l-d.
414. BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE.
Large, 16, tail more strongly graduated,
black, glossed with blue-green, fig. 295. Fe-
male smaller and red-brown, darker above.
Young male, like female. South Atlantic
COWBIRD. 369
and Gulf coast of U. S. from Va. to Tex.
Song, a series of sharp, loud notes, given
rapidly as a kind of chatter, this is some-
times preceded by a sins'le, more mellow
note; also makes a shuffling: sound which
may be produced by wings, and a sharp
Fig. 296
Cowbird. 15.
croak when annoyed. When singing bows
head, spreads wings and ruffles feathers.
Occurs in open marshy places. Flight slow
and very direct.
415. COWBIRD.
Smaller, 7.80; wings and tail, medium;
black; head and neck, chocolate-brown, fig.
370
COWIUKD,
296. Femtile, gray-brown. Nestlings, both
sexes similar to adult female, but moult at
once into adult dress. Breeds from Ga. north-
ward throughout temperate N. A.; winters
in Mex. and southward; south in Oct., north
Fio-. 297
Bobolink c{' and 9 . 1-4.
in April. Flight swift and winding, espe-
cially when in pursuit of female. Gregarious
in autumn, often alighting about cattle to
feed upon locusts. Song, sweet sn-sie, very
sweetly given in a liquid tone, also a wheezy
douljle croak iriven while the bird ruffles its
BOBOLINK. 371
feathers and bows its head, also a prolonged
whistling cry, usually emitted when flying,
and a blackbird-like chirp. Deposits eggs in
nests of other birds.
416. BOBOLINK.
7.50; wings, long; tail, medium, with
feathers pointed. Spring male, black, buff
Black-throated Buntinn:. 1-4
patch on back of head, and white markings
above, fig. 297. Female, yellow-buff, streaked
with black above and on sides (behind male).
Male in autumn like female. Breeds from
Middle States northward into British Pro-
:;72 SPAKKOWS AND FINCHES.
vinces, west to Utah; winters in northern
8. A., south in Sept., north in May. Fre-
quents meadows and moist, grass^^ fields.
Nests, on grounds. Food, seeds and insects.
A well-known rollicking song, a blackbird-
like chirp and a metalic clink w4ien migra-
ting. Flight, slow with dow^n drooping
wings and quick wing-beats. Gregarious
wdien migrating, assembling in large flocks.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
Generally robust birds, with short,
tliick bills.. A wide -spread family with
numerous species.
417. BLACK-THROATED BUNTING.
Medium, 6.15; streaked above, un-
streaked beneath; ash-yellow on back, white
below, yellow on breast, black spot on
•throat, fig. 298. Female, duller. Breeds
in U. S. between Alleghanies and Rockies,
now rare in eastern section. Winters in Mex.
and Central America. Nests in trees and
bushes; eggs, 3-5. Song, a lisping twitter.
SPARROWS AND FIXCHES.
O/O
418. CHIPPING SPARROW.
Small, 5. 50; tail slightly forked. streaked
above, not below; crown red-brown in strong
contrast to gray of neck above; gray beneath,
bhick line through eye; bill, black, fig. 299.
Young, streaked below and on crown,
Fior. 299
Chippincr Sparrow.
Breeds throughout eastern \. A. from
Canada south to Gulf coast; winters in
southern U. S.; south in Oct., north in April.
Frequents open sections often near settle-
ments, sometimes near houses. Song, a thin,
O i
SPxVRKOWS AND FINCHES.
quickly given trill of double wirey notes; a
low, rather sharp chirp of annoyance. Nest
of fine rootlets lined with horse hair; eggs,
3-4, blue black-spotted.
Fig. 300
Tree Sparrow. 1-4.
419. TREE SPARROW.
Larger than last, 6.50; crown color not
in strong contrast with black; sides of head
plain gray, under mandible yellow; dark
spot on breast; chestnut patch on side;
white wing bands distinct, fig. 300. Breeds
SPAKROWS AND FINCHES.
<0
in eastern N. A. from Labrador northward;
winters from N. E. to S. C. ; south in late
Oct., north in late April. Frequents mar-
gins of woodlands and thickets, venturins:
into weed patches in winter. Song, a clear
Fi^-. 8U1
Field Sparrov/. 1-8.
chant, beginning with two or three loud
notes, falls to other lower notes and ends
with a low, sweet warble; in autumn and
winter gives a low murmuring warbling
song. Nests in trees, eggs pale blue spotted
with reddish.
:j/() SPARROAVfe AND FINCBES.
42U. FIELD SPARROW.
Smaller, 5.90; tail longer than in chip-
pie, crown uniform in color with back, sides
and beneath yellow-gray, bill red. fig. 301.
Breeds in eastern N. A., north to southern
British Provinces; winters in southern U. S.,
south in Oct., north in April. Frequents
brushy on cedar -covered hill sides; song
begins with two or three single notes, than
continues with a constantly decreasing trill,
which ascends, is a monotone, or descends;
very sweetly given and appeals to all who
love bird music. Nests usually in low
bushes, sometimes on ground, of grass, etc.;
eggs, pale blue, reddish spotted.
421. WESTERN FIELD SPARROW.
Differs from last in having wings and
tail longer, grayer above, crown with median
line; paler below. Western portions of Great
Plains; south in winter to Tex., casually to
eastern La.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
377
422. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.
5.65; crown, streaked; ear coverts,
brown in contrast with buft' of sides of head;
buff-brown above, streaked with black; dull
Fie:. :^02
White-throated Sparrow. 1-3.
white beneath; bill, pale brown. Breeds
on Great Plains from north-western 111.
west to Rockies; south in winter to Mex.;
rare during migration in western Md. and
Mich.
378 SPARROWS AND FIXCHES.
423. BREWER SPARROW.
Differs from last in absence of brown
on side of head. Western U. S. in winter
south to Mex.; accidental in Mass.
Fif?. 303
White-crowned Sparrow. 1-3.
424. WHITE THROATED SPARROW.
Larger, 6.35; streaked above, not be-
low, crown, black and white; distinct white
wing -bands, red-brown above; white of
throat in strong contrast with gray of
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 379
breast; yellow line over eye, white beliind,
fig. 302. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
mountains of Mass. north to Hudson Bay;
winters from Mass. (not commonly) south
to Fla.; south in Oct., north in April. Fre-
quents margins of woods and thickets near
or on ground. Song, a series of prolonged,
sweet whistles: pea-body, pea-body , pea-body,
etc. Nests on ground; eggs, 4-5, pale blue,
spotted.
425. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
Large, 7; grayer above; no yellow about
head, white of throat grading into gray of
breast without strong contrast, head with
three distinct w^hite stripes, bill deep red,
^g;. 303. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
northern N. E. northward through Labrador
to southern Greenland; winters in Mex.,
south in Oct., north in May. Frequents
open sections near thickets. Song, much
shorter than in last and more quickly
sriven.
380 SPARROWS AND FIXCHES.
426. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.
Differs from last in being gra3^er, espe-
cially on throat; median line on crown,
yellow and wider. Breeds in northern
Fig. 804
Song- Sparrow. 1-3.
Pacific Coast region, south in winter to
Lower Cal., casual in Wis.
427. HARRIS SPARROW.
Larger than last; top of head and
throat, black, and lower parts white. In-
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 381
terior plains of N. A., in winter south to
Tex; in migration east to Wis. and. III.
428. SONG SPARROW.
Smaller, 6.46; wings, short; tail, long
rounded, body streaked above and below;
reddish above, white below where streaks
accumulate to form spots on sides of jaw
and center or breast, fig. 304. Breeds in
Eastern N. A. from Va. north to Fur Coun-
tries; winters from Mass. to Fla. ; south in
Nov., north in March. Frequents open sec-
tions especially near water. Flight weak
and erratic, seeks shelter in bushes. Song,
variable, but typically begins with three
notes, runs into a warble, ends with two
notes, a summer variation is be-e-e-e turetched,
the first portion being given slowly, the
loretched rapidly with accent on the ed;
alarm chirp soft.
429. LINCOLN SPARROW.
Smaller, 5.00, paler red above streak-
ings finer, buff band across breast, fig. 305.
!82 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
Fift. 305
Lincoln Sparrow.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 383
Breeds throughout N. A. chiefly north of U.
S.; winters in Panama, south in Oct., north
in May. Not very common in N. E. Song,
low, prolonged, varied, and pleasing. Fre-
quents thickets, often near water.
Ficr. 306
Swamp iparrow. 1-3.
430. SWAMP SPARROW.
Size of last, top of head wholly red-
brown, colors above, especially on wings,
much richer; beneath gray across breast
with faint streaking, fig. 306; winter and
and young, top of head streaked and mark-
ings below more distinct. Breeds in eastern
384 SPARKOAVS AND FINCHES.
N. A. from Mass. north to Labrador and
Newfoundland; winters from Middle States
(occasionally from Mass.) to Fla.; south in
Oct., north in April. Frequents swampy
thickets which border large marshes. Song,
an explosive, loud trill; in autumn a low
murmuring warble. Nests on trassocks in
open marshes.
431. FOX SPARROW.
Larger, 7.25, longer wrings, tail a little
rounded; yellows-red above, white beneath,
heavily streaked on both surfaces with dark
red-brown, spottings often as in Song Spar-
row, fig. 307. Breed from islands in Gulf
of St. Law^rence, northward to Arctic (rarelj^
in northern Me); w^inters from Mass. to Fla.,
south in Oct., north in April. Frequents
thickets, feeding on ground, scratches much
among leaves, etc. Songs begins loud and
clear w^ith three double notes, ending with
two, the last ascendent, icil-lie,unl-lie, wil-lie
toork you, one of the finest of our sparrow
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
385
songs. Nests, on ground; eggs, pale blue
heavily spotted with red-brown.
432. RED-EYED TOWHEE.
Larger, 8, tail, long, wings short; above,
lower neck and upper breast, black; sides,
red-brown; tips of outer tail feathers, middle
Vis. 307
Fox Sparrow
parts beneath, and few makings on wing,
white; iris, red, fig. 308. Breeds from
southern British Provinces south to Gulf
coast, winters from Middle States to Fla.;
south in Oct., north in May. Frequents low
growths; feeds on ground, scratching among
386 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
fallen leaves. Song, uttered when bird is
perching high, like drink your te-e-e-e, first
note accented, last prolonged, a loudly and
sharplj^ o:iven tow-hee when annoyed (some-
times interpreted as che-wink). Nests on
ground, eggs pale blue, thickly dotted with
red brown.
Fiij. 308
Red-eyed Towbee. 1-4.
433. WHITE-EYED TOWHEE.
A little smaller than last, less white on
tail and wings, paler, especially on sides;
song, shorter and more quickly given,
alarm jo-ret. Florida.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 387
434. ARCTIC TOWHEE.
Differs from last in being grayer above,
paler on sides, more white on wings, and
tail, streaks of white on sides of back. Great
Plains to Rockies, casual in Wis.
435. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE.
Wings and tail, olive green; crown,
rufous; sides of head, ashy; throat, line on
side of head, and maler streak, white; body,
brown above, gray beneath. Rocky moun-
tain distinct; accidental in Va.
436. JUNCO.
Smaller, 6.25; slate-gray, middle por-
tions below and outer tail feathers, white;
bill, pink, fig. 309. Young, streaked. Fe-
male, duller. Breeds from mountains of
Penn., Mass. and N. Y. northward to Arctic
coast; winters from Mass. to northern Fla.,
south in Oct., north in April. Nests on
ground; eggs, pale blue, finely spotted with
red-brown. Frequents thickets and margins
of woodlands. Song, a musical, tinkling
trill; in winter and early spring, a low, more
musical warble; note of annoyance, a sharp
chirp, given double when much disturbed.
Flight, rapid and darting, but somewhat
erratic.
Fig. 809
JUECO. 1-4.
437. CAROLINA JUNCO.
Differs from last in being larger, lighter
above; young, more narrowly streaked.
Breeds on higher portions of southern Alle-
ghanies from Va. south to northern Ga.; in
winter descends to surroundinor low lands.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 389
438. MONTANA JUNCO.
Differs from Jiinco in being a little
smaller, brownish patch on back, sides and
flanks, purplish cinnamon; grayer above.
Breeds in Montana, etc.; winters from Ariz,
to Tex., straggling eastward to Kan., 111.,
Mass. and Md.
439. GEAY-HEADED JUNCO.
Differs from Jiinco in being uniform
gray above; patch of cinnamon on back.
Breeds in mountains of southern Wyo.
Utah, Nev. and northern N. M. ; winters in
surrounding low lands and south to north-
ern Mex,; accidental in Mich.
440. PINE WOOD SPARROW.
5.70; tail graduated; gray above, thickly
streaked with chestnut; white below, buff
on throat, breast and sides, unstreaked, fig.
310. Partly resident, but some migrate a
little south. Southern Ga. and Fla. Fre-
quents flat, grassy pine woods. Flight,
low, fluttering and erratic, keeps much in
390
SPARROWS AND FINX^HES.
grass through which it runs nimbly and is
quite difficult to start. Song, given when
perching on lower limb of tree or on a
stump, a prolonged, rather sweet trill,
ending in the series of chirps or a harsh trill.
Fis. 310
Pine-woods Sparrow. 1-4.
441. BACHMAN SPARROW.
A little larger than last, more buffy
above, streakings more rufous; clearer buff
beneath. Breeds from S. C. northern Ga.
and Gulf coast north to southern Va.,
southern Ind., and southern 111.; south in
winter to Fhi.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 391
Fig-. 811
Grasshopper Sparrow. 1-1.
392 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
442. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.
Smaller; wings, very short; tail, graduated;
feathers, pointed. General tint, buff; crown
with light central stripe; above streaked
with rufous and black; line over eye to bill,
yellow; uustreaked beneath; young and
winter adults, obscurely streaked on breast,
with rufous, fig. 311. Breeds in eastern
U. S. from Middle States north to Mass. and
southern Out.; winters in Fla.; south in
Sept., north in May. Nests placed on
ground; eggs white, spotted with rufous.
Frequents sandy fields, if grassy, thus local
in distribution. Flight, fluttering and direct,
runs nimbly through grass and is difficult
to start. Song, given as bird perches on a
slight elevation, a feeble, stridulating trill,
inaudiable a few yards away.
444. FLORIDA GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW.
Smaller than last, lighter in bulfy
tints, but darker above. Southern Fla.
SPAKEOWS AND FINCHES.
393
444. HENSLOW SPAKROW.
Size of last, but more slender; back and
wings more rufous; head and neck above
more greenish, distinct dusky streaks across
breast and on sides; no yellow over eye,
figs. 312 and 313. Breeds in eastern U. S.
Fig. :^12
Henslow Sparrow.
from Middle States northward to Mass.;
winters from southern range to middle Fla.;
south in Sept., north in May, local in N. E.
Frequents fresh marshy land in summer,
grassy savannahs in winter. Flight much
like two last. Song, a feeble se-e-e wink, the
;94
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
Fig. 313. — Heuslow Sparrow
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
395
first notes prolonged the last quickly giving
and accented.
445. LECONTE SPARROW.
Size of last, but more slender, head and
hind neck buff, latter streaked with chest-
nut; more buff beneath, fig. 314. Breeds in
Fig. 314
1/1
Leconte Sparrow.
prairie marshes of upper Mississippi Valley
north into Canada; winters in southern
States from S. C. to western Fla. Habits,
similar to last.
446. SEASIDE SPARROW.
Larger, 5.50; gray above, slightly
streaked with darker; line over eye, yellow;
;96
SrAKROWS AND FINCHES.
white beneath, buft' on breast, streaked here
and on sides with gray; sides of head, gray,
a black maxilLary line, fig. 315. Salt marshes
of Atlantic Coast of U. S., breeding from
southern N. E. to Ga. ; winters from N. C.
scnith to Fh\. Frequents tall grass of salt
Fio-. 315
Seaside Sparrow. 1-3.
marshes which are submerged by the tide.
Nests, on dry marshes, sometimes on ground,
but often fastened to grass sterns or placed
in low bushes. Song, a low twitter, given
as l)ird hovers low over the grass. Flight,
low, direct with rapid wing-beats.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 397
447. MACGILLIV ARY SEASIDE
SPARROW.
Differs from last in being darker, back
more distinctly streaked with black and
streakings beneath broader. From Charles-
ton, S. E. to eastern Fia.; breeding on Anas-
tasia Island; in winter along Gulf coast to La.
448. SCOTT SEASIDE SPARROW.
Differs from last in having no prom-
inent streakings above, grayer above, more
streakings below often on throat. Breeds
in western Fla. from Tarpon Springs to
Cedar Keys. Song, four notes, the first two
low and quickly uttered with a distinct
articulation, the last two more connected,
more prolonged with a decided accent, thus
the song somewhat resembles that of a Red-
wmged Blackbird, and the bird spreads his
wings, bows his head, and ruffles his feathers
much as does the Red-wing; song given as
bird sits low in grass.
398 SPARROWS AND FIXCDES.
449. FISHER SEASIDE SPARROW.
Diliers from last in being much darker,
more black above; breast and sides deep
bulfy. Breeds on coast of La.; in winter
along west coast of Fla. to Tarpon Springs.
Fiir. 316
Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 1-3.
450. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW.
Differs from last in being black above,
white beneath broadly streaked with black,
Merritt's Island, shore of Bannana and In-
dian Rivers north to Old Haulover Canal
and about upper St. Johnis River, Fla. Fre-
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 399
quents dry marshes. Song and manner of
singing like Seaside Sparrow.
451. SHAKP-TAILED SPARROW.
Size of last, sides of head deep buff, en-
closing a gray spot; paler buif elsewhere,
streaked above on sides and across breast
with black; top of head, dark-brown with a
median line of buff, fig. 316. Breeds on
Atlantic coast of U. S. from Mass. to north-
ern Fla.; casually as far north as Mass.,
south in Oct., north in Ma\^ Frequents
rather dry salt marshes. Song, a feeble
twitter, given as bird hovers over grass.
452. NELSON SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW.
Smaller than last, brighter in color,
streaking narrower, but more sharply de-
fined. Breeds on prairie marshes of Missis-
sippi Valley from northern 111. north to.
Manitoba; winters along Gulf coast from S.
C. to Tex., regular during migration in
Oct. on coast of Mass.
400
SPAKROWS AND FINCHES.
453. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW.
Differs from last in being larger, paler
and in having indistinct streakings, espe-
cialU' below. Breeds on Atlantic coast of
British Provinces from north of St. Lawrence
southw^ard, occasionally to coast of Me.
FiM. 817
454. SAVANNAH SPARROW.
Wings, long; tail, short and square,
5.75; gray above, white beneath, streaked
everywhere with sharply defined black lines;
line from bill over e^-e, yellow, crown with
central line, figr. 317. Eastern N. A., breed-
ing from Middle States north to Hudson
Bay, more commonly in N. E. (excepting in
Connecticut Valley) on coast. Winters, from
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 401
Carolinas to Fla. ; casually north to Mass.,
south in Oct., north in April. Flight, swift
and dartin<?, never takes refuge in a thicket,
runs nimbly through grass where it hides.
Song, a series of feeble grasshopper-like
notes, followed by a low warble given as the
bird perches at a not high elevation.
Fig. 318
Vesper Sparrow.
455. IPSWICH SPARROW.
Larger than last, 6.25, and much paler,
about sand-color, streakings not well defined.
Breeds on Sable Island off Nova Scotia;
winters south to N. J., casually to Ga.;
south in Oct.. north in April. Frequents
sand dunes on coast.
402 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
456. VESPER SPARROW.
Size of last, gray above, white below,
streaked on back, crown (where there is no
dividing line) upper breast and front part
of sides with black, sides of head with two
dark lines; outer tail feathers, white, fig.
318. Breeds in eastern U. S. from Middle
Fig. :^19
Lark Sparrow. 1-4.
States north to southern Canada; winters
from N. C, rarely from Mass. to Fla.; south
in Oct., north in April. Frequents open
fields and pastures where there is scanty
herbage; nests in such places on ground, eggs,
4-5, gray blotched and lined with darker.
Runs much on ground; unsuspicious. Song,
given at an elevation, two short notes fol-
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
403
lowed by a pleasing warble, ending with
three detached notes.
457. LAKK SPARROW.
Medium, 6.50; tail, rounded and white
tipped, brown above, heavih^ streaked with
black; white beneath, with a black spot on
breast; crown, chestnut, central line of
Fio-. 820
Lark Buntins:. 1-8.
white; checks, chestnut, black markings as
in fig. 319. Breeds in northern Mississippi
Valley, south in winter to Gulf coast, east-
ward rarely to Atlantic States north to
Mass. Frequents open fields and cultivated
lands, often in vicinity of houses. Song,
rich and clear, consisting of a series of liquid
notes freely intersperced with trills.
404 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
458. LARK BUNTING.
Smaller, 6.00, black; large white patch
on wing and tip of tail, white, fig. 320. Fe-
male, winter male and young, brown above;
white beneath, streaked with black; wings
and tail as in adult male in spring. Great
Plains from Kansas north to Manatoba;
Fiii. 321
Snow Buutino-.
winters, south to Mex., accidental in migra-
tion in N. Y., Mass. and S. C.
459. SNOW BUNTING.
Larger, 6.65; wings, very long and
pointed; white; back, middle wing and tail,
l)lack; in winter, and young tinged with
rufous, especially on head; bill, orange, fig.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 405
321. Breeds in Arctic and Sub-Arctic from
northern Labrador northward; migrating
south regularly to N. E. and more rarely to
Ga.; south in Oct., north in April. Greg-
arious in winter, frequenting sand and dunes
of coast and open fields in interior. Flight,
strong, swift, but erratic, a flock resembling
Fig:. 322
Lapland Longspur. 1-4.
dried leaves drifting before a high wind;
restless, often flying from place to place.
Song, a sweet warble, given when hovering,
not often heard off breeding grounds. In
winter, a sweet single or double note, less
often a quite melodious trill and a kind of
chirring sound, all given on wing.
40G SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
Smaller, 6; brown above, streaked with
li.i>:hter; a distinct chestnut collar, pale buff
beneath; throat and spots on side, black;
outer tail feathers with terminal spot of
white, tig. 322. Female and young have
markings duller and less well defined. Breeds
in Arctic and Sub-Arctic districts of Europe,
Greenland and northeastern N. A. Winters
from N. E. south to S. C; common in N. E.
from middle Oct. to Dec; less common in
winter; rare in spring. Song, on breeding
ground, a rollicking joyous melody, given
when hovering; in autumn and winter a
single or double note a little sharper than
that of Snow Bunting. Associates with
Horned Larks and Snow Buntings or gathers
in small flocks by itself in similar places.
461. SMITH LONGSPUR.
Differs from last in having outer tail
feathers white, entire lower parts deep buff,
crown and sides of head, black; stripes on
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 407
head and middle bar, white. Breeds on in-
terior plains of N. A. from Great Slave Lake
north to Arctic coast; south in w^inter to
Texas, east regularly to 111. and northwestern
Ind., casually to S. C.
Fig. 323
Purple Finch. 1-4.
452. CHESTNUT-COLLARED
LONGSPUR.
Differs from Lapland Longspur in
having top of head, spot on ear covert, and
beneath, black; throat, broad-stripe over
eye, and wing-band, white. Breeds on
408 SPARROWS AND FINCHES*
Great Plains of N. A. from Kansas north to
Saskatchewan ; south in winter to Mex. and
casually east to coast of ]S. E. and Long
Island. Sonf^, short, shrill, and sweet,
usually given in ilight.
463. MCCOWN LONGSPUR.
Size of last, tail shorter, flight undula-
ting, white beneath; front of crown, crescent
on breast, black; gray above, broadly
streaked with black; outer portion of tail,
white, broadly tipped with black. Female,
without black on head or breast; buffy
beneath. Breeding range and southward
migration much as in Smith Longspur;
casual east to 111.
464. PURPLE FINCH.
Small, 6; wings, long; tail, forked; bill,
short and thick, brown; crimson-lake obscu-
rely streaked with darker on breast, fig. 323.
Female and young, brown above, white
below, heavily streaked with dusky; a
l)roininent white line over eye; adult male
SPARKOWS AND FINCHES.
409
dress not assumed the first year. Eastern
N. A.; breeds from Penn. north to Hudson
Bay; winters from Mass. to Fla. Frequents
open country. Nests, in cedar trees; eggs,
blue, spotted with black. Song also given
Fig. 324
Canadian Pine Grosbeak. 1-5.
by young male and, at least occasionally,
by female, a continuous warble; sometimes
given more rapidly and musically as bird
ascend in air and descend; a low whispered
melody given in concealment; alarm, a sharp
chirp. Flight, direct, undulating with a
410 SPARROWiS AND FINCHES.
characteristic quiver of wings. In perching
sits upright.
4GG. CANADIAN PINE GROSBEAK.
Larger, 8; wings, long; tail, forked;
rosy-red; back, o])SCurely spotted with dusky;
two white wing-bands, fig. 324. Female,
gray; top of head and rump, bronzy-yellow.
Young male similar to female, but more or
less red, depending on age. Breeds in north-
eastern N. A. from New^ Brunswick north
to limit of conferous forests, wandering
south when cone seed and ash seed crops
fail to N. J., northern Ohio, Ind. and 111.;
casually further south. Occurs wMth us
wherever it can find food, w^hich consists of
cone seeds, cedar berries, mountain and
common ash seeds. Very unsuspicious.
Song, alow, continuous warble, and a loud,
clenr double call note. Flight, swift and
undulating. Gregarious in winter.
406. REDPOLL.
Small, 5; wings, long and pointed; tail,
long and forked, brown above; crown crim-
SPAEROWS AND FINCHES.
411
son, rosy beneath; black spot on throat.
Females and young without the rosy on
breast, fig. 325. Northern part of northern
Hemisphere, breeding from Gulf of St. Law-
rence northward; south irregularly when
Fis:. 325
Redpoll.
food fails in north to northern U. S., rarely
to Va. and northern Ala.; south in Nov.,
north in April. Song, a sweet, melodious
warble; a call which is similar to that of
the Goldfinch, but not so clear, and a kind
of chatter when flying. Flight, undulatory
411! SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
4(i7. HOLBOELL REDPOLL.
Diiterj^ from hiist only in beinp: larger.
Extreme northern portions of Europe, Asia
and >;. A., wandering south in winter, rarelj*
as far as Mass., northern Ind. and Mich.
468. GREATER REDPOLL.
Size of L^st; streakings broader; rosy
less extended. Resident in Greenland wan-
dering south in winter, irregularly and at
wide intervals as far as Mass. (where some-
times common), N. Y., Mich., northern Lid.,
and northern 111.
469. GREENLAND REDPOLL.
Size of last, very pale; rump, w^hite,
unstreaked. Resident in Greenland, Ice-
land, and Spitzbergen, wandering in w^inter
irregularly to Hudson Bay and casually to
Ontario.
470. HOARY REDPOLL.
Differs from last in being smaller, bill
very short. Circumpolar-continental dis-
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 413
tricts; irregularly south in winter to north-
ern U. S., Mass. (rare), Mich, and 111. All
Eedpolls frequent open country and are
gregarious.
Fig. 826
Pine Siskin. 1-4.
471. BREWSTER LINNET.
Like an immature female Redpoll, but
has no red on crown; primaries and tail
feathers edged with pale yellow; rump,
tinged with yellow. Known only from the
type specimen taken at Waltham, Mass.,
Nov. 1, 1870.
414 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
472. PINE SISKIN.
5.25, bill longer, white streaked with
black; small patch on wing and base of tail,
yellow, fig. 326. Breeds in the mountains
of N. C, Penn. and N. E., and north through
coniferous forests into Canada; south in
winter, irregularly into U. S., sometimes as
far as the Gulf of Mexico. Notes, harsher
than those of Goldfinch, but similar. Fre-
quents open sections and birch woods.
473. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
Larger, 5.60; lemon yellow; top of head,
wings and tail, black; two white wing-bands,
fig. 327. Female and winter male, green-
brown above, white below, wing feathers
tipped with white. Breeds in U. S. east of
Rockies, north into southern Canada; south-
ward along mountains to Ga.; winters from
Mass. to Fla. Frequents open country; gre-
garious in winter. Song, a continuous
warble, very sweet, sometimes given as the
bird flies in circles, call a plaintive, per
SPAKROWS AND FINCHES. 41.5
Ficr. 827
American Goldlinch. 1-4.
416 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
chick-er-ry, given when rising in its un-
dulatino; flight. Nests often in willows or
ornamental trees; eggs, pale blue, unspotted;
breeds late in June.
474. GOLDFINCH.
Brown above and on breast, white else-
where beneath. Face crimson, behind which
Fig. 828
American Crossbill.
is a white space, then the remainder of the
head is black. Wings and tail, black, the
former with a large patch of yellow. Europe;
introduced into north eastern U. S.. now
occurring regularly near N. Y. City and
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
417
at Cincinnati, Ohio. Occurs occasionally in
Conn, and Mass.
475. AMERICAN CROSSBILL.
Larger, 6; wings, long; tail, short,
forked; bill crossed at tip; dull red, wings
and tail dusky. Female and young male
Fig. 329
White-winged Crossbill. ]-3.
gray-green, yellow on top of head, from this
male gradually assumes adult dress, fig. 328.
Breeds in northern and eastern N. A. from
mountains of northern parts of Canada,
but irregularly as to season and locality; in
winter, wandering about irregularly accord-
418
SPAKROWS AND FINCHES.
ing to food supply. Flight, stench', swift
and undulating; gregarious. Song, a low,
sweet warble; call loud and clear, also gives
a murmuring chatter when feeding. Very
unsus])icious.
Fio-. mo
EveniujT Grosbeak. 1-4.
476. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.
Differs from last in being more slender,
bill not as stout; crimson; wings and tail,
black, the former with a conspicuous patch
of white, fig. 329. Female and young male,
iiimp yellow : wing-patch as in male. Breeds
in coniferous forests of northern N. A. from
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 419
islands in Gulf of St. Lawrence, northern
Me., N. H., N. Y. and Mich.; irregularly
south in winter to District of Columbia,
southern Ohio, central Ind. and southern
111. Habits, song, etc., much as in last.
Fig. :i31
Ro8e-breasted Grosbeak, r7 .
477. EVENING GEOSBEAK.
Larger, 7.60; bill, large, yellow; wings,
long; tail, short, emarginate; black, fore-
head, broad line over eye and posterior
portion of body, yellow; large white patch
on wing, fig. 330. Interior of N. A. east
420
SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
of Kockiesj wandering east irregularly south
to Kan., east to N. E. Call note, loud and
frequently given; song, short and not very
pleasing.
Fit:. :V.\2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. ?. 1-4.
478. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.
Larger, 7.75; bill, large, white; wings,
long; tail, medium, square; head and above,
black; bands and spot on wing, spots on
SPARROWS ANT) FINCHES.
421
outer tail feathers; rump and beneath,
white, figs. 331, 332; triangular patch on
breast and underwing coverts, rose. Female
brown above, white below, black streaked;
median line on crown and one over eye,
white; underwing coverts, saffron yellow.
Fig. 333
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 9-
fig. 333. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
Middle States to southern British possessions,
along xilleghenies to N. C; winters in Cen-
tral America and northern S. A.; south in
Sept., north in May. Frequents woodland,
groves and orchards. Song, rich, clear and
422
SPARROWS AND FIXCHES.
varied, the notes tlowing together, given
sometimes on the wing; alarm, a metallic
dick. Flight, swift and undulating. Nests,
frail structures placed in trees and bushes;
eggs, blue, spotted with rufous.
Fio. :m
479. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.
Differs from last in having line behind
eye; colhir on neck and lower parts, cinna-
nion-buif'; no rose color anywhere. Female,
differs from last m being generally tinged
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 423
with buff. Western U. S. from Mex. to
British Columbia; accidental in Mich.
480. CARDINAL GROSBEAK.
Longer, 8.50; wings, short; tail, long;
head, crested; vermillion red; line surround-
ing bill and throat, black, fig. 334. Female
duller, yellow-gray above and yellow-buff
beneath. Eastern U. S. from Gulf States,
excepting Fla., north to N. Y., including
Long Island. Resident. Frequents thickets,
margins of swamps and woodlands. Song,
loud, clear and very melodious: whe-e-e, re-
peated six times, liquid and clear; quit-er,
quickly given five or six times; 'wheat, a
little prolonged and exceedingly sweet and
clear, also given six times. Sings at almost
all seasons. Alarm, a sharp chirp. Nests
in tree and bushes, eggs gray, spotted with
yellow brown.
48L FLORIDA CARDINAL.
Differs from last in being smaller,
darker above and deeper red beneath. Fe-
male, deeper buff. Fla.
424 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
482. BLUE GROSBEAK.
Smaller, 7; wings and tail, long; deep
blue; wing-bands, tawny, fig. 335. Female
and young, reddish-brown, paler beneath.
Breeds in southern portions of eastern U. S.
from N. J. and Penn. southward. Winters
Fio-. 885
Blue Grosbeak.
in Yucatan and Cuba. Song, low, but
sweet; alarm, a rather loud chirp. Frequents
open sections, or among scattering trees.
483. INDIGO BIRD.
Smaller, 5. green-blue, fig. 336. Female
l)ro\vn throughout; both sexes have the
under bill blue with a line of black from
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 425
tips to base. Eastern U. S. north to British
Provinces; winters, in Central America;
south in Oct., north in May. Nest placed
in low bushes; eggs, pale blue. Song, given
when perching high, a rather harsh un-
musical warble divided into two parts,
uttered with energy, ending abruptly, heard
until middle of Aug.; alarm, a sharp chirp.
Fig. 336
Indigo Bird.
484. PAINTED BUNTING.
Size of last; head, purplish-blue; back,
green; rump, upper tail coverts and beneath,
red. Female, yellow-green paler beneath.
Southern U. S. from southern Fla., 111. and
N. C. to Fla.; winters, from southern Fla.
to Central America; south in Sept., north
426 SPARROWS AND FINCHES.
in March. Frequents thickets in the con-
ceahnent of which the exceedingly sweet
song is given.
485. VARIED BUNTING.
Differs from Last in being varied with
purple, blue, and red; hind part of head
Fifif. 837
Bahama (rrassquit. 1-2.
and neck, vermillion; beneath, dull purple;
reddish patch on throat. Female, gray-
brown; white on throat.
486. BAHAMA GRASSQUIT.
Small 4, wings short and rounded; tail
short; black on head, neck and anterior por-
SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 427
tions of body; gray-green elsewhere, fig.
337. Female, sometimes like male, but
usually duller with little or no black.
Bahamas; accidental in Fla. Frequents
settlements, nesting about houses, but also
occurs in unsettled sections. Song, begins
with two or three liquid notes, given in a
Bahama Bananaquit. 1-3.
clear, bell-like tone, followed by a series of
lisping notes. ^
487. MELODIOUS GRASSQUIT.
Differs from last in being more greenish
above, darker below, line back of eye and
tuft of elongated feathers on side of neck,
428
llOXKY CIIEEPEKS.
yellow. Female, with back of bead replaced
by chestnut; yellow duller. Cuba; accidental
on Sombrero Key, Fla.
H N E r CREEPERS.
Small birds, with long wings, short
tails, curved and sharply pointed bills.
Black and White Warbler. 1-8.
488. BAHAMA BANANAQUIT.
4.50; black above; line over e^'e, patch
on wing, tip of tail and beneath, white;
patch on breast and rump, bright yellow,
fig. 338. Bahamas; casual in southern Fla.
AMERICAN VVAKJ3LEKS. 429
Frequents woodlands; food, chiefly or wholly
fruit and the sweet of flowers. Flight,
strong-, direct and darting. Song, a series
of low. cackling notes. Nests, in trees,
domed but irregular in form.
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
Small birds, less than six inches long,
confined to the continent of America and
adjacent islands. Food, chiefly insects. Eggs,
white or greenish, spotted with brown of
varying shades.
489. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER.
Medium, 5.25, black and white in
stripes, crown divided by a white line; bill
and wings, long, fig. 339; female duller.
Breeds in eastern N. A. from Va. north to
Hudson Bay; winters, from Gulf States,
Bahamas and West Indies to northern S. A.;
south in Sept., north in late April. Fre-
quents open woodlands, creeping with a
sideling jerky motion about trees. Song, a
sharp ive-see, given five or six times, a
430
AMEKICAX WAR13LERS
longer, louder la^^, much like the ordinary
.song of the Nashville Warbler. Nest, on
ground near base of tree, clump of bushes,
or rock.
Yellow-throated Warbler, l-o.
490. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER.
Size of hist; throat, yellow; otherwise
white below; slate blue above; black mark-
ings on head and sides as in fig. 340; line
from bill over eye, yellow in front, white
behind; tail spots and two wing- bands,
white. Breeds in Atlantic coast district
from Fla. north to Va., casuall3' to N. Y.,
AMEKICAN WAE13LERS. 431
Conn, and Mass.; north in March, south in
Aug. and Sept. Occurs in open woodlands,
usually in tree tops. Song, a short, low
warble.
491. SYCAMORE WARBLER.
Smaller than last, line over eye with
little or no yellow. Mississippi Valley,
north to southern Mich., east to Ohio and
casually to S. C. in migration.
492. BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLER.
Size of last, blue above, white beneath,
spot on wing and spots on tail w^hite, fig.
341. Female, green-brown above, lighter
below; white wing spot present. Breeds
from mountains of Penn. east to western
Mass. through Worcester Co.; north to
Hudson Bay; winters in Bahamas, West
Indies and north eastern S. A.; south in
Sept., north in May. Song, a short rather
432 AMERICAN WARBLERS.
weak zeeping lisp. Occurs often in swampy
thickets.
493. CAIRN WARBLER.
Differs from last in having more or less
black on back. Higher mountains of Penn.
nd X. C.
Ficv. 341
Black-throated Blue Warbler. 1-3.
494. MYRTLE WARBLER.
Larger, 5.60, slate-blue above, white
beneath, four yellow patches: one on crown,
one on rump and one on each side, black
markings as in iig. 342; wing bands and
tail spots present, latter small. Female and
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
433
young, brownish above and somewhat bui^y
beneath; duller. Breeds from mountains
of western Mass. and in about same latitude
west to Rockies, north to Labrador; winters
from southern coast of Me. and southern
Ind. to Bahamas, West Indies and Central
America; south in Sept. and Oct., when
Fig. 342
Myrtle Warbler.
abundant, found everywhere; north in April.
Sono:, a low warble of four or five notes;
alarm, a loud flat chirp. Feeds much on
fruit of bayberry.
495. AUDUBON WARBLER.
Differs from last in having throat
yellow and less black on side of head.
434 AMEKICAX WARBLERS.
Western N. A.; accidental in Mass. and
Penn.
496. CAPE MAY WARBLER.
Small, 5; cheeks, chestnut; yellow be-
low and on rump; much black above and
streakings below as in fig. 343; large wing
Fig. 343
Cape May Warbler. 1-3.
patch and tail spots, white. Female and
young, grayer with two wing bands, streak-
ings beneath, indistinct. Breeds from north-
ern N. E., northern Mich., north to Hudson
Bay; winters in Bahamas, West Indies and
Key West, Fhi. ; north in May, south in
AMEKICAN WARBLERS. 435
Sept. Frequents woodlands and orchards.
Song, low. lively and pleasing.
497. MAGNOLIA WARBLER.
Size of last, band of black spots cross-
ing breast having pendants extending
along sides; top of head, slate-blue; back,
Fior. 344
Maguolia Warbler. 1-8.
black ; beneath and rump, \'ellow, fig. 344.
Female and young, duller, but in common
with male have a band of white spots cross-
ing middle of tail. Breeds from moun-
tains of western Mass. west to Mich., north
to Hudson Ba}'. Winters in Mex. and Cen-
tral America; south in Sept., north in May.
436 AMEKICAN WARBLERS.
Song, a short, pleasing rather broken war-
ble. Frequents woodlands and thickets.
498. CERULEAN WARBLER.
Sruall, 4.50, bright blue above, white
beneath with a more or less distint bluish
Fig. 345
i.
Cerulean Warbler. 1-6.
band across breast; wing-bands and tail
spots, white, figs. 345 and 346. Female,
green -blue above, yellow-green beneath.
Breeds from Ohio River Valley north to
to southern Mich., east to western N. Y.,
rare east of xilleghaneis; casual in southern
AMERICAX WARBLERS.
Fior. 346
437
Cerulean Warbler. 1-6.
438
AMEKICA^ WAE13LERS.
N. E.; winters, chiefly in U.S.; south in
Aug. J north in April. Song, a guttural
trill. Occurs in low woodlands.
499. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.
Larger, 5, white beneath, broadly
streaked with chestnut on sides; crown,
yellow; green above; patch on side of head
Fii-. 347
Chestnut-sided Warbler. 1-8.
and streaks on back, black, fig. 347 and 348
upper fig. Female, duller; young, without
chestnut on sides, but in adult and young
the wing -bands are always pale -green.
Breeds throughout N. E., N. Y., and Penn.,
north to Ontario, less commonly west to Ind.
and 111.; winters from Guatemala to Panama,
south in Aug. and Sept., north in May. Fre-
AMERICAN WARBLERS. 489
Fig. 348.
L'pper, Chcstaut-sidcd Warbler; lower. Black-throated Green Warbler.
-l-iO
A^klEKlCAN WARBLERS.
quents brushy fields, especially if moist.
Usual song: sweety sweet, siveet . . . to-2veeche,
with a short pause before the two terminal
syllables, which are given with a rising in-
flection ; another not unusual song is a rather
disconnected lay. not unlike that of the
Fig. 349
Black-polJed Warbler. 1-3.
Canadian Warbler: another not usual is one
similar to that of the Nashville Warbler.
500. BLACK-POLLED WARBLER.
Larger, 5.f50; black and white in stripes;
crown, solid black; white wing bands and
tail, spots, fig. 349. Female, autumnal
AMEEICAN WARBLEHS. 441
male and younsr, green above and pale
green beneath, streaked above and on
breast with bhick; wing-bands often pale
green; under tail coverts, white. Breeds
from extreme northern N. E. and northern
Mich, to Hudson Bay; winters in northern
S. A.; north in May, south in Sept. and
Oct. Frequents orchards and low growths
of w^oodlands. Song, a weak zijj, given
four or five times very quickly; occasionally
heard in autumn.
501. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER.
Size of last; crown, throat and sides,
red-brow^n or bay; sides of head and fore-
head, black; white wing bands and tail
spots; beneath, buff, fisf. 350. Female,
autumnal male and young, like same plum-
ages in Black poll, but if not showing some
trace of bay, always differ in having under
tail coverts buff. Breeds fiom northern N.E.
and Mich, to Hudson Bay; winters in north-
ern S. A., south in Sept. and Oct., north in
442
AMEiaCAX AVARUl.EKi^.
May. Occurs in evergreen woods. Song
begins witli a series of lisping notes and
ends witli a short warble.
502. BLACKBURMAN WARBLER.
Smaller, 4.80; throat, upper breast,
spot on top of head and behind ear coverts,
Fig-. 850
Bay-breasred Warbler
and line over eye, bright orange; above and
steaks on sides, black; wing bands and tail
spots, w^hite, fig. 351. Female, duller. Breeds
from southern Alleghanies and Mich, north
through mountains of western Mass. to
Labrador; winters in north-western S. A.;
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
443
south in Sept., north in May. Frequents
evergreens, and sometimes other woodlands.
Sonor, a series of double notes like jtilhtp,
jullup, jiillup, becomino: a little squeaky as
they advance, and terminate in an ascend-
ing scale.
Vig. 851
lilackburnian Warbler, 1-3.
503. BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLER.
Larger, o, cheeks and forehead, yellow:
green above, white beneath; throat and
streaks on sides, black; large tail spots and
444
AMERICAN WAKlil.EKS.
winp^-bands. white, figs. 348 lower and 352.
Female, with throat more or less yellow,
thus encroaching on black patch. Young,
with little black on breast. Breeds in east-
ern N. A. from Conn, and southern 111.,
north to Hudson Bay and south along
Fi<i. 3o2
Black- throated (ireeii Warbler. 1-3.
AUeirhanies to S. C; winters in Central
America; south in Sept., north in Ma3\
Occurs in evergreen forests, but less so in
pitch pines. Song of five or six notes,
Good Saint The-re-sa. given with a rising
inflection and with a decided accent on last
AMEKICAX WAKBLERS.
445
syllable; another song, usually late in sum-
mer, is trees, trees, miir-mur-ing trees, there
are also other variations but all are given
with a buzzy intonation that always charac-
terizes the species.
Fii?. 353
Kirtlaud Warbler. 1-3.
504. TOWNSEND WARBLER.
Differs from last in having top of head
and cheeks black, and in being distinctly
yellow below black breast patch. Breeds
in western N. A. ; winters in Central
America; south in Sept., north in May,
accidental in Pa.
446
AMERICAN WARBLEKS.
505. KIRTLAND WARBLER.
Large, '5.50, slaty above, yellow beneath;
patch on side of head, spots on breast and
sides, black, fig. 353; female, duller. Breeds
in Mich. Nests placed on ground. Winters
Fiji'. :Jo4
Pine Warbler. 1-3.
in Bahamas; south in Sept., north in May.
Frequents low bushes in fields; moves tnil
up and down, orives a sharp note of alarm
song, ch-ch-che-che-a or che-che-che-chee uiche-
((-(i. with the terminal a prolonged in both.
(Norman A. Wood). Rare.
AMERICAN WARBLEKS. 447
506. PINE WARBLER.
Size of last, yellow-green above, prreen-
yellow below to lower breast, then white to
end of tail coverts; two wino^-bands and tail
spots, white: faint dark streakings on breast,
fig. 354. Female, .srray above, dull white
beneath. Breeds in eastern IT. S. from
northern Fla., north to New Brunswick;
winters from N. C. (occasionally as far north
as Mass.) to Fla. South in Sept. and Oct.,
north in April. Frequents pitch pine w^oods,
less common everywhere. Sonsr, a musical
trill of about six notes, sometimes followed
by a short warble, sometimes the warble is
given alone; sings often in Sept. Song
something like that of Chipping Sparrow^,
but notes of trill are single, more musical,
and have more volume. Double brooded,
nesting in May and June.
507. FLORIDA PINE WARBLER.
Larger than last, and decidedh^ golden
yellow above and below, w^hich is more ex-
448
AMEKICAN WARBI.EKS.
tended along flanks. Female about as bright
as male. Breeds in Peninsula Fla.
508. PALM WARBLER.
Smaller, 5.25; brown above; rump,
throat and under tail-coverts, yellow; re-
maining lower portions, white; crown and
streaks, chestnut; wing bands and tail spots,
Fig. 855
Palm Warbler.
1-8
white, fig. 355. Young, with no chestnut
on crown and streaked with dusk}' 1)elow
on dull white ground; under tail coverts,
always yellow. Breeds in interior of British
America west of Hudson Bay; winters from
N. C, south through Fla.. Bahamas, and
many of the West Indias; uncommon during
AMEKICAN WARBLERS. 449
fall migration north of N. C, east of Allegh-
anies and in N. E. Frequents open sections,
feeding much on ground. Eaises and lowers
tail. Alarm, a sharp chirp; song, a feehle
trill. Nest placed on ground.
Fig. 85(5
Prairie Warbler. 1-8.
509. YELLOW PALM WARBLER.
Larger than last, and yellow beneath
in all stages. Breeds from northern N. E.
north to eastern shore of Hudson Bay;
w^inters from N. C. to southern Fla.; south
in Sept., north in April. Common.
450
AMEIUCAN WARBLEKS.
olO. PRAIRIE WARBLER.
STiialler, 5; golden yellow above, yellow
beneath and on line over eye; line through
eye, spots from base of bill along sides,
black; spots on middle of back, chestnut;
Fiu. H57
Yellow Warbler. 1-3.
two yellow wing bands; white tail spots,
large, fig. 356. Female, duller. Breeds from
northern Fla. to Mass. (where it occurs
chiefly along coast area); also more rarely
west to 111., Ind.,and southern Mich.; winters
AMERICAN WARBLEKS. 451
in Bahamas and West Indies; south in Aug.,
north in May. Frequents scrub lands.
Song, a rather harsh triJl of about six notes
given in an ascending scale. Raises and
lowers tail.
511. YELLOW WAKBLER.
Size of last. Golden yellow above; clear
yellow beneath, streaked on sides and breast
with rufous; no wing bands, nor tail spots,
but feathers of wings and tail margined in-
ternally with 3'ellow, fig. 357. Female
duller with few s^^ots beneath. Young, with
no streaks. Breeds throughout eastern N.A.
from.northern Ga. to Barren Ground and far
West. Winters in northern S. A.; south in
Aug., north in April and May. Frequents
open sections in the vicinity of thickets.
Song, a lively warble, consisting of about
six notes, stveet siveet siveet to sweet-tee.
Differs from that of Chestnut-sided in not
having a pause before last two notes and
these are not accented.
AMElilCAX WAKULEKS.
Fiii. 858
Xonliern Parula Warbler. r{' and $
AMEKICAN WARBLERS. 453
512. PARULA WARBLER.
Small, 4.75, blue above and on side of
head; throat and breast, yellow, the latter
with a band of blue and chestnut. Female,
duller. Breeds from Va. southward to Gulf
States; winters in Fla., south in Aug. and
Sept., north in April and May. Frequents
woodlands and builds its nest in ^'Spanish
Moss." Yery active.
513. NORTHERN PARULA
WARBLER.
Differs from last in being larger, darker,
more chestnut below, especially on sides,
fig. 358. Breeds from Ya. north to Canada,
but confined to those places where the long
usnea grows for in it the birds nest. Occurs
everywhere in migration. Song, a vehe-
mently uttered, siuee sivee sivee swee swee
swee-zee. the last two syllables being given
quickly, the last ascending; these are some-
times ommitted.
4.")i
AMEUICAX WAlliil.KKi
Golden-wii)<red Warbler, -^ and 2
AMERICAN WARBLERS. 455
514. WESTERN PARULA WARBLER.
Smaller than Parula, but color as in
last. Breeds in Mich, and Minn, south to
Gulf. This and last winter in Bahamas and
AVest Indies.
515. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER.
Larger, 5; ash-blue above; line over
eye and below, white; throat and broad
patch on side of head, black; patch on wing
(sometimes two bands), and crown, yellow.
Female, duller, fig. 359. Breeds from Mass.
west to Mich. South to Conn, and N. J.
along mountains to Ga. Frequents low^
growths and is local. Song, a rather drawl-
ing zee^ repeated from four to six times
and a guttural warble seldom heard; alarm,
sharp.
516. BREWSTER WARBLER.
Differs from last in the absence of black
throat patch and in having a very narrow
black line through eye, fig. 360. Female
with throat white or dusky, always with
4:06
A.MEIUCAX AVARI3LEKS.
Ficr, 3(30
Biew.scer War]>ier. ^,
AMEKICAN WARBLERS. 4b7
narrow black line through eye, fig. 861.
Breeds in Mass., Conn., N. Y., Penn.. N. J.,
Md. and Va.; winter range unknown. Song
averaging shorter and more quickly given
than in last.
517. LAWRENCE WARBLER.
Differ from Golden -wing in having
sides of head and lower part yellow, but the
line through eye is narrow as in last; wing-
bands, white; back, green as in next, fig.
o62. Breeds in N. Y. and Conn.; winter
range unknown.
518. BLUE-WINGED WARBLER.
Size of last. Greenish above, below
and crown yellow; wings bluish, wing-bands
white, narrow black line through eye, fig.
363. Female, duller. Breeds from Conn,
west to Mich., rare in Mass., but is local;
winters in Mex. and Central America; south
in Aug. and Sept; north in May. Song, a
wiry, lisping trill.
4oS
a:meku:ax wakblers.
Fi<r. 3t)l
lirewsler Wnrblcr. x and young:.
AMEKICAN WARBLERS. 459
ol9. BACHMAN WARBLER.
Smaller, 4.25; olive-green above, yellow
beneath and on forehead; breast, patch on
crown and on throat, black, a little white
on outer tail feathers; no wing-band. Fe-
male, much duller, plain gray below, slightly
yellow on crown. Breeds in N. C, S. C, and
Mo.; casually in Va. and Ark.; winters in
Cuba, north in March, south in Aug. Rare.
520. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.
Lar.ffer, 5; gray -olive above, yellow-
gray beneath, nearly concealed orange spot
on crown, fig. 364. Female and young,
duller. Occurs in woodlands. Song, a low
sweet trill. Breeds from Manatoba north
to Alaska; winters sparingly from S. C. to
Key West. Fla., more commonly in Mex.;
south in Sept. and Oct., north in April and
May. Casual in N. E.
52L NASHVILLE WARBLER.
Size of last, greenish above, yellow be-
low, head bluish, white e,ye ring. Female,
4(50
AMERICAN WAKliLERS.
Lawrence Warbler. (J'.
AMERICAN WARBLERS. 461
duller; young, very dull. Breeds from
Conn, to Canada and west to 111.; winters in
Mex.; south in Aug. and Sept.; north in
May. Frequents open spots on margin of
woodlands. Song, four or five harsh, quite
rapidl^' given notes, etve, followed by four
in quite a different time, a kind of trill, c?e,
ending abruptly, as if unfinished, uttered
as bird perches high in tree. A restless,
species.
522. TENNESSEE WARBLER.
Size of last; greenish above, white be-
low, head bluish, slight white line over eye,
1^^. 365. Breeds in northern N. E. north to
Labrador, uncommon during migration east
of Alleghanies and Hudson River Valley;
winters in Central America, south in Aug.,
north in May. Song, a little like last, but
first part in more divided and last shriller.
523. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
Larger, 5.40; greater part of head and
beneath, rich yellow; back, orange green;
h\'l
AMERICAN WAKBLEK^.
Blue-winged Warbler, (J".
AMERICAN WARBLERS. 463
rump and wings, bluish; spots on tail, white;
no wing bands. Female, duller. Breeds
in river bottom lands from Fla. to Ya.
west to Mississippi Valley. Casual in N.
E. and New Brunswick; winters in northern
S. A. south in Aug. and Sept., north in
April. Song, loud and not unlike the peet
Fig. 864
Orange crowued Warbler.
tweet of the Spotted Sandpiper; also gives
a flight song which is a low, sweet w^arble.
524. WORM-EATING WARBLER.
Size of last; greenish above, head and
beneath, buff; stripe on sides of head and
behind eye, black, fig. 366. Breeds from S.
C. to southern N. Y. and Tnd.; casual in
464
AMElilCAN WARULEKS.
Mass., N. Y., Mich, etc.; winters in Fla.,
Bahani:is, West Indies, and Mex. Sonsf. a
feeble trill. Frequents low lands, nesting
on ground.
525. SWAINSON WARBLER.
Size of last; olive above, yellowish-
white beneath; top of head, brown; line over
Tennessee Warbler.
eye, buff. Frequents swamps. Breeds from
Ya. west to Ind.; south to northwestern
Fla. and La.; winters in Jamaica, south in
Sept., north in April.
526. KENTUCKY WARBLER.
5.50; greenish above, yellow beneath;
portion of top of head and patch on its side.
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
465
^■^v
Fig. 866. — Worm-eating Warbler.
460
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
black, fig. 3G7. Female, a little duller.
Breeds in Mississippi Valley north of Ohio
and east to western N. C; casual north to
Mass.
-yj^t
CONNECTICUT WARBLEK.
5.50; wings, long; dark olive-green
above, yellow beneath; head, throat and
Kentucky Warbler. 1-8.
breast, ash-gray, mixed with black; eye-
ring, white, f[^. 368. Female, ashy of head
and breast gray -brown. Breeding range
as far as known Minn, and Manitoba;
winter range unknown. South in Sept. and
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
46'
Oct., when common in Mass. to N. J. and
Bahamas; north in May. Frequents swampy
thickets. Song, a low sweet warble; alarm,
a very sharp note. Raises and lowers tail.
528. MOURNING WARBLER.
Smaller than last, wings shorter, differs
otherwise in absence of eye-ring and in
Couuecticut Warbler. 1-3.
having more black on breast, fig. 369.
Breeds from northern N. E., west to Mich.,
north to Canada; winters in north western
S. A., south in Aug. and Sept., north in
May. Frequents thickets on margins of
4(»S
AMEKICAN WARIJLERS.
woodlands; very rare along Atlantic coast.
Song, loud, clear and pleasing, suggesting
that of the Water Thrush.
529. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.
Size of last; wings short and rounded,
gray-green above, conspicuous black mask
M(>uiniii<; Warbler.
on face which extends back on side of head,
but not into a point on neck (white mar-
gined behind); throat and upper breast, yel-
low; reminder beneath, whitish. Female,
without nuisk and not as yellow. Breeds
on Atlantic coast of U. S. from Md., rarely
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
469
from Mass.; winters in Bahamas. Song, a
varied warble. Frequents dry thickets,
esj)ecially in winter.
530. NOETHERN YELLOW-THROAT.
Larger than last, yellow, extending
into a point on side of neck, fig. 370. Breeds
Fitr. 870
Xorthein Yeilow-thruat. 1-4.
from ^. E. west to Mich., north to Canada,
south to Md.; winters from N. C. south to
West Indies; south in Oct., north in April.
Frequents swampy thickets. Song, ivifch-i-
ty, repeated rather slowly five or six times;
a warbling flight song, a continuous ratch-
470
A^FEKICAN WAKBLERS.
like sound, given occasionally, probably by
both sexes; alarm, harsh.
531. SOUTHERN YELLOW-THROAT.
Differs from last in having colors
darker; deeper yellow below; sides, brown-
Hooded Warbler.
ish. Breeds from southern Va. south to
Fla.; winters from N. C to Key West, Fla.
532. HOODED WARBLER.
Larger, 525; black hood covering head
leaving a yellow mask on face; greenish
above, yellow below; tail, spots white, fig.
AMERICAN WARBLERS.
4/1
371. Female, duller. Breeds in eastern
N. A. from southern Conn, to Fla.; winters,
in Central America; south in Sept., north
in April. Frequents high thickets in
swampy places, notably rhododendrons.
Song, loud and clear, not unlike that of
Louisiana Water Thrush; alarm, sharp.
Fiji. 372
Wilson Warbler. 1-3.
533. WILSON WARBLER.
Smaller, 5; golden-ereen above, green-
yellow below; crown, black, fig. 372. Fe-
male, less black on crown. Breeds from
extreme northern N. E. north to Labrador;
winters in Central America; south in Aug.
and Sept., north in April and May. Very
472 AMERICAN WARBLERS.
active, frequenting low growths, especially
willows. Song, a trill, sometimes a low
warble.
534. CANADIAN WARBLER.
Larger, 5.50, bluish above, yellow be-
neath; spots on crown; patch behind eye
Fi^. 378
Canadian Warbler. 1-3.
and necklace of spots on breast (without
pendents), black, figs. 373 and 374. Female,
duller. Frequents swampy thickets. Song,
a warble of from three to six disconnected
notes. Breeds from elevated sections of
Mass. south along mountains to N. C; west
AMERICAN WARBLEKS.
Fig. 374
Carjadian Warbiei.
474 CHATS.
to Central Minn.; north to Labrador. Win-
ters in north-western S. A., south in Aug.
and Sept., north in May.
585. REDSTART.
Size of Last; black, with salmon patches
on wings, sides, and tail, fior. 375. Female
and young male, grayer w^ith salmon re-
placed by 3'ellow\ Breeds from N. C. and
x\.rk. north to Hudson Bay, west to Utah;
winters in the Bahamas and West Indies;
casually in S. C; south in Aug. and Sept.,
north in May. Restless constantly flitting
about and spreading tail. Song, a sharp
trill-like warble of four to six notes, given
rapidly and ending abruptl\^ Frequents
margins of w^oodlands.
CHATS.
Large birds; wang short, rounded; tail,
long, rounded; bill, short and rather thick.
Sexes, similar. Songs varied, often mimick-
ing those of other birds.
AMERICAX WARBLERS.
Fig. 375
475
Redstart.
476
CHATS.
536. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
8.25; greenish above, yellow below;
spot in front of eye, white; line in this from
bill to eye, black, fig. 376. Breeds from
Mass. west to southern Mich, and Wis. south
Yellow-biea.steu Chat,
A
to N. C; winters in Central America; south
in Aug., north in May. Frequents thickets
and low^ growths; shy and retiring, oftener
heard then seen. Habits, somewhat wren-
like, drops wings and raises tail. Notes
much varied, whistles, chucklings, trills and
WOOD WAGTAILS.
/ /
Oriole-like scolds; flight song, a series of
whistling, tides, given as the bird drops
downward in jerks with wings thrown up-
ward, tail down, and legs dangling.
Fiff. 377
Ovenbird.
WOOD WAGTAILS.
Slender birds, with long wings and
square tails, that are often moved up and
down. Nests on ground. Sexes, similar.
537. OVENBIRD.
6; pale olive-green above, crown old
gold color margined with black; white
478
WOOD WAGTAILS.
l)eiieatli streaked with black, tig. 377. Breeds
from Va. west to Kan., north to Hudson
Bay; winters from middle Fla. to Bahamas,
West Indies, Mex. and Central America;
south in Sept., north in April. Frequents
open woodlands. Song, techee, repeated five
or six times with increasing volume; flight
Fi<T. 878
Water Thrush. 1-5.
song, a rapidly given sweet warble, often
heard at night. Walks much on ground or
on hirge lower limbs of trees.
-538. WATER THRUSH.
Size of last, dark olive-brown above;
line over eye and beneath, decidedly pale
green; streaked below with black, fig. 378.
Breeds from northern N.E. north to Hudson
WHITE WAGTAILS.
479
Bay; winters in Key West, Bahamas, West
Indies, Central America and northern S. A.;
south in Aut2^. and Sept., north in May.
Frequents swampy locations near water
into which it wades sandpiper-like. Song,
Fi^. 879
Louisiana Waler Thrush.
several loud, clear notes, followed by a
lower sweet warble; alarm, a sharp chirp.
539. GRENNELL WATER THRUSH.
Differs from last in being larger, more
gray above and less green below, sometimes
quite white. Breeds in western N. A. from
480 WOOD WAGTAILS.
Minn, to Alaska; rare on Atlantic coast
States from N. Y. south; winters in West
Indies and Central America, migration as
in last.
540. LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH.
Differs from Water Thrush in beins a
little larger, decidedly white over eye, white
or buffy beneath, flanks and under tail
coverts always bulfy, fig. 379. Song, a
rather uniform melody terminating more
softly. Breeds from southern N. E. west to
southern Minn., south to Gulf States; casual
in Mass.; winters in Central America, Baha-
mas and West Indies; south in Sept., north
in March and April.
541. WHITE WAGTAIL.
7; wings and tail, long; bill, slender;
forehead, sides of neck, beneath and outer
tail feathers, white; crown hind neck and
throat, black; back, ashy. Breeds in Europe,
accidental in Greenland.
PIPITS.
481
542. PIPIT.
6.50, slender, wings and tail lontr, olive-
gray above, streaked with darker; cinnamon
buft' beneath, streaked with black on breast
and sides; outer tail feathers, white, fig. 380.
Breeds from Newfoundland and mountains
of Colorado, northward; winters from N. C.
Fis:. 380
Pipit. 1-3.
to Mex.; south in Sept. and Oct., north in
May. Frequents open fields, marshes and
beaches. Gregarious. Call, a low double
note like, pipit. Flight, undulating and
pr ra tic
543. MEADOW PIPIT.
Differs from last in being darker above
and below, and more heavilj^ streaked above.
Europe; accidental in Greenland.
482
SWALLOWS.
344. SPRAGUE PIPIT.
Smaller than Pipit, paler beneath with
narrow streakings and paler above. Breeds
on interior plains of N. A. from Eastern
Montana north to Manatoba; winters in
Y\<r. HSl
Purple ^Jartin.
Tex., Mex. and southern La.; rare in N. C.
Flight song, a clear, harmonious melody,
given as bird hovers in air.
SWALLOWS.
Wings, long; bills, short; tails, variable
but often forked. Eggs, white.
SWALLOWS. 483
545. PURPLE MARTIN.
Large, 8.25; tail, somewhat forked;
appearing black throughout, fig. 381. Fe-
male, lighter above, nearly white beneath.
Breeds throughout temperate N. A.; winters
in Mex. and northern S. A.; south in Sept.,
Fig. 382
Clili' Swaliow.
north in April. Nests in holes of trees and
bird boxes; eggs, unspotted. Flight strong,
but heavy, often ascends high in air. Notes
loud, clear, and melodious.
546. FLORIDA MARTIN.
Differs from last in being smaller and
darker; female, more grayish beneath.
484 SWALLOWS.
Breeds in middle and southern Fla.; nortli
in March.
547. CUBA^ MARTIN.
Dilt'ers from hist in having a more
deeply forked tail; female with white spot
on abdomen.
Fis". :^s;?
Bank Swallow,
548. CLIFF SWALLOW.
Smaller, 5.75; tail, square; above and
spot of breast, deep steel blue; crescent on
forehead and rump, red-buff; throat, chest-
nut; white beneath, fig. 382. Breeds through-
out the greater part of N. A.; winters in
S. A.; south in Sept., north in x\pril. Nests
in communities under eaves of buildings
SWALLOWS. 485
and on cliffs; eggs, spotted. Notes, a musical
chatter. Flight, rather heavy.
549. CUBAN CLIFF SWALLOW.
Differs from last in having throat pale
and rump deep chestnut. Cuba, resident;
accidental on Fla. Keys.
Fiu. 384
A
Rou^h-winged Swallow.
550. BANK SWALLOW.
Small, 5.25; brown above, white be-
neath, band of brown crossing breast, tail
slightly forked, fig. 383. Breeds through
northern hemisphere; in N. A. from Ga.
and northern Mex. north to Arctic; winters
in S. A.; south in Sept., north in April and
4sn
SWALLOWS.
May. Nest in communities in holes of sand
banks; eggs, unspotted. Notes, a single
twitter. Flight, quite weak.
551. ROUGH- WINGED SWALLOW.
Differs from last in having throat
brown, fig. 384. Breeds in temperate N. A.
Fig. 88;")
Tree Swallow.
from Central America north to southern
Conn., western Mass. and British Columbia;
winters in Central America; south in Sept.,
north in May. Nests in holes of bridges,
banks, buildings, etc., seldom in communi-
ties. Note, a feeble twitter. Flight, not
very strong.
SWALLOWS.
487
552. TEEE SWALLOW.
Larger, 6; tail, with medium fork; blue
above, white below, fig. 385. Female, dul-
ler; young, brown above. Breeds from Va.
and Cal., north into British America; win-
Fiof. 386
Barn Swallow.
ters from S. C. through Gulf States and
occasionallj^ further north; south in Sept.
and Oct., north in April. Nests in holes of
trees, bird boxes, or in cavities about build-
ings. Flight, easy, and rather graceful.
4S8 SWALJ.OWS.
Song, a pleasant chatter. Gregarious in
autinnn, congregating by thousands on
seashore.
553. BAHAMA SWALLOW.
Size of last, green above, white below;
tail, more deeply forked. Female, duller.
New Providence, Andros, and other islands
of Bahamas; accidental in Fla. Song, a
musical twitter. Nests in holes of trees and
in cavities about buildings.
554. BARN SWALLOW.
Larger, 7; steel blue above; forehead,
throat and breast, chestnut; remaining
lower parts, rich brown; tail, deeply forked
and crossed by a band of w^hite spots, fig.
386. Female, duller. Breeds throughout
N. A. from Arctic to Gulf and into Mex.,
excepting Fla.; winters in S. A.; south in
Sept., north in x^pril. Nests inside build-
ings and rarely beneath their eaves. Song,
a pleasing, bubbling, joyous melody. Flight,
very graceful and easy.
WAXWINGS. 489
555. EUROPEAN SWALLOW.
Differs from last in having a dark band
across breast. Europe; accidental in Green-
land.
WAXWINGS.
Wings long, pointed, folding beyond
tip of short square tail. Plumage very
Fiff. 387
Cedar Waxwing. 1-4.
smooth and blended. Nests in trees, eggs,
spotted.
556. CEDAK WAXWING.
7.25; crested; wood -brown above;
lighter on upper tail coverts; black on chin,
490
WAXWIX(iS.
brown on breast, lighter behind this, white
on nnder tail coverts; tip of tail yellow;
secondaries tipped with red (often absent),
iig. 387. Breeds in temperate N. A. from
Va. north to Hudson Bay; in winter wander-
ing irregularly south to Fla. Gregarious.
Fiir. ;:i8S
Bohemiau Waxwing. 1-4.
Flight, strong, steady direct with a peculiar
flutter of wings. Note, a rather low, his-
sing chirp.
557. BOHEMIAN WAXWING.
Differs from last in being larger, 7.75;
grayer, yellow or white lines on tips of
TANAGERS.
491
wing feathers, white spot on wing, chestnut
under tail coverts, fig. 388. Breeds in
coniferous forests of northern Hemisphere;
wandering south in winter, irregularly to
northern U. S. Notes, similar to those of
last, but louder.
Fijr. 389
Scarlet Tana^er. 1-4.
TANAGERS.
Rather small birds with thick, finch-
like bills and long wings.
558. SCARLET TANAGER.
7.50, scarlet; wings and tail, black, fig.
389. Female and winter male, scarlet, re-
4:92 TANAOEUS.
placed by greenish. Breeds in eastern U.S.
from Va. north into southern British Pro-
vinces; winters, in northern S. A.; south in
Sept. and Oct., north in May. Frequents
open woodUmds. Flight, swift and direct.
Song, loud and distinct, chip cherry, cherry
chip, varied somewhat, sometimes sweet and
pleasant, but often marred by a burred in-
tonation; alarm, cJiip cher, accented on first
syllable, the last a little prolonged, some-
what burred. Nests, slight structures placed
in trees; eggs, green, spotted.
559. LOUISIANA TANAGER.
Differs from last in having back black,
two bands on wing, hind neck, rump, upper
tail coverts and beneath, yellow. Female,
differs chiefly in having yellow wing-bands.
Breeds in western U. S; a(,'cidental in N. E.,
N. Y. and La.; winters in Mex.
5t)0. SUMMER TANAGER.
Size of last; dull red throughout. Fe-
male, yellow-green. Breeds in eastern U. S.
SHRIKES.
493
from southern N. J. south to Gulf States;
casual as far north as Nova Scotia; winters
in northern S. A. ; south in Sept., north in
April. Song, loud and clear.
SHRIKES.
Bill, large and hooked; wings short,
tail long and rounded.
F\<r. 390
Northern Shrike.
561. NORTHERN SHRIKE.
Large, 10; pale gray above; white be-
neath, where finely banded with black;
patch on side of head, black; markings on
back, patch on wing and tips of tail, white,
fiff. 390. Young much obscured above with
494
SIIKIKES.
rusty. Breeds in northern N. A. from
Labrador to Alaska, wandering in winter
somewhat irregularly as far south as Va.
and Central Cal. Song, a loud, clear and
varied melody; note of annoyance, a harsh
cry. Frequents open fields. Flight, swift,
Vig. 891
Loi^jijerhead Shrike. 1-6.
direct, but with long, sweeping undulations;
always raises to alight. Sits very upright.
562. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE.
Smaller, 9.25, differs from last in having
head patches meeting on forehead in a nar-
row line and in being clear white beneath,
viREos. 495
fig". 391. Resident in coast districts of S. C.
and Ga., west to La. and all of Fla.
553. NORTHERN LOGGERHEAD.
Differs from last in being paler above
and slightly gray beneath. Breeds over a
g:reater portion of eastern U. S. from N. C.
and eastern Kan. north to the more south-
Fis. "^>2
Ked-eyed Vireo.
ern British Provinces; south in winter to
La. and Tex.
VIREOS.
Small, arboreal birds, with large heads
and bills; rather deliberate movements;
food, insects, chiefly caterpillars. Colors,
mostly plain. Nests, suspended from a
496 viREOS.
forked twig; eggs, white, usually sparingly
spotted.
564. RED-EYED VIREO.
Large, 6.25; top of head, gray; dark line
through eye, white line over it, boardered
by a black line above; gray green above,
white below, fig. 392. Breeds throughout
temperate N. A. from Fla. into British Pro-
vinces; winters in northern S. A.; south in
Sept. and Oct., north in May. Frequents
woodlands. Song, a monotonous repetition
of the syllables, hear me, see me, hear it;
heed it; sweer imlliam, siveer it, tiveet tweet
tweet tweet, quickly given at the rate of
thirty-six or more notes to the minute; also
the common Vireo scold.
565. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO.
Larger than last, bill longer, dark lines
on head not as clear, and a slight maxillary
line of dusky. Breeds in the Bahamas and
southern Fla.; winters in West Indies; north
in April. Song, tvhip torn kelley — a decided
viREos. 497
accent on kelly — phne, but varying some-
what. Nest often placed low.
566. PHILADELPHIA VIREO.
Smaller, 5; grayer than Red-eye, lines
on head distinct; strongly tinged, with
yellow beneath. Breeds from northern N.
E. north into British Provinces; winters in
Fij;. 393
Warbliujjj Vireo.
Central America; south in Sept. and Oct.,
north in May. Rare east of Connecticut
River and Alleghanies. Song, similar to
Red-eye.
567. WARBLING VIREO.
Larger than last, 5.40, grayest of our
Vireos, slight whitish line over eye, white
beneath with a slight yellow tinging, fig.
4'J8
VIliEOS.
393. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Fla.
north into British Provinces; winters in
Mex.; south in Sept., north in April. Fre-
quents open groves or ornamental trees in
villages. Song, a continuous warble of
about six notes, ending abruptly. Nest,
placed high in tree.
Fill. 394
Yellow-rhroared Vireo.
568. YELLOW-GREEN VIREO.
Greener above than last and much
more yellow beneath, especially on sides
and under tail coverts. Mex. and south-
ward; accidental in Quebec.
viPvEos. 499
569. YELLOW-THROATED YIREO.
6; white wing bands, green above and
on sides of head; line over eye, throat and
breast, lemon-yellow; remaining lower parts,
white, fig. 394. Breeds in eastern N. A.
from northern Fla., north to British Provin-
Fi?. 395
Solitary Vireo.
ces; winters in Colombia, S. A; south in
Sept. and Oct., north in Ma\\ Frequents
margins of woodlands, orchards and open
groves. Song, do you hear me; do you see
me; hear I am, given with emphatic energy,
slightly burred, repeated eight or ten times
a minute. Nest, covered with lichens.
■)(IU VIKEOS.
570. SOLITARY VIREO.
Smaller, 5.50; top of head, dark slate;
back, dark o;reen; rin^ around eye and line
from it to bill, white; wing bands and sides,
tinged wnth yellow, fig. 395. Breeds locally
in southern N. E., but more commonly from
northern N. E., north into British Provin-
ces; winters in Gulf States, south into Cen-
tral America. Son.fr, shortei- and lower than
last, and given with less energy; a peculiar
note like swe-e-ive, usually characterizes this
song. Frequents woodlands.
571. MOUNTAIN VIREO.
Differs from last in being: larger, darker
with more gray on back. Breeds in south-
ern Alleghanies from Md. to N. C; winters
in lowlands of the eastern Gulf and south
Atlantic* States.
572. PLUMBEOUS YIREO.
Differs from last in having back wholly
gray and less yellow beneath. Rocky
VIKEOS. 501
mountains of U. S. and mountains of Mex.,
accidental in N. Y.
573. WHITE-EYED VIREO.
Smaller, 5.25; green above, white be-
neath, much tinged with yellow; line from
bill over e^^e, eye-ring and wing bands,
sulphur yellow; iris white, tig. 396. Breeds
Fisi. 396
White-eyed Vireo.
in eastern U. S. from northern Fla. and
Tex., north to Mass. and southern Wis.;
winters from S. C. to Central America,
south in Sept., north in Ma\\ Song, varied
detached notes given emphatically, I-will-
give-you-a-lick, is an example, sometimes
these notes are run together as a low, con-
tinuous song.
oO^ yiREOS.
574. KEY WEST VIREO.
Differs from last in being larger, much
grayer above and on sides of head, fig. 397.
Breeds from Middle Fla. south to Key West.
575. BERMUDAN VIREO.
Differs from last in being mnch more
gray with little yellow on sides. Bermuda
Islands.
Key West Vireo.
570. BELL VIREO.
Smaller, 4.75; head, gra3'-brown; back,
dull olive green; line over eye, ring around
it, wing-bands and beneath, white, much
tinged with yellow below. Breeds in prairie
districts of Mississippi Valley from southern
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THEASllERS. 503
Minn, to northern 111., south to eastern
Tex.; winters in Mex., accidental in Mass.
MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS.
Large birds, with short wings and long
unhanded tails; bills, slender; sexes, similar.
Fig. 398
Mockiugbird. 1-5.
577. MOCKINGBIRD.
Larger, 10; ashy-gray above, white
l)eneath; large patch on wing, and tips of
outer tail feathers, white; iris, pale yellow,
504 MOCKINGBIRDIS AND THRASHERS.
fig. 398. Resident from Mex. north to
Mass and Cal. Frequents thickets. Song,
loud, clear and varied, often mimicing songs
of other birds. Nests in bushes; eggs,
spotted.
Fig. 399
Catbird.
578. CAT BIRD.
Smaller, 9; dark plumbeous; top of
liead and tail, black; under tail coverts,
chestnut, fig. 399. Breeds in eastern U. S.
from Gulf States north into British Provin-
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS.
505
Fig. 400
ceSj west to Rockies; winters in southern
States, casually north to mass.; south in
Sept. and Oct., north in April
and May. Frequents thickets,
often near dwellinofs. Sonpr, rich
and varied, sometimes mimicing
other birds; notes, rather deliber-
ately given. Nests in thickets,
uses grape vine bark outward}';
eggs, green-blue.
579. k?:y west catbird.
Smaller than last; darker,
but with forehead grayish. Key
nr 171 Brown
West, J^la. Thrasher. 1-6
580. BROWN THRASHER.
Larger, 11.50; bright red-brown above;
wing-bands and beneath, buff-white; streak-
ed on side of neck, breast and sides with
brown, fio^. 400. Breeds throughout eastern
U. S.; winters from N. C. southward to Fla.;
south in Oct., north in April and Mav.
■)0(3
WRENS.
Frequents dry thickets. Song, given when
perched in an elevated situation, loud and
varied each phrase repeated, like plant it
plant it J hoe it hoe it, dig it dig it, etc. Sits
upright when singing. Nests placed on
ground or near it, built of sticks, lined with
Fi-. 401
rootlets, eggs pale blue, sprinkled thickly
with rufous.
WRENS.
Small birds, with slender bills, brown
above, white below; usually banded on
tail and wings with bhick, often keep
tail erect.
WKEN8.
50'
581. CAROLINA WEEN.
Large, 5.25; rust -brown above; line
from bill over eye, down neck, buff3^ white;
narrow^ line over this, black; throat and
beneath, w^hite, fig. 401. Breeds from
northern Fla. north to southern N. K.,
rarely to Mass., west to Middle Kan.; winters
Fiir. 402
Berwick Wren.
from N. C. southward, sometimes north to
Mass. Frequents low thickets. Song, loud,
clear and varied; often mimics other birds.
582. FLORIDA WREN.
Differs from last in being larger and
much darker both above and below. Penin-
sula of Florida.
508
WRENS.
583. BEWICK WREN.
5.50; tail long, plain brown above; line
over eye, conspicuous spot on tail, and be-
neath, white, fig. 402. Breeds throughout
eastern U. S. from N. J. west to southern
Mich., south to northern Fla. and Tex.;
winters in southern portion of range; south
Kiff. 408
House Wren. 1-4.
in Sept.; north in May, accidental in N. H.
Frequents open sections. Nests in holes
about buildings. Song, a continuous, bub-
bling melody.
584. HOUSE WREN.
Smaller, 5, dark red-brown above, white
beneath, in addition to wings and tail,
WRENS. O09
flanks barred with dusk}', iig. 403. Breeds
throughout eastern U. S. north into Canada;
winters from N. C. through Gulf States;
south in Sept. and Oct., north in May. Fre-
quents orchards. Nests in holes of trees
and about buildings. Song, a continuous,
Fier. 404
AVinter Wren.
bubbling melody. In autumn and winter,
seeks the shelter of brush heaps and thickets.
585. WESTERN HOUSE WREN.
Differs from last in being much paler
with back usually barred with dusky. Breeds
throughout western U. S. and Canada east
to 111.; winters in Mex.
•310 WKENS.
.386. WINTER WREjN.
Diii'ers from Iti^t in being smaller. 4.10,
pale brown beneath, and much spotted and
banded with black; upper back and sides
of neck spotted with white, tig. 404. Breeds
in northern portion of eastern U. S. and
Canada, from western Mass. and south along
Alleghnnies, to N. C. west to Mich.; winters
from Mass. to northern Fla.. and along Gulf
coast to Tex.; south in Sept. and Oct., north
in April. Frequents dense thickets along
w^alls and fences, remaining much in con-
cealment. Song, given from tree tops, be-
gins with an abrupt outbreast of melody,
then falls and rises like tlie tinkling of fairy
silver bells now near now far, producing
one of the most exquisiteh^ l)eautiful bird
songs heard in the north woods. Nest, on
ground, formed of moss, etc.
588. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN.
Larger, tail much rounded; red-brown
on head, darker ou l)ack; line over eye,
WKEXS.
511
Fig-. 405
streaks on back and beneath, white; tail,
barred Avith dusky, wings with white, fig.
405. Breeds chiefly east of
Alleghanies, from Va. and Md.
north to western N. Y. and
Mass.; winters from N. C. south
to Fhi.; south in Sept. and Oct.,
north in May. Frequents very
wet marshes. Nests attached to
reeds, grass sterns and bushes.
Song, often given in flight, a
bubbling melody rising and
falling; sometimes one out-
burst connected with next bj'
tinkling notes. Flight, weak
and fluttering.
Lons-biiled
Marsh Wren.
588. MARIA.N xMARSH WREN.
Differs from last in being smaller,
much darker and more heavily banded.
Breeds on coasts of Carolinas; winters in
western Fla.
:)12 WRENS.
589. LOUlSLiNA MARSH WREN.
Differs from last in being smaller and
paler; crown with median stripe often
broad. Coasts of La. and Tex.
590. WORTHINGTON MARSH WREN.
Smallest and palest of the Marsh Wrens,
bein.ix quite gray with white streakings.
Atlantic coast from S. C. to northern Fla.
Fio-. 40(5
Short-billed Marsh Wren.
591. PRAIRIE MARSH WREN.
Differs from Long-billed in being much
more rusty brown above and on flanks.
Great Plains and Prairie districts of Central
U. S.; southward in winter along Gulf coast
to western Fla.
WKENS. 513
591. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN.
Differs from Long-billed in being small-
er and in having top of head as well as back
stredked with white, fig. 406. Breeds in
eastern N. A. from southern N. H. and
Manatoba soutli to Gulf Coast. Frequents
Fiff. 407
Brown Creeper.
sedgy, not very wet, marshes in summer,
dry savannahs in winter. Song, an off-
repeated tinkle somewhat like the sound
produced by a light hammer striking an
anvil with a sharp blow, then rebounding
three or four times, never given on wing;
14
WREXS.
more often heard during cloudy weather or
by night.
593. BROWN CREEPER.
Small, 5.50; slender with long, strongly
curved bill, long wings and tail which has
While-breasted Nuthatch,
pointed feather tips; brown above, streaked
with white; white beneath; rump, rusty,
fig. 407. Breeds in eastern N. A. from
Mass. north into British Provinces, south
along mountains to N. C; winters from N.
E. to FLa.; south in Oct., north in April.
NUTHATCHES. 515
Frequents open woodlands, groves and or-
namental trees everywhere. Creeps spirally
up trees, than drops to base either of same
tree or another to reascend. Flight, swift
and direct. Usual note, a thin sharp lisp;
also a crackling cry, and a not commonly
heard silver\% tinkling song.
NUTHATCHES.
Small birds with straight bills, long
wings and short tails. Climb trees some-
thing like Woodpeckers, but descend head
downwards. Nests in cavities often excavated
by the birds; eggs white, spotted.
594. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Large, 6; blue-gray above; top of head
and hind neck, black; beneath, white, fig.
408. Female, with crown blue like back.
Breeds throughout eastern U. S. into Pro-
vinces, south to northern N. C. west to Great
Plains, chiefly resident. Frequents wood-
lands, orchards, and ornamental trees. Usual
call, a harsh cachl also an interrupted series
516
Nl rilATCllES.
Fiji. 401 >
Ked-bieasted Xuthalch, cf'.
NUTHATCHES. 517
of calls oriven in a rather minor tone,
vsuggesting the familiar call of Flicker.
595. FLORIDA WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH.
Differs from last in being smaller and
darker. Female, head black or nearly so.
Fla. west along Gulf coast to Miss.
596. CAROLINA NUTHATCH.
Differs from last in being a little lighter
with the red of sides not as extended. Fe-
male with crown very slightly obscured with
plumbeous. Coast region of the Carolinas.
Described in Records of Walks and Talks
with Nature, Vol. VIII, Jan. 12, 1916.
597. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Smaller than last, 4.50; differs other-
wise in having a black line through eye,
broadening out behind it, hind neck like back
and strongly tinged with red-brown beneath,
fig. 409. Female has head line bluish and
is lighter below, fig. 410. Breeds in forests
18
KUTIIATCIIES.
¥\<r. 410
liea-breastpd Xuihaicli. 9
KINGLETS. 519
of northern N. A. from Mass. to Labrador;
south along higher Alleghanies to N. C;
winters from Mass. to extreme southern
States; south in Aug., Sept. and Oct., north
in April. Notes, quite different from White-
breasted, more clear, like the tooting of an
elfen horn. Found nearl}^ everywhere,
but most common in woodlands.
598. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH.
Small, 4; differs from last in absence
of line through eye, brown head and nape
and white under pasts. Sexes, similar, fig.
411. Resident in pine belt from southern
Del. to Tex., casually north to N. Y., Mich.,
etc.; Great Bahama Island. Note, a harsh,
solemnly given each, often repeated. Gre-
garious.
KINGLETS.
Very small arboreal birds, with deeply
notched tails; crown, with a brightly-colored
spot; wing with single band of white in
dark area. Globular nests in trees; eggs,
spotted.
520
NUTHATCHES.
Fij?. 411
Brown-headed Nui hatch.
KINGLETS. 521
599. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.
3.50; gray-green above, white beneath;
top of head, orange, with yellow and black
line on eitl>er side, fig. 412. Female, has
crown between black lines yellow, f[g. 413.
Young, has yellow replaced by gray, fig. 414.
Breeds from northern N. E., northern N. Y.
and northern Mich, north to Labrador;
rarely south to Mass. and regularly along
AUeghanies to N. C; winters from Mass. to
northern Fla. Found everywhere, most
commonly in evergreen woods. Restless
flitting (constantly about, often flicking
wings. Song, a rather feeble, lisping trill;
alarm, a feeble lisp.
600. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.
Differs from last in absence of black
line on head; male with partly concealed
ruby spot on crown, fig. 415; absent in fe-
male, fig. 416. Breeding rantre in east,
similar to last, but winters further south to
southern Fla. and Mex., rarely in Mass.;
522
KINGLETS.
Fiji. 412
Goltien-crowned Kiu<j;lei, ^J',
THKUSHES. 623
south in Sept. and Oct., north in April.
Son^ begins with a few lisping notes, runs
into a clear, high warble, remarkably loud
for size of bird. Occurs mosth^ in woodlands.
601. BLUE-GRA7 GNATCATCHER.
Larger, 4.75; blue-gray above, bluish-
w^iite below; U-shaped line on forehead,
black; patch on either side of tail, white,
fig. 417. Breeds from N. J. west to north-
ern Mich., south to Gulf States; casual in
N. E. and Minn.; winters in Gulf States,
Bahamas and West Indies. Nest in trees,
hung from fork of limb, lichen-covered;
eggs, spotted. Call note, see see, lispingly
given; song, a low, tinkling, silvery warble.
Very restless and active.
THRUSHES.
Well proportioned Singing Perchers of
wide distribution and fine powers of song;
eggs, blue-green.
.324
TIIKUSIIES.
602. WOOD THRUSH.
Large, 8.25; red-brown above, brightest
on head; white beneath, marked everywhere
Fi<r. 413
Golden-crowned Kinijlet.
with large, round spots of bLack, fig. 418.
Irreeds in eastern U. S. from Ya. and Kan.,
KIX(^LETS.
Fig. 414
Golden-crowned Kinglet, young.
526 THRUSHES.
north to Canada; south in Sept., north in
May. Frequents wooded glens. Song, loud,
clear and bell-like, trn-ral lu tru-ral lee,
varied with lower notes; alarm, a harsh,
stuttering cry. Nests in trees; eggs, un-
spotted.
Fig'. 41.5
Ruby-crowned Kinorlet, (J. 1-4.
608. HERMIT THRU.SH.
Smaller, 7; differs from last in being
more tawny above, brightest on tail, w^hite
beneath, tinged with cream on breast, spots
triangular and confined to breast; e\'e-ring,
creamy, fig. 419. Breeds in eastern N. A.
from Mass., northern AUeghanies and north-
ern Mich, northward; winters from southern
N. E. south to Fla.; south in Oct., north in
527
liuby-crowned Kinp^lel. $
528 TIIKl\siIES.
April. Song, the rnovst finished of that of
all our birds. There are four strains: 1, Oh
twee twee twee, clear and high; 2, E. twter
twter twter, lower but pure; 3, Oh phera
phera phera. lower in tone almost pathetic
in terminal note, all prolonged; 4. E. die te
wete, softly given, often whispered. The
above is the order in which the complete
Fior. 417
Blue-gray (Tuatcatcher. 1-4.
song is given, but strains are frequently
omitted. Alarm, a whistled chvck. Fre-
quents woodlands. Nests on ground; eggs,
unspotted.
6(J4. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH.
Differs from last in being uniform olive
above, strongly tinged on head and eye-ring
with rufous, spots beneath broadly trian-
THRUSHES. 529
gular and not as prominent, fig. 420. Breeds
in eastern N. A. northward; winters in S.
A.; south in Sept. and Oct.. north in April
and May. Song, tru-ral ru-ral lee, a varia-
tion is, ru-ral-e-ral e-e; both given with a
very thrush-like intonation; alarm, a short
liquid quit and one like pit, more quickly
given. Nests in bushes; eggs, spotted.
605. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.
Differs from last in having side of head
and eye-ring gray, and little or no tinging
on breast. Breeds in northern N. A. from
Newfoundland, north to Arctic; winters in
Central America; south in Sept. and Oct.,
north in May. Frequents woodlands and
copses. Song, as heard in West Newton,
Mass., in spring; almost exactly like that of
Yeery, but lower.
606. BICKNELL THRUSH.
Differs from last in being smaller.
Breeds on higher mountains of northeastern
States and Nova Scotia. Migration as in
530
THRUSHES.
last. Song, as heard on Mt. Gray lock.
May 20, 1910, tcher re re e\ one bird song.
ivliee er rel re, all given in about the same
time as the Olive-back. A preliminary note
4LS
to the song was a very liquid pit-, some-
times pit cree was given, possibly by female.
()07. WILSON THRUSH.
Size of Hermit; reddish ta\vny above,
white beneath; eye-ring sides of head and
TIir.UJ^IIES.
.331
breast, pale-buff; spots confined to upper
breast and very pale, fig. 421. Breeds from
northern N. J. west to northern Mich.,
north into British Provinces, winters chiefly
south of U. S. Song, a series of fife-like
notes, beginning softly, gradually decreasing
in volume, and endinur imperceptably ; alarm
Fie:. 4\9
Hermit Thrush.
a loudly whistled pheu. Nests on ground;
eggs, unspotted.
608. NEWFOUNDLAND THRUSH.
Differs from last in being paler above
and more indistinctl}^ spotted below. Breeds
in Newfoundland.
.182
THRISIIES.
609. AYILLOW THRUSH.
Differs from Wilson in being duller
above; markings below, darker. Interior
of U. S. and British Provinces, east to Wis.
and 111., Ind.j casually' to S. C.
FiiT. 420
Olive-backed Thrush.
010. RED-WINGED THRUSH.
Larger, 8.50, brown above; line over
eye, stripes on throat and middle portions
below, white; sides and Hanks, reddish;
breast streaked with black. Northern
pAirope and Asia; accidental in Greenland.
TIIKU^IIES. OOO
611. AMERICAN ROBIN.
Larger, 10, .irray above; top of head,
black; golden brown beneath; throat, white,
streaked with black; bill, yellow, fig. 42'2.
Female, duller. Nestlings, spotted with
black above and below. Breeds in eastern
Fiii. 421
.^ii^-.
^-
"r^
Wilsou Thrush.
N. A. from Atlantic to Rockies north of N.
C; winters from Canada to Gulf States,
south in Oct. and Nov., north in March and
April. Found everywhere. Song, loud and
hurridly given; variable, but a usual form
is chip cherry chip, with other notes, a single
534
THRUSHES.
sharp whistle of inquirey. Toung, when
fully fledged, give a practicing song similar
to adult; uttered with closed bill, and thus
low and muffled. Nests in trees and bushes,
Fijr. 422
American liobin.
sometimes within buildings or about them-
eggs, unspotted.
612. CAROLINA ROBIN.
Similar to last, but smaller, paler and
duller. Young, less heavily spotted. Breeds
WriEATEAll. OOO
in S. C. and northern Mich., north to Md.
and southern 111.
613. TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE.
Smaller than last, plain brown-gray,
two red-buff patches on wing with a darker
intervening space; tail with small white
spots, at tip. Mountains of western N. A.,
accidental in 111.
614. GREENLAND WHEATEAR.
Smaller, 6.-50, ashy-gray above; term-
inal third of tail, black; remainder with tail
coverts, forehead, line over eye, and lower
parts behind, white; otherwise, plain buff
below; patch on side of head, black. Breeds
in Iceland, Greenland and Labrador, strag-
gling south to Nova Scotia, Me., Mass., N.
Y. and Bermuda, accidental in La.; winters
in northern Africa, Labrador birds reachinsr
winter quarters via Greenland and the
British Isles.
BLUEBIRDS.
615. BLUEBIRD.
Larger, 7, blue above; breast and sides,
cinnamon -brow 11; remaining lower parts,
^vliite, lig. 423. Female, duller. Nestlintrg
spotted above with white and wholy white
Bluebird.
below, streaked with red-brown. Breeds
from Ga. north to British Provinces, west
to Rockies; w^inters from Middle States to
Gulf Coast; south in Oct. and Nov., north
in Feb. and March. Frequents open country.
(Jail song of three notes, often repeated,
BLUEBIRDS. 537
clieer-e-ly, given by both sexes and young;
song by male, a low, sweet warble, uttered
sometimes in flight or when perched with
fluttering wings. Catches insects on ground,
but flies to perch to eat them. Flight,
rather indirect and wabbly. Nests in holes
of trees or in boxes; eggs, pale blue, usually
unspotted.
616. FLORIDA BLUEBIRD.
Deeper in color above and below than
last. Resident in Fla.
538 APPENDIX.
Appendix
The following species, cbiedy accidental visitors,
should be included as birds of our section.
EARED GREBE.
About the size of Horned Grebe, but bill smaller.
Conspicuous cinnamon ear tufts in adult. Young and
winter plumage, scarcely different. Western U. S. ; casual
in Indiana.
SHORT-BILLED GULL.
Differs from Ring-billed Gull in being darker above;
no band on bill, which is green, with tip yellow, and
shorter. Difficult to distinguish in field in young stages.
PIXTADO PETREL.
Large, 15; head, wings, tip of tail and mottiings on
back, black; otherwise, incltiding patch on wing, white.
Southern Oceans, accidental off coast of Me.
ALLIED SHEARWATER.
Smaller than Audubon Shearwater, with black of
head not extending below eye. Australian seas; acci-
dental on Sable Island, N. S.
ArrE^Dix. 539
HAWAIIAN PETREL.
Similar to Leach Petral, but with tail less forked.
Pacific Ocean ; accidental in Ind. and District of Columbia.
RUDDY SHELDRAKE.
Size and general color of Mallard, but with a knob at
base of bill. Old world; accidental in Greenland.
BEAN GOOSE.
Size of while-fronted Goose, but differs in having an
orange band on middle of biil. in being darker without
white on face, or black spots on breast; legs and feet,
orange. Old World: accidental in Greenland.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE.
Differs from last in beins: smaller. 28: patch on bend
of wing, gray: upper mandible, pink in center. Old
world; accidental in Greenland.
WAYNE CLAPPER RAIL.
Scarcely to be distinguished from Clapper Rail in the
field. Salt marshes of Atlantic coast from N. C. to Fla.
HUDSONIAN SPRUCE PARTRIDGE.
Similar to Spruce Grouse, but darker. Labrador and
westward in same latitude.
BERMUDA GROUND DOVE.
Similar to Bahama Ground Dove, but smaller and
with bill wholly black. Bermuda.
540 APPENDIX.
GROOVED-BILLED ANI
Bill grooved,scarcely different in tield from Ani, S. A.,
north to Tex; casual in Fla.
FLORIDA CROW.
Bill larger than iu Crow, difference in field almost
inperceptable. Florida.
HOODED CROW.
Ditiers from Crow iu being gray on back and under
parts. Europe: casual in Greenland.
ROOK.
Resembles Crow, but differs in having no feathers
about base of bill, where skin is whitish. Europe;
accidental in Greenland.
CLARK NUTCRACKER.
Size of Blue Jay; bill, longer and pointed; gray
wings, and tail black: patch on former and outer feathers
of latter, white. Western N. A. ; accidental in AVisconsin.
IXDEX.
541
Index
Albatrosses 43
Albatross, yellow-nosed 43
Anhinga 78
Anhlnoras 78
Ani 310
grooved- billed 540
Auk, razor-billed 25
Auks, raurres, puffins, etc
24
Avocet. american 133
Avocets and stilts 133
Baldpate231
Bananaquit, bahama 428
Bittern, american 200
cory 202
least 201
Brant 259
black 261
Blackbird, brewer 366
red-winged 359
rusly 366
yellow-htaded 365
Bobolink 371
Bobwhite 265
florid a 266
Bufflehead244
Bunting, black-throated 372
lark 404
painted 425
snow 404
varied 426
Buzzard, european 293
Canvas-back 240
Caracara, audubon 299
Catbird 504
Key West 505
Chat, yellow-breasted 476
Chats 474
Chickadee, acadian 353
black-capped 351
Carolina 352
florid a 353
hudsonian 353
townsend 354
Chuck-will's-widow 326
Coot 222
european 223
Coots 222
Cormorant. 76
double-crested 77
florida 77
mexican 77
542
INDEX.
Cormorants 73
Cow bird 369
Crake, coin 219
spoited 218
Crane, little
brown 212
sand-hill 212
whooping 212
Cranes 211
Creeper, brown 514
Crossbill, americau 417
white-winged 418
Crow 355
florida 540
tish 356
hooded 540
Crows 355
Cuckoo, black-billed, 312
mangrove 312
mavnard 312
yellow-billed 311
Cuckoos 310
Curlew, esquimo 184
hudsonian 183
long-bilied 183
Dove, bahaina ground 275
bermuaa ground 539
blue-headed partridge 276
ground 275
mourning 273
ruddy quail 276
zanaida 274
Dovekie 34
Dowitcher 144
long-billed 147
Duck, black 229
tlorida black 230
fulvous tree 261
harlecjuin 247
labrador 246
Duck, masked 254
red-legged black 229
ruddy 252
ringneck 242
steller249
wood 237
Ducks, geese, and swans 223
Ducks, river 227
sea 239
Dunlin 162
Eagle, bald 297
golden 296
gray sea 298
northern bald 298
Egret, changing 205
peal 205
reddish 205
snowy 204
Eider, american 248
King 249
northern 248
Falcon, prairie 289
Finch, purple 408
Flamingo, american 263
Flamingos 262
Flicker 225
boreal 225
northern 225
Flycatcher, alder 342
crested 336
fork-tailed 333
green-crested 342
least 340
olive-sided 340
sissor-tailed 334
trail 342
yellow-bellied 343
Vermillion 344
Frigate birds 80
Fulmar. 44
IXDEX.
543
Fulmar, lesser 45
Fulmars 44
Gadwall 230
Galinule, tiorida 220
purple 221
Gairinules219
Gannel 66
blue-faced 6Q
booby 69
red-faced 69
Gannets 65
Geese 254
Gnatcatcher. blue gray 523
Goatsuckers 326
God wit. black tailed 183
hudsonian 182
marbled 180
Golden-eye 242
barrow 243
Goldlinch, american 414
european 416
Goose, am. white-fronted 256
barnacle 259
bean 535
blue 254
cacklincr 259
Canada 257
i^reater snow 255
hutch in ffs 259
lesser snow 255
pink-iooted 535
white-fronted 256
Goshawk 291
mexican 291
Grackle. boar-tailed 368
bronzed 366
florida 368
purple 367
Grassquit. bahama 427
melodious 427
Grebe, eared 538
holboeil 8
horned 9
pied billed 12
Grebes 6
Greenshanks 172
Grosbeak, black-headed 422
blue 424
Canadian pine 410
cardinal 423
evening 419
tiorida cardinal 423
rose-breasted 420
Grouse, quail, etc. 265
Grouse, canada 266
Canadian ruffed 267
prairie sharp-tailed 271
ruffed 267
thayer ruffed 267
Guillemot, black 32
mandt 34
Gull, american herring 95
bonaparte 102
franklin 102
glaucous 93
o-reat black-backed 92
herring 94
Iceland 96
ivory 89
kittewake 89
kumlein 96
laughing 99
little 104
meu 99
ring-billed 97
ross 104
sabine 105
short-billed 538
Siberian 93
Gulls. 87
544
INDEX.
Gulls, coast 91
hooded 99
Gyifalcon 284
black 285
gray 284
white 283
Hawk, broad-winged 295
cooper 290
Cuban sparrow 289
duck 28(3
ferrugineous 296
tlorida red-shouldered 294
harland J98
krider 292
little sparrow 289
marsh 282
pigeon 286
red-shouldered 293
red-tailed 291
rough-lecged 296
sharp-shinned 290
short-tailed 295
sparrow 288
swainson 295
western red-tailed 293
Hawks, Eagles, etc. 280
Hen. heath 271
prairie 270
Heron, black-crowned night
209
european blue 204
great blue 203
great white 202
green 208
little blue 207
louisiana 207
wurdeman 202
ward 203
white 204
yellow-crowned night 209
Herons 199
Hummingbird, ruby-throat-
ed 330
Hummingbirds 330
Ibis, fflossy 199
scarlet 198
white 197
white-faced glossy 199
wood 211
Indigo bird 424
Jaeger, long-tailed 87
parasitic SQ
pomerine 85
Jay. blue 348
Canada 350
tlorida 349
florida. blue 349
labrador 350
J unco 387
Carolina 388
gray-headed 389
monrana 389
Kestrel 289
Kingbird 334
arkansas 336
gray 335
Kingfisher, belted 330
Kingtishers330
Kinglet, golden-crowned 521
ruby-crowned 521
Kinglets 519
Kite, everglade 282
mississippi 281
swallow-tailed 281
white-tailed 282
Knot 149
Lapwing 185
Land birds 264
Lark, tiorida meadow 359
horned 345
INDEX.
545
Lark, meadow 358
hoyt horned 347
prairie horned 346
sky 3^5
western meadow 359
Larks 345
Limpkin 213
Linnet, brewsrer 413
Lon^spur. chestnut-collared
407
lapland 406
mccown 408
smith 406
Loon 17
black-throated 23
red-!broated 20
Loons 15
Maspie. ameriean 348
Macrpies and Jays 347
Mallard 227
Man o'war bird 81
Martin, cuban 484
floiida 483
purple 483
Merganser, ameriean 224
hooded 226
red-breasted 225
Meroansers 224
Merlin 287
richardson 287
Mockinebird 503
Mockingbirds and Thrash-
ers 503
Murre 27
brunnich 30
ringed 30
Murrelet. ancient 41
Nighthawk 328
florida 328
howell 321)
Xoddie 125
Nutcracker, dark 540
Nuthatch, brown-headed
519
liorida white breasted
517
Carolina white-breast-
ed 517
red-breasted 517
white-breasted 515
Nuthatches 515
Old Squaw 244
Oriole, baltimore 362
bullock 363
orchard 364
Orioles 357
Osprey 298
Owl, arctic horned 306
barn 302
barred 303
burrowing 309
dusky horned 306
liorida barred 302
florida burrowing 308
liorida screech 307
great gray 304
great horned 305
hawk 308
long-eared 304
labrador horned 306
richardson, addenda 550
saw whet 305
screech 307
short-eared 305
snowy 309
Owls 302
Ovenbird 477
Oystercaccher 195
european 196
Paroquet, liorida 300
546
INDEX.
Paroquet, western 301
Parrots, etc. 300
Partridge, hudsonian spruce
539
Pelican, brown 72
white 71
Pelicans 69
Perchers. singinjx 844
son 2 less 338
Petrel, biack-capped 53
bulwer 54
hawaiian 535
leach 55
pintado 535
scalea 54
stormy 54
white-beilied 58
white-faced 58
Wilson 56
Pewee. wood 339
Phalarope. northern 132
red 130
Wilson 131
Phoebe 387
say 339
Pigeon, passenger 272
white-crowned 272
Pigeons 272
Pintail 236
Pipit 481
meadow 481
sprajiue 482
Plover, belted piping 192
black-beliied 186
european golden 188
golden 187
killdeer 188
mountain 193
piping 191
ring 191
Plover, semipalmated 189
Wilson 192
Ptarmigan, alien 269
reinhart 270
rock 269
welch 270
willow 269
Puffin 36
large-billed 39
tufted 39
Rail, black 219
clapper 216
Horida clapper 217
king 215
lotiisiana clapper 217
sora 217
Virginia 215
wayne clapper 536
yellow 218
Rails, galliuules and coots
314
Raven, northern 356
Redhead 239
Redpoll 410
greenland 412
hoary 412
holboell412
Redwing, bahama 360
florida 360
northern 361
Redstart 474
Robin 533
Carolina 534
Rook 540
Rtiff 177
Sanderling 167
Sandpipers, baird 157
bartramian 177
buff-breasted 178
oooper 156
INDEX.
547
Sandpipers, curlew 162
green 174
least 158
pecroral 153
purple 151
red-backed 160
semipalmated 1(53
solitary 172
sported 179
stilT 147
western 166
white-rumped 155
Sandpipers, etc . etc. 142
SaDsucker. yellow-bellied
■ 314
Scaup 240
lesser 241
Scotor 250
surf 251
velvet 251
wbite-wing-ed 250
Shearwater, allied 538
audubon 49
cory 49
greater 45
manx 51
sooty 51
Shearwaters 45
Sheldrake, ruddy 539
Shore birds 128
Shoveller 235
Shrike, loggerhead 494
northern 493
northern loggerhead 495
Shrikes 493
Siskin, pine 414
Skimmer, black 127
Skimmers 126
Skua 85
Skuas and jaegers 84
Smew 227
Snipe, european 142
wiison ]40
Sora 2:7
Sparrow, acadian sharp- tail
400
bach man 390
brewer 378
chipping 373
clay-colored 377
dusky seaside 398
held 376
lisher seaside 398
florida grasshopper 392
fox 384
golden-crowned 380
grasshopper 392
h arris 380
henslow 393
ipswich 401
lark 403
leconte 395
lincoln 381
macsfiliiverys seaside
397
nelson 399
pine wood 389
savannah 400
scotts seaside 397
seaside 395
sharD-tailed 399
song 381
southern grasshopper
392
swamp 383
tree 374
western field 376
white crowned 379
white-throated 378
vesper 402
548
INDEX.
Sparrows and finches 372
Spoonbill, roseate 196
Spoonbills and ibises 196
Starlinof 357
Stilt, black-necked 135
Swallow, barn 488
bah am a 488
bank 485
cliff 484
Cuban cliff" 485
european 489
rouoh-winged 486
tree 487
Swallows 482
Swan, trumpeter 262
whistling 262
whooping 262
Swans 261
Swimmers, tube-nosed 42
long-winged 82
Swift, chimney 329
Swifts 329
Tanager. louisiana 492
scarlet 491
summer 492
Tanagers 491
Teal, blue-winged 233
cinnamon 234
european 233
green-winced 232
Tern, arctic 115
black 123
bridled 121
cabot 110
Caspian 108
common 111
forster 114
gull-billed 107
least 119
noddy 125
Tern, roseate 117
royal 110
sooty 122
trudean 111
white winged black 124
Terns, dusky backed 120
pale backed 111
short tailed 121
Thrasher, brown 505
Thrush, bickneil. 529
gray-cheeked 529
grinnel water 479
herrnit 526
louisiana water 478
newfoundland 531
olive-backed 528
red-winged 532
water 478
willow 530
Wilson 532
wood 524
varied, addenda 550
Thrushes 524
Titmice 351
Titmouse, tufted 353
Totipalmate. swimmers 58
Towhee. arctic 387
green tailed 387
red-eyed 385
white-eyed 386
Tropic bird, red-billed 65
yellow-billed 62
Tropic birds 59
Troupial 362
Turkey, florida 278
wild 277
Turkeys 277
Turnstone 194
Vireo. bell 502
black-whiskered 496
IXDEX.
549
Yireo, burmudan 502
key west 5U2
mountain 500
philadelpia 497
plumbeous 500
red-eyed 406
solitary 500
warblincr 497
white-eyed 501
yeilow-ofreen 498
yellow-throated 499
Vire(js 495
Vulture, black 279
turkey 279
Vultures 278
Was^tail, white 480
Wasjtails, wood 477
AVarbler, auduDon 433
bachiman 459
bay-breasted 441
black and white 429
blackburnean 442
black-polled 440
black throated blue 431
black-throated f^reen
443
blue winged 457
brewster 455
Canadian 472
cape may 434
cairn 432
cerulean 436
chestnut-sided 438
Connecticut 466
tiorida pine 447
golden-winged 455
hooded 470
kentucky 464
kirtland 446
lawrence 457
Warbler, magnolia 435
mourning 467
myrtle 432
nashville 459
northern parula 453
orange-crowned -159
palm 448
parula 453
pine 457
prairie 450
prothonotary 461
swainson 464
sycamore 431
tennessee 461
townsend 445
western parula 455
Wilson 471
worm-eating 463
yellow 451
yellow palm 449
yello\^-rhroated 430
Warblers, american 429
^\■ater birds 5
Waxwing, bohemian 490
cedar 489
Wheatear. greenland 535
WhiD-poor-wiii 327
VVhimbrell 185
Widgeon 231
Willet 175
western 176
Woodcock, american 137
european 140
Woodcock and Snipe 136
Woodpecker, american
three-toed 321
arctic three-toed 320
cockaded 319
downy 319
florida pileated 323
o3(i
IXDKX.
Woodpecker, hairy 317
ivory billed 821
uewfounulaud ;^^l
norihern downy 819
northern hairy 817
norihern pileaied 323
piieated 822
red-bellieo 315
red-headed 816
southern downy 318
southern hairy 318
\Vood])erkprs 318
"Wood wicrtail? 477
Wren, be wick 5J8
Carolina 507
llorida 507
Wren, bjuse 508
louiT-billed marsh 510
louisiana marsh 512
raarian marsh 511
prairie marsh 512
short-billed marsh 513
western house 509
winter 510
worihincrton marsh 512
AVrens 506
Yellow leffs. greater 168
lesser 171
Yellow throat, maryland
468
northern 469
southern 470
ADDENDA.
RICHARDSON OWL—
Larger than Saw-whet Owl, 9. and differs in color in
being darker and in having five lines of white spots on
tail. Breeds from Gulf of St. Lawrence northward, rarely
wandering South in winter into northern U. S.
VARIED THRUSH—
Differs from Robin in absence of biack on crown and
streak on throat with wing bands, line over and behind
eye. and beneath brownish yellow; band across breast,
patch on sides of head, black. Pacific coast, accidental in
N.J.,N. Y. and Mass.
CoKRECTioxs: pasre 307, 3rd line from bottom, for
FLOUDA, read FLORIDA.
Page 362, first line, for TROPICAL read TROUPIAL.
T HE E ^ D .
100101348
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