arc.

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

IN MEMORY OF

Dr. and Mrs*
Frank Weymouth

Gambers White-crowned Sparrow.
NuttaU's White-crowned Sparrow.

(Seepage 74.)

A First Book upon the BIRDS

WASHINGTON

A Pocket Guide and Pupil' s Assistant in a

study of the more common Land Birds

and a few of the Shore and Water

Birds of these States.

WILLIAM ROGERS LORD

Revised and Enlarged Edition.

1902

WILLIAM ROGERS LORD

OFFICE OF THE J. K. GILL COMPANY

PORTLAND, OREGON.

Copyright, IQO2, by William R. Lord
A II rights reserved

BIOLOGY
Add'l

GIFT

The Heintzemann Press
Boston

GbfS .IBOOfc

IS DEDICATED TO ALL BIRD LOVERS IN THE STATES FOR
WHICH IT IS PREPARED, ESPECIALLY TO THE

ant) ILafcfes of tbe

IN THE CITIES, TOWNS AND SCHOOLS, WHO

RECOGNIZE AND HAVE ACCEPTED THE TITLE, AND ALSO

TO ALL THOSE WHO, THROUGH ITS PAGES, SHALL

COME TO FIND IN THE BIRDS MINIS-

TERS OF BEAUTY AND JOY *

242

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION ..... 9
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND EDITION 13

CHAPTER I.
A WORD TO BEGINNERS AND TO TEACHERS . . 17

CHAPTER II.
THE BIRDS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON . . 22

CHAPTER III.
How TO KNOW THE BIRDS 28

CHAPTER IV.

How BIRDS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK . . 32

CHAPTER V.

How TO NAME THE BIRDS 37

CHAPTER VI.
UPON IMPORTED SONG BIRDS 237

CHAPTER VII.
How TO DOMESTICATE AND TAME BIRDS . . . 242

KEYS TO ASSIST IN FINDING THE BIRDS —

Size Key 261

Color Key 264

BIRDS GROUPED IN FAMILIES. Scientific Order 269

A COURSE OF STUDY UPON BIRDS FOR SCHOOLS

AND BIRD-STUDENTS 279

INDEX 299

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS .... Frontispiece

TOPOGRAPHICAL BIRD 33

WESTERN MEADOWLARK ........ 40

WESTERN MEADOWLARK SONGS ..... 41,43

TAME GROSBEAKS IN OREGON CITY ..... 48

TOWHEE, OR CHEWINK ........ i 60

TAME ROBIN AND FLEDGLING ....... 78

BOY AND CEDAR WAXWING . . . . . , . 112

A PAIR OF WESTERN MEADOWLARKS . , . . 126

FLYCATCHERS ....... 138

ROBIN IN THE OPEN ........... 154

BONAPARTE'S GULL .......... 170

WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK .,,... 184

SCREECH OWL . . . 196

KILLDEER BROODING , = . . 202

AMERICAN HERRING GULL BROODING . . , . 212

SNOWFLAKE , . . 224

CHILDREN AND CEDAR WAXWING ....'. 242

MARTIN HOUSE ....;...,,.. 246

BOY AND ROBIN ............ 258

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN I came to Oregon in the spring of 1899
from the North Atlantic States, I was greatly
delighted at the strange and beautiful songs of
some of the birds which, from the morning of
my arrival, greeted my ear. Afterward, as I set
about studying and naming these new songsters,
I encountered an unaccustomed difficulty. There
are numerous short, simple and helpful books for
eastern North America, by the aid of which a
resident of that section may begin to know the
birds of his own locality. But I found, upon in-
quiry, that there were none especially for this part
of the United States. The only helps were in
the large scientific works of Ridgway, Coues,
and others, covering the whole or large parts of
the United States — and these were to be had
only in a public library, and when in hand were
not easy of use. I have, therefore, made slow
headway in the study of the birds of Oregon.

io Birds of Oregon and Washington

To save others the difficulties I have encoun-
tered, and to encourage many, I hope, to become
familiar with the beautiful in the form of bird-
life in this section of the country, I have under-
taken to supply at least a present demand, and
furnish something like a First Book upon the
birds of Oregon and Washington.

The number of birds included in this little
book is limited to the purpose for which it is
prepared, viz : to introduce one to most of the
common Land-birds of this section, except the
Game-birds, and to a few of the Water-birds.
The Game-birds are omitted, because it is as-
sumed that they are well known by nearly every
one ; and most of the Water-birds are not given,
because they are not commonly seen, are limited
to the coast and waterways, are shy, and do not
often attract any one except hunters and ad-
vanced bird-students. A few more than one
hundred birds are described.*

The book is also limited in that it seeks mainly
to help one to become acquainted with the birds
by sight and song, leaving, for the most part, a

* In the second edition, the number described is about one hun-
and fifty

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 1

treatment of the habits of birds, their nesting,
etc., for later study.

In the making of this book, I am under obli-
gation to a number of friends and bird-lovers
whose information has been freely given and
whose criticism of my manuscript has saved me
from some errors. During the weeks of writing,
I was fortunate enough to have as a constant ad-
viser and critic, Mr. A. W. Anthony, a recog-
nized authority on the birds of the Coast, from
Alaska to Central America. Also, Mr. Herman
Bohlman, of Portland, Oregon, has given me
his accurate observations of the more local bird-
life, and Mr. Ross Nicholas, of the same place,
has been as generous of his store of local bird
knowledge.

I want also to acknowledge the help that Mr.
Charles A. Keeler's book, " Bird Notes Afield "
(for California), has been to me in making this
more northern partial directory. I have been
aided by his excellent descriptive list. Due
credit has been given him as often as I have
made use of his work.

Of course, " Ridg way's Manual" has been
always by my side for reference, while Mr.

1 2 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Chapman's " Bird-Life " has served me on occa-
sion, as he will see, should he take the trouble
to look into these pages.

To Mr. T. Brook White, gratitude is due for
his labor, under difficulties, in photographing the
birds, " half-tones " of which appear among the
pages of the book.*

Thanks are due to friends for aid in manu-
script and proof reading, and in copying.

In preparing the book, I have had the en-
couragement and constant assistance of my wife.
Her deep sympathy with the subject and her
literary sense have rendered her services too
valuable not to have them recognized in this
place.

* One of these, that of the Western Evening Grosbeak, remains in
this edition. I am indebted to the Curators of the American Mu-
seum of Natural History, New York, Dr. Allen and Mr. Chapman,
for the use of the birds for the five pictures composed, photographed
and touched by Mr. H. C. Denslow of that institution; to Dr. C. F.
Hodge, of Clark University, Worcester, Mass., for the pictures of the
living Waxwing and the Robin ; to Miss Ida E. Hegner, of Decorah,
Iowa, for another; to Rev. H. W. Gleason for all except two of the
remaining photographs of birds, living and dead. One of these, the
living Killdeer, though taken by Mr. Gleason, comes through the cour-
tesy of the " Outing " Company, New York ; the other, the living
brooding American Herring Gull, through the courtesy of Mr. Wm.
Dutcher, of the Protective Committee of the American Ornitholo-
gists' Union,

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND
EDITION.

THE introduction to the first edition of this
book may stand as originally written, save for a
word or two.

In sending out the second edition, so soon
after the first, some statements should be made
to students and readers of the book.

Three weeks after the first edition was given
to the public, the Text Book Commission of the
State of Oregon selected " A First Book upon
the Birds of Oregon and Washington " for " Sup-
plementary Reading " in the public schools of
the State. Such action at once made necessary
a new edition, to meet a demand far beyond that
anticipated in printing the first one. It was
almost unavoidable that a book, which was not
only " a " but the " First Book upon the Birds cf
Oregon and Washington," should be imperfect
and deficient, not alone on account of the

1 4 Birds of Oregon and Washington

author's own limited knowledge, but also because
of the ignorance, even amongst great ornitholo-
gists, of bird-life in special localities in the vast
territory which our two States include — an
area nearly as large as all New England plus the
States of New York and Pennsylvania. In only
a few places, have any authoritative observations
and records been made.

The publication of his first book brought to
the author, from several quarters, information
profitable — both for new knowledge and for
correction — to himself and to all who shall read
the new edition.

For the reason given above, even this book
cannot be adequate alike to the bird-life of every
quarter in so large an area. No doubt some
birds, not described in these pages, will be found
in some particular place to be more or less com-
mon. But, using all known means of assistance,
it is believed, after a careful survey of the region
covered by the title of this book, that most of
the common land-birds of Oregon and Washing-
ton are here described.

In this new publication, more than thirty have
been added to the old list and changes (some of

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 5

them important) have been made. Particularly
important are the alterations in the lists of birds
under the former headings, "Peculiar," "Va-
riety," and « Identical."

Some of the changes in the text are due to
the recent renaming of birds on the authority
of the American Ornithologists' Union, e. g. the
change in the names of the Gambel's and the
Intermediate White-crowned Sparrows.

The author closes these preliminary state-
ments with acknowledgments again to Mr. A.
W. Anthony, the eminent ornithologist upon
this coast, who has been as generous and helpful
in the making of this book as he was in the
making of the first one, and to Mr. Frank M.
Chapman, the distinguished ornithologist and
assistant curator of the Department of Mam-
malogy and Ornithology of the Museum of Nat-
ural History, New York City, who by criticism
and suggestion has been of the greatest assis-
tance. But neither he nor Mr. Anthony is
responsible for any errors that may be in these
pages ; to their aid rather, will be due the ab-
sence of many which otherwise might be found.

The author is anxious to make it possible for

1 6 Birds of Oregon and Washington

all who own the first edition to possess the re-
vised, as the new edition is very carefully cor-
rected, considerably enlarged and more fully and
beautifully illustrated.*

* The author and publisher has therefore authorized his agents,
the J. K.Gill Company, Third Street, Portland, Oregon, to exchange
the old for the new School edition for 35 cents at the bookstore, or
42 cents postpaid.

CHAPTER I.

A WORD TO BEGINNERS AND TEACHERS.

A WORD to beginners, and also especially to
teachers in our schools, as to the kind of inter-
est in birds which should be primarily aroused
and cultivated.

I once heard a high school graduate read an
essay upon Browning's " How They Brought
the Good News from Ghent to Aix," in which
that splendid, living and moving poem, after
being killed, was minutely dissected. The es-
sayist knew just where Ghent and Aix were and
just the length of the ride ; but of consciousness
of the beauty in the human struggle so strongly
set forth, and of enthusiasm for it, there was
not a trace. Such interest in birds and flowers
we may awaken in others and be led into our-
selves, when, with the eagerness of a collector
of stamps or coins, it gets to be a morbid passion

17

1 8 Birds of Oregon and Washington

to catalogue our " finds," or to enter a rivalry as
to who knows the most varieties or can tell the
most about the birds of our own and other locali-
ties. Certainly all education should tend to
ennoble character and furnish the sources of the
highest happiness. If this be the end sought,
then a sympathetic and aesthetic interest is the
thing we must seek to get and give, in our pur-
suit of knowledge of birds.

Indeed, it is a pursuit fairly dangerous to our
own possible enjoyment, when we set out with
opera-glass and note-book to name and cata-
logue the birds, lest we shall be less satisfied to
listen with exquisite satisfaction to some superb
singer, than to get his description in our note-
books. It is not a tithe as important that we
should know the name and habits of a bird as
that we should answer his ecstasy of song with
ecstasy of delight. Dr. Henry van Dyke has
given us a motto for the societies which are op-
posing the heartless and harmful practice of
using birds for millinery purposes. It is : " A
bird in the bush is worth ten in the hat."
Should not every bird-student have at the begin-
ning of his note-book some sentiment like this ?

Birds of Oregon and Washington 19

" A bird in the heart is worth more than a hun-
dred in the note-book." In a word, let us, in the
study of birds, learn to take more time to listen
to the beauty of song and to look at the beauty
of form, of color and of movement, than to add
their names to our lists and familiarize ourselves
with their curious habits.

It 's little I can tell

About the birds in books ;
And yet I know them well,

By their music and their looks :
When May comes down the lane,
Her airy lovers throng
To welcome her with song,
And follow in her train :
Each minstrel weaves his part
In that wild-flowery strain,
And I know them all again
By their echo in my heart.

— Henry van Dyke.

In this place something must be said about
the desirability of making collections of birds,
eggs and nests.

Let us admit that one such collection for pub-
lic use in a museum is necessary for each town
or city. Beyond this we may not go. But, with

2O Birds of Oregon and Washington

John Burroughs and others, collecting is dis-
tinctly discouraged in this little book, for the
following reasons : The true interest, as above
indicated, is a living and sympathetic one. And
a person imperils this when, for the sake of cabi-
net-classification, he takes the life of birds, or
robs them of their offspring, even though the
offspring is yet undeveloped in the egg. Such
work, so far as necessary, should be left to the
few pure scientists, who, if their hearts are right,
will pursue their object with a deep sense of
painful necessity, and with the greatest discre-
tion.

It is notorious that bird-collectors are apt to
become perfectly ruthless in their, slaughter of
birds and spoliation of nests — actually stripping
whole localities of every egg and nest of certain
species. This is the natural consequence of
substituting an artificial interest for a natural
and sympathetic one.

Our love of birds can never be shown by our
mounted collections any more than our love of
children could be shown in the same way.

Then, it is far better to study and identify
birds in the fields and woods than in a museum.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 2 1

The latter is easier, it is true ; but it is too easy
for the true bird-lover. The bird should be
alive. There is joy in bringing a living, restless
bird to our eye, and in noting his " markings"
and " placing " him afterward by means of book
or key, that cannot be gained when we stand in
the presence of a labeled, lifeless creature. In
these days of abundant help from books and
fellow-students, many may not need to see a col-
lection at all.

Again as the interest in birds is becoming ex-
tensive and is being taken up by school children,
should this false interest be allowed to arise,
clearly there would be no birds, eggs or nests
left.

CHAPTER II.
THE BIRDS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

THERE are no birds that belong to Oregon
and Washington alone. All of the kinds found
here are to be seen up and down the coast this
side of the Rocky Mountains, and sometimes
beyond, within certain extended limits. By the
" Birds of Oregon and Washington," we mean
the birds that live in this section a part, or the
whole, of the year, These differ largely from
the birds east of the Mississippi River. There
are many species which are altogether unlike
the eastern birds ; while some remotely re-
semble their eastern relatives, and others are
so much like them that they seem, to an
untrained eye, to be exactly the same. But
in the varieties which so nearly correspond,
there is a difference, for the most part, in size,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 2 3

in form, in color and perhaps in song. The
birds on this coast are probably, on the average,
larger than the same birds over the mountains,
and, in general, within the rainy belt, the colors
are darker. The difference in hue may be
accounted for by the fact that there is less sun-
shine here. Some of the same, or correspond-
ing varieties do not sing quite as much as do
the eastern birds. Again, birds of correspond-
ing kinds are not generally so numerous here as
further east — though some varieties, common
to both sections, are more numerous than in the
Atlantic States. Song-birds are characteristic
of inhabited lands, and multiply in proportion to
human habitations in country districts. They
must have open country, shrubs, hedges, decidu-
ous trees of low and high growth, and the
protection of man. If the Pacific States use
diligent care, in a few years the song-birds of
this coast will be abundant.

I say above that there are many birds on this
part of the Pacific coast unlike those on the
Atlantic. In this book, I have described or
mentioned about one hundred and fifty of the
birds of this section. All but about a dozen are

24.' Birds of Oregon and Washington

Land-birds, and the list covers nearly all of this
class that are, in most localities, common.

Now of these one hundred and forty and
more species, or sub-species, of birds, nearly one
hundred belong to the region of country west of
the Mississippi Valley; of the latter, forty-five
are altogether confined to the Pacific Slope and
a few of the forty-five to the North Pacific
Slope ; leaving about fifty identical in kind with
eastern varieties. The lists thus indicated are
given at the end of this chapter under the head-
ings "Pacific" —meaning species or sub-species
confined to the Pacific Slope; " Western"
meaning species or sub-species found upon the
Pacific coast, but extending further east, some
of them into the Mississippi Valley ; and " Iden-
tical " —meaning, of course, the same on both
sides of the continent.

One species at least, the Western Meadow-
lark, is found at a little distance beyond the
Mississippi River but it makes no nearer ap-
proach to the Atlantic side ; another, Traill's
Flycatcher, is seen as far east as Ohio, but does
not cross the Alleghany Mountains.

In the back of the book will be found, for the

Birds of Oregon and Washington 25

use of scientific students, a table of the birds
herein described, arranged in scientific order,
with the Latin names, as given up to date in
the Check-list of the American Ornithologists'
Union,

PACIFIC.

Pacific Kittiwake.
Glaucous-winged Gull.
Western Gull.
Short-billed Gull.
Black Merlin. (Hawk).
Kennicott's Screech Owl.
MacFarlane's Screech Owl.
Dusky Horned Owl.
California Pygmy Owl.
Harris's Woodpecker.
Gairdner's Woodpecker.
Red-breasted Sapsucker.
Northwestern Flicker.
Poorwill.
Vaux's Swift.
Allen's Hummingbird.
Streaked Horned Lark.
Dusky Horned Lark.
Steller's Jay.
California Jay.
Gray Jay.
Northwest Crow.
Bicolored Blackbird.

Western

California Purple Finch.

Willow Goldfinch.

Oregon Vesper Sparrow, or

Bay-winged Bunting.
NuttalPs Sparrow.
Golden -crowned Sparrow.
Oregon Junco.
Rusty Song Sparrow.
Townsend's Sparrow.
Oregon Towhee.
Western Martin.
Cassin's Vireo.^
Pacific Yellow-throat.
Parkman's Wren.
Sierra Creeper.
Oregon Chickadee.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
Coast Wren-Tit.
Bush-Tit.
Western Golden-crowned

Kinglet.

Russet-backed Thrush.
Varied Thrush.
Bluebird.

26 Birds of Oregon and Washington

WESTERN.

California Gull.
Band-tailed Pigeon.
Western Red-tailed Hawk.
Swainson's Hawk.
Ferruginous Rough -legged

Hawk.

Desert Sparrow-Hawk.
Burrowing OwTl.
California Cuckoo.
California!! Woodpecker.
Lewis's Woodpecker.
Red-shafted Flicker.
Western Nighthawk.
Black Swift.

Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Rufous Hummingbird.
Calliope Hummingbird.
Arkansas Kingbird.
Say's Phoebe.
Western Black Phoebe.
Western Wood Pewee.
Western Flycatcher.
Traill's Flycatcher.
American Magpie.
American Raven.
Clarke's Nutcracker.
Pinon Jay.
Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Mountain

Western Meadowlark.
Bullock's Oriole.
Brewer's Blackbird.
Western Evening Grosbeak.
Arkansas Goldfinch.
Western Savanna Sparrow.
Western Lark Sparrow,
Gambel's Sparrow.
Western Chipping Sparrow.
Black -headed Grosbeak.
Lazuli Bunting.
Louisiana Tanager.
Violet-green Swallow.
Lutescent Warbler.
Audubon's Warbler.
Black-throated Gray

Warbler.

Macgillivray's Warbler.
Long-tailed Chat.
Pileolated Warbler.
American Dipper.
Sage Thrasher.
Rock Wren.

Northwestern Vigors's Wren.
Western Winter Wren.
Tule Wren.

Slender-billed Nuthatch.
Western Robin.
Bluebird.

Birds of Oregon and Washington
IDENTICAL.

American Herring Gull.
Ring-billed Gull.
Bonaparte's Gull.
Arctic Tern.
Black Tern.
American Bittern.
Great Blue Heron.
Green Heron.
Northern Phalarope.
Least Sandpiper.
Red -backed Sandpiper.
Western Sandpiper.
Killdeer.
Mourning Dove.
Marsh-Hawk.
Sharp -shinned Hawk.
Cooper's Hawk.
American Rough-legged

Hawk.

Golden Eagle.
Bald Eagle.
Pigeon-Hawk.
American Osprey.
Short-eared Owl.
Belted Kingfisher.

Northern Pileated Wood-
pecker.
Kingbird.

Olive-sided Flycatcher.
Skylark.

American Crow.
Starling.

Red-winged Blackbird.
American Crossbill.
Redpoll.
Pine Siskin.
Snow flake.
English Sparrow.
Cliff Swallow.
Barn Swrallow.
Tree Swallow.
Bank Swallow.
Rough-winged Swallow.
Cedar Waxwing.
Warbling Vireo.
Yellow Warbler.
Myrtle Warbler.
American Pipit.
Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet .

CHAPTER III.
How TO KNOW THE BIRDS.

As the most attractive thing about a bird is
its song, our first care must be to learn to listen
to the various beautiful notes of all the different
birds that we may hear in any country place or
open city spot.

To learn to really know bird-songs, is to hear
them without effort and by habit, wherever we
may be and whatever we are doing. A bird-
lover will hear a score of different songs while
he talks with a friend, or reads a book ; for it
is one of the delights of one who has come into
sympathetic touch with bird-life that he can
respond to every sweet song without having his
attention diverted from his usual tasks. The
habit of closed ears and heart to this ministry of
bird-song is characteristic of most people. Some
of us have sat in a room in June, and have been

28

Birds of Oregon and Washington 29

asked by friends whether there were any birds
about that particular spot, while, with the win-
dows open, not less than ten varieties of birds
were pouring their melodies into the unattend-
ing ears of these people, who have never been
accustomed to listen.

First, then, learn to listen ! Then learn to
see !

Birds are beautiful on account of their color,
though in some kinds it sometimes seems dull
and even ugly. Beautiful are they, too, in shape
and in movement. Learn to love all these qual-
ities, if you would truly know all about the birds.
There are the nesting fashions that you will, by
and by, want to watch with sympathetic inter-
est and helpful attention — sometimes furnishing
material for the roofless cottage in the tree, as
you may. But in the Beginning your attention
will most naturally and profitably be given to
the song and the appearance of the birds. It
is to help you in taking these first steps that
this " First Book upon the Birds of Oregon and
Washington " is written.

How, then, shall you best learn to know birds
by their songs and their looks ? You will learn

30 Birds of Oregon and Washington

to listen and learn to look by listening and look-
ing— not alone when you go out to find the
birds, but when you pass along your usual walks,
even in the streets of a city as large as Portland
or Seattle.

In the bird season, from March into July, you'
need not go far to hear beautiful songs and see
several varieties of birds. If you are bent upon
describing and learning the names of the birds,
go where the birds are, taking with you a
pair of sharp eyes, and better, even with these,
a pair of opera or field-glasses. And then go
slow !

You should often wait for the birds to come
to you, while you stand, or sit, near a dead tree,
or a tVee with a dead top, in an open space. In
an hour, eight or ten varieties have been known
to visit such a tree for the bird-student. Let
your movements be quiet as you go about.
Raise your glasses slowly. A hasty motion will
frighten the object of your attention. You
should have a note-book with leaves made some-
thing after the pattern of the one in the back of
this book, and put down the best description
that you can of the several birds that you see ;

Birds of Oregon and Washington 3 1

then, by the aid of this book, or another, find the
names of the birds whose size, color, etc., you
have thus noted. Do not undertake to name too
many at once. Get thoroughly acquainted with
the looks and the song (if the birds have a song)
of two or three varieties before you anxiously
try to place others. It is easy to get confused
at first.

The best time of day is, of course, the early
morning or the late afternoon hours.

CHAPTER IV.

How BIRDS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK.

NOTE i. The order in which the birds are
taken is mainly that of interest and discovery,
rather than the artificial one of ornithological
classification. The latter association is left for
later study.

After naming each variety of bird, there is
first given a "General Description," which is in-
tended to answer to the first more superficial
impression which one receives of a bird, not
having had time to see in detail what it is like.
A more "Particular Description" follows, but
one not too particular or technical for the aid of
young people, or of those who lack the ability
to use easily scientific terms.

NOTE 2. By "length" of a bird we mean the
distance from end of bill to tip of tail, were the
bird dead and stretched out. The living bird is,

34 Birds of Oregon and Washington

of course, not so long, and allowance must be
made.

In measuring birds by the eye, it is well to
take for our standards the Robin and the English
Sparrow ; and say, for example, " Two-thirds the
size of the Robin," or a " little larger " or "a
little smaller than an English Sparrow," etc.

NOTE 3. In order to assist beginners in the
identification of birds, there will be found at the
end of the book two " Keys," one for size, and
one for color for male birds only ; the females
must be recognized through their association
with the males.

I give here an example of the manner of using
the Keys : Suppose you do not know the Audu-
bon's Warbler, which is small, length 5 y2 inches ;
soft gray above ; with yellow crown, yellow side-
patches on breast ; yellow throat and yellow
rump ; breast, black and white streaked. After
seeing it and writing down a description of the
bird, to help your memory, look at the " Size
Key " and find the birds that are smaller " than
the English Sparrow," for you know that the
bird must be in that list. That list will include
thirty-three names. Then look in the Key for

Birds of Oregon and Washington 3 5

Color for " Birds Markedly Yellow or Orange,"
and you will find among them only seven of the
thirty-three in the list on size which you have
just consulted. The bird must be one of the
seven. Find in the Index, in turn, the names of
these seven birds ; then refer to the pages where
descriptions of these birds are given, and in a
few minutes you will have identified your bird.

Another example : Suppose it were Steller's
Jay that you had found ; you would look in the
Key for Size for " Birds much larger than the
Robin " ; then turn to the Key for Color to the
list under " Blue and Bluish."

At the end of the book will be found two
models for making a note-book for writing down
descriptions of birds. One, for a " General De-
scription," to be used when the bird has been
seen only in a general and superficial way ; the
other, for a " Particular Description," and to be
used for more detailed observations.* The

*The model for the Particular Description is based upon the
" Topographical Bird," to be seen at the beginning of this chapter.
The bird is kindly furnished by Mr. F. M. Chapman, in order to
enable students in Oregon and Washington to use the " Bird-Lore's
Field Identification Blank," prepared by Mr. Chapman, and sold at
about cost. For ten cents, these books will be sent postpaid by the
J. Horace McFarland Company, Harnsburg, Pennsylvania.

36 Birds of Oregon and Washington

models are followed by a number of blank
leaves, upon which may be kept the growing list
of birds as they are learned. They may also be
useful for other permanent notes, such as notes
upon migrations, arrivals and departures ; upon
the birds which we see in early or in mid-winter,
etc.

CHAPTER V.

How TO NAME THE BIRDS.

THE order in which the birds are taken in this
book is elsewhere stated to be " mainly that of
interest and discovery rather than the one of
artificial classification."

Applying this principle here, those birds are,
to a considerable extent, taken first which are
most attractive in point of beauty or habit, and
which are also sufficiently common to be, on all
sides, evident.

" Discovery," however, must wait upon sea-
sons,— and thus the "seasonal" idea must in
some important degree determine our order.
Yet a strictly " seasonal order " is not always
convenient for the student. And, therefore, in
some instances, especially where different species
of the same family of birds are all present in a
locality at one time, and through experience are
already associated in the minds of people, though

38 Birds of Oregon and Washington

some are permanent and others are only sum-
mer residents, they are treated together as a
family, and then individually in succession, as,
for example, the Wrens and the Gulls.

The season which the author has in mind, in
beginning the following descriptions, is for the
latitude of southern Oregon, January 2Oth ; for
Portland, February i st ; and for northern Wash-
ington, February loth to i5th.

The seasons are supposed to move on, in the
book, with the months, till one arrives at the
"Winter Birds." We should remember, how-
ever, that the summer birds, are, for the most
part, to be observed by July ist.

For a full course of study, the student is
referred to the last chapter of the book, "A
Course of Study upon Birds for Schools and
Bird-Students."

Now let us try to name about one hundred
and fifty varieties of birds to be heard and seen
in some part of the territory for which this book
is prepared.

THE WESTERN ROBIN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black head and gray back.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 39

Under parts : rufous or reddish.
Length: 10.5 inches.
Found in open country and orchards.

" Everybody knows the Robin," you will say.
" Why trouble to tell us anything about him ? "
Do you really know much about him ? Are you
sure you know his song ? Not if you think all
Robins sing alike. They do not, any more than
all people who sing, sing alike. If you listen to
the several Robins that you may hear upon some
fine morning, notice how their voices are like
human voices, in that some are sweeter, far
sweeter, than others. The Robin belongs to the
Thrush family, and sometimes one gives us what
you may recognize for its peculiarly enchanting
quality — a Thrush-song. The Robin is a " com-
mon " bird, but he is like children — not to be
despised on that account. The farmers some-
times hate him and kill him as an enemy, being
unwilling to allow him the comparatively small
pay he asks for the unmeasured good he does
them in the quantities of harmful worms he de-
vours. A pair of Robins sometimes take more
than one hundred cut-worms in a day for them-
selves and their young.

40 Birds of Oregon and Washington

After nesting time, Robins are rovers, and in
large flocks may be seen in every part of the
country.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head and tail, black-
ish ; throat, white, streaked with black ; eyelids, white ;
back, gray ; breast, rufous or reddish ; abdomen and
under tail-coverts, white. The young have speckled
breasts.

Nearly all Robins are migratory ; some spend
the winter south of Oregon, and some coming
from further north remain with us. A few may
be permanent residents. In early February the
northern migration begins, and an occasional
song may be heard. In March the Robins will
welcome every dawn and early riser.

THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brownish-gray.

Under parts : yellow and black.

Length, 10 inches and more.
Found in open fields.

If this part of our country had no bird except
the Meadowlark, it would, in respect of bird-
song, be blessed above any other land I know.
Such a rarely beautiful, endlessly varied and

Western Meadowlark.

m

i

42 Birds of Oregon and Washington

wonderfully incessant singer ! No bird any-
where has a fuller or richer note ; none such
variety of songs, except, perhaps, the Mocking-
bird ; none like this bird makes varied and joy-
ous melody in summer and in winter, too ; in
rain, in snow, in cold. Not a day in the winter
of 1900 and 1901, have Meadowlarks upon a
hill near Portland failed to voice the happiness,
or bid depart the gloom, of their human neigh-
bors. No one knows the bird until he has lis-
tened to the many different songs that he sings
while perched upon tree or fence, or again upon
a telegraph pole, or even upon the ridgepole of a
house ; nor yet unless he has caught a peculiar
and most rapturous song while the bird is on the
wing — a song so unlike those we are accustomed
to that it seems not to have been uttered by a
Meadowlark at all.

The variety of the songs of the Meadowlark
upon this coast, counting songs in different
localities, seems limitless. The birds in one
locality jnay not exceed twenty varieties of song,
but a few miles in any direction will add, prob-
ably, twenty more, etc. I have heard at Forest
Grove, in Oregon, five new songs from the same

/fT\ X7\ M

/i

44 Birds of Oregon and Washington

bird, in the course of twenty minutes, and in the
suburbs of Tacoma, as many others, in the same
time, from a Meadowlark there. The song goes
from a clear, flute-like whistle, through distinct
and varied melodies, to a brilliant roulade — the
latter, as I have before indicated, being executed
upon the wing.

Ernest Seton-Thompson says of the Meadow-
lark, in his " Birds of Manitoba," " In richness
of voice and modulation it equals or excels both
Wood Thrush and Nightingale, and in the beauty
of its articulation it has no superior in the whole
world of feathered choristers with which I am
acquainted." This is high praise, and yet I sus-
pect that he could not have heard the variety of
song in that part of the continent which the
same bird (as classified by ornithologists) gives
on this coast. At all events, the Meadowlarks
of Minnesota, when I heard them, though beau-
tiful, as Mr. Seton-Thompson describes them, as
far as they went, failed to attract me by the
variety of music that I instantly noticed here.

But his estimation of the quality, modulation
and articulation of the song of the bird that he
heard, is not overdone, unless, perhaps, we ought,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 45

in justice, to say of the bird, there and here, that
its only blemish as a singer is that it usually
ends its melody too abruptly. The Wood
Thrush, to which Mr. Seton-Thompson refers,
lets its final note melt into the air. Still, at
times and at a little distance, I have heard an
extraordinary singer among our Meadowlarks
give the effect of the Hermit Thrush of the
Eastern States — that bird which John Burroughs
calls the most spiritual of singers.

The Meadowlark of the East, though almost
the same as ours in color, size and form, has,
in comparison, a very thin, though sweet, voice
and a more unvaried song ; it is never seen
so near human dwellings as is the Western
Meadowlark.

This bird nests in the grass, and early in the
season. Its young are sometimes on the wing
by May 25th.

It should be stated here that the Meadowlark,
though called a " Lark," is, properly speaking,
not a Lark at all, but belongs to the Oriole
family.

During the past year, my wife has written
down a few of the songs of these birds, heard

46 Birds of Oregon and Washington

from our window, and seven of them are here
given by way of suggestion.

Through the kindness of Mr. A. F. Hofer, of
Chicago, and of his son, Mr. A. F. Hofer, Jr.,
of Salem, Oregon, I have, in my possession
thirty-one Meadowlark songs noted down by the
former, who was once a bandmaster in Germany,
and as a boy in the Black Forest was gifted
with powers to imitate the most difficult bird-
songs. Upon a second page, four of the most
striking and characteristic of these songs (I.)
are given, with three more (II.) taken from
some published in the " Auk," January, 1896, by
Mr. L. Belding, who wrote them down in Grid-
ley, California.

Mr. Hofer heard all but three of the thirty-
one songs mentioned, near Salem, Oregon. He
says of these birds, " I never heard more than
one sing the same notes, although several sang
in the same key, yet with a different rhythm.'*

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back and tail,
brownish-gray, streaked with lighter shade, with a pale
line down the top of head and another over the eye ; all
below, yellow, with a black crescent upon the breast ;
sides, gray, streaked with brown.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 47

To be found always in farm-fields and in all
open places about towns and cities.

To a considerable extent, a permanent resi-
dent.

THE WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Old gold, nearly all over ; large white patches on

wings ; very large bill.
Length, 8 inches.

Found about towns and country places some seasons
from February into May.

This is the most beautiful late winter and
spring bird in our section, and one of the most
beautiful birds that we have at any time of the
year. The Grosbeak comes from homes largely
unknown, from the Coast Range, the Cascade
Mountains, and perhaps, in part, from the Sier-
ras. No one has yet found their nesting-places.
Only two or three nests have been reported, and
these were apparently accidental, but the birds
have been seen at nesting-time in the Cascade
Mountains in southern Oregon, by A. W.
Anthony, and Messrs. Finley, Bohlman, and
Nicholas had evidence of their presence in the

48 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Coast Range Mountains in June, 1901. They
leave their summer feeding-ground, when severe
winters drive them to the open country of west-
ern Oregon and Washington, here to thrive upon
abundant food which they find in maple tree
seeds, etc. The huge size of the bill indicates
the use which these birds make of them in crack-
ing pine cones.

Though nesting so far from the habitation of
man, they are wondrously tame, as they appear
in flocks in our City Parks, and upon our lawns.
So friendly already, it is easy to win further their
confidence, and induce them to eat out of the
hand. A lady of Oregon City, in the winter of
1898—99, succeeded in bringing numbers of these
beautiful birds to sit upon her arms, hands and
lap. The writer has two pictures of this win-
some woman with the Grosbeaks thus confidingly
resting upon her person. One of these pictures
is given in these pages. In the winter of
1900-01 some of the same birds returned
after two years' absence, -- the identification
being established by certain unmistakable marks,
like the blindness of one in one eye, and the
misshapen leg of another.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 49

The explanation of the fearlessness of these
birds is found in the fact that they are not fa-
miliar enough with the bird-stoning and killing
propensities of human beings to keep at a safe
distance. Every wild and fearful bird is a sad
comment upon the savage treatment bird-life has
received at the hands of man. And every such
familiar intercourse as that between this bird-
lover in Oregon City and the birds, indicates
what, if we will, may be the future relation be-
tween us and these angels of song and beauty.

The Evening Grosbeak has no song proper
while with us, but has such a musical conversa-
tional note that we long some day to come upon
the quiet family in their summer homes ; where
if their love-song is one-half as sweet as the
songs of other Grosbeaks, we know it must be
sweet indeed.

These birds must be very numerous, as re-
ports from different parts of these States show
that, in large flocks, they cover a wide territory.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Crown, black ;
neck, sides of head, throat, breast, and abdomen,
rich olive-yellow or old gold ; color darker on back, shad-
ing lighter yellow to tail-coverts ; white patch on wings ;

5O Birds of Oregon and Washington

yellow line on forehead, extending over each eye ; black
upper tail-coverts and tail, and outer wing-parts ; light
yellow under tail-coverts.

Female : Prevailing color, buffy or yellowish-brown
instead of old gold, with small white spots on wings.

Transient resident.

THE RUSTY SONG SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : rusty brown.

Under parts : breast, white, dashed with long
brown spots, with a larger dusky spot in the
center.

Length, 6 inches.
Found in hedges and low growths.

Every part of temperate North America has a
Song Sparrow of some variety. Eastern Oregon
and Washington have one that is distinguished
for his dark, rusty color, except upon his
breast, which resembles that of the other mem-
bers of the Song Sparrow family in that it is
grayish-white in background, with frequent dark
brown spots, and a larger dash of the same color
in the center.

This little bird is, in a number of respects, in
great contrast with the White-crowned Sparrow,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 5 l

which will be with us in April, and will be de-
scribed later. While the White-crowned Spar-
row usually sits quietly and moves somewhat
sedately, the Rusty Song Sparrow has a nervous,
twitching movement (not unlike the Wren), with
something akin to a fretful air, with head feath-
ers somewhat erectile and tail elevated, indicat-
ing disturbance. Again, while the White-
crowned Sparrow sings inveterately, the Rusty
Song Sparrow is a little chary of exhibiting his
fine vocal powers. But, when he does sing, his
voice does credit to the Song Sparrow family —
the members of which everywhere are notably
sweet musicians. He is often found with us in
the winter time, and occasionally his song may
be heard on a sunny day.

These Sparrows may be found in hedges,
shrubs and trees of low growth. When they
sing, they mount to the top of some shoot taller
than the rest, and can be easily seen and studied
through the glass.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — All above, rusty-brown ;
the breast, as described above; abdomen, grayish-white.

Partly a permanent, and partly a summer, resi-
dent.

52 Birds of Oregon and Washington
THE RED-SHAFTED FLICKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brown, barred with black, with
white rump.

Under parts : light reddish-white, spotted with
black ; under the wings, salmon-red. A con-
spicuous black "crescent on breast.

Length, 12 to 13 inches.

Found everywhere, very often about houses.

It is necessary to give the next place to the
familiar, cheery, beautiful and altogether splendid
Woodpecker, that haunts town and country
alike, sometimes rapping upon houses with his
strong bill, entering them through open win-
dows, and even occasionally forcing his way in
through doors which he has made for himself, if
left undisturbed in his work. This bird is
familiarly known as uthe Flicker." He has
many other names in other parts of the country,
and is here sometimes called the " Yellowham-
mer," after his eastern cousin — though the name
is misapplied, since the Flicker of this coast has
red or salmon color in place of the yellow which
is characteristic of the eastern species. " Red-
hammer " would be the appropriate name for

Birds of Oregon and Washington 5 3

this prying creature, which hammers so often
and so vigorously against tree or house. And
as his eastern cousin is sometimes called the
"Yellow-shafted " Woodpecker, we may call this
the " Red-shafted Woodpecker."

Notice his loud call, salute or signal, from
some high perch : " Kee-yer, kee-yer." In spring
and sometimes at other seasons, his " Wick,
wick, wick, wick," rapidly repeated, may be often
heard ; and his soft affectionate " Whee-hew,
whee-hew, whee-hew " during courtship or in
friendly company. This bird is beautiful in
color, in form, and in movement, whether the
movement be on the wing, in undulating flight,
or while searching the bark of a tree for grubs
or ants. It is a question how far our objections
to this splendid bird's noise about our houses,
and forcible entrance into them, might be re-
moved, if we came to love him as we do the
domestic pets, whose pother and destructiveness
we put up with. The Flicker nests in holes in
trees, which he makes with his strong bill.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male and female:
Head and neck, gray (Anthony says, " rarely with red
crescent across back of neck ") ; back, grayish-brown

54 Birds of Oregon and Washington

and barred with black ; rump, white ; tail, black above
and salmon below ; mustaches in the male, red ; breast
and under parts, soiled white, or very pale vinaceous,
spotted with black ; black crescent on breast.

The Flicker is a permanent resident.

THE NORTHWESTERN FLICKER.

There is a variety of the Flicker more or less
common in our section, especially in its north-
ern part, which so nearly resembles the " Red-
shafted " that few persons will probably care to
distinguish it from the latter bird. It is known
as the " Northwestern " Flicker. No doubt, even
bird-students in certain localities have seen
scarcely any other, and have supposed it to be
the " Red-shafted " ; and for the average student,
perhaps it is just as well not to try and make
a distinction. The distinction is found in gen-
eral in the darker colors of the " Northwestern."

" Back, deeper brown (sometimes of a warm umber
tint) ; lower parts, deeper vinaceous ; throat, deeper ash-
gray (sometimes almost lead color) ; top of head, deeper
brownish ." — Ridgway .

THE WESTERN BLUEBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :
Upper parts : blue.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 5 5

Under parts : chestnut.
Length : 7 inches.
Found about houses and in the open country.

What so gentle reminder that spring is at the
door as the Bluebird by your house in the coun-
try or suburb, with his soft notes and refined
air, carrying with him the color of the sky? He
comes no stranger to your home, if in the previ-
ous spring and summer he has found provided a
small house in which to brood two (perhaps
three) families, according to his success. If you
wish to invite to the hospitality of your home
numerous pairs of these gentlemanly and lady-
like creatures, build for them suitable houses.
The song of the Western Bluebird is not full,
but is, like his manners, gentle and sweet.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : All the upper
parts, sky-blue ; throat, breast and sides, cinnamon-red ;
abdomen, white. In autumn, the blue is a rusty wash.

Female has duller colors.

The Bluebird may be seen occasionally in the
winter season, and his arrival from the South is
like that of the Bluebird of the East, an early
one, often in the first week of February.

56 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Upper and under parts : azure blue.
Length, 7.5 inches.

Found east of the Cascade Mountains, where it
breeds, and is seen in other places occasionally.

This species of the Bluebird is much finer
than the preceding one, being somewhat larger
and more exquisite in color, and by some it is
thought to be the most beautiful of our North
American birds. Its habit of nesting in holes,
in trees and stumps, or about a shed in a mining
camp, is like that of the more common variety in
our western section. Its song is not unlike that
of its western relative, being soft and sweet.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Above, glassy
cerulean blue ; below, lighter blue ; abdomen, and under
tail-coverts, white.

Female : Above, brownish-gray ; wings and tail,
bluish.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :
Black all over.
Length, 9 inches.

Found generally in the country and about large open
grounds in towns and cities.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 5 7

This is the Blackbird of the Pacific coast
from California northward. It is abundant ; and
nearly always, except when nesting, is to be seen
in flocks. The bird has marked peculiarities, in
the very white eye and in the impertinent chal-
lenge-note it utters to any one who happens to
intrude upon its nesting-place or to come upon
it while it is eating. When nesting, it will
saucily and unexpectedly dash against a man's
hat and pursue him for yards in the man's own
enclosure, while yet the nest has not been closely
approached. But these peculiarities add interest
and charm to the bird, in the eyes of the bird-
lover.

His song is not strikingly beautiful, but has
its own special quality, which goes with the bird-
chorus to render enchanting a spring day.

No doubt this Blackbird does some damage
to a farmer's crops for a time ; and it may need
watching and frightening off till the time for
harm is past. But let the farmer remember
that for the most part of the year these vigorous
birds, in pairs and in flocks, devour thousands of
bushels of harmful insects and worms, and quan-
tities of the seeds of weeds in our wide territory.

5 8 Birds of Oregon and Washington

The multiplication of insect-life is the natural
result of destroying birds. They are worth many
times more to us for beauty, fellowship and use,
than the price they ask in fruits and grains in a
brief season.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Glistening
greenish iridescent-black.

Female : Brownish-black, no gloss.

Mostly a summer resident. A few remain the
year round.

EUROPEAN HOUSE, OR ENGLISH, SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : dusty brown.

Under parts : dull grayish.

Length, 6 inches.
Found in towns and cities.

This bird must have a place in our list in order
that he may be recognized, and that we may, as
much as possible, discourage his dwelling in our
neighborhood. He is an imported bird, as his
name suggests, and has brought to our native
American birds only trouble, and to our Ameri-
can people only regret. It is not easy to speak
against any bird ; but this one seems to compel

Birds of Oregon and Washington 59

all bird-lovers to except him from their sympa-
thetic attention. He has no song that may be
called such, mostly putting forth a querulous sort
of cry. He comes, like the tramps and loafers,
to the towns and cities, there to fall upon and
drive away all other feathered dwellers, and he
has power to multiply so rapidly that a few now
will become a legion in two or three years. These
birds have not become numerous in Oregon and
Washington yet, and it is hoped that Bird So-
cieties will take the matter in hand and authorize
intelligent, skillful and humane agents to reduce
and keep down their numbers. Such work is
not for boys, who may mistake other Sparrows
for these pestiferous, quarrelsome and destruc-
tive birds ; and, in killing these, cultivate a taste
for killing birds in general, and also harden
hearts too apt to undergo this process in life.

To show with what rapidity these birds may
multiply, a bulletin issued by the United States
Agricultural Department states that one pair,
in ten years, may produce 275,716,983,698. This
calculation, of course, assumes that all eggs will
hatch and all progeny survive in the line. This
Sparrow is to be found in the spring, having

60 Birds of Oregon and Washington

already pre-empted for its own use every bird-
house built for Bluebirds, Swallows and Wrens,
and forcing its nest into every covert, nook and
corner about buildings.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Ashy above, with
black and chestnut stripes on back and shoulders ;
wings, chestnut, with white bars bordered by black line ;
gray crown ; middle of the throat and breast, black ;
abdomen, grayish-white.

v Female : Paler ; wing-bars, indistinct ; no black on
throat and breast.

Permanent resident, wherever found.

THE OREGON TOWHEE, OR CHEWINK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Round body ; large black head ; sides of breast,

reddish-brown.
Length, 8 inches.

Found in bushes, and often upon the ground scratch-
ing in the leaves.

The boys hereabouts know this particular kind
of bird as the "Catbird," because it has an
alarm-cry very much resembling a cat, but not
so distinctly resembling this animal as the
" Catbird " proper of the Eastern States.

The names " Towhee " and " Chewink " are

Towhee, or Chewink.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 6 1

given the common eastern variety of this spe-
cies because his usual happy call seems to sound
like one of these words. If the family were to
be named from the characteristic call of the
Oregon variety, it would not receive its present
designation.

The Towhee is sometimes called the "Ground
Robin," because the sides of his breast so closely
resemble the Robin's breast in color, and be-
cause he so persistently digs and delves under
the leaves and about the roots of bushes for the
grubs which are his principal food.

He is a very individual bird, and often seems
to go tumbling rather than hopping about in the
bushes, hiding in the deepest thickets from your
sight, but always keeping you within his own
vision.

His song is given from the highest bush in
the clump, or from the top of a low tree, and is
sometimes like the musical trill of a large insect.
He is distinguished for a very red eye.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : black head,
back, tail and neck ; wings, slightly spotted with white ;
breast, white center, reddish-brown sides ; abdomen,
white.

62 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Female : Sooty above ; sides of breast, rather deeper
red.

Partly summer, and partly permanent, resi-
dent.

THE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD.

These States, like those of the East, have in
most parts but one variety of the Hummingbird,
out of the eighteen in the United States arid the
350 in North and South America. The greater
number are in the tropical regions in these con-
tinents. The only one generally distributed in
our States is the Rufous Hummingbird. But in
certain localities in mountainous regions, and in
other favorable spots in the large area which
these States include, ornithologists have noted
the presence of at least three other species of
this interesting family ; namely : the Allen's, the
Calliope and the Black-chinned Hummingbirds.

The Rufous Hummingbird is dainty, like all
of the family, beautiful and very abundant. His
appearance is the nearest to a suggestion of a
sprite that any bird gives us. So far as he
seems material, he carries with him the appear-
ance of a "winged gem," or again of a winged

Birds of Oregon and Washington 63

flower. So sensitive does our little bird seem,
that we could hardly expect it to enter our
climate until late June or early July, after the
cold rains have passed. We never can quite
outgrow, through familiarity, the sense of sur-
prise and even of amazement, when this little
breath of a bird flits before our eyes in March.
And yet that is what he does as often as March
comes round. Nor are we prepared to find him,
as he has been found, nesting on the mountain
side 8,000 feet above the sea. But we know
from experience that this is his hardy nature and
that he is ready for the honey in the first flowers,
and for the first aphides upon the tender foliage.
The hum of his wings, moving too rapidly for
our sight, will announce, at the same time, his
arrival and his readiness to feed our eyes and
hearts again with his ever-new evidence of
" beauty, wonder and power."

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head, metallic
green ; same color sometimes down back ; back, lower
tail-coverts and breast, rufous ; throat and ruff, or gor-
get, coppery-red ; below this, a white collar.

Female : Back, green instead of rufous ; only a trace
of metallic feathers on breast.

64 Birds of Oregon and Washington
Length, 3.5 inches.
Summer resident.

THE ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD.

Length, 3.25 inches.

No doubt the Allen's Hummingbird is some-
times seen by people who mistake it for the
Rufous, so much are they alike — especially the
females. But close observation will reveal the
former bird here and there, throughout our
States. In one place at least, Gray's Harbor,
Washington, the Allen's Hummingbird was re-
ported in 1892 as being equally common with
the Rufous. There are probably other such
localities. Although these two members of the
Hummingbird family resemble one another so
closely, they may be distinguished by noticing
the birds very carefully and marking the differ-
ences indicated in the descriptions.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head and back, bright
metallic green (in the Rufous Hummingbird, the metallic
green only occasionally extends down the back) ; tail-
feathers of the Allen's, narrow, while the same feathers
of the Rufous are broad, and a notch in the second
feather from the middle of the Rufous Hummingbird's
tail, is wanting in the Allen's.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 65

THE CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD.

Length 2.75 to 3 inches.

In most parts of our States, the Calliope Hum-
mingbird will not be seen at all, but in some of
the higher altitudes it is reported as rare, and in
others as common. It is found in numbers in
Klamath County, Oregon, and in Chelan County,
Washington. Its nests are built in pine trees
from eight to fifteen feet above the ground and
have the curious shape of pine cones. This bird
is a source of great delight to those who have
made its acquaintance.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : No metallic on
crown ; feathers of gorget, narrow and elongated, white
at the base, with metallic purplish or lilac tips ; tail-
feathers, plain dusky, edged with rufous towards base ;
sides, tinged with greenish-rufous.

Female : tail-feathers, tipped with white ; throat,
whitish, sometimes spotted with metallic violet.

Summer resident.

THE BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD.

Length, 3.5 inches.

This bird, rare in this section, is the western
representative of the Ruby-throated Humming-
bird of the East, and it will be recognized at

66 Birds of Oregon and Washington

once by the mark which its name indicates, viz.:
the black, velvety chin and throat, bordered by
a band of metallic violet.
Summer resident.

THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : All black, except shoulder-patch (which
is scarlet).

Female : Streaked brownish and white.

Length, 8.5 inches, more or less.
Found in nesting-time about bogs and marshes.

The beauty of the " Red-wing " is recognized
by anyone who sees it ; and his musical song
quite naturally suggested to Emerson the line,

" The red-wing flutes his O-ka-lee ! "

Yet, in spite of his beauty of color and sweet
song, to many farmers he is a detestable enemy.
When the farmer learns that seven-eighths of the
Red-wing's food is made up of weed-seeds or of
insects injurious to agriculture, he will, perhaps,
be willing to share his crop with the birds which
have helped him to raise it.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Coal-black ;
shoulders, scarlet, bordered with a brownish-yellow band.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 67

Female : As above.

Partly permanent resident.

THE BICOLORED BLACKBIRD.

The Bicolored Blackbird is like the Red-
winged Blackbird, except that there is no inter-
mediate color between the black and the red, —
only the two colors indicated by the name. The
Bicolored is common in many parts of Oregon
and Washington, and many people do not dis-
tinguish it from the Red-winged proper, which
has a pale band between the red and the black
of its wings. Its habits are about the same as
those of the latter bird, and its beauty is as
striking as his.

Summer resident.

THE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

DESCRIPTION. — Head and breast, bright yellow in
male, but, in full plumage, the yellow sometimes wanting
or obscure on head ; wing-patch, white ; rest of body,
black.

Female : Brown, with yellow throat.
Length: male, 10 inches; female, smaller.
Found in marshes and their neighborhood.

This species of the Blackbird is reported as

68 Birds of Oregon and Washington

common in Grant County, Oregon, and has been
seen, in larger or smaller numbers, here and
there, in both of these States. It is to be found
in company with the Red-winged and Bicolored
members of the family, where marshes give op-
portunity for nests among the reeds. The bird
nests in many places, from the Mississippi Valley
to the Pacific coast. In the former locality, its
summer residence is extremely variable.
Summer resident.

AUDUBON'S WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : soft bluish-gray, with yellow spot

on head and rump.
Under parts : yellow and white, streaked with

black.

Length, 5 to 6 inches.

Found in evergreen trees, even in those near houses
in towns.

When a person is out the last of March, near
a bunch of evergreens, or about willows border-
ing sloughs, he will hear a sweet, attractive
song, and may soon see, moving about with the
restlessness of its family, one of the most charm-
ing little birds on our coast, and one that belongs

Birds of Oregon and Washington 69

wholly to it. Such a little bunch of beauty,
seen for the first time, will send a thrill of joy
through the beholder's heart. The colors in
which he is arrayed are so bright and harmoni-
ous, and his song is so sweet and clear, one will
ever afterward know him. His proper home,
when nesting and all the season through, is in
the spruce and pine ; and when in these trees,
you can only catch sight of him as he appears
ever and anon on an outer branch and hangs for
a moment searching with his sharp eyes for his
insect food ; or when, for a moment, he darts to
a deciduous tree in the neighborhood, or to a
lower dead limb on the evergreen.

The bird is very abundant, and the people of
the Pacific coast should glory in this, which is
perhaps, more than any other, characteristically
their own beautiful Warbler.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back and wings,
bluish-gray, with yellow spot upon crown and rump —
the yellow spot upon the crown partly concealed ; back,
streaked with black ; white patch upon wings ; yellow
throat ; breast, white, streaked broadly with black, with
striking yellow patches on the sides of the breast.

Summer resident, but it is probable that it
occasionally spends the winter with us.

JO Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE MYRTLE WARBLER.

There is a member of the Warbler family
common in the East (but rarer here), which we
might mistake for the Audubon's, should we
some day happen upon him. It is the Myrtle
Warbler, the distinguishing marks being that
the latter has a white throat instead of a yellow
one, blackish sides of the head, and not so much
white on the wings.

Summer resident.

THE SKYLARK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : light brownish, with slight tawny
tinge.

Under parts : not different from upper.

Length, 7 to 7.5 inches.
Found in the open meadows.

The Skylark is an imported bird, to be sure,
but is sufficiently numerous in some parts of
Oregon to attract attention and minister to the
joy of many people. No bird in the world has
been so much the theme of poets, or so much
the object of enthusiastic admiration. Its fame
has gone out through all the world, and multi-
tudes of people who have never seen the bird

Birds of Oregon and Washington ^ I

have delighted in it in imagination. Nearly
every one who has read poetry at all knows,
more or less intimately, Shelley's, and perhaps
Wordsworth's " Skylark " ; and many can repeat
at least a part of James Hogg's airy lines, be-
ginning

''Bird of the wilderness,
Blithsome and cumberless."

Whoever in Oregon has seen this bird soar,
and has heard him while soaring ever singing,
can appreciate Shakespeare's unequalled lines,

" Hark, hark, the lark at Heaven's gate sings,"

and has felt that the poet has not overdone the
fact. The bird is enchanting beyond the de-
scriptive powers of poetry or prose. We must
see and hear the Skylark for ourselves.

Behold a bird rising from the meadow, and
the instant it is on the wing beginning a flood
of exquisite song of rapid variation which does
not cease, even for breathing, till, sometimes
after fifteen or twenty minutes, it drops again
to earth ! Meanwhile, it is literally in the sky,
and lost to sight if the eye should, even for an
instant, surrender its object. No bird on our
continent so nearly bursts with gladness. There

72 Birds of Oregon and Washington

is one most thrilling utterance which ever and
anon it returns to, seeming to say, " O joy ! O
joy ! O joy ! "

The location of the Skylark is not at present
known beyond the fields in the eastern part of
the city of Portland. But readers of this book
will no doubt find it elsewhere, either now or at
some time in the near future, as it multiplies
rapidly and will extend its summer habitat.

The best time to see and hear it is in the
morning or late afternoon, but it may be heard
at longer intervals at all times of the day. It is
a migrant here as in Europe, and leaves the
fields where it has nested, in September, return-
ing usually, so far as observed, about the second
week in February.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Brownish head and
back, everywhere streaked slightly with black ; breast,
pale brownish or tawny-buff ; outer tail-feathers, white.

Summer resident.

THE STREAKED HORNED LARK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts ; tawny-cinnamon, streaked on back ;
tufts of black feathers over the eyes of the male,
like horns.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 73

Under parts : yellow.
Length, 6.25 to 7.25 inches.
Found in the open fields and upon windy prairies.

There are several varieties of this Lark ; but
one is peculiar to the western part of this sec-
tion, and is called " Streaked " because of the
strong markings upon the back. Another spe-
cies of dusky hue, and unstreaked, but other-
wise the same, is found west of the Cascade
Mountains, and is called the " Dusky Horned
Lark."

These birds, like other Larks, are characteris-
tically lovers of the ground, where they run and
sit, scarcely ever resting upon anything higher
than a fence, and then only for a little time. On
account of their running habit they are some-
times called on this coast, " Road Trotters."
When they do occasionally rise higher it is, like
the Skylark, to sing on the wing, and their
efforts in this direction may not be despised.
Their song is wild, glad and entertaining, though
not loud or especially sweet, and they some-
times sing as near " Heaven's gate " as the Sky-
lark himself. They, too, are " birds of the
wilderness," and no storm or rain, however

74 Birds of Oregon and Washington

severe, can drive them from the open field to
cover.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Adult Male : Fore-part
of crown has black half -circle nearly from eye to eye,
with tufts extending back like horns ; a black patch
under the eye ; rest of crown, neck and rump, tawny-
cinnamon ; back, dull olive or grayish-brown, very much
streaked with dusky ; throat, pale yellow ; black patch
on the breast ; abdomen, pale yellow.

Summer resident,

THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Head, with white line in center, with alternate
black and white lines ; back, yellowish-brown ;
breast, gray.
Length, 7 inches.

Found upon low trees and bushes in open places.
Nests upon the ground.

Next to the Western Meadowlark, no doubt
most people will vote the White-crowned Spar-
row the most fascinating singer of our North-
western States. He can be easily named, be-
cause of the central white or whitish line on his
head, with alternate black and white lines on

Birds of Oregon and Washington 75

either side of this distinguishing mark. In the
Atlantic States the White-crowned Sparrow is
very rare — is seldom seen and seldom heard.
But in Oregon and Washington a species of this
bird is on nearly every bush ; and all the spring
long, and most of the summer through, from
early morning till night — and even in the night —
can the exquisite notes of this gentle and friendly
bird be heard. Often, through the darkest
nights, in the Virginia creeper or honeysuckle
around the porch or piazza, he utters his plain-
tive song — seeming to say, as one sensitive
observer has imagined it : " Sweet, sweet, listen
to me, won't you ? "

This bird may be called " the American Night-
ingale," for surely its night-song has all the quiet
melancholy that one's imagination would attribute
to the notes of a bird in the hours of darkness.

There are two slightly different kinds of this
Sparrow in our States.*

They are the Nut-tail's and the Gambel's White-

* Since the publication of the first edition of this book, the Ameri-
can Ornithologists' Union, the authoritative body in this country in
the naming of birds, has accepted Mr. Ridgway's change of the names
of these two Sparrows. According to him, the Gambel's Sparrow of
the first edition becomes the Nuttall's, and the Intermediate becomes
the Gambel's.

76 Birds of Oregon and Washington

crowned Sparrows. The former is the common
one in Oregon, particularly in the Willamette
Valley, and in southern Washington, as well.
The Gambel's is rare in these parts, and may not
be seen except during, migration, but is found
more frequently as we go north. On Puget
Sound, at least in some places about Seattle and
Tacoma, it is not uncommon. The summer
habitat of the Gambel's Sparrow extends as far
north as Alaska.

Most people in Oregon and Washington will
take the Nuttall's Sparrow for granted, so rarely
will the Gambel's be seen, but some interested
students will want, during migration, to recog-
nize both kinds ; and people living around Puget
Sound and in northern Washington should dis-
tinguish between these birds. Their appearance
is so slightly unlike that one must look closely
indeed to tell them apart. After hearing the
songs of both, it seems to me that in this respect
the birds may readily be distinguished. The
usual Nuttall's song is the one interpreted above
into " Sweet, sweet, listen to me, won't you?"
The song of the Gambel's is nearly the same in
quality and if it were the same in form, would

Birds of Oregon and Washington 77

be identical. But it is irregular, without distinct
articulation, and can be translated into no defi-
nite language. The differences in plumage may
be gathered from the description of the two
given in Ridgway's Manual. They seem to be
these — the white, ashy or buffy median-stripe
on the crown is, in the Gambel's, at least as
broad, usually broader, than the other lateral
stripes, while in the Nuttall's the same stripe is
narrower than the other lateral stripes. Again,
the back of the Nuttall's is a more smoky-brown
than the back of the Gambel's, and the breast a
darker gray. But the most decidedly definite
distinguishing mark is this : the inner edge of
the wing of the Nuttall's Sparrow is pale yellow,
while the edge of the wing of the Gambel's is
ashy. Both have light ashy or buffy lores, which
join the superciliary stripe, instead of distinct
black lores, as in the White-crowned Sparrow
proper. The full particular description of the
Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow is as follows :
" Edge of wing, pale yellow ; white, ashy or buffy me-
dian crown-stripe, usually narrower than black or brown
lateral stripes ; adult back with smoky brown or olive-
brown, striped with dark sepia-brown or sooty blackish ;
and chest, brownish-gray," — Ridgway.

78 Birds of Oregon and Washington

The White-crowned Sparrow of Oregon and
Washington, as well as the Meadowlark, should
be known and appreciated by every one.

A few White-crowned Sparrows spend the
winter in these latitudes. Most of them pass
the colder months in California. The return
migration begins in late March or early April,
and the songs are soon heard.

THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : yellow crown, and olive-brown back.
Under parts : brownish-gray.
Length, 7 to 8 inches.

During the spring and autumn migrations,
many persons will observe a sparrow, beautiful
to the eye and, should the occasional song be
heard, charming to the ear. The Golden-
crowned Sparrow will stay with us a few days in
April while on his way to Alaska to nest, and
late in the season, when returning to his winter
home in California. He resembles the White-
crowned Sparrow, but his golden crown will be
the only necessary mark of identification.

Transient.

lame Robin and Fledgling.

(See page 258.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 79

THE CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : Head and breast, raspberry-red.
Length, 6 inches.

Found early in the season, in company with Gold-
finches, feeding upon dandelion and other feathered
seeds. Later, in orchards and gardens.

The Purple Finch is probably named, not from
the color which we commonly recognize by that
designation, but from a peculiar red shade which
perhaps approaches in some birds the ancient
Tyrian purple. The male, which takes all the
color of the species, does not come to his rich
heritage till he is two years old ; meanwhile,
closely resembling a Sparrow, he might be taken
for one. The beauty of the male is not alone in
the striking and unusual red upon head and
breast, but is also in the fine and varied brown
lines upon his back, and quite as much in his
perfect form. The female is far inferior to her
mate in respect of beauty.

This is one of the most beloved, and at the
same time one of the most hated, of birds. For,
while he comes to the bird-lover as an object of
beauty to the eye with his display of fine color,

8o Birds of Oregon and Washington

and a joy to the ear with his wealth of warbling
song, to the fruit-grower he comes as an enemy
of fruit buds. There is good reason to suppose,
however, that the damage done by this bird is
over-estimated ; while it is possible that what
seems to be harmful may be beneficial. Experi-
ment has shown that finer and larger measure, or
more weight of fruit, is obtained where a part
(sometimes one-half) of the fruit set upon a tree
has been removed. Mr. A. W. Anthony — one
of the great authorities upon the birds of the Pa-
cific coast — has given attention to this subject,
has seen a partial experiment tried, and is of the
latter opinion. One year the Purple Finches
were allowed to have their own way in a cherry
orchard, with the result that the cherry trees
were overloaded at harvest time. But even if it
is true that some damage is done by this bird and
others, the farmer and fruit-grower must beware,
for he may save a few cherries at the cost of
immeasurably greater damage from insects and
noxious weeds.

This Finch is with us in numbers by the last
of March, and will soon after be heard pouring
forth his beautiful song from the top of the

Birds of Oregon and Washington 8 1

highest trees in the neighborhood. His song, in
a general way, is a warble. Mr. Frank M.
Chapman says of the song of the eastern Pur-
ple Finch (not unlike our own) : " His song is a
sweet, flowing warble, music as natural as the
rippling of the mountain brook."

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : two years old,
head, throat and breast, bright wine-red ; back, brown,
with a pinkish tinge ; rump, more like head ; abdomen,
and under tail-coverts, white.

Female : Above, olive-grayish, somewhat streaked ;
breast, whitish, streaked with brown ; abdomen, white.

Mostly a summer resident.

THE PINE SISKIN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Brindle-brown, with yellow bars on wings.
Length, 5 inches.

Found in the spring about our roadsides, and upon
our evergreens, near and in open places, even in cities
and towns.

As soon as the first dandelions are blown, and
the green grass is flecked with their winged
seeds, you will see flocks of little grayish-brown
birds not unlike Sparrows in their color, but with

82 Birds of Oregon and Washington

touches of light yellow on wings, back and tail,
and sometimes a flush of yellow appearing under
the surface of the feathers — eagerly devouring
these fugitive morsels. They may be seen, too,
upon the evergreen trees of the neighborhood,
and again upon other trees, singing in chorus
the softest, sweetest song imaginable. The
privilege of hearing this song is not given to the
people of the Atlantic coast, for before these
birds there begin their song, they have gone
north into the pines of British America, where
they nest in the tree-tops, far from the maraud-
ing hands of man. These Siskins, sometimes
called " Pine Finches," or " Pine Linnets," linger
in this part of the country till the nesting-season
for other birds has quite begun ; and then,
though some of them probably disappear to the
mountains and possibly to the forests of the
North, a good many, at least, have learned to
trust their eggs and young to the neighboring
trees.

The undulating flight of this bird should be
marked as like that of the Goldfinch, to which
it is related.

The Pine Siskin is mostly a transient.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 83

THE WILLOW GOLDFINCH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Yellow body ; black wings, tail and crown.

Length, 5 inches.

Found anywhere in open country, especially about
weeds that have feathered seeds, and thistles.

This is the western species of the American
Goldfinch and differs so slightly from that bird
in appearance that eminent authorities have
opposed noticing the distinctions and giving it
another name. He is more generally noticed
than most other birds in our locality, on account
of his striking color. Resembling, as he does,
the Canary, he is often called the " Wild Canary."
But not many know more than the appearance
of this bird of " gentle ways and sweet disposi-
tion." Few know his sweet song, like that of
the Siskin (who is a cousin, as before intimated),
and fewer know his undulating flight with the
sweet accompanying song, which seems to rise
and fall in pitch with his wave-like movement.

He begins to change his dress when the nest-
ing-season is over, and in winter appears in
darker and less noticeable garb — the male win-
ter dress being somewhat like the summer dress
of the female.

84 Birds of Oregon and Washington

His home is where the thistle, dandelion, let-
tuce and sunflower bloom. Sunflowers in the
garden will invite his presence and secure a long
stay with you.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head, back,
breast and lower under parts, bright yellow ; cap, wings
and tail, black ; white markings upon the latter two. In
his winter dress the bright yellow changes to a brownish-
olive ; his black wings and tail retained.

Female : Both winter and summer, brownish-olive
above ; dusky-yellow below.

Partly a summer, and partly a permanent, resi-
dent.

THE ARKANSAS GOLDFINCH.

Length, 4.40 to 5.40 inches.

If we look closely, we shall discover that
there is a difference in the Goldfinches, at least
in some parts of our territory. Some of these
soft and sweet singers will, on careful observa-
tion, be found to bear a distinguishing mark, as
given in the description. The difference is in
the appearance, and not so much in the habits,
for these are very much, if not altogether, alike.
The name indicates that they are found over

Birds of Oregon and Washington 8 5

a wide area, and that the Pacific coast cannot
claim them as it may the Willow Goldfinch.

DESCRIPTION. — Just like the Willow Goldfinch, ex-
cept that the back and ear-coverts are plain olive-green,
while the Willow Goldfinch is all lemon-color where there
is no black or white.

Summer resident.

THE WRENS.

Perhaps no birds are more bewitching in their
make-up and manner than these little creatures
that are very common in certain wide parts of
the North Pacific States. They are everywhere
within these limits.

There are five varieties described here. The
first three of these look, to the superficial ob-
server, so much alike that care must be taken
to distinguish them. They all have the same
general form, and, in different shades, the same
color, brown. The body and tail of each is
barred or speckled with dusky cross-marks.

The other two are altogether unlike, and are
so different from the three which so much re-
semble one another, that a person is not likely
to make a mistake in their identification.

86 Birds of Oregon and Washington

PARKMAN'S HOUSE WREN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : darkish-brown.
Under parts : pale buffy.
Length, 5 inches and more.

Found about human dwellings and holes in fences and
trees.

It is hoped that everyone knows " Little
Jennie Wren," who in the spring is always look-
ing for a sheltered nook about the piazza, in an
out-building, or in a house built expressly for
herself. What fidgety airs, what twitching and
turning, what bobbing and bowing, what scolding,
in their own peppery style, while you are near
the sacred precincts of these little creatures!
For, though angelic singers, they have a temper
that even the larger birds fear. But what con-
trast in the bubbling song that the male will
pour forth, at intervals, all day long, — some-
times allowing no rest, when singing in response
to a rival. Mr. Chapman, says of the corres-
ponding House Wren in the East, very nearly
like our own, that he has heard one sing, under
such conditions, ten songs a minute for two
hours at a time.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 87

If we do not have these little mountain brooks
of song about our houses, it may be entirely our
own fault in not setting up for them a box
against the house, or even a box upon a pole, —
in each case making the entrance not larger than
a silver quarter, to keep out the English Sparrow
or the Swallow.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male and female : All
over, a little darker than cinnamon-brown ; wings and
tail, barred with dusky lines ; " back and sides, more or
less waved with dusky cross-markings " ; under parts,
pale buffy.

A summer resident. They may be expected
from the South about the middle of April.

NORTHWESTERN VIGORS'S WREN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Very like the House Wren in general appearance,
the distinguishing mark being a line of white
over the eye.

Length, 5 inches and more.
Found in and out of thickets and hedges.

This Wren has the restless habit of the House
Wren, as already indicated. It nests in thickets
and hedges, and occasionally it, like the House
Wren, makes a nest about a house. In March,

88 Birds of Oregon and Washington

1901, a pair of these birds were nesting under
the roof of a low piazza in Portland. The
Vigors's Wren has one of the most striking and
attractive songs given by the birds of the North-
west. His song is so unlike that of the House
Wren that it cannot be confused with the latter,
when once it has been distinctly heard.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Above, almost a
blackish-brown ; wings and sides, not so dark ; below,
grayish-white ; distinguishing mark, white line over eye.

Largely a permanent resident.

THE WESTERN WINTER WREN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : darker brown than either of the other

Wrens.
Under parts : pale brown ; pale brown stripe over

the eye.
Length, only 4 inches.

This is the smallest and the wildest of the
Wrens. It lives in the woods about old stumps
and the roots of overturned trees, where it nests.
There he may be seen through the glass, with
his short tail erect, hastening to get out of sight.
But when you are no longer near, he begins an

Birds of Oregon and Washington 89

exquisite song, which John Burroughs describes,
in his eastern cousin, as " a wild, sweet, rhythmical
cadence that holds you entranced." His note of
alarm is said to sound something like " Chimp,
chimp." You can tell him by noting carefully
his short tail, and comparing your observation
with the following description :

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. -- Above, like other
Wrens, more or less distinctly cross-barred, but darker
and less rusty ; chin and throat, dull tawny.

Permanent resident.

TITLE WREN.

This is the western variety of the eastern
Long-billed Marsh Wren. The long bill and
the marsh habitat will distinguish it from all
the other Wrens. This bird attaches its nest to
reeds, making it globular in form, with the en-
trance on the side.

Mr. J. H. Bowles, of Tacoma, Wash., is my
authority for saying that it is as common, about
some parts of Puget Sound at least, as any of
the members of the family named above.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, dark brown .
back, lighter brown, streaked with black and white in the

go Birds of Oregon and Washington

middle ; " tail-coverts, upper and lower, usually distinctly
barred with blackish."
Length, 5 inches.

Summer resident.

THE ROCK WREN.

Length, 6 inches.

This Wren is not uncommon in some parts of
our territory in mountainous and sage-brush
regions, but is not often seen, perhaps, in the
most populous districts. In central-northern
and eastern Washington and in southern-central
and southeastern Oregon, ornithologists report
numerous observations of the bird, and it is
mentioned also as occasionally occurring on the
coast.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Like other Wrens in
form and sprightly habit, differing mainly in being much
lighter in shade, having above finely sprinkled dots of
white and black, and a cinnamon-colored rump ; a line
of buff or white over the eye ; lower parts, white, chang-
ing to light cinnamon in the abdomen.

Summer resident.

THE PACIFIC YELLOW-THROAT.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : olive-brown and olive-green.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 9 1

Under parts : yellow. Black mask on forehead

and sides of head.
Length, 4.75 to 5.85 inches.
Found in thickets on lowlands.

The Maryland Yellow-throat is famous in the
East for his beauty and song, and has a large
place in bird literature. The western variety of
this bird, like the eastern, will in all probability
be often heard before he is seen, for he loves
the thicket from which, unseen, he may mock
and delight you with his oft -repeated " Wichity-
wichity-wichity." People interpret this song
in many ways. Some say it is " Rapity-rapity,"
and others " Witch-e-wee-o," and so on. Mr.
Burroughs says he has heard birds whose notes
sounded like, " Which way, sir ? " And Mr.
Chapman says he has heard some who seemed
to say, " Wait a minute."

The bird's coloring is striking. His yellow
throat and jet black mask from bill to crown,
and well down on the sides of the head, covering
the eye, once seen, will never be mistaken or
forgotten.

No one of the Warbler family has as many
human devotees, and perhaps none deserves

92 Birds of Oregon and Washington

them more. The Pacific Yellow-throat is not
a whit behind his eastern counterpart in looks
or in song ; in fact, in the former respect, he has
something of an advantage, his colors being
brighter and richer, while he is also a little
larger. His song has quite the same notes as
that of the Maryland Yellow-throat. Dr. Henry
van Dyke has paid him a beautiful tribute in a
poem which reads something like an echo of the
bird's fascinating song.

One of the verses is here introduced :

" While May bedecks the naked trees

With tassels and embroideries,
And many blue-eyed violets beam
Along the edges of the stream,
I hear a voice that seems to say,
Now near at hand, now far away,
* Witchery — witchery — witchery/ "

He comes to our latitude, from his winter
home in the South, early in the season, and may
be heard some years by the last week in March.
He should be sought in lots where there are
thick clumps of bushes, and in young growths
of deciduous trees. His nest will be found upon
or near the ground.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Black mask, as above,
bordered by a band (usually broad) of white ; crown and

Birds of Oregon and Washington 93

neck, olive-brown ; back, clear olive-green ; rump, more
yellowish ; throat and breast, bright yellow.

A summer resident.

THE WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : crown, rufous ; back, slightly red-
dish-brown.

Under parts : light soft gray.

Length, 5 inches and more.
Found in open fields, often near houses.

This little Sparrow is the smallest of its fam-
ily. It has its own peculiarly quiet and fascin-
ating manners and habits. It has some of the
domestic proclivities of the corresponding east-
ern variety. The latter is found about back-
door yards and even upon door-steps, looking for
crumbs, and no bird has a more winsome look or
dainty habit. He should never be mistaken
for the English or House Sparrow, which greed-
ily takes all crumbs meant for others. The
" Chippy," as he is more familiarly called, may
be heard uttering his characteristic song or call,
" Chip, chip, chip, chip, chip," often and rapidly
repeated. It sounds, sometimes, like a mellow
chirring of a grasshopper. Occasionally, in the

94 Birds of Oregon and Washington

darkest night, the song of the male bird will ring
out in the still air, in order, it is said, to re-as-
sure the little female upon her nest. This Spar-
row is sometimes called the " Hair Bird," because
he lines his nest with horsehair.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Crown, bright reddish-
brown ; forehead, black ; streak of gray over the eye ;
back, brown, slightly reddish, feathers streaked with black;
breast, and abdomen, soft, light gray.

Quite a common summer resident. A few of
the birds remain all winter.

THE OREGON VESPER SPARROW, OR OREGON
BAY-WINGED BUNTING.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brown, streaked with gray.
Under parts : whitish, streaked ; outer tail-feath-
ers, white.
Length, 6 inches.

Found in open pasture lands and by country way-
sides.

While you are looking for and watching the
Sparrows already named, you will see a Sparrow
fly out of the road, or along the fence, showing
white outer tail-feathers — the one infallible mark
by which you may know a Vesper Sparrow from

Birds of Oregon and Washington 95

other members of his family ; notice also the bay
or chestnut-colored lesser wing-coverts. Only do
not mistake the Junco, or " Snow Bird," for the
Vesper Sparrow, as he has the same white tail-
markings. This Sparrow is common in the west-
ern parts of our States, is a sweet singer, uttering
a freer note than the Song Sparrow, and is more
generous of his song. The song is difficult to
describe, but cannot be mistaken after it has once
been recognized. The bird has received the dis-
tinguishing name of Vesper Sparrow because,
perhaps, it sings more toward evening than do
the other Sparrows.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male and female : Head
and back, brown, streaked with gray ; shoulders, chest-
nut; throat and breast, whitish, striped with dark brown ;
lower under parts, soiled white ; outer tail-feathers, partly
white, apparently wholly white as the bird flies.

Summer resident. Arrives about April

THE WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : pale grayish, brown streaked.
Under parts : whitish, streaked with brown ; yel-

low line over eye.
Length, 5.5 inches.

96 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Found by seaside, and in and around marshes.

This western variety of the Savanna Sparrow
of the East is common along the coast and on
Puget Sound, and should be recognized by those
in whose locality he is a resident. Its song is
low and grasshopper-like : " Ptsip, ptsip, ptsip ;
zee, e-e-e-e." Its home, in the marshes and low-
lands, where other Sparrows are not usually
found, gives this bird an association of special
interest.

It nests upon the ground in grassy places, or
in the sedge of the marsh.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back and wings,
pale grayish-brown ; light gray line down middle of
head ; line over eye, yellow ; back, streaked with broad
black and narrower light grayish lines, strongly marked ;
abdomen, whitish, streaked with buffy.

Summer resident.

THE WESTERN LARK SPARROW.

Length, 7 inches.

This Sparrow, is a striking bird in color, size
and song. On account of his peculiarly striped
head, it is called, in some localities, the " Snake
Bird." It is to be regretted that, because of its
fine song, it is often caged.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 97

The Agricultural Department of Washington,
D. C., reports that only two species of the
numerous Sparrow family equal this one in the
destruction of grasshoppers ; it also eats the
wheat weevil and consumes weed-seeds without
limit.

It is reported as abundant in southern Oregon,
and is common in Chelan and Okanogan coun-
ties in Washington and in other localities in our
States.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — "Crown and sides of
head, chestnut, with line of grayish-white on top of head ;
body, above, light grayish-brown, narrowly streaked with
blackish-brown ; a narrow line of black on each side of
throat, and a small, irregular black patch on the breast,
otherwise, under parts, white." — (Keeler.)

Summer resident.

THE SWALLOWS.

These are the birds that do not sing, but they
fly with a grace that fascinates one and compels
prolonged attention. The flight of any bird is
wonderful, and should never be overlooked as a
source of satisfaction to the heart of a bird-lover.
But the flight of the Swallow has in it all of the

98 Birds of Oregon and Washington

grace and poetry of motion imaginable. Flying
is marvellous enough ; but floating in air seems
fairly miraculous to one who, for the first time,
really notices a Swallow glide over a meadow or
touch the bosom of a lake, and for a distance
make no motion of the wings — except as they
go with the body in its easy turns. The Swallow
is truly the bird of the air, as the Sparrow is the
bird of the ground, and the Warbler, the bird of
the trees.

Swallows eat and drink while on the wing.
One kind occasionally eats at rest. No one ever
saw a swallow chasing insects upon the sand,
and not one, perhaps, was ever seen lifting his
head toward heaven after dipping his bill into a
pool in the road or in a spring. He alights
only for rest and for sleep. Nearly all the day,
from sun to sun, he darts and gyrates and
glides over meadow and pool — taking what he
needs while in ever graceful motion.

It is said that Swallows do not sing. Do they
not ? Is not their exquisite twitter a song ? that
twitter that is so friendly to each other and so
charming to man, that it gives the satisfaction
of a song.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 99

These birds are so peaceable among them-
selves, so fond of living together, that we are
attached to them. Some of them make their
nests in colonies, and are not jealous of room or
of favorable locations.

As much as the author of this book is pleased
with the " birds that sing," he wishes to record
that the Swallows have ministered to his happi-
ness not less.

He sympathizes with Jeffries, who says : " As
well suppose the trees without leaves as the
summer air without swallows. Ever since, of
old time, the Greeks went round from house to
house in spring, singing the swallow song, these
birds have been looked upon as the friends of
man, and almost as the very givers of the sun-
shine. . . . The beautiful swallows, be tender
with them, for they symbol all that is best in
nature and all that is best in our hearts."

There are six varieties of the Swallow proper
more or less common in Oregon and Washington.
They are the Violet-green, Cliff or Eave, White-
bellied or Tree, Bank, Rough-winged, and Barn
Swallows — besides the Martin, which will be
described also.

IOO Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : a soft rich green (but not lustrous).

Under parts : pure white.

Length, 5 inches.
Found about houses and out-buildings.

This bird belongs to the Pacific coast ; and a
particularly beautiful bird it is, having a beauty
as rare as the peculiarity of its color. To enjoy
this, one needs, in just the right light, to catch
sight of the sheen of the plumage in a slanting
vision ; for the beauty of the plumage of this
bird is, like many of the finest things in the
world, not striking, but exquisitely delicate.
The glossy bluish-black of other Swallows will
easily command your admiration, but this bird is
by far the most beautiful.

This delightful creature is perfectly domestic,
choosing his nesting-place in and about human
dwellings. He still, however, to some extent,
rears his family in holes of trees in the woods,—
his constant habit before human habitations be-
came numerous. He welcomes a bird-house,
while he will enter through a knot-hole, or any
opening in cornice or gable, to find a secure

Birds of Oregon and Washington 101

home for his young. Mr. Ross Nicholas, of
Portland, Oregon, reports an example of the
tireless labor that these birds will put forth in
the construction of a nest. A pair having dis-
covered a way into the eaves of a house, found a
space of three feet below the opening, and, with
a courage and patience that ought to be the envy
of man, proceeded to build up the nest, straw by
straw, until it stood level with the entrance.

I have said that Swallows do not sing, but
this bird's note is more than a twitter — more
like a soft song.

The Violet-green Swallow should never be
confused with the Eave Swallow and driven
away, lest mud nests be built against the sides
of the house. A distinguishing mark between
the two birds is the seemingly white rump,
when the " Violet-green " is on the wing. This
appearance is caused by the white from under-
neath extending so far around the sides of the
rump ; the latter is, in reality, a mingled color —
bluish-green with rich plum-purple.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Effect of all above, a
soft rich green, but head and neck and sometimes back,
shaded with purple to a violet-green tint in center of

IO2 Birds of Oregon and Washington

rump ; white patches on sides of rump often give effect
of continuous white when the bird is on the wing. All
below, pure white. Mr. Charles A. Keeler thus describes
this Swallow : " Above, a soft, rich green, changing to a
purplish-brown on the crown, and to violet-purplish on
the upper tail-coverts." By " tail-coverts " is meant the
feathers above and below, which lap over the tail from
the body.

Only a summer resident, spending the winter
with the other Swallows in the tropics. Due in
the locality of the Columbia River about April
ist, sometimes a week earlier.

THE CLIFF, OR EAVE, SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : bluish-black..
Under parts : brown and white.
Length, 6 inches.

Formerly, like all the large Swallow family,
the Cliff or Eave Swallows lived far from human
dwellings. But they are now, like so many of
their kind, found about buildings, although they
still, to a considerable extent, make their curious
nests upon the sides of cliffs. These mud nests
are pocket-shaped, and are literally glued to per-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 103

pendicular surfaces. The birds sometimes add
mud house to mud house until their homes can
be counted by hundreds on the side of a cliff.
These Swallows become much attached to one
locality, and, if allowed, will return to it year
after year.

They are beautiful, gentle and winsome ; and
if one really learns to love them, he will not
begrudge them a place on the side of the
barn, or even, sometimes, upon the side of the
house.

To one who has eyes, the marvelous houses
built by these feathered architects will be more
artistic than certain "ginger-bread" work that
we so often see around cornices.

Between the Eave and the Violet-green Swal-
lows we may never lack for entertainment and
objects of loving interest around our homes in
the summer months.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male and Female:
Whitish forehead ; crown and back, steel lustrous blue ;
rump, rusty or buffy; throat, chestnut, with blackish
area ; breast, light brown ; lower under parts, white.

Summer resident. An early arrival. A few
come in March, and the body in early April.

IO4 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE WHITE-BELLIED, OR TREE, SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : dark steel-blue.

Under parts : pure white.

Length, 6 inches.

Found about hollow trees in the woods, and particu-
larly, in trees about sloughs.

This is the first Swallow to appear in the
spring, and may be seen in scattering numbers
early in March, and arrives in this latitude in
abundance before April ist. In the East, he, too,
comes and asks to share man's home with him,
welcoming, as the Violet-green Swallow does
here, a bird-house or an opening in the gable
or eaves.

Like his cousins, his former home was en-
tirely in the wilds, and, as his name indicates,
in the trees of the forest. But here, as in
the East, we may at some time expect him
often to prefer to share our home, and let us
in turn share his beauty of appearance and
movement, and also his delight in life, so mani-
fest by a constant warbling-twitter while per-
forming his bewildering, tireless evolutions on
the wing.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 105

This member of the family is not nearly so
numerous on this coast as the Violet -green or
the Cliff Swallow ; but it is common enough
about our sloughs to be easily identified.

No detailed description of the bird is pos-
sible or needed, as it has just the two colors
given in the "General Description." Indeed,
its scientific name has in it the word " bi-col-
or." The female is a little duller in color than
the male.

Like other Swallows, it is found, when nest-
ing, near its home ; but before and after, it cov-
ers the open country in its rapid flight, search-
ing for insects.

A summer resident. The first of the Swal-
lows to appear and the last to disappear in north-
ern latitudes in the East. Here, it is reported
to be the first to leave.

Sometimes when insect food is scarce, this
bird eats bayberries ; but it is the only Swallow
that ever eats anything but insects.

This is the only one of the family, too, that
spends the winter in the United States — the
others wintering in South America.

io6 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE BARN SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : glittering steel-blue.

Under parts: chestnut-brown, with tail deeply

forked.

Length, 7 inches.

Found around barns and out-buildings, while nest-
ing; and far afield while feeding, and after breeding is
over.

It is to be regretted that the Barn Swallow is
not more generally distributed throughout the
North Pacific States. It is expected that it
will become a more frequent and familiar resi-
dent about our farms and in our villages, if we
give it tokens of hospitable welcome, such as
offering entrance to our barns through an open
window or through a hole in the gable.

Even now it is very abundant in certain local-
ities, especially upon the coast in Tillamook
County, Oregon, and about Cape Disappoint-
ment, Washington.

Probably no bird is more associated with the
country boy's life, in the East, than this arrow-
like but tame bird, that glides in and out of barn
doors and windows, ministering to the wants
of the brood of little ones in the mud nests stuck

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 07

to the beams or rafters overhead, where can be
heard all day the soft purr and sweet chatter
of old and young in their peaceful domestic
life.

All Swallows are miracles upon the wing ; but
no other of the family has the equipment for
speed and sudden turn that this one has — the
forked tail and a little stronger wing furnishing
him with the power for this excellence.

In coloring, this Swallow need not be
ashamed, for, in addition to the rich, lustrous
blue of its back, its chestnut breast glistens in
the sun like a polished surface.

Though the Swallows on the beams and raft-
ers do soil somewhat our barns and sheds, is
not the pleasure they give in their sweet fellow-
ship of home-making, and in their ministry of
beauty, ample reward ?

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Forehead, ru-
fous ; head and back, glistening steel-blue, shading to
black ; throat, rufous ; breast and under parts, brilliant
buff that glistens in the sun ; an irregular collar of bluish-
black ; tail, very deeply forked, with long, slender outer
tail-feathers.

Summer resident.

ic8 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE BANK SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brownish-gray, no metallic color-
ing.

Under parts : white.
Length, 5 inches.

Found around river banks, and, like other Swallows,
wide rovers over field and marsh.

This is the smallest of the Swallows, and, like
the Cliff Swallow, it nests in colonies, choosing
for settlement, as a rule, sandy river banks, in
which with its little bill and small feet it bores
holes two or three feet deep — a thing seemingly
impossible to do with such tiny implements.
The holes are only far enough apart to avoid
coincidence, and at the end of each is the nest,
lined with grasses and rootlets.

These large communities of feathered neigh-
bors dwell most happily together, and habitu-
ally leave their homes with a " giggling twitter "
— one of the cheeriest notes along the river
banks. The homes are of frequent occurrence
along the Willamette and elsewhere in these
States.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 09

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male and female :
Head, back and tail, grayish-brown or clay-color; upper
wings and tail, darkest; breast, white with brownish
band across ; abdomen, white ; tail, though rounded,
more nearly square than that of other Swallows, and
obscurely edged with white ; a little tuft of feathers at
the base of the toes.

Summer resident.

THE ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Not unlike the Bank Swallow.

Length, 5.5 inches.

Found in the same localities as Bank Swallows, and
as other Swallows when on the wing.

This is really another sort of Bank Swallow,
nesting, as it does, in holes in river banks.

Its habits are quite identical with those of the
Bank Swallow. It is chiefly distinguished by
the peculiarity which gives it its name, viz. :
the outer edge of the first flight-feather has a
series of stiff hooks upon it. Its breast is also
a little grayish but without the band.

A summer resident. Arrives and departs
with the Bank Swallow.

no Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE WESTERN MARTIN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION : ^

Male : Glossy purplish-black above and below.
Female : Bluish-black, less clear above ; whitish

below.
Length, 8 inches.

Found about houses and hollow trees.

This is one of the family of Swallows, and yet
is so individual in nearly all ways that we must
regard the bird a little apart from his relatives.
He is much larger than any of the Swallows
(the length of the Barn Swallow's outer tail-
feathers must not be taken into account). The
color of the male, strikingly beautiful, is alto-
gether unlike that of any other Swallow. Then
its flight is higher, less swift, less free and exten-
sive. It alone of all its kindred has a full
rich voice, which all day long, while the bird
is on the wing or at rest, may be heard like
"musical laughter rippling up from the throat."

The eastern variety, almost exactly like the
western, has from time unknown preferred the
home made for it by man — the Indian, before
the white race appeared, having placed a hol-
lowed gourd lined with bark in the crotch of his
tent poles, to invite the Martin's friendship.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 1 1

But in the East no bird has suffered so much
from the English Sparrow as the Purple Martin,
through the pre-emption by the Sparrows of the
houses intended for their betters.

It is to be regretted that the Purple Martin
is not more numerous and more generally dis-
tributed in this section of the country. But
they are quite numerous in special localities and
already are preferring to nest about houses
rather than in the hollow trees. They were
seen and heard by the writer at St. Helens, on
the Columbia River, in May, 1899, and in the
spring of 1901 were found nesting in and about
the city of Tacoma.

If we keep several bird-houses on our premises,
we may succeed in bringing a pair of these de-
light-giving creatures to pass each spring and
summer with us ; for, once hospitably enter-
tained, they will return as regularly as the sea-
sons.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Rich glossy
black, with bluish and purple tints ; duller black on the
wings and tail ; wings rather longer than tail, which is
forked.

Female : As above.

112 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Only a summer resident. Arrives in mid-
April.

THE CEDAR WAXWING (" Cherry Bird ").
GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

A crested bird. General color, grayish-brown,
tinged with plum color. Very neat appearance
and quiet manner when perching.
Length, 7 inches.

Found all over settled parts of the country in small
flocks, except in nesting-season in June.

Combined exquisiteness of dress, gentleness of
disposition, politeness of manners, almost lisping
song and whispered conversation, distinguish the
Cedar Waxwing from all other birds. The Blue-
bird has been previously described as gentle-
manly or ladylike, and so it is, in looks and
general manner. But the Waxwing outranks it
in these respects and in the others named.

With regard to his dress, some might call the
bird a "dandy," so exquisitely neat and perfect
is he. But a second thought will cause us to re-
gard his attire rather as a work of fine art ; the
perfect crest, the vinaceous tint in the predom-
inating soft, gray-brown plumage, the velvety
black line across the eye and around the fore-

Boy and Cedar Wax-wing.

(See page 256.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 113

head, the dainty red waxlike spots upon the
wings, as if each one had been placed there from
without by the divine Master Artist Himself, the
finished yellow edge upon the tail, all together
give an impression of perfect quiet beauty that is
unique in our experience of birds.

As to manners, Nuttall describes their polite-
ness to each other as they go about in flocks.
He says he has often seen them passing a worm
along the line from one to another and back
again before it was finally eaten.

Their song is a lisping " Twee-twee-ze." Their
communications while in social tete-a-tete upon
a tree are, as suggested, in a whisper evidently
intended only for each other's ears.

Owing to their food habits they are, like
Robins, rovers when not nesting. They must
find cedarberries, canker-worms, wild or culti-
vated fruit ; and they fare forth for these with a
range even wider than the Swallow's, as nightfall
does not call them back to any fixed roosting-
place,

The bird's fondness for cherries arouses the
hostility of some men. But again we ask, is it
right to destroy such a perfect " thing of beauty "

114 Birds of Oregon and Washington

and such an enemy of the deadliest foe of shade
and fruit trees — the canker-worm — because the
bird does sometimes take a share of the fruit
that it helps to raise ?

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Above, grayish-
brown, varying with plum-colored tints to ashy ; black
forehead ; chin, black ; breast, lighter than back ; ab-
domen, yellowish ; under tail-coverts, white ; yellow tips
on tail.

Female : Duller plumage, smaller crest and narrower
yellow band on tail.

Mostly a summer resident.

THE WARBLERS.

Two of this family, the Audubon's Warbler
and the Pacific Yellow-throat, have already been
described, because they come so early to our
latitude, and so certain are they to be the first
to attract attention. There are others of this
family which we must recognize, some of which
are very abundant though arriving later in our
neighborhoods.

No one can tell just why the Warblers are
called Warblers ; they do not many of them (and
they are a large family) warble in song more

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 1 5

than other birds, while some do not warble at
all. But they are alike in their habits. They
are the birds of the trees and the leaves. They
live among the leaves and feed upon the insects
which they gather from them. Sometimes, too,
some of them take an insect on the wing as do
the Flycatchers.

Except when upon a nest, or at night, they are
ever in motion, searching leaf after leaf for their
food.

They are all small birds, all of them well
dressed, many of them exquisitely plumaged.
Besides the two mentioned, the following are
more or less common in Oregon and Washing-
ton, and may be quite easily identified. The
Yellow, Lutescent, Macgillivray's, Black-throated
Gray and Pileolated Warblers ; also the Long-
tailed Chat.

THE YELLOW, OR SUMMER, WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : yellow and olive-green.

Under parts : light yellow.

Length, 4.75 to 5.2 inches.
Found in shade-trees, orchards and edges of woods.

1 1 6 Birds of Oregon and Washington

This beautiful little bit of animated sunshine
makes glad the summer days everywhere through
temperate North America, from ocean to ocean,
except where there are no deciduous trees. It
may be before the foliage is well developed that
he will arrive from the tropics of the Southern
Continent. He is our most common Warbler,
whose rather metallic and oft-repeated " Wee-
chee, chee, cher-wee " may be heard from nearly
every shade-tree in our cities, as well as along
the country roads and in the orchards.

As abundant as he is, you may not at once
espy this persistent singer, as he loves the ob-
scurity of the thick leaves.

No one should mistake him for the Goldfinch
or " Wild Canary," as is sometimes done, for
this bird has no black upon him, and his habits
and flight are entirely different.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Brighter yellow
on head and neck ; back, tinged with olive-green ; wings
and tail, dusky olive-brown ; breast and abdomen, bright
yellow, streaked with brown.

Female : Like male, only duller and no streaks
below.

Summer resident.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 1 /

THE LUTESCENT WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : light olive-green.

Under parts : bright greenish-yellow.

Length, 5 inches.
Found in trees of thick foliage.

While listening to and searching for the Yel-
low Warbler, we shall hear another and oft -re-
peated song in the same trees ; and if we are not
careful, when we see its author, we shall confuse
it with the female of the Yellow Warbler. It is of
nearly the same size as that bird, — a little small-
er. It is yellow, too, but of a darker olive-green-
ish tint throughout, and his song is not to be
mistaken, once it is recognized. The bird hides
more persistently in the foliage than the Yellow
Warbler, and will be more difficult to catch under
the opera-glass. But he may be found visiting
the leaves of apple or other fruit trees, for fare
for himself and young, and may then be particu-
larly observed. Arrives in first part of April.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion, also an " obscure crown-patch of orange-brown."
(Keeler.)

Female : Duller color.

Summer resident.

1 1 8 Birds of Oregon and Washington

MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Head, dark gray ; back, olive-green ; black spot
between eye and bill.

Length, 5.75 inches.
Found in bushes and thick low growth.

When looking for other birds some day, you
will find one that will strike your attention im-
mediately because of the black spot referred to
in the general description. This will at once
identify him, and he will seem to you, probably,
less restless than the other warblers you have
found. You may, at your leisure, learn his song
and habits

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion, also throat and upper part of breast, dark gray ;
below this, bright yellow.

Summer resident.

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Black throat ; black, white and gray all over, ex-
cept yellow spot in front of eye.

Length, 4.7 to 5.4 inches.
Found in evergreen tree-tops.

Some time, when you are under the ever-
greens, you will notice some little restless crea-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 119

tures, mostly high up in the spiny limbs. Your
glass will bring them to your recognition as the
Black-throated Gray Warblers. This variety of
Warbler lives, feeds, and nests in those high
places over your head. This strange and far-
away habit will at the same time interest and
tease you, so beyond convenient range does it
take these tiny birds. Hard enough would it be
to see them well, were their restless bodies
nearer the earth. But are we not always more
curious about the creatures that are not near ?

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, black; yellow
spot in front of eye ; back, bluish-gray streaked with
black ; throat, black ; breast and under parts, white ;
sides, streaked with black.

Female : Colors duller, and throat mixed somewhat
with white.

Summer resident.

THE LONG-TAILED CHAT.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

All above, olive-gray ; long tail ; breast, bright
yellow ; under parts, white ; bill, rather long,
and upper mandible, curved.
Length, 7.5 inches.

Found, usually, in and about thickets around swamps
and streams.

1 20 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Some day this strange bird will reveal himself
to you, not alone in his wild, varied and chatter-
ing song, but in his really funny antics upon the
wing. He is, of all the birds that we shall
know, "the funny bird." He sings a rollicking,
imitative and frolicsome song, running through
how many keys and forms, only those know who
have heard him. Some have tried to write down
the medley of the Yellow-breasted Chat of the
East, which is very like our own in song and
habits. Mr. Burroughs has expressed it thus :
" Now he barks like a puppy, then quacks like a
duck, then rattles like a kingfisher, then squalls,
like a fox, then caws like a crow, then mews like
a cat ... C-r-r-r-r-r-whrr — that's it — chee —
quack, cluck, yit-yit-yit — now hit it — tr-r-r —
when — caw — caw — cut, cut — tea-boy, — who,
who — mew, mew.''

His actions befit his song ; often upon the
wing, a little way above the thicket, he will
tumble in air, dropping his legs, flapping his
wings, and all the time chattering his rollicking
song.

When you see him in the bushes, his manner
is that of "a mischief." He looks as if he

Birds of Oregon and Washington 121

might, if he could trust himself to do it, tickle
your ear or play hide-the-handkerchief with you.

Our funny bird cannot be satisfied with the
day to sing in. Many times in the night, and
particularly upon moonlight nights, you may
hear his good spirits bubbling over in his varied
song.

Though the Chat is classed with the War-
blers, one can hardly think of him as belonging
to this family.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: As in general
description ; also two white lines on face, one above the
eye, one below ; eyelids, white ; lores (spot between eye
and bill), black ; under tail-coverts, white.

Female : Duller colors.

Summer resident.

THE PILEOLATED WARBLER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black cap and bright olive-green
back.

Under parts : bright yellow.

Length, 5 inches.
Found in swampy woods.

This Warbler is the western variety of the
eastern Wilson, or Black-capped Warbler, and

122 Birds of Oregon and Washington

will not be found in Oregon, or in southern
Washington, perhaps, except in migration. But
in northern Washington, about Puget Sound, he
is not rare, nesting in these parts.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Forehead, bright yel-
low, in males ; center of crown, black ; back, bright
olive-green ; under parts, bright yellow.

Summer resident.

THE BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male: Black head and back; large white wing-
patch ; rest of body, bright orange-yellow and
orange-red.
Length, 8 inches.
Found in willow, elm and other shade-trees.

Bird-lore is full of references to the Oriole.
Because of their bright colors, their attractive
song and unique nests, these birds have always
commanded more or less appreciation, even from
those who seldom notice birds in general.

The East has the advantage of us in respect
to Orioles, as it has in respect to Tanagers. The
Baltimore Oriole, the " Golden Robin " or

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 2 3

" Hangbird," has wide fame, and its more mod-
est relative, the Orchard Oriole, is beloved of all
who know his song. Rare specimens of the
Bullock's Oriole equal, perhaps, the Baltimore
Oriole in glory of color ; but in song the bird is
always inferior to its eastern cousin. The Bul-
lock's Oriole is found as far east as Kansas.

The eastern Oriole's song is a rich whistle,
while our western bird utters a music so
strangely remote from anything Oriole-like, that
one would never guess that it came from his
throat unless he caught him in the act — as I did,
after three weeks' guessing what new and strange
bird in the high shade-trees sang, not too gener-
ously, his " Keu, keu-a-keu, keu, keu." The
beauty of color, however, is great enough to ex-
cite our admiration ; and its song is sufficiently
sweet to delight our ear ; while its nest, hung
like a flexible basket, or even like a deep, round
satchel, from the swaying limb of some tree,
never fails to bring out the exclamation, " What
man could do that ! "

This bird sings and nests high, and some day
a song in the tree-tops will please, and at the
same time puzzle, unless you can see the west-

1 24 Birds of Oregon and Washington

ern " Golden Robin " which utters it. But a
careful observation will reveal the singer and his
curious nest.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head, upper
part of back and narrow throat-patch, black ; tail, black
and yellow ; a large white wing-patch ; rest of body,
orange-yellow to orange-red.

Summer resident.

THE VIREOS.

There is a numerous family in America of
little olivaceous-backed birds, that keep a sharp
eye for insects upon the outer surface of the
foliage of the trees. They are nearly all sweet,
cheery and persistent singers. Their nests are,
with those of the Bush-Tit and the Oriole, pen-
dant, pocket-like affairs, and the nests of the
different varieties of Vireos are so much alike
that we may not hope to tell " which is which,"
unless we catch the birds upon, or near by, these
most interesting homes.

Our two States seem to have only two of the
family which are common, Cassin's and the
Warbling Vireo. There is one other here, less

Birds of Oregon and Washington 125

common, known as Hutton's, and another very
rare, bearing the name of Mr. A. W. Anthony
— Anthony's Vireo.

THE WARBLING VIREO.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : clear grayish-olive.
Under parts : whitish. The sides are yellowish.
Length, 5 to 5.55 inches.

Found in tops of shade-trees in town, soon after
arrival. Then they disappear for nesting, and return
later.

This member of the Vireo family is distributed
over nearly the whole of North America. I
have heard him sing in New England, in the
southern Middle States and in Minnesota. And
here again " His continuous flowing warble with
an alto undertone " (Chapman), may be heard
late in May in the thick foliage of our shade-
trees ; but he may not easily be seen, even with
a glass. His song will be heard there morning
and afternoon, though not toward evening. It
is said by some to resemble that of the Purple
Finch. He sings while in constant motion,
seeking his food.

126 Birds of Oregon and Washington

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, brownish-gray ;
a faint whitish line over eye ; back, clear olive-gray ;
wings, greenish-olive ; breast, dull white ; pale yellowish
sides.

Summer resident.

CASSIN'S VIREO.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : bluish head and grayish-olive

back.

Under parts : dull white with yellowish sides.
Length, 5 to 5.6 inches.

Found in partly open country, in deciduous trees of
rather low growth.

Cassin's Vireo is another bird that belongs
chiefly to the Pacific coast. It is, like the birds
of other families already named belonging to
the western part of the continent, a bird to re-
joice in. His song is characteristically vireoish
— a kind of warble with a touch of the metallic
in it.

He may be distinguished from the warbling
Vireo by his lower perch, by his less flowing
song, and also by his markings, which are alto-
gether his own.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 127

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As above, bluish head ;
a conspicuous white line about his eye, and two white
wing-bars.

Summer resident.

THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : Upper parts : head and back, black ;
neck, orange-buffy ; wings and tail, with white
patches.

Under parts : orange-brown and yellow.
Length, 8 inches.

May often be seen singing upon the taller trees left
standing in the midst of younger growth. It nests in
low growth, sometimes near water.

Some say that the most beautiful singer
amongst the birds of the eastern States is the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A member of the
same family, belonging exclusively to the western
part of the continent, holds something like a
corresponding position in this section. Though
it is less varied, his song has the same general
quality as that of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
The song is not unlike that of the Robin in its

128 Birds of Oregon and Washington

general form ; but there is a mellowness about
it, and running through it " a rich undertone,"
as a competent judge describes it, which should
charm every listener. When the writer first
came to this coast, he mistook, for an instant,
the song of the local bird for that of the Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, owing to this mellow under-
tone.

The male bird's color is notable for its rich-
ness, being made up of alternate large patches of
black and orange or red-buff. The form and
carriage of the male is both attractive and com-
manding. His body looks graceful and longer
than it really is, as he sits upon his perch, sing-
ing his love-song, like a master-bird as well as a
master-musician .

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head, black,
sometimes a line of light orange-brown in center of crown
and back of eye ; collar, back of neck, cinnamon-color ;
back, black mixed with light cinnamon, sometimes all
black ; rump, cinnamon ; wings and tail, black, varied
with white ; breast, cinnamon ; abdomen, yellow, also in-
side of wings.

Female : Olive-brown, instead of black ; under parts,
whitish, streaked on sides ; lining of wings, lemon-color.

Summer resident.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 129

THE RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : from russet to olive-brown.
Under parts : light gray.
Length, 7 inches.

Found in young deciduous growth, and amongst the
trees and shrubs of large places in towns and cities.

The Thrushes (those known specifically by
that name) are not so many in variety in Ore-
gon and Washington as in the East. The Rus-
set-backed Thrush, however, like some other
varieties of birds already mentioned, belongs ex-
clusively to this side of the American continent.
It is a beautiful singer, as befits the family, and
is very abundant.

It is the Pacific coast variety of the Olive-
backed Thrush of the East, which it closely re-
sembles in size and appearance, the breast in
the two being almost identical. Its call-note
and song are also very similar to those of the
eastern bird, but it is like the Wood Thrush in
its familiar way of approaching human dwellings
and nesting upon grounds even within our cities.
It arrives late, about the last of May. But once
here, its call-note, a short whistle, a sound pearl-
like for liquid roundness, may be heard from the

130 Birds of Oregon and Washington

lower limbs of town trees ; and some days later,
towards sunset, and long after, you will hear the
Thrush-songs from many quarters.

This bird sings at other times to be sure — as
in the early morning with the other birds — but
its song is mostly at night, and even into the
night ; sometimes when darkness has almost
entirely settled down, the sweet and yet loud
notes of this Thrush may be occasionally heard.
As a singer it ranks amongst our half-dozen
best, and its arrival should be eagerly watched
for, and its song enjoyed for the five or six
weeks that it lasts.

In some parts of Oregon and Washington,
some may hear the even sweeter notes of the
rare Dwarf Hermit Thrush ; but most people
will not have the privilege of hearing the song
of any other member of this family beside that
of the Russet-backed Thrush.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back, wings and
tail, sometimes more russet, sometimes more olive-brown ;
a whitish ring encircles the eye ; sides, olive-gray ; breast,
pale buff and marked with small, triangular brown spots ;
abdomen, white.

Summer resident

Birds of Oregon and Washington 131

Some reference to the probable presence of
a few of one or two species of imported Thrushes
in certain parts of Oregon, will be made in
another place.

THE FLYCATCHERS.

This is a peculiar and strongly marked family,
the different members of which resemble each
other sufficiently to seem almost to be brothers
and sisters from the same nest, varying in size
and other ways only as much as brothers and
sisters do in other than bird-families. They not
only look alike, but they act so much alike that
you may know, in a general way, the whole
family by seeing one member of it.

Their name indicates their habits, but not
their appearance. You will see these birds in
different sizes, and with slight variations in color
and form, sitting quietly upon some tree-top or
lower dead limb, hunched up as if sick, or en-
tirely relaxed in sleep. But woe to the fly that
should approach one of them, assuming this to
be the case, for, quick as a flash, the apparently
sleepy or sick bird darts at the insect, has it in

132 Birds of Oregon and Washington

his mouth and stomach, and is back again upon
the very same perch, ready for the next unwary
fly or gnat that ventures in his neighborhood.

The Flycatchers all have, in general, upper
parts from olive to dark slate-color, darker head
and tail, sometimes quite black, with more or less
grayish-white on breast. In form they are, while
sitting, awkward, and suggest a dwarf race, hav-
ing apparently — owing to a short neck — a large
head in proportion to the body ; while the bird
is in repose the tail is dropped as low as the
Wren's is held high, and the wings droop as
they do in a sick canary or chicken. Five
species of this family are represented in the accom-
panying picture, and furnish an excellent illus-
tration of general resemblances and particular
differences in these related birds. They have
no song, only a call, which is, in all of the varie-
ties described in this book (with the exception of
an occasional note from the Pewee), rather stri-
dent, and quite in harmony with the whole man-
ner of the bird.

They are a very interesting family. In the
East and in California, and in some places in
Oregon and in Washington, one species, the

Birds of Oregon and Washington 133

Phoebe bird, is domestic, and joins the Wrens,
Bluebirds and Swallows in building nests in and
about the homes of men.

THE WESTERN WOOD PEWEE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : olive-brown ; darker on head,

wings and tail.
Under parts : olive-gray, interrupted with slight

whitish central-line, from the throat down.
Length, 6.5 inches.

Found in woods, also on trees and telegraph-wires
about towns and cities.

The Pewee is the most common of the Fly-
catcher family in the Willamette Valley, and
perhaps elsewhere. It seems impossible to a
person familiar with the Pewee of the East that
the one on the Pacific coast can bear the same
name, since his usual cry or call is so entirely
different, and his habit of coming into cities and
sitting upon telegraph-wires so altogether unlike
the eastern variety. In the East, the Pewee is
found in the lonely woods, where its ever-sad
call may be heard, sounding literally like
" Pewee," slowly and mournfully reiterated. But
here the customary call is a rather strident

1 34 Birds of Oregon and Washington

sound, and not unlike the cry which a Night-
hawk makes while searching the upper air for
his insect food. Very occasionally the true
Pewee note is heard.

Dwellers in cities are fortunate, however, in
not having to go to the woods to watch the fly-
catching habit of this little creature; and, in
learning his way, they learn the way of all the
family. See him dart from his perch ! Then
hear his bill snap as he seizes the unlucky insect,
and, without pausing an instant, makes the loop
back to the place that he has just left !

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion above, with this addition ; white throat and abdo-
men, the latter tinged with yellow.

Summer resident.

THE OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Very like the Western Wood Pewee. A little
larger.

Length, 7 inches.
Found in evergreen tree-tops.

This Flycatcher is common in this section,
but may not seem so to one who does not know

Birds of Oregon and Washington 135

that this is a bird of the tops of tall evergreens,
where it nests and from whence it feeds.

This manner of life will enable us always to
recognize him, even should we not bring him
near through our glass.

Mr. Herman Bohlman, of Portland, one of the
most accurate and thoroughly informed students
of local ornithology, says of this bird : " He can
always be recognized by his exceedingly loud
call-note, which sounds like < wee-chew/ the first
syllable being long drawn out and strongly ac-
cented/*

In color, the bird so nearly resembles the
Pewee that one must almost wait for the wings
to be spread to discover the distinguishing white
flank-tufts which are concealed by the wings
while the bird is at rest. Another difference is
in the white central-line down the breast, which
is more .distinct in this member of the family.

TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Upper parts : olive.
Under parts : white and yellow.
Length, 6 inches.

1 36 Birds of Oregon and Washington

This Flycatcher is probably not to be found in every
locality alike in this section, but is abundant' in some
parts.

This is the western variety of the Alder Fly-
catcher of the East. It will be difficult for
many of us to distinguish him. In order to
make the way as easy as possible, I give Ridg-
way's more technical

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — " Above, olive, usually
decidedly grayer on head ; wing-bands, varying from
dull, brownish-gray to nearly white ; lower parts, white,
tinged, more or less, with sulphur-yellow underneath, and
shaded with olive-grayish on sides of breast ; under wing-
coverts, very pale buffy-yellow."

Summer resident.

THE WESTERN FLYCATCHER.

This member of the family is on the average
a little smaller than the Traill's Flycatcher, and
is found most frequently and abundantly near
streams and in canons.

Ridgway says that it nests in clefts of old
logs or stumps and that its nests are made of
moss and are bulky. Keeler says, "nests on
mossy bank by stream," but Mr. H. J. Leland,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 137

of Los Angeles, California, and others, report it
as nesting also in shrubs, like water-alders, as
well as in holes in river banks.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back and rump,
grayish-olive ; pale wing-bands ; breast, dull yellowish ;
abdomen, more sulphur-yellow ; a circle of dull yellow
about the eye.

Length, 5.5 to 6 inches.

THE ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Head, neck and breast, light ashy-gray; tail,

black ; abdomen, yellow.
Length, 8 to 9.5 inches.
' Found here and there throughout these States.

This is the more common giant Flycatcher of
these States. He is found in great numbers
in the eastern section, and may be seen, nesting
upon the cross-bars of telegraph poles in the
cities and towns, and darting about the streets
for insects. He is given, by the inhabitants of
these towns, the false name which the people of
the East give the Kingbird proper, " Bee Mar-
tin." Thus farmers and others often make the
same fatal mistake respecting this bird that they

138 Birds of Oregon and Washington

do with respect to others, and destroy him.
The examination of the stomachs of over two
hundred Kingbirds by Professor Beal, of the
Agricultural Department at Washington, re-
vealed the fact that only fourteen of the total
number had any bees at all in them, and those
were mostly drones ; while sixty per cent of the
contents of these stomachs consisted of injurious
insects. Every protection should be given to
these benefactors of the farmer, and they will
more and more come to live and nest in our
orchards.

Though a " King of the Birds," he is not,
as is generally supposed, a tyrant king, un-
less he is very unlike his eastern counterpart,
"The King-bird." On the other hand, like
the bulldog among dogs (unless the bulldog
has been spoiled in training), the bird is just
and tolerant.

These birds can be readily distinguished from
the other members of their family by their size.
They are much larger.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, neck and breast,
as above, light ashy-gray j crown, a concealed scarlet
patch ; back, olive-gray ; tail, black, with white web of

Olive sided Flycatcher.

Kingbird. Arkansas Kingbird.

Western Flycatcher.
Train's Flycatcher.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 39

outer tail-feathers ; abdomen, and sometimes lower
breast, yellow.

Summer resident.

THE KINGBIRD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : blackish-gray.
Under parts: white.
Length, 8.5 inches.

Found in open places, nesting in trees of
moderate size.

The Kingbird of the East is not generally
distributed in this section. He is rare in the
Willamette Valley and southwestern Washing-
ton, but is not uncommon in eastern Oregon and
Washington, and is reported as not rare about
Puget Sound.

In the North Atlantic States, he is to be found
at every turn. He sits upon the top of a tree
from twenty to thirty feet high, watching for the
hapless insect, and on guard against bird-ene-
mies of all kinds. Not even the predaceous
crow dare face this defender of his own and
other birds' eggs and young. His agility on the
wing is unequaled ; and no offender may hope

140 Birds of Oregon and Washington

to dodge his fierce thrusts at body, head and
eyes.

The Kingbird may be distinguished from the
Arkansas Kingbird by the entire absence of yel-
low in his coloring, and by his darker gray back ;
his wing-coverts, outer tail-feathers, and tip of
tail, are edged or bordered with pure white or
grayish-white.

THE SAY'S PHCEBE.

.GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : light brownish-gray.
Under parts : breast, light brownish-gray ; abdo-
men, cinnamon.
Length, 7.5 to 8 inches.

In the East, one of the most charming of do-
mestic birds is a member of the Flycatcher family
known as the " Phoebe Bird," which in the spring
seeks for its nest a shelf or a beam around the
shed, barn or piazza. It is a great favorite with
children, and is more easily seen in its house-
building than the nervous and secretive little
Wren.

Fortunately, in some places at least, in Oregon
and Washington, a species of this bird is found,
doing the same thing for the delight of the

Birds of Oregon and Washington 141

children of this section of the country. It is
known as the " Say's Phoebe." It looks, in a
general way, like the rest of the Flycatcher
family. It wags its tail vigorously, while utter-
ing its call-notes which indistinctly resemble the
name " Phoebe." Its nest is sometimes placed
under a bridge.

No further description than the general one is
needed. The bird is larger than any Flycatcher
in our section, except the Kingbird. The Say's
Phoebe is rare, but rarer still is the Western
Black Phoebe, which is, however, seen in some
places in southern Oregon, and may be mistaken
for the one first named. The dark slate-color of
its plumage on account of which the name
" Black " is given, and a distinct V-shaped mark-
ing underneath, will serve to identify the Black
Phoebe.

THE LAZULI BUNTING.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : azure-blue.

Under parts : rufous and white.

Length, 5.5 inches.
Found in low growths of deciduous tre.es.

142 Birds of Oregon and Washington

If it is a question of beauty of coloring, no
other bird may hope to surpass to human eyes
this little bit of heaven's blue, with his soft,
tawny breast and clear white underparts.

He comes to us rather late in May from the
Southern land, where he spends his winters, and
may occasionally be seen about suburban houses
and orchards before he has found his nesting-
place. Once seen, he will always be recognized
and remembered.

His song is vivacious, varied, well artic-
ulated, and sweet. I have heard one say over
and over, " Here ! here ! why-e, don't you come
here ? "

The female carries no such wealth of color as
her companion and cannot answer him with his
free song.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Head, neck and
upper parts, turquoise, or azure-blue ; the back, darker
and duller ; distinct white wing-bar, sometimes a second
fainter one ; breast (sometimes sides), tawny ; abdomen,
white.

Female : Duller grayish-brown on back, tinged with
bluish on rump ; breast, pale buff.

Summer resident.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 143

THE LOUISIANA, OR WESTERN, TANAGER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : Head and neck, bright red ; back, wings
and tail, black ; rump and entire lower part,
bright yellow.
Length, 7 inches.

Found about evergreen and other trees.

Some day about the last of May, when we are
watching an Audubon's Warbler in an ever-
green, or perhaps passing a group of these trees,
we may hear a song like, and yet not like, the
Robin's. If at first it seems to be quite the
same, a little closer attention will reveal a more
metallic note, and a song more regularly and
rapidly repeated than that of our more familiar
friend. If our ears direct our eyes, we shall not
look long before the author of this song will ap-
pear in an opening, and reveal to us a strik-
ing plumage of red, yellow and black, and a new
bird, — or at least one whose general and par-
ticular name we may not yet have learned. This
is a male of the only variety of the Tanager
family upon the Pacific coast north of Mexico,
and, as these birds are always in pairs, you may
expect to find his mate near at hand.

The Louisiana Tanager received his name

144 Birds of Oregon and Washington

from Lewis and Clarke during their memorable
expedition, and is one of the three birds made
famous by their discoveries ; the other two,
Clarke's Crow and Lewis's Woodpecker, are
noticed elsewhere. This bird is found over a
wide extent of western territory and received the
name " Louisiana " because all of the land west
of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Moun-
tains, and from the Gulf of Mexico to British
America, purchased from France in 1803 by the
United States, was known, at that time, by that
name.

The Tanager family is an immense and bril-
liant ly-plumaged one. America (North and
South) alone has three hundred and fifty varie-
ties ; but all the varieties except the one here
and the two in the East, live in the tropics. We
must, therefore, make the best of our only
Tanager, which is, however, both beautiful and
abundant.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Upper parts, as
in general description, except wings are crossed with
two yellow bars.

Female : Olive-greenish above, pale yellow below ;
two faint wing-bars. No black and no red on this bird.

Summer resident only.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 145

THE SAGE THRASHER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Upper parts : plain brownish-gray.

Under parts : dull white, spotted and streaked

with dusky.
Length, 9 inches.

Found in sage-brush of eastern Oregon and Washing-
ton.

People in the region of the sage-brush in
eastern Oregon and Washington, must be more
or less familiar with the bird, very common there,
and altogether worthy of an intimate acquaint-
ance. The bird is widely distributed over the
sage-brush plains of western North America. It
nests in the brush and in service-berry bushes,
and pours forth a beautiful song that befits both
his kind and his surroundings. His singing is
of the Mockingbird order, for he is said to imi-
tate not only other birds, but almost the cries of
quadrupeds and the voices of men. He some-
times nests upon mountain sides, and is called
the " Mountain Mockingbird."

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Above, brownish-gray ;
wings, edged with white, and two white wing-bars ; tail,
edged with white; throat, breast, and abdomen, dull

146 Birds of Oregon and Washington

white, with buffy tinge on flanks and under tail-coverts ;
whole breast, thickly spotted or streaked with wedge-
shaped markings.

Summer resident.

THE GREAT BLUE HERON.

DESCRIPTION : Bill, long and sharp ; very short tail ;
forehead and crown, white ; black streaks on either side
of crown, running back they join down the neck ; back
and wings, blue-gray; throat, white; breast, black and
somewhat mottled.

Length, 45 inches.

Found in marshes and along rivers and by lakes.

I cannot do better than to transcribe what
Mr. Frank M. Chapman has said about this
splendid bird and the murderous assault upon
him by hunters :

"The presence of a stately Great Blue Heron
or ' Crane ' adds an element to the landscape
which no work of man can equal. Its grace of
form and motion, emphasized by its large size, is
a constant delight to the eye ; it is a symbol of
the wild in nature ; one never tires of watching
it. What punishment, then, is severe enough
for the man who robs his fellows of so pure a

Birds of Oregon and Washington 147

source of enjoyment ? A rifle ball turns this
noble creature into a useless mass of flesh and
feathers. The loss is irreparable. Still, we have
no law to prevent it. Herons are said to devour
large numbers of small fish. But is not the la-
borer worthy of his hire ? Are the fish more
valuable than this, one of the grandest of birds ? ' '

The only excuse offered on this coast, for this
savage destruction of a noble bird is that he acts
as a game sentinel. He gives the signal to
ducks, when the hunter is approaching. Sup-
pose he does sometimes do this, is his sagacity
not a cause for the greater admiration of him ?
Let this magnificent creature adorn our water-
ways and add to the beauty of our evening sky
by his splendid flight.

A permanent resident.

THE AMERICAN BITTERN, OR STAKE DRIVER.

Length, 24 to 34 inches.

This is another member of the Heron family,
and looks like his kind, with long legs for wading
and bill shaped for fishing.

Go where we may in the United States, this

148 Birds of Oregon and Washington

strange bird will be seen and heard. " Strange/1
because it makes so loud, peculiar, and command-
ing, a call. It may be heard sometimes three-
quarters of a mile, giving its " pumping " call,
" pumper-lunk, pumper-lunk," or its "stake-driv-
ing" call, "chunk, chunk." The latter often
deceives the ear, and sounds like the report made
by the head of an axe, when struck upon a stake
that is being driven into the mud.

Mr. Charles Conrad Abbott, however, thinks
" no sound in nature is so hopelessly beyond de-
scription." Mr. Bradford Torrey has been for-
tunate and skillful enough to see these birds in
the act of making the noise. He reports that it
is done with violent contortions of the head and
neck.

They are birds of the marsh and the shore,
where they wade in the mud or in the tide-made
shallows.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Above, mainly yellow-
ish, varied not a little with mottling of reddish-brown and
black ; wings, slate-color, tipped with reddish-brown i
lower parts, pale buff, striped with brown ; a black streak
on the neck.

Summer resident.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 149

THE GREEN HERON.

Length, 15.5 to 22.5.

This is the smallest, as the Great Blue Heron
is the largest, of the Heron family. Unlike the
latter, however, he does not nest in flocks but in
privacy ; the home is built in bushes, or upon
limbs of trees, overhanging the water, and is
made of sticks, as is usually the case with his
kind. The Green Heron seems to prefer the
woods to marshes. It is widely distributed,
being found everywhere in temperate North
America, as well as in the West Indies and some
parts of South America. Its call is a rather
sweet whistle. Its cry, when frightened, is a
sort of quawk.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, glossy green on
top ; rest of head and great part of neck, reddish-brown,
" rich chestnut, varying in tone from cinnamon to ma-
roon" (Ridgway) ; wings, varying from slate-color and
greenish in the scapulars, " with whitish shafts to bottle-
green in the wing-coverts, bordered with whitish or buff ;
lower parts, plain grayish."

Summer resident.

1 50 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE CALIFORNIA CUCKOO.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : plain brown.

Under parts : whitish ; tail, tipped with the same.

Length, 10.5 inches.

This species of the Cuckoo is rare in the Wil-
lamette Valley and about lower Puget Sound,
but is common in British Columbia, and, no
doubt, is to be found in parts of northern Wash-
ington. I have heard it on the Peninsula,
Portland, Oregon, and others report it in the
neighborhood. It is an interesting and useful
bird and should be recognized and cherished for
its association with poetry. (See Wordsworth's
" Cuckoo.")

Ordinarily, the American Cuckoos are con-
fused in people's minds with the English species
of the bird, as having the latter's base habit of
depositing its eggs in other birds' nests for incu-
bation and giving to others the rearing of its
young. Our Cuckoos are not only not guilty of
that, but they are among the most useful of our
insect-eating birds, being especially destructive
of the tent-caterpillar.

No detailed description of the bird is neces-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 151

sary, but one should notice these special marks :
The body is in appearance rather long and
slender ; the bill, long and curved ; the lower
mandible (i. e. the lower part of the bill) being
yellow, the upper part, black ; two toes are di-
rected forward and two backward (a character-
istic of all Cuckoos).
Summer resident.

THE WESTERN NIGHTHAWK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Mottled gray, with wide wings ; on the wing high
in air, toward nightfall.

Length, 10 inches.
Found everywhere in the States.

Some of us associate with nightfall in our
boyhood two sounds from the sky which seemed
mysterious, and one of them sometimes, perhaps,
a little dreadful. One was the steadily repeated
nasal " Paent " (Chapman), and the other the
occasional sudden booming or whirring sound
which the Nighthawk, out of sight, would send
down to our ears. We may, from this boyish
experience, understand how the Indians became
superstitious respecting the latter sound, and

152 Birds of Oregon and Washington

thought it was " the Shad Spirit warning the
shoals of shad, about to ascend the rivers to
spawn, of their impending fate."

But later we came to know the useful and
beautiful bird that, in its splendid free flight over
country and city, uttered his friendly though
somewhat strident note, and ever and anon-
whether for sport, or for an insect, who can tell ?
— would drop head-foremost from a great height
(sometimes several hundred feet), holding wings
and tail stiff and at an angle that would produce
the booming and jarring sound referred to.
This bird has many names in the East — the
"Night Jar," the "Bull Bat," the "Mosquito
Hawk," and others.

Man's blindness to his friends, the birds, is
again illustrated by the way in which some even
now regard the Nighthawk as an enemy to
poultry.

The Nighthawk is unfortunately named, for
he is not a Hawk at all ; and, strictly speaking,
he never flies at night, but usually after sunset
and near nightfall, and sometimes into the dusk.
His bill and claws could not handle meat. He
is wholly an insectivorous bird.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 153

During the bright parts of the day, he sits
upon limbs of trees, or upon the roof of a house,
or even again, in the country, upon a rock, quite
motionless.

Nighthawks nest upon the ground in rocky
pastures and uplands.

The Western Nighthawk differs from the
eastern variety in being a little lighter in color.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, broad ; bill,
small, curved and pointed ; upper parts, mottled, with
light grayish-buffy or yellow markings predominating ;
lower parts, — throat, white ; upper breast, narrow bars
of buffy and black alternating ; lower breast-bars, wider.

Summer resident.

THE POORWILL.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts: soft brownish-gray, mottled.
Under parts : somewhat lighter than upper.
Length, 7.25 to 8.5.

The Poorwill is, as its looks indicate, closely
related to the Nighthawk and it is the western
representative of the eastern Whip-poor-will. It
is much smaller and its song much less notice-
able and commanding. The eastern bird has
almost an adult human voice and a superior

154 Birds of Oregon and Washington

fascination. But our smaller bird is not without
its own charm, and may suggest the voice of a
child, when after dark and in the night, never
by day, its love-call is heard.

The bird is rare in the Willamette Valley and
around Puget Sound, but grows more common
as we move east, till across the Cascade Moun-
tains it may be heard any fine night in May and
June, and later. Its habits are not so well
known as those of its eastern relatives. But it
would not be strange, if it too, when its nest was
disturbed by man, should safely carry off either
eggs or young to some more secluded spot.
This bird is found as much in open prairies and
in barren arid land of the interior, as in woods.
It nests in high altitudes, where there is frost
every night, and also in regions of tropical
temperature. It makes no nest, but lays two
eggs upon the bare ground or upon rocks.

Captain Charles Bendire, an army officer, who
has contributed more than any one hitherto, to
a knowledge of the birds of Oregon, has de-
scribed the love-call of the Poorwill as "Puih-
wee-ee," — the last syllable being almost in-
audible.

$

C/J

Birds of Oregon and Washington 155

The bird has a wide range upon the western
side of our continent, being found from the Rio
Grande through northern Mexico, New Mexico,
Arizona and all of the North Pacific States.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — All above, soft velvety
mottled, brownish-gray, with a " moth-like " (Ridgway),
or a " frost-like " (Keeler), surface, marked with spottings
and zigzags of black ; tail-feathers, tipped with white,
sometimes with buff; throat, strongly marked with trans-
verse patch of white ; breast and abdomen, barred with
buffy ; under tail-coverts, plain buff .

Summer resident.

THE DOVE FAMILY.

There are two members of this family found
within the boundaries prescribed in this book, the
Mourning Dove and the Band-tailed Pigeon.

THE MOURNING DOVE, OR TURTLE DOVE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : except head, soft olive-brownish.
Under parts : vinaceous or plum-color. Long tail.
Length, 12.5 inches.

Found everywhere in farming and more or less open
country.

156 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Everywhere, in temperate North America, in
the summer season, we may see and hear the
bird, which is truly named the " Mourning "
Dove. To many, the cooing is too sadly sug-
gestive to be agreeable ; but to one who has
learned to associate this sound with love-making,
rather than with lament, it is one of the sweet
voices of Nature and could not well be spared.
The devotion of the Dove is proverbial and is
used to characterize extraordinary human connu-
bial love. These birds are loyal lovers, for even
when the nesting-season is over they do not
gather in flocks, as do other Pigeons, but are
often seen in pairs.

With respect to this bird, farmers make a
mistake, too. Because it picks up wheat upon
the surface of the field or even takes some (more
or less) after it is covered, the Dove is, in some
places, looked upon as an enemy. But no bird
does more in devouring noxious weed-seeds than
this one. An examination of many crops of
this species by the Agricultural Department at
Washington showed the contents of the crop
of one Dove to be seven thousand mullein seeds.
When it is known that a Dove fills his crop sev-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 157

eral times each day, the usefulness of this bird
may be imagined.

The Mourning Dove is beautiful withal, and
too innocent and gentle in habit to make the
killing of it, for food, a sport.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Forehead, reddish-buff ;
head, greenish-blue ; rest of upper parts, as in general
description, except sides of neck, iridescent, with black
spot underneath each ear ; breast, vinaceous ; abdomen,
buff ; long pointed tail, outer feathers, white.

Summer resident.

THE BAND-TAILED PIGEON.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : Upper parts : lead-color, with purplish

tints on head and neck ; bluish on rump.
Under parts: purplish, varying from greenish-
blue to bluish-green.
Length, 16 inches.

Found in the oaks, where it feeds on acorns, and
sometimes about farm fields.

The Band-tailed Pigeon corresponds to the
Wild Pigecin of the East, so famous for numbers
before ruthless man nearly destroyed it, as he
has entirely destroyed the buffalo.

Audubon and others report that the Wild

158 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Pigeons of the East once darkened the sky for
hours in their flight, and broke, with their weight,
the limbs of trees upon hundreds of acres of
forests. The bird is now comparatively rare.
The reason for this fearful, cruel, and wasteful
destruction, was largely the habits of the birds
in living the year around in one immense colony,
thus falling an easy prey to men who lived by
their capture and death. It is said that the
Band-tailed Pigeons nest in something like small
colonies, remain together in moderate-sized flocks
after the nesting-season, are sometimes seen in
numbers innumerable, and are often slaughtered
by the score. Let the people of the Northwest
have a care, before it is too late.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As above, in general
description ; with white collar on back of neck ; tail,
square, with a black band one-third from the end.

Summer resident.

VAUX'S SWIFT.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

On the wing, appears to be black, with short tail
and long wings. It has a rapid flight, and is
to be seen on cloudy days and near nightfall.
Length, a little more than 4 inches.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 59

Found flying high over woods or houses, and nesting
in hollow trees.

No one will ever see this bird except on the
wing, unless he handles a dead one or sometimes
does as Audubon once did at night, that is, visit
some tree which has been prepared for investi-
gation, and with a light look up to the crowded
tenement of these bat -like creatures above.
Audubon found, by count, nine thousand of the
eastern species in one tree.

The eastern variety of the Swift is very like
Vaux's, and is popularly known as the " Chim-
ney Swallow," because there these birds take
possession of chimneys unused in summer time
and proceed to glue their nests against the sides
of the chimney flues. The nests are made of
twigs snapped off trees while the birds are on
the wing. In the fireplace-rooms below, the
fluttering and twittering of these happy crea-
tures can often be heard.

Though called Swallows, they are very unlike
the Swallow in every respect, except that they
feed in the air and have weak feet.- They can-
not perch, but rest and sleep hanging on the
side of the tree or chimney, propped by the stiff

1 60 Birds of Oregon and Washington

spines at the end of their tail-feathers, using
these as do some of the Woodpeckers when the
latter cling to a tree-trunk. The stretch of
their wings is something amazing compared with
their length, — the distance from tip to tip being
more than twelve inches, while from tip of bill
to end of tail-feathers, when stretched out, they
measure only a little more than four inches.
This extraordinary wing enables them to per-
form miracles of flight. It is said they some-
times cover a thousand miles in twenty-four
hours.

The Swift on the wing suggests by his gen-
eral appearance the bat. As he flies, he utters
a single note rapidly.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — General coloration,
dusky-grayish ; throat, pale-grayish ; rump and upper
tail-coverts, lighter than the back.

Summer resident.

THE BLACK SWIFT.

This Swift is darker than the Vaux's, and
much larger, — its length being seven inches and
more. It is a bird of splendid flight and lofty
habitat. Mr. Anthony states that it nests in

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 6 1

crevices of the highest cliffs in high mountains,
and is sometimes called " the Cloud Bird," on
account of its lofty flight and dwelling-place.

Its form is different from that of the Vaux's
Swift. The spines at the end of the tail do not
extend beyond the web of the feathers.

Many years ago, this Swift was reported as
abundant and nesting in the cliffs along the
Klamath River, in southern Oregon, or northern
California. It is known in the West Indies, and
Mr. J. H. Bowles reports it on Puget Sound.
Ridgway gives its American habitat as from Colo-
rado to British Columbia. It may be found
here and there throughout our section.

DESCRIPTION. — " Uniform dusky or blackish, becom-
ing more sooty-grayish on head and neck ; the forehead,
more hoary." — Ridgway.

Summer resident.

THE WOODPECKERS.

The Woodpeckers are, perhaps without ex-
ception, beautiful birds, and fit perfectly their
environment in the woods. They often save
great forests, which song-birds do not live in,

1 62 Birds of Oregon and Washington

from oppressive loneliness by their tapping upon
some tree or by their cheerful call. The Flicker
lives near human habitations, and, as we have
seen, seeks human fellowship. Some other
Woodpeckers visit the more open country and
occasionally excite our curiosity by their less
familiar presence.

Of this family in these States, there are five,
besides the Flicker, which are sufficiently com-
mon for us to learn to recognize them, when
we come upon them in the woods or when they
visit us. They are the Harris's, the Gairdner's,
the Lewis's, the Pileated and the Calif ornian.

One wishing to know all about this family of
birds, should read the recent book by Fanny
Hardy Eckstrom, "The Woodpeckers." No
other book upon the subject is at the same time
so thorough and so entertaining.

HARRIS'S WOODPECKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black, with long white stripe down

the back.

Under parts : smoky-gray or light smoky-brown.
Length, 9 to 10 inches.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 163

Found in edges of clearings, burned timber-patches,
oak trees and orchards.

This bird and the next one described are re-
latives of eastern Woodpeckers, but are of darker
hue. Harris's Woodpecker is the western variety
of the eastern "Hairy" Woodpecker, and, with
the Gairdner's, may often be seen in the autumn
in the dogwood trees, eating the berries. He is
learning to visit the orchards and fruit trees
around our surburban homes. And no better
friend to the fruit-grower can be imagined.
Every borer and all eggs and larvae which are
harmful to the tree, are cleared up by this dili-
gent and systematic bird, as he moves around the
trunk, searching every crevice.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, black, with scar-
let patch on the head of the male ; white line down back
and rump ; sides of back, black ; few white wing-spots ;
tail, black in center ; outer tail-feathers, white ; all lower
parts, brownish-gray.

Permanent resident.

GAIRDNER'S WOODPECKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Almost the same as the Harris's, only much

smaller ; black above and smoky-gray below.
Length, 6 to 7 inches.

164 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Found in burned timber-patches, edges of woods and
orchards.

The Gairdner's Woodpecker looks, in general,
like a small edition of the Harris's, and as the
Harris's is the western variety of the "Hairy,"
the Gairdner's is the western variety of the
eastern " Downy," Woodpecker.

Habits almost identical with the Harris's
Woodpecker. He is of the same service in
orchards.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, with red mark-
ings for male, black ; back and tail, black ; wide white line
down the back and rump ; lower parts, more smoky than
the Harris's and more white spots on the wings.

Permanent resident.

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : lustrous greenish-black, except

fore-part of head.

Under parts : below upper breast, crimson.
Length, n inches.

Found in heavy timber, also in oak trees. An occa-
sional visitor in the neighborhood of towns.

This is the famous Woodpecker of the west-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 165

ern part of our continent, bearing as it does the
name of the distinguished explorer, Lewis, of
the Lewis and Clarke Expedition. It is also
greatly distinguished for its altogether unique
color. No other Woodpecker is both greenish-
black and crimson. Dr. Elliott Coues says :
" No other species of our country shows such a
metallic iridescence, or such intense crimson,
and in none is the plumage so curiously modified
into a bristly character."

The bird looks as dark as a Blackbird, on the
wing. Its flight is more like that of birds be-
longing to other than the Woodpecker family,
being direct and even, not undulating. It also,
like ordinary birds, alights upon boughs. It
taps on tree-trunks infrequently. In the forest
it lives, feeds and nests high up on the dead top
of some tree, or in the more open oak wood.
In Oregon, it is more often found in deciduous
trees. One of its peculiarities is that it has the
habit of the Flycatcher family, in often flying
from the tree-top to catch, on the wing, some
approaching insect.

This bird, formerly altogether of the deep
woods, is, like other birds, changing his habits

1 66 Birds of Oregon and Washington

with the advent of man, and is not infrequently
seen now in the neighborhood of towns and
country homes.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Fore-part of head, in-
cluding cheek, crimson ; collar, back of neck, gray ; back,
wings, tail and thighs, metallic greenish-black ; upper
breast, like collar, gray ; lower breast and abdomen,
crimson.

Summer resident.

THE NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Body, blackish or dusky-slate; crest (and head
in male), bright red ; white patches on the
wings.

Length, 18 inches.

Found in evergreen forests and occasionally in other
heavy timber.

All over North America, to a greater or less
extent, is found this splendid member of the
Woodpecker family. In some parts of our sec-
tion, especially, perhaps, around Puget Sound, he
is more common than one or two of the varieties
already described.

The bird is of immense size, with a red crest

Birds of Oregon and Washington 167

which adds to his striking appearance. His
size and crest will immediately distinguish him
from all the other members of his family.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Body, in general,
dusky-slate ; crest and head in male, bright red ; throat,
white ; two stripes on side of head, and one on side of
neck, white ; malar (jaw) stripe, red ; wing-patches, white
— show most white when flying.

Female : Malar stripe and head, brownish-gray.

Permanent resident.

THE CALIFORNIAN WOODPECKER.

In southern Oregon, this member of the large
Woodpecker family is not uncommon, though it
is not found elsewhere in our section, except,
here and there, one or two that may be out of
the ordinary limits.

DESCRIPTION. — Forehead, white ; top of head, a
crimson patch, smaller on female ; back, generally black
with bluish lustre ; rump, white ; upper breast, mostly
glossy black ; lower breast, streaked with white ; sides,
streaked with black ; abdomen, white. Length, 9 inches.

This Woodpecker is related to the Red-headed
Woodpecker of the Eastern States.
Partly a permanent resident,

1 68 Birds of Oregon and Washington

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Head, neck and chest, uniform red, or with white
markings and black chest-patch showing in-
distinctly through the plumage. (Ridgway.)
Length, 8.5 inches.

Found in maple, dogwood and orchard trees.

A pity it is that, after a thorough scientific
investigation of its habits, this beautiful bird
must be condemned. For a long time, it was
supposed that sap-sucking was injurious to trees,
and the bird was condemned on account of the
habit his name indicates. Meanwhile, there
were those who denied the fact and affirmed that
the bird was wrongly named. At the present
time, however, there is little doubt that this
species of Woodpecker is truly a sap-sucker, but
perhaps not to any great extent. If he were, it
would not now be on this account that he would
be pronounced an enemy, because taking sap in
large quantities, as is done in making maple
sugar, does not injure the trees. But the harm
which the bird does is twofold : First, he cuts
into and eats the inner bark of trees, and, sec-
ondly, in making holes for sap, he does it in
regular order to-day, and if later he drills new

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 69

holes, he does it with reference to the last work
done by his kind, and by degrees destroys the
channels through which the life substance of the
tree flows. He may gradually girdle a tree,
always making holes near together in a straight
line, and then, perhaps, girdle it again. Each
time that a hole is made, the healed wound
marks an obstructed passage for the sap.

If the fruit-grower must protect himself against
the Sapsucker, it is of the greatest importance
that he should be able to distinguish the only
Sapsucker that we have in this section from those
Woodpeckers which are, as has been pointed out,
indispensable to the health of the orchards. The
red head and breast with the yellow underneath,
will give us the infallible marks of this enemy of
orchards. All of the Sapsucker varieties have
yellow underneath.

Permanent resident.

THE SIERRA CREEPER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brown, rusty, and white.
Under parts : white.
Length, 5 inches.

1 70 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Found in forests, and sometimes in the open upon
tree- trunks.

There is only one family of the Creeper in our
western hemisphere. Upon the Pacific, we have
a species not unlike the one common upon the
Atlantic coast. Ours is a little darker in its
plumage. The bird is unmistakable in its ap-
pearance, with its long, curved bill, and a broad
white line over the eye. Its name, " Creeper,"
exactly describes its whole make-up and move-
ment.

No more particular description is needed.

Summer resident.

THE BELTED KINGFISHER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : bluish-gray.

Under parts: white, with a bluish-gray breast-
band.

Length, 13 inches.

Found along rivers and creeks, and upon the shores
of lakes and ponds.

No more beautiful bird in color lives by our
streams and shores than the Kingfisher. His
form seems a little dwarfish, with his big head

Birds of Oregon and Washington 171

and short legs, but he has a noble, fine flight,
and great swiftness and skill in his fishing, which
saves him from the charge of being awkward.
His running, rattling, and somewhat hard cry,
as he takes his flight, all must know, who know
the bird at all.

We need to admire him more on account of
his splendid color, and to know him better on
account of his habits. We should watch him
as he catches, and see with what great difficulty
he sometimes swallows, his fish. We must
swear, too, that we will protect him against the
monopoly assumed by man of the fishes in our
streams. The Kingfisher was by these rivers
before man arrived. And he has his inalienable
and divine rights, even if he makes serious havoc
with the fish in the rivers. But the Kingfishers
are not numerous enough or voracious enough
to rob man of his privilege, even if they do
maintain their right to eat their only natural
food. These birds make their nests in river-
banks, as does the Bank Swallow.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Head, large
and crested ; bill, long and strong ; white spot in front of
eye ; chin, throat and band around neck, white ; back,

172 Birds of Oregon and Washington

wings and tail, gray-blue ; a bluish band across the
chest.

Female : Rufous on breast and on sides.

Permanent resident.

AMERICAN DIPPER OR "WATER OUZEL."

DESCRIPTION. — Bill, long and slender ; tail, very
short ; head and neck, brownish-gray ; back, wings and.
tail, slaty ; lower parts, whitish. In winter, the plumage
is mottled, the feathers edged with white.

Length, 8 inches.

Found by mountain streams and waterfalls.

Bird-lovers, in coming to the western side of
the continent, count as one of their privileges
the seeing of the "Water Ouzel/' It is truly a
" queer " bird, and if one did not know its habits
and should some day see him plunge into a swift
mountain-stream and disappear, he might sup-
pose he had witnessed a case of desperate bird-
suicide. But did he know this odd creature's
ways, he would look for it to come up and land
upon a rock at some point quite well below its
place of plunge. The fact is, our " Water
Ouzel " does this sometimes for mere sport, and
sometimes to gather food upon the bottom. It
would not be so queer — indeed it would be quite

Birds of Oregon and Washington 173

natural — if he were a species of duck with web-
feet, but he more resembles the Snipe. He is
a bird of the rushing current and the dashing
cascade. Behind the latter, in a large oven-
shaped nest, the eggs are laid and the young
reared in the sound of their home element and
while breathing the spray.

We all ought to know the thrice fascinating
ways of this bird, which belongs exclusively to
our side of the continent.

Permanent resident.

THE CROW.

Length, 18 inches.
Found everywhere.

Everybody knows the Crow, and he needs no
description.

No bird that flies is more sagacious, and on
occasion " witty " in the older sense of the term.
He knows how to take advantage of every
opportunity for his own profit, without the risk
of gun or trap. He can count at least three, so
that the third gunner may not hope that this
wary bird will approach his hiding-place because
two of the sporting party have gone away. An

1 74 Birds of Oregon and Washington

observing farmer's boy in Oregon relates how
quickly the Crows discovered that a dog follow-
ing the plow would kill and bury field-mice.
The knowing birds would proceed at once to dig
up these bits for their own hungry stomachs.

It is hard to decide just what to do with the
Crow. He is not only extremely interesting on
account of his sagacity, but he is also a beauti-
ful bird, with his black iridescent plumage and
clean, strong body and bearing, and his " Caw,
caw/' on a winter's day has a charm for the
Nature or bird-lover. He is even more than
this. He is one of the best friends of the far-
mer in destroying mice, also beetles and other
injurious insects. If it were only the temporary
harm that he does to crops and young chickens,
he would have so large a balance to his credit
that no intelligent agriculturist could afford to
destroy him. But his great, and perhaps his un-
pardonable, sin is that he destroys so many eggs
and young of the smaller song and insectivorous
birds that, if his tribe is numerous in any locality,
a considerable reduction of it is undoubtedly ne-
cessary. But in all of this family who live in
spite of us, or by our consent, let us keep ever

Birds of Oregon and Washington 175

an intelligent interest, and mingle our admira-
tion with our reprobation.

These States have two varieties of the Crow,
the American, common to the East and the
West ; and the Northwest, peculiar to this terri-
tory. The Northwest Crow is somewhat smaller
than the American Crow, and more uniform in
size — length, sixteen to seventeen inches -
while its plumage is less glossy. The American
measures from seventeen to twenty-one inches.
The Northwest Crow is found almost exclusively
upon the sea-shore and in its habits is a good
deal like the Fish Crow of the East.

The Crow nests high, in a rude nest made of
sticks, with little of comfort for her young.

Permanent resident.

THE AMERICAN RAVEN.

The Raven has been made forever famous,
and will always be associated with the weird,
through Poe's great poem. No one can under-
stand the poem and how the Raven came to be
associated with melancholy and despair, till he
has heard the ordinary cry of this secluded
bird. In the mountains of eastern Tennessee, I

176 Birds of Oregon and Washington

heard an inexpressibly sad cry above the forest
trees, and when told its source, I understood
both the meaning of Poe's " Raven" and how,
thereafter, to read the " Nevermore " at the end
of each verse.

The bird is common in some parts of Oregon,
very abundant in British Columbia, and would
naturally be found in Washington. He has
bluish-black plumage, and looks like a crow, but
is much larger. He is shy, but, under excep-
tional conditions, has become quite wonted about
a human dwelling (see Captain Bendire's expe-
rience at Fort Klamath, Oregon); however, he
always nests in high and quite inaccessible
regions.

No further description is necessary.

Permanent resident.

STELLER'S JAY.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

A crested bird. Fore-part of body, dark, black,

or brownish-black, the rear part, bluish.
Length, 12.5 inches.

Found in evergreen timber and in all sorts of trees
and bushes about the timber.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 177

Almost every one knows this noisy and, in
the western section of our States, this every-
where-present Jay. He is fine looking and also
interesting in spite of his meddlesome, maraud-
ing, and, we must own, cowardly habits. We
could not afford to exterminate him. He would
be a distinct loss to our bird-family, but, like the
crow, although with less courage, he will steal
birds' eggs and will take the young, whenever
he can do it without bringing upon himself an
attack from the outraged bird-community upon
which he is preying.

While not blaming him for acting out his na-
ture, for which he is not responsible, we must
regretfully, and, as painlessly as possible, pre-
vent his becoming too abundant. His crest and
color will make a particular description of him
unnecessary.

Permanent resident.

THE CALIFORNIA JAY.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : head, wings and tail, blue. Mid-
dle of back, grayish-brown.
Under parts ; whitish, bordered with bluish.
Length, 12 inches.

1 78 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Found in deciduous trees.

The California Jay is very common in the
State whose name it bears, and is also more or
less common here. The bird is found in com-
panies, as is the Steller's Jay, also here and
there, singly or in pairs.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion, with this added — a white line over the eye.

Permanent resident.

THE GRAY JAY, "TALLOW BIRD," OR
"WHISKY JACK."

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : grayish-brown.

Under parts : white or grayish-white, with a

whitish collar.
Length, 1 1 inches.

Found generally around mountains, but sometimes in
the timber on lower ground.

Every one who has camped in the timber
about the mountains of Oregon and Washington
knows the "Tallow Bird," or "Whisky Jack."
He takes at once to human society ; from the
first will share man's table with him, and unless
shut out will make havoc of the larder. These

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 79

birds are sociable among themselves, as well as
with human beings.

The Gray Jay is the western representative of
the Canada Jay of the East.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Forehead and nasal
tufts, white, sometimes brownish ; sooty-black hood, bor-
dered on the back with a whitish collar ; back, wings
and tail, bluish-gray with white streak in back ; below,
white, turning to dusky in the abdomen.

Permanent resident.

CLARKE'S NUTCRACKER, OR "CLARKE'S CROW."

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Upper part : gray ; wings, broken by a large white

patch.

Under parts : gray.
Length, 13 inches.

Found in and about mountains, mostly in the eastern
part of this section.

" Clarke's Crow," sometimes called the " Ore-
gon Crow," is one of the striking and famous
birds of the northwest.

As stated elsewhere, he is one of the three
birds discovered by the historic explorers, Lewis
and Clarke, and is named after the latter.

1 80 Birds of Oregon and Washington

He is called a Crow, and yet in his noisy habit
he seems more like a Jay.

Any one who visits the mountains will make
the acquaintance of this interesting bird, always
to be found in large flocks. Mr. Anthony re-
lates that about the Sierras in California,
Clarke's Nutcracker and the Pinon Jay are to
be found in flocks of thousands each. Both of
these are not only social among themselves, but
they are easily induced to familiar intercourse
with men who camp in the woods where they
dwell.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Bill, long and slender ;
head, white on fore-part, gray on the rest, and on the
back, breast, sides and abdomen ; wings, glossy black,
with large white patch ; tail, white except two middle
feathers, which are black.

Permanent resident.

THE PlSfON JAY.

This bird is also a resident of the mountainous
parts of our States and has the general habits of
the Nutcracker.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 8 1

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Bill, long and sharp ;
body, grayish-blue, becoming blue on head and wings ;
tail and sides, more blue than black ; throat, bright blue,
streaked with whitish.

Length, u inches.

THE AMERICAN MAGPIE.

This singular bird is not to be seen, ordinar-
ily, near human dwellings, as is the English
bird of the same name, When found in small
flocks in the western part of these States, he
is more shy, but in the eastern part, where
he is abundant in places, he is not afraid of
man.

DESCRIPTION. — Head, back and breast, smoky-black ;
shoulders and abdomen, white ; wings and tail, iri-
descent-purple ; tail, long and tapering ; bill, black.
Length, 18 inches.

In California, in the interior valleys of the
State, a Yellow-billed Magpie is found. It is
very nearly the same in appearance as the one
above described, with the exception of its bill.
It is possible that a few of these may be seen
in southern Oregon.

Permanent resident.

1 82 Birds of Oregon and Washington

HAWKS AND OWLS.

There are two species of birds that are vic-
tims of prejudice and indiscriminating ignorance.
They have been treated like snakes, and have
been killed at sight by nearly everybody who
could use a gun. They are the Hawks and the
Owls.

In respect of these, as of some of the other
birds described in this book, their enemy, man,
has reaped the fruit of his own ignorance and
folly in two important regards ; he has done
what he could to destroy objects of great beauty
and interest, and, secondly, he has killed off
some of the greatest benefactors to the agricul-
tural interests of the country. The food supply
of nearly all our Hawks and Owls consists of
mice, insects and reptiles, and not of chickens,
or even of birds. In the East, only two of the
common varieties of Hawks live upon birds and
poultry. Dr. Fisher of the Agricultural Depart-
ment at Washington has examined hundreds of
stomachs of Hawks and Owls, with results like
the following : Of the 220 stomachs of the Red-
shouldered Hawk of the East, which is usually
called the " Chicken " or " Hen-Hawk," only

Birds of Oregon and Washington 183

three contained the remains of poultry. Of the
rest, twelve contained the remains of birds ; 102,
mice ; 40, other mammals ; 20, reptiles ; 39,
frogs; 92, insects; 16, spiders, etc.

So, on this northwestern coast of the conti-
nent, of the very common Hawks only one —
the Sharp-shinned — is always an enemy of birds
and poultry. Cooper's Hawk, the other bird of
the same habit, is not so common. The rest
which will be described are comparatively harm-
less, and all are of great service. A good rule
for us to follow, if we cannot tell the kind of
Hawk at sight, is not to kill a Hawk till we see
him attacking the poultry-yard.

And as for the Owls, they also are compara-
tively harmless. The farmers of Pennsylvania
had, in the following way, a demonstration of
their folly in the destruction of Hawks and
Owls. Supposing that these birds fed princi-
pally or altogether upon poultry, they secured
from the legislature a law setting a price upon
every Hawk and Owl killed in the State. After
a few years the farms, at least in certain sec-
tions of the State, became so infested with mice
that the yearly loss in grain was sufficient to

184 Birds of Oregon and Washington

alarm the growers. It was then that a wise
man, who knew the relations between mice and
Hawks and Owls, gave the fact to the farmers.
It resulted in the repeal of the law ; and with
the increase in these hitherto blindly feared
birds, the mice scourge disappeared.

Dr. E. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist and
Mammalogist of the United States Department
of Agriculture, has estimated that Pennsylva-
nia lost by this folly four and a half millions of
dollars in one year and a half.

Oregon and Washington have quite a num-
ber of the varieties of the Hawk.

But these are unequally distributed, for while
some are common in one place, they are rare in
another. Only a part of those found within our
States are described below. They are the
Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, Western Red-tailed,
Swainson's, American Rough-legged and Ferru-
ginous Rough-legged Hawks, the Pigeon-Hawk,
Black Merlin, and Desert Sparrow-Hawk.

THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

Rather small ; length, n to 14 inches.

This is one of the two Hawks which prefer

Western Evening Grosbeak.

(See page 47.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 185

birds and broilers to mice, grasshoppers, or
snakes. He is too small ever to touch hens.
It is difficult for one who has not observed birds
to distinguish the Sharp-shinned from the Pigeon-
Hawk, or even from the Sparrow-Hawk. There
is, however, a characteristic common to both this
Hawk and Cooper's Hawk, by which one may
become at first suspicious and watchful — each
has a slender form, being long in proportion to
size of body.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Upper parts,
bluish-gray ; top of head, darker; tail, crossed by several
blackish bands, narrowly tipped with white. Lower
parts, pure white, crossed with light rufous bars and
spots.

Female : Colors duller. Lower parts, not pure white.

Permanent resident.

COOPER'S HAWK.

Larger bird than Sharp-shinned; length, 14 to 17
inches.

This is the other poultry and bird Hawk.

DESCRIPTION. — Distinguished in color by having top
of head black ; sides of head, more or less washed with
bluish-gray ; sides of breast, bluish-gray also. The tail

1 86 Birds of ^Oregon and Washington

of this bird is very rounded, — a clear distinguishing
mark.

Permanent resident.

THE WESTERN RED-TAILED HAWK.

A large Hawk ; length, 21 to 24 inches.

This bird is one of the most valuable allies of
the farmer. In some places he may occasionally
get a taste of poultry ; but do not kill him till he
ventures into the poultry-yard. He will probably
not trouble you.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Varying from " uni-
form dark, sooty-brown, through every conceivable inter-
mediate plumage." (Ridgway.) "Above, grayish-brown
or blackish-brown mottled with rusty ; below, varying
from white or buff, more or less streaked with brown
dusky markings, to dark blackish-brown. The distinc-
tive mark is the bright reddish-brown tail, edged with
buff or whitish, and with one or more blackish bars."
(Keeler.)

Permanent resident.

SWAINSON'S HAWK.

Rather large Hawk ; length, 20 to 22 inches.
DESCRIPTION. — Uniform grayish-brown above ; fore-
head and throat, white ; patch of rufous on the breast of

Birds of Oregon and Washington 187

the male, and of grayish-brown upon the breast of the
female.

But this Hawk inclines to melanism, as it is
called in ornithology — that is, to a decidedly
dark coloring. Specimens of both sexes are
found of a uniform sooty-brown. The upper
tail-coverts are barred with white. This Hawk
must not be confused with the Marsh-Hawk,
which can be recognized even at a great dis-
tance by a conspicuous white rump. The white
forehead marks the Swainson's Hawk.

Probably altogether harmless in respect to
poultry. Its principal food in the proper season
is grasshoppers.

THE AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

Length, 22 inches.

In eastern Oregon, and no doubt in eastern
Washington as well, two Hawks are numerous
which are rare in the western parts of our States.
They have a common and distinguishing mark,
indicated in their name, "Rough-legged"; that
is, the feathers extend down the leg, nearly to the
ends of the toes of the front part of the foot.
The American Rough-legged Hawk is so vari-

1 88 Birds of Oregon and Washington

able in coloration, that it is difficult to distinguish
him from some large smooth-legged Hawks in
any other way than by noticing the legs and
feet.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — In light plumage,
head and neck, whitish, more or less streaked with dark ;
back, varying from gray to brown ; upper tail-coverts
and base of tail, white, streaked with brown ; under
parts, white, streaked with dusky ; abdomen, sometimes
brown. From this, plumage it varies to darker, some-
times becoming almost black.

Summer resident.

THE FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

Length, 22 inches.

This Hawk may be distinguished from the pre-
ceding one by noting that its name, " Ferrugi-
nous," refers to its reddish coat, a color suggested
by iron rust, though sometimes this bird, too, is of
dark plumage, almost of a chocolate shade, but
varied with reddish-brown. He is a fine, striking
specimen of the Hawk family, and with his rela-
tive, the American Rough-legged Hawk, should
not be killed unless actually found making depre-
dation upon poultry.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 189

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Upper parts and thighs,
rusty-red, the former streaked, and the latter barred, by
dusky ; secondaries and primaries on wings, lead-color ;
tail, white, varied with gray and rusty ; lower parts,
white, sometimes slightly streaked with dusky, especially
upon abdomen. When the plumage is melanistic (dark),
it is still more or less barred with rusty.

Summer resident.

THE PIGEON-HAWK.

Another small Hawk ; length, 10 to n inches.

It can be easily distinguished from the Desert
Sparrow-Hawk by noticing that the prevailing
color in the upper parts is bluish-gray and not
brown or reddish-brown.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Head and back,
bluish-gray, marked with fine black lines ; tail, slaty, with
three broad bands of black, and white tip ; under parts,
white, somewhat buffy on breast and streaked with dark
brown lines.

THE BLACK MERLIN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : plain blackish-brown.

Under parts : very heavily marked with dusky.

Length, 12 to 14 inches.

Birds of Oregon and Washington

This is a small Hawk, not uncommon in some
parts of the Willamette Valley, and is un-
doubtedly found in greater or less numbers else-
where in these States. It can be recognized by
the combination of size and color. All other
Hawks of dark color are larger.

Summer resident.

THE DESERT SPARROW-HAWK.

Small size ; length, 9 to 1 1 inches.

The Sparrow-Hawk is scarcely a Sparrow-
Hawk or bird Hawk at all, so far as his habits
are concerned, and Dr. Fisher reports that, after
examining 320 stomachs of this bird, he found
no poultry. Mice and grasshoppers were found
to be the principal food.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Top of head, bluish ;
crown, with or without rufous patch ; black " mus-
taches " on sides of cheek, always conspicuous ; back,
brown (reddish-brown in female), barred with black ;
tail, reddish-brown, white tip ; wings, bluish-gray, usually
spotted with black ; under parts, white to varying shades
of buff and rufous with black spots.

More or less migratory in winter.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 191

THE AMERICAN OSPREY, OR FISH-HAWK.

The Osprey is seen on both sides of the con-
tinent. On the Atlantic coast, especially in New
England and upon Long Island, it has been the
one bird which the fisherman and farmers have
singularly respected and guarded. In my own
boyhood, a pair nested in a grove of large oaks
back of my home on an island not far from New
York City. It was believed that the same pair
had been there for two generations or more.
Whether an observation of scientific accuracy
would verify the current story, I do not know,
but these birds were said to arrive and depart
on certain fixed calendar days each year. It
was supposed that upon a certain day toward
the end of March they came back, from what
shores and seas I used to wonder and dream
about, but never knew. Their nest was built
in the top of an oak, and was made of sticks of
dead wood and seaweed. Some of the sticks
were of considerable size. Every year new ma-
terial was added to the former site, till the nest
became a huge mass against the sky. Mean-

1 92 Birds of Oregon and Washington

while, the tree-top was dying ; and after a few
years the winter winds would throw it, with its
enormous load, to the ground. A cart would
hardly hold all the material of the several years'
accumulation.

The name Fish-Hawk indicates the habits of
the bird. It flies over the water, and, seeing
the fish near the surface, drops suddenly with
great speed, and fastens its talons into its finny
prey — which is devoured at leisure from some
tree, or fed to offspring. The talons, once
fastened in the fish, cannot always be with-
drawn. It is reported that sometimes the bird
misjudges the size of its quarry, and, not being
able to release itself, is drawn under the sur-
face and is drowned. I have often seen the
Hawk struggle for some time before rising from
the water.

The bird is a fine and noble creature in bear-
ing, either at rest or on the wing. With its
white head and neck it suggests the Bald
Eagle, and is sometimes mistaken for it by the
novice. The bird is harmless and adds beauty
to our inlets, bays and lakes, and should be
carefully guarded.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 193

DESCRIPTION :

Head and neck, white ; back, dark brown.

Breast and abdomen, white. Female has breast
somewhat spotted with brown.

Length, 22 inches.
Found on the coast, also on lakes and rivers

Summer resident.

THE EAGLES.

These birds do not need a particular descrip-
tion. They are well known, and recognized
wherever they are seen.

The Golden Eagle is mostly confined, perhaps,
to the eastern parts of our section, while the
Bald Eagle may be seen anywhere in the terri-
tory.

People of these States should be warned, how-
ever, not to kill at sight every Eagle that can
be reached with a gun or rifle. Unless the birds
are doing us positive damage, they should be
preserved on account of the admiration which
they theoretically command as the " Bird of
Freedom." In the East, the Eagles are pro-
tected by stringent laws.

1 94 Birds of Oregon and Washington

The Bald Eagle has head, neck and tail white, and
the rest of the body dark grayish or dark brown. The
general color of the Golden Eagle is brownish-black, and
the bird is given the name " Golden " from the ruddy-
brown feathers on the back of its neck.

Average length of each, about three feet ; the female
being a little larger.

Permanent resident.

THE OWLS.

There are six varieties of Owls more or less
common in Oregon and Washington. The Short-
eared, or Marsh, Owl, the Kennicott's Screech
Owl, the MacFarlane's Screech Owl, the Dusky
Horned Owl, the Burrowing Owl, and the
Pygmy Owl.

THE SHORT-EARED, OR MARSH, OWL.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black, buff and reddish.

Under parts : white and brownish-black.

Length, 15.5 inches.
Found in and about marshy places.

This is one bird, at least, of the Owl family
that does not prefer the woods to the open coun-
try, though he is sometimes found in the trees.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 195

He lives and nests in the marshes, and can be
seen at nightfall, flying over the marsh, looking
for meadow mice, which are shown from scien-
tific investigation to make up the bulk of his
food.

There are reports of this bird's habits in these
States while rearing its young, that indicate a
diet of small birds. It would be well to thor-
oughly test the matter on this coast before ac-
cepting this statement as a general fact. Dr.
Fisher found, on examination of 101 stomachs of
this species of owl, that no less than seventy-
seven contained the remains of mice.

The bird nests upon the ground.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in General Descrip-
tion. Ear tufts, hardly seen ; throat, white ; breast im-
mediately below chin, quite thickly streaked with dark
brown, with streaks growing fewer and larger below, ap-
proaching the feet. Eyes, yellow.

Nocturnal habits.

THE SCREECH OWL.

Permanent resident.

The name hardly indicates the character of
the vocal expression of this bird, which, in

1 96 Birds of Oregon and Washington

slightly modified form, covers nearly all of North
America. His voice is more like a "tremulous
wail " and has been the terror of the superstitious
for generations, while it is not seldom mistaken
for a human cry of despair by those who do not
know its source. It is not always a welcome
sound, even when the source is known and
there is no superstitious awe in the heart of the
listener. But to the Nature-lover the weird call
of the Screech Owl is a part of Nature's music,
kindles his imagination and touches his heart
with satisfaction.

Mr. Chapman reports that Dr. A. K. Fisher,
after examining the stomachs of 225 of the
Screech Owl proper, found that ten contained
insects, 91 of the remaining 125 contained mice,
and poultry was found in only one stomach.

There are two varieties of this Owl in this
section, the Kennicott's, east of the Cascade
Mountains, and the MacFarlane's, west of that
range.

The Screech Owl may be recognized by the
" tremulous wail" referred to, and by its appear-
ance, — partly from its long ear-tufts and partly
from its moderate size. The picture given in

Screech OwL

Birds of Oregon and Washington 197

this book, is of the Screech Owl proper of the
East, but the bird is a good representative of the
family.

KENNICOTT'S SCREECH OWL.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Mottled and streaked ;
of varying plumage, but head and back, brown and
tawny, tending to dark, with black streaks; in some, a
line on edges of back, creamy white ; whitish all around
the bill; under parts, mottled, with white usually some-
what evident, some tawny, and all streaked with black.

Nocturnal habits.

Permanent resident.

MACFARLANE'S SCREECH OWL.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Smaller than
female, with dark markings coarser and more distinct.

Female : " Ground color, above brownish-ash tinged
with vinaceous, darkest on head and back, palest on
wings," with obscure transverse bars and longitudinal
stripes of black ; " sides of head and neck, thickly and
finely mottled with dusky on a lighter ground " ; " lores,
nearly pure white " ; under parts, " ashy-white, lightest
on abdomen ; linings of wings and concealed silky plum-
age of sides," yellowish.

Nocturnal habits.
Permanent resident.

198 Birds of Oregon and Washington

DUSKY HORNED OWL.

Length, 24 inches.

People who have been in the timber of Ore-
gon and Washington will have seen a very large
Owl, with high ear-tufts (which give him his
name), a dark face and a white collar.

This Owl is quite common in the heavy tim-
ber, and is a splendid specimen of the family.
His hoot is characteristic, and well suits the sun-
less solitude of the forests.

DESCRIPTION. — All over, mottled and barred brown,
usually some tawny, black and white ; but general effect
dark; the face, usually sooty-brownish, slightly mixed
with grayish-white.

Nocturnal habits.
Permanent resident.

THE BURROWING OWL.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brownish, spotted, barred, and

varied with white or buffy.
Under parts : white or buffy, barred and spotted

with brown.
Length, 9 to 1 1 inches.

This little Owl has a wide reputation as well
as an extended habitat. He is found in many

Birds of Oregon and Washington 1 99

places, from western Kansas, west and north-
west, to the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and
Washington. He is the only Owl that lives
in the ground. He scarcely ever trusts himself
to his wings beyond a short flight to some point
near his hole. There are fables current about
his living in " Happy Family " fashion with rattle-
snakes and prairie dogs. The fact, however, is
that the Owls occupy only the burrows that have
been deserted by the animals which made them.
And if rattlesnakes do occupy the same habita-
tion, it must be one of many rooms, for, in the
order of nature, snakes in the same room with
the young birds would swallow them, while the
old birds in turn would eat the snakes.

The ground-habit of these birds renders them
very interesting, and their way of diving out of
sight, under the earth's surface, is unique, not
only in the Owl, but in any other bird-family —
at least in America.

These birds do not hibernate, as some have it,
but appear upon comfortable days throughout the
cold winters of the regions which they inhabit.

No particular description is necessary.

Permanent resident.

2OO Birds of Oregon and Washington

CALIFORNIA PYGMY OWL.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : dark brown, shading into reddish,
• marked with small white spots.

Under parts : white, streaked with black.

Length, 7 inches.
Found in the woods.

This little Owl is peculiar in other respects
besides his size. He is a day and not a night
bird, but, being very wary of men, keeps out of
sight. On that account he does not seem to be
very abundant, while yet he may be so. That
the owl is numerous in some parts of this section,
is well known ; for example, in Lincoln County,
Oregon. He is peculiar, also, in regard to his
call. Dr. Cooper, one of the earliest authorities
upon the birds of this coast, declares that " his
notes are subdued and clear like the sound of a
flute." All the other owls have unmusical
voices.

The habits of this little bird are altogether
harmless in respect of bird or poultry. Its prin-
cipal food, so far as investigation has shown, con-
sists of insects. He belongs to this side of the
continent, from Colorado to the coast.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 201

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion, also " top of head dotted with whitish ; sides of
breast, brownish, more or less distinctly spotted with
paler; tail-bands, always white." — Ridgway.

Permanent resident

THE KILLDEER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : brownish-gray.

Under parts : white, two bands on breast.

Length, 10.5 inches.

The Killdeer is widely, though irregularly,
distributed. A man who has been reared in
Maine or in Missouri, may hear this spirit of the
sea-shore or of the marshes of his boyhood days,
cry, "Killdee, Killdee," in Oregon or Washing-
ton. I have heard on the shores of New York
sea-islands upon moonlight nights, this weird,
though fascinating, sound, associated in my mind
with Indian or folk-lore spirit-stories. The bird
belongs to the Plover family, and, though prefer-
ring the vicinity of water, is not infrequently
found upon uplands, lowlands and fields. It
nests upon the ground in various parts of this
section of the United States.

2O2 Birds of Oregon and Washington

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Back of head, back, and
wings, brownish-gray or grayish-brown ; upper tail-cov-
erts, rusty; tail, chiefly yellowish, varied with white,
dusky, and grayish ; forehead, stripe back of eye, hind-
neck or nape, throat, breast, and abdomen, white ; fore-
part of crown, stripe across lores, a band encircling
neck, and another upon breast, black ; eyelids, bright
orange-red in life.

Summer resident.

THE NORTHERN PHALAROPE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Female : Upper parts, lead-color and blackish-
brown ; under parts, chestnut above, and white
below, separated by a lead-colored line.
Male : Smaller, with darker plumage.
Found in late summer and in autumn, and again in
the early spring, upon our coast.

The Northern Phalaropes nest in the Arctic
regions, at least at, or above 55°. They stop
upon our shores for some time, both during the
northern and the southern passage, — their winter
home being along and below the California coast.
These birds are extremely interesting. They
seem to be only a Snipe, and yet we often find
them swimming quite far from land. Nature
has equipped them for this, for they have feet

Killdeer Brooding.

(See foot-note, page 12.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 203

which are lobed and somewhat webbed. Their
connubial habits in the North are most extra-
ordinary, for here seems to be a case of male
subjection and bird-" woman's rights," with a
vengeance, for, in this instance, it is the female
that does all the courting, and the male that
does all the brooding when once the eggs are
laid. As has been remarked in the General
Description, the male is smaller than the female,
as seems fitting in this reversal of the usual sex
relation.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — As in general descrip-
tion, and further, a white spot above and below the eye ;
flanks, white, streaked with black; center of wings,
black ; breast, white ; bill, black ; and feet, lead-color.

THE LEAST SANDPIPER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : mixture of black, brown, and buff.
Under parts : white ; throat and upper breast,

duller white, with white, indistinct spots.
Length, 5 to 6.75 inches.

Dr. Elliott Coues, in his " Birds of the North-
west," has written more charmingly than any
one else about this little " Peep/' which is found
all over our continent save in the colder and the

204 Birds of Oregon and Washington

more tropical regions. The account should be
read by all bird-students.

This bird nests in the North, but perhaps not
so far north as do his relatives, and he makes
haste to rear his young, for, beginning in May,
he is ready to return to his accustomed haunts
on our shores, in July. After nesting, these
Sandpipers gather in flocks, like the other two
families described here, and live upon sand-
beach and mud-flat their happy lives. They
have few or no enemies, except the occasional
man, who must feel guilty when tempted to shoot
these confiding creatures which beautify and
render less bare and lonely our sea-shore.
These birds are also found everywhere inland,
wherever there are marshy meadows, shores of
creeks, rivers and lakes.

Celia Thaxter, of literary fame, who lived
upon the Isles of Shoals, on the Atlantic coast,
where several species of the Sandpiper had safe,
summer homes, has made herself and the Soli-
tary Sandpiper (a few of this species are found
here) immortal in her poem, "The Sandpiper,"
of which the first and third verses are here
given :

Birds of Oregon and Washington 205

"Across the narrow beach we flit,

One little sandpiper and I,
And fast I gather, bit by bit,

The scattered driftwood bleached and dry.
The wild waves reach their hands for it,

The wild wind raves, the tide runs high,
As up and down the beach we flit, —

One little sandpiper and I.

I watch him as he skims along,

Uttering his sweet and mournful cry.
He starts not at my fitful song,

Or flash of fluttering drapery.
He has no thought of any wrong ;

He scans me wTith a fearless eye.
Staunch friends are we, well tried and strong,

The little sandpiper and I."

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Top of head and back,
rusty-yellowish, " broadly streaked with black " ; wings^
grayish to dark brown, edges, paler to buff ; wings and
upper tail-coverts, brownish-black, edges, pale ; sides of
head, lores, neck, and breast, ashy-buff, streaked with
brown ; under parts, as in general description.

THE WESTERN SANDPIPER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black and rusty, or chestnut.
Under parts : white.
Length, 5.25 inches.

Found in May, August, and September, on our shores
and marshes. Nests about the mouth of the Yukon
River and elsewhere.

206 Birds of Oregon and Washington

This is the western species of the Semi-pal-
mated (that is, half-webbed) Sandpiper. In its
habits, it is like the Least Sandpiper, for in our
latitude it lives and moves in flocks, and it has
the same gentle, confiding ways. In appearance
also, it resembles the Least Sandpiper, but may
be distinguished by the greater prevalence of the
chestnut shading in this bird and by the fact
that the toes of the Least Sandpiper are com-
pletely cleft.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Feathers of crown and
nape, centrally black, edged with rusty and grayish-
white ; sides of head, and neck, often rusty ; lores and
ear-marks, rusty, finely streaked with brown ; back and
rump, like crown, except the edging is rusty or buff, and
not white ; throat, sides of neck, breast, and abdomen,
white, thickly marked with blackish-brown.

Transient.

THE RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :
Upper parts : rufous.
Under parts : grayish-white, finely streaked with

dusky.

Length, 8.5 inches.

Found along our shores in April and May, and from
August into the autumn.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 207

This Sandpiper may be recognized both by
its size and its reddish back. The birds move
in flocks, and with a uniformity and unity excel-
ling, perhaps, those of the two species already
described. They are as one bird in their rapid
turns and winged evolutions. These Sandpipers
are larger than those before named.

The bird nests in Alaska, along the shores
of Behring Sea, arriving there about June ist.
An observer describes their courtship as most
beautiful and entertaining. "As the lover's
suit approaches its end, the handsome suitor
becomes exalted, and in his moments of excite-
ment he rises fifteen or twenty yards, and
hovering on tremulous wings over the object
of his passion, pours forth a perfect gush of
music, till he glides back to earth exhausted,
but ready to repeat the effort a few moments
later." Elliot.

The killing of these birds for game is alto-
gether unjustifiable. Their meat is not savory,
and to shoot into a flock of these beautiful and
graceful creatures on the wing, ought to be im-
possible to a man who has within him a sense of
the beautiful or a heart of compassion.

208 Birds of Oregon and Washington

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Summer plumage :
Crown and back, bright rufous, streaked with black ;
wings, brown, with white edge on greater-coverts ; tail-
feathers, brown, darker in the middle ; sides of head,
neck, and breast, grayish-white, finely streaked with
dusky ; superciliary line, white ; abdomen, black ; bill,
feet, and legs, black.

Transient.

THE GULLS.

This book would lack something, if it did not
at least name some of the most common of those
sea-birds which are so much in evidence at cer-
tain times of the year upon the sea-shore or on
our rivers, inland lakes and even about the docks
of our commercial cities.

They are everywhere objects of great beauty,
and about the cities and towns upon our coast
are useful sanitary agents, devouring the offal
which floats upon the harbors.

A number of the varieties of this family are to
be seen regularly at certain seasons in these
States.

The small Gulls with slim bodies, sharp bills,
and tails more or less forked, are known as Terns,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 209

sometimes as " Sea Swallows." They are to be
seen along our shores in August, and are very
graceful of movement and most of them are
beautiful in color.

Two varieties, common perhaps in most locali-
ties, are here described ; the Arctic and the Black
Terns.

THE ARCTIC TERN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : deep pearl-gray, black cap.

Under parts: dull lavender-gray.

Length, 14 to 17 inches.
Found on sea-coast and on lakes in late summer.

On the Atlantic coast such ravages have the
plume-hunters wrought among the Terns that
the annihilation of one species was thought to
have been almost accomplished, while the
number of each variety has been greatly re-
duced. But at present the whole Atlantic sea-
coast is patrolled in summer time by paid agents
of the American Ornithological Union (the great
scientific Bird Society of the United States), and
these beautiful sea-birds are being protected and
are multiplying rapidly. May the Pacific coast

2 1 o Birds of Oregon and Washington

never have occasion to save our own Terns at
such cost !

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Black cap ; sides of
head, white ; nape and back, deep pearl-gray ; wings,
upper tail-coverts, and tail, white ; under parts, all dull
lavender-gray, except under tail-coverts, which are white ;
tail, very much forked ; bill, carmine ; feet, red.

The red upon the bill of these Terns is a strik-
ing and beautiful feature.
Summer resident.

THE BLACK TERN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION ; Summer plumage :
Upper parts : more or less dark.
Under parts : almost black, or very dark lead-
color.
Length, 9 to 10 inches.

The color makes the identification of this " Sea
Swallow" very easy, and any one will at once
recognize in the small, dark — not really " black"
— Gull, the Black Tern.

Summer resident.

Eight species of the Gull proper are here de-
scribed : the Western or Summer, the Glaucus-
winged, the American Herring, the Ring-billed,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 2 1 1

the California, the Short-billed, and the Bona-
parte's Gulls, and the Pacific Kittiwake.

All but one of these nest in the North, in the
Arctic or sub-Arctic regions, and are most in
evidence on our coasts in the autumn and win-
ter months.

THE WESTERN, OR SUMMER, GULL.

This is the only permanent resident among
our Gulls, nesting in summer time on the islands
along the Pacific coast. It is rather smaller
than the Glaucus-winged and the American Her-
ring Gulls and has the darkest mantle of any
of the species named. It has been and still is,
in some parts, tame and friendly, in spite of its
abuse by boys. Sometimes it has been seen
perching on houses with pigeons. Dr. Cooper
says it is the most abundant and characteristic
of the Pacific coast Gulls.

DESCRIPTION. — Rather smaller than the American
Herring Gull ; bill, larger in proportion ; mantle, deep
lead-color; secondaries and tertiaries, very broadly —
for one inch or more — tipped with white ; four outer
primaries, black ; outer quill, with about two inches of
its terminal portion, white ; remainder of the plumage,

212 Birds of Oregon and Washington

snow-white ; bill, deep chrome or wax-yellow, the broad
part of mandible marked by a bright spot of red ; feet,
yellow.

Permanent resident.

The next four Gulls, found all together about
our harbors and upon our piers, are so much alike
that they cannot be easily distinguished. Two,
however, are larger than the other two, namely,
the Glaucus-winged and the American Herring.
But, on the other hand, one of the other two
varieties, the Ring-billed, has a "mantle" like
that of the American Herring Gull. (The back
and folded wings of a Gull, taken together, are
called the " mantle.") The two smaller ones,
the Ring-billed and the California, are almost
the same, the latter being a slight modification
of the former.

By studying through a glass the distinguishing
marks upon each of the Gulls, we may learn to
tell our friendly winter visitors apart, and to get a
more intimate knowledge of our Summer Gull.

The descriptions of the Summer Gull and of
the next four birds are taken from Dr. Elliott
Coues.

g

Birds of Oregon and Washington 213

THE GLAUCUS-WINGED GULL.

Length, 22 to 27 inches.

This is probably the most common of all the
Gulls in our harbors.

DESCRIPTION. — Mantle, average Gull-blue; in win-
ter, head and neck, clouded with dusky, not streaked as
in the American Herring Gull ; primaries, color of
mantle to very tips, marked with definite small white
spots ; first primary, with a large white sub-apical spot.
Bill, yellow with red spot. Feet, flesh color.

Winter resident.

THE AMERICAN HERRING GULL.

Length, 22 to 27 inches.

This bird is common to both the Pacific and
Atlantic coasts, in the winter season.

DESCRIPTION. — Mantle, pale dull blue; in winter,
head and hind neck, streaked with dusky ; primaries
(outer wing-feathers) , black ; bill, yellow with red spots ;
feet, flesh color. Same size and shape as the Glaucus-
winged Gull.

Winter resident.

THE RING-BILLED GULL.

Length, 1 8 to 20 inches.

The name indicates a distinction in this bird
which, however, it shares to some extent with

214 Birds of Oregon and Washington

the California Gull. The ring on the bill will
enable us to distinguish it from the American
Herring and the Glaucus-winged.

DESCRIPTION. — Mantle, pale dull blue ; bill, greenish-
yellow, enriched with a black band near the end; the
band usually complete but sometimes defective ; the tip
and most of the cutting edges of the bill, yellow ; in high
condition, the angle of the mouth and a small spot be-
side the black, red ; feet, olivaceous, obscured with
dusky or bluish, and partly yellow ; webs, bright chrome.

Winter resident.

THE CALIFORNIA GULL.

DESCRIPTION. — Nearly the same as the Ring-billed ;
a little larger, 22 inches ; black band on bill more per-
fect ; the white spot on the first primary enlarged to oc-
cupy the whole end of feather for more than two inches.
This is the distinguishing mark.

THE SHORT-BILLED GULL.

Length, 16.5 to 18 inches.

The Short-billed Gull breeds in the Arctic
regions in summer, but in winter is found in
numbers along our coast. In size, it is between
the large Gulls, before described, and the Bona-
parte's Gull. The " short bill " will help to
identify it.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 2 1 5

DESCRIPTION. — Mantle, pearl-color, medium shade ;
the rest of the plumage, white, except quills, which have
black on them. A sure distinguishing mark is a gray
wedge-shaped patch on inner web of wings.

Winter resident.

THE BONAPARTE'S GULL.

Length, 12 to 14 inches.

This Gull is more or less common all along
our coast, very common at Ilwaco, Washington,
and in some other places. It may be distin-
guished from all of those previously named by its
size ; it is much smaller. It is to be seen only in
autumn and in winter, as it breeds in Alaska.

DESCRIPTION. — Winter plumage of adult : Head,
white ; back of head, tinged with grayish ; ear-coverts,
marked with a dusky spot ; mantle, delicate pale pearl-
gray ; three outer quills in wings, white and gray, but
terminals, black ; rest of plumage, pure white ; feet, in
life, pale flesh-color ; bill, deep black. (Ridgway.)

Winter resident.

THE PACIFIC KITTIWAKE.

Length, 16 to 17 inches.

This Gull is quite a common winter resident
upon our coast, and may be identified by notic-

2 1 6 Birds of Oregon and Washington

ing that the tail is slightly emarginate, that is, a
little divided in the centre of the extremity. The
size is about that of the Short-billed Gull, and
the color is not very different. The mantle is,
however, a deep pearl ; the rest of the plumage,
white ; and the hind part of the head and neck
are washed with gray, with a dark plumbeous
suffusion before and behind the eyes ; bill, yel-
low ; feet, blackish.
Winter resident.

WINTER BIRDS.

Some of our birds are " Winter Birds," either
because, nesting elsewhere, they are with us
only in winter and early spring, or because, in
that season, they are more about our homes.

Amongst them are some of the most beauti-
ful, familiar and entertaining of any of the feath-
ered creatures that come to us. These are the
Junco, the Varied Thrush, Townsend's Sparrow,
the Titlark, the Crossbills, the Redpoll and the
Snowflake.

Each of these varieties may nest, more or
less, within our States, in higher altitudes or on

Birds of Oregon and Washington 217

our northern borders, Two or three of them,
we know, do this to some extent, and one of
them, the Junco, builds its nest in our vicinity.

The Western Evening Grosbeak is not put
in this list, but is described as among the " Feb-
ruary birds," because he comes so late in the
winter, and lingers so long in the spring

Then there are the Chickadees, Nuthatches
and Kinglets, which, though permanent resi-
dents, are more easily seen in our orchards and
near our homes in winter — the Kinglets being
also, however, an especially interesting early
spring bird.

THE OREGON JUNCO.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Male : Upper parts : black head and neck ; back

and tail, dark gray.
Under parts : light gray and white.
Length, 5.75 to 6.75 inches.

Found everywhere in western part of these States.
This is the most familiar and entertaining of
the winter birds. Nearly every child knows the
" Snow Bird," who comes about our suburban,
and sometimes our city, homes, to catch the scat-
tered crumbs and the bird-seed which thoughtful

2 1 8 Birds of Oregon and Washington

human friends have provided. How neat and
admirable their dress ! The male with his black,
cowl-like head, and the female in her modest
Quaker-like garb, and both with an exquisite
flesh-colored bill — the daintiest bill of any bird
that we see in these parts.

The little creature is often rendered quite
tame by attention and careful feeding. He may
become very much at home with us by the right
treatment, by letting him associate his crumbs
or bird-seed with our bestowal, and with some
soft and oft -repeated whistle. He will soon feed
at your feet, and even from your hand. His
song is a sweet trill.

The Junco resides largely, perhaps altogether,
in our region during the whole year, but during
the nesting-season it retires so entirely from its
winter haunt, and lives so obscurely till winter
comes again, that it is recognized popularly as
a Winter Bird.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head and the
whole neck, black ; back and upper tail-feathers, dark
gray ; breast, grayish-white ; abdomen and outer tail-
feathers, white.

Female : With head, back, etc., dull slate-gray ; other-
wise like the male, but colors duller.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 219

A permanent resident, but very retired during
nesting and summer time.

THE VARIED THRUSH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : slaty, like the Robin, with yellow-
ish stripes upon the wings.
Under parts : orange-yellow breast.
Length, 9.5 inches.

Found all over the western valleys of the two States.

This bird — whicb comes to us in the autumn
from Alaska, where it nests in large numbers —
is sometimes called the "Alaskan Robin." Its
general appearance is Robin-like, and therefore
it is also called the " Varied Robin." It differs
mainly in having yellow markings. It is a
beautiful bird in its variegated coloring. The
orange shade upon the breast is much brighter
in some of the birds than in others, and gives a
momentary effect of the gorgeous coloring of
the Oriole's breast.

These birds are wild and retiring upon their
arrival in this section, but before the winter is
over they are seen not far from, and sometimes
very near, houses, The writer saw one on

22O Birds of Oregon and Washington

March igth, 1901, picking around the back-
door step of a house in suburban Portland.

Some of these Thrushes linger into April, but
then they are off to their secluded nesting-homes,
most of them twelve hundred miles north.

One or two nests of this species have been
discovered in Oregon, and a number of birds
have been seen at nesting-time in the Coast
Range Mountains in the same State.

John Burroughs, in his report of his visit to
Alaska with the " Harriman Expedition," in
1899, speaks of their nests and of their sweet
song, with which they never favor this locality.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head and tail, black-
ish-brown ; back and wings, slaty ; orange-rufous stripe
back of eyes ; three of the same color upon each wing ;
throat, breast and sides, orange-rufous ; black crescent
on the breast.

Winter resident.

THE TOWNSEND'S SPARROW.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : plain dark brown.
Under parts: white, with numerous large trian-
gular brown spots on breast, and streaks of the
. same on sides.
Length, 7 inches and more.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 221

Found in winter, in hedges and by roadsides and in
shrubbery in fields, in company with the Rusty Song
Sparrow.

The " Townsend's " is one of the western
representatives of the eastern Fox Sparrow, and
like him is a noble bird, being the largest and
the most striking in appearance of any of the
family. The members of this special tribe of
Sparrows are very numerous in winter in west-
ern Oregon and in Washington, and it is to be
regretted that in the spring they leave us to
nest in more northern parts. No particular des-
cription is required, as the size of the bird, and
the spotted breast, will make his identification
easy.

Winter resident.

THE AMERICAN PIPIT, OR TITLARK.

•GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : grayish-brown.

Under parts : buffy, streaked on the breast ; outer

tail-feathers, white.
Length, 6 to 7 inches.

Found in flocks in winter, upon bottom lands and
fields that have been overflowed.

When one is passing some low lands in winter,

222 Birds of Oregon and Washington

and sees a large flock of sparrow-like birds rise
with irregular flight, calling " dee-dee, dee-dee,"
and sometimes returning to the spot from which
they were flushed, he may be sure he has found
the American Pipit, or Titlark, — also called the
Brown or Red Lark. It is with us in abundance
in winter time, but goes in summer (like the
Evening Grosbeak) to northern parts or to the
mountains, above the timber line, to nest upon
the ground. The bird is called a Lark because
it lives upon the open ground, where it prefers
to run rather than to rise and fly ; and when
flushed it is only for a moment on the wing, and
then not far from its beloved earth. It is so
named, also, because when it does take a spon-
taneous flight higher than the enforced one, it
sings on the wing. It is said to be " expert in
catching a small variety of insect or fly which
frequents the lowlands."

But the Titlark belongs to the Wagtail family,
because while on the ground he teeters and
twitches and wags his tail in a comical fashion
characteristic of the family.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, back, wings and
tail, grayish-brown ; tail and wings, more dusky ; a pale

Birds of Oregon and Washington 223

buffy line above the eye ; throat, breast and abdomen,
buffy, with breast and sides streaked with dusky.

A winter resident. Perhaps some nest in
these parts, as they have been seen here in July.

THE AMERICAN CROSSBILL AND THE RED-
POLL.

There are two Winter-Birds, which are not
common but which may be discovered by some
one who would like to identify them. They are
the American Crossbill and the Redpoll.

The first-named, with his crossed bill, when
once seen, will scarcely need further description.
It is enough to add that his color is generally
reddish, — a color resembling that of the Cali-
fornia Purple Finch, — and his size about six
inches. His crossed bill is exactly fitted to cut
open pine cones, the contents of which constitute
his chief food.

The Redpoll is smaller, its general color
streaked and dusky, with white and brownish
ground ; the rump and breast are rose-red in the
male, and, as the name indicates, he has a crim-
son crown.

These birds both nest in the north, or in un-

224 Birds of Oregon and Washington

known places in the mountains, and are seen
only in winter and in early spring.

THE SNOWFLAKE, OR SNOW-BUNTING.

Length, 6.5 inches plus.

The Snowflake, or Snow-Bunting, which nests
within the Arctic Circle, may be seen not infre-
quently during the winter months in eastern
Oregon and Washington. His coming is not for
a warmer temperature, it would seem, but for
the light, and for the abundant food that may be
gathered from the tall weeds and grasses stand-
ing above the snow. He may be seen on the
northern prairies of our country, clear across the
continent, and the little creature seems fairly to
rejoice in the blizzards and the low temperatures,
in the severity of which men and beasts perish.

DESCRIPTION. — Winter plumage : Head, back and
inner wing-feathers, more or less reddish-brown and
black ; tail, centre-feathers black, outer-feathers white ;
breast and sides, slightly brownish ; abdomen, white.

Only a winter resident.

His winter habitat is over the whole northern
half of the United States.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 225

THE CHICKADEES.

The Chickadee is assured of the friendship
of every one who knows him. This little ani-
mated bunch of feathers, with his cheery man-
ner and happy song, may be seen in the winter
time, scouring the limbs of our fruit-trees for
the eggs which will later, unless destroyed,
become canker-worms and other pests of the
orchard.

His dress befits his manner, and taking him
altogether, one might be justified for once in
using the phrase, " a love of a bird."

In the colder regions of the Eastern States,
nothing gives more cheer to a frigid winter
morning, with the mercury at 20 degrees below
zero, than this happy little creature, singing out
into the cold air his oft-repeated " Chick-a-dee —
dee-dee," while he moves from limb to limb.

May he often find, in winter time, that, in
gratitude for his merry song and his helpfulness
in the orchard, some human friend has tied a
small piece of beef-suet or cheese-rind upon a
tree to add a little variety to his menu. With
a little leading and care, this tempting provision,
placed upon a board at the window, will bring

226 Birds of Oregon and Washington

the Chickadees, also the Nuthatches, to close
fellowship with you.

There are two varieties of the Chickadee com-
mon in our section, the Oregon and the Chest-
nut-backed. They are enough alike in their looks
and habits to deceive any one who does not see
them near to, or through a glass. But the chest-
nut color is sufficiently clear to mark the dis-
tinction, once it is seen. The "Chickadee" call is
not so clear in the Chestnut-backed as in the Ore-
gon, and neither gives so distinct an articulation
to this word, which gave these birds their name,
as does the eastern Black-capped Chickadee, of
which the Oregon Chickadee is the western
variety.

The two varieties do not mingle much, but
each, after nesting, loves the company of its own
kind, and, as we shall see elsewhere, that of the
Nuthatches as well.

THE OREGON CHICKADEE.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, neck, throat,
and upper breast, black ; back and tail, gray ; a V-shaped
white section with the point at the bill, extends back to

Birds of Oregon and Washington 227

the shoulder ; lower breast, white ; abdomen, buffy.
Length, 4.5 to 5.25 inches.

Permanent resident.

THE CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — The same as the Ore-
gon Chickadee, except head, brownish-black instead of
black ; back and sides, chestnut ; abdomen, light gray.
Length, 4.5 to 5 inches.

Permanent resident.

THE BUSH-TIT.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Upper parts ; brownish-gray.

Under parts : light smoky-brown.

Length, 4.5 inches.

Found upon oak trees and also upon the limbs and
twigs of young deciduous growth.

Not unlike the Chickadees in general forni
(they belong to the same family), or unlike the
Kinglets in habits, are the little Bush-Tits which
may be seen in small flocks in winter time,
hanging from the twigs of young growth, and
searching, like their relatives, for what are fco
them dainty bits of insect-life. Their "cute"

228 Birds of Oregon and Washington

ways and gentle, though lively demeanor, at-
tract attention and invite study.

This is one of the three varieties of birds that
build a pouch-like nest. That of the Bush-Tits
is much larger than would seem needful for these
little mites, or possible for them to construct.
The nest is usually only five or six feet from
the ground, in low growth, but has been seen
much higher in evergreens.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Head, rather sooty ;
back, deep brownish-gray ; lower parts, as above, but
deep smoky along the sides.

Permanent resident.

THE COAST WREN-TIT.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : deep umber-brown,

Under parts : cinnamon-brown.

Length, 6 to 6.5 inches.

Found in and about Coast Range Mountains, espe-
cially in southern Oregon.

This is one of the small and peculiarly fasci-
nating birds. It resembles the Chickadee in
general appearance, but has the manners of the
Wren. He is like the latter in sprightliness and

Birds of Oregon and Washington 229

jerky style. The song is striking, and on account
of it the bird, in Colorado, its eastern territorial
limit, is called the " Scale Bird." Mrs. Bailey
(nee Merriam) says, " He is not seen unless you
go to the brush to look for him, but, wherever
you are, you will hear the clear ringing voice
running down the scale, the bell-like tones now
coming from the chaparral of the valley, now
from the boulder-strewn hillsides above. The
Wren-Tit seems timid about singing in sight.
A common form of the song is a scale of seven
two-syllabled notes, — ' tip-it, tip-it.'"

There are possibly two varieties of this Tit in
the section covered by this book. The one de-
scribed here is certainly not uncommon on our
coast.

Osgood gives a Particular Description nearly
as follows :

Upper parts, almost uniformly umber-brown, darkest
on head, becoming blackish on wings ; tail, blackish-
brown, with tinge of olivaceous ; flanks, about like rump,
insensibly grading into side ; lores, cheeks and sides of
head, dark ashy ; a white spot above and below the eye ;
throat, breast and sides, deep brownish-rufous ; limited
area in middle of abdomen, buffy-yellow.

Permanent resident.

230 Birds of Oregon and Washington

THE NUTHATCHES.

What are these birds, in whose company the
Chickadees and the Kinglets rove in winter
time ? The Nuthatches are creepers, and have
long bills which are a great advantage in prob-
ing in the crevices of the bark for the insects
that the Chickadees and Kinglets, with their
short bills, cannot reach. The Nuthatch has
slightly elongated toe-nails, which may account
for the great ease with which it runs up or down
tree-trunks. They are called Hatches or Hack-
ers, because some of the species use their bills to
hack or crack nuts which they have previously
hidden in crevices.

Edith M. Thomas has written a poem, "To
the Nuthatch," which so perfectly describes
this bird of the tree-trunk, that it is inserted
here :

" Shrewd little haunter of woods all gray
Whom I meet on my walk of a winter day —
You're busy inspecting each cranny and hole
In the ragged bark of yon hickory pole ;
You intent on your task, and I on the law
Of your wonderf ul head and gymnastic claw !

Birds of Oregon and Washington 231

The woodpecker well may despair of this feat —
Only the fly with you can compete I
So much is clear ; but I fain would know
How you can so reckless and fearless go,
Head upward, head downward, all one to you,
Zenith and nadir the same in your view ? "

There are two varieties of the Nuthatch in our
States — the Red-breasted, and the less common
Slender-billed Nuthatch.

THE RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : black and brownish.

Under parts : rufous, or light rusty-red.

Length, 4 to 4.5 inches.

Found on trunks and large limbs of trees, both ever-
greens and deciduous.

This little creature, creeping swiftly along the
under side of a limb as a fly runs along the ceil-
ing, uttering his " Tai-tai-tait," is truly about as
curious a specimen of bird-life as we shall find
among Land-birds. His long, sharp bill has
such incessant use that it is a wonder it does not
wear down and become short.

232 Birds of Oregon and Washington

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male: Head and neck,
black ; black stripe passing through eye to shoulder, and
white stripe over eye ; back and upper wing-coverts,
lead-color ; tail, black, barred with white near the end,
tipped with pale brown ; below, pale reddish-brown.

Female : Top of head, gray.

Permanent resident.

THE SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : gray.

Under parts : white.

Length, 5.5 inches.
Found on tree-trunks, etc.

This Nuthatch is not equally common in all

parts of our States, but is not infrequently found

—perhaps more frequently — in the eastern

parts of this section. It is the western species

of the eastern White-breasted Nuthatch.

The name Slender-billed describes one main
characteristic of the bird. Its habits are sub-
stantially the same as those of the Red-breasted
Nuthatch.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Top of head
and neck, black ; back, slate-color ; wings, dark slate ;
white breast and under parts.

Permanent resident.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 233

THE KINGLETS.

In winter or in early spring, one looking for
birds will often come across some little creatures
with charming dress and ways, whose names and
unrevealed beauties one should make haste to
know. They are the smallest of birds after the
Hummingbirds and Winter Wrens. In winter
they are often in the good company of the Chick-
adees, and sometimes of the Nuthatches, — as if
relatives, in a way. And a happy family they
are, without jealousy or even occasional conten-
tion.

The Golden-crowned and the Ruby-crowned
Kinglets answer the Chickadee's " Chick-a-dee,
dee, dee," with their own peculiarly bright " Ti,
ti " or " Zei, zei," and in March may be heard
their exquisite songs.

THE WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : decidedly olivaceous ; a golden
crown.

Under parts : " strong buffy tinge."

Length, 3.15 to 4.5 inches.
Found in trees, often in evergreens.

The Western Golden-crowned Kinglet differs

234 Birds of Oregon and Washington

from the eastern variety only in having somewhat
brighter colors. Its song is just the same and
its habits identical. Like the Chickadee, zero
weather has no effect upon its cheerful spirit. It
is as restless as the Chickadees and the Nut-
hatches that it keeps company with. It hangs
upon the smallest twigs, searching for insects.

In the East, they do not hear the Golden-
crowned Kinglet's song, or see its nest, except
* in the northern parts of the Northern States and
in the mountains, whither it goes in May. The
western species undoubtedly nests in parts of our
States, though its nests are not yet reported.

Mr. Brewster describes the song of the bird as
beginning with a succession of five or six fine
trills, high-pitched, somewhat faltering notes,
and ending with a short, rapid, rather explosive
warble. The song is out of proportion to the
bird's size. It is an attractive little singer; but
does not equal its relative the Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, in this important respect.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Head, neck,
back and rump, bright olive ; wings and tail, slightly
dusky, margined with olive-green; breast and under
parts, brownish-buffy ; center of crown, intense orange.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 235

bordered with bright yellow, enclosed by black line;
white line over the eye.

Female : Similar, but center of crown, lemon-yellow,
and grayish underneath.

Permanent resident.

THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION :

Upper parts : generally the same in color as, but

a little duller than, the golden-crowned Kinglet.

Under parts : light yellowish-gray ; vermilion-red

crown, usually concealed.
Length, 3.75 to 4.6 inches.
Found generally distributed.

The habits of this bird are nearly identical
with those of the Golden-crowned Kinglet, but
he is a superior singer. His song is a marvel
of beauty and strength ; he is always generous
with it, even in winter pouring his sweet notes
upon the cold air, perhaps in memory of past, or
in contemplation of future, love and home.

Dr. Coues (one of America's greatest bird-
students) remarks, concerning the phenomenal
strength of the song of this little bird : " The
sound-producing organ is not larger than a pin-
head, and the muscles that move it are almost

2 36 Birds of Oregon and Washington

microscopic shreds of flesh, yet its song may be
heard two hundred yards": and "the Kinglet's
exquisite vocalization defies description."

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. — Male : Head, neck and
back, grayish-olive ; crown-spot, bright " scarlet-ver-
milion,'* usually concealed, no enclosing colors ; a fine
white ring around the eye ; two whitish wing-bars ;
breast and abdomen, yellowish-gray.

Female : Similar, but without vermilion crest.

Partly a permanent resident.

CHAPTER VI.
UPON IMPORTED SONG BIRDS.

IN 1889 and again in 1892, some of the Ger-
man-American citizens of Portland, with char-
acteristic poetic taste and love of Nature, and
out of affectionate remembrance of associations
in the Fatherland, secured the importation of
several varieties of their native song-birds.

The Skylark, as we have seen, is one of these,
and it alone has repaid and will increasingly, in
all time to come, repay the cost and the trouble
incurred in settling the stranger songsters upon
the Pacific coast. The author, however, sympa-
thizes to some extent with the great body of
ornithologists in this country who do not believe
in taking birds from the environment which
formed them and placing them in another. It
seems to be a violation of natural and aesthetic
laws. Again, another imported bird besides
the English Sparrow, the Starling, has already
become harmful on the Atlantic coast, where it

238 Birds of Oregon and Washington

has been breeding and multiplying now for some
time.

The birds introduced and released in the vicin-
ity of Portland included two varieties of Thrushes,
one variety of Goldfinch, one of the Starling fam-
ily, Nightingales, Crossbills and others.

Of these, only the Skylark and Starling are
sufficiently in evidence to make it possible for
me to bear personal witness to their presence.
And I find that no one of the careful and con-
stant observers in and about Portland, who are
making ornithology a study, has seen any other
than the two above-mentioned birds.

Our German friends, however, who are of
course more interested, report the presence of
the European Goldfinch in the groves and or-
chards about Portland ; also of the Song Thrush
in certain gulches, and the Black Thrush in the
neighborhood.

The Skylark has been fully treated under its
name in its proper place in this book.

THE STARLING.

" The Starling," unlike any of the birds related
to it in this country, lives and nests in buildings

Birds of Oregon and Washington 339

and not in trees, — and in buildings in cities,
moreover, which seems quite strange to us. It
is, however, only a proof of what change in the
habits of birds is wrought by civilization. It is
difficult to say what our own birds may do in the
future, when Americans have won back the con-
fidence of our now truly " wild " birds. In this
spring of 1901, the Starlings may be seen around
the top of the tower on the Perkins Hotel in
Portland, nesting in the gilded ornaments on
either end, and also about the Blagen Block,
First and Couch streets, nesting in perpendicu-
lar holes just over each of the two ornamental
heads on the west face of the structure.

The careless observer would take these Star-
lings for "just Blackbirds." But though Black-
birds in appearance, they belong to a family of
their own and must be recognized as such.
The principal distinctive mark in this Starling
in summer time is its yellow bill, which even the
indifferent will notice when once their attention
is called to it.

The difference between the summer and the
winter plumage in the Starlings is very marked.
In the spring it is quite black, and in the winter

240 Birds of Oregon and Washington

decidedly mottled. The difference is indicated
in the following

DESCRIPTION. — Adult : Summer plumage, both sexes
alike; head, neck, breast and abdomen, iridescent black ;
wings and under tail-coverts, spotted buff and mottled ;
tail, rather short and brownish ; bill, yellow.

Winter plumage : Male : Black, spotted with white all
over. Female : Dark brownish, spotted liberally with
buffy; bill, black.

If those who have this book should come
across either of the Thrushes or the Goldfinch,
the following descriptions will help them to
identify the birds. It is not impossible that some
of the foreign varieties released about Portland
may be found far from that point.

THE SONG THRUSH.

DESCRIPTION. — Head, back, wings and tail, darkish
brown ; throat, breast and sides, whitish, well spotted
with brown. Female : Lighter in upper parts.

Length, 8.5 inches.

This Thrush resembles the Wood Thrush of
the Eastern States.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 24 1

THE BLACK THRUSH.

DESCRIPTION. — Male : Black all over, like Blackbird,
but with whitish bill. Female : Sooty above ; throat,
mottled white and brown ; breast, light and dark brown.

Length, II inches.

THE EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH.

DESCRIPTION. — A circle of red around bill, extending
up to crown and under throat ; lores, black, and black
around eye ; white collar around neck ; back, brown ;
wings and tail, black ; breast, buffy-brown ; abdomen,
whitish. Female : Lower breast, whitish.

Length, about 5 inches.

CHAPTER VII.
How TO DOMESTICATE AND TAME BIRDS.

EVERYBODY enjoys the familiar presence of
" wild " birds. Even persons who have never
thought much of these winged creatures are
pleased when the Wrens or Bluebirds force
themselves into notice by nesting in the letter-
box at the gate, or pre-empting a cranny under
the piazza, roof.

People do not realize that, with a very little
trouble, they might have a hundred bird-neigh-
bors in summer, where now there are none, or
only a pair or two, who have come uninvited and
unprovided for. Every home in the country or
near our cities, and very many in the towns, and
even in the cities themselves, might have, with
each coming of spring, a score of feathered
friends, returning from a far-away southern
wintering.

Nothing so civilizes and humanizes children as

Birds of Oregon and Washington 243

this care and interest. In Worcester, Mass., in
one district where the care and protection of
birds have been taught to and inspired in the
children of a public school, vandalism has ceased
among the boys. They are busy providing bird-
boxes, watching for nests in the trees, guarding
the fledglings against cats, etc., and their hearts
have softened meanwhile. Were it only a meas-
ure for taming and civilizing boys, the taming of
birds would be worth while.

But what a ministry of delight do these angels
of song and grace bring to old and young, when
once we have taken them under our care ! " Let
but a bird — that being so. free and uncontrolled,
which with one stroke of the wing puts space
between you and himself — let him but be willing
to draw near and conclude a friendship with you,
and lo, how your heart is moved!" — Mme.
Michelet.

As remarked in another place in this book,
song-birds seek the company, the protection and
the friendship of man. And when these are
given, the birds sing and fly with a freedom, con-
fidence, and even affection, that are impossible
while they live near us in fear and suspicion.

244 Birds of Oregon and Washington

John Burroughs says of the English birds which
are thus loved and cared for : " They sing with
more confidence and copiousness, and as if they,
too, had been touched by civilization." He also
says, " Wood birds here (America) are house and
garden birds there (England).'*

With reference to nest -building, there are two
sorts of birds anxious to live with and near us.
In the first place, those that want to share our
home or our outbuildings, or who look for some
box provided hard by our door. The other
sort are the birds which, if encouraged and pro-
tected, would seek our vines, shrubs and trees
for their nesting.

What can we do to bring these little creatures
to our homes ?

There are several varieties of birds that search
out places for nesting under piazza roofs, in
boxes, about the eaves and cornices of our
houses, or in our barns : the Violet-Green Swal-
low, the Eave Swallow, the Barn Swallow, the
Martin, the Bluebird, the Parkman's House
Wren, and sometimes the Vigors's Wren ; in
some places, the Say's Phoebe, and perhaps, the
Western Black Phoebe.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 245

As stated elsewhere in this book, the Violet-
green Swallow is not to be confused with the
Eave Swallow that seeks in companies to build
mud nests against the house ; the former asks for
a box in which to rear its young. Even now,
as I am writing this chapter, a pair of these
birds of exquisite color, perfect grace of move-
ment, and even, I find, of sweet song, are flying
in front of the second-story window where I sit,
and, pausing on the wing in front of me, seem
pathetically begging me to furnish them a home,
promising me full measure of delight if I will
but grant their evident prayer.

Ornamental boxes for the Violet -green Swal-
low may be made, painted the color of the house
and put up under the eaves ; but ruder boxes
are more enticing as we shall see. Or again, these
birds may come to a cluster of houses set upon
a pole in the yard. It would be better, however,
to reserve the nests upon the pole for the Blue-
birds and the Martins.

I have given a hint elsewhere about allowing
the Eave Swallows to set their mud nests against
our buildings. True bird-lovers will do all they
can to invite such neighborliness ; and the use of

246 Birds of Oregon and Washington

a little insect-powder will not only make impos-
sible all annoyance, but will also help to keep
the little birds clean and happy.

As to the Barn Swallow, if a hole is left in the
gable of our barns, or a window is always left
open, and small shelves are nailed on beams for
the nests, there is no reason why this beautiful
bird should not take up his residence more
generally in our barns and to the same extent on
the Pacific as on the Atlantic coast.

The Western Martin and the Bluebird are
both fond of a box on the gable end of a house
or barn, and of the bird-house upon a pole already
referred to. A picture is here given of a Mar-
tin-house in Worcester, Mass., in which nine
pairs of Martins made a happy home in the sum-
mer of 1901.

The Wrens can be given their opportunity in
a corner under the roof of porch or piazza, and
about our outbuildings.

As to Bird Houses : I am indebted for a good
part of the following suggestions in this matter
to the most admirable book of its kind yet pub-
lished, " Our Native Birds, How to Protect and
Attract them to our Homes," by D. Lange,

Martin House.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 247

Superintendent of Nature Study in the public
schools of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Boxes are best when made out of sections of
hollow trees, or limbs, the holes having a dia-
meter of from three to eight inches.

Boxes made of slab-wood are next in value.
The bark on the boxes seems to induce the birds
to undertake housekeeping when plain boards
do not . But the bark should never be nailed on
boards, because in the heat and rain, it warps,
and vermin swarm beneath it. A fir-bark roof,
projecting on each side, may, however, be put
upon a box with advantage, — the curve in the
bark gives ventilation, which should be provided
in the tops of all bird-houses.

Next to slab-wood, unplaned or rough-sawed
boards are best. If planed boards must be used,
rub them with moist earth, or, if the boxes are
to be used in trees bearing leaves, they may be
painted green.

The boxes should be made of different sizes,
adapted to the several kinds of birds for which
they are constructed. For Wrens, let the box
be 7 x 5 x 5 inches on the inside, with a hole, a
very little larger than a twenty-five-cent piece,

248 Birds of Oregon and Washington

about two inches from the top, and a shelf a
little below the entrance. Bird-boxes should be
deeper than they are wide, — in this case, the
box would be seven inches deep.

For Swallows, the box should be 8x6x6
inches ; location of hole and shelf, as before ; size
of hole, one and one-half inches.

For Bluebirds, 10 x 6 x 6 ; entrance, nearer
the bottom; hole, 2x2^ inches in diameter;
shelf, if desired.

For Martins, 10 x 8 x 8 ; entrance, 2^ inches,
and near the top, with or without shelf.

Boxes in trees about the house are excellent,
and Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Nuthatches
may be added to the domestic bird-circle.

A Wren-box will do for the Chickadees ; for
the Nuthatches, the box should be 20 x 6 x 6
(20 inches deep) ; entrance near the top, 2x2^
inches ; no shelf.

For the Woodpeckers, the box should be from
i o to 36 inches in depth, and from 5 to 7 inches
square at the base ; entrance, 2x4 inches, and
near the top ; no shelf.

The boxes for the Chickadees should be placed
from six to twelve feet from the ground ; for the

Birds of Oregon and Washington 249

Nuthatches, twelve to twenty-five feet ; for the
Woodpeckers, ten to twenty feet. And the
boxes for these birds would serve best on dead,
or partly dead, trees.

All boxes should be put on the east or the
north side of buildings, or of trees, — if the trees
are dead, away from the prevailing storms and
from the noon, or afternoon, sun which would
work misery and death to the young.

The houses must be bound by strong wire, or
nailed, or screwed solidly, where no twigs or
limbs moved by the wind, will strike them.
Birds will not stay in shaky or jostled boxes.

In order to secure the boxes to the birds for
which they are built, the English Sparrow should
be disposed of as kindly as possible — but dis-
posed of he must be. The father of the family
may best undertake this serious business.*

Several boxes may be placed upon one pole
by means of arms. It is well to set the pole
not far from trees. Birds do not like to fly

* A very successful poisoned-food experiment has been thoroughly
tried by Dr. C. F. Hodge, of Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
The directions for its preparation and use may be obtained from the
John Burroughs Bird Society, Portland, Oregon.

The recipe furnished by the Agricultural Bureau at Washington is
said, by those who have tried it, not to be altogether successful.

250 Birds of Oregon and Washington

over wide, open, and exposed spaces to their
nests.

Some tin nailed around the pole which holds
the bird-houses will prevent cats from climbing
to the nests, or barbed wire may be bound about
tree or pole for about a foot or two, having the
barbs as thick as possible. If put upon a grow-
ing tree, a strip of wood should be nailed on
either side of the tree-trunk. These strips make
the wire elastic, and save the cutting of the
bark.

Never try to clean out the, boxes between
seasons. Leave this to the birds.

The first condition for bringing many species
of song-birds to us is that there must be trees
and shrubs about our homes. If there are not,
we must grow them. Two or three trees in a
yard, dead or partially dead, are necessary to
some species of birds. To save offense to the
eye, the dead tree may be covered with Virginia
creeper or some other rapidly growing vine.
Some evergreens, spruce, pine and cedar, are of
advantage ; and a variety of deciduous trees,
some of which have thick foliage, are a part of

Birds of Oregon and Washington 25 i

the bird-equipment. A Lombardy poplar will
serve better than any other for certain nests.
On account of its rapid growth it may be cut off
or down occasionally, to prevent its attaining an
awkward and undesirable height.

More important than trees, for some species
of birds, are bushes, with some wild tangle,
which may be kept within bounds by the aid of
pruning-knife and shears. No greater ornament
is now sought for expensive grounds and parks
than the wild tangle, which farmers cut down to
" clean up " roadsides and around fences. Let
the tangle be, except for cutting back, unless
the ground is positively needed for another pur-
pose.

As to Feeding Birds : Provision for bird-food
must be made, if they are to live with us. Wild
trees and shrubs that bear berries must be near
at hand for birds that depend upon this kind of
food. Insectivorous birds will find a supply for
their young and themselves unless the season
becomes too dry, in which case chopped meat,
bits of bread, and a little beef-suet will save
misery, not to say furnish happiness.

252 Birds of Oregon and Washington

More important than feeding at such a time,
and important at all times, unless one's home is
near a lake or a running stream, is water.
Dishes two inches deep filled with water, stand-
ing about on the ground and changed often for
cleanliness, should be provided. Dripping pans,
painted inside and out to keep them from rust-
ing, are best. But large flower-pot saucers are
good. Whatever is used should be unglazed, so
as to give secure footing for the birds. The
birds will drink and bathe even in cold and
freezing weather, if the ice does not prevent.
A dripping pan of road-dust for a dust-bath,
should there be none otherwise convenient,
will be often used, if provided. All wild birds
have more or less vermin upon them, each hav-
ing its own kind, and the dust-bath is their chief
defence against these parasites.

In summer time, it is not well, under ordinary
conditions, to feed the birds much, lest they lose
their independence and suffer when they are com-
pelled to support themselves. Enough feeding
to cultivate friendliness, is always in order.
And in winter time, one may indulge one's self
to the utmost limit, provided our feathered de-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 253

pendents are not sometimes forgotten when
"the cold snap " and snow and ice make food
hardest to get, and our supply of yesterday for
the birds is covered up, perhaps.

For winter feeding, as indicated already, beef-
suet, in small pieces (if large they will soil the wings
and injure the flight of the birds), may be tied
or nailed to a limb ; or a bone with meat upon
it, or a piece of cheese-rind may be tied in the
same place. The limb may be very near a
house. Indeed an evergreen limb may be cut
and fastened to the window-sill and hold the food.
Again, there may be attached to the window-sill
a rimmed shelf with chopped meat, suet, nuts
and bird-seed upon it, which, with a little care,
will bring to our very eyes and hands, Chicka-
dees, Nuthatches, Juncos and other birds. Sun-
flower and hemp seeds are relished by many
birds and will be an excellent winter diet. Let
the placing of the food be always associated with
a soft whistle or call, and the birds will soon
come to you as do chickens to a human sum-
mons.

But in vain will be our vines and trees and
tangles, we shall have no birds to nest and none

254 Birds of Oregon and Washington

to feed, unless we give them protection from
enemies and from annoyance. Cats, jays and
crows must be kept from trespassing.

Few of us have any proper ideas of how to
train and keep a pussy. Cats can be trained so
as to be quite as respectful to birds as to young
chickens, if the same, or a little greater, trouble
is taken. Most cats grow up perfectly obedient
to natural instincts, and with no sense of obe-
dience to human beings. Few persons probably
take the trouble to educate the family kitten.
But all may, with a little effort, subject the cat
to a course of discipline every year which will
be wholesome for the cat, and will save the lives
of scores of birds, old and young.

An unrestrained cat is as senseless in bird-
time as an unrestrained horse or cow would be
amongst growing crops. In these days of cheap
poultry wire, a commodious cage may easily be
made, in which pussy should pass her nights
and such part of the days, during the nesting-
season, as she cannot be watched. If well fed,
the cat will not be unhappy, and she will be a
more civilized member of the family for such
temporary and kindly restraint. Wild, vaga-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 255

bond cats should be mercifully put out of life,
and neighbors' cats must be made unwelcome.
Birds soon learn that we are their friends.
They have been often reported as coming to the
windows of their human sympathizers for assist-
ance in time of distress.

A word now about cultivating, with the birds,
an intimacy that will bring them to our feet and
possibly to our heads and hands. Celia Thaxter,
in " An Island Garden," tells us how the birds
used to rest on her person. In the following
extract, she is writing especially of the Hum-
ming-birds :

" I shall never forget the surprise of joy that
filled me when one for the first time alighted on
my sleeve and rested, as much at home as if I
were a stick or a harmless twig. Sparrows and
Nuthatches had often alighted on my head as I
stood musing over my flowers, perfectly still, but
to have this tiny spark of brilliant life come to
anchor, as it were, on anything so earthly as my
arm was indeed a nine days' wonder. Now, it has
grown to be an old story, but it is never any
less delightful."

256 Birds of Oregon and Washington

This confidence was born of the experience of
the birds with this gentle woman. Any one, by
putting food down in a certain place, in small
quantities at a time, accompanying the act with
some soft and musical whistle, or low, soft, win-
ning call, will soon be associated, in the mind of
the bird, with the gift ; and if he stands quietly
and from time to time nearer to the birds, he
will, ere long, have them at his feet and perhaps
eating out of his hand.

The story of a young Cedar Waxwing in Wor-
cester, Mass., will give a hint as to what may
be done in all our homes. Overloaded with
cherries, he was taken into a bird-lover's home
to be kept from the cats till he recovered from
his cherry-spree. Gentle treatment made the
bird a member of the family in a few hours, not
in a cage, but free to go and come. In two
pictures which I have of him, he is sitting upon
a child's hand with as perfect confidence as that
with which the child would sit upon its mother's
lap. One of these pictures I am enabled to give
the readers of this book, through the kindness
of Dr. C. F. Hodge, of Clark University. If the
fledglings of 'all sorts, that drop to the ground

Birds of Oregon and Washington 257

around our homes, were taken in and treated
considerately, they would come back in the next
spring's migration, much more susceptible to
our winning arts, bringing with them familiar
memories of our former kindness.

Dr. Hodge, who thus tamed the Waxwing,
gives us the suggestion of a way to save grown
birds the agony of fear which they usually en-
dure when, out of kindness, taken into tempo-
rary captivity. Put the birds in a suitable cage,
provided with a little food and water, if they
can feed themselves. Wait until the food is
gone, then begin to feed them, using a stick
which should be long enough not to frighten
them by your too close presence at the cage.
Upon the end of the stick, place the most tempt-
ting food (meal-worms for nearly all birds), and
slowly put it before them ; after even a time or
two, you may hold the stick near the feeding-
end, and soon your hand may carry the food, and
before you are quite ready for it, the cage being
opened, the bird will go to meet you.

All birds, in temporary captivity, that can feed
themselves, will be somewhat older than mere
fledglings. The latter never feed themselves,

258 Birds of Oregon and Washington

and will be entirely dependent upon the food
placed in their gaping mouths. Young birds,
apparently grown and able to pick up their own
nourishment, may not yet have learned to do it.
If the birds are only fledglings with wide-open
mouths, they must be fed every hour in day-
light, with suitable food, and given water occa-
sionally.

What joy-giving rewards will come from such
a ministry to fledglings and injured birds, Dr.
Hodge bears witness. In these pages, he gener-
ously furnishes two pictures of " Bob," a young
robin, that, until it left for its Southern winter
home, would come at call and alight upon the hand
of the friends whom it had learned to know.
In one of the pictures, it is standing on the hand
of Dr. Hodge's son, who, when he was younger,
held the Waxwing (before described); in -the
other, it has the company of a fledgling upon the
hand of the young woman who kindly permits
the use of the picture. " Bob " started South
in the autumn of 1901, with a ring upon one of
his legs, put there by Dr. Hodge, to identify
him upon his return, which is certain to take
place unless accident should prevent.

Boy and Robin ("

Birds of Oregon and Washington 259

Dr. Hodge gives a charge which must be
strictly observed if we are to keep the confi-
dence of the birds thus tamed. They must not
be handled ; neither at first, nor even after they
sit upon our arms or rest upon our shoulders.
Dr. Hodge relates that the Wax wing, even after
a long period of familiarity, could not endure
this demonstration, except once or twice, when
very cold. Our human disposition to seize every
moving and wild thing, not harmful, must be re-
strained. The cage, of course, should be abol-
ished as soon as the bird comes freely to us,
that he may come and go, through open windows
and doors, as he will. It will be interesting to
those who read this chapter to know that the
Waxwing became a bird-missionary in all of the
public schools of Worcester, Mass., visiting each
in turn, and, by his free presence, pleading that
such treatment as he had received might be
given to all birds by all children. As a result,
Worcester is perhaps the banner city in the
United States in the protection and rearing of
wild birds.

One of the charming things in the rearing of

260 Birds of Oregon and Washington

wild birds about our homes is their looked-for
return in the spring. The same birds will re-
turn to our bird-houses and trees, from year to
year, unless something should befall them in
their winter home or during migration.

"No longer now the winged habitants,
That in the woods their sweet lives sing away,
Flee from the form of man ; but gather round,
And preen their sunny feathers on the hands
Which little children stretch in friendly sport
Towards these dreadless partners of their play."

— Shelley.

SIZE KEY

GROUP 1 — Birds smaller than the English Sparrow
(or apparently so).

Black-chinned Humming- Black-throated Gray

bird.

Rufous Hummingbird.
Allen's Hummingbird.
Calliope Hummingbird.
Redpoll.

Willow Goldfinch.
Arkansas Goldfinch.
European Goldfinch

(imported).
Pine Siskin.

Western Chipping Sparrow.
Lazuli Bunting.
Warbling Vireo.
Cassin's Vireo.
Lutescent Warbler.
Yellow Warbler.
Myrtle Warbler.
Audubon's Warbler.

Warbler.

Pacific Yellow-throat.
Pileolated Warbler.
Northwestern Vigors's

Wren.

Parkman's Wren.
Western Winter Wren.
Tule Wren.
Sierra Creeper.
Slender-billed Nuthatch.
Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Oregon Chickadee.
Chestnut-backed

Chickadee.
Coast Wren-Tit.
Bush-Tit.
Western Golden-crowned

Kinglet.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

GROUP 2 — Birds about the size of the English

Sparrow (or apparently so).

Least Sandpiper. Western Lark Sparrow.

Western Sandpiper. Gambel's White-crowned

Western Wood Pewee. Sparrow.

261

262 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Western Flycatcher.
Traill's Flycatcher.
California Purple Finch.
American Crossbill.
Snowflake.

NuttalPs White-crowned

Sparrow.
Oregon Junco.
Rusty Song Sparrow.
Macgillivray's Warbler.

Oregon Vesper Sparrow. Titlark, or American Pipit.
Western Savanna Sparrow. Rock Wren.

GROUPS — Birds larger than the English Sparrow,
and smaller than the Robin (or apparently so).

Northern Phalarope.

Red-backed Sandpiper.

California Pygmy Owl.

Gairdner's Woodpecker.

Red-breasted Sapsucker.

Poorwill.

Black Swift.

Vaux's Swift.

The Kingbird.

Arkansas Kingbird.

Say's Phoebe.

Western Black Phoebe.

Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Skylark.

Streaked Horned Lark.

Dusky Horned Lark.

Starling.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Townsend's Sparrow.
Oregon Towhee, or

Chewink.

Black-headed Grosbeak.
Louisiana Tanager.
Western Martin.
Cliff Swallow.
Barn Swallow.
Tree Swallow.
Violet-green Swallow.
Bank Swallow.
Rough-winged Swallow.
Cedar Waxwing.
Long-tailed Chat.
Water Ouzel, or American

Dipper.
Sage Thrasher.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 263

Bullock's Oriole. Russet-backed Thrush.

Western Evening Western Bluebird.

Grosbeak. Mountain Bluebird.

GROUP 4 — Birds about the size of the Robin

(or apparently so).

Black Tern. Western Nighthawk.

Killdeer. Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Mourning Dove. Bicolored Blackbird.

Desert Sparrow-Hawk. Western Meadowlark.

Burrowing Owl. Brewer's Blackbird.

Harris's Woodpecker. Varied Thrush, or Varied

Californian Woodpecker. Robin.

GROUP 5 — Birds larger than the Robin.
Pacific Kittiwake. MacFarlane's Screech Owl.

Bonaparte's Gull. California Cuckoo.

Arctic Tern. Belted Kingfisher.

Band-tailed Pigeon. Lewis's Woodpecker.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Red-shafted Flicker.

Pigeon-Hawk. Northwestern Flicker.

Black Merlin. California Jay.

Kennicott's Screech Owl. Gray Jay.
Pinon Jay.

GROUP 6— Birds much larger than the Robin.
Glaucus-winged Gull. Ferruginous Rough-legged

Western Gull. Hawk.

American Herring Gull. Golden Eagle.

264 Birds of Oregon and Washington

California Gull. Bald Eagle.

Ring-billed GuU. American Osprey, or Fish-
Short-billed Gull. Hawk.

American Bittern. Short-eared, or Marsh Owl.

Great Blue Heron. Dusky Horned Owl.

Green Heron. Northern Pileated Wood-
Marsh-Hawk, pecker.

Cooper's Hawk. American Magpie.

Western Red-tailed Hawk. Steller's Jay.

Swainson's Hawk. American Raven.

American Rough-legged American Crow.

Hawk. Northwest Crow.
Clarke's Nutcracker.

COLOR KEY.*

BLUE AND BLUISH.

Lazuli Bunting (2). Pifion Jay (5).

Western Bluebird (3). Glaucus-winged Gull (6).

Mountain Bluebird (3). American Herring Gull (6).

Mourning Dove .(5). California Gull (6).

Belted Kingfisher (5). Ring-billed Gull (6).

California Jay (5). Great Blue Heron (6).

Gray Jay (5). Band-tailed Pigeon (6).

Steller's Jay (6).

* The birds in this Color Key are arranged according to size, the
numbers at the right showing to which group in the Size Key they
belong.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 265

PEARL COLOR.

Pacific Kittiwake (5). Arctic Tern (5).

Bonaparte's Gull (5). Short-billed Gull (6).

LEAD COLOR.

Northern Phalarope (3). Black Tern (4).

Western Gull (6).

MARKEDLY RED OF ANY SHADE.

Rufous Hummingbird (i). Red-winged Blackbird (3).

Allen's Hummingbird (i). Bullock's Oriole (3.)

Calliope Hummingbird (i). Louisiana Tanager (3).

Redpoll (i). Californian Woodpecker
European Goldfinch (i). (4).

California Purple Finch (2). Bicolored Blackbird (4).

American Crossbill (2). Western Robin (4).

Red-backed Sandpiper (3). Red-shafted Flicker (5).

Red-breasted Sapsucker (3). Northwestern Flicker (5).

Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk (6).

MARKEDLY YELLOW, OR ORANGE.

Willow Goldfinch (i). Western Evening Gros-
Arkansas Goldfinch (i). beak (3).

Lutescent Warbler (i). Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow Warbler (i). (4).

Audubon's Warbler (i). Western Meadowlark (4).

Pacific Yellow-throat (i). Varied Thrush, or Varied
Pileolated Warbler (i). Robin (4).

Long-tailed Chat (3). American Bittern (6).

266 Birds of Oregon and Washington

MARKEDLY BLACK.

Black-chinned Humming- Black-headed Grosbeak

bird (i). (3).

Black-throated Gray War- Yellow-headed Blackbird

bier (i). (4).

Black Swift (3). Bicolored Blackbird (4).

Vaux's Swift (3). Brewer's Blackbird (4).

Western Black Phoebe (3). Black Thrush (Imported)
Starling (3). (4).

Red-winged Blackbird (3). American Raven (6).

Oregon Towhee (3). American Crow (6).

Western Martin (3). Northwest Crow (6).

BLACK AND WHITE.
Gairdner's Woodpecker Californian Woodpecker

(3). (4).

Harris's Woodpecker (4). American Magpie (6).
Clarke's Nutcracker (6).

DUSKY, GRAY, OR SLATY.

Myrtle Warbler (i). Western Flycatcher (2).

Audubon's Warbler (i). Traill's Flycatcher (2).

Slender-billed Nuthatch Oregon Junco (2).

(i). Macgillivray's Warbler (2).

Red-breasted Nuthatch The Kingbird (3).

(i). Arkansas Kingbird (3).

Bush-Tit (i). Olive-sided Flycatcher (3).

Western Wood Pewee (2). Water Ouzel (3).

Birds of Oregon and Washington 267

REDDISH-BROWN, DARK BROWN, OR BROWNISH-
BLACK.

Sierra Creeper (i). Killdeer (4).

Chestnut-backed Chicka- Desert Sparrow-Hawk (4).

dee (i). Western Nighthawk (4).

Coast Wren-Tit (i). Black Merlin (5).

Least Sandpiper (2). Green Heron (6).

Western Sandpiper (2). Western Red-tailed Hawk
Snowflake (2). (6).

Rusty Song Sparrow (2). Ferruginous Rough -legged
Red-backed Sandpiper (3). Hawk (6).

California Pygmy Owl (3). Golden Eagle (6).

Cedar Waxwing (3). Bald Eagle (6).

Russet-backed Thrush (3). American Osprey (6).

Song Thrush (Imported) (3). Marsh Owl (6).
Dusky Horned Owl (6).

MARKEDLY DARK.

Oregon Chickadee (i). Bank Swallow (3).

Western Black Phoebe (3). Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff, or Eave Swallow (3). (3).

Barn Swallow (3). Lewis's Woodpecker (5).

Tree, or White-bellied Northern Pileated Wood-
Swallow (3). pecker (6).

GREEN, OLIVE, OR OLIVE-GRAY.

Warbling Vireo (i) Western Golden-crowned

Cassin's Vireo (i). Kinglet (i).

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (i). Violet-green Swallow (3).

Green Heron (6).

268 Birds of Oregon and Washington

BROWN, BROWNISH, GRAYISH, OR SPARROWISH-
GRAY.

Pine Siskin (i).

Western Chipping Spar-
row (i).

Northwestern Vigors's
Wren (i).

Parkman's Wren (i).

Western Winter Wren (i).

Tuld Wren (i).

English Sparrow (2).

Oregon Vesper Sparrow

(2).

Western Savanna Sparrow

(2).

Western Lark Sparrow (2).
Gambel's Sparrow (2).
NuttalPs Sparrow (2).
Titlark, or American Pipit

(2).

Rock Wren (2).
Poorwill (3).

Swainson's

Say's Phoebe (3).
Skylark (3).

Streaked Horned Lark (3).
Golden-crowned Sparrow

(3).

Townsend's Sparrow (3).
Sage Thrasher (3).
Pigeon-Hawk (4).
Burrowing Owl (4).
Dusky Horned Lark (4).
Kennicott's Screech Owl

(5).
MacFarlane's Screech Owl

(5).

Sharp-shinned Hawk (5).
Cooper's Hawk (5).
California Cuckoo (5).
Marsh-Hawk (6).
American Rough-legged

Hawk (6).
Hawk (6).

BIRDS GROUPED IN FAMILIES.
SCIENTIFIC ORDER.

ORDER — LONGIPENNES. (Long-twinged

Swimmers?)

FAMILY — LARID^E. (Gulls and Terns.)
Pacific Kittiwake. (Rissa tridactyla pollicaris.) Ridgw.
Glaucus-winged Gull. (Larus glaucescens.) Naum.
Western Gull. (Larus occidentalis.) Aud.
American Herring Gull. (Larus argentatus smithsoni-

anus.) Coues.

California Gull. (Larus californicus.) Lawr.
Ring-billed Gull. (Larus delawarensis.) Ord.
Short-billed Gull. (Larus brachyrhynchus.) Rich.
Bonaparte's Gull. (Larus Philadelphia.) (Ord.)
Arctic Tern. (Sterna paradisasa.) Briinn.
Black Tern. (Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis.)

(Gmel.)

ORDER — HERODIONES. (Herons, Storks,
Ibises, etc.)

FAMILY — ARDEID.E. (Herons, Bitterns, etc.)
American Bittern. (Botaurus lentiginosus.) (Montag.)
Great Blue Heron. (Ardea herodias.) Linn.
Green Heron. (Ardea virescens.) Linn.

269

2/o Birds of Oregon and Washington

ORDER — LIMICOL.E. (Shore Birds.)
FAMILY — PHALAROPODID.E. (Phalaropes.)
Northern Phalarope. (Phalaropus lobatus.) (Linn.)

FAMILY — SCOLOPACID^E. (Snipes, Sandpipers, etc.}

Least Sandpiper. (Tringa minutilla.) Vieill.
Red-backed Sandpiper. (Tringa alpina pacifica.) (Coues.)
Western Sandpiper. (Ereunetes occidentalis.) Lawr.

FAMILY — CHARADRIID^:. (Plovers^
Killdeer. (^gialitis vocifera.) (Linn.)

ORDER — COLUMB.E. (Pigeons?)

FAMILY. — COLUMBIDVE. (Pigeons.)
Band-tailed Pigeon. (Columba fasciata.) Say.
Mourning Dove, or Turtle Dove. (Zenaidura macroura.)
(Linn.)

ORDER — RAPTORES. (Vultures, Ha^vks, and

Owls.)
FAMILY — FALCON ID^E, (Vultures, Falcons, Hawks,

Eagles, etc.)

Marsh-Hawk. (Circus hudsonius.) (Linn.)
Sharp-shinned Hawk. (Accipiter velox.) (Wils.)
Cooper's Hawk. (Accipiter cooperii.) (Bonap.)
Western Red-tailed Hawk. (Buteo borealis calurus.)
(Cass.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 271

Swainson's Hawk. (Buteo swainsoni.) Bonap.
American Rough-legged Hawk. (Archibuteo lagopus

sancti-johannis.) (Gmel.)
Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk. (Archibuteo ferrugi-

neus.) (Licht.)

Golden Eagle. (Aquila chrysaetos.) (Linn.)
Bald Eagle. (Haliaeetus leucocephalus.) (Linn.)
Pigeon-Hawk. (Falco columbarius.) Linn.
Black Merlin. (Falco columbarius suckleyi.) Ridgw.
Desert Sparrow-Hawk. (Falco sparverius deserticolus.)

Mearns.
Fish-Hawk, or American Osprey. (Pandion haliaetus

carolinensis.) (Gmel.)

FAMILY — BUBONID^:. (Horned Owls, etc.)
Short-eared, or Marsh Owl, (Asio accipitrinus.) (Pall.)
Kennicott's Screech Owl. (Megascops asio kennicottii.)

(Elliot.)
MacFarlane's Screech Owl. (Megascops asio macfar-

lanei.) Brewst.
Dusky Horned Owl. (Bubo virginianus saturatus.)

Ridgw.

Burrowing Owl. (Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea.) (Bonap.)
California Pygmy Owl. (Glaucidium gnoma californi-

cum.) (Scl.)

ORDER — COCCYGES. (Cuckoos and Kingfishers.}

FAMILY — CUCULID^E. (Cuckoos, Anis, etc.)
California Cuckoo. (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis.)
RidgWo

272 Birds of Oregon and Washington

FAMILY — ALCEDINID^E. (Kingfishers.)
Belted Kingfisher. (Ceryle alcyon.) (Linn.)

ORDER — PICI. ( Woodpeckers^

FAMILY — PICID.E. ( Woodpeckers.)

Harris's Woodpecker. (Dryobates villosus harrisii.)

(Aud.)
Gairdner's Woodpecker. (Dryobates pubescens gaird-

nerii.) (Aud.)

Red-breasted Sapsucker. (Sphyrapicus ruber.) (Gmel.)
Northern Pileated Woodpecker. (Ceophloeus pileatus

abieticola.) Bangs.
Californian Woodpecker. (Melanerpes formicivorus

bairdi.) Ridgw.

Lewis's Woodpecker. (Melanerpes torquatus.) (Wilson.)
Red-shafted Flicker. (Colaptes cafer collaris.) (Vig.)
Northwestern Flicker. (Colaptes cafer saturatior.)

(Ridgw.)

ORDER — MACROCHIRES. (Goatsuckers -, Swifts,

and Hummingbirds^)
FAMILY — CAPRIMULGID^E. (Goatsuckers)
Poorwill. (Phalasnoptilus nuttallii.) (Aud.)
Western Nighthawk. (Chordeiles virginianus henryi.)
(Cass.)

FAMILY — MICROPODID^E. {Swifts.)
Black Swift. (Cypseloides niger borealis.) (Kennedy.)
Vaux's Swift. (Chaetura vauxii.) (Towns.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 273
FAMILY — TROCHILID.E. (Hummingbirds)

Black-chinned Hummingbird. (Trochilus alexandri.)

Bourc and Muls.

Rufous Hummingbird. (Selasphorus rufus.) (Gmel.)
Allen's Hummingbird. (Selasphorus alleni.) Hensh.

Calliope Hummingbird. (Stellula calliope.) Gould.

ORDER — PASSERES. (Perching Birds.]

FAMILY — TYR ANNID.E. (Flycatchers.)

The Kingbird. (Tyrannus tyrannus.) (Linn.)
Arkansas, or Western Kingbird. (Tyrannus verticalis.)

Say.

Say's Phoebe. (Sayornis saya.) (Bonap.)
Western Black Phoebe. (Sayornis nigricans semiatra.)

(Vig.)

Olive-sided Flycatcher. (Contopus borealis.) (Swains.)
Western Wood Pewee. ( Contopus richardsonii.)

(Swains.)

Western Flycatcher. (Empidonax difficilis.) Baird.
Traill's Flycatcher. (Empidonax Traillii.) (Aud.)

FAMILY — ALAUDHXE. (Larks.)

Skylark. (Alauda arvensis.) Linn.

Streaked Horned Lark. (Otocoris alpestris strigata.)

Hensh.
Dusky Horned Lark. (Otocoris alpestris merrilli.)

Dwight.

274 Birds of Oregon and Washington

FAMILY — CORVID.E. (Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc.}
American Magpie. (Pica pica hudsonica.) (Sab.)
Steller's Jay. (Cyanocitta stelleri.) (Gmel.)
California Jay. (Aphelocoma californica.) (Vig.)
Gray Jay. (Perisoreus obscurus griseus.) Ridgw.
American Raven. (Corvus corax sinuatus.) (Wagl.)
American Crow. (Corvus Americanus.) Aud.
Northwest Crow. (Corvus caurinus.) Baird.
Clarke's Nutcracker. (Nucifraga Columbiana.) (Wils.)
Pinon Jay. (Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus.) (Wied.)

FAMILY — STURNID^E. (Starlings)
Starling. (Sturnus vulgaris.) Linn.

FAMILY — ICTERID.E. (Blackbirds, Orioles, etc)
Yellow-headed Blackbird. (Xanthocephalus xanthoceph-

alus.) (Bonap.)

Red-winged Blackbird. (Agelaius phceniceus.) (Linn.)
Bicolored Blackbird. ( Agelaius gubernator calif ornicus.)

Nelson.
Western Meadowlark. (Sturnella magna neglecta.)

(Aud.)

Bullock's Oriole. (Icterus bullocki.) (Swains.)
Brewer's Blackbird. (Scolecophagus cyanocephalus.)

(Wagl.)

FAMILY — FRINGILLID.E. (Sparrows, Finches, etc)
Western Evening Grosbeak. (Coccothraustes vesper-
tinus montanus.) (Ridgw.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 275

California Purple Finch. (Carpodacus purpureus cali-

fornicus.) Baird.

American Crossbill. (Loxia curvirostra minor,) (Brehm.)
Redpoll. (Acanthis linaria.) (Linn.)
Willow Goldfinch. (Astragalinus tristis salicamans.)

(Grinnell.)

Arkansas Goldfinch (Astragalinus psaltria.) (Say.)
Pine Siskin. (Spinus pinus.) (Wils.)
Snowflake. (Passerina nivalis.) (Linn.)
English, or European House Sparrow. (Passer domes-

ticus.) Linn.
Oregon Vesper Sparrow. (Pooecetes gramineus affinis.)

Miller.
Western Savanna Sparrow. (Ammodramus sandwich-

ensis alaudinus.) (Bonap.)
Western Lark Sparrow. (Chondestes grammacus striga-

tus.) (Swains.)
Gambel's Sparrow. (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii.)

(Nutt.)
Nuttall's Sparrow. (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli.)

Ridgw.

Golden-crowned Sparrow. (Zonotrichia coronata.) (Pall.)
Western Chipping Sparrow. (Spizella socialis arizonae.)

Coues.

Oregon Junco. (Junco hyemalis oregonus.) (Towns.)
Rusty Song Sparrow. (Melospiza melodia morphna.)

Oberh.
Townsend's Sparrow. (Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis.)

(Gmel.)

276 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Oregon Towhee. (Pipilo maculatus oregonus.) (Bell.)
Black-headed Grosbeak. (Zamelodia melanocephala.)

(Swains.)
Lazuli Bunting. (Cyanospiza amoena.) (Say.)

FAMILY — TAN AGRID.E. ( Tanagers.)
Louisiana Tanager. (Piranga ludoviciana.) (Wils.)

FAMILY — HIRUNDINID^E. (Swallows.)
Western Martin. (Progne subis hesperia.) Brewst.
Cliff, or Eave Swallow. (Petrochelidon lunifrons.) (Say.)
Barn Swallow. (Hirundo erythrogaster.) Bodd.
Tree Swallow. (Tachycineta bicolor.) (Vieill.)
Violet-green Swallow. (Tachycineta thalassin a.) (Swains.)
Bank Swallow. (Clivicola riparia.) (Linn.)
Rough-winged Swallow. (Stelgidopteryx serripennis.)
(Aud.)

FAMILY — AMPELID.E. ( Waxwings, etc.)
Cedar Waxwing, or Cedarbird. (Ampelis cedrorum.)
(Vieill.)

FAMILY — VIREONID.E. ( Vireos.)
Warbling Vireo. (Vireo gilvus.) (Vieill.)
Cassin's Vireo. (Vireo solitarius cassinii.) (Xantus.)

FAMILY — MNIOTILTID^E. ( Wood Warblers^
Lutescent Warbler. (Helminthophila celata lutescens.)

(Ridgw.)
Yellow Warbler. (Dendroica aestiva.) (Gmel.)

Birds of Oregon and Washington 277

Myrtle Warbler. (Dendroica coronata.) (Linn.)
Audubon's Warbler. (Dendroica auduboni.) (Towns.)
Black-throated Gray Warbler. (Dendroica nigrescens.)

(Towns.)

Macgillivray's Warbler. (Geothlypis tolmiei.) (Towns.)
Pacific Yellow-throat. (Geothlypis trichas arizela.)

Oberholzer.

Long- tailed Chat. (Icteria virens longicauda.) (Lawr.)
Pileolated Warbler. (Wilsonia pusilla pileolata.) (Pall.)

FAMILY — MOTACILLID^:. ( Wagtails.)
American Pipit. (Anthus pensilvanicus.) (Lath.)

FAMILY — CINCLID^E. (Dippers)
American Dipper. (Cinclus mexicanus.) Swains.

FAMILY — TROGLODYTID.E. (Wrens, Thrashers, etc)
Sage Thrasher. (Oroscoptes montanus.) (Towns.)
Rock Wren. (Salpinctes obsoletus.) (Say.)
Northwestern Vigors's Wren. (Thryomanes bewickii

calophonus.) Oberholzer.
Parkman's Wren. (Troglodytes aedon parkmanii.)

(Aud.)
Western Winter Wren. (Anorthura hiemalis pacifica.)

(Baird.)
Tute Wren. (Cistothorus palustris paludicola.) Baird.

FAMILY — GERTRUDE. (Creepers)
Sierra Creeper. (Certhia familiaris zelotes.) Osgood.

278 Birds of Oregon and Washington

FAMILY — PARID.E. (Nuthatches and Tits.)

Slender-billed Nuthatch. (Sitta carolinensis aculeata.)

(Cass.)

Red-breasted Nuthatch. (Sitta canadensis.) Linn.
Oregon Chickadee. (Parus atricapillus occidentalis.)

(Baird.)

Chesnut-backed Chickadee. (Parus rufescens.) Towns
Coast Wren-Tit. (Chamaea fasciata phaea.) Osgood.
Bush-Tit. (Psaltriparus minimus.) (Towns.)

FAMILY — SYLIVID.E. (Kinglets and Gnatcatchers .}

Western Golden-Crowned Kinglet. (Regulus satrapa

olivaceus.) Baird.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. (Regulus calendula.) (Linn.)

FAMILY TURDID^:. (Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc.]

Russet-backed Thrush. (Hylocichla ustulata.) (Nutt.)
Western Robin. (Merulamigratoriapropinqua.) Ridgw.
Varied Thrush. (Hesperocichla naevia.) (Gmel.)
Western Bluebird. (Sialia mexicana occidentalis.)

(Towns.)
Mountain Bluebird. (Sialia arctica.) Swains.

A COURSE OF STUDY UPON BIRDS FOR
SCHOOLS AND BIRD-STUDENTS.

INASMUCH as this book has been chosen by
the Text Book Commission of the State of Ore-
gon to be used for " Supplementary Reading "
in the Public Schools, the author feels himself
called upon to make some suggestions to Princi-
pals and Teachers as to why the subject of Birds
should be especially studied, also as to the way
in which he thinks the book can be used to the
greatest advantage.

Why should special attention be given to
birds above other objects in nature ?

The answer is, that nothing else in nature
has, at the same time, such attractive, joy-inspir-
ing and interesting qualities. Birds more than
flowers, because they are not only beautiful, but
they are beautiful in many ways and have be-
side so many uniquely engaging characteristics.
Their colors are often as exquisite or as gorgeous
as those of flowers, and in grace of form they
are also equal, while they have, in addition,
supreme grace of movement and the heavenly

280 Birds of Oregon and Washington

gift of song. All these attractions they possess,
but they have, too, active habits which invite the
attention of even the least curious; their nest-
building, their care of their young, their food
habits and their migration ; and more than all,
they respond to the sympathetic heart of a
human being.

As a source of happiness, nothing can equal
an interest in the birds, except an interest in
humanity itself. Especially should country
children be introduced to this avenue of true
joy, and through it to a love of Nature's infinite
variety. It will make the fields, orchards and
groves a section of veritable heaven to all those
who through the birds get into sympathetic
touch with Nature. If teachers and children do
not together see and hear and know the birds
about them, the life-long loss can be understood
only by those who have been led into this beatific
world of sympathy and living beauty.

Then, again, nothing in nature is more closely
related to the vast vegetable world, which, next
to the birds, furnishes us with the most happi-
ness,— the trees, and shrubs, and flowers. The
birds are their natural protectors from destruc-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 281

tive insects, as they are also the protectors of
the food-plants which we must raise upon our
land to feed the people.

Since the modern science of Pedagogy de-
mands that all Nature Study should be made
objective, this book assumes that any interest
aroused in the pupils, by reading its pages, will
at once be made vital and permanent, by going
from the book to the birds which the book has
described.

By means of the Size and Color Keys, the
birds referred to in the reading may be quite
easily found. Once the identification and obser-
vation of birds have begun, a natural interest
will lead pupils to include all the ground covered
by this little book and more.

The book is purposely made of a size conven-
ient for the pocket or the hand, for out-of-door
use.

The reason for the order in which the birds
are given is indicated at the beginning of Chapter
V, " How to Name the Birds." But here there
should be a pedagogical justification of what may

282 Birds of Oregon and Washington

seem to some a confused and disordered succes-
sion of species. Established pedagogical psy-
chology begins with interest in the individual,
and advances, through observations of many indi-
viduals, to the associations which gradually lead
to classification into families.

An objective interest must wait upon the
presence of the birds in the given locality, and
the presence of the birds will be determined
largely by the season. A " seasonal order " is,
therefore, for the most part, followed. But in a
few instances in the book, birds are presented in
families, because it is taken for granted that,
after a time, pupils will be going from the birds
they have seen to the book, rather than from the
book to the birds ; their convenience in the mat-
ter of reference will be served by grouping
"The Gulls," "The Wrens" and some other
families of birds, the members of which are al-
ready associated in the minds of the pupils.

The kind of interest assumed is clearly pointed
out in the first chapter in this book, " A word
to Beginners and Teachers." But it cannot be
repeated too often that a living, sympathetic
and aesthetic, and not a scientific, interest in bird-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 283

life is the end here sought. John Burroughs, one
of the greatest nature-lovers and prose-poets of
any age, said in substance to the author while
he was preparing this edition of this book : If
only you can lead them (the pupils and also the
readers of this book) to enjoy and sympathise
with the birds !

A word upon what may seem to some a defi-
ciency in the book, in that not more is said about
the habits of the several birds described. Not
only has consideration of the size of the book,
which must be kept small enough for field use,
prevented fuller statement, but the end of a true
and living bird-interest is served by leaving the
pupil to find out for himself what more can be
known about each variety of the birds about his
home. This is the method teachers employ in
all other studies. They would stimulate their
pupils to find their own way into any subject of
study, giving them only " a start."

The presence of more half-tone pictures of
the species of the birds noted, would not, to the
author's mind, be altogether an advantage. And
he is sure that colored plates would be a positive

284 Birds of Oregon and Washington

detriment both to the objective interest and to
the pleasure of the pupil. So much happiness
depends, as all bird-students will testify, upon
searching a little to identify the vocal and flitting
feathered beauties.

The author deprecates, as stated elsewhere in
Chapter I, the setting before the pupil in the
schoolroom some dead substitute for the thing
that he is to find alive outside.

A long trial (for years) of this method of
" specimens," in the public schools of Worcester,
Mass., is very instructive upon this point. So
harmful was it found to be that some time ago
the Superintendent of Schools in that city issued
directions prohibiting the further use of dead
birds in the study of this living subject. Instead,
pupils are taught to come at once into sympa-
thetic fellowship with the living birds themselves.
And how close that fellowship may be is shown
in a number of pictures in this book. The
author would have been pleased had all of the
illustrations been from living birds, for thus
the end sought through the book would have
been more fully realized.

Let the children, and men and women as well,

Birds of Oregon and Washington 285

learn the art of taming birds till they come at
call to the feet or even to the hand, as did the
Grosbeaks, the Cedarbird and "Bob."

The descriptions in Chapter V begin with
birds assumed to be in a given locality about
February ist, and the months are supposed to
move on in the book through the next January,
covering thus the whole year.

As may be seen, a teacher may begin at any
point in the year, using that part of the book
answering to the presence of certain kinds of
birds in any given place. As for example, one
may wish to begin the use of the book in De-
cember or January, and would, therefore, select
the part that deals with " Winter Birds," turning
back to the beginning of the chapter, " How to
Name the Birds," in order to describe the birds
to be found in February.

The author is indebted to Dr. Frank M.
McMurry of the Teachers' College, Columbia
University, New York City, for a careful read-
ing and hearty approval of the statement
above made, and also of the following course of
study.

286 Birds of Oregon and Washington

The course covers three years, but it is not
given with the expectation that all of the pupils
in our schools will follow it entirely through.

Pupils who have already passed into the
Seventh and Eighth Grades, without having
made the observations specified for the " First
Year," should, of course, begin here.

First Year — Sixth Grade.

The first year should be devoted to learning
to know by sight and song, as many as possible
of the common birds about the homes of the
pupils. Not all of those given in order in this
book or in the following list will be found in
every locality. But many of them will be seen
in nearly all places.

The easiest way to become familiar with the
songs and names of our feathered friends is to
observe a small number of birds at a time.

In order to make the most out of the year's
study, it will be helpful if we can observe a few
birds each month at the time when certain
species are most abundant near our homes.
Some are always with us, but will more naturally
invite our attention at one time than at another.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 287

Some species will be flitting before our eyes
and singing into our ears for several weeks,
and we may give our attention to them at any
time during the period of their active presence.
But, in order to systematize our work and thus
to keep from getting confused, it will be well to
give our attention each month in the year to a
certain number of varieties.

The first year, let the observation of the birds
begin in February. The following scheme by
months is given, but it should not be strictly
adhered to, if other species are more common in
a particular locality at a given time.

FEBRUARY.

Western Robin, Western Meadowlark, West-
ern Evening Grosbeak, Rusty Song Sparrow,
Red-shafted and Northwestern Flickers, Western
Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Brewer's Black-
bird, Western Winter Wren, Crows, some of the
Hawks and Owls.

MARCH.

The Oregon Towhee, or Chewink ("Catbird"),
some of the Woodpeckers, Audubon's Warbler,
Vigors's Wren, Skylark, Horned Larks, Rufous

288 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Hummingbird, the other Blackbirds. Crows,
and Hawks again, and some of the Jays.
APRIL.

California Purple Finch, Willow Goldfinch,
Arkansas Goldfinch, Nuttall's and Gambel's
White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Spar-
row, Pine Siskin, Parkman's House Wren, West-
ern Chipping Sparrow, Pacific Yellow-throat and
the other Sparrows, or as many as can be ob-
served.

MAY.

The Swallows, Western Purple Martin, Yel-
low and Lutescent Warblers, Macgillivray's
Warbler, Cedar-bird, or Wax-wing, Cassin's and
the Warbling Vireos, Bullock's Oriole, Black-
headed Grosbeak, and Russet-backed Thrush.

JUNE.

Lazuli Bunting, Louisiana Tanager, the Fly-
catchers, Long-tailed Chat, Sage Thrasher,
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Pileolated War-
bler, Tul6 Wren, Great Blue Heron, California
Cuckoo, Western Night-hawk, Poorwill.

Teachers may recommend for vacation obser-
vation the following :

Birds of Oregon and Washington 289

i JULY.

Water Ouzel, Kingfisher, Fish-Hawk and the
Woodpeckers and Jays not observed before.
The Swifts, Mourning Dove and Band-tailed
Pigeon.

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

Hawks and Owls not observed before, West-
ern Gull, Sandpipers, Northern Phalarope, Kill-
deer, Raven.

NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY.

Inland, in November as well as in December
and January, special attention should be given
to the Winter Birds that are with us only at that
time, or are then particularly in evidence and
nearer our homes.

Observation of some of these, the Kinglets,
will carry us into February again.

During these months, pupils who live near
the water will be interested in the Gulls which
are upon our bays, inlets, and harbors, and on
the piers of our seaports.

In February and March, and again later, let
the chapter upon " How to Domesticate and
Tame Birds " be read, and its directions applied.

2 go Birds of Oregon and Washington

Along with the use of this book and observa-
tions of the birds during the year, prose and
poetry should be read and some of the simpler
bird poems learned ; the following are suggested
as among selections suitable for the purpose :

POETRY.

Sir Robin, Lucy Larcom. Piccola and Sparrow,
Celia Thaxter. The Brown Thrush, Lucy Larcom.
A Child's Question, S. T. Coleridge. The Golden
Robin, Celia Thaxter. The Bird's Orchestra, Celia
Thaxter. Yellow Bird, Celia Thaxter.

PROSE.

Home Studies in Nature, Mrs. Treat. " Story of
Little Billee," from Birds and all Nature, Caroline
C. Bascom. Second Book of Birds, Olive Thome
Miller. Everyday Birds, Bradford Torrey. Citizen
Bird, Mabel O. Wright. Mr. Chupes and Miss
Jenny, Effie Bignell.

The poems or prose, read or learned, should
naturally relate to the birds already observed.
There should be as few unknown facts as possi-
ble implied in this literature.

Second Year — Seventh Grade.
In this year, pupils should learn, through
books, something about the general -facts of bird-

Birds of Oregon and Washington 291

life, doing this during the late autumn and in
the early winter, when bird-life invites less out-
of-door study. As the spring approaches, the
birds that in the first year's course were not
named, should be observed, and those already
identified should be given further notice.

The following course is recommended : In the
early autumn months, " Where have our birds
gone ? " " Where are they going ? " " Some-
thing about migration." "In what Southern
lands do certain species of our birds pass the
winter?" "What do they do there? ' "Do
they nest ? " " Why do they migrate ? " " Is it
the winter that occasions their going and coming,
or is it food, — or both ? "

Watch this year for the arrival of the birds,
observing about what time the different species
come to their summer homes.

In late January and in February, find further
what birds will nest about our homes, and pro-
vide the necessary conditions to have them make
their residence with us. Some birds need boxes
to build their nests in, while there are others
that will nest in our vines and shade-trees. See
again Chapter VII in this book.

292 Birds of Oregon and Washington

In March, April, May and June, let the sub-
ject be " Nesting/' Through observation, learn
where the different species nest ; on the ground,
in bushes, shrubs, trees, the kinds of trees, high
or low.

The shapes of nests, pendant, round, etc.
Material of nests of different kinds of birds :
mud, grasses, etc.

What material can we furnish to help the
birds in their nesting ?

During nesting-time, special attention should
be paid to the enemies of the smaller birds ; —
Cats, Crows and Jays.

In these months, also, notice the flights of
birds. Notice the different kinds of flights,
the direct, the undulating, the irregular ; the
grace of the Swallows and the Goldfinches;
the splendid movement of the Flickers ; the
wonder of floating in air, as in the Swallow,
etc.

In vacation, on the sea-shore, notice Water-
birds, — the Snipes, and Summer Gulls. Notice
also Land-birds which live near the sea-shore,
the Western Savanna Sparrow, the Northwest
Crow, etc. In the woods, especially in eastern

Birds of Oregon and Washington 293

Oregon, notice the Jays, " Clarke's Crow," or
" Nutcracker," etc.

Throughout the year, read poetry and prose
upon Birds and Nature, committing to memory
some of the poems. The following are sug-
gested :

POETRY.

The Emperor's Bird-nest, H. W. Longfellow.
Birds at Dawn, Harriet E. Paine. The Wren's
Nest, Dinah Mulock Craik. Christmas in Norway,
Celia Thaxter. What the Swallows Say, Theophile
Gautier. The Kingfisher, Celia Thaxter. The
Brown Thrasher, Mabel Osgood Wright.

PROSE.

Birds in the Bush: Chapters, " Bird-Songs,"
"Character in Feathers," "Minor Songsters," "A
Bird-Lover's April," " A Month's Music," Bradford
Torrey. Ways of Wood Folk: Chapters, "An Ori-
ole's Nest," "Crow-ways," " Snowy Visitors," "A
Christmas Carol," "A Fellow of Expedients," Wil-
liam y. Long.

Third Year — Eighth Grade.

During this year, a wider general knowledge
of bird-life should be obtained, and a more
particular and familiar acquaintance with local
species of birds should be made.

294 Birds of Oregon and Washington

In autumn and spring, study again and more
objectively, "Migration." In the same months,
observe Transient Birds, that is, birds that nest
north of us and that can be seen only as they
pass through our State in the spring and
autumn, — such as the Golden-Crowned Spar-
row, the Dwarf Hermit Thrush, et al.

In winter, Bird-food should be studied again,
with reference to the usefulness of birds. The
relation of birds to insect-life and to weeds ;
relation of the bills of the different species to
different kinds of food, — the Finches to seed,
etc.

Classification of birds in families, — e.g. Wood-
pecker Family, Thrush Family, etc.

Bird Structure, Coloration, and other such
topics may be taken up. In the Bird-months,
March, April, May and June, notice particularly
the songs of birds. The different quality in
different species ; the different songs in the
same species, — for instance, the very great
variety in the Western Meadowlark ; the differ-
ent quality of voice in individuals of the same
species. Write down, if you can, some of the
songs of birds.

Birds of Oregon and Washington 295

Mrs. Eckstorm's book, already referred to,
may be read for some of the general information.
Parts of "A First Book upon the Birds of Ore-
gon and Washington," for Bird-songs and for
some facts about the relation of Birds to insect-
life and to weeds.

See for the general subjects also, Frank M.
Chapman's "Bird-Life," Oliver Thorne Miller's
"A First Book of Birds," and others. For a
book of reference for birds of these States, not
described in this book, Mrs. Florence Merriam
Bailey's, " Hand-book of Western, Birds." For
teachers, an excellent book is Dr. C. F. Hodge's
" Nature Study." - — Ginn & Co., Boston. Read
and learn some of the finer poems. Those by
Wordsworth, Shelley and James Hogg, " To
the Skylark," and by W. C. Bryant, "To the
Waterfowl," are too reflective for the average
boy and girl. They may, however, be spoken of
as something to be read and learned later.

The following are within the experience of
children of this grade :

POETRY.

Walter von der Vogelweid, H. W. Longfellow.
The Great Blue Heron, Celia Thaxter. The Sing-

296 Birds of Oregon and Washington

Away Bird, Lucy Larcom. The Happy Birds, Celia
Thaxter. The Halo, W. C. Gannett. The Mary-
land Yellow-throat, Henry van Dyke. All Things
Return, R. W>. Emerson. The Sandpiper, Celia
Thaxter. The Kingfisher, Maurice Thompson. The
Kingfisher, Isaac McLellan. The Field Sparrow,
Lucy Larcom. Sandpipers, Duncan Campbell Scott.
A Band of Bluebirds (In Autumn), Wm. H. Hayne.
Birds in Spring, Margaret J. Preston. The Blue-
bird, John B. Tabb. The Song-Sparrow, Henry
van Dyke. The Bluebird, Eben Eugene Rexford.
The Fisherman's Hymn, Alexander Wilson. Birds,
Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The last eleven poems are from " Through the
year with Birds and Poets," compiled by Sarah
Williams.

PROSE.

Wake-Robin : Chapters, " The Return of the
Birds," " Bird's-Nests," " The Bluebird," " Spring at
the Capital," "The Invitation," "In the Hem-
locks," John Burroughs. Fresh Fields : Chapters,
" Impressions of some English Birds," " A Hunt for
the Nightingale," '* English and American Song-
Birds," /0/^z Burroughs. Signs and Seasons : Chap-
ters, "Hard Fare," " Winter Neighbors," " Bird-Ene-
mies," John Burroughs. Locusts and WTild Honey :
Chapters, "Birds and Birds," " Birds'-Nesting,"
John Burroughs. Birds and Poets : Chapters,
" Birds and Poets," " April," " A Bird Medley,"
John Burroughs. Land of the Lingering Snow:
Chapters, " Footprints in the Snow," " The First
Bluebird," " The Coming of the Birds," "A Forest

Birds of Oregon and Washington 297

Anthem," " The Secrets of the Meadow," " In
the Wren Orchard," Frank Bolles. Blomidon to
Smoky: Chapters, " Ways of the Owl," " Bird
Traits," " Individuality in Birds," " Birds at Yule-
tide," "Up the Chimney," Frank Bolles. "The
Footpath Way : Chapters, " A Widow and Twins,"
"The Male Ruby-throat," "Robin Roosts," "A
Great Blue Heron," " The Passing of the Birds,"
Bradford Torrey.

The Birds of Killingworth, by H. W. Long-
fellow is somewhat obscure in parts, but passages
may be selected from it that will be enjoyable
and profitable reading for pupils in the Eighth
Grade.

INDEX.

Page

Bittern, American 147

Blackbird, Bicolored 67

Blackbird, Brewer's 56

Blackbird, Red-winged 66

Blackbird, Yellow-headed 67

Black Merlin 189

Bluebird, Mountain 56

Bluebird, Western 54

Bunting, Lazuli 141

Bunting, Oregon Bay-winged . 94

Bunting, Snow 224

Bush-Tit 227

Cedarbird, or Cedar Waxwing 112

Chat, Long- tailed. . 119

Chewink, Oregon, or Towhee 60

Chickadees, The 225

Chickadee, Chestnut-backed 227

Chickadee, Oregon 226

Coast Wren-Tit 228

Creeper, Sierra 169

Crossbill, American 223

Crow, The 173

Crow, American 175

Crow, Clarke's, or Clarke's Nutcracker 179

Crow, Northwest 175

Cuckoo, California 150

Dove, Family 155

Dove, Mourning, or Turtle 155

Dipper, American, or Water Ouzel 172

Eagles, The 193

Eagle, Bald 193

Eagle, Golden 193

299

Index

.Page

Finch, California Purple 79

Flicker, Northwestern 54

Flicker, Red-shafted 52

Flycatchers, The 131

Flycatcher, Olive-sided 134

Flycatcher, Traill's , 135

Flycatcher, Western 136

Goldfinch, Arkansas 84

Goldfinch, Willow 83

Goldfinch, European (Imported) 241

Great Blue Heron 146

Grosbeak, Black-headed 127

Grosbeak, Western Evening 47

Gulls, The 208

Gull, Bonaparte's 215

Gull, California 214

Gull, Glaucus-winged 213

Gull, American Herring 213

Gull, Ring-billed 213

Gull, Short-billed 214

Gull, Western 211

Hawks and Owls 1 82

Hawk, Cooper's 185

Hawk, Desert Sparrow- 190

Hawk, Fish, or American Osprey 191

Hawk, Marsh 187

Hawk. Pigeon 189

Hawk, Sharp-shinned 184

Hawk, Swainson's 186

Hawk, Western Red-tailed 186

Hawk, American Rough-legged 187

Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-legged . . . 1 88

Heron, Great Blue , 146

Heron, Green 149

Hummingbird, Allen's 64

Hummingbird, Black-chinned 65

3oo

Index

Page

Hummingbird, Calliope 65

Hummingbird Rufous . 62

Jay, California 177

Jay, Gray 178

Jay, Pifion 1 80

Jay, Steller's 1 76

Junco, Oregon 217

Killdeer, The 201

Kingbird, The 139

Kingbird, Arkansas, or Western 137

Kingfisher, Belted 1 70

Kinglets, The 233

Kinglet, Western Golden-crowned 233

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 235

Kittiwake, Pacific 215

Lark, Sky 70

Lark, Dusky Horned 73

Lark, Streaked Horned 72

Lazuli Bunting 141

Magpie, American 181

Martin, Western no

Meadowlark, Western 40

Merlin, Black 189

Nighthawk, Western 151

Northern Phalarope 202

Nutcracker, Clarke's, or Clarke's Crow 179

Nuthatches, The 230

Nuthatch, Red-breasted 231

Nuthatch, Slender-billed 232

Oriole, Bullock's 122

Osprey, American, or Fish-Hawk 191

Ouzel, Water, or American Dipper 172

Owls, The 194

Owl, Burrowing 198

Owl, California Pygmy 200

Owl, Dusky Horned 198

Index

Owl, The Screech 195

Owl, Kennicott's Screech 197

Owl, Macfarlane's Screech 197

Owl, Short-eared, or Marsh 194

Pacific Kittiwake 215

Pewee, Western Wood 133

Phalarope, Northern 202

Phoebe, Western Black 141

Phoebe, Say's 140

Pigeon, Band-tailed 157

Pipit, American, or Titlark 221

Poorwill, The 153

Raven, American 175

Redpoll 223

Robin, Varied, or Varied Thrush 219

Robin, Western 38

Sage Thrasher 145

Say's Phoebe . . . . . 140

Sandpiper, Least 203

Sandpiper, Red-backed 206

Sandpiper, Western 205

Sapsucker, Red-breasted 168

Siskin, Pine 81

Skylark (Imported) 70

Snowflake 224

Sparrow, English, or European House. . 58

Sparrow, Gambel's White-crowned 74

Sparrow, Golden-crowned 78

Sparrow, Nuttall's White-crowned 74

Sparrow, Oregon Vesper 94

Sparrow. Rusty Song 50

Sparrow, Townsend's 220

Sparrow, Western Chipping 93

Sparrow, Western Lark 96

Sparrow, Western Savanna 95

Starling, European (Imported) 238

302

Index

Page

Swallows, The 97

Swallow, Bank 108

Swallow, Barn 106

Swallow, Cliff, or Eave 102

Swallow, Rough-winged 109

Swallow, Tree, or White-bellied 104.

Swallow, Violet-green 100

Swift, Black 160

Swift, Vaux's 158

Tanager, Louisiana, or Western 143

Tern, Arctic 209

Tern, Black 210

Thrasher, Sage 145

Thrush, Black (Imported) 241

Thrush, Russet-backed 129

Thrush, Song (Imported) 240

Thrush, Varied, or Varied Robin 219

Tit, Bush 227

Tit, Coast Wren 228

Titlark, or American Pipit 221

Towhee, Oregon, or Chewink 60

Vireos, The 1 24

Vireo, Anthony's 125

Vireo, Cassin's 1 26

Vireo, Hutton's 125

Vireo, Warbling 125

Warblers, The 114

Warbler, Audubon's 68

Warble*, Black-throated Gray 1 1 8

Warbler Lutescent 117

Warbler, Macgillivray's 1 18

Warbler, Myrtle 70

Warbler, Pileolated 121

Warbler, Yellow or Summer 115

Waxwing, Cedar, or Cedarbird 112

Winter Birds, The • 216

Index

Page

Woodpeckers, The 101

Woodpecker, Californian 167

Woodpecker, Gairdner's 163

Woodpecker, Harris's 162

Woodpecker, Lewis's 164

Woodpecker, Northern Pileated 166

Wren-Tit, Coast 228

Wrens, The 85

Wren, Parkman's 86

Wren, Rock 90

Wren, Tute 89

Wren, Northwestern Vigors's 87

V/ren, Western Winter 88

Yellow-throat, Pacific 90

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Date

Upper

parts

Under

parts

Size

Date

Upper

parts

Under

parts

Size

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION.

Locality Date

Haunt

Length (tip of bill to end of tail}

Size and shape of bill

Length and shape of tail

Forehead

Cro^vn

Cheeks

Nape

Back

Rump

Upper tail-coverts

Tail

Wings

Throat

Breast

Abdomen

Color -<

Voice

Movements, etc.
Remarks

LITERATURE UPON BIRDS OF OREGON
AND WASHINGTON.

IT will be of interest to some, perhaps to
many, to see a list of the publications — as far as
the author has found them — put forth by a
number of persons at various times, upon the
Birds of Oregon and Washington. It would be
of very great service if as many of these as
possible were gathered up and reprinted in some
inexpensive and convenient form. At present,
these papers are, for most persons, in inaccessi-
ble volumes.

These several papers contain reliable lists —
with some description^ of the habits — of birds
found in southwestern Oregon, numbering 191 ;
in northeastern Oregon, numbering 1 20 (eighty-
eight of these not in the previous list) ; three
lists of birds found in southwestern Washington ;
one list of 150 birds found in Chelan County,
central Washington ; and lists for three counties
in eastern Washington ; — making, for the two
States, about 330 Land and Water Birds named
in the several sections.

ii Birds of Oregon and Washington

The publications referred to are as foltows :

Reports made by Drs. Cooper and Suckley,
the naturalists with the expedition sent out by
the Government to make explorations and sur-
veys to ascertain the most practicable route for
a railroad to the Pacific coast. These reports
include catalogues and descriptions of birds, and,
in 1859, were published under the title of " Nat-
ural History of Washington Territory."

Notes on some of the Birds found in south-
eastern Oregon, particularly in the vicinity of
Camp Harney, from November, 1874, to Janu-
ary, 1877; 191 species and sub-species. Cap-
tain Charles Bendire. Published in the Pro-
ceedings of the Boston Society of Natural
History, in 1877. v°l- XIX.

Field Notes upon the Birds of Washington
County, Oregon. A. W. Anthony. "The
Auk," 1886. Vol. III.

List of Birds about Gray's Harbor, Washing-
ton. R. H. Lawrence. "The Auk," 1892.
Vol. IX.

Notes on some Birds of Gray's Harbor, Wash-
ington. T. S. Palmer. "The Auk," 1892.
Vol. IX.

Birds of Oregon and Washington iii

Preliminary list of Birds of Okanogan County
(now partly Chelan County), Washington. Wil-
liam Leon Dawson. " The Auk," 1897. Vol.
XIV. "The Auk," 1901. Vol. XVIII.

List of Birds at Diamond Lake, Stevens
County; Mt. Carleton, Spokane County; and
Pullman, Whitman County. J. O. Snyder.
"The Auk," 1900. Vol. XVII.

List of Birds about Cape Disappointment,
Washington. W. H. Kobbe. "The Auk,"
1900. Vol. XVII.

Many references to Oregon, Washington, and
British Columbia are to be found in Belding's
" Land and Water-birds of California," published
by the California Academy of Sciences, in two
volumes.

The most valuable book of all is Major Charles
Bendire's monumental work, " Life Histories of
North American Birds," printed by the Govern-
ment in 1895. This work contains his observa-
tions of Oregon birds at Camp Harney, from
1874 to 1877, and also at Fort Klamath, in
1883.

Lists of birds with other local ornithological
matter in the " Oregon Naturalist," of November

iv Birds of Oregon and Washington

and December, 1895, and January, 1896, — pub-
lished at that time in Portland, Oregon, — should
be reprinted. " The Condor," the journal of the
Cooper Ornithological Club of California, also
contains some Oregon and Washington material
answering the purpose. No doubt Mr. J. H.
Bowles of Tacoma, Washington, would permit
the publishing of a list of the birds of Puget
Sound and vicinity, which he wrote down for
private information. There is, undoubtedly,
other matter which might be brought to light,
should the publication suggested be seriously
contemplated.

NOV 2319B!

14 DAY USE

RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED

.

This book is due on the last date stamped below, or
on the date to which renewed.
Renewed books are subject to immediate recall.