WlLLCOX

<&••;

POCKET GUIDE

TO THE

COMMON LAND BIRDS

OF

NEW ENGLAND

BY

M. A. WILLCOX

PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY, WELLESLEY COLLEGE

LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS

IO MILK STREET
BOSTON

COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY LEE AND SHEPARD

All Rights Reserved

COMMON LAND BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND

PREFACE1

THIS little book is the outcome of a long experi-
ence in teaching college women to study our com-
mon birds. It lays claim to no originality in
statement, but is a mere compilation which has
drawn freely on all available sources. In general
it explains itself, but a few preliminary statements
may suitably find place here.

The book, as its name implies, is devoted to the
New England birds ; but as these little creatures
decline to rule themselves by our geographical
lines, nearly, if not quite, all of the forms men-
tioned will be found in the Middle States as well.
The list does not aim to be a complete one, even
for New England. In the interests of clearness
and simplicity it omits nearly all those rarer birds
which, as experience has shown, the beginner is not
likely to encounter ; and, moreover, it includes typi-
cal adults alone, omitting (save in the cases of the
robin and bluebird) mention of the immature plu-

iii

iv Preface

mage, and in all cases the mention of the transitional
plumage. With one or two exceptions the birds in-
cluded are to be found in Wellesley, most of them
in the college grounds. The times of arrival and
departure and of egg-laying are for the vicinity of
Boston ; but the notes on the time of song, especially
of fall song, have been drawn from Bicknell's A
Study of the Singing of Our Birds, and are for the
neighborhood of New York. The names em-
ployed are in general those authorized by the Amer-
ican Ornithological Union ; in some instances a
second popular name is given, but .this invariably
follows the A. O. U. popular name. In describing
the size of a bird, the " sparrow ' referred to is
always the English sparrow, although that fact has
been stated only when it seemed necessary to avoid
confusion.

The key has been constructed purely to aid the
student in learning the popular names. For this
reason repetition has been freely employed. The
red-winged blackbird, for example, which is black
with a patch of red and yellow on each shoulder,
will be found under the headings "black," "red,"
and " yellow ; ' the tree swallow, whose back is of
a bluish green, will be found under if green ' and
under "blue," and so on. So also birds in which
the spots on the breast are very obscure have been

Preface v

included both in the group of " birds with spotted
breasts," and in that of " birds with unspotted
breasts."

The student may occasionally be puzzled by
finding, after one description of a bird in the key,
the words u either sex," and after another descrip-
tion of the same bird the word ;% female." In some
cases, as, for example, the pine warbler, the females
vary widely, sometimes quite closely resembling
the male, sometimes being decidedly unlike them.
Hence two descriptions of a female are necessary.

This little book will have failed of its purpose if
It does not stimulate a desire for larger and better
bird biographies. Occasional articles have been
mentioned in the body of the text. I add here an
annotated list of ornithologies which treat of New
England birds.

1. AUDUBON. Birds of North America. This is
one of the three great ornithologies of the early
part of the century, and is by far the greatest.
It is a large and expensive book, and is now rare.
It is devoted mainly to accounts of habits, and is
illustrated by colored plates, which, in the folio
edition, are exquisitely true both in form and color-
ing. The arrangement, and in a few cases the
names of the birds, are unlike those now adopted.

vi Preface

2. BAIRD, BREWER, AND RIDGEWAY. History
of North American Birds. This is a large work in
three royal octavo volumes, and is fully illustrated.
It is probably the most complete and reliable orni-
thology which we have. Published by Little, Brown,
£ Co., Boston.

3. CHENEY. IVood Notes Wild. A book which
aims to reduce to musical notation the songs of

o

some of our common birds, the violin, it is said,
having been the instrument employed. This work,
although not altogether satisfactory, is the only
sustained attempt of the sort which has been made,
and deserves attention as opening up a new line of
study. Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston.

4. COUES. Birds of the Colorado Valley. The
interest of this book is chiefly its charmingly
written bird biographies. It does not confine
itself to the Colorado Valley birds, but describes
more or less fully all or almost all the birds of the
United States. The accounts are of very unequal
length, the less familiar birds being naturally de-
scribed more fully. It contains a valuable bibli-
ography, which is brought down to the date of
publication, 1878. Published by the Government,
U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey of the Territories,
Miscellaneous Publications, Number n.

Preface vii

5. COUES. Key to North American Birds. This
excellent work is concerned mainly with classifica-
tion, although it gives occasional bits of valu-
able information regarding habits. In general it
would be of value only to the student who has the
bird in his hand. Published by Estes & Lauriat,
Boston.

6. FLAGG. A Year with the Birds. A most
charming book, which chats in a fascinating way
about many of our common birds. It is, however,
rather a book to stimulate enthusiasm than one to
impart systematic knowledge. Published by Edu-
cational Publishing Company, Boston.

7. Mi NOT. Land and Game Birds of New Eng-
land. This book is, in many ways, the one most to
be recommended to beginners. It is simple, clear,
arranged with the utmost system, and is smaller
and cheaper than any other equally satisfactory
one. It has been for some time out of print, but a
new edition is announced by Houghton & Mifflin,
Boston.

8. NEHRLING. North American Birds. This
work is devoted mainly, though not exclusively, to
the description of bird life and habits, and is
written in a popular and fascinating style. It is

viii Preface

illustrated by a large number of colored plates,
some of which are gems in the eyes both of the
ornithologist and of the art lover. The work is as
yet incomplete, being in process of publication by
Geo. Brumder & Co., Milwaukee.

9. NUTTALL AND CHAMBERLAIN. Ornithology.

One of the three great ornithologies of the early
part of the century. Like Audubon and Wilson,
Nuttall deals more with the natural history than
with the structure of birds ; but, unlike them, he has
enjoyed the benefit of a modern editor, by whom
errors have been corrected and additions made, so
that this work is now among the very best to be
recommended to beginners. Published by Little,
Brown, & Co., Boston.

10. RIDGEWAY. A Manual of North American
Birds. This excellent work is purely systematic,
and would be valuable only to a student who had

the specimen in hand. Published by J. B. Lippin-
cott Co., Philadelphia.

11. STEARNS AND COUES. New- England Bird
Life. A most excellent manual, clear, interesting,
accurate, and not too difficult for the beginner.

It ranks with Minot and Nuttall. Published by
Lee & Shepard, Boston.

Preface ix

12. WILSON AND BONAPARTE. American Orni-
tJioIogv. One of the three great ornithologies of
the early part of the century. Like Audubon's
Birds, it retains some now abandonee! names and
arrangements ; but, like that, it is one of the great
store-houses from which all later writers must
draw. It has recently been reissued in a single
large volume by Porter & Coates, Philadelphia.

CONTENTS

PAGE

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY i

ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE COMMON SPECIES OF NEW

ENGLAND BIRDS 9

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF COMMON BIRDS -

TURDID.« (Thrushes) 39

SYLVIID^E (Kinglets) 48

PARID^ (Chickadee, Nuthatches) 51

CERTHIID/E (Brown Creeper) 55

TROGLODYTID^E (Wrens, Thrasher, Catbird) .... 57

MNIOTILTID.-E (Wood-warblers) 65

VIREONID.-E (Vireos, or Greenlets) 83

LANIID.-E (Shrike) 88

AMPELID/E (Cedar Waxwing) 89

HIRUNDINIIX*: (Swallows) 90

TANAGRID^ (Scarlet Tanager) 95

FRINGILLID/E (Sparrows and Finches) 96

XI

31231

xii Contents

PAGE

ICTERID/E (Blackbirds) 122

CORVID/E (Crow and Jay) 131

TYRANNIDAE (Flycatchers) 134

TROCHILID/E (Hummingbird) 141

MICROPODID^E (Chimney Swift) 143

PICID/E (Woodpeckers) 145

ALCEDINID^E (Kingfishers) 149

CULICID^E (Cuckoos) 15°

LIMICOL^E (Sandpipers) 152

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY

THE many delightful bird books which have
appeared in such striking numbers during the past
ten years, owe no small part of their charm to
the fact that they take for granted in their readers,
at least a bowing acquaintance with the little
creatures whose habits and characters they de-
scribe. Emancipated thus from bondage to the
details of size, color, form, and structure, such
books are really able, if one may use the old-
fashioned idiom, to " make one acquainted " with
the birds. This little book assumes a humbler
office, -- that of mere introduction. It addresses
itself to the would-be student, ignorant of the
names of even the commonest birds, but persever-
ing enough to learn the size, color, and markings of
any bird he desires to name, providing him with a
simple key, through which, by the use of these
characteristics, any common bird may identified.
To this it adds such suggestions about song,
habits, and haunts as will prove of use in the field,

i

2 Suggestions for Study

and also references to books and papers which
may be helpful and inspiring in home study.

As the book is addressed to the amateur who
means to be a real, albeit not a professional,
student, a few hints regarding methods of observa-
tion may not be out of place. The first requisite
for this charming pastime is a good opera glass.
If possible, this should be mounted in aluminum,
as the lightness thus obtained is of very great ad-
vantage in prolonged study. Moreover, it should be
covered with leather, or some other non-reflecting
material ; for the twinkle of the sunlight on a metal-
lic surface is sure to attract the bird's attention
and cause alarm. For the same reason it is desir-
able to have the lenses protected from the sunlight
by shades.

Before going into the field to identify, a certain
degree of familiarity with the key is most desirable ;
for in this work it is pre-eminently the first step
that costs. Let us select, then, for our first
attempt, a bird so common and so tame that he
can be examined over and over again until all the
required points shall have been discovered. For
such a preliminary trial we can make no better
choice than the English sparrow, fitted as he is
for the subject of a practice lesson by his especial
abundance and tameness during the winter months.

Suggestions for Study 3

If we can get access to even a very small museum
collection of our native birds, or a set of fairly
good colored pictures of them, preliminary identifi-
cation of some of these will greatly simplify matters.

Suppose we have had some such preliminary
practice, and, equipped with our glasses, we now
start out for our first genuine bird hunt- We are
dressed in dull browns or greens which attract
little attention, and wear soft felt hats which can
be pulled forward or pushed back as occasion may
demand, and into which we can fasten leaves, thus
transforming ourselves into a species of tree, and
disarming the suspicions of our new acquaintances.
We shall not need gloves ; on a day when bare
hands are in the least uncomfortable we should not
find birds enough to make a first attempt desirable.

We have chosen a sunny morning of late April ;
we shall not now encounter that bewildering num-
ber and variety of bird life which will greet us
a month hence, or be perplexed by immature or
transitional plumage, and, best of all, the leaves,
"no larger than a chipmunk's ear," cannot to-day
afford that friendly shelter which will baffle us
so often a few weeks hence. It is about half-past
seven ; a couple of hours earlier would have been
better, but at this season the morning " office hours ';
run on well into the forenoon. And we can come

4 Suggestions for Stud)1

out again a little before sundown for a second
attempt.' Our point of observation would, of
course, vary with our precise object ; to-day, as
affording the possibility of a large variety, let us
select that strip of meadow-land which skirts the
lake. It is dotted with occasional trees, and
fringed with a row of alders and willows. Such a
place attracts numberless insects, and therefore
the birds which feed upon them. We must work
around to the east, that we may have the sun at
our backs ; the light striking on our glasses would
blind our eyes, and the reflection would alarm our
friends. Be careful to walk quietly ; our skirts
must not rustle over the dead leaves, and we must
pick out soundless stepping-places. A bird's ears
are quick by nature and by training. But most of
all we must beware of showing any interest in the
tree-tops ; no old moralist could be more convinced
than are the birds that -

f

" Satan finds sonic mischief still
For idle hands to do."

We may look at them, if we will, out of the corner
of an eye ; but we must contrive to impress them
with the idea that we are absorbed in serious
personal business, which leaves no room for atten-
tion to the affairs of our neighbors.

Suggestions for Study 5

Now that we are in a good place, look around for
a bit of cover, a stone wall, or a tree. Established
behind this, we wait until the little excitement of
our transit has subsided, and our small friends are
again entirely absorbed in their own affairs. Now,
if a bird is in sight, we are ready to observe him ;
if not, we watch quietly. A bending twig or a
moving leaf will presently catch our eye, and prove
to be the raising of the curtain. We choose a bird,
if possible, near the ground ; at all events, one
which has some other background than the sky,
for any object would look black against that high
light ; and we select one as large and conspicuously
colored as we can see. For the present we must
beware of the sparrows, which are peculiarly diffi-
cult to distinguish, and which should ordinarily be
undertaken only after some practice. Now we
raise the glasses, avoiding such quick or jerky
motions as would be likely to call back to our-
selves the attention which has been turned away
from us, and our study really begins.

Our bird being well in view, we try to answer as
many as possible of these questions : Size — larger
or smaller than a sparrow- -than a robin ? Color?
Any conspicuous bright colors? If so, where?
Are there markings on the breast ? If there are
no bright colors, are the upper parts uniform in

6 Suggestions for Study

tint, or are they mottled ? Color of under parts ?
Wings ? Tail ? Are there white wing-bars ? If so,
are there one or two ? Are there white markings
on the tail ? What are the shape and color of the
beak ? Have either wings or tail a peculiar shape ?

These points, numerous though they seem at
first, will soon be noted almost unconsciously, and
by means of . them one can learn from the key the
name of the bird, and then can get hints for further
study from the brief notes in Part II.

That we may be quite sure how to use the key,
let us trace out together a single specimen. Notice
yonder fine fellow, nearly as large as a robin, en-
tirely black save for a red yellow-edged patch on
either shoulder like an epaulet. We turn to our
key to discover his name. What colors are con-
spicuous ? Obviously both red and black, and we
shall find that it makes no difference which of the
two we select. Let us choose red. We are directed
to go to i. Here we are met by two alternatives :
is the body largely red. or is the red present only
in small patches? We choose the second, and are
directed to 5. Here we are met by five alternatives,
and choose the fourth : red patch on the shoulder.
This choice gives us the name of our bird, and re-
fers us to the fuller description to be found in the
second part. Had we selected black instead of red,

Suggestions for Study 7

our task would have been a little longer, but the
result would have been the same.

Our suggestions are only for the first step in this
study; when that has once been taken, each student
will best beat out his own path for himself. One
additional caution may be given about tracing birds
by their song. So long as a bird continues to sing
he is unalarmed, and you may safely approach him.
The first sign of disquiet is his silence ; remain
motionless, and, reassured, he will presently begin
again, when you may creep a little nearer. A
devious course excites his suspicions less than
a direct one ; and any bit of cover, as need hardly
be said, is of the greatest service.

ARTIFICIAL KEY

To THE COMMONER SPECIES OF NEW ENGLAND BIRDS

ANY one of the following colors conspicuous, either
as markings, or (save in the case of white), as forming a
large part of-the body color:

Red. Go to 1 (below).

Blue. Go to 15 (p. 12).

Green. Go to 2Q (p. 14).

Yellow or Orange. Go to 29 (p. 15).

Black and White Mottling. Go to 51 (p. 19).

Black (except black and white mottling). Go to 61

(p. 21).

Brown, Slate, Gray, or Olivaceous, either uniform
or mottled, but not associated with yellow. Go to 84
(P. 25).

"White, conspicuous as markings, or entering largely into
the color of the upper parts. Go to 157 (p. 37).

I. RED

CONSPICUOUS EITHER AS MARKINGS, OR AS FORMING A LARGE
PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

1. Body, as distinct from wings and tail, wholly or largely

red. Go to 2.
Red present in comparatively small patches. Go to 5.

9

io Land Birds of New England

2. Entire body of a bright scarlet; wings and tail black.

Scarlet Tanager, Male in Summer Plumage.

(P- 95-)
Entire body of a dull rose- or brick-red, largely mixed

with brown. Go to 3.
Under parts, rump, and part of tail flame-color, almost all

the rest of the bird black. Baltimore Oriole, Male.

(p. 124.)

NOTE. — The color is really orange, but sometimes looks
flame-color as the bird flies.

3. Wing with white bar. "White -winged Crossbill,

Male. (p. 118.)
Wing without white bar. Go to 4.

4. Bird stout; color brick-red; bill crossed, i.e., upper mandi-

ble shutting against the lower like a pair of scissors, and
projecting beyond it. Bird usually found in winter and
among cone-bearing trees. American Crossbill,
Male. (p. 119.)

Bird not especially stout; color a rose-red; bill of the ordi-
nary pattern. Bird ordinarily not with us in winter.
Purple Finch, Male. (p. 120.)

5. Red patch on back of head. Go to 6.

Red patch on top of head; bird olivaceous above, lighter
below. Very small. Go to 9.

Red patch on forehead. Redpoll, Either Sex. Go to 10.

Red patch on shoulder; patch bordered behind with yel-
low; rest of body black. Red-winged Blackbird,
Male. (p. 127.)

Artificial Key II

Red patch on breast or throat, either in the middle or at
the sides. Go to 11.

6. Upper parts mottled black and white; no white spot on

rump. Go to 8.

Upper parts mottled brown and black ; conspicuous white
spot on rump. Flicker, Either Sex. Go to 7.

7. Black patch under each eye, extending backward from

beak. Flicker, Male. (p. 145.)

No such black patches. Flicker, Female, (p. 145.)

0. Bird not so large as a sparrow. Downy "Woodpecker,

Male. (p. 146.)

Bird nearly as large as a robin. Hairy "Woodpecker,
Male. (p. 147.)

9. Red patch bordered by yellow and this by black. Golden-

crowned Kinglet, Male, (p. 49. )

Red patch not bordered by yellow and black. Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, Male. (p. 48.)

10. Breast rosy as well as forehead; rest of bird mottled;

rump tinged with rose, which is more or less marked,
according to age and season. Rather smaller than a

o o

sparrow. Redpoll, Male. (p. 117.)
No rose, except on forehead and sometimes on rump, and
this often inconspicuous: bird in other respects like the
male (see above). Redpoll, Female, (p. 117.)

11. Bird considerably larger than a sparrow; breast with a rose

spot about as large as a 'half-dollar ; under parts white.
A sweet singer. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Male.
(p. 99.)

Bird smaller than a sparrow; no rose spot on breast. Go
• to 12.

12 Land Birds of New England

12. Upper parts largely black. Go to 13.
Upper parts not black. Go to 14.

13. Throat and breast black. American Redstart, Male.

(p. 65.)

Throat and breast flame-color. Blackbtirniaii War-
bler, Male. (p. 74.)

14. Throat metallic red; upper parts green; under parts gray-

ish. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Male. (p.
141.)

Throat, breast, forehead, and rump more or less rosy; rest
of bird mottled brownish. Redpoll, Male. (p. 117.)

II. BLUE

CONSPICUOUS EITHER AS MARKINGS, OR AS FORMING A LARGE
PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

15. Body of nearly uniform color above and below. Go to 16.
Body of different colors above and below; blue restricted

to upper parts. Go to 19.

16. Body bronze-black with purple reflections. Go to 17.
Body a bright greenish blue; wings and tail brown. Iii-

digo Bunting, Male. (p. 97.)

17. Bird distinctly smaller than a robin; swallow-like; wings

very long. Purple Martin, Male. (p. 93.)
Bird about the size of a robin, or larger; nut swallow-like;
wings moderate. Purple Grackle, Either Sex. Go
to 18.

18. Head and breast a rich metallic blue or purple. Purple

Grackle, Male. (p. 122.)

Artificial Key 13

Head and breast showing very slight greenish reflections.
Purple Grackle, Female, (p. 122.)

19. Under parts white or grayish. Go to 20.
Under parts chestnut. Go to 25.

Throat and upper part of breast yellow, crossed by a
patch of brown; upper parts gray-blue; yellow patch
between shoulders. Parula Warbler, Either Sex.

(P- 79-)

20. Birds considerably larger than a robin; crest conspicuous.

Go to 21.
Birds not larger than a robin; no crest. Go to 23.

21. Upper parts of uniform gray-blue with white collar; under-

parts in the main white, but with a gray-blue band
across the breast. Belted Kingfisher, Either Sex.
Go to 22.

Back grayish blue; wings and tail bright blue, conspicu-
ously marked with black and white; under parts gray;
upper part of breast crossed by a black crescent. Blue
Jay, Either Sex. (p. 132.)

22. Under parts white, except for gray-blue breast band; sides

under the wings dull blue. Belted Kingfisher,
Male. (p. 149.)

Chestnut band across belly, in addition to breast band;
sides under wings chestnut. Belted Kingfisher,
Female, (p. 149.)

23. Wings very long; bird swallow-like. Go to 24.

Wings moderate; tail very short; under parts white; bird
addicted to running up and down trunks of trees.
White-breasted Nuthatch, Either Sex. (p. 54.)

14 Land Birds of Nezv Ejiglaud

Wings and tail moderate; under parts mottled gray; upper
parts grayish, showing more or less blue, especially on
wings and tail. Bluebird, Young of Either Sex.
(P-39-)

24. Upper parts metallic blue-green; under parts pure white.

Tree Swallow, Either Sex. (p. 91.)
Upper parts grayish brown, glossed on back and head
with steel blue; under parts dark mottled gray. Pur-
ple Martin, Female, (p. 93.)

25. Upper parts steel-blue; wings very long; tail deeply

notched; throat deep chestnut; remaining under parts
lighter chestnut. Barn Swallow, Either Sex.
(p. 92.)

Upper parts grayish blue; tail very short; wings moderate;
throat gray; remaining under parts yellowish chestnut.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Either Sex. (p. 53.)

Upper parts rather light blue; neither wings nor tail pecu-
liar; under parts of uniform reddish chestnut. Blue-
bird, Either Sex. (p. 39.)

III. GREEN

CONSPICUOUS EITHER AS MARKINGS, OR AS FORMING A LARGE
PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

26. Bird at least two-thirds as large as a sparrow. Go to 27.
Bird less than half as large as a sparrow. Go to 28.
Bird larger than a sparrow; upper parts yellowish green;

under parts greenish yellow. Scarlet Tanager, Fe-
male and Male in Fall Plumage. (p. 95.)

27. Under and upper parts both of a bluish green; wings and

tail brown. Indigo Bunting, Male. (p. 97.)

Artificial Key 15

Under parts pure white; wings very long. Tree Swal-
low, (p. 91.)

28. Throat ruby-colored. Ruby-throated Humming-

bird, Male. (p. 141.)

Throat white. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Fe-
male, (p. 141.)

IV. YELLOW OR ORANGE

CONSPICUOUS EITHER AS MARKINGS, OR AS FORMING A LARGE
PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

29. Rather large birds; distinctly larger than an English

sparrow. Go to 30.

Rather small birds; distinctly smaller than an English
sparrow. Go to 34.

Bird about the size of an English sparrow ; small yellow
spot in front of each eye. "White-throated Spar-
row, (p. in.)

30. Upper parts largely black. Go to 31.

Upper parts streaked with black, brown, and flaxen, some-
what like a sparrow's. Go to 32.

Upper parts olivaceous or brown, not distinctly streaked.
Go to 33.

31. Under parts black; yellow present only as the hind bor-

der of a red shoulder patch. Red-winged Black-
bird, Male. (p. 127.)

XOTE. — The red feathers are sometimes displaced so that
the shoulder patch looks entirely yellow.

Under parts mainly orange. Baltimore Oriole, Male,
(p. 124.)

1 6 Land Birds of New England

32. Bird rather larger than a robin; breast clear yellow with

black crescent. Meadow Lark, Either Sex. (p. 125.)
Bird considerably smaller than a robin; breast dull yellowish
brown without marks. Bobolink, Female, and Male
in Fall Plumage, (p. 129.)

33. Under parts yellow or orange; wings with much white.

Baltimore Oriole, Female, (p. 124.^)
Under parts greenish yellow; wings and tail brown with-
out white markings. Scarlet Tanager, Female and
Male in Fall Plumage, (p. 95.)
Throat slate, shading into lemon yellow on belly. Crested

Flycatcher, Either Sex. (p. 138.)

Under parts brown, shading into yellow on belly; tail
tipped with yellow. Cedar Waxwing, Either Sex.
(p. 89.)

34. Entire body, exclusive of wings and tail, yellow, either

clear or of a somewhat greenish tinge. Go to 35.
Yellow forming a large portion of the under parts. Go

to 36.
Yellow present only in patches. Go to 46,

35. Wings and tail black with white markings; yellow of

body clear and brilliant. Goldfinch, Male in Summer
Plumage, (p. 115.)

Upper parts, wings, and tail of a somewhat greenish yellow
passing into dusky, and without white markings; breast
with faint reddish brown markings. Summer War-
bler, Either Sex. (p. 78.)

Upper parts greenish yellow; wings and tail brown; wing
with two white bars; under parts clear yellow. Pine
"Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 73.)

Artificial Key 17

36. Throat and breast yellow, color clear or slightly clouded.

Go to 37.

Throat and breast yellow, but marked with brown or
black. Go to 43.

37. Tail with white spots. Go to 38.
Tail without white spots. Go to 40.

38. Upper parts black, conspicuously marked with white.

Blackburnian Warbler, Male. (p. 74.)
Upper parts black-brown, conspicuously marked with

white. Blackburnian Warbler, Female, (p. 74.)
Upper parts olivaceous. Go to 39.

39. Nearly as large as a sparrow. Pine Warbler, Either

Sex. (p. 73.)

Only about two-thirds as large as a sparrow. Parula
Warbler, Female, (p. 79.)

40. Cheeks and forehead black. Maryland Yellow-

throat, Male. (p. 66.)

Cheeks and forehead colored like the rest of the head.
Go to 41.

41. Wing with two white bars. Yellow-throated Vireo,

Either Sex. (p. 84.)
Wing without white bars. Go to 42.

42. Head ashy; remaining upper parts olivaceous. Nash-

ville Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 80.)
Head olivaceous, of much the same color as back. Mary-
land Yellow-throat, Female, (p. 66.)

43. Breast bright yellow with black markings. Go to 44.
Breast bright yellow crossed by a broad brown band.

Parula Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 79.)

1 8 Land Birds of New England

Breast sulphur - yellow with dark brown markings.

Water-thrush, Either Sex. (p. 67.)
Breast yellow marked with ill-defined brown streakings.

Yellow Redpoll, Either Sex. (p. 72.)

44. Markings restricted to sides. Go to 45.

Markings extending all the way across the breast. Mag-
nolia Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 76.)

45. Wings and tail with much white; black markings incon-

spicuous. Blackburniaii Warbler. Go to 38.
Wings without white. Prairie Warbler, Either Sex.

(p. 70.)

46. Upper parts, breast and throat black; wings, tail, and

sides of breast marked with salmon. American Red-
start, Male. (p. 65.)

Throat and forebreast black; cheeks yellow; upper parts
olivaceous. Black-throated Green Warbler,
Either Sex. (p. 71.)

Black not conspicuous. Go to 47.

47. Crown yellow, but no other yellow spots. Go to 48.
Yellow spots elsewhere than on crown; sometimes crown

yellow as well. Go to 50.

48. Chestnut patch in front of each wing; upper parts mot-

tled; much white .on wings and tail. Chestnut-
sided Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 75.)
No chestnut patches; upper parts olivaceous, not mottled;
two light wingbars ; no white on tail. Very small.
Go to 49.

Artificial Key 19

49. Crown yellow with orange centre. Golden-crowned

Kinglet, Male. (p. 49.)

Crown yellow without orange centre. Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Female, (p. 49.)

50. Yellow patches in front of wings; yellow wingbar; tail

with a pair of large yellow patches. American Red-
start, Female, (p. 65.)

Yellow rump; usually also a yellow crown and a yellow
spot in front of wing. All the spots, except that on the
rump, may, however, be indistinct. Myrtle War-
bler, Either Sex. (p. 77.)

V. BLACK AND WHITE MOTTLING

FORMING A LARGE PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

51. Medium sized or large birds — even the smallest nearly

as large as an English sparrow. Go to 52.
Small birds — considerably smaller than a sparrow. Go
to 59.

52. Under parts largely or wholly white. Go to 53.
Under parts not white. Go to 58.

53. Beak dark, very long, and strong; birds usually seen cling-

ing against the trunk of a tree. Woodpeckers.
Go to 54.

Beak light, not especially long"; birds have the ordinary
perching habit. Go to 57.

54. Bird nearly as large as a robin. Hairy Woodpecker.

Go to 55.

2O Land Birds of New England

Bird about the size of a sparrow. Downy Wood-
pecker. Go to 56.

55. Back of head with red patch. Hairy Woodpecker,

Male. (p. 147.)

Back of head without red patch. Hairy Woodpecker,
Female, (p. 147.)

56. Back of head with red patch. Downy Woodpecker,

Male. (p. 146.)

Back of head without red patch. Downy Wood-
pecker, Female, (p. 146.)

57. Upper parts mainly dark, somewhat mottled with white

and flaxen (which as the bird flies often looks white);
breast with a rosy spot. Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Male. (p. 99.)

Upper parts largely white intermixed with light brown;
back black mottled with white and flaxen; under parts
white. Snowflake, Male. (p. 114.)

58. Under parts black. Bobolink, Male. (p. 129.)
Under parts white, heavily streaked with blackish brown.

Red-winged Blackbird, Female, (p. 127.)

59. Both upper and under parts mottled. Black and

White Warbler, Male. (p. Si.)
Upper parts mottled; under parts not. Go to 60.
Under parts mottled; upper parts not. Myrtle War-
bler, Either Sex. (p. 77.)

60. Crown yellow; under parts white with chestnut sides.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 75..)

Crown striped black and white; under parts white.

Black and White Warbler, Female. (p. Si.)

Artificial Key 21

VI. BLACK

CONSPICUOUS EITHER AS MARKINGS, OR AS FORMING A LARGE
PART OF THE BODY COLOR.

N. B. — Black and white mottlings are not included in this
group ; but several birds are included, which, though not really
black, are so dark as to often appear black.

61. Black forming a large part of the body color. Go to 62.
Black wings and tail. Go to 77.

Black present as conspicuous markings. Go to 78.

62. Entire body, or nearly the entire body, black. Go to 63.
Under parts black; upper parts black, buff, gray, and

white. Bobolink, Male. (p. 129.)

Upper parts, breast, and throat black with salmon mark-
ings. American Redstart, Male. (p. 65.)

Black restricted largely or wholly to upper parts. Go
to 70.

63. Bird swallow-like. Go to 64.
Bird not swallow-like. Go to 66.

64. Tail very short, so that the bird almost appears to have

none; color really a dark brown. Chimney Swift,
Either Sex. (p. 143.)

Tail of ordinary length. Purple Martin, Either Sex.
Go to 65.

65. Color an intense purple-black. Purple Martin, Male.

(P- 93-)
Color a sooty brown, lighter below. Purple Martin,

Female, (p. 93.)

22 Land Birds of New England

66. Bird not much, if any, larger than a robin. Go to 67.
Bird at lease twice as large as a robin. American

Crow, Either Sex. (p. 131.)

67. Bird with a red or yellow patch on the shoulder. Red-

winged Blackbird, Male. (p. 127.)

NOTE. — The patch consists of both red and yellow feath-
ers ; but the red ones are sometimes disarranged, GO that th«s
yellow ones only show.

Bird without such a patch. Go to 68.

68. Bird distinctly smaller than a robin; head brown. Cov/-

bird, Male. (p. 128.)
Bird distinctly larger than a robin; head and breast of a

deep purple. Purple Grackle, Male. (p. 122. )
Bird about the size of a robin. Go to 69.

69. Black quite rusty. Rusty Blackbird, Either Sex.

(p. 123.)
Black not rusty. Purple Grackle, Female. (p. 122.)

70. Under parts largely or wholly white. Go to 71.

Under parts chestnut, darker on throat; bird swallow-like.
Barn Swallow, Either Sex. (p. 92.)

Throat and forebreast flame-color or orange, passing be-
hind into white, which is marked with black. Black-
burniaii Warbler, Male. (p. 74.)

Under parts yellow, heavily marked with black. Mag-
nolia "Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 76.)

Under parts with a considerable amount of solid black.
Go to 75.

71. Rump white. Go to 72.
Rump not white. Go to 73.

Artificial Key 23

72. Head black; breast with rose spot. Rose-breasted

Grosbeak, Male. (p. 99.)

Head white, more or less suffused with light brown;
under parts pure white, or at most tinged with brown.
Siiowflake, Male. (p. 114.)

73. Wings very long; bird swallow-like. Go to 74.

"SYings of moderate length; bird not swallow-like; up-
per parts a blackish brown. Kingbird, Either Sex.

(P- I39-)

74. Under parts entirely white; upper parts really a dark blue-

green. Tree Swallow, Either Sex. (p. 91.)
Under parts white, save that the breast is crossed by a
dark brown band; upper parts really a sooty brown.
Bank Swallow, Either Sex. (p. 90.)

75. Bird distinctly smaller than a sparrow. American

Redstart, Male. (p. 65.)
Bird distinctly larger than a sparrow. Go to 76.

76. Throat black; remaining under parts orange. Balti-

more Oriole, Male. (p. 124.)

Throat and forebreast black; remaining under parts white
in the middle and chestnut at the sides. Towhee,
Male. (p. 100.)

77. Body red. Scarlet Tanager, Male in Summer Plu-

mage, (p. 95.)
Body yellow. Goldfinch, Male in Summer Plumage.

(P- H5-)
Body gray; wings really a blackish brown. Northern

Shrike, Either Sex. (p. 88.)

24 Land Birds of New England

78. Birds nearly or quite as large as a robin; black present as

a crescent on the breast. Go to 79.

Bird about the size of an English sparrow; head with lon-
gitudinal stripes of black and white; back sparrow-like.
White-throated Sparrow, Male. (p. in.)

Birds distinctly smaller than a sparrow. Go to 80.

79. Throat and breast a light lemon-yellow. Meadowlark,

Either Sex. (p. 125.)
Throat and forebreast a lilac-brown. Flicker, Either

•

Sex. Go to 7.
Throat and breast gray. Blue Jay, Either Sex.

(p. 132.)

80. Top of head or forehead black. Go to 81.
Top of head not black. Go to 83.

81. Throat black. Chickadee, Either Sex. (p. 51.)
Throat not black. Go to 82.

82. Under parts yellow. Maryland Yellow-throat, Male.

(p. 66.)
Under parts white. White-breasted Nuthatch,

Either Sex. (p. 54.)
Under parts rusty brown. Red-breasted Nuthatch,

Either Sex. (p. 53.)

83. Under parts yellow, marked with black. Go to 44.
Under parts white, marked with black; upper parts slate-
blue mottled with black. Myrtle Warbler, Either
Sex. (p. 77.)

Throat and forebreast black; cheeks yellow. Black-
throated Green Warbler, Either Sex. (p. 71.)

Artificial Key 25

VII. BROWN, SLATE, GRAY, OR OLIVACEOUS

CONSPICUOUS, EITHER UNIFORM IN TINT OR MOTTLED, BUT NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH YELLOW.

84. Upper parts slate, gray, brown or olivaceous, either plain

or mottled. Go to 85.

Under parts, at least throat and forebreast, or sides of
belly, solid brown. Go to 153.

85. Under parts, at least breast and throat, of nearly the same

shade as the back. Go to 86.

Under parts not of the same color as the back, or at least
distinctly lighter in shade. Go to 99.

86. Bird swallow-like. Go to 87.
Bird not swallow-like. Go to 88.

87. Tail so short that the bird almost appears to have none.

Chimney Swift, Either Sex. (p. 143.)
Tail not remarkably short. Purple Martin, Female.

(P- 93-)

88. Bird distinctly smaller than a sparrow. Go to 89.
Bird not distinctly smaller than a sparrow. Go to 93.

89. Birds brown, somewhat mottled; have the habit of carry-

ing the tail cocked. Very small. Go to 90.
Birds olivaceous; do not carry the tail cocked. Go to 91.

90. Tail very short; feet if stretched out backward would

reach some distance beyond it; bird considerably smaller
than house wren. Winter Wren, Either Sex. (p.

590

26 Land Birds of New England

Tail not very short; feet if stretched out backward would
reach about to its tip. House Wren, Either Sex.
(p. 60.)

91. Crown with yellow or scarlet patch. Bird very small.

Go to 92.

Crown without such a patch. Bird nearly as large as a
sparrow. Pine Warbler, Female, (p. 73.)

92. Crown patch scarlet. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Male.

(p. 48.)

Crown patch flame-colored bordered with yellow. Gol-
den-crowned Kinglet, Male. (p. 49.)

Crown patch yellow. Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Female, (p. 49.)

93. Bird obscurely mottled. Go to 94.
Bird not mottled. Go to 96.

94. Wing with two white bars; rump yellowish. White-

winged Crossbill, Female, (p. 118.)
Wing without white bars. Go to 95.

95. Beak with mandibles crossing one another like the blades

of a pair of scissors; rump yellowish green. American
Crossbill, Female, (p. 119.)

Beak of the ordinary pattern; rump not of contrasting
color. Cowbird, Female, (p. 128.)

96. Bird of a blackish slate color. Go to 97.
Bird largely brown. Go to 98.

97. No white on the body; beak black. Catbird, Either

Sex. (p. 63.)

Belly and outer tail feathers white; beak light. Slate-
colored Junco, Either Sex. (p. 105.)

Artificial Key 27

98. Upper parts brown, passing into slate on the rump;

under parts brown, passing into yellow on the belly;
tail tipped with yellow. Cedar Waxwing, Either
Sex. (p. 89.)

Upper parts of uniform brown; throat and forebreast of
the same shade; remaining under parts white in the
middle and chestnut on the sides; tail with white
blotches. Towhee, Female, (p. 100. )

99. Under parts in the main solidly colored with some shade

of brown. Go to 100.
Under parts in the main white or gray, either clear or

tinged with brownish or yellowish; often spotted. Go

to 101.
Throat and forebreast ash, passing into yellow on belly.

Crested Flycatcher, (p. 138.)

100. Breast chestnut, unspotted: throat black and white; tips

of outer tail feathers white. American Robin,

Either Sex. (p. 41.)
Breast chestnut, spotted with blackish. American

Robin, Young of Either Sex. (p. 41.)
Breast yellowish brown, unmarked. Bobolink, Female

and Male in Fall Plumage, (p. 129.)
Breast reddish brown, passing into white on belly, marked

with round black spots and crossed by a black crescent.

Flicker, Either Sex. Go to 7.

101. Throat black; remaining under parts gray. Go to 102.
Under parts unspotted, of nearly uniform tint. Go to

103.

Under parts white, unspotted; breast crossed by a band
of contrasting color. Go to 131.

28 Land Biras of New England

Under parts gray, obscurely mottled. Go to 132.
Under parts distinctly spotted with brown or blackish.
Go to 139.

102. Top of head black. Chickadee, Either Sex. (p.

Si-)

Top of head gray. English Sparrow, Male. (p.

96.)

NOTE. — In the young the black spot is often somewhat
obscured with gray.

103. Under parts rather faintly tinged with rose; cap car-

mine. Redpoll, Male. (p. 117.)

Under parts without any rosy tint; no carmine cap. Go
to 104.

104. Legs and beak very long and slender; bird fitted for

wading. Solitary Sandpiper, Either Sex. (p.

I53-)
Legs and beak not very long and slender. Go to 105.

105. Bird distinctly larger than a sparrow. Go to 106.
Bird as small or smaller than a sparrow. Go to 109.

106. Upper parts black-brown; tail with white tip. King-

bird, Either Sex. (p. 139.)
Upper parts mottled with brown, black, and flaxen,

somewhat like a sparrow's. Snowflake, Female.

(p. 114.)
Upper parts clear gray or brownish gray; wings nnd tail

black-brown. Northern Shrike, Either Sex. (p.

88.)
Upper parts olivaceous. Go to 107.

107. Under parts white; tail very long. Go to 108.

Artificial Key 29

Under parts greenish yellow ; tail of moderate length.
Scarlet Tanager, Female and Male in Fall Plu-
mage, (p. 95.)

108. Large white spots on outer tail feathers, the largest ones

nearly an inch long; beak largely yellow. Yellow-
billed Cuckoo, Either Sex. (p. 151.)
Small white spots on tail about one-fourth of an inch
long; beak almost entirely black. Black-billed
Cuckoo, Either Sex. (p. 150.)

109. Birds in the habit of carrying the tail cocked; very small.

Go to 110.

Birds not in the habit of carrying the tail cocked ; not
very small. Go to 112.

110. Back with a patch of mottled black and white; birds

usually found in swampy places. Marsh Wrens.
Go to 111.

Back without a patch of mottled black and white; bird
not found especially in wet places. Go to 90.

111. Bill half an inch long or more. Long-billed Marsh

Wren, Either Sex. (p. 57.)

Bill from one-third to two-fifths of an inch long. Short-
billed Marsh Wren. (p. 58.)

112. Back mottled. Go to 113.
Back not mottled. Go to 118.

113. Back and breast yellowish gray; two white bars on

wing; white spots on outer tail feathers. Pine
Warbler, Female, (p. 73.)

Back mottled in shades of bay, brown, and black. Go
to 114.

3O Land Birds of New England

114. Bill long and slender ; bird creeps up tree trunks and

branches. Brown Creeper, Either Sex. (p. 55.)
Bill short and stout; bird does not creep. Go to 115.

115. White spot on throat, sharply marked off from general

gray of breast; head with black and white stripes;
small patch of yellow in front of eye. White-
throated Sparrow, Either Sex. (p. in.)
No such white spot. Go to 116.

116. Top of head chestnut. Go to 117.

Top of head gray. English Sparrow, Female, (p.
96.)

117. Gray of breast clear ; bill black. Chipping Sparrow,

Either Sex. (p. 108.)

Gray of breast somewhat rusty; bill flesh-colored: gen-
eral tone of color a little lighter than the preceding.
Field Sparrow, Either Sex. (p. 107.)

Gray of breast ashy, that of sides of belly rusty; bill
black above, yellow below; breast with an indistinct
brownish spot; wing with two white bars. Tree
Sparrow, Either Sex. (p. no.)

118. Top of head black. Go to 119.
Top of head not black. Go to 121.

119. Throat black. Chickadee, Either Sex. (p. 51.)
Throat gray. Go to 120.

120. Under parts uniform gray. "White-breasted Nut-

hatch, Either Sex. (p. 54.)

Under parts rusty. Red-breasted Nuthatch, Either
Sex. (p. 53.)

121. Crown brightly colored. Go to 92.

Artificial Key 31

Crown not different in color from the rest of the head.
Go to 122.

122. White wing-bars present. Go to 123.
White wing-bars not present. Go to 128.

123. Tail with white blotches. Go to 124.
Tail without white blotches. Go to 125.

124. Wings and tail nearly or quite black; beak conical.

Goldfinch, Female or Male in "Winter Plumage.

(P- "SO
Wings and tail brown; beak long and slender. Pine

"Warbler, Female, (p. 73.)

125. Bird very small; from top of head to tip of tail about

four inches. Go to 126.

Bird not extraordinarily small; from top of head to tip
of tail about five inches. Go to 127.

126. Head and shoulders very large, so that the bird looks

like a pygmy. Bird with us in summer. Least Fly-
catcher, Either Sex. (p. 134.)

Head and shoulders not especially large. Bird with us
in spring and fall only. Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Female, (p. 48.)

127. Head bluish gray; throat white; sides of belly yellow.

Blue-headed Vireo, Either Sex. (p. 83.)
Head brown; throat gray; sides yellowish gray; bird

about six inches long from crown to tip of tail.

Wood Fewee, Either Sex. (p. 135.)
Head brown or blackish; throat gray; sides brownish;

bird about six inches and a half from crown to tip of

tail. Phoebe, Either Sex. (p. 136.)

32 Land Birds of New England

128. Upper parts greenish gray; under parts very light, almost

white; eye with light line above it. Go to 129.
Upper parts brown; under parts .brownish gray; no line
above eye. Go to 130.

129. Light line extending back a considerable distance beyond

the eye; sides of belly grayish white. Red-eyed
Vireo, Either Sex. (p. 87.)

Light line stopping directly above the eye; sides of
belly yellowish gray. "Warbling Vireo, Either Sex.
(p. 85.)

130. Bird about the size of an English sparrow; beak broad,

black. Phoebe, Either Sex. (p. 136.)
Bird considerably smaller than an English sparrow, beak
conical, darker above, lighter below; bird obscurely
mottled. Indigo Bunting, Female, (p. 97.)

131. Bird larger than a robin; upper parts and breast-band

g'ay-blue. Belted Kingfisher, Either Sex. Go
to 22.

Bird smaller than a sparrow; swallow-like; upper parts
and breast-band sooly brown. Bank Swallow,
Either Sex. (p. 90.)

132. Wings and tail almost or quite black; tail with white

blotches; body either a clear gray (male) or a brown-
ish gray (female). Northern Shrike, Either Sex.
(p. 88.)

Wings and tail not strongly contrasting in color with the
upper parts. Go to 133.

133. .Birds in the habit of carrying the tail cocked. Very

small. Go to 90.

Artificial Key 33

Birds not in the habit of carrying the tail cocked. Not
very small. Go to 134.

•134. Bird swallow-like. Purple Martin, Female. (p.

930

Bird with legs bare above the first joint, and fitted for
wading. Solitary Sandpiper, Either Sex. (p.

I53-)
Bird not like either of the above. Go to 35.

135. Wing with white bars. Pine "Warbler, Female, (p.

730
Wing without white markings. Go to 136.

136. Bill with upper and lower mandibles crossing like the

blades of a pair of scissors. Birds seen in southern
New England only in winter. American Cross-
bill, Female, (p. 119.)

Bill of the ordinary pattern. Birds seen in New England
only in the warmer months. Go to 137.

137. Bird distinctly larger than a sparrow. Cowbird, Fe-

male, (p. 128.)

Bird considerably smaller than a sparrow. Indigo
Bunting, Female, (p. 97.)

Bird much of the size and general coloration of a spar-
row. Go to 138.

138. Throat with white spot sharply marked off from general

gray of breast. White-throated Sparrow, Either
Sex. (p. in.)

Throat without such a white spot. Swamp Sparrow,
Either Sex. (p. 102.)

139. Back not mottled. Go to 140.

34 Land Birds of New England

Back mottled with shades of gray, brown, or blackish.
Go to 146.

140. Wing with two white bars; brown of a bright reddish

cast; tail very long; bird rather larger than a robin.
Brown Thrasher, Either Sex. (p. 62.)
Wing without white bars; brown not of a bright reddish
cast; tail of moderate length; bird distinctly smaller
than a robin. Go to 141.

141. Bird about as large as a sparrow or larger. Go to 142.
Bird distinctly smaller than a sparrow. "Water Thrush,

Either Sex. (p. 67.)

142. Upper parts olive-green; crown with orange-brown spot.

Oven Bird, Either Sex. (p. 68.)

Upper parts of some shade of brown; .jO crown patch.
Go to 143.

143. Upper parts of uniform tint; spots of breast rather small

and somewhat ill-defined. Go to 144.
Back not of uniform tint; head and tail of differing
shades; spots of breast large and sharply defined. Go
to 145.

144. Upper parts of a somewhat reddish brown; throat with

a tinge of buff. Wilson's Thrush, Either Sex.

(P- 45-)
Upper parts dark brown without any reddish tinge;

throat and breast somewhat yellowish. Olive-
backed Thrush, Either Sex. (p. 44.)

145. Head and back tawny brown, shading into olive on

rump; white of under parts pure. Wood Thrush,
Either Sex. (p. 46.)

Artificial Key 35

Head and back olive-brown, becoming tawny on the
tail; breast often yellowish white. Hermit Thrush,
Either Sex. (p. 43.)

146. Beak slender and ah inch or more long; legs bare for

some distance above the first joint. Spotted Sand-
piper, Either Sex. (p. 152.)

Beak not more than half an inch long; legs not bare
above the first joint. Go to 147.

147. White markings somewhat conspicuous on head, wings,

throat, or tail. Go to 148.
No white marking. Go to 149.

148. Head with three longitudinal white stripes; wings spotted

with white. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female.
(p. 99.)

Outer tail-feathers largely white, showing when the bird
flies; no white wing-bars. Vesper Sparrow, Either
Sex. (p. 113.)

149. Under parts very light; spots dark and sharply marked.

Go to 150.

Under parts grayish; spots not very dark, and gradually
shading into the general breast- color, so that they are
less conspicuous than in the first group. Go to 152.

150. Brown of a dull, somewhat grayish, tinge. Go to 151.
Brown of a warm reddish tinge. Fox Sparrow,

Either Sex. (p. 101.)

Brown of a very dark shade, almost black; bird consid-
erably larger than a sparrow. Red-winged Black-
bird, Female, (p. 127.)

36 Land Birds of New England

151. Centre of the breast with a dark spot considerably larger

than the others; no yellowish suffusion about the head.
Song Sparrow, Either Sex. (p. 104.)
Breast without any especially large dark spot; slight yel
lowish suffusion in front of eyes. Savanna Spar-
row, Either Sex. (p. 112.)

152. Middle of breast without streaks; forehead with obscure

reddish patch; bird distinctly smaller than a sparrow.
Redpoll, Female, (p. 117.)

Entire breast streaky; no reddish head patch; bird about
the size of a sparrow. Purple Finch, Female.

(p. 120.)

153. Upper parts black; sides of breast and belly chestnut.

Towhee, Male. (p. 100. )
Upper parts blue; under parts entirely chestnut. Go

to 154.
Upper parts brown; under parts either wholly or partly

brown. Go to 155.

154. Blue very dark, almost black; bird swallow-like. Barn

Sw allow, Either Sex. (p. 92.)

Blue not very dark; bird not swallow-like. Bluebird,
Either Sex. (p. 39.)

155. Upper parts dull brown; under parts chestnut. Ameri-

can Robin, Either Sex. (p. 41.)

Upper and under parts of almost the same color through-
out --a dull, sooty brown. Chimney Swift, Either
Sex. (p. 143.)

Throat and breast of the same color as the upper parts.
Go to 156.

Artificial Key 37

156. Upper parts, throat, and forebreast of a dull brown;

sides of belly chestnut; tail with white blotches.
Towhee, Female, (p. 100.)

Head and back clear brown, passing into slate on rump;
head and throat of the same color, passing into yellow-
ish on belly; tail edged with yellow, but without white
blotches. Cedar Waxwing, Either Sex. (p. 89.)

VIII. WHITE

FORMING CONSPICUOUS MARKINGS. OR ENTERING LARGELY INTO
THE COLOR OF THE UPPER PARTS.

157. Collar white. 'Go to 158.
Rump white. Go to 159.

Tail showing white feathers in flight. Go to 161.
Tail with white edge. Kingbird, Either Sex. (p. 139.)
Throat white. White-throated Sparrow, Either
Sex. (p. in.)

158. Bird larger than a robin; upper parts slate-blue; under

parts white. Belted Kingfisher, Either Sex. Go
to 22.

Bird smaller than a robin; almost entirely black. Bob-
olink, Male. (p. 129.)

NOTE. — The collar is really buff, but often looks white
as the bird flies.

159. Bird larger than a robin. Flicker, Either Sex. Go to 7.
Bird smaller than a robin. Go to 160.

160. Bird mostly black. Bobolink, Male. (p. 129.)

Bird mostly a dull gray. White-winged Crossbill,
Female, (p. 118. )
NOTE. — The rump is really yellowish, but often looks white.

38 Land Birds of New England

Bird largely white, with a good deal of black on back,
wings, and tail; both the black and the white of the
upper parts is more or less overcast with brown.
Snowflake, Either Sex. (p. 114.)

161. Bird about the size of an English sparrow. Go to 162.
Bird considerably larger than an English sparrow. Go

to 163.

Bird considerably smaller than an English sparrow.
Numerous warblers.

162. General coloring sparrow-like. Vesper Sparrow.
General color slate. Black Snowbird, (p. 105.)

163. Under parts chestnut. American Robin, Either Sex.

(p. 41.)

Throat and forebreast black; sides chestnut. Towhee,
Male. (p. 100. )

Throat and forebreast dull brown; sides chestnut. Tow-
hee, Female, (p. 100.)

Under parts white. Go to 164.

164. Wings with white markings. Snowflake, Either Sex.

(p. 114.)
Wings without white markings. Go to 108.

LAND BIRDS

FAMILY TURDID^E
1. BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis.}

Upper parts bright blue ; under parts chestnut, shading into white
on the belly. Beak rather long and slender, black ; feet black.
Bird a little larger than a sparrow. Sexes alike, but female
duller.

THIS best loved of all our birds may be found

j

in orchards and gardens, in the neighborhood of
dwellings, and among scattered trees. A favorite
perch is a fence-post.

bluebird, shifting his light load of song,
From post to post along the cheerless fence.

LOWELL.

It is one of our earliest spring visitors, coming in
early March, or sometimes even in February, and
tarrying until November, while a few may winter in
sheltered places. Its familiar, confiding ways and
conspicuous coloring make it almost as well known
as the robin.

39

40 Land Birds of New England

Yonder bluebird, with the earth-tinge on his breast,
and the sky-tinge on his back. - - BURROUGHS.

The nest is usually placed in the hole of a tree
or post, or in a bird box. The first eggs are laid
about the beginning of May, and there are two or
three sets. The same nest is repaired and used
for the second family ; and the little parents, if
kindly treated, will return year after year to the
same spot.

The familiar call of the bluebird is a soft cry
which has been translated into the word " Bermuda,
Bermuda." This note may be heard in the spring
for a day or two before the bird can be seen. Be-
sides it, he has a simple warble, uttered with
open, quivering wings, which is very tenderly at-
tractive. He sings from the time of his arrival until
about midsummer, then becomes silent, but resumes
his song (in the neighborhood of New York, at
least) in mid-September, continuing it until the end
of October.

LITERATURE:

In Nesting-Time. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
Little Brothers of the Air. — IBID.
Wake-Robin, — JOHN BUKKOUC;HS.

Family Turdidce -- American Robin 41

2. AMERICAN ROBIN (Merula migratoria.)

Upper parts grayish brown, head darker; under parts in general
chestnut; throat spotted black and white ; tail with small white
blotches on outer feathers. Beak long and rather slender, yel-
low ; feet dark. Length from top of head to tip of tail about ten
inches. Sexes similar, save that the female is duller.

THIS most familiar of all our native birds is to
be found everywhere except in deep woods. He
is, generally speaking, a summer resident, coming
to us in early March and remaining until October.
A few, however, spend the entire year; they should
be sought in winter in such swampy woods as fur-
nish at once protection against the weather and the
possibility of food. At this season the birds live
chiefly upon berries, but during the rest of the
year the food consists largely of earth-worms ; and
it is an interesting sight to watch a robin hop-
ping over the lawn, listening for the worm, and
finally dragging it out of its hole. Robins also
destroy vast numbers of injurious insect larvae,

which they collect as food for their vouns: ones.

j .. o

When they first arrive they live in loose flocks,
and after the breeding; season is over they resume

O J

the habit. At this time they assemble in great
companies to pass the nights together at some
favorite spot, going their various ways in the morn-

42 Land Birds of New England

ing, to return again at nightfall. Of these so-called
"robin roosts " a large one exists in Melrose.

The nest is built in very various places; shrubs,
vines, and trees, especially evergreens. Sometimes
not more than three feet from the ground, it has
been known to be as much as fifty. Eggs are laid
about the first of May, and there are two, or even
three sets.

The notes are all simple, but various, so that one
can tell a robin's song rather by the quality of the
voice than by the exact notes. The bird usually
chooses the very top of the tree for his stage, and
sings as energetically in cloudy and even rainy
weather as in the sunshine. His song has been
thus paraphrased :

" In the sunsJiine and the rain
I hear the robin in the lane
Singing, ' CJicerily,
Cheer iip, cheer up,
Cheerily, cheerily, cheer up? '

Bicknell states that in the vicinity of New York
robins often do not begin to sing until some time
after their arrival. Song continues until mid-July,
and with waning vigor through August. September
is a silent month ; but the heart to sing comes back
with its closing day, and the robin is nearly as
tuneful in October as in the spring.

Family Turdidce- - Hermit Thrush 43

LITERATURE:

Pepacton. (Art. " Notes by the Way.") —BURROUGHS.

Birdways. (Art. " A Bird of the Morning.")— O. T. MILLER.

A Naturalist's Rambles. (Art. "A Short Study of Birds' Nests.")

— C. C. ABBOTT.

The Footpath Way. (Art. " Robin Roosts.") — BRADFORD TORREY.
Summer Robin Roosts. — BREWSTER. " The Auk," vol. vii.

3. HERMIT THRUSH

( Turdus aonalascJikcz pallasii.}

Head and back olive brown, passing into reddish brown on the
rump, and especially on the tail; throat and forebreast yellow-
ish white, thickly marked with large, dark, angular spots ; re-
maining under parts light olive on the sides and white in the
middle. Beak slender, black; feet brown. Bird considerably
larger than a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that the female is a
little smaller.

THIS exquisite bird may be sought in woods,
whether swampy or dry, and also along wooded
roadsides. It is ordinarily to be found in the
neighborhood of Boston only in the last half of
April and again in October. In the spring it is
found mostly on the ground and in low underbrush ;
in the fall it is more upon the trees.

Breeding takes place in northern New England,
in the higher parts of central and western Massa-
chusetts, and upon Cape Cod. The nest is almost
always placed upon the ground, usually on a sunny,
wooded bank in the neighborhood of a swamp. Eggs
are laid early in June, and there are often two sets.

44 Land Birds of New England

The hermit thrush is the most exquisite of all our
singers ; but his music is rarely to be heard with
us, for he is usually silent except in the summer,
although he has been heard to sing during both
spring and fall migrations. His song has been de-
scribed by Burroughs, " ' O spheral, spheral, O
holy, holy : O clear away, clear away, O clear
up, clear up,' interposed with the finest trills and
the most delicate preludes." There is said to be
about it a peculiar spiritual quality lacking in the
song of any other bird.

LITERATURE :

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

4. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH

(Turdus ustulatus swainsonii*}

Upper parts of a uniform olive brown ; under parts grayish white,
passing into pure white on the middle of the belly and pale olive
on its sides ; throat and breast thickly marked with rather small
dusky spots except on the middle of the throat, where they are
entirely absent. Beak slender, the upper mandible dark, and the
lower one dark at the tip and yellow at the base; feet brown.
Bird rather larger than a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that the
female is usually a little smaller.

THE olive-backed thrush should be sought among
woods, in orchards, or along swampy roads. It
spends the latter part of May in the vicinity of
Boston, passes on to northern New England to

Family Turdidce — Wilsons Thrush 45

breed, and returns again about the end of Septem-
ber. In the fall they are less shy than in the
spring, and are more likely to be found upon the
ground.

The nest is placed in a low tree or a bush not
more than ten feet from the ground, and often much
less. Eggs are laid somewhat before the middle of
June, and there are often two sets.

Like the hermit, the olive-backed thrush usually
sings only in his summer home ; Bicknell states,
however, that he may be heard during the spring
migration. The song is said to be u sweet, clear,
and liquid," but less varied than those of our other
thrushes.

5. WILSON'S THRUSH, VEERY

( Turdiis fusee seen s . )

Upper parts a uniform shade of somewhat tawny brown ; f orebreast
and sides of throat buff, marked with small brown arrow-heads
which blend so with the general color that at a few rods distance
the breast seems of a dull uniform buff ; middle of throat white ;
remaining under parts pale olive gray. Beak large, slender,
upper mandible dark, lower one pale ; feet pale. Bird rather
larger than a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that the female is
smaller.

THE veery is the most common of our thrushes,
and may be sought on or near the ground in the
neighborhood of swampy woods and among pine-

4.6 Land Birds of New England

trees. He comes to us early in May, "usually with
the first blossoms of the pear," and remains until
the end of September.

The nest is commonly placed on the ground.
Eggs are laid about the end of May, and there
are sometimes two sets.

The song has a peculiar liquid quality by which
it may readily be recognized, and, moreover, it
seems to repeat constantly the syllables, " veery,
veery." The bird sings most continuously in the
evening, prolonging his music even after darkness
has begun to fall. The song-period ends in early
July, and knows no revival in the f>U.

LITERATURE:

In Nesting-Time. — OLIVE THORXE MILLER.
Little Brothers of the Air. — IBID.

6. WOOD THRUSH (Tnrdus nntstelinus.}

Head and back tawny brown, gradually shading into olivaceous on
rump and tail ; under parts pure white marked with scattered,
sharply denned, somewhat triangular blackish spots, which
tend to arrange themselves into longitudinal lines; cheeks
dusky, streaked with white. Beak long and large, light brown,
lower mandible with a pale base ; feet pale. Sexes similar.

THE wood thrush may be sought in woods of
various kinds, especially in those which are low
and damp. He comes to us early in May, and
leaves again in September or October.

Family Tnrdidce- • Wood TJirusJi. 47

The nest is usually built in a low bush or tree,
only a few feet from the ground ; and a swampy
place is especially likely to be selected. Eggs are
laid about the end of May, and there is sometimes
a second set.

The wood-thrush is one of our exquisite musi-
cians. The song is usually delivered from the top
of a tall tree, either in the early morning, or in the
deepening dusk of evening ; though, should the day
be cloudy, he may be heard at other hours. The
song is rich and various, and is almost impossible
of translation into syllables. But among others the
sound of Eolie, Eolie, in a peculiarly liquid tone,
and followed by a trill, may often be noted. In the
neighborhood of New York, the wood-thrush sings
from the time of his arrival until about the middle
of August, and, having ceased, does not again re-
sume his music in the fall.

LITERATURE:

Birdways. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

48 Land Birds of New England

FAMILY SYLVIID^J

7. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

{Reg ulu s ca len dula . )

Upper parts greenish olive ; wings and tail dusky, edged with yel-
lowish ; wing with two whitish bars ; under parts grayish or
yellowish white. Crown with rich scarlet patch, which is
wanting in the female. Bill slender and black; feet black.
One of our smallest birds ; about two-thirds as long as a
sparrow.

THIS exquisite little creature abounds in wooded
regions, in parks and gardens which contain cone-
bearing trees. It associates in troops with chicka-
dees and golden-crowned kinglets ; but it merely
passes through this region of the country on its way
to and from its northern breeding grounds. It is
here from mid-April to early May, and again from
early October to mid-November. It is said to fre-
quent in the spring chiefly the tops of trees, and in
the fall the lower branches.

Breeding probably takes place in the extreme
northern part of New Hampshire and Vermont, in
the regions to the north of this, and also in the
mountains somewhat farther south. The few nests
which have been discovered have been found in

Family Sylviida - - Kinglets 49

woodlands in cone-bearing trees, at a considerable
height from the ground.

It is an exquisite songster ; its " notes are clear,
very load, and prolonged, full of variety and purity."
But, unfortunately, while with us, it has the habit of
most birds of passage, and ordinarily restricts itself
to a mere chirp ; although, according to Bicknell, its
song may be heard both in the spring and in the
fall.

8. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET

(Regulus satrapa.}

Male: upper parts olive-gray; under parts grayish white ; wings
and tail dusky, wing with two white bars ; crown flame-color
bordered with yellow, and this again with black ; white line
over the eye. Beak and feet small, dark. Bird less than half
the size of a sparrow. Female : similar, but the crown yellow,
bordered with black.

THIS tiny exquisite may be found at any time
from the last of October to the first of May, al-
though more abundant in spring and fall. So far
as my observation goes, he is most likely to be
found in evergreens, especially Norway spruces,
but Minot speaks of finding him most abundantly
among white birches. They ordinarily move about
in small companies, made up not only of their own
kind, but of other small birds. In spring they may

50 Land Birds of New England

often be seen fluttering before some opening cluster
of leaves, and gathering from it the insects which it
has attracted.

The bird nests chiefly in northern New England,
and farther north. Few nests have been described.
Those found in Massachusetts were in the top of
tall spruces ; one discovered in the White Moun-
tains was in a hemlock only about four feet from
the ground.

With us the kinglets are almost silent ; in their
summer homes they have a song which, according to
Brewster, " consists of a succession of five or six
shrill, high-pitched, somewhat faltering notes, and
ends with a short, rather explosive warble, as follows :
Tzee, tzee, tzee, tzee, ti, ti, ter-ti-ti-ti-ti."

LITERATURE:

Breeding of the Golden-crested Kinglet. — BREWSTER. "The
Auk," vol. v.

Familv Paridce - - Chickadee 5 1

FAMILY

9. CHICKADEE ; BLACK-CAPPED TITMOUSE

( Pants atricapillus . )

Upper parts ashy : under parts rusty white ; crown, nape, and
throat black; cheeks white; quills of wings and tail white-
edged. Beak and feet small, black. Bird rather less than two-
thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.-

THESE confiding and sociable little birds spend
the entire year with us, but are most abundant in
the winter, when the residents are re-enforced by
others who have come from the north. As they are
also less shy at this season, it furnishes by far the
best time for studying them. I have found them
most abundant among hemlocks, where they cling,
often head downward, to the branches, picking out
. small insects which have lodged in cones and other
parts of the tree. Minot speaks of finding them
especially among pines and white birches. On hard
wood trees they not infrequently cling to the trunks,
and climb along the under side of large horizontal
boughs somewhat after the fashion of creepers.
They can readily be attracted to the window by
cracked hickory nuts placed on the sill. They usu-
ally move in small companies, and are extremely
sociable, not only among themselves, but with other

52 Land Birds of New England

bircis. A favorite winter amusement is to drop
from a tree into the soft snow:

Flying low,
Prints his small impress in the snow.

EMERSON.

The nest is usually made in a post or tree, either
in a cavity which has been found or in one made
by the little parents themselves. Eggs are laid the
last of May.

The commonest song is that which has given
them their name ; it resembles the syllables chick-
a-dee-dee-dee. Besides this, there is another heard
usually in the warmer days of winter and in spring.
It consists of two sweet, clear notes of equal length,
the second a fifth lower than the first, and sounds
somewhat like the word phcebe. It is often mis-
taken for the note of the phcebe.

Thy call in sfring,
As "'twould accost some frivolous iving,
Crying out of the hazel copse, Phe-b'e!
And in whiter, Chic-a-dee-dee .'

EMERSON.

The chickadee, according to Bicknell, " has also a
short run of low, musically modulated notes, in fact,
a short warble."

LITERATURE:

A Rambler's Lease. (Art. " A Bird's-nest Hunter.") — BRADFORD
TORKEV.

Family Paridce- -Nuthatch 53

10. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH
CANADA NUTHATCH

(Sitta canadensis.}

Male: upper parts bluish gray; wings and tail dark, the latter
with white blotches ; under parts in general rusty brown, light-
est on the throat, very variable in shade ; crown black, bordered
in front and at the sides by a white stripe and this by a black
stripe. Bill slender, pointed, dark. Feet horn-colored. Bird
not quite two thirds the size of a sparrow. Female: similar,
but without the black crown.

THE red-breasted nuthatch is an irregular winter
resident, sometimes abundant, sometimes nearly or
quite absent. He comes to us in the early fall, and
retires in April or May. He is much less common
than his brother, the white-breasted nuthatch, but
should be looked for especially among spruces. His
habits render him readily recognizable, for he runs
up and down the trunks of trees in search of insects
which are lodged in the cracks. Spruce and pine
seeds are also favorite articles of diet.

Breeding takes place in northern New England
and in mountainous parts of Massachusetts. The
nest is built in a hole dug in an old tree or stump.

The note resembles that of the white-breasted
nuthatch, but is fainter and more musical.

LITERATURE : Nesting Habits of the Red-bellied Nuthatch. —
HARDY. BulL Nuttall Club, vol. iii.

54 Land Birds of New England

11. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH
CAROLINA NUTHATCH

(Sitta carolinensis).

Male: upper parts bluish gray; wings and tail dusky, the latter
with white markings ; head and nape black ; under parts white.
Beak long, strong, dark ; feet horn-color. Bird a little smaller
than a sparrow. Female : similar, but black of head imperfect
or largely wanting.

THE nuthatch is readily recognizable by its very
short tail, and by its habit of running down as well
as up tree trunks. "That little up-side-down bird'
it has been called. It spends the whole year with
us, but it is more abundant in the colder months
than at other times. It may be found in mixed
woods, especially where there are many old, decay-
ing trees and stumps. It feeds chiefly on insects
and larvae, which it picks out from the crevices of
the bark ; but it is also fond of nuts, and may be
attracted from the trees to a neighboring window by
cracked hickory nuts spread on the sill.

The nest is built in open woodland at the bottom
of a hole dug out in a dead tree or stump.

Its ordinary note is a harsh cry, somewhat resem-
bling the syllables quank, quank.

Family Cert hi idee - -Brown Creeper 55

FAMILY CERTHIID^E

12. BROWN CREEPER
(Certhia familiar is americana).

Upper parts mottled brown, black, and flaxen with a tawny tinge
upon the rump ; under parts grayish white. Beak very long,
slender, and decurved, upper mandible dark, lower one light;
feet slender, dark ; tail with its quills pointed. Bird rather less
than two-thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that
the female is somewhat smaller.

THIS inconspicuous little bird spends the entire
year with us, but is more abundant in spring and
fall than at any other time, and more abundant
in winter than in summer. At the latter season he
frequents thick and sheltered woods, but in spring
and fall he is to be found in open woodland or
parks. He may be recognized as soon as seen, for
he is the only little brown bird we have which has
the habit of winding spirally up the tree trunks.
Moreover, he often betrays his presence by a faint,
lisping chirp, one of the weakest of all bird notes.
It is difficult, however, to watch him; for if he sus-
pects an observer he is very likely to dodge to the
other side of the trunk. He is said to prefer trees
with rough bark, which are more likely to harbor

56 Land Birds of New England

the larvae and minute insects on which he feeds.
Minot speaks of his preference for the pine, and I
have frequently found him on oaks of various kinds.

The nest is placed in deep woods, " behind a
sliver of loose bark on a decayed tree or stub."
Eggs are laid about the middle of May.

The song, which is rarely heard with us, is de-
scribed by Brewster as consisting " of a bar of four
notes, the first of moderate pitch, the second lower
and less emphatic, the third rising again, and the
last abruptly falling."

LITERATURE:

Breeding Habits of the American Brown Creeper. — BREAVSTER.
" Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club." 1879.

Family Troglodytidce- - Marsh Wren 57

FAMILY TROGLODYTID^].

13. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN
(Cistothorus palustris.}

Upper parts in general brown, darker on the head ; back with a
triangular patch of black and white mottling; wings and tail
marked with blackish ; under parts grayish white in the middle,
brownish on the sides. Bill very long and slender, lower man-
dible pale at the base ; feet brown. Bird rather less than two-
thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE marsh wrens should be sought in such
swampy regions as are destitute of trees and shrubs,
but filled with reeds ; and the swamps may be
either salt or fresh water ones. The long-bill
comes to us about the middle of May, and leaves

j '

again in October, but rarely or never goes farther
north. He lives in colonies ; and should his domain
be invaded, he makes known his displeasure by an
a-ngry scolding which betrays the secret, he desires
to guard.

Their postures are sometimes very comical ; a
favorite attitj<de is with the tail thrown up until it
almost covers the back and the head lowered. In
this position they have a peculiar swaying motion,
back and forward, as if (hey were on a pivot, and in
this position they sing most frequently. Others may
be seen scrambling like little mice up and down the

58 Land Birds of New England

reed stems, or all over their globular nests. They
appear among themselves to be excitable to the verge of
irascibility, and not seldom quite beyond such moderate
limit. — COUES.

The nest is hung among reeds, and the eggs are
laid in early June. Like many other wrens, the
males of this species appear to employ themselves
with building a succession of nests, only a few of
which are ever used.

The song is said by Nuttal to be " a sort of short,
tremulous, and hurried warble." The first song-
period ends (in the neighborhood of New York)
early in August ; but isolated songs may be heard
later, and, according to Bicknell, there is reason
to believe that, after the wren goes south, it has
a second song-period.

LITERATURE : Upland and Meadow. — C. C. ABBOTT.

14. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN
( Cistothorus stellar is . )

Upper parts in general brown ; head and back with more or less
black and white mottling; wings and tail marked with black-
ish ; under parts grayish white in the middle, brownish on the
sides. Bill scarcely half as long as the head, slender ; feet pale.
Bird considerably less than two-thirds the size of a sparrow.
Sexes similar.

THE short-billed marsh wren is to be found in
open swamps and meadows ; but he does not, like

Family Troglodytidce - Winter Wren 59

the long-billed, frequent reed-flats. He is to be
distinguished from the long-billed chiefly by his
smaller size and his shorter bill. The habits of
the two are much alike, save that the short-billed
is shyer, and is said not to live in colonies. For
a fuller account the reader is referred to the
description just preceding this one. The bird
comes to us about the middle of May, and leaves
about the end of September.

The nest is placed on the ground in a tuft of
grass in a swamp. Eggs are laid in early June.

The song is much like that of the long-bill.

LITERATURE: Upland and Meadow. — C. C. ABBOTT.

15. WINTER WREN (Troglodytes liiemalis.}

Upper parts brown, obscurely marked with dusky ; throat, breast,
and middle of belly whitey-brown obscurely mottled ; sides of
belly and crissum dark brown mottled with white. Beak
slender, upper mandible dark, lower one pale ; feet brown ; tail
much shorter than outstretched legs. Bird about half the length
of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS little creature, the smallest of our wrens, and
almost the smallest of our birds, is generally to be
seen here only in April, October, and November, on
his way to and from his northern breeding-ground,
although he summers at a few places in Massachu-
setts. He usually travels alone, and frequents woods

60 Land Birds of New England

and wooded roads, busying himself in the search for
food about logs and brush-heaps. He is not very
common ; and his small size, inconspicuous coloring,
and retiring habits make him seem rarer than he
is. He is best studied farther north, both because
he is less shy on his breeding-grounds than during
his migration, and because his song there calls
attention to his presence.

The nest is placed at the foot of a moss-covered
stump, under a tree, or in a pile of brush. He
breeds in the White Mountains and farther north.

The song is both exquisite and brilliant, - - wild,
impassioned, and joyous, - - one of the rarest of
our sylvan melodies. The first song-period closes
about the end of August ; a second one begins
about a month later, and continues until his depart-
ure for the South.

16. HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon.*)

Upper parts brown, mottled with darker; under parts brownish or
grayish, mottled with darker; breast usually darker than either
throat or belly. Beak slender, pale; feet pale; tail about as
long as the outstretched legs. Bird less than two-thirds the
length of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE house wren is a common summer resident of
Massachusetts, but is rarely seen north of this State.
Even in southern New England, though common,

Family Troglody tides -- House Wren 61

he is very local. He comes to the neighborhood
of Boston early in May, and leaves again in late
September. He frequents exclusively cultivated
grounds, gardens, and outbuildings, and has the
usual wren characteristics -

Sprightly ', fear/ess, and impudent little creatures, apt
to show bad temper when they fancy themselves ag-
grieved by cats or people, or anything else that is big or
unpleasant to them ; they quarrel a good deal, and are
particularly spiteful towards martitis and swallows,
whose homes they often invade and occupy. — CouES.

The nest is built in a bird-box, or hole, in the
neighborhood of an outhouse, often under the
eaves. Eggs are laid early in June, and there are
sometimes two sets.

The song, according to Minot, " consists of a few
loud and sprightly notes, followed by a loud and
very characteristic trill, which is its most prominent
feature.'

62 Land Birds of New England

17. BROWN THRASHER; THRASHER
BROWN THRUSH

(Har porky nchus ntfns.)

Upper parts rich rust-brown ; wing with two white bars ; under
parts yellowish white, marked, except on the throat, with large,
well-defined dark brown spots. Beak large, dark, lower man-
dible with a yellow base ; feet pale ; tail very long. Bird about
the size of a robin, though the extraordinarily long tail would
make it measure more. Sexes similar.

THIS large and well-known songster comes to us
about the first of May, and remains until mid-
October. On his first arrival he may be found

J

on cultivated estates ; but he soon withdraws to
the rough slopes clothed with small second-growth,
which form his favorite dwelling-places. He may
be recognized at a considerable distance, from his
habit of flirting his tail while perched, much after
the fashion of {he catbird. And if one gets a nearer
view, he may be distinguished from all other thrush-
like birds by the two white wing-bars and the extra-
ordinarily long tail. Unlike many birds, when the
brown thrush arrives he is alreadv mated ; he trav-

J

els with his spouse, but cares nothing for other
company.

The nest is placed on or near the ground in a
retired thicket or swamp. There are two sets of
eggs; the first ones are laid usually about the end

Family Troglody tides - - Catbird 63

of May, though sometimes as early as the second
week. The devotion and bravery of the parents in
caring for both eggs and young is unusual even
among birds.

The song is loud, rich, and wonderfully varied,
and is usually delivered from the top of a tall tree.
And the bird is a most persistent singer, continuing
for hours at a time. The first song-period ends near
che close of June ; a second one begins (in the neigh-
borhood of New York) in early September, and con-
cinues nearly or quite a month. The fall song has,
however, none of the spontaneity and vigor of the
spring one, but is a low, rambling warble.

LITERATURE:

In Nesting-Time. — OLIVE THORXE MILLER.
Little Brothers of the Air.— IBID.

18. CATBIRD (Galeoscoptes carolinensis.)

Entire bird slate-gray ; lighter below ; crown and tail black ; chest-
nut patch at the base of the under side of the tail. Beak long
and rather slender, black ; feet black. Bird a little smaller than
a robin. Sexes similar.

THIS familiar bird comes to us with the pear-
blossoms, about the first week in May, and leaves
again in October. He may be sought in bushy
places and open woods in the neighborhood of

64 Land Birds of New England

water. He is more common near cultivated estates
than in remote regions, and, though cautious and
watchful, is by no means shy. He moves about
easily and rapidly upon the ground, where he seeks
the '' cutworms/' which form a considerable part of
his food. When perched, he has an odd habit of
flirting his tail, and of depressing it when he sings.

The nest is usually placed in a thicket ; in my
experience it is commonly near the water. Eggs
are laid about the first of June, and there are some-
times two sets. If undisturbed, the bird returns
year after year to the same nesting-place.

The notes of the catbird are familiar ; the com-
monest one is a cat-like sound ; but besides this he
has a rich, varied, mellow song, which is said to be
frequently marred or interrupted by the mimicry of
others' notes. He sings from his arrival until the
middle of August, but has no second song-period.

LITERATURE :

Birdways. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

Family Mniotiltidce — American Redstart 65

FAMILY MNIOTILTID^
19. AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla.}

Male: upper parts, throat, and middle of breast black; wings
dark, with irregular bar of reddish orange; tail with two
blotches of reddish orange near base ; under surface of wings
and sides of body of the same color ; belly white. Beak rather
long and slender, black ; feet dark. Bird about two-thirds as
large as a sparrow. Female : upper parts olive ; lower parts
grayish white ; wings dusky, with yellow bar ; tail with yellow
blotches near base ; under surface of wings and sides of body
yellow.

THIS exquisite gem of the woodlands is to be
found especially on the wooded borders of swamps
and meadows, being attracted there by the flying
insects which constitute its food. Its habit of
constantly opening and closing its tail as it flies,
renders it even more conspicuous than it would
otherwise be. In Wellesley it is by no means a
timid or an uncommon bird ; it arrives in early
May, and leaves again in late September.

The nest is placed in a fork of a shrub or small
tree. The eggs are laid about the first week in June.

It has the twittering notes and the incessant
motion characteristic of the warblers, but I have
been unable to mark any distinctive peculiarity in
either flight or note. It is sometimes silent in

66 Land Birds of New England

July, singing again in August; and sometimes
sings through July, and has no supplementary
song-period.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

20. MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT

( Geotli lypis tricJias . )

Male: upper parts olivaceous ; forehead and cheeks black ; throat
and breast yellow, shading into yellowish gray on belly. Beak
slender, dark ; feet light brown. Female : similar, but duller,
and without the black forehead and cheeks.

THIS beautiful bird, which is one of our most
abundant warblers, should be sought in low ground
which lies near the water and is overgrown with
bushes. It seems ordinarily to prefer tangles where
there are no high trees. According to Minot, on
its first arrival it spends much of its time in trees,
often in parks, only later betaking itself to lower
ground. It is usually seen on or near the ground,
and has the habit of constantly moving its tail, both
when it is in the bushes and while on the earth. It
comes to us by the middle of May, and remains
until the first of October.

The nest is usually placed on the ground beside
a brook or in a swamp ; it is occasionally, however,

Family Muiotiltidce — Water Thrush 67

built in a thicket. Eggs are usually laid about the
end of May; there are always two and possibly
sometimes three sets.

These birds sing more or less all day. The most
characteristic notes resemble the syllables " witch-

J

ity, witchity, witchity," sometimes varied to " wee-
chee-chee-wee," and again to a song much like that
of the yellow warbler. Especially in August the
bird sings during flight ; but the notes are quite un-
like the characteristic music, the entire flight-song
being thus described by Bicknell : ''And as the or-
dinary song with which it begins comes to an end
while yet the bird is in the air, the time is filled out
by a disarranged medley of notes very different from
the usual utterance."

These song flights oftenest occur in the late after-
noon or toward evening.

21. WATER THRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis.}

Upper parts dark olive-brown, with a yellowish line above the
eye; under parts sulphur yellow, heavily streaked with dark
brown. Beak long, dark ; the feet are said by Coues to be
dark, but they are at least occasionally light brown. Sexes
indistinguishable.

THE water thrush is to be sought in swamps and
on the borders of brooks, ponds, and small lakes.
It comes to us in late May for a brief visit, and
again in early August for a stay of a couple of

68 Land Birds of New England

months, and a few remain through the summer. At
migration times it is not especially shy, and may
readily be approached. It is almost always on the
ground, where, unlike most birds, it walks instead
of hopping. Another peculiarity is its habit of
jerking its tail upward with every few steps. Still
another unusual habit is that of wading in the shal-
lows, where it seeks aquatic insects.

The nest is usually built on or near the ground
in the neighborhood of water, but at this season the
bird is very shy. Eggs are laid about the first of June.

The song is described by Coues as " beginning
with a sudden, almost startling, burst of melody
that . . . keeps falling till the slightest breath of
air may blow the rest away."

According to Bicknell, the bird is in full song
during the spring migration, and is ordinarily,
though probably not invariably, silent in the fall.

22. OVEN BIRD ; GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH
(Seiurus aurocapillus .}

Upper parts uniform olive-green ; crown with orange-brown patch
bordered on the sides with black ; under parts white, breast and
belly marked with large dark-brown spots. Beak and feet pale.
Bird nearly the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS pretty and attractive little bird comes to us
early in May, and leaves us again in late Septem-

Family Mniotiltidce- -Oven Bird 69

her. He may be found in almost any deep wood,
but perhaps prefers pine groves. He is usually
found upon the ground, and may be readily recog-
nized from his habit of walking instead of hopping,
and jerking his tail up and down as he goes.

The nest is placed upon the ground in the woods;
and the top is often completely roofed over, whence
the name oven bird. Eggs are laid about the first
of June.

The oven bird has two songs ; the first is a
common chant delivered from the ground or a low
bush, which resembles the words "teacher, teacher,
TEACHER, TEACHER, TEACHER. TEACHER ! "
each repetition being louder and more energetic
than the last. This song may be heard all day
long ; but the other and far rarer one is poured
forth usually after sundown, and while quivering in
the air. Burroughs thus describes it : -

Mounting by easy flights to the top of the tallest
tree, he launches into the air with a sort of suspended,
hovering flight, like certain of the finches, and bursts
into a perfect ecstasv of song — clear, ringing, copi-
ous, and rivalling the goldfinch' 's in vivacity, and the
linnet' ' s in melody. This strain is one of the rarest
bits of bird melody to be heard, and is oftenest in-
dulged in late in the afternoon or after sundown. I
think this pre-eminently his love-song, as_ I hear it
oftenest about the mating season.

7O Laud Birds of New England

Bicknell states that in the neighborhood of New
York the song is continued nearly through the
month of July, and that for a few days, somewhere
between the ninth of August and the fifth of Sep-
tember, it may be heard again in the early morning
hours, though at this season it never reaches the
precision and vigor of the true spring song.

23. PRAIRIE WARBLER (Dendroica discolor.}

Upper parts olivaceous ; back with a patch of brick-red spots ;
cheeks and under parts bright yellow, marked along the sides
with black ; tail with white blotches ; wing with two very in-
distinct yellow bars. Beak and feet slender, light brown. Bird
little more than one half the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS tiny warbler is to be sought in rocky pasture-
lands and scrub, where it may be found from mid-
May to September. It is one of the most retiring
of the warblers, and would be likely to pass un-
noticed, but for its flycatcher-like habit of darting
into the air to capture passing insects.

The nest is placed in a bush or small tree only a
few feet from the ground. It usually contains eggs
about the first of June.

//('A- is 7vrp quaint and cJiaracteristic : il con-
fists of a monotonous ami prolonged reiteration of
single notes, rising in tJie scale from beginning to end,
and growing louder and faster as it proceeds.

STEARNS AND COUES.

Family Mniotiltid&- -Green Warbler 71

24. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

(Dendroica v

Male, in summer: upper parts yellow-olive, dullest on rump;
cheeks yellow ; throat and breast black ; remaining under parts
whitish, streaked with black on the sides ; wings and tail dark
brown ; wing with two white bars ; tail with white blotches.
Beak slender and dark; feet dark. Bird rather more than half
the size of a sparrow. Female and male in fall plumage : sim-
ilar, but black interrupted or obscured.

THESE charming birds are to be found especially
among pines. They begin to arrive early in May,
and for a few days about the middle of the month
are very abundant, after which time a large propor-
tion of them pass northward. A considerable num-
ber, however, spend the entire summer, leaving
only in early October.

The nest, like that of the pine warbler, is placed
high in a pine-tree, near the end of a bough, and
may be built any time from the first to the last of
June.

The song is said by Burroughs to consist of " two
sweet, silvery notes in the same pitch of voice and
quite unaccented, followed by notes wherein tone
and inflection are changed.''

72 Land Birds of New England

25. YELLOW PALM WARBLER
YELLOW RED-POLL

(Dendroica palmarum liypochrysea.}

Upper parts olive, streaked with dark on head and neck, becoming
brighter on rump ; under parts yellow, somewhat streaked
with dark ; wings and tail dark, tail with white blotches. Male
in spring with a chestnut cap. Beak and feet slender and dark.
Bird rather less than two-thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes
similar.

THE yellow palm warbler comes to* us in late
April, spending about two weeks on his northward
way, and appears again in the latter part of Sep-
tember. His favorite haunt is in the neighborhood
of a swamp ; but he may also be found about bushy
woodland borders, and even in ploughed land,
gardens, and orchards. They are usually found on
the ground and in small companies. They are
most readily distinguished from other warblers by
a habit of jerking or flirting the tail, especially
when on a perch.

The nest is said to be placed on the ground, but
the bird in this region does not nest south of Maine.

The notes are weak and not characteristic.

Family Mniotiltid&- -Pine Warbler 73

/Vi^WWi

26. PINE WARBLER ^

PINE CREEPING WARBLER

(Dendroica vigor sit.}

Male : upper parts yellow-olive ; wings and tail brown, wing with
two light or white bars, tail with large white blotches ; throat
and breast bright yellow, sometimes obscurely streaked ; belly
white. Female: similar but much duller, and with breast more
distinctly marked, " sometimes nearly olive-gray above and
sordid whitish below." — Cones. Beak long and slender, dark
in male, lighter in female ; feet dark brown in male, light brown
in female. Bird about two-thirds the size of a sparrow.

THE pine warbler is the first of the warblers to
appear in the spring. He arrives early in April,
and leaves again only late in September, some-
times even lingering into October. In spring and
fall he may be found in mixed woods, but in the
summer he is to be sought among tall pines. In
seeking the insects on which he lives he often
scrambles about on tree trunks and among the
larger branches, somewhat after the fashion of_
a creeper. In spring and fall, however, he finds
a considerable part of his food oa the ground.

The nest is usually placed in a pine, from twenty
to fifty feet above the ground. The eggs are laid
about the first of June. The song, according to
Minot, " is apparently a delicately trilled whistle,
but really a series of fine notes, as is proved by the
fact that the birds open and shut their bills whilst
emitting the sound."

74 Land Birds of New England

27. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
{Dendroica blackburnice. )

Male: upper parts black, with white markings on wings and tail
and on back ; crown, cheeks, throat, and forebreast flame-
colored ; remaining under parts yellow-white, streaked along
the sides with black. Beak slender, dark. Female : upper
parts brownish olive streaked with black ; throat and fore-
breast dull orange or yellow ; remaining under parts yellow-
white streaked with black ; wings dusky, with two white bars ;
tail with large white blotches.

THIS exquisite being is said to be abundant at
times among spruces and hemlocks and in mixed
woods. It is, however, extremely local, and I am
not aware that it is to be found in Wellesley. It
passes through southern New England in late mid-
May and again in September, although a few
remain to breed in Massachusetts.

The nest is usually placed in coniferous woods,
on the horizontal bough of a pine or hemlock, at a
considerable distance from the ground.

The song is very simple, consisting merely of
five or six loud notes.

Family Mniotiltidcs - - Chestnut-sided Warbler 75

28. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
(Dendroica pensylvanica . )

Upper parts streaked with black and pale yellow or whitish ;
crown clear yellow, bordered on each side with black which
extends down into a small patch in front of the eye ; under
parts in general white, but the sides of a rich reddish brown ;
wings and tail dusky, tail with white blotches, wings with two
white bars which are more or less confluent. Beak slender,
dark ; feet brown. Bird about two-thirds the size of a sparrow.
Sexes similar, save that the female is duller, and may want the
black markings on the head.

THE chestnut-sided warbler is a summer resident,
coming to us early in May, and leaving us in Sep-
tember. During migration they may be found in
open mixed woods and thickets ; for the summer
they retire to moist woodlands and swampy thick-
ets. They are most likely to be met at the time of
the spring migration.

The nest is placed in the fork of a bush or small
tree ; and the eggs are laid about the first of June.

The song is simple ; one variation is almost
exactly like the song of the yellow warbler. An-
other consists of half a dozen notes each higher
than the preceding, except in the case of the last,
which is lower than the one preceding it.

LITERATURE :

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

76 Land Birds of New England

29. MAGNOLIA WARBLER

BLACK AND YELLOW WARBLER

{Dendroica maculosa.}

Upper parts in general black, often more or less mixed with olive ;
rump yellow ; head ash ; wings dusky, with a broad white
patch across them ; tail black, with large white spots on the
bases of the feathers ; under parts bright yellow, all except the
throat and the very middle of the breast heavily streaked with
black. Beak and feet dark. Bird rather less than two-thirds
as large as a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that the black of the
back is more likely to be mixed with olive in the female.

THE magnolia warbler is to be sought especially
in willow thickets, near streams and other damp
places ; but they frequent also orchards and wood-
lands, especially evergreens. They come to us in
the latter part of May, and remain for about two
weeks. The return is made during September, and
only a few birds pass through eastern Massachu-
setts, the bulk of them taking a more westerly
route.

The nest is usually built in a low spruce, often
only a few feet from the ground, and is finished
early in June.

The song is not characteristic.

Family Mniotiltidce -- Myrtle Warbler 77

30. MYRTLE WARBLER

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

(Dendroica coronata.}

Male: upper parts in general slate-color streaked with black;
wings and tail dusky, wing with two white bars, tail with
white blotches ; rump and crown yellow ; throat and belly
white ; breast white, heavily marked with black, and with a
yellow patch on each side. Beak long, slender, black ; feet
black. Bird about two-thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes
similar, save that in the female the slate-color is sometimes
quite brownish.

THIS charming bird may be found in little com-
panies of five to ten among shrubbery and orchards,
and on the edges of woods and swamps. It is a
migrant, and tarries with us from late April to late
May, coming again in the latter part of September
for a stay of about a month. At these times it is,
perhaps, the most abundant of all the w^arblers. In
the spring they are found mostly in the trees ; in
the autumn they are more upon the ground. Ac-
cording to Minot " they may generally be distin-
guished at a distance by their habit of being much
in the air, and of taking long flights (as compared
with those of other warblers) at quite a distance
above the ground."

Breeding takes place in the higher parts of Mas-
sachusetts, in the White Mountain region, and far-
ther north ; the nest is usually placed in a bush.

/S Land Birds of New England

The birds, according to my observation, rarely
sing during migration ; but Minot speaks of having
often heard them sing in May throughout the day.

31. SUMMER WARBLER ; YELLOW WARBLER
GOLDEN WARBLER
SUMMER YELLOW BIRD

(De/utroica czstiva.')

Male : upper parts greenish yellow, becoming pure yellow on head ;
wings and tail dusky, each feather edged with yellow ; under
parts yellow, breast somewhat streaked with orange-brown.
Beak long and slender, almost black; feet light brown. Bird
rather more than half the size of a sparrow. Female: similar,
but paler, and orange-brown streakings nearly or quite wanting.

THIS beautiful little creature is to be found every-
where, in woodlands, parks, gardens, and even in
city streets ; its abundance, brilliant color, and
familiar habits make it one of the best known of
our smaller birds. I have found it most abundantly
in the tops of willows which grow on the swampy
margin of a lake. It comes to us in early May,
and leaves at the very end of September.

The nest may be placed in a fruit or a shade tree,
when it is built at some distance from the ground ;
but it is more commonly found in thickets, in low,
moist situations. The eggs are laid about the first
of June.

Family Mniotiltidce -- Panda Warbler 79

The song is simple and not especially character-
istic. Minot represents it by the syllables wee-chee-
wee-chee-wee-i-u. He sings from the time of his
arrival to his departure, but less frequently after the
middle of July.

32. PARULA WARBLER

BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER

(Compsothlypis americana.}

Upper parts in general gray-blue ; back with greenish yellow
patch ; wing with two white bars ; tail with white blotches ;
throat and forebreast yellow crossed by a band of brown; re-
maining under parts white. Beak long and slender, upper
mandible dark, lower one light ; feet horn colored. Bird about
half the size of a sparrow. Sexes alike, but coloring of female
less pronounced, and brown band sometimes almost wanting.

ABUNDANT in high, open woods, parks, and gar-
dens, where the greenish-gray " moss," Usnca bar-
bulata, or "old man's beard," is found. During
migration it is one of the most numerous of all
the warblers, and it is abundant, though local, all
through the summer. It comes to us in May, and

o ,

disappears in September. The nest is globular,
with an entrance on the side, and is almost always
built in a bunch of Usnea. It is usually placed in
the woods, twenty or more feet from the ground,
at the end of a bou^h.

So Land Birds of New England

The song, like that of most warblers, consists
merely of a few faint chirping notes, constantly
uttered while the bird is searching for its food.

\

33. NASHVILLE WARBLER
(Helminthophila nificapilla . )

Male, in summer plumage : upper parts except the head yellow-
olive, brightest on the rump ; head ashy, with an inconspicuous
crown patch of chestnut ; under parts bright yellow. Bill long,
slender, dark horn-color ; feet slender, brown. Bird about half
the size of a sparrow. Female, in summer plumage : similar,
but ash of head less clear, and crown patch more obscure or
even wanting.

NOTE. — In fall the ash of the head may, in both sexes, be largely
olivaceous.

THE Nashville warbler, although quite a common
bird, especially during the fall migration, is so in-
conspicuous as to be readily overlooked. In spring
and fall it may be found among the upper branches
in the bushy borders of woods, in shrubbery and
orchards, and even about houses ; but in summer it
prefers high, dry, pine woods where there is a more
or less dense undergrowth. It is common about
the middle of May, and again in September ; but
a comparatively small number spend the entire
summer with us.

Family Muiotittidce — Warbler 8 1

•

The nest is said by Minot to be placed on the
ground, either in some open part of the woods, or
amongst the shrubbery of some southerly facing
bank ; and the eggs are laid about the first of June.

The song has been represented by the syllables
wee-see-wee-see-wit-a-wit-a-wit. According to Wil-
son it is not easy at first to distinguish the sound
from that produced by an insect. He sings regu-
larly during the spring migration, but not in the
fall.

^
34. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER

BLACK AND WHITE CREEPING WARBLER

{Mniotilta varia.)

Male: mottled black and white both above and below ; wing with
two white bars; tail with white blotches. Beak and feet
slender, black Bird about two-thirds the size of a sparrow.
Female : similar, except that the under parts are almost entirely
white.

THIS active little bird is abundant in woodland
regions, and at migration time is to be found also
in gardens and orchards. He is conspicuous both
from his lack of shyness, and from his habit of

J

scrambling about the trunks and larger branches
of trees, whence his name of creeping warbler. He
comes to us in early May and remains into Sep-
tember.

82 Land Birds of New England

The nest is usually placed upon the ground in the
woods, but is occasionally built in the hole of a tree.
Eggs, in the vicinity of Boston, are laid about the
end of May.

These birds are said by Minot to utter more dis-
tinct sounds, exclusive of song, than any other of
our birds. The song itself is almost incessant,
and may be represented by the syllables chi-chi-chi-
che-che-chee. To this " a few sweet and musical
notes are generally added in May and June." —
MINOT. In the vicinity of New York song ceases
about the end of June, or occasionally not until
the end of July, and is resumed again about the
middle of August for a period varying from a few
days to two weeks.

Family Virconiiiic- -Blue-Headed Vireo 83

FAMILY VIREONID^E.

35. BLUE-HEADED VIREO
SOLITARY VIREO
BLUE-HEADED OR SOLITARY GREENLET

{Vireo solitaries .^)

Upper parts olive-green, passing into ash on the head ; wings and
tail brown ; wings with two white bars ; under parts in general
white ; sides of breast and belly greenish yellow. Beak broad
and strong, dark ; feet dark. Bird about two-thirds the size
of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE solitary vireo may be distinguished from
other vireos at a glance by the bluish head. It is
to be sought in woodlands, and therefore, though
not very rare, is less well known than its relatives.
It breeds usually in northern New England ; it
passes through Massachusetts on its way north in
late April or early May, and returns in September
or early October. It sometimes, however, remains
to breed with us.

Its nest is said to resemble that of the yellow-
throated vireo ; it is always built in the woods,
sometimes in swampy ones.

The song is said to be a musical mellow warble,
and the bird sings all day long. This, however, is

84 Land Birds of New England

only in the breeding season ; during migration it is
usually silent, although Bicknell records that it
sometimes sings both in the spring and in the fall.

LITERATURE :

A Rambler's Lease (Art. "A Woodland Intimate.") — BRADFORD

TOKREY.

36. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO

YELLOW-THROATED GREENLET

( Vireo flavifrons . )

Upper part greeenish olive, shading into ash on the rump ; wings
and tail dark brown ; throat and breast yellow ; remaining un-
der parts whitish. Beak long, broad, and dark ; feet dark. Bird
about two-thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE yellow-throated vireo is to be found in the
very tops of tall trees in woods, parks, and gardens ;
he is said, however, to be a local bird. He comes
in early May, and leaves again in late September.

The nest is placed in the fork of a horizontal
branch at a moderate height, sometimes indeed not
more than three feet from the ground ; it mav be

o j

found either in the woods or in more open country.
This vireo has a pleasant song which begins with
clear mellow notes that have some resemblance to
the syllables, geery, geery. He sings with especial
vigor in the warmest weather, and like some of the

Family Vireonidce — Warbling Vireo 85

other vireos, does not restrict himself to morning
and evening hours, but may be heard even at noon-
day. He is the only vireo who sings on the wing;
and so in love is he with music that in the vicinity
of New York at least, he does not intermit his mel-
ody until early September, while even ^after this
time isolated songs may still be heard.

LITERATURE:

Nesting Habits of the Yellow-throated Vireo. — Goss, "The Auk,"
Vol. I.

37. WARBLING VIREO ; WARBLING GREENLET

(Vireo gi lints .^)

Upper parts olive-green ; under parts grayish white with a tinge
of yellow; a narrow white line above eye, which does not run
back behind it. Beak and feet dark. Bird distinctly smaller
than a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE warbling and red-eyed vireos are so similar
that it is almost impossible to distinguish them by
the eye when alive. The warbling vireo is, how-
ever, rather smaller than his brother, and is a far
more beautiful singer. He may be sought among
the higher branches of roadside trees, where he

O

would be easily overlooked were it not for his
music. He comes to us in early May, and leaves
again in early September.

86 Land Birds of New England

The nest is placed in an open pasture or shaded
street, suspended from the fork of a high branch.
The poplar and maple are said to be the favorite
trees. Eggs are laid early in June, and there are
sometimes two sets.

The song is exquisitely sweet, and is kept up all
day long and well into the summer.

Its voice is not strong, and inanv birds excel it in
brilliancy of exectition ; but not one of them all can
rival the tenderness and softness of the liquid strains
of this modest vocalist. . . . The warbling vireo for-
sakes the depths of the woodland for the park and or-
chard and shady street, where it glides through the
fohage of the tallest trees, the unseen messenger of rest
and peace to the busy and dusty haunts of men.

COUES.

Bicknell states that in the region of New York the
first song-period may end in early July, or may be
prolonged to mid-August. A second period begins
in early September or the very end of Angust, and
lasts for about a week.

Family Virconiihe — Red-Eyed Vireo 87

38. RED-EYED VIREO ; RED-EYED GREENLET

( Vireo olivaceous.}

Upper parts olive-green ; under parts grayish white ; a broad
white line above eye, running back for a considerable distance
behind it. Beak and feet light brown. Bird distinctly smaller
than a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE red-eyed vireo is the most common of all the

J

vireos. The distinction between him and the war-
bling vireo has already been discussed (see above,
No. 37). He is to be sought in high, open woods,
in village streets, and in the clusters of trees in the
neighborhood of houses ; he does not, however,
spend his time so exclusively among the higher
branches as does his brother. He comes to us
early in May, and leaves again in September.

The nest is built at a moderate height, sometimes
not more than four feet from the ground ; it is hung
from a fork, usually near the end of a limb, and is
placed either in the edge of the woods or in a shade-
tree. The eggs are laid early in June, and there are
sometimes two sets.

The song consists of a few notes repeated over
and over again with little change or intermission.
Indeed, the red-eyed vireo is our most voluble song-
ster, keeping up his simple music all day long and
all summer long. It '' would be monotonous, were
it not for its wonderful cheerfulness, energy, and
animation/' — MINOT.

88 Land Birds of ATezu England

FAMILY LANIID^E.

39. NORTHERN SHRIKE ; BUTCHERBIRD

(Laniiis boreal is.)

Upper parts clear gray, growing lighter on rump ; wings and tail
dark brown with white markings ; under parts light gray, crossed
by fine wavy lines of dark brown ; side of head with dark bar
below and behind the eye. Beak large, strong, and hooked,
horn-color ; feet black. Bird a little larger than a robin. Sexes
similar, save that in the female the gray has a more or less
brownish tinge.

THE butcherbird comes to us as a very irregu-
lar but rather common winter visitor, and may be
looked for any time between the first of November
and the first of April. He may be found in any
locality, perched usually on some point which gives
him a good outlook, such as a telegraph pole or the
top of a hedge. He owes his name to his habit of
chasing and killing small birds, which he ordinarily
impales on thorns or sharp twigs, and which he usu-
ally, though by no means always, returns to devour.

Breeding takes place only beyond the northern
limits of New England, and the nest is built in a
bush or a low tree.

The bird with us is ordinarily silent ; but Thomp-
son remarks that " in the warm clavs of March he

J

may be heard singing on the top of some tall tree,
a song that would do credit to a catbird," and
Brewster likens his music to that of the thrasher.

LITERATURE :

Locusts and Wild Honey. (Art. " Birds and Birds.") — BURROUGHS.

Family Ampclidic- -Cedar Waxwing 89

FAMILY AMPELID^E.

£<^

40. CEDAR WAXWING; CEDARBIRD

CHERRYBIRD

(Ampelis cedrorum.}

Head brown both above and below, shading into ash on wings and
tail, and into yellow on the belly A black band runs across
the base of the bill, and back through the eye. There is a crest ;
though, as the bird may depress it, it is not always noticeable.
Bill and feet medium, dark. Bird about half way in size be-
tween a robin and a sparrow. Sexes alike.

THESE birds are very irregular in their move-

s O

ments ; but one may look with most hope of finding
them among cedars, junipers, mountain-ash, and es-
pecially cherry-trees, as the fruits of these different
trees attract them, serving them as food. They
move in small flocks, except at the breeding-season,
when they are in pairs. They may be found at any
time during the year, but are most abundant in the
warmer months.

The nest is usually placed in an orchard-tree or
a cedar, at a moderate height above the ground.
Eggs are laid in late June or early July.

They have no proper song, only a faint lisping
note ; but their dainty costume, and their exquisite
courtesy one to another, render them more inter-
esting than many a vocalist.

90 Laud Birds of New England

FAMILY HIRUNDINID^E.
41. BANK SWALLOW (Clivicola riparia.}

Upper parts dull brown, wings and tail somewhat darker; under
parts grayish white, with a band of brown across the breast.
Beak and feet very small, black. Bird about two-thirds as large
as a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE bank swallow may be sought between the
first of May and the first of September in the vicin-
ity of sandy banks. He never wanders far from
his home ; and as the ground in which he builds
must be such as will not cave in, this habit renders
him more local than he would otherwise be.

This swallow is the only one of the family which

J j

still retains its old nesting habits. It builds at the
end of a burrow which it digs out in a sandbank,
usually preferring the vicinity of water, but some-
times choosing a railway or road cutting. The bird
is the most sociable of all our swallows ; communi-
ties of three or four hundred sometimes live to-
gether. Eggs are laid in the latter part of May,
and there are two sets.

The bank swallows are ordinarily more silent
than other swallows, having only a few low twitter-
ing notes.

Family Hirnndinidce- • Tree Swallow 91

42. TREE SWALLOW

WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW

(Tachycineta bicolor.}

Jpper parts metallic blue-green ; wings and tail dark brown ; under
parts pure white. Beak weak, black; feet small, dark. Bird
lather smaller than a sparrow. Sexes alike, but female some-
what less lustrous.

THE tree swallow comes to us in early April, and
remains until early October. He is to be found
in cultivated districts, and sometimes in wild ones
as well. He is especially common near water, for
he obtains much of his food from the insects which
are most abundant in such regions. Maynard re-
marks that they gather " upon the salt marshes
during the latter part of August and first of Sep-
tember, literally by millions." They are less peace-
able than other swallows ; and, according to Wilson,
they frequently fight in the air for a quarter of an
hour at a time, particularly in the spring, all the while
keeping up a low, rapid chatter. If kindly treated,
Lhey will become extremely tame, and the same pair
ivill return year after year to the same premises.

The nest is ordinarily built in a bird-box, though
in sparsely settled districts they still keep to the
primitive habit of nesting in a hollow tree. Eggs

92 Land Birds of New England

are laid in the latter part of May, and there are
usually two sets. The first nest is thoroughly re-
paired, and used for the second brood.
The notes are merely a rapid chatter.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. —OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
The Footpath Way. (Art. "The Passing of the Birds.") — BRAD-
FORD TORREY.

43. BARN SWALLOW (Chelidon erythrogaster .*)

Upper parts deep steel-blue; wings and tail blackish, the latter
with white spots ; under parts chestnut, generally deepest on
throat. Wings very long; tail deeply forked. Beak and feet
black, weak. Bird nearly as large as a sparrow. Sexes alike,
but color of female less intense.

THE barn swallow, as its name implies, is to be
found chiefly in the neighborhood of barns and
other outhouses, especially about those which have
openings in the gables to permit passage, and rough
rafters suitable for the attachment of nests. Like
all swallows, they are readily recognizable from the
sustained, skimming flight ; 'and this species may
be easily distinguished from all others by the deeply
forked tail, a characteristic which is wanting to the
young. They come to us in late April/^nd leave in
early September. " The dandelion tells me when
to look for the swallow." — BURROUGHS.

Family Hirundinidce - - Purple J fan 'in 93

The nest is now placed on the beams or rafters
of a barn or other similar building, although " swal-
low cave ' at Nahant recalls the fact that other
places were once utilized for this purpose. Eggs
are laid in late May. There are often two sets.

The note is a twitter, often uttered by the bird
when on the wing. Bicknell describes it as " a low
chattering trill, often terminating with a clear liquid
note, with an accent as of interrogation."

LITERATURE:

A Naturalist's Rambles. (Art. "Do Swallows Hibernate ?")-
C. C. ABBOTT.

44. PURPLE MARTIN

(Prog tie s it bis.}

Male : intense metallic steel-blue, both above and below, in old
birds almost black; wings and tail blackish with blue reflec-
tions. Wings very long. Beak and feet weak, dark. Bird con-
siderably larger than a sparrow. Female : upper parts dark
brown with bluish tinge ; under parts grayish brown mottled
with darker ; wings and tail dusky.

THE purple martin maybe found especially in the
neighborhood of water, or skimming over its sur-
face in search of the insects on which it feeds. Like
all the swallows, it is constantly on the wing, and its
sustained, graceful flight- - " skating on the air '
serves at once to mark it as a member of the swal-

94 Land Birds of New England

low family. It comes to us in early May, and stays
until late August.

The nest is invariably built in a bird-house. Eggs
are laid near the end of May, and there are occa-
sionally two sets.

His usual note, petto peuo peuo, is loud and musi-
cal; but is frequently succeeded by others more low and
guttural. - - WILSON.

Family Tanagridce - - Scarlet Tanagcr. 95

FAMILY TANAGRID^l
45. SCARLET TANAGER (Piranga erythromdas.}

Male, in summer plumage : scarlet body ; black wings and tail.
Female and male in fall plumage : olive-green above ; greenish
yellow below ; wings and tail dusky, edged with olive green.
Beak large and strong, horn-colored ; feet rather delicate, some-
what darker than beak. Bird about halfway in size between a
robin and a sparrow.

THE tanager is a rather shy bird, which frequents
the deeper parts of the woods. It is found in mixed
woods and in oak growth. It comes to the neigh-
borhood of Boston in the latter part of May, and
leaves early in September.

The nest is usually placed in an oak-tree, from
ten to thirty feet above the ground. Eggs are laid
about the first of June.

The song is said to be loud, clear, and flute-like,
resembling " somewhat that of a robin in its modu-
lations, but shriller in tone, more hurried, and
enunciated in a peculiar wavering style." It is,
however, rarely heard ; for the bird sings but a few
weeks, and then only on warm, bright days.

LITERATURE :

Upland and Meadow. — C. C. ABBOTT.

In Nesting-Time. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

Little Brothers of the Air. — IBID.

Land Birds of New England

FAMILY FRINGILLID^]

46. ENGLISH SPARROW ; HOUSE SPARROW

{Passer domesticits.}

Male : upper parts gray'streaked with black and bay ; top of head
gray, sides chestnut ; wing with white bar ; under parts gray ;
throat with black patch which extends back upon the forebreast.
Beak strong, conical, brown ; feet brown. Bird about five and
a half inches long from top of head to tip of tail. Female : color
in general similar but duller; the sides of the head are gray
instead of chestnut, and the throat is of the same color as the
other under parts.

THIS well-known bird is to be found only too
commonly about the streets of towns and cities. It
is most abundant and most easily watched in win-
ter, when flocks of them are attracted to horse drop-
pings for the sake of the undigested seeds to be
found therein. A melancholy interest attaches to
its gradual extension, not only westward, but into
the more sparsely settled parts of the East. A few
years ago, though abundant in the village, they
were not to be found in the grounds of the college :

C7 O

while they are now sadly plentiful there. The birds
are active, intelligent, and wary, and although very
quarrelsome, seem to have some feeling for their
kind. Mr. W. T. Hill tells of an experience when
he was trying to net sparrows. One of them es-

Family Fringillidcz- -Indigo Bunting 97

caped and remained near, so that "on the approach
of other birds, by cries of alarm, or by flying with
them and leading them away, it succeeded in keep-
ing almost every bird from the net." This lasted
for upwards of an hour, until finally the little crea-
ture was shot.

Nests are built about houses, behind blinds, in
street-lamps, and other similar places. They are
said to begin nests even in the winter. There are
four to six broods in a year, and five or six young
in a brood.

The only notes are the chirps and twitterings
which may be heard almost constantly.

LITERATURE:

Birttways. — OLIVE THOKXE MILLER.

47. INDIGO BUNTING; INDIGO-BIRD

{Passerina tya/iea.)

Male : metallic greenish blue above and below ; wings and tail
dark, nearly black ; bill conical ; upper mandible dark, lower
one horn-colored ; feet black. Bird about two-thirds the size of
a sparrow. Female: upper parts olive-brown; under parts
whitish brown streaked with darker; wings dusky.

THIS brilliant little bird may be found on the
edges of woods, and even in trees along the road-
side. It is, however, not easy to observe, owing to

98 Land Birds of New England

its habit of keeping in the top of a high tree when
singing. Wilson spaaks of finding it frequently
perched on fences, but I have been less fortunate.
The bird comes to us in mid-May, and leaves in
late September.

The nest is built in bushes or open shrubbery,
'usually '4 in the centre of a low, thick bush." In
one instance, at least, the same nest was repaired,
and used for a succession of years. Eggs are laid
about the end of May.

The indigo-bird sings all clay, and continues his
song nearly or quite through July.

Its song is not one continued strain, but a repetition
of short notes, commencing loud and rapid, and fall-
ing, by almost imperceptible gradations, for six or
eight seconds, till iJiey seem hardly articulate, as if the
little minstrel ?rv/v quite exhausted ; and, after a
pause of half a minute or /ess, commences again as
before. - -

Family Fringillidce — Grosbeak 99

48. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

(Hal) i a ludoviciana.')

Male: upper parts in the main black, often mottled with flaxen;
rump white ; tail and wings dark, variegated with white ; under
parts white ; breast with a rose spot about the size of a half-
dollar; under surface of wings rosy. Beak extremely large,
conical, light horn color ; feet medium size, dark. Bird con-
siderably larger than a sparrow. Female : upper parts blackish
brown streaked with olive and flaxen ; head with a median
white line, and one over each eye; under parts impure white,
marked with dark brown spots ; under surface of wings saffron-
yellow.

THIS beautiful bird is found in heavily timbered
regions, particularly near the water. It is said to be
especially fond of dense undergrowth. I have usu-
ally found it in the very tops of tall oak-trees. It
comes to us in mid-May, and leaves in early Sep-
tember.

The nests may be found in very various locations,
in pasture lands, in damp woods, in trees or shrub-
bery of parks or gardens. They are usually placed
at a moderate height above the ground. Eggs are
laid commonly about the first of June.

It is one of our richest and most beautiful song-
sters, and is one of the few birds \vhich occasionally
sing at night. In the vicinitv of New York song
continues until mid- August.

IOO Land Birds of JVaw England

LITERATURE:

A Naturalist's Rambles. — C. C. ABBOTT.

In Nesting-Time. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

A Rambler's Lease (Art. "A Bird's-Nest Hunter.")— BRADFORD

TORREY.

49. TOWHEE; CHEWINK

SWAMP ROBIN; GROUND ROBIN

(Pipilo erytJit'opJitJialinusJ)

Male : upper parts black, wings and tail marked with white ;
throat and forebreast black ; remaining part of breast and belly
white in the middle and chestnut at the sides. Beak large,
conical, black ; feet horn color. Bird about half way in size
between a robin and a sparrow ; tail very long. Female : upper
parts brown, wings and tail marked with white ; throat and
forebreast brown ; remaining part of breast and belly white in
the middle and chestnut at the sides. Rather smaller than
male.

THE towhee arrives about the first of May, and
remains until early October. He may be sought in
marshy thickets, where he is most li-kely to be found
scratching the ground, or overturning the leaves in
search of insects, somewhat as does a hen. They
are rather shy birds, and it is not always easy to get
a sight of them.

The nest is placed on the ground in low, wet
woods, or in scrub, />., bushy second growth, con-
sisting chiefly of oaks and birches. Eggs are laid
about the end of May.

Family Fringillidte - - Fox Sparroiv IOI
The ordinary note sounds much like chewink or

jl

toiuhec. In addition, the males are said to have a
sweet, simple song. In the region of New York
they begin to sing only in late April, some time after
their arrival, and they cease at latest by mid- August,
more commonly about the end of July. The che-
u'ink note also is weak and infrequent in late sum-
mer, and may even be intermitted for a time, but is
resumed again before departure.

50. FOX SPARROW

( Passer 'el la iliac a . )

Upper parts ash, heavily mottled with bright rust-brown ; wing
with two whitish bars ; under parts white marked with large,
rust-brown spots. Beak conical, brown above, yellowish below;
feet light brown. Bird distinctly larger than an English spar-
row. Sexes similar.

THIS large and handsome sparrow comes to us
late in March, and tarries until the beginning of
May, when he goes on to his northern summer
home ; he is with us again in the fall, coming in late
October, and staying occasionally even into Decem-
ber. He is to be sought on the edges of wood-
land, especially in the neighborhood of water ; but
in the fall frequents also dry regions, and some-
times open fields. He spends much of his time on
the ground, seeking seeds and such food as he finds

1O2 Land Birds of New England

beneath the fallen leaves ; and he has the habit of
scratching among them much like a hen, although,
unlike a hen, he manages to scratch with both feet
at once. When frightened he usually takes to the
trees.

The russet gronndbird bold
With both slim feet at once -will lightly
rake the mold. — SILL.

Breeding takes place in the regions about Hud-
son's Bay and farther north. The nest is placed
amid moss or on a low bush.

The song is one of the very best of all the spar-
row songs. It may often be heard in the early morn-
ing in April, and less frequently in the fall. Minot
remarks that it is sometimes abridged to a sweet
warble, to which twitters are occasionally added.

It is said that they sing during migration only
when present in considerable numbers.

51. SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana.)

Upper parts streaked with bay, black, and flaxen, brown of wings
and tail especially reddish ; head with broad gray line above the
eye; under parts ash-gray obscurely mottled and passing into
olive-brown on the sides of the belly. Beak conical, dark brown ;
feet brown. Bird a little smaller than an English sparrow.
Sexes similar.

THIS shy little bird comes to us in early April,
and remains until the end of October, or even early

Family Fringillida -- Swamp Sparrow 103

November, and he has been known even to pass
the winter here. Although a common bird, he is
so retiring in his habits as to be little known. He
should be sought, as his name implies, in wet lands ;
and he prefers those overgrown with bushes. He
spends much of his time upon the ground, often
scratching- among the leaves or wading in shallow

O O *— ?

water.

The nest is placed commonly in a tussock of
grass, but occasionally on a low bush. Eggs are
laid near the end of May, and there are usually two
sets.

The song is said by Minot to resemble that of the
catbird. They have also a sweet, clear trill, often
heard in the spring, and a low warble. They sing
chiefly in the cooler hours, especially in the evening,
often continuing their music until it is almost dark.
In the region of Xew York there are two song-
periods : one beginning in late April, and continu-
ing until mid- August or early September ; and a
second extending from mid-September to early or
middle October. In this second period, song is by
no means general, and is confined to early morn-
ing, but is more varied and ambitious than in the
spring.

IO4 Land Birds of New England

52. SONG SPARROW (Melospiza fasciata.}

Upper parts gray, streaked with brown and black ; under parts
grayish white, thickly marked on breast and sides of belly with
distinct blackish brown spots, some of which usually run to-
gether to form a larger one in the centre of the breast. Beak
conical, brown ; feet light brown. Bird a little smaller than an
English sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS charming, abundant, and well-known song-
ster comes to us about the middle of March, and
lingers until late October. Not infrequently he
spends the entire year in this region, although his
increased shyness through the winter months ren-
ders him less familiar at that season. He may be

J

sought especially on low ground, in the neighbor-
hood of streams or other water. He is often on
the ground, and when perched is usually not very
far above it. In fall he associates with other birds
of his own and other kinds, and is then often to be
found upon dryer ground.

The nest is placed on the ground or in a low
bush. Eggs are laid early in May, and there are
two or even three broods. To accomplish this task
in the limited time at their disposal, the male often
builds the nest for a new brood while his mate is
still caring for the present babies.

The song is most readily recognized from its re-

Family Fringillidic - - State-colored Junco 105

semblance to that of the canary ; it has, however,
many variations so different that they might well be
attributed to several different species. The song
sparrow is one of our very early spring songsters,
coining next after the bluebird. In the neighbor-
hood of New York he begins about the middle of
February, and continues with varying vigor into
November, sometimes to the very end of the month.
In the beginning his song is feeble and indetermi-
nate, but by early March it acquires its full tone.

LITERATURE :

A Year with the Birds. — WILSON FLAGG.

53. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO ; BLACK SNOWBIRD

(Junco hy emails.}

Upppr parts, throat and breast blackish ash ; tail with white outer
feathers; belly white, its sides shaded with ashy. Beak coni-
cal, flesh color; feet light brown. Bird about the size of a spar-
row, but with longer tail. Sexes similar, save that in the female
the ash has a brownish tinge.

THIS well-known little bird may be recognized at
once from the dark color and the white outer tail
feathers. The sudden change from the slate of the
breast to the white of the belly suggests the fancy
that he was sitting on his nest " when God painted
him." He comes to us in September, and remains

io6 Land Birds of New England

until May. He is stated to be common in winter
only with the snow or just before storms; I have
been more fortunate, however, in finding him in
comparatively mild weather. He spends his time
chiefly on the ground, and should be sought in stub-
ble fields, edges of woodland, and especially on
roadsides. He can readily be attracted to the door-
yard by grain or crumbs, although he is easily star-
tled, and ready td fly to the protection of shrubbery.
Snowbirds usually come in small flocks, often ac-
companied by sparrows ; when on the ground they
have a characteristic habit of constantly opening
and shutting the tail. They are said to be quarrel-
some, but my observation does not lead me to agree
with this statement.

Breeding takes place in the higher parts of west-
ern Massachusetts, in the \Yhite Mountains, and
farther north. The nest is usually placed upon the
ground, rarely in a bush. Eggs are laid about the
first of June.

The snowbirds have in spring "a great variety of
twitters, trills, and even tinkling sounds, which are
often so combined as to form a lively song." Their
chirp they utter particularly as they take to flight.
There are two distinct songs ; a simple trill some-
what like that of the chipping sparrow, and a faint
whispering warble, usually much broken but not

Family Fri tig-ill idee -- Field Spat-row 107
without sweetness, and sometimes continuing inter-

o

mittentlv for many minutes. Sino-ing is most com-

J J O O

mon in March, but may be heard at other times,
least frequently in the fall.

54. FIELD SPARROW (Spizella pusilla.}

Upper parts gray, streaked with bay, black, and a very little flaxen ;
crown dull chestnut: under parts gray, tinged more or less with
lusty ; wing with two white bars. Bill conical, brown ; feet
brown. Bird not much more than two thirds the size of an
English sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS common, but retiring, little sparrow comes to
us in late April, and leaves in late October. North
of Massachusetts he is rather rare, but with us he
may easily be found by seeking him in dry, bushy
fields, wood edges, and open pastures. He is much
upon the ground, and when perched is usually not
far away from it. During most of the season he is
content with the society of his family, but in fall he
joins his mate and other small birds in a loose flock.
As he associates much at this season with chipping
sparrows, it is a particularly good time for learning
to distinguish him from this very similar sparrow.
On comparing the two, it will be seen that the vari-
ous colors of the field sparrow are duller, that the
beak is light instead of black, that the chestnut
cap is not bordered on each side by a gray, and

io8 Land Birds of New England

this again by a black line, and finally that the
under parts are of a more or less rusty ash, instead
of being clear ash as are those of the chipping
sparrow.

The nest is placed in a field or bushy woodland,
either on the ground or in a low bush. Eggs are
laid in the latter part of May, and there are two
sets.

The song is very sweet. According to Minot they
open with a few exquisitely modulated whistles, each
higher and a very little louder than the preceding,
and close with a sweet trill.

They sing at various hours of the day, but most
often in the early morning and toward evening.
Song continues in the region of New York from the
time of arrival to mid- August, and there is no second
song-period.

55. CHIPPING SPARROW; SOCIAL SPARROW
HAIRBIRD (Spizella socialist

Upper parts gray, streaked with black and bay ; crown chestnut,
bordered on either side by a gray line and this again by a black
line which passes through the eye ; under parts clear ash ;
wing with two white bars. Beak conical, black ; feet brown.
Bird considerably smaller than a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THIS most abundant and familiar of all our
native sparrows comes to us about the middle of

Family Fringillidie — Chipping Sparrow 109

April, and remains until mid-October. They are to
be found most abundantly on or near the ground,
in parks and gardens, about houses, and along quiet
roads. Their confiding habits have rendered them
well known, and they are not ordinarily likely to be
confounded with any other sparrow. Occasionally,
however, they may be found in dry, bushy fields
together with the field sparrow. The differences
between these two very similar species have already
been enumerated. (See No. 54.)

The nest is usually placed not far from the
ground in shrubbery or vines. When trees are se-
lected, cedars are preferred ; but an orchard or oc-
casionally a shade tree may be chosen. Its habit
of lining the nest with horse-hair has given rise
to the common name of hairbird. Eggs are laid
about the first of June, and there are two sets.

The ordinary note is a single chip ; besides this,
there is a long, monotonous trill, somewhat like a
watchman's rattle, which is sometimes given rapidly,
sometimes more slowly.

LITERATURE :

Upland and Meadow. (Art. " Twixt Cold and Heat.")— C. C.
ABBOTT.

1 1 o Land Birds of Nt'iv England

56. TREE SPARROW ; WINTER CHIPBIRD

(Spisella monticola.')

Upner parts gray, streaked with black, bay, and flaxen ; crown
chestnut, bordered on either side by a broad gray stripe, and this
again by a narrow chestnut stripe which runs through the eye;
wing with two white bars ; under parts ashy ; sides of belly
somewhat rusty ; breast with an obscure dusky spot in the cen-
tre. Beak conical, dark above, light below ; feet strong, dark.
Bird nearly as large as an English sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE tree sparrow is one of our winter residents,
arriving in late October or early November, and
remaining until early May. During most of the
season when he is here, the field sparrows and chip-
ping sparrows, with which he may very easily be
confounded, are in the South ; but the three birds
overlap in the spring and fall. It may therefore be
worth while to point out that the tree sparrow differs
from the others in being distinctly larger, and in
ordinarily having an obscure dark spot on the
breast. He is to be sought in weedy fields and
along roadsides, and often in apple-trees. It is
very common to find him with his mates in com-
pany with black snowbirds, though he usually rather
avoids the neighborhood of houses.

Breeding takes place in Arctic countries only ;
the nest is placed on the ground or in a low bush.

The song is loud, clear, and strong, starting, ac-

Family Fringillidce- - Sparrow. 1 1 1

cording to Brewer, "with two high notes, then fall-
ing rapidly, and ending with a low, sweet warble."
The song usually begins in late March, but may
occasionally be heard in November or December.

57. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
PEABODY BIRD

(Zonotrichia a Ib i col I is . )

Male : upper parts streaked with brown, black and flaxen ; head
with longitudinal black and white stripes and a yellow spot
in front of each eye ; under parts dark gray, often obscurely
streaked; throat pure white; wings with two white bars; tail
long, brown. Beak conical, dark ; feet horn-color. Bird about
the size of the English sparrow. Female : similar but with
duller colors, and the stripes of the head brown and white, in-
stead of black and white.

THE white-throated sparrow comes to us in April,
and leaves in Mav for the north, and on his south-

^

ward return spends the month of October with us.
During migration they are usually seen in small
flocks in the neighborhood of low bushes and
shrubs. They spend a great deal of time on the
ground, where their large size and rather fearless
disposition render them conspicuous.

The white-throat nests in northern New England,
and at a few points in Massachusetts ; the nest is
usually placed on the ground, in or near a swamp,
though sometimes it is built in bushes.

1 1 2 Land Birds of New England

With us this bird rarely sings, although it may be
heard both in spring and fall ; but farther north his
call is a familiar woodland sound. It consists of
two long clear notes (which are not so easily
heard as the remaining ones), followed by two or
three triplets. It has been variously translated as
Old-Sam-Peabody-Peabody-Peabody ; all-day-whit-
tling-whittling-whittling; or by homesick French
Canadians, as La-belle-Canada-Canada-Canada.

58. SAVANNA SPARROW
(Amjiwdrauius sandwichensis savanna.)

Upper parts streaked with bay, black, and flaxen; under parts
white or buffish, thickly marked on breast and sides of belly
with dark brown spots, some of which rarely run together to
form an obscure blotch on the breast ; head with a yellowish
line above the eye and sometimes a suffusion of yellow in front
of it. Beak conical, brown ; feet light brown. Bird a little
smaller than an English sparrow. Sexes similar.

NOTE. -- This species is an extremely variable one ; fall specimens
are much more brightly colored than spring and summer ones.

THIS timid little bird is an extremely local spar-
row ; it is said to be most abundant in the salt
water marshes and their neighborhood. It spends
its time almost exclusively on the ground in pas-
tures and open fields, several pairs usually frequent-
ing the same field or strip of shore. It is especially

Family Fringillida - Vesper Sparrow 113

abundant about the middle of April and again in
October, although many spend the entire summer
with us.

The nest is placed on the ground ; eggs are laid
late in May, and there are two sets.

The song is quaint and simple, but not especially
musical. In the region of New York they sing dur-
ing the later part of the spring migration, z>., any-
where from the ninth of April to the second of May.

59. VESPER SPARROW; GRASS FINCH
BAY-WINGED BUNTING

(PooccEtes gramineiis.}

Upper parts gray, streaked with dusky brown and flaxen ; wing
with two white bars ; tail with outer feathers wholly or largely
white ; upper parts white or buff, heavily marked on breast and
sides of belly with brown spots. Beak conical, brown ; feet
brown. Bird as large as an English sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE vesper sparrow comes to us about the middle
of April, and leaves again in late October. He is
to be sought in open fields and pastures, and about
newly ploughed ground. He is readily recognized,
because he is the only sparrow-like bird which shows
white tail feathers in flight. He spends much of his
time upon the ground, although by no means so
restricted to it as his name would seem to imply.
He owes his other name of vesper sparrow to the

114 Land Birds of New England

fact that he sings with peculiar sweetness and energy
as night comes on.

The nest is placed upon the ground, usually in
a pasture or other open rield. Eggs are laid in the
latter part of May, and there are two sets.

The song resembles somewhat that of the song
sparrow, though it is less lively. It is sometimes
heard at mid-day, but more commonly in the early
morning or toward dusk. Song continues in the
region of New York to late July or early August,
and once discontinued is not resumed in the same
year.

60. SNOWFLAKE ; WHITE SNOWBIRD
SNOW BUNTING.

( 7 Vt'c/f -opJiena.v n ii >alis . )

Male: back and much of the wings and tail black; head, rump,
and under parts white ; both white and black more or less over-
laid with warm brown ; wings and tail largely white. Beak
conical, light brown ; feet black. Bird distinctly larger than a
sparrow. Sexes often similar, save that the female is some-
what smaller, but female oftener much browner than the male,
sometimes, indeed, of a streaky brown above arid a brownish
white below.

NOTK. — This description applies to the winter plumage, the only
one likely to be seen by an observer in the United States.

THKSK birds are very irregular in their appearance.
They may be looked for in any open ground where
seed-bearing weeds are to be found, but are espe-

Family Fringillidcs- -American Goldfinch 115

cially numerous near the coast, where they feed
upon small shell-fish. They commonly move in
flocks, which often contain thousands of individuals,
and may then be seen " whirling like a flurry of
snow before alighting on the ground."

The sudden flurries of snowbirds
Like brown leaves whirling by.

LOWELL.

They may be seen at any time in the winter, but
are most likely to appear after there has been a
heavy snowstorm in the north.

Breeding occurs in the Arctic regions. One nest
was found "situated in a cave in a sandbank."

The note which I have most commonly heard is
a weak chirrup, often uttered when on the wing.
Minot speaks also of a " clearly piped whistle."

61. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ; YELLOW BIRD

THISTLE BIRD

(Spin us tristis . )

Male in spring plumage : entire body clear yellow ; forehead,
wings, and tail black, the last two with white markings. Beak
conical, horn colored ; feet horn colored. Bird about two-thirds
as large as a sparrow. Female and male in fall plumage:
upper parts olivaceous ; under parts yellowish gray ; wings and
tail dusky, marked with white.

THIS beautiful little bird comes to us in March or
early April, and leaves again in October, though

Ii6 Land Birds of New England

some individuals always winter with us. He may
be looked for in weedy pastures, but especially in
the neighborhood of seeding sunflowers and thistles.
Indeed, his devotion to this latter plant has gained
for him the name of the " thistle bird."

Except at the breeding season goldfinches are
usually found in small flocks ; at that time they
separate into pairs. The nest is placed at a mod-
erate height in a crotch of a bush or deciduous
tree, usually near the roadside. It is commonly
built in late June or early July; but the time varies
considerably, as does also the time of egg-laying.

The Might is undulating, consisting of alternate
risings and sinkings, and is accompanied by a call
which has been translated into the syllables, pretty-
little-bird, or per-chick-o-pee. In addition, the birds
when at rest give forth a song which, while not
strong, is clear and liquid. Song begins in the
vicinity of New York usually between the middle
of March and the middle of April. It continues
sometimes to the end of August, but there is no
second song-period.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

Family Fringillidce - - Redpoll. 1 1 7

62. REDPOLL (Acanthias linaria.}

Male: upper parts mottled dusky and flaxen; wings and tail
brown ; wing with two white cross bars ; forehead and breast,
and sometimes rump, rosy ; rest of under parts white, some-
what streaked with dusky. Bill small, conical, horn-colored ;
feet dark. Bird considerably smaller than a sparrow. Female :
similar, save that the forehead only is rosy, and the under
parts are more streaked.

THESE confiding little birds may be found during
the winter in loose flocks, often associated with other
birds, in weedy fields and other places where they
can find seeds. They sometimes climb along the
branches of shrubs, head downward, like chicka-
dees. They are very irregular in their visits, but
may be looked for any time from November to
March.

They breed in northern regions, and the nest is
built on the ground.

The note is a peculiar little call, something like
the syllables chett or chett-cher-rett, and is fre-
quently uttered while the birds are feeding or flying
from place to place.

1 1 8 Land Birds of New England

63. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL

{Loxia leucoptera.}

Male : dull rosy red, brownish on back ; wings and tail dark
brown; wing with two white crossbars. Beak large and strong,
the upper part shutting against the side of the lower one, as in
scissor blades. Bird about the size of a sparrow. Female:
upper parts yellow-brown ; rump yellow ; under parts yellow-
gray ; wing with two white bars.

THE white-winged crossbill frequents cone-bear-
ing trees, and has much the same habits as the
American. It is, like that, an erratic winter visitor,
but it is much less common.

Breeding is not known to occur in southern
New England. The nest is built in deep woods,
usually in a cone-bearing tree. Chamberlain speaks
of finding nests in New Brunswick in January and
February, so that it is possible that this species
may have the same habit of occasional winter-
breeding which marks the American crossbill.

The song is said by Brewer to be " irregular and
varied, but sweet and musical."

Family FringillicUz -- American Crossbill 119

'^

64. AMERICAN CROSSBILL; RED CROSSBILL

(Lo.ria citrinrostra minor.}

Male : dull brick-red, somewhat mottled with brownish ; tail and
wings dark brown, almost black. Beak large and strong, the
upper part shutting against the side of the lower one like the
blades of a pair of scissors. Bird about the size of a sparrow.
Female: grayish green above; yellowish gray below; rump
yellowish green.

THE American crossbill, though resident in north-
ern New England, comes to us only as an extremely
irregular visitant, chiefly in winter. When it does
appear, it is always in a flock, often made up largely
of birds of other kinds, especially the white-winged
crossbill. It is found especially in rather deep co-
niferous woods, where it feeds upon the seeds which
its curious beak is well adapted to extract from the
cone.

The nest is usually placed in a dense wood on an
evergreen tree, at a considerable height from the
ground. Crossbills have been known to breed,
though rarely, in Massachusetts ; and they have the
very exceptional custom of breeding, occasionally at
least, in January or February, though March is the
more common time.

The song consists of a " number of loud flute-
like notes frequently intermingled with several harsh
chattering tones." And the female, contrary to the

I2O Land Birds of New England

usual custom of birds, is said to sing quite as well
as the male.

LITERATURE:

Nidification of Loxia curuirostra amen'cana. — "Bulletin of the
Nuttall Ornithological Club," 1880.

65. PURPLE FINCH ; LINNET

( Carpodacus purpnreus.*)

Male: body brownish rose, brighter on crown; wings and tail
brown. " His color . . . looks as if it might have been imparted
by dipping a brown bird in diluted pokeberry juice." — Burroughs.
Beak large, conical, light brown ; feet brown. Bird about the
size of a sparrow. Female: upper parts dusky olive-brown,
somewhat mottled ; under parts white, heavily marked with
dusky brown ; wings and tail uniform dull brown.

THE purple finch frequents the orchard, the gar-
den, and the edges of the woodland. He is often
to be found on fruit-trees and elm-trees when they
are in blossom, as he is fond of the flower buds.
He is a resident, but more abundant in the warmer
months from early April to October.

The nest is placed at a moderate height, some-
times in a pine or cedar, sometimes in a deciduous
tree, and occasionally in a bush or hedge. Eggs
are laid about the first of June, and there are often
two sets.

This bird is one of our beautiful songsters ; he

Family Fri Jigil I idee -- Purple FincJi 121

may be found singing at any part of the day,
perched usually at the top of a high tree. Song
begins in the neighborhood of New York any time
from the first week in March to the fourth week in
April, and continues until mid-July. In the fall a
weak, desultory song may be heard during the
month of October, and often in late September.

His song approaches an ecstasy, and with the excep-
tion of the winter wren's is the most rapid and copious
strain to be heard in these woods. It is quite destitute
of the trills and the liquid, silvery, bubbling notes tJiat
characterize the wren's ; but there runs through it a
rounded, nicely modulated whistle, very siueet and very
pleasing. --BURROUGHS.

122 Land Birds of New England

FAMILY

66. PURPLE GRACKLE ; CROW BLACKBIRD

{Quiscahis quiscula.}

Male: lustrous black above and below with purple reflections;
head, throat, and forebreast of a rich metallic blue, which varies
much in brilliance with age and condition. Beak black, very
large and strong ; feet black ; tail extremely long. Female :
similar, but black rather faded, and lustre less marked. Female
about the size of a robin, male distinctly larger.

THE purple grackles come in early April, and stay
until November. On their first arrival they may
be met in large flocks on open land, sometimes
clinging to a solitary tree until they blacken all its
branches.

TJic blackbirds clatter in* in tall trees,

An' scttlin' things in windy congresses. — LOWELL.

During the summer they live in pairs, often asso-
ciated in communities, but come together in large
flocks for the autumn months. They may be found
on open ground, \valking instead of hopping over
the fields, and searching for the insects which form
a large part of their diet. Unfortunately for the
farmer, they may also be found in freshly planted
fields and amid ripening grain, where they feed
upon corn, often doing immense injury to crops.

Faintly Icteridce- -Rusty Blackbird 123

The nest is usually placed in an evergreen, some-
times very high, sometimes not more than six feet
from the ground. Eggs are laid about the middle
of May.

The note is a loud chatter or scream.

LITERATURE:

Upland and Meadow. — C. C. ABBOTT.

A Bird Lover in the West. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

In Nesting-Time, — IBID.

67. RUSTY BLACKBIRD; RUSTY GRACKLE
( Scolecoph agus carolin us.}

Entire body rusty black with metallic green reflections. Bill long
and dark; feet dark. Bird about the size of a robin. Sexes
similar, but female more rusty and rather smaller than male.

NOTE. — This description applies to the winter plumage, the form
which is commonly seen.

THE rusty grackles appear in most of New Eng-
land only as spring and fall migrants. They come
to the region of Boston in late March, and pass on
before the end of April ; and they are with us again
in September and October. They usually appear
in flocks, often associated with other blackbirds,
and are most commonly to be found in open and
somewhat marshy country. Like other blackbirds,
they walk instead of hopping.

The nests are built in bushes in swampy tangle.
The birds breed sparingly in northern New England.

The note is the ordinary blackbird chuck. Ac-

124 Land Birds of New England

cording to Bicknell they sing during both spring and
fall migrations ; and the authors of North American
Birds mention " a very pretty note," which they re'
gard as characteristic of early summer.

68. BALTIMORE ORIOLE ; GOLDEN ROBIN

FIREBIRD; HANGNEST

{Icterus galb ula.~}

Male: head, throat, and back black; rump and under parts from
the throat back, fiery orange; outer part of tail orange, middle
part black ; wings black, with a little white on them, but not
enough to make a wing bar. Beak long, strong, and dark. Bird
nearly midway in size between a sparrow and a robin. Female :
head and back olivaceous ; rump and under parts yellow ; tail
olivaceous yellow ; wings dusky with two white bars.

This is one of our famous beauties of bird life,
noted alike for its. flash of color, its assiduity in sing-
ing, and its skill at the loom. -- COUES.

IT is a familiar bird of the streets and parks, es-
pecially abundant among elms. Its flight is singu-
larly rapid and direct, hence the flash of its color.

My oriole, mv glance of summer fire. — Low ELL.

It comes to the vicinity of Boston about the tenth
of May, timing its coming by the blossoming of the
fruit-trees, and it leaves us again in September.
The males arrive first, and the character of the song
is said to be quite different during and after the
period of bachelor solitude.

Family Icteridce- -Meadowlark 125

The nest is purse-shaped, and is attached to the
very end of a bough, preferably of an elm. Eggs
are laid about the first of June.

The song is a loud, clear whistle, in which may
be noticed at intervals the syllables tu-wee tu-wee.
" The female, too, has her own peculiar and very
pretty notes, which she incessantly warbles as she
weaves her curiously elaborate nest." The oriole
sings from the time of arrival to departure, but is
nearly silent in July, and in August sings only in the
early morning, and then but a few simple notes.

LITERATURE:

A Naturalist's Rambles. (Art. " A Short Study of Birds' Nests.")
— C. C. ABBOTT.

Birdways. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
In Nesting-Time. — IBID.

69. MEADOWLARK; FIELDLARK

(Sturnella inagna.}

Upper parts dark brown, streaked with flaxen, the general effect
being somewhat like that of a sparrow's back ; under parts
bright yellow, the f orebreast crossed by a heavy black crescent ;
outer tail feathers largely white. Beak long, strong, black ;
feet horn-color. Sexes similar, save that the female is smaller
and somewhat duller. Size of male about that of a robin ;
female distinctly smaller.

THIS beautiful bird frequents the meadows and
pasturelands from spring until late fall, and accord-
ing to Brewster, is common near the coast even

1 26 Land Birds of New England

during the winter months. I have been most fortu-
nate in rinding him in fields which are not far re-
moved from streams. He spends a large part of
his time on the ground, where he walks instead
of hopping. His flight is very characteristic, con-
sisting of a few rapid movements and then a long
sail. Shelley's lines, though written of another
bird, fit the meadowlark to perfection : —

Jn the gold eji lightning

Of the sunken sun,
O'er which clouds are brightening

TIlOll dost FLOAT AND RUN.

The nest is usually built on the ground in a
meadow, on or near a tussock of grass. Eggs are
laid about the last of May..

The song consists of a long, clear, and somewhat
plaintive whistle, " a flute-note sweet and high,"
and the bird is one of our noticeable singers. He
sings from the ground, from a tree-top, or when on
the wing. In the vicinity of New York he may be
first heard anywhere from early February until early
April, and he continues sometimes until the third
week of August. After a long silence, song is re-
sumed in October and early November,

Family let c rides- - Red- Winged Blackbird 127

70. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

SWAMP BLACKBIRD ; MARSH BLACKBIRD

(Agelaius plioeniceus.)

Male: entirely black, save for a red patch bordered behind with
yellow on each shoulder. (The red. feathers are sometimes dis-
placed, so that they do not show.) Beak and feet strong and
dark (in male black). Bird nearly as large as a robin. Female :
upper parts in general, including wings and tail, faded black ;
head somewhat mottled with whitish ; under parts white,
heavily marked with blackish brown.

Gay soldier blackbirds, wearing on their shoulders
Red gold-edged epaulets. --THAXTER.

THESE showy birds are inhabitants of low, wet
fields, thickets, and marshes. They are often to be
seen on the ground, either singly or in pairs ; and they
are especially noticeable in such circumstance from
the fact that they walk instead of hopping, as do most
birds. In the fall, when parental duties are over,
they assemble in large flocks, and may then be found
on any open ground. They come to the neighbor-
hood of Boston in late March, and leave in October.

The nest is built in swamps or meadows, either on
a tussock on the ground or in a bush, especially the
alder. Eggs are laid in the latter part of May.

The redwing has a very characteristic note.
Thoreau translated it into con-qua-ree ; Emerson
says, "The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee." The first
two syllables are short and liquid, the third is a

128 Land Birds of New

J

long, creaking note. Unfortunately, unless one is
near the bird, the first notes are apt to be missed.
The chief song months are March, April, and early
May; but he does not entirely cease, at least in the
neighborhood of New York, until mid-July, and re-
news his music for a few days in October.

LITERATURE :

Birdways. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

71. COWBIRD (Molothrus ater.*)

Male: both upper and under parts of lustrous black with green and
purple reflections ; head and neck dark brown. Beak large,
conical, black ; feet dark brown or black. Bird about halfway
in size between a robin and a sparrow. Female : upper parts
brownish gray, obscurely mottled ; under parts similar but a
little lighter.

THE cowbirds come to us in early April, and leave
in late September. They are to be found either
singly or in small flocks, usually perched on or near
the tops of trees in open country, and in the vicin-
ity of ploughed fields. The common name is due
to their fondness for seeking food in the neighbor-
hood of cattle. \Yhen on the ground, a place they
rarely choose, they have the habit of walking rather
than hopping, which characterizes blackbirds in
general. They come to us about the first of April,
and leave about the middle of October.

The cowbirds build no nest, but drop the eggs in
the nests of other birds, usuallv choosing those of

.< o

Family I derides — Bobolink 129

birds considerably smaller than themselves. The
laying season is from April until the middle of June.

The notes are for the most part unmusical - - a
loud chuck-see, produced only after the most laugh-
able contortions, is the most common one. There
is also, however, a " clear, rather shrill, whistle, usu-
ally followed by a few similar but falling notes."

Bicknell describes the complete song as end-
ing with a sound u curiously like that of bubbling
water," and adds that in the later part of the season
this closing portion is often omitted. Song becomes
infrequent in June, and ends in early July, to be
resumed again during the month following mid-
September.

72. BOBOLINK ; SKUNK BLACKBIRD
REEDBIRD ; RICEBIRD

(JDolichonyx orysivorus . )

Male in summer plumage : upper parts largely and under parts
wholly black, often somewhat impure ; a dorsal half-collar of
buff ; rump and upper part of tail ashy white. Beak black, con-
ical. Female and male in winter : upper parts, including wings
and tail, dark brown streaked with yellowish brown ; under
parts uniform yellowish brown. Beak horn-color, conical. Feet
in both sexes strong, horn-color in female, darker in male.
Bird rather larger than a sparrow.

THE bobolink should be sought in meadows, espe-
cially in such as border a stream. They come to us
in early May, and leave in September. Like his rel-

130 Land Birds of New England

atives, the bobolirik walks instead of hopping when
he chances to be on the ground ; but he is much
more likely to be met in a tree, swinging on some
slender weed, or hovering in the air, ever pouring
forth that ecstatic flood of melody which poets have
tried in vain to imitate or even describe. Unlike
most birds, the bobolink sings all day long, and its
" mad music " needs only to be heard to be recog-
nized. Some of its syllables resemble the word

J

bobolink ; but aside from this, the impetuous rush
of song is unlike that of any other bird. The fol-
lowing translation of his song, u if repeated rapidly
with a rising inflection in each part, illustrates it
very well : Tom noodle, Tom noodle, you owe me,
you owe me, ten shillings and sixpence. I paid
you, I paid you ; you didn't, you didn't ; you lie,
you lie ; you cheat." - MINOT.

The bobolink sings into early July, the song grad-
ually waning in beauty and frequency until it ceases ;
later he has only a single short note of a softly me-
tallic tone.

The nest is built on the ground in meadows amid
long grass, and is usually well concealed. Eggs are
laid about the first of June.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MII.I.ER.
Birds and Poets. (Art. " Birds and Poets.")— BURROUGHS.

Family Corvidce -- American Crow 131

FAMILY CORVID^.

73. AMERICAN CROW; COMMON CROW
(Corinis americanus .}

Body entirely black both above and below, beak and feet strong
and black. Sexes similar, but female smaller. Male nearly
twice the length of a robin.

CROWS remain the entire year with us ; they may
be found almost anywhere on open ground. They
spend much time on the earth, where they walk in-
stead of hopping. In winter I have found them in-
clined to be carnivorous, and readily attracted by
meat when they are quite sure that it does not
conceal a trap. During the day a few only are or-
dinarily -to be found together; but, except at the
breeding season, large numbers congregate to spend
the night at some especially attractive spot. Thence
they fly out in the morning for their day's foraging,
and thither they return again in the evening, often
in bands, flying in a long line.

The blackening trains o' crau'S to their repose. — BURNS.

The wariness and sagacity of crows have given occa-
sion for many anecdotes, and make these birds espe-
cially interesting ones to study.

The nest is placed usually in high, thick woods,

132 Land Birds of New England

preferably in a pine or cedar, and usually far up in
the tree. Eggs are laid early in May.
The only note is the familiar caw.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

74. BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata.}

Upper parts gray-blue ; wings and tail bright blue with black bars
and with conspicuous white markings ; under parts gray ; fore-
breast crossed by a black crescent which is continued up as a
narrow black band over the crown. Crest present. " His saucy
crest seems to be held in place by a band of black velvet ribbon
passing under his chin." Beak and feet strong, black. Bird
distinctly larger than a robin. Sexes substantially alike, but
color of female rather less intense.

THE jay may be found in any part of the woods,
or, indeed, in open land in the neighborhood of
trees. He is conspicuous among birds for his habit
of walking instead of hopping over the ground.
Some jays spend the entire year with us, but the
greater number go south for the winter.

The nest is usually placed in an evergreen, at a
moderate height, and often near the trunk. Eggs
are laid in the later part of May.

/A' \_tJie bine /V/r] is to be despised as a murderer, a
thief, a rioter, and a disturber of the general peace,
hi the slaughter of babes . . . lie out- Her ads Ilerod.
lie sneaks into the nesfs of smaller birds, sucking their

Family Corvidce - - Blue Jay 133

eggs or killing their young . . . and spreading sor-
row wherever he goes. In the stealing of grain he
rivals the crow. . . . As a leader of riots, though a
coward, he does not hesitate occasionally to tease the
hawks . . . or to take advantage of the owls when
confused by daylight -Is a disturber of the gen-
eral peace, he delights to spread terror among other
birds by imitating the cries of hawks, or to deceive
them by pretending distress. — MlNOT.

The ordinary note is a scream, often uttered on
the wing, which bears some resemblance to the
syllable jay ; but the bird is credited besides with a
rich, bell-like note. He is said also to possess the
power of mimicry and that of ventriloquism. The
utterance of any note, save when he is on the wing,
is accompanied by most ludicrous motions.

LITERATURE:

In Nesting-Time. —OLIVE THORXE MILLER.

A Bird Lover in the West. — IBID.

Little Brothers of the Air. — IBID.

A Naturalist's Rambles. (Art. " Three Beeches.") — C. C. ABBOTT.

134 Land Birds of Neiv England

FAMILY TYRANNID-ffi.

75. LEAST FLYCATCHER; CHEBEC
(Empidonax min im us.*)

Upper parts olive-gray ; wing with two white bars and white edges
to many of the quills ; under parts impure white except the fore-
breast, which is grayish. Beak broad, flat, upper mandible dark,
lower one light ; feet black. Bird rather less than two-thirds the
size of a sparrow, but with head and shoulders so large as to
make it look like a dwarf. Sexes similar.

THIS droll little bird comes to us in early May,
and leaves again about the middle of September.
He frequents orchards and also the edges of wood-
land, especially that composed of birches, maples,
or beeches. When he has selected his home for
the summer, he often confines himself with some
closeness to a single group of trees. He has all the
ordinary fly-catcher habits, such as flirting the tail,
scolding in a harsh, unmusical voice, and dashing
into the air to catch a flying insect ; and it is as irre-
sistibly ludicrous to see this pygmy thus engaged,
as to see small children mimicking their papas and
mammas.

The nest is placed in an orchard or woodland
tree, at a moderate height above the ground. Eggs
are laid early in June, and there are two sets.

The song-note is a loud, emphatic, but unmusical

Family Tyrannidce — Wood P ewe e 135

cry, resembling the syllables che-bec. Song ceases
in the neighborhood of New York in late June or
early July, and appears not to be resumed.

76. WOOD PEWEE (Contopus virens.}

Upper parts olivaceous ; wings and tail dusky, wing with two
white bars ; under parts in general yellowish white ; forebreast
and sides of belly tinged with grayish. Beak broad, flat, upper
mandible dark, lower one usually yellow ; feet black. Bird dis-
tinctly smaller than a sparrow. Sexes similar.

A little bird in suit

Of sombre olive, soft and brou'ii,
Perched in the maple branches mute ;

With greenish gold its vest was fringed,
Its tiny cap -was ebon-tinged,

With ivory pale its wings U'ere barred,

And its dark eyes were tender-starred. — TROWBRIDGE.

THIS plaintive little creature comes to us only in
the latter part of May, and leaves again in early
September. He is to be sought entirely in woods,
either dry or swampy, but is most likely to be
found in the evening in the neighborhood of wooded
pools and lakes, which afford an abundance of the
flying insects upon which he feeds. \Yhen once
discovered he may be conveniently studied, owing
to his habit of returning day after day to the same
place at about the same time. He has the usual
flycatcher habit of selecting a post of observation

136 Land Birds of New England

(usually in this case from ten to forty feet above
the ground), whence he dashes out after an insect,
returning after its capture to the same spot.

The nest is usually placed in an oak at a con-
siderable distance above the ground. Eggs are
laid about the middle of June, and there are often
two sets.

The note is a plaintive pee-u-ee, often shortened
to pee-u. He sings especially in the early morning
and late evening, often when it is quite dark. In
the neighborhood of New York his song ceases at
any time between late July and the end of August,
although occasional songs may be heard in Sep-
tember.

LITERATURE :

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

77. PHOEBE ; PEWIT ; WATER PEWEE

(Say orn is

Upper parts grayish brown, darker on head ; under parts impure
white, passing into light gray-brown on sides and breast. Wing
usually but not always with a white bar. Bill broad, flat, dark ;
feet black. Bird about the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar.

THE phoebe comes to us about the first of April,
and leaves in early October. His comparatively
fearless disposition and characteristic habits unite
to render him familiar. He frequents somewhat

Family Tymiinidce - - Phcebe 137

open ground where insects are abundant, and selects
a good post of observation not very far from the
ground. From this he makes constant sallies, paus-
ing in mid air, and returning to his perch as if he
had suddenly changed his mind. If one be near
enough, however, one can hear the click of the
beak which announces the fate of the unhappy
insect in pursuit of which he dashed out. While
perched he has a characteristic fashion of flirting
his tail. Minot remarks, that in feeding from a
swarm of very small insects, he frequently hovers
with the body almost erect, and sustained by a
rapid beating of the wings. He is almost never to
be found upon the ground.

The nest is placed on any projecting surface,
under the shelter of a bridge, ledge, or roof of a
building, or sometimes beneath a ledge of rock.
The bird is in the habit of coming back year after
year to the same place. Eggs are laid early in May,
and there are two sets.

The note is a somewhat harsh and querulous one,
resembling the word phcebe. The first syllable is
smooth, the second rough and broken.

Beside the common call-note . . . they have, during
the love season, a low, twittering song with which they
entertain their mates, but which is heard only w/ien
the birds are in company, and for a brief season. —
NORTH AMERICAN* BIRDS.

138 Land Birds of New England

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
In Nesting-Time. — IBID.

78. CRESTED FLYCATCHER

(Myiarc/ius critiitus.

Upper parts olivaceous ; throat and forebreast slate, passing into
yellow on the belly ; wing with two whitish bars, and the quills
edged some with whitish and some with chestnut ; tail with the
inner side of each quill chestnut, so that the tail looks decid-
edly reddish from below. Slight crest. Beak broad, flat, black ;
feet black. Bird about half-way in size between a robin and
a sparrow.

THIS fine bird comes to us about the middle of
May, and leaves again early in September. It is
a rather rare and local bird, but I have met it in
Wellesley without special search. It frequents wood-
lands, choosing deciduous rather than evergreen
trees, and. so far as my experience goes, choosing
the edges rather than the deeper part. He usually
perches near the top of a high tree, whence he
makes those sallies after insects which are charac-
teristic of the whole flycatcher group. In the fall,
however, he is said to feed almost entirely upon
various kinds of berries.

The nest is built in the hollow of a tree or occa-
sionally in a bird-box, and the place selected is
either woodland or a deserted orchard. Eggs are
laid about the middle of June.

Family Tyrannidce - - Kingbird 1 39

The bird " may be recognized by its singular
notes - - one a harsh, explosive outcry of one sylla-
ble, pitched in a high key, and others sounded in
guttural tone two or three times - - all suggestive
of the bird's irritable and impulsive nature."
STEARNS AND COUES. Bicknell states that in July
and early August the voice nearly or quite fails,
and the note is single, faint, and somewhat mourn-
ful. In late July they attempt a return to the harsh
outcry of the early summer.

79. KINGBIRD; BEE MARTIN

(Tyrannus tyrannus.}

Upper parts blackish brown ; under parts white, somewhat tinged
with gray on the sides ; tail with white tip ; some of wing
feathers with white edgings ; crown with a yellow spot which
is ordinarily to be seen only by parting the feathers. Crown
feathers may be erected into a low crest. Beak broad, strong,
and black ; feet black. Bird about half way in size between a
sparrow and a robin. Sexes similar.

THIS active and pugnacious bird may be found
in fields and along roadsides. He is commonly
perched on a post or low bough on the lookout for
insects. His sudden dart into the air or down to
the ground, followed by a return to the post of
observation, is extremely characteristic. Sometimes
one may even hear the click of the bill which an-
nounces the fate of the unhappy insect. He is

140 Land Birds of New England

with us from early May until September. Park-
hurst notes that in bathing he flies from his perch
directly into the stream, dashes the water over his
back, and returns to his place, repeating the per-
formance several times. It is perhaps this habit
which has given rise to the unfounded idea that he
feeds upon small fish.

He owes his name to the fact that he is the one
small bird who ventures to attack the marauding
crow, and that he always comes off victorious. Ris-
ing above his foe, he drops down upon his back,
attacking him with beak and claws until the un-
lucky intruder makes off in ludicrous consternation.

The nest is usually placed at a moderate height
on the horizontal bough of a tree in the orchard or
by the wayside. Eggs are laid early in June.

The note is a sharp twitter, often somewhat re-
sembling that of the swallow.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — OLIVE THORNE MILLER.

Family Trochilida- -Hummingbird 141

FAMILY TROCHILID^

80. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

(Trochiliis colnbris.}

Male : upper parts green ; wings and tail dusky ; under parts
grayish ; throat in different lights may look slate, or brilliant
metallic red. Beak long, black, and needle-like ; feet tiny.
Female: in general similar, but the throat is white, specked
with dark, and the outer tail feathers are tipped with white.
The male from tip of tail to tip of beak appears about three
inches long, and the female is about half an inch less.

The least of birds, a jewelled sprite

With burnished throat and needle bill. — SILL.

THESE exquisite little beings are attracted espe-
cially by long-tubed flowers, such as the nasturtium,
the trumpet creeper, and the honeysuckle. They
are singularly fearless, coming readily into the im-
mediate neighborhood of houses, or even of persons.
I have had the same bird come twice over to poise
before a cluster of nasturtiums which I held, brush-
ing the hand which held them, and seeming to re-
gard it as a new and improved kind of flower-stem.
They may be found all through the summer, from
early May even to mid- September.

The nest is usually placed on the limb of an oak
or an orchard tree, and so thickly covered with
lichens as to look like a part of the branch. It has

142 Land Birds of New England

been known, however, to be attached to the stalk of
a large weed. Eggs are laid early in June.

There is no song, but a constant buzz like that
of the bee, due not to the voice, but to the wings.
The cry is a sharp, high squeak, only emitted in
moments of great excitement.

LITERATURE:

Upland and Meadow. — C. C. ABBOTT.

The Footpath Way. (Arts. " A Widow and Twins," and " The

Male Ruby-throat.") — BRADFORD TORKEY.

Fatni/y Micropo didce - - Chimney Swift 143

FAMILY MICROPODID^l

81. CHIMNEY SWIFT ; CHIMNEY " SWALLOW "

(CJicetiira pelagica.)

Entire body, both above and below, a sooty brown, lighter on the
throat; wings black. Beak extremely small and weak, black;
feet small, black. Bird with very long wings, and a tail so short
as to be almost absent ; tail feathers with spiny tips. Bird
considerably smaller than a sparrow.

THE chimney swift reaches us early in May, and
leaves again in August or September. He is readily
recognized by his skimming, swallow-like flight, and
apparent want of tail. He is a very common bird ;
but as he is always on the wine; save when in his

J O7

roosting-place, it is impossible to predict where he
may be found. The best way to study these birds
is to find a chimney which they inhabit, and watch
them as they gather in great flocks toward evening,
circling about the chimney, and gradually dropping
into it.

The nests are ordinarily fastened to the inside of
a chimney, though in sparsely settled regions the
birds are said to still build them as they formerly
did, in hollow trees. Eggs are laid about the end
of May, and there are often two sets.

144 Land Birds of Neiu England

The only note is a loud chip, or a rapidly accel-
erated chatter, which may be heard all through the
summer, except in cool evenings.

LITERATURE :

Up the Chimney. — FRANK BOLLES. Popular Science Monthly,
1894.

Family P id dee- -Flicker 145

FAMILY PICID^E

82. FLICKER; HIGH-HOLE

GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER
PIGEON WOODPECKER

(Colaptes an rat us.}

Male : upper parts in the main dull brown barred with black ;
head gray-brown with a scarlet band at the nape, and a black
cheek patch on either side of the mouth ; rump white ; throat
and forebreast lilac-brown shading into white on the belly ;
breast with broad black crescent, and under parts behind this
thickly marked with circular black spots ; wings and tail largely
yellow beneath. Beak large and strong, dark ; feet dark. Bird
considerably larger than a robin. Female : similar, save that
the black cheek patches are usually absent.

THIS abundant and lively bird may be looked
for in any woodland, in parks or orchards, or even
on the open ground far from trees. \Yhen among
trees it often perches like ordinary birds, instead of
clinging against the trunk like other woodpeckers.
It is a strong flier ; and in a good light the golden
under side of the wings, appearing and disappear-
ing, lends a beautiful shimmer to its movements.

o '

It is a resident, but less common in winter than
at other times. They usually appear in numbers
about the first of April.

The nest is a hole dug out usually in the trunk of

146 Land Birds of New England

a tree at a moderate height above the ground.
Oaks, maples, and apple-trees are favorites ; and
the nest is ordinarily placed in the woods, or at
least not in an isolated tree. Eggs are laid in the
latter part of May.

One of the most common cries consists of two
notes frequently repeated, which resemble some-
what the syllables, flicker, yucker, or yarrup, by all of
which names the bird is known. The spring-time
note " imitates a prolonged and jovial laugh, heard
at a considerable distance." -AUDUBON.

LITERATURE :

//; Nesting-Time. —OLIVE THORNE MILLER.
Little Brothers of the Air. — IBID.

83. DOWNY WOODPECKER

{Dry abates pnbescens.')

A miniature edition of the hairy woodpecker, save that the outer
tail feathers, instead of being entirely white, are barred with
black. The scarlet patch is lacking in the female of this, as of
the larger species. The bird is about the size of a sparrow.

THIS bird is our commonest woodpecker, and is
abundant not only in woods but in orchards. Save
in this respect, its habits, as well as its appearance,
agree with those of the hairy woodpecker (q. ?.'.).
There is no such difference in the character of the
plumage as the common names mi^ht imply.

Family Picida- -Hairy Woodpecker 147

It is to this little fellow that we are indebted for
the regular rows of small holes which so often mark
our apple-trees. They are drilled as a necessary
means of obtaining the insect grubs and larvae
which burrow beneath the bark, and which form
a large item in his bill of fare.

The nest is a hole excavated in a tree, or rarely in
a post. Apple, birch, and poplar trees are favor-
ites. Eggs are laid about the end of May. Accord-
ing to Minot, "The ordinary note is a chink or chick,
which they most often utter on alighting on some
tree or fence. Occasionally they repeat this rapidly
(as chick- a-chick-chick chick-chick)."

84. HAIRY WOODPECKER
(Dryobates i>illosns.~)

Male : upper parts in the main blackish brown, barred and spotted
with white ; back black, with broad white band down the mid-
dle ; head black, with white band above the eye and another
below it ; back of head with scarlet patch ; outer tail feathers
white; under parts white. Beak strong and dark; feet dark,
two toes turned back and two forward. Bird nearly as large
as a robin. Female : similar, but without the scarlet patch.

THIS bird is one of our rarer woodpeckers, and
is less often seen than the downy, not only because
it is less common, but also because it is more in-
clined to keep in the woods. It may be found in

148 Land Birds of New England

any woods, clinging against the trunks, and hammer-
ing away as it drills a hole into the tree in search
of the insect larvae which form its food. During
this operation, it supports itself not only by its feet,
but by the pointed tips of its tail feathers, which it
sticks into roughnesses of the bark. Owing to this
structure of the tail, the bird never runs down a
trunk like the nuthatches, but always up. It spends
the year with us, but is more common in the fall
and winter, as it breeds only locally in southern
New England.

The nest is a hole excavated usually in a trunk of
a tree, either in orchards or in woodlands. Eggs
are laid about the middle of May.

The bird is usually silent, so far as any call is
concerned, though the wood may ring with his ham-
mering; the voice is, however, said to be loud and
harsh.

Family Alcedinidcs- -Belted Kingfisher 149

FAMILY ALCEDINID^.

85. BELTED KINGFISHER

(Ceryle alcyon.)

Male: Upper parts gray-blue with a conspicuous white collar;
under parts in general white, but with a broad gray-blue band
across the breast ; sides under the wings gray-blue. Crest large
and conspicuous. Beak very strong, longer than the head, dark.
Feet brown, tarsus (i. e., the first joint above the toes) very short.
This condition is compensated by having the joint next above
the tarsus partly bare of feathers. Bird distinctly larger than a
robin. Female : similar, but with a chestnut belly-band in addi-
tion to the blue-gray breast-band, and with the sides under the
wings chestnut.

THESE fine birds spend as large a part of the year
as possible with us, being forced south only by the
freezing of the streams from which they draw their
food. They come in March, and leave in Novem-
ber. They may be found in the neighborhood of
any pond or large stream, but are not abundant, as
one pair usually pre-empts an entire body of water.

The nest is a long burrow in a sandy or gravelly
bank, usually near the water. Eggs are laid about
the end of May.

The cry, loud and hoarse, is not unlike a watch-
man's rattle.

LITERATURE:

A Naturalist's Rambles. — C. C. ABBOTT.

150 Land Birds of New England

FAMILY CUCULID^.

86. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO ; RAIN CROW

( Coccyzus eryth r op Jit ha hn us . )

Upper parts olive-gray ; under parts white ; tail much rounded,
very long, and with the outer feathers with small whitish tips,
which are hardly noticeable in flight. Beak long, almost en-
tirely black, upper mandible much curved ; feet dark. Bird
about the size of a robin. Sexes similar.

THE black-billed cuckoo arrives late in May, and
leaves us again early in September. He frequents
low, swampy woods and shrubbery, but is also to be
found more or less in cultivated ground. He seems
to be attracted by caterpillars of various sorts ; one
year, when the oak caterpillar caused great damage
to the college trees, the cuckoo appeared to abate
the nuisance. He is at no time very abundant,
though commoner in the neighborhood of Boston
than farther north.

The nest is usually placed in a low shrub or tree
in wet woodland, and is commonly only a few feet
from the ground. Eggs are laid in June.

The notes are somewhat varied, but all resemble
somewhat remotely the word cuckoo.

LITERATURE:

Little Brothers of the Air. — Oi.ivi: THUK.NK MII.I.KU.

Family Cnculidce - - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo 1 5 1

87. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO ; RAIN CROW

( Coccyzus a merit amis .)

Upper parts olive gray, shading into reddish brown on the wings ;
under parts white ; tail much rounded, very long, and with the
outer quills marked with large, conspicuous white tips. Beak
long, upper mandible much decurved and almost entirely black,
lower mandible almost entirely yellow ; feet dark. Bird about
the size of a robin. Sexes similar.

THE yellow-billed cuckoo is in general habits
similar to the black-billed. He is with us a rarer
bird, and ordinarily inhabits high, dry, and wooded
land.

The notes are similar to those of the more famil-
iar species.

According to Burroughs, although he is rarely to
be seen by day, he wanders freely about at night.
'• His peculiar guttural note, now here, now there,
may be heard almost any summer night in every
part of the country, and occasionally his better
known cuckoo call.'

>

152 Land Birds of New England

ORDER LIMICOL2ES.

88. SPOTTED SANDPIPER; TIP-UP

TEETER-TAIL; SOLITARY TATTLER
{Actitis macularia.}

Upper parts olive-gray marked with cross bars of blackish ; under
parts spotted with sharply outlined blackish spots ; edge of wing
and tips of tail feathers marked with white. Beak about an
inch long, slender, pale; legs long and bare for some distance
above the first joint, pale. Bird distinctly larger than a sparrow.
Sexes similar, save that in the female the spots on the under
parts are larger and more crowded.

THE spotted sandpiper comes to us in early May,
and leaves again in October. Although not a land
bird, he is included in our list because he is so likely
to be found in similar haunts. He is the commonest
of all our marsh birds, and is frequently to be met
along low river shores, where he is easily recognized
from his habit of jerking the hind part of his body
and his tail up and down with a motion as regular
as that of clockwork. From this peculiarity he has
received the name of tip-up or teeter-tail. The
flight, too, is unusual ; it consists of a quick stroke,
followed bv a lon°; slide close above the surface of

J O

the stream.

The nest is placed upon the ground in a field or
meadow, usually near water.

Order Limicolce -- Solitary Sandpiper 153

The note resembles the syllables peet-weet or
peet-weet-weet-weet.

LITERATURE:

Birds and Seasons. — WILSON FLAGG.

89. SOLITARY SANDPIPER;
SOLITARY TATTLER

{Tot anus solitaries. ~)

Upper parts olive-gray, marked with small white spots ; under
parts white, sides of neck and breast shaded with mottled gray-
brown. Beak about an inch long, slender, dark; legs long,
dark, bare above the first joint. Bird about half-way in size
between a sparrow and a robin. Sexes similar.

THE solitary sandpiper, like the spotted one, is
not a land bird, and is included in our list only for
convenience. It may occasionally be met during
the migration seasons on the shores of fresh-water
ponds and lakes. It spends only a short time here,
however, passing northward to breed. Its habits
are in general much like those of the spotted sand-
piper.

Breeding takes place in Northern New England
and northward. The only nest which has been dis-
covered was placed upon the ground.

The bird is usually silent except when suddenly
flushed ; at such times it utters a sharp whistle.

INDEX

PAGE

Acanthias linaria .... 117

Actitis macularia 152

Agelaius phor.nceus . . . . 127
Ammodramus sandwichensis

savanna 112

Ampelis cedrorum .... 89

Bee martin 139

Blackbird, crow 122

marsh 127

red-winged 127

rusty 123

skunk 129

swamp 127

Bluebird 39

Bobolink 29

Bunting, bay-winged . . . . 113

indigo 97

snow 114

Butcherbird 88

Carpodacus purpureus . . 120

Catbird 63

Cedarbird 89

Certhia familiaris americana . 55

Ceryle alcyon 149

Chaetura pelagica 143

Chebec 134

PAGE

Chelidon erythrogaster ... 92

Cherrybird 89

Che wink i°°

Chickadee 51

Chipbird, winter no

Cistothorus palustris .... 57

stellaris 5$

Clivicola riparia 90

Coccyzus americanus . . . . 151

erythrophthalmus . . . 150

Colaptes auratus 145

Compsothlypis americana . . 79

Contopus virens 135

Corvus americanus .... 131

Cowbird 128

Creeper, brown 55

Crossbill, American . . . . 119

red f 119

white-winged 118

Crow, American 131

common 131

rain 150, 151

Cuckoo, black-billed .... 150

yellow-billed 151

Cvanocitta cristata .... 132

Dendroica asstiva
blackburniae .

78
74

155

56

Index

PAGE

Dendroica, coronata .... 77

discolor 70

maculosa 76

palmarum hypochrysea , 72

peusylvanica 75

vigorsii 73

virens 71

Dolichonyx oryzivorus . . . 129

Dryobates pubescens . . . 146

villosus 147

Empidonax minimus

134

Fieldlark 125

Finch, grass II3

purple ,20

Firebird ,24

Flicker 145

Flycatcher, crested .... 138

least !34

Galeoscoptes carolinensis . 63

Geothlypis trichas .... 66

Goldfinch, American . . . . 1,5

Crackle, purple 122

rusty 123

Greenlet, blue-headed ... 83

red-eyed 87

solitary * . 83

warbling 85

yellow-throated .... 84

Grosbeak, rose-breasted . . 99

Habia ludoviciana .... 99

Haii-bird 108

Hangnest 124

Harporhynchus rufus ... 62

Helminthophila ruficapilla . . 80

High-hole .......

Hummingbird, ruby-throated .

PAGE

145

141

Icterus galbula ..... 124

Indigo-bird ....... 97

Jay, blue ........ 132

Junco hyemalis ...... 105

slate-colored ..... 105

Kingbird ....... 139

Kingfisher, belted ..... 149

Kinglet, golden-crested ... 49

golden-crowned .... 49

ruby-crowned ..... 48

Lanius borealis ..... 88

Linnet ......... 120

Loxia curvirostra minor . . . 119

leucoptera ...... 118

Martin, purple ..... 93

Meadowlark ... ..... 125

Melospiza fasciata .... 104

georgiana ...... 102

Merula migratoria ..... 41

Mniotilta varia ...... 81

Molothrus ater ...... 128

Myiarchus crinitus .... 138

Nuthatch, Canada .... 53

Carolina ...... 54

red-bellied ...... 53

red-breasted ..... 53

white-beilied ..... 54

white-breasted .... 54

Oriole, Baltimore
Ovenbird .

124
68

Index

157

PAGE

Parus atricapillus .... 51

Passer domesticus 96

Passerella iliaca 101

Passerina cyanea 97

Peab'ody bird nr

Pewee, water 136

wood 135

Pewit 136

Phoebe 136

Pipilo erythrophthalmus . . 100

Piranga erythromelas ... 95

Plectrophenax nivalis . . . 114

Poocaetes gramineus .... 113

Progne subis 93

Quiscalus quiscula .... 122

Redpoll 117

yellow 72

Redstart, American .... 65

Reedbird 129

Regulus calendula .... 48

satrapa 49

Ricebird 129

Robin, American 41

golden 124

ground 100

swamp 100

Sandpiper, solitary .... 153

spotted 152

Sayornis phoebe 136

Scolecophagus carolinus . . 123

Seiurus aurocapillus .... 68

noveboracensis .... 67

Setophaga ruticilla .... 6n

Shrike, northern 88

Sialia sialis 39

PAGE

Sitta canadensis 53

carolinensis 54

Snowbird, black 105

white 114

Snowflake 114

Sparrow, chipping .... 108

English 96

field 107

fox 101

house . 96

savanna 112

social 108

song 104

swamp 102

tree no

vesper 113

white-throated . . . . in

Spinus tristis 115

Spizella monticola . . 1 10

pusilla 107

socialis 108

Sturnella magna 125

Swallow, bank 90

barn 92

chimney 143

tree 91

white-bellied 91

Swift, chimney 143

Tachycineta bicolor ... 91

Tanager, scarlet 95

Tattler, solitary 152

Teeter-tail 152

Thistle bird 115

Thrasher 62

brown 62

Thrush, brown 62

golden-crowned .... 68

158

Index

PAGE

Thrush, hermit ...... 43

olive-backed 44

water 67

Wilson's 45

wood 46

Tip-up 152

Titmouse, black-capped ... 51

Totanus solitarius 153

Towhee 100

Trochilus colubris .... 141

Troglodytes aedon .... 60

hiemalis 59

Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii
fuscescens

Turdus mustelinus . . .
ustulatus swainsonii

Tyrannus tyrannus . . .

Veery * . .

Vireo, blue-headed . . .

flavifrons

gilvus

olivaceus

red-eyed

solitarius

solitary

warbling

yellow-throated . . .

Waxwing, cedar . . .
Warbler, black and white .
black and white creeping

43

45
46

44
139

45
83
84
85
87
87
83
83
85
84

89
Si
81

PAGE

Warbler, black-and-yellow . . 76

Blackburman 74

black-throated green . . 71

blue yellow-backed ... 79

chestnut-sided .... 75

golden 78

magnolia 76

myrtle 77

Nashville 80

parula 79

pine 73

pine-creeping 73

prairie 70

summer 78

yellow 78

yellow palm 72

yellow-rumped .
Woodpecker, downy .
golden-winged

hairy

pigeon ....

• • 77
146

. . 145

. . 147

. . M5

Wren, house 60

long-billed marsh
short-billed marsh
winter . .

Yellow-bird . . . .

Yellow-bird, summer
Yellowthroat, Maryland

Zonotrichia albicollis .

57
58
59

78
66

in

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4*rvHxi-W (y

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