Birds of Arkansas

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Bull. 38, Biological Survey. U. S. Dept of Agricuiture. PLATE |.

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MAP OF THE LIFE ZONES

ARKANSAS.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO., WASMINGTON, D.C.

Issued October 12, 1911.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY—BULLETIN No. 38
HENRY W. HENSHAW, Chief

BIRDS OF ARKANSAS

BY

ARTHUR H. HOWELL

Assistant Biologist, Biological Survey

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1911

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U.S. DepaRTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BroLocicaL SURVEY,
Washington, D. C., April 18, 1911.
Srr: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for publication as
Bulletin 38 of the Biological Survey, a report on the Birds of Arkan-
sas, by Arthur H. Howell. This report fills an important gap in our
knowledge of the avifauna of the Mississippi Valley. In mapping
the life zones of the region, the lack of definite information as to the
number of species within the State of Arkansas, their distribution,
and the nature of their occurrence, whether as visitants, migrants,
or strays, has been seriously felt, and the present report is designed
to supply the needed data. It is the first detailed study to be pub-
lished of the avifauna of this State, which is remarkable for the
variety and abundance of its bird life, and, although by no means
complete, the list marks a long step in advance, adding materially
to our knowledge of the birds of the region treated.
Respectfully,
Henry W. HEnsHaw,

Chief, Biological Survey.
Hon. James WIzson,

Secretary of Agriculture.
2

CONTENTS.

The Mississippi bottom lands...................-. panoramas aes
The Ozarkreplon sis fesc cz csup ne dondn ads ok See Scat aiiceltenesaches
The Ouachita Mountain region.................02.022002-0e cece eee
Wiferron ess, acicsevie sien snens sate ceed ode sO iene a Gece aan

NUM DER ONS PCClE ss scan cmceiteee dated cisiecesine earn onwaie ia eth a,
TABU ODED OCIOS ci fica cea anes acne cum eee aan scien tela weedeat

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATES.
Page.
Puate I. Map of the life zones of Arkansas........-...-..------+2----- Frontispiece.
II. Fig. 1.—St. Francis River. Fig. 2.—Canebrake in primitive hard-
woOOd fOreBtioiiec0524 ous osee pets ee Dewi eeeeee eee eee 6
TID... The wood dUCKiioiecsccieceetede cceecccncass do SeeeEeeR eae ee eee ws 20
IV. Fig. 1.—Cypress swamp, Walker Lake. Fig. 2.—Great blue herons
SHC Mestes<.55:4.aaatetenptemer hen oc gant eaainie seca weeeeaetins 24
V. The goatsuckers of Arkansas—nighthawk, whippoorwill, and chuck-
walltsewid OWiensosc.gcimaendenssn ave oemmaGetieceeetatink es memaneenis 50
VI. A winter seed-eater—the white-throated sparrow..........---------- 64
VII. A summer resident insect-eater—the Kentucky warbler.........-.. 80
TEXT FIGURES.
Fie. 1. Breeding area of the chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) in
BN Htc) 0-2 aR Re Ro TONAL EOE arn PSOE WANE Str Pon U RCE ATE Re NAN te 50
2. Breeding area of the whippoorwill (Anérostomus vociferus) in Arkansas.. 51
3. Breeding area of the scarlet tanager (Piranga erythromelas) in Arkansas.. 69
4. Breeding area of the brown thrasher (Tozostoma rufum) in Arkansas.... 85

4

BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

INTRODUCTION.

Arkansas, although long known as a paradise for sportsmen, has
been strangely neglected by ornithologists. No detailed study of
the avifauna of the State has hitherto been made and very little
on its animal life has been published. In mapping the life zones
of the Mississippi Valley the Biological Survey has been hampered
by the lack of definite information on the distribution of birds in
Arkansas, and in order to obtain the data necessary to complete its
maps it was found necessary to make a special investigation of the
birds of the State and to compile the published records.

Arkansas is remarkable for the abundance and variety of its bird
life, and many interesting problems of distribution are presented as a
result of its topography and geographical position. Situated in the
heart of the Mississippi Valley, it forms part of the great highway of
migration for a large majority of the birds of passage which summer
in the Northern States and Canada, while it affords a congenial win-
ter resort for myriads of waterfowl and great numbers of the smaller
land birds driven south by the severity of more northern climes.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The most prominent topographic features of the State are the
bottom lands of the Mississippi Basin, in which are included the
famous Sunken Lands, the Ozark Plateau of the northwest, and the
group of more or less isolated mountain ranges south of the Arkansas
River sometimes referred to collectively as the Ouachita Mountains.

THE MISSISSIPPI BOTTOM LANDS.

The so-called Sunken Lands are extensive areas of swamp and
overflowed bottom land occupying a large part of Mississippi County
and portions of Clay, Greene, Craighead, and Poinsett Counties.
The largest of these sunken areas are Big Lake and the broad basin
of the St. Francis River, but there are many smaller lakes and
sloughs in Mississippi County between Little River and the Missis-
sippi. Many of these lakes, including Big Lake (also Reelfoot Lake,
in Tennessee), were formed by the disturbances of the land accom-
panying the great earthquakes of 1811-1813, usually referred to as
the New Madrid earthquake. At that time large forests were
prostrated, immense fissures were formed, and profound changes

5

6 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

took place in the bed of the Mississippi River. Evidences of these
remarkable disturbances still remain; parts of the bed of Big Lake
are covered with a fallen forest of hardwoods of species usually
found on high ground, and in Reelfoot and other lakes many dead
stubs of old cypresses stand in deep water far from the present shore
line. In late summer and fall most of the lakes and rivers in the
Sunken Lands shrink greatly in size and some become entirely dry.
From November to March this region is populated with countless
numbers of waterfowl of many species. In spring and summer it fur-
nishes ideal breeding grounds for wood ducks, cormorants, snakebirds,
herons, egrets, and many species of small land birds, but the larger
birds, particularly the egrets, have in recent years been greatly
reduced in numbers by indiscriminate shooting.

All the counties bordering the Mississippi River are similar in
topography to the Sunken Lands, but the proportion of overflowed
and swamp land is considerably less. Extensive areas of inundated
bottom lands are found also in the valleys of Black River, White
River, Cache River, and the Arkansas below Little Rock. The
lowlands of the State support a magnificent growth of the finest
hardwood timber, much of which is still in its primeval grandeur.
Large bodies of cypress and tupelo gum occupy the swamps and wet
bottoms along the larger rivers.

In Lonoke, Prairie, and Arkansas Counties considerable tracts of
level prairie land, formerly of little value for agriculture, have
recently become valuable through the successful introduction of rice
farming. Smaller areas of prairie land occur in other parts of the
State, chiefly in Sebastian and Logan Counties.

From the bottom lands of the eastern counties the land rises
gradually to the westward, becoming hilly through the middle of
the State and mountainous in the northwestern and west central
parts. In the southwest occur large tracts of pine timber of two
species, Pinus echinata and P. teda.

THE OZARK REGION.

This region occupies the northwestern part of the State north of
the Arkansas Valley from Izard, Stone, and Cleburne Counties west-
ward. It is a rough, mountainous area, varying in altitude from
1,000 to 1,800 feet, with a few peaks reaching somewhat above 2,000
feet. The prevailing forests are of deciduous trees, with considerable
tracts of mixed pine and hardwood timber. Small land birds are
numerous in this region, and several northern-breeding forms, such as
the whippoorwill, yellow warbler, brown thrasher, and robin, find
their southern limit here.

1 For a full account of this earthquake, see N. S. Shaler, Atlantic Monthly, XXIV, pp. 549-559, 1869. A
brief account is given also in Bull. 230 (Part 1), Office of Experiment Stations, U. 8. Dept. Agric., 1911.

Bul. 38, Biological Survey, U. S, Dept. of Agriculture. PLATE II.

Fic. 1.—StT. FRANCIS RivER SUNKEN LANDS. Home OF Woop Ducks, TREE SWALLOWS,
SWIFTS, REDWINGS, MARSH Wrens, ETc.

aa

Fic. 2.—CANEBRAKE IN PRIMITIVE HARDWOOD Forest, TURRELL, ARK. HOME OF
BACHMAN AND SWAINSON WARBLERS.

LIFE ZONES, 7

THE OUACHITA MOUNTAIN REGION.

South of the Arkansas Valley and west of Perry and Garland
Counties lies a group of rugged mountain ranges—the highest in the
State—known as the Ouachita Mountains. These ranges have a gen-
eral east and west direction and are steeper and more isolated than
the ranges of the Ozarks. Some of the highest peaks are Magazine
Mountain (2,800 feet), Fourche Mountain (2,800 feet), Rich Mountain
(2,750 feet), Black Fork Mountain (2,650 feet), Petit Jean Mountain
(2,600 feet), and Poteau Mountain (2,550 feet).

Both hardwood and pine timber grow on these mountains, the
former prevailing in most localities. This region forms the southern-
most extension of the Upper Austral Zone in the Mississippi Valley,
and several species of birds characteristic of that zone reach their
southern limit here.

LIFE ZONES.
LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE.

The greater part of the State is occupied by the Austroriparian
division of the Lower Austral Zone, which fills all the lowlands and
extends up on the mountain sides to an altitude of approximately
1,200 feet in the southern mountains and 800 to 1,000 feet in the
northern mountains. A broad area of this zone occupies the Arkan-
sas Valley, and a narrow tongue extends along the upper White River
Valley to or beyond the State line.

In this zone cotton is the prevailing crop, and, except where the
boll weevil has become abundant, the most profitable. Rice growing
has in recent years been introduced on a large scale in the prairie
regions with great success. Corn is raised extensively and wheat and
oats in less quantity. Fruits have been little cultivated, but a large
variety may be successfully grown.!| One of the most valuable of
the native trees is the pecan, whose cultivation might be profitably
extended.

This zone is characterized in Arkansas by the presence of a large
number of southern plants, mammals, and birds, among which the
following are the most conspicuous:

Puantrs or THE LowER AuSTRAL ZONE.

Bald cypress (Tazodium distichum). Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata).

Loblolly pine (Pinus teda). Winged elm (Ulmus alata).

Palmetto (Sabal glabra). Planer tree (Planera aquatica).

Large cane (Arundinaria macrosperma). Mississippi hackberry (Celtis mississip-
Corkwood (Lettneria floridana). piensis).

Swamp poplar (Populus heterophylla). Large - leaf magnolia (Magnolia macro-
Pecan (Hicoria pecan). phylla).

Water oak (Quercus nigra). Water locust (Gleditsia aquatica).

Basket oak (Quercus michauct). Tupelo gum (Nyssa aquatica).

Swamp Spanish oak (Quercus pagodxfolia). Pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda).

1 See Life Zones and Crop Zones of the United States, Bull. 10, Biol. Survey, pp. 46-49, 1898,

8 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

BREEDING Birps OF THE LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE.

Water turkey (Anhinga anhinga).

Mississippi kite (Ictinia misisippiensis).

Black vulture (Catharista urubu).

Little blue heron (Florida cxrulea).

Florida barred owl (Strix varia allent).

Florida screech owl (Otus asio floridanus).

Ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus
principals).

Southern hairy woodpecker (Dryobates
villosus auduboni).

Red -cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates
borealis).

Florida nighthawk (Chordeiles virginianus
chapman).

Chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus caro-
linensis).

Bachman sparrow (Peucexa xstivalis bach-
man).

Blue grosbeak (Guiraca cxrulea).

Painted bunting (Passerina ciris).

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria
citrea).

Swainson warbler (Helinaia swainsont).

Bachman warbler ( Vermivora bachmani).

Sycamore warbler (Dendroica dominica
albilora).

Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).

Brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla).

MammMats oF THE LowER AUSTRAL ZONE.

Cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus
megacephalus).

Golden mouse (Peromyscus nuttalli au-
reolus). :

Rice rat (Oryzomys palustris).

Golden harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys
aurantius).

Swamp wood rats (Neotoma floridana
rubida and N. f. illinoensis).

UPPER AUSTRAL

Cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus).

Louisiana pocket gopher (Geomys brevi-
ceps).

Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus).

Louisiana skunk (Mephitis mesomelas).

Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis).

Carolina shrew (Blarina brevicauda caro-
linensis). ;

ZONE.

The Carolinian division of the Upper Austral Zone covers the
greater part of the Ozark region and the slopes of the higher Ouachita
Mountains above an altitude of approximately 1,200 feet.

In this zone lumbering and fruit raising are the principal indus-
tries. Apples are grown very successfully, as well as corn, oats, and
hay. Following are some of the most characteristic species occurring
in this zone in Arkansas:

PLANTS OF THE UPPER AUSTRAL ZONE.

Chestnut (Castanea dentata).
Red oak (Quercus rubra).

Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea).
Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria).

Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor).
Umbrella tree (Magnolia tripetala).
Ohio buckeye (Zsculus glabra).
Black ash (Fraxinus nigra).

BREEDING Birps OF THE UPPER AUSTRAL ZONE.

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).}

Black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythrop-
thalmus).

Hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus
villosus).

Whippoorwill (Antrostomus vociferus).

Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

Goldfinch (Astragalinus tristis).
Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus).
Scarlet tanager (Piranga erythromelas).
Yellow warbler (Dendroica xstiva).
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus).
Brown thrasher ( Toxostoma rufum).
Robin (Planesticus migratorius).

MamMALs or THE Upper AUSTRAL ZONE.

Woodchuck (Marmota monarz).
Attwater cliff mouse (Peromyscus boylet
attwateri).

Weasel (Putorius sp.).
Spotted skunk (Spilogale sp.).

1 Exterminated.

SERVICES RENDERED BY BIRDS. 9

ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS.

In the early days of the settlement of this country birds were
considered of value to man chiefly as a source of food. Modern
scientific investigation, however, has demonstrated that most birds
are of infinitely more value to the agriculturist through their de-
struction of noxious insects, destructive mammals, and weed seed.

The great abundance of insects and the widespread injury to
crops caused by a host of herbivorous species are well known to
every ffrmer, but the important service rendered by birds in keeping
within bounds these destructive swarms is less widely recognized.
‘‘The examination of birds’ stomachs,” says Prof. Beal, ‘‘has shown
that nearly all of the smaller species, and many of the larger ones,
such as the crow, subsist largely upon insects in the summer time,
while rearing their young, and, as a general rule, all the small birds
feed their nestlings on this food, no matter what the adults may eat.”

In fields and gardens the birds most useful in the war against
insects are the robin, bluebird, catbird, indigo bird, chipping spar-
row, the orioles, blackbirds, meadowlarks, flycatchers, and quail.
Swallows, martins, swifts, and nighthawks supplement the work of
ground-feeding species by capturing insects in the air as they fly
over the fields, and in the orchard and forest a host of keen-eyed
foragers, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, chickadees,
warblers, vireos, tanagers, and cuckoos, search out and destroy
great numbers of insects destructive to the bark and foliage of fruit
and forest trees.

Among the special services rendered by birds in the South may
be mentioned the destruction of crawfish by various herons, of mos-
quitoes by many species, chiefly shorebirds, swifts, swallows, night-
hawks, and flycatchers,’ and of the cotton boll weevil by no fewer
than 53 species. The relations of birds to this latter insect are of
particular interest in view of the rapid spread of the pest in Arkansas.
Investigations in Texas and Louisiana have shown that many birds
feed extensively on this weevil, and some species, for instance the
orioles, show a special liking for it and have learned how to find it
in its hiding places in the cotton ‘‘squares.”

Besides the orioles, the birds most useful in keeping down the
weevil in summer are swallows, nighthawks, flycatchers, and the
painted bunting, while in winter splendid service is rendered by
meadowlarks, blackbirds, pipits, wrens, and Savannah sparrows,
which seek out and destroy the weevils in their hibernating quarters.
Cotton growers should see that every species of bird known to feed
on the weevil is protected on their lands and should, in addition,
strive to increase the numbers of such species as martins and wrens
by providing nest boxes for their accommodation.

1Cf, McAtee, Auk, XXVIII, pp. 141-142, 1911.

10 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS,

Perhaps the most maligned birds in this country are the hawks
and owls. A deep-seated though baseless prejudice against them
has persisted to the present day, although it is now nearly 20 years
since the Biological Survey demonstrated, as a result of hundreds
of stomach examinations, that most of this prejudice is unfounded
and that in reality nearly all of our hawks and owls confer a decided
benefit on the farmer by destroying field mice, rats, rabbits, other
rodents, and insects. The only birds of prey found in Arkansas
which are not beneficial are the duck hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk,
the Cooper hawk, and the fish hawk.

GAME RESOURCES AND LEGISLATION.

In the abundance of its game birds Arkansas holds an enviable
position among the States of the Union, but in the adoption of meas-
ures for their conservation she has lagged somewhat behind her sister
States. In pioneer days quail, prairie chickens, wild turkeys,
passenger pigeons, the mallard and other ducks, and wild geese were
so abundant that there seemed to be no danger of their extermination.
To-day the pigeons are exterminated, the prairie chickens are on the
verge of extinction, and turkeys have become very scarce save in a
few specially favorable regions.

The history of the exploitation of these game resources strikingly
illustrates the effect which the bird life of a State may have on the
development of its legislation and on its attitude toward game
protection.

Market hunters were early attracted to the game fields, and with
the development of railroads and the introduction of cold storage in
the handling of game, came an unexpected drain on the resources of
the State. Quail, prairie chickens, pigeons, and ducks were trapped
or killed in enormous numbers to supply the markets of St. Louis,
Chicago, and other cities, and considerable trade was built up in
handling game chiefly for shipment to other States. To regulate this
traffic a law was passed in 1875 requiring a $10 market-hunting license
of nonresident hunters. The first law fixing seasons for hunting
game birds was enacted in 1885, and at the same time protection was
extended to the nests and eggs of all wild birds except birds of prey,
crows, and blackbirds. In 1889 export of game from the State was
prohibited, and in 1897 the market-hunting license was increased to
$25. In the same year, through the public-spirited efforts of Mrs.
L. M. Stephenson, of Helena, was enacted the first comprehensive law
protecting nongame birds and one of the first laws of its kind in any
of the Southern States. In 1903, not only was killing of game for sale
and the sale itself prohibited, but the privilege of hunting was restricted
to residents of the State. No close season for ducks or geese has ever
been established, and no restriction has been placed on the numbers
of these birds which may be legally killed. It is evident, therefore,

SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 11

that the abundance of game has caused less attention to be paid to
legislation regarding hunting seasons and methods of hunting, while
numerous restrictions have been placed on shipment, sale, and market
hunting, particularly by nonresidents.

These drastic laws were not permitted to stand unchallenged. The
nonresident license law of 1875 was set aside by the circuit courts of
Craighead and Poinsett Counties in 1887,! and in 1904 the act passed
the previous year prohibiting nonresidents from hunting in the State
was carried to the supreme court of Arkansas, and this court held the
statute unconstitutional in so far as it prevented property owners
from hunting on their own land.? The nonexport law enacted in 1893
authorized express companies to examine packages suspected of
containing game and held them responsible for the transmission of
such shipments out of the State. This broad power of examining
shipments with the accompanying responsibility was apparently not
relished by the carriers, and a few years ago became the basis of a test
case carried to the supreme court. The court sustained the law and
held the express companies lable for game shipments intrusted to
their care.*

Restrictions on the shipment of game and on hunting by nonresi-
dents have aroused most opposition in the northeast section of the
State, particularly in the Sunken Lands, where enormous numbers of
waterfowl attract not only market hunters but sportsmen from other
States. Several wealthy clubs have acquired property at favorable
points in the region and have erected expensive club houses on their
grounds. In the attempt to reap the greatest amount of benefit from
the enormous numbers of birds which annually visit this section, there
has been a constant eifort on the part of club members and market
hunters to secure legislation favorable to their interests. This has
resulted in bringing about conditions far from satisfactory, and has
left the game without that measure of protection which is considered
essential in other States.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

Audubon was probably the first naturalist to visit the State.
He passed through Arkansas at various times between the years 1811
and 1819, but no account of his expeditions has been preserved, and _
the published results consist only of scattered records in his “Birds
of America’”’ and the description there of a new species of flycatcher
(Empidonar trailli), which he procured on the prairies of the Arkansas
River.

In 1819 Thomas Nuttall made a journey down the Mississippi to
the mouth of the Arkansas and up the Arkansas to Fort Smith, but

1 American Field, XXXVI, p. 49, 1892; XX XVIII, p. 3, 1892.
2 State v. Mallory, 83 S. W. 955.
3 Wells Fargo Express Co. v. State, 96 S. W. 189.

12 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

he was primarily a botanist and his account of the trip, while abound-
ing in interesting descriptions and valuable plant notes, contains
only casual allusions to the birds seen along the route.

In 1820 Maj. Long’s exploring party, on its return from the Rocky
Mountains, crossed the State from Fort Smith to Little Rock and
thence overland to Cape Girardeau, Mo., but with one or two excep-
tions the published account of the expedition contains no reference
to Arkansas birds.

Several of the later Government exploring expeditions to the
Western States made Fort Smith their point of departure, but on
account of the location of that place so near the western boundary
of the State practically no observations were made until the explor-
ing parties had crossed into what is now Oklahoma.

The ornithology of Arkansas remained practically unknown until
the later years of the last century. Frequent references to the birds
of the State, chiefly game birds, are found in the pages of Forest
and Stream and American Field, and occasional short articles have
appeared in the Auk and other natural history magazines, but only
three local lists treating of Arkansas birds have been published.
The first of these is a brief account by H. 8. Reynolds of 29 species
observed in White County in the winter of 1876-77.!_ In the summer
of 1881 O. P. Hay made a few observations near Hopefield, on the
Mississippi River, and in a list, published the following year, recorded
29 species from the State.? In 1902 N. Hollister published a list of
51 species of winter birds, which he observed in 1899 and 1900,
chiefly on the Grand Prairie of Arkansas County.* This paper sup-
plied four additions to the State list and many valuable distribution
notes.

When Prof. W. W. Cooke began the study of bird migration in
the Mississippi Valley, in 1882, only a single observer, Prof. F. L.
Harvey, of Fayetteville, was found in Arkansas to contribute notes.
In 1884 one more observer, W. A. Monroe, of Newport, was added
to the force, and in 1889 and 1890 C. E. Pleas, of Clinton, furnished
valuable notes on the birds of the mountain region near that place.
Some of the data furnished by these observers were published in
Prof. Cooke’s Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley.‘
As early as 1886 Mrs. L. M. Stephenson, of Helena, began to record
observations on the birds of that locality, and from 1894 to the
present date she has furnished each year to the Biological Survey
detailed notes on migration. The data supplied by this series of
observations have proved of the greatest value in the preparation of
the present report, furnishing many new records and the most im-
portant migration dates at present available.

1 Amer. Nat., XI, pp. 307-308, 1877.

2? Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, VII, pp. 89-94, 1882.

3 Wilson Bull., IX, pp. 10-15, 1902.

4 Bull. 2, Div. Econ. Ornith. [Biol. Surv.], U. S. Dept. Agric., 1888.

NUMBER OF SPECIES. 13

In the spring of 1910 Mr. Walter G. Savage moved to Delight,
Pike County, and at once began to make observations on the birds
of that region. His notes, based in many cases on specimens which
he collected, have added much to our knowledge of the birds of the
southwestern part of the State. In the winter of 1910-11 Mr.
G. Dallas Hanna spent about six weeks at Van Buren collecting
birds, chiefly the smaller land birds. His specimens have been
examined and identified by the Biological Survey, and these records,
together with his notes on 65 species, have added 11 forms to the
State list and many new facts on the distribution of winter birds.

Most of the information on breeding ranges contained in the
present report was gained by the writer during a collecting trip
extending from April 28 to July 7, 1910. The principal localities at
which observations were made are as follows: Mammoth Spring,
Cotter, Lake City, Walker Lake (Mississippi County), Turrell (Big
Creek Station), Stuttgart, McGehee, Wilmot, Camden, Delight,
Womble, Mena, Rich Mountain (Polk County), Pettigrew, and
Conway.

Several other members of the Biological Survey staff have visited
the State for short periods. Edward A. Preble collected at Fort
Smith and Fayetteville from September 15 to October 1, 1892.
B. H. Dutcher worked at Hardy, Batesville, Beebe, and Benton in
April, 1894. C. E. Brewster visited Big Lake for a few days in No-
vember, 1909, and December, 1910, and Wappanocka Lake (Turrell)
on December 20, 1910. W. L. McAtee collected from November 12
to 24, 1910, at Mud Lake (St. Francis County), Wappanocka Lake,
and Menasha Lake and made observations at Big Lake from June
20 to 23, 1911.

NUMBER OF SPECIES.

In the list which follows 255 species and subspecies are accredited
to the State. No bird is admitted to the list unless there is an
actual record of its occurrence, based on a specimen, a published
record, or a report by a competent observer.

On account of the very limited number of observers many species
have escaped detection which, by reason of their known range in
adjacent regions, must certainly occur in the State. These species,
35 in number, are included in a hypothetical list, distinguished from
the species actually recorded by being printed in smaller type.

Dividing the list of birds actually and probably occurring in the
State into several categories, we find that 67 species or subspecies
may be considered as permanent residents, either nonmigratory
birds breeding within its limits or migratory species that occur
in both summer and winter; 75 are summer resident breeding spe-
cies; 60 are winter residents; 69 are transients—that is, migrating
species occurring in either spring or fall; and 19 occur irregularly as

14 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

accidental visitors. Many species listed as summer residents and
winter residents occur also more abundantly as transients. More
thorough field investigations will doubtless increase the number of
.birds known to occur in the State to about 300 forms.

LIST OF SPECIES.
Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps.

This little grebe, known locally as ‘‘didapper’’ and ‘‘hell-diver,”
‘may be found during the spring and fall migrations on almost any
lake or slough in the State. In the nesting season, however, it is
‘rare, and the only record at hand is that of a bird which I saw at
Wilmot on June 29. The last migrants at Clinton were reported
November 5 (Pleas, 1890), but a few were seen between November
15 and 21 (McAtee, 1910) at Mud Lake, St. Francis County; Turrell,
Crittenden County; and Menasha Lake, Mississippi County. It is
possible that small numbers may spend the winter in the Sunken
Lands.

The demand for grebes’ feathers for millinery has worked havoc
among the larger species, and doubtless this little bird has suffered
to some extent with the rest; but its small size, retiring habits, and
wonderful diving powers preserve it in a measure from destruction,
and under present conditions it is likely to hold its own. It is a
harmless and interesting bird and should be everywhere protected.

Loon. Gavia immer.

The loon breeds from the Arctic Ocean south to Iowa and Illinois
and winters from southern Canada to the Gulf coast. It probably
occurs in Arkansas as an uncommon spring and fall migrant and
has once been reported as a winter resident—at Clinton, in 1890.

Herring Gull. Larus argentatus.

The herring gull, the largest of its family found in the Mississippi
Valley, is widely distributed in both North America and Europe,
chiefly along the seacoasts and on large lakes and rivers. It has
been reported in winter near Clinton and probably occurs regularly
in migration. Mr. S. C. Dowell, of Walnut Ridge, has a specimen
which was killed in the vicinity of that town.

Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.

The ringbill breeds in Canada and the northern United States and
winters from the Great Lakes south to Mexico and Cuba. The only
definite record from Arkansas is that of a bird in the possession of
Mr. S. C. Dowell, which was killed near Walnut Ridge, but the
species is doubtless a fairly common migrant in both spring and fall,

GULLS AND TERNS. 15

[Franklin Gull. Larus franklini.

This small black-headed gull is a common summer resident in the upper Mississippi
Valley from Iowa north to southern Canada, and winters from the Gulf coast southward
to South America. It undoubtedly occurs in Arkansas in migration.]

Bonaparte Gull. Larus philadelphia.

This species, one of the smallest of the gulls, is probably a regular,
though uncommon, transient visitant. No recent records of its
occurrence are at hand, but Audubon mentions a specimen which he
shot November 12, 1820, on the Mississippi River, a few miles below
the mouth of the Arkansas.’

[Forster Tern. Sterna forsteri.

This tern is widely distributed in the Mississippi Valley, breeding on. the coasts of
Louisiana and Texas and also from Nebraska and Illinois northward. It is recorded
as a regular transient visitant in Missouri, and probably occurs in Arkansas.]

[Least Tern. Sterna antillarum.

The least tern is known as a summer resident in the Mississippi Valley, formerly
common, now very rare as a result of persecution by plumage hunters. It formerly
bred north to Iowa and Nebraska and has been observed in summer in recent years at
Tallulah, La.? Oberholser found it fairly common in June, 1902, near Texarkana,
Tex., within a few miles of the Arkansas line. In former years it undoubtedly occurred
in Arkansas and it may still be found in the State. ] ‘

[Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis.

The black tern breeds from Missouri and Ohio northward to northern Canada and
winters south of the United States. It undoubtedly occurs regularly in Arkansas as
a spring and fall migrant.]

Water Turkey. <Anhinga anhinga.

The water turkey or ‘‘snake bird”’ is fairly common locally in the
swamps of eastern Arkansas. It breeds at Helena, Wilmot, and
Walker Lake and has been recorded from Osceola and Newport—at
the last-named place in winter.

The birds are frequently hunted for food or sport, and as they are
easily approached, their numbers have been much reduced. If not
protected by the enforcement of the existing game law, the species
is likely to be exterminated. A bird so harmless and interesting
should be preserved for future generations.

Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus auritus.

Cormorants were formerly abundant in the rivers and swamps of
eastern Arkansas, but as a result of the drainage and settlement of
the land they are now found only in the wilder and more remote
sections, where they are comparatively free from persecution. A
large colony, probably the only large one now remaining in the State,

1 Orn. Biog., IV, 212, 1838, 2 Beyer, ‘Allison, and Kopman, Auk, XXIV, p. 315, 1907,

16 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

breeds in a rookery at Walker Lake, Mississippi County, in company
with great blue herons and water turkeys. When I visited this
rookery the first week in May, 1910, I found the cormorants sitting
on their nests in the tops of the tall cypresses growing in the lake.
The nests, of which there were between 100 and 200, were placed in
crotches either close to the trunks or some distance out on the limbs
and were compactly built of green cypress twigs with a few strips of
bark as a lining. Most of the nests examined contained three or four
bluish eggs, but in one were four little naked coal-black cormorants
a few days old. The number of nests in a single tree varied from
1 to 6—usually 3 or 4—and in many instances the cormorants shared
the tree with several great blue herons. Specimens taken in this
colony are referable to the northern form, and this is probably the
southern limit of its breeding range.

Cormorants feed chiefly upon fish and often fly long distances to
obtain their favorite food. With the approach of winter many of
the birds seek more southern waters, but some remain till cold
weather. Migrants were observed at Helena between September 15
and October 14, 1894 (Stephenson), and quite a number on Menasha
Lake November 22-24 (McAtee, 1910). In 1882 they were reported
as very abundant along White River near Crocketts Bluff! Many
persons call this species ‘‘water turkey” as well as the species properly
sonamed. Cormorants may be easily recognized by their hooked bill
and their uniform glossy black color.

White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.

White pelicans were formerly very abundant in migration along
the larger rivers and they still visit the State in some numbers. In
1895 and 1896 Mrs. L. M. Stephenson reported flocks of 100 to 300
at Helena between September 3 and November 9. Mr. W. D.
Brooks, of Turrell, states that numbers of them come to the lake at
that place each year in August, and one was killed there about Novem-
ber 15, 1910. Occasional flocks are seen on Walker Lake and on Big
Lake, and the birds doubtless occur regularly in small numbers in all
parts of the Sunken Lands.

Merganser. Mergus americanus.

This duck, known commonly as “‘shelldrake,” is probably an
uncommon winter resident. Audubon speaks of observing it on the
Arkansas River,’ and Mrs. Stephenson reports it on the authority of
local hunters at Helena, but definite records of its recent occurrence

are lacking.

[Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator.

The red-breasted merganser is a common winter resident in Louisiana and a rare
winter resident in Missouri. It should be found occasionally in Arkansas.]

1 Forest and Stream, XVIII, p. 27, 1882. 2 Birds ofAmer., VI, p. 387, 1843,

DUCKS. 17
Hooded Merganser. Lophodytes cucullatus.

A fairly abundant summer resident throughout the Mississippi
Valley, the hooded shelldrake or “sawbill” breeds in favorable local-
ities in Arkansas, nesting in hollow trees, after the manner of the
wood duck. Strong-flying young were seen at Big Lake June 22,
1911 (McAtee). It is common in migration on lakes and sloughs,
and is reported to occur plentifully on Big Lake from October to
March. McAtee found it common at Mud Lake November 14 and
at Turrell November 17-19, 1910. The food of this species is chiefly
crawfish, frogs, small fishes, and insects.

Mallard. Anas platyrhyncha.

The mallard is the most abundant duck and the most important
game bird in the State. It has been the chief factor in the develop-
ment of extensive market hunting and shipping interests and in the
growth of several large and wealthy sportsmen’s clubs.

The first fall migrants arrive about the middle of October, but the
main flight occurs in November, and the species is found in numbers
until the middle of April, although the majority go north in March.
The shallow lakes and overflowed bottom lands of the eastern part of
the State are particularly attractive to this bird, and on these waters it
reaches its greatest abundance. Many thousands are killed each
season by market hunters and thousands more by local gunners and
members of sportsmen’s clubs. Widmann states that in the winter
of 1893-94 150,000 ducks, four-fifths of which were mallards, were
sent to market from the Big Lake region. In spite of the tremendous
annual slaughter the species is still found in great abundance, but
according to experienced gunners is decreasing yearly in numbers.
It was recorded as abundant on the Grand Prairie around Stuttgart
in November and January (Hollister, 1899 and 1900) and at Mud
Lake, Menasha Lake, and Wappanocka Lake in November (McAtee,
1910). It winters in small numbers in the vicinity of Fayetteville
(Harvey), and has been reported from Clintonin February (Pleas) and
from Van Burenin December (Hanna). The food of the mallard con-
sists largely of the seeds and stems of water plants (such as duckweed,
pondweed, and hornwort), together with acorns, beechnuts, and
various grains. The birds are fond of both corn and rice, and when
living near grainfields are said to feed in them regularly. They con-
sume more or less animal food, such as snails, aquatic insects, an occa-
sional meadow mouse or frog, and will not reject even dead fish or
other offal. In the timbered sloughs of eastern Arkansas the mallard
feeds extensively on acorns, but on lakes in the Sunken Lands lives
to a great extent on seeds and water plants.

1Auk, XII, p. 354, 1895.
94869°—Bull. 38—11——2

18 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Black Duck. Anas rubripes.

Although common along the Atlantic coast, the black duck is com-
paratively rare in the Mississippi Valley. A specimen taken in Mis-
sissippi County November 5, 1887, has been recorded by Mr. William
Brewster. McAtee saw a few at Mud Lake November 13 and 14,
many at Menasha Lake November 21 and 22, and one at Turrell
November 19 (1910), and took specimens at each of these localities.

Gadwall. Chaulelasmus streperus.

The gadwall, known frequently as “gray duck” or “red wing,” is
a common winter visitant in the State. Mr. O. Widmann speaks of
it as plentiful on Big Lake’ and Mrs. Stephenson reports it at
Helena. McAtee found it common at Mud Lake November 13-15
and abundant at Turrell November 17-19 (1910). It was common
at Menasha Lake December 10, 1909, when 50 were killed by the
club members. According to Goss, this bird feeds upon insects,
snails, tadpoles, crawfish, bulbous roots, tender blades of grass, and
cereals? On Big Lake it is said to feed in open water in company
with coots (Fulica americana), and its food there consists largely of
seeds of aquatic plants.

Baldpate. Mareca americana.

The baldpate or American widgeon is a common migrant in the
Mississippi Valley, breeding from Kansas and Wisconsin northward
and wintering mainly from the Gulf States southward. It doubtless
occurs regularly in Arkansas in fall and spring, but there are few
available records. Hollister states that he saw very few in the bags
of market hunters at Stuttgart, and McAtee secured only two speci-
mens in November—one at Mud Lake, November 14, and one at
Turrell, November 19. C. E. Brewster saw a few on Big Lake,
December 17, 1910, but it is not usually common there. The food
of the baldpate is said to consist of roots and seeds of aquatic plants,
water insects, beechnuts, etc. It is accused of robbing the canvas-
back and other diving ducks of the food which these birds bring to
the surface.

Green-winged Teal. Nettion carolinense.

The green-winged teal is an abundant migrant in both spring and
fall, and small numbers spend the winter in the State. Southbound
migrants are first seen in early October, and by the middle of Novem-
ber the species is abundant on the lakes and sloughs of the Sunken
Lands. A few remain on Big Lake all winter, but most of them leave
with the coming of severe weather. The first small flight was noted

1 Auk, XTX, p. 188, 1902, 3 Birds of Kansas, p. 59, 1891,
? Auk, XII, p. 355, 1895,

DUCKS. 19

at Crocketts Bluff on October 22 (1882),! and Savage saw a flock of
seven at Delight on November 9 (1910). McAtee found the species
abundant by the middle of November at Mud Lake and Wappanocka
Lake, but Hollister states that few were seen at Stuttgart in Jan-
uary. In spring the first arrivals have been noted at Fayetteville
March 20, but they doubtless reach the lowlands of the State in
February. The food of this teal consists principally of the seeds of
aquatic plants (including various grasses, sedges, wild rice, and pond-
weed), small acorns, fallen grapes or berries, aquatic insects, and
small snails.

Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors.

The bluewing is a common transient visitant, but as it migrates
south before the fall hunting season is fairly under way compara-
tively few are killed by market hunters or by sportsmen. ‘The ear-
liest migrants reach Arkansas in late August or early September,
becoming common the last of September or first of October, and by
November nearly all have passed southward to their winter home.
In mild winters a few may remain in the State, as in the winter of
1893-94, when they were reported in small numbers from Big Lake.’
A writer in the American Field speaks of their occurrence in December
on Rose Lake, Crawford County.? In spring this is one of the latest
ducks to migrate, the majority passing north between March 15and
April 15. Many linger even later than that, and I noted a small
flock on the St. Francis River, north of Bertig, April 29. This duck
feeds upon the seeds, roots, and tender blades of water plants, and is
said to be especially fond of wild rice. It eats also snails and insects.

Shoveler. Spatula clypeata.

The shoveler, or spoonbill, as it is usually called, is a fairly com-
mon migrant and an uncommon winter resident. McAtee took. a
few specimens at Mud Lake, Wappanocka Lake, and Menasha Lake
between November 14 and 22, and it is reported in December from
the latter place and from Rose Lake, Crawford County. Two were
killed on Big Lake, December 17 (1910), and a few are found there
throughout the winter (Eason). Its principal breeding range is in
the prairie region from Iowa and South Dakota northward to the
Saskatchewan, but since it has once been found breeding in east
Texas it may occasionally nest in Arkansas. The food of this duck
includes seeds of various water plants, snails, earthworms, and
aquatic insects.

1 “Byrne,” Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 286, 1882.
2 Widmann, Auk, XII, p. 354, 1895.

3“Old Timer,” Am. Field, LII, p. 181, 1899.

4 Amer. Field, LI, p. 181, 1899.

920 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Pintail. Dajila acuta.

The pintail, or ‘‘sprig,” is an abundant migrant, especially in
spring, and an uncommon winter resident. First arrivals in fall
have been noted at Osceola October 5, and by November 11 the
birds were common on Mud Lake. At Wappanocka Lake McAtee
found them abundant November 17-19, and at Stuttgart Hollister
recorded a few seen in January. Mr. W. B. Eason says of the pin-
tail on Big Lake: ‘‘Not many stop here on the southward flight,
but on the return in February there are thousands of them, and
they furnish good shooting for several weeks.’’ The first north-
bound migrants were observed at Fayetteville January 27 and the
last on March 20. This species feeds on the seeds and stems of
rushes, duckweed, and other aquatic plants, snails, and insects. It
is said to be fond of beechnuts and acorns.

Wood Duck. Aiz sponsa.

This handsome duck is one of the commonest of its family in both
summer and winter. Formerly abundant in many parts of the
State, its numbers have been greatly reduced by constant persecution,
and it is now rare or absent in many localities. In the heavy swamps
of the eastern counties it is still common, but will not long remain so
unless protection is afforded it by both law and public sentiment. At
present it may be killed at any time and gunners often begin shooting
the young birds in June, when they are not more than two-thirds
grown. In the Sunken Lands it finds ideal nesting haunts, and there
it breeds abundantly, nesting in hollow trees over water. It nests
also, but less frequently, in swampy bottoms throughout the State,
having been observed at Clinton, Fayetteville, Newport, Turrell, Big
Lake, Helena, Wilmot, and Alma. In winter it has been reported
from Alma, Fayetteville, and Stuttgart (3 killed February 8); but, as
at other seasons, is probably most numerous in the big swamps of the
northeastern counties. Hollister reported it very common on Bayou
Meto, Arkansas County, in November, and McAtee found it in small
numbers at Turrell November 17-19. The food of the wood duck
consists of the seeds and leaves of aquatic plants (such as the water
lily, pondweed, and wild rice), acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, wild
fruits, and insects.

Redhead. Marila americana.

The redhead occurs in favorable localities as a regular and not
uncommon migrant and winter .resident, preferring usually the
deeper lakes and streams for its feeding grounds. It has been
reported as a migrant at Clinton and Helena and was observed in
numbers by McAtee at Menasha Lake November 22-24. A writer in
the American Field says it is occasional in winter (December) on
Rose Lake, Crawford County,' and Mr. W. B. Eason reports a few

1“Old Timer,” Amer. Field, LIL, p. 181, 1899,

PLate Ill.

Bul. 38, Biological Survey, U, S. Dept. of Agriculture.

‘wong GOOM 3HL

5 rood
Sa/dony, ZSSD

5,

DUCKS. 91

occurring on Big Lake all winter. Hanna saw a flock of 30 at Van
Buren November 28. Audubon states that the food of this duck
consists of small fishes, tadpoles, snails, acorns, beechnuts, and
blades of grass. To this list should be added insects and the seeds and
stems of water plants.

Canvasback. Marila valisineria.

The famous canvasback occurs as a moderately common migrant
and a few remain through the winter. It breeds from Minnesota and
Nebraska northward, and on its southward migration reaches Arkan-
sas usuallyin November. McAtee found it numerous on Wappanocka
Lake November 17-19, 1910, but it is not usually common there.
One specimen was taken also on Menasha Lake November 23, and the
species has been reported from Big Lake (a few all winter), Osceola,
and Helena. The canvasback feeds mainly on the seeds, tubers, and
stems of various water plants (such as pondweed, eel grass, arrow-
head, and rushes), and consumes also some mollusks, crustaceans, and

insects. ‘
Lesser Scaup Duck. Marila affnis.

The scaup, or ‘‘blue-bill,” as it is frequently called, occurs regu-
larly in moderate numbers as a winter resident. On Menasha Lake
one was taken December 1 (1909), and seven on November 22 and
23 (1910). Itis reported plentiful at Big Lake about the middle of
November (Eason), and one was killed there December 17 (1910).
Kumlien reports ‘‘a few seen in Arkansas near Ft. Gibson, Ind. Ter.,’’
probably not far from Fort Smith.

Ring-necked Duck. Marila collaris.

The ring-neck or “black jack” is a common migrant and winter
resident. It occurs abundantly in autumn on the waters of the
Sunken Lands azd less numerously on other lakes and sloughs.
McAtee found it common at Mud Lake November 13-15 and at
Turrell November 17-19. It was abundant at Menasha Lake between
November 21 and December 10,13 birds having been killed there
on the latter date. On Big Lake in November and December it is
often the most abundant duck, and gunners there frequently kill as
many as 50 birds in a few hours. A few remain all winter (Eason).
The food of the ring-neck consists mainly of the seeds and stems of
pondweed, hornwort, and other aquatic plants, with many nymphs
and larve of water insects.

Golden-eye. Clangula clangula americana.

This hardy northern duck is of rare occurrence south of Missouri
and Illinois, but is occasionally found in Arkansas in winter. C. E.
Brewster observed several on Big Lake December 17, 1910, and Mr.
W. B. Eason, custodian of the Big Lake Club, reports a good many
there in January, 1911. There are no other records from the State.

1 Field and Forest, IT, p. 130, 1877.

22 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Bufflehead. Charitonetta albeola.

The bufflehead or ‘‘butter-ball,”” one of the smallest ducks, is a
fairly common migrant in the Mississippi Valley and, although
reported but a few times from Arkansas, doubtless occurs there quite
regularly. At Helena, Mrs. Stephenson reports it on the authority
of a local hunter. Dr. D. A. Richardson noted it as a rare migrant
at Osceola in 1886, and it is reported by local hunters at Paragould
as fairly plentiful in Mississippi County. C. E. Brewster killed one
and saw a number that had been killed on Big Lake in November,
1909, but they are said to be rare there.

Ruddy Duck. Erismatura jamaicensis.

The little ruddy duck, sometimes called ‘‘bristle-tail” or ‘‘booby,”
occurs in the Mississippi Valley as a common migrant and less fre-
quently as a winter resident from Illinois southward. The only
records from Arkansas are furnished by McAtee, who found it com-
mon at Turrell November 17, and saw several on Menasha Lake
November 21, 1910.

Snow Goose. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus.
Greater Snow Goose. Chen hyperboreus nivalis.

Snow geese, undoubtedly representing both forms of the species,
occur regularly in migration in the Mississippi Valley, where they are
almost universally known as ‘‘brant”’ or ‘‘white brant.’”’ They were
seen at Helena, October 19-November 21, 1895, by Mrs. Stephenson,
at Fayetteville, March 20-31, 1883, by Prof. Harvey, and at Delight,
March 28, 1911, by Mr. Savage, these being the only definite records
from the State.

[Blue Goose. Chen czxrulescens.
The range of this goose is imperfectly known, but since it occurs as a common

migrant in Illiaois and as an abundant winter resident on the coast of Louisiana, it
will undoubtedly be found in Arkansas during migrations.]

White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons gambeli.

The ‘‘speckle-belly”’ or ‘‘speckled brant,’ as this goose is often
called, is a fairly common bird in the Mississippi Valley and probably
occurs regularly in Arkansas in migration. The only record from
the State is by Audubon, who states that ‘‘numbers [were] seen high
on the Arkansas River.” !

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis canadensis.

The wild goose is a common migrant and winter resident in the
State and a few pairs remain to breed in the most secluded parts of
the Sunken Lands. At Walker Lake on May 4, 1910, I saw a pair
and was told that several pairs breed there each season. ‘This is

1 Birds of Amer., VI, p. 209, 1843.

GEESE AND SWANS. 23

probably the extreme southern limit of this bird’s breeding range
in the Mississippi Valley, its principal summer home being in the
interior of Canada. Migrating geese begin to arrive by the last. of
September (earliest seen at Helena, September 26) and are present
in varying numbers until late March or early April.

Audubon found wild geese abundant on the Arkansas River in
winter! and Hollister records their occurrence on the Grand Prairie
about Stuttgart at the same season. McAtee found them abundant
at Menasha Lake November 22-24, and C. E. Brewster saw several
bunches, numbering about 75 in all, at Turrell December 20, 1910.
The species has been reported in migration from Osceola, Little
River, Monticello, and Fayetteville.

The food of the wild goose includes a variety of wild plants, such
as grass wrack (Zostera), wild rice, arrowhead, sedges, and marsh
grasses. Sprouting grain, including wheat, corn, barley, and oats,
is a favorite food and the birds sometimes cause much damage by
destroying the roots of grain. They frequently eat wild berries, as
well as insects, crustaceans, small clams, and snails.

Hutchins Goose. Branta canadensis hutchinsi.

This small form of the wild goose is probably a fairly common
migrant and winter resident. The only record at hand is that by
Hollister, who saw two birds at Stuttgart in 1899.?

A goose weighing only about 3 pounds, shot at Mud Lake, St.
Francis County, early in November, 1910, was probably of this
subspecies.

: [Whistling Swan. Olor columbianus.
This species is a rare migrant in the Mississippi Valley, and is found locally in

winter from Illinois to Louisiana and Texas. It doubtless occurs occasionally in
Arkansas. |

Trumpeter Swan. Olor buccinator.

The trumpeter swan is the species usually found in the Mississippi
Valley in migration. Audubon reported it as visiting the Arkansas
River annually, and he shot a specimen on a lake near the mouth of
that river.* Large flocks of swans, probably of this species, were
seen flying north at Helena, April 29, 1890, and April 20, 1891
(Stephenson). The bird is occasionally seen at Mud Lake, but in
recent years has become very rare in the State.

Wood Ibis. Mycteria americana.

This large, storklike bird, often called ‘‘gourdhead,” is a regular
summer visitant in many parts of the State. It apparently does not
nest in Arkansas, but wanders northward in July or August from its
breeding grounds in the Gulf States. On July 7, 1910, I saw six in

1 Birds of Amer., VI, p. 178, 1843. 3 Orn. Biog., IV, pp. 537-538, 1838.
2 Wilson Bull., IX, p. 12, 1902.

24 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

an open, swampy tract of woodland near Camden. When approached
they rose leisurely and circled slowly over the tops of the trees for
several minutes, but at the discharge of a gun sailed away into the
thicker timber.

This species is reported to appear regularly in August at Turrell,
and: Mrs. Stephenson states that great numbers are seen in the fall
at Helena, ‘‘drilling high in air.’ Mr. S. C. Dowell, of Walnut
Ridge, has a mounted specimen which was killed in that vicinity.
Oberholser, in 1902, reported the species as occurring abundantly in
July and August along Red River north of Texarkana.

Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus.

The bittern, ‘‘stake-driver,” or ‘‘thunder-pump,” is a common

migrant in Arkansas and may occasionally breed there, though its
normal summer home is from Missouri northward. The first spring
migrant was noted at Fayetteville March 31 (Harvey, 1883) and at
Delight April 11 (Savage, 1911). The species was common on the
St. Francis River, north.of Bertig, between April 25 and 30 (1909).
It was reported as a summer resident at Newport in 1895. In
autumn it has been recorded as arriving at Delight September 15 and
16 (Savage) and at Crocketts Bluff October°22.1_ Bitterns frequent
marshes and the borders of streams, where their curious pumping
notes may be heard and where they are often flushed and wan-
tonly killed by duck hunters. Their food consists largely of frogs,
snakes, lizards, crawfish, meadow mice, and fish.

[Least Bittern. Izobrychus exilis.

This diminutive member of the heron family is a locally abundant summer resident
throughout the Mississippi Valley, and will doubtless be found as a breeder in the
swamps of Arkansas. ]

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

This fine bird, often called ‘‘blue crane,” is a fairly common
summer resident and a few remain during the winter. It has been
observed in the breeding season at Clinton, Walker Lake, Turrell,
and Wilmot, and in fall and winter at Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Mud
Lake, and Menasha Lake. It is most common in the bottomlands of
the eastern part of the State, and at Walker Lake there is a large
rookery containing several hundred nesting pairs. I visited this
colony on May 4 and 5, 1910, and found the birds in the midst of
their breeding season. The nests were concentrated in an area of a
few acres in the middle of a big cypress swamp in which the water was
at that time from 3 to 5 feet deep. They were placed near the tops
of the larger trees, usually at a point where several limbs forked,
and single trees’contained from 1 to 10 nests. A few nests at this
date contained eggs, but the great majority were occupied by young

1 Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 286, 1882.

Bul. 38, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. PLATE IV.

Fic. 1.—Cypress SWAmP, WALKER LAKE, ARKANSAS. SITE OF A LARGE HERON
ROOKERY.

Fic. 2.-GREAT BLUE HERONS AND NESTS, WALKER LAKE, ARKANSAS.

HERONS. 95

a few days old. The calls of the young sounded like the chattering
of a flock of blackbirds.

The food of this heron consists chiefly of fish, with the addition of
frogs, lizards, snakes, meadow mice, young rats, crustaceans, small
birds, especially the smaller marsh-inhabiting species, and insects,
particularly grasshoppers and aquatic beetles.

American Egret. Herodias egretta.

The large white egret, formerly an abundant breeding species in
the swamps of Arkansas and other States in the Mississippi Valley,
has been almost exterminated through the milliners’ demand for
its plumes. Twenty years ago a large colony of these birds nested
in the ‘‘Peck Cypress’? near Armorel. In May, 1910, in the Walker
Lake rookery in the same county, I saw only three or four pairs,,
and in June of the same year Mr. B. Widmann found 3 nests there
and saw only 3 adult birds. One of the nests contained 1 egg.
another 3 nearly fledged young, and on the third an adult bird was
sitting. Extensive shooting of this species for its plumes has ceased
because there are not enough birds left to make the business profitable.
But to assure the safety of the remnant will necessitate the strict
enforcement of the law protecting all nongame birds.

Snowy Egret. Lgretta candidissima.

Like the other white herons, this exquisite little egret, although
once abundant, has been practically exterminated by persistent
hunting for its plumes. It formerly nested in the Mississippi
Valley States as far north as southern Illinois, but in recent years
has been driven out from all but the more inaccessible parts of
Louisiana. In 1886 it was reported as arriving at Osceola April 3,
and in 1889 a few were seen at Clinton July 4. In June and July,
1902, Oberholser saw a few along Red River north of Texarkana.

[Louisiana Heron. AHAydranassa tricolor ruficollis.

This is a southern species, breeding along the Gulf coast and north to North Caro-
lina. It has been recorded from Indiana and Missouri, but there is no definite record
of its occurrence in Arkansas. Oberholser reported the species common along Red
River north of Texarkana (Tex.) in June and July, 1902.]

Little Blue Heron. Florida cxrulea.

Since this species is not a plume producer, it has held its own
better than the egrets and is still common in the swamps of south-
eastern Arkansas. It formerly bred as far north as Missouri and
southern Indiana, but now probably does not occur in the nesting
season north of southern Arkansas. At Wilmot the last week in
June it was very common and doubtless breeds in the big swamps
in that vicinity. It formerly nested in a large cypress swamp near
Cypress, Ashley County, but the colony deserted that location some

26 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

years ago and occupied a nesting site near Jones, La. I saw one
bird at Camden July 7, and Savage reports one seen at Delight
August 16. After the breeding season many of these herons wander
northward and some have been found as far north as Nebraska and
Wisconsin.

This species presents three phases of plumage, independent of age
or sex—a pure white phase, a blue phase, and a mottled or interme-
diate phase. Individuals of any of the phases may be found mated
and breeding with those of another color. At Wilmot, in June, I
found the three phases about equally represented.

The food of this heron con:ists chiefly of fish, frogs, lizards, craw-
fish, small crabs, and insects. The rice growers of southern Texas
consider it very useful on account of its fondness for crawfish, which
cause trouble in the rice fields by their depredations upon the crop
and by burrowing into the embankments surrounding the fields.
The stomachs of 4 specimens killed near Wilmot in June contained
crawfish and aquatic beetles. One bird had eaten 35 of the crusta-
ceans and 28 beetle larve.

Green Heron. Butorides virescens.

This familiar bird, known to many by the curious name of “ Indian
hen,” is a common and generally distributed summer resident,
most numerous, however, about the ponds and swamps of the
eastern part of the State. Migrants arrive from the south about
the first of April and most of them depart in October, though
occasionally a few winter even as far north as Fayetteville. At
Mammoth Spring, in June, green herons were numerous along
Spring River, and at Wilmot the same month they were abundant
about the shores of the lake close to town. Partly incubated eggs
were found at the latter place June 25 and at the same time well-
grown young were abroad. This heron feeds chiefly upon craw-
fish, insects, frogs, and small fish.

Black-crowned Night Heron. WNycticorax nycticorax nzvius.

The common night heron is apparently a rather scarce and local
summer resident from April to November, found chiefly in the
swamps and along the larger rivers. It was reported as breeding
at Newport in 1885, and in 1902 Oberholser observed it in numbers
near Texarkana (Texas) in late June. McAtee saw one bird at
Turrell on November 19, and found the.species numerous at Big
Lake June 20 to 23, 1911. This species feeds upon fish, crabs,
lizards, mice, and insects.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nyctanassa violacea.
This species formerly occurred as a breeder in the Mississippi

Valley States as far north as southern Illinois and Indiana, but in
recent years the birds have been largely driven out of the northern

CRANES AND RAILS. oT

part of their range. At Wilmot, the last week in June (1910), I
shot two immature specimens which were probably reared not far
away. Three records of casual occurrence are at hand—the first,
a specimen (No. 9482, U. S. Nat. Mus.) collected at Fort Smith
on the Whipple Expedition in 1853-54;1 another, a mounted
‘specimen in the possession of Mr. S. C. Dowell, of Walnut Ridge,
which was killed on Swan Pond, near that town, about the year 1900;
and a third, killed at Stuttgart, April 25, 1906, by Mr. J. L. Felger.

Whooping Crane. Grus americana.

The big white crane was formerly quite common in migration
through the Mississippi Valley, but is now very scarce. Only one
definite record of its occurrence in Arkansas has been found. Mr.
D. B. Wier, writing under the nom de plume of ‘‘Byrne,”’ records
one of these birds seen near Crocketts Bluff on November 5, 1882.?

Sandhill Crane. Grus mexicana.

Like the previous species, the sandhill crane was once a common
migrant in Arkansas, but is now scarce. Mr. D. B. Wier, writing
from Crocketts Bluff in 1881, speaks of these cranes as found on the
prairies near that place in February. In 1884, Mr. W. A. Monroe
recorded them on March 19 and 24 at Newport, and at Delight, in
1911, Mr. W. G. Savage saw a flock of 20 on March 12 and another
flock April 4.

King Rail. Rallus elegans.

This species, the largest of the rails, is given by Widmann as “a
fairly common summer resident in the marshes along the larger
rivers”’ in Missouri, and the same author states that it is reported by
Philo W. Smith, jr., of Eureka Springs, Ark., as a rare breeder in the
White River Valley near that town.* It undoubtedly occurs fre-
quently in migration, though no records are at hand. It may be
looked for in the spring in March and April and in the fall in October
and November.

Virginia Rail. Rallus virginianus.

The Virginia rail is probably fairly common in migration both
spring and fall. Its breeding range is from Missouri northward.
The only record from Arkansas is that of Hollister, who saw one bird
at Stuttgart in January, 1899.5 Like the other rails, it is an-inhab-
itant of marshes and is very retiring in its habits.

1 Kennerly, Whipple’s Report Route near 35th Parallel, pt. 6, in Rept. Expl. and Surv. R. R. Pac.,
X, p. 33, 1860.

2 Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 308, 1882.

3“ Byrne,” Forest and Stream, XVII, p. 430, 1881.

4 Birds of Missouri, pp. 58, 59, 1907.

5 Wilson Bull., LX, p. 12, 1902.

28 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Sora Rail. Porzana carolina.

The sora is probably a common migrant in all parts of the State,
passing north in April and May and returning in September and
October. In migration it may often be found in very small or partly
dry marshes and even in moist upland meadows. One was seen by
Mr. C. E. Pleas September 18, 1896, on Pinnacle Mountain, 800 feet
above Clinton.1 At Mena, May 24, 1910, I flushed three from a wet
meadow overgrown with briers. In spite of the very late date, I
consider these birds migrants, but since the species has been found
breeding near Kansas City, Mo., it may perhaps breed in the higher
parts of Arkansas.

Yellow Rail. Coturnicops noveboracensis.

The yellow rail is a rather uncommon migrant in the marshes of the
Mississippi Valley and may be looked for in Arkansas in March and
April and also in autumn.

The only record for the State is furnished by a specimen in the
United States National Museum (No. 12641) labeled ‘‘Fort Wayne,
Ark., Lieut. Eustis.” This fort was located on the Arkansas-
Oklahoma boundary, about 10 miles south of the Missouri line, on
one of the branches of Spavina Creek.?

[Purple Gallinule. Jonornis martinica.

This gallinule is a common resident of the Gulf States and tropical America, and
occasionally wanders into the Middle States. Audubon speaks of it as occurring
rarely as far north as Memphis,’ so it will probably be found in Arkansas. ]

[Florida Gallinule. Gallinula galeata.

This species occurs locally as a summer resident over a large part of the United
States, and will undoubtedly be found breeding in some of the swamps of Arkansas.]

Coot. Fulica americana.

This species, which is often known as ‘‘mud hen,’ is a common

migrant in the Mississippi Valley and doubtless occurs regularly in
the swamps and lakes of Arkansas, breeding locally in small numbers.
Widmann, in Birds of Missouri, records it on the authority of Philo W.
Smith, jr., as breeding on White River, near Eureka Springs. About
half a dozen were seen at Big Lake June 20, 1911 (McAtee). A
writer in the American Field speaks of the arrival of coots in numbers
in Crawford County in November. McAtee found them abundant
on Wappanocka and Menasha Lakes November 17-23, and saw a good
many on Mud Lake November 14. The coot is mainly a vegetable

1 Osprey, I, p. 67, 1897.

2 See Keeler’s Map of the U. 8S. Territories, Pacific R. R. Routes, Mineral Lands, and Indian Reserva-
tions, 1867.

3 Orn. Biog., IV, p. 38, 1838. :

4 Bowden, Geo. W.C., Amer. Field, LVI, pp. 166, 167, 1902.

AVOCETS AND SNIPES. 29

feeder, living upon a variety of aquatic plants and seeds. It is said
to be especially fond of wild celery, and when feeding upon that plant
its flesh takes on a delicate flavor and is considered by many equal to
that of most ducks.

Avocet. Recurvirostra americana.

This is a bird of the plains, breeding from northern Texas to
Alberta. Since it has several times been observed in Missouri, it
probably visits Arkansas occasionally in migration. Cabot records
a specimen taken in the State, donated to the Boston Society of Nat-
ural History by Maj. Townsend.!

Woodcock. Philohela minor.

The woodcock is still fairly common in Arkansas, occurring in both
winter and summer. It is recorded as breeding at Fayetteville, where
one was seen carrying its young, April 1, 1882,? and at Clinton and
Newport (rare). Hollister reports it common in January and
November at Stuttgart and Harvey says it occurs at Fayetteville
during open winters. This fine game bird is rapidly diminishing in
numbers over a large part of its range. Unfortunately, it is not
protected by the laws of Arkansas and may be shot at any time.
Under such conditions its early extermination in the State seems

assured.
Wilson Snipe. Gallinago delicata.

This popular game bird, known usually as ‘‘jack snipe,” is a com-
mon migrant and winter resident. The first fall migrants arrive from
the north in September, and the birds become plentiful during
October. They are usually common throughout the winter in the
lower parts of the State, as on the Grand Prairie around Stuttgart,
where Hollister found them numerous in January, and at Van Buren,
where Hanna took one and saw a number of others December 29.
Harvey reports them as occurring in open winters at Fayetteville,’
and a writer in the American Field speaks of their occurrence in
December near Alma, Crawford County.t In spring most of them
pass north between the middle of March and the middle of April. As
this species is afforded no protection by the laws of Arkansas, its
numbers are decreasing year by year.

[Long-billed Dowitcher. Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus.

Dowitchers, often called red-breasted snipe, were formerly common in migration
throughout the Mississippi Valley, but like most of the shore birds they have in recent,
years become rare. This species undoubtedly occurred formerly and perhaps still
occurs in Arkansas.]

1 Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 259, 1847.
2 Harvey, Amer. Nat., XVI, p. 737, 1882.

3 Am, Nat., XVII, p. 737, 1882.

4 Old-Timer,”’ Am. Field, LI, p. 181, 1899,

30 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Pectoral Sandpiper. Pisobia maculata.

This species nests in the Arctic regions and passes the winter in
South America. It is one of the commonest of the migrating sand-
pipers and should be found along the shores of the rivers, lakes, and
ponds of Arkansas during March, April, and May, and on its return
journey from the middle of July to the last of November. Apparently
these sandpipers have not attracted the attention of the bird students
of the State, for there seems to be no record of their occurrence, except
one which I made on May 15, 1910, at Arkansas City, when I observed
a pair of the birds feeding in a little pool of muddy water close to the
Mississippi River.

[White-rumped Sandpiper. Pisobia fuscicollis.

This medium-sized sandpiper has frequently been taken in Missouri and probably

occurs regularly in Arkansas in its migrations in May and September.]
[Baird Sandpiper. Pisobia bairdi.

This species is a not uncommon migrant in the Mississippi Valley, passing northward
from early March to the middle of May and southward from August to October. It
doubtless occurs regularly in Arkansas. ]

Least Sandpiper. Pisobia minutilla.

As its name indicates, this is one of the smallest of sandpipers and
it is also one of the commonest. Usually it occurs in flocks of a
dozen or more individuals which frequent shallow ponds and mud
flats along streams, often in company with other species of shore
birds. Breeding in the far north, this bird migrates south in early
summer and may be found in Arkansas from July to October. It
passes the winter chiefly south of the United States and returns
during May and early June. Preble saw three of these sandpipers
and collected one at Fort Smith September 20, 1892.

[Semipalmated Sandpiper. LEreunetes pusillus.

This little bird, scarcely larger than the least sandpiper, occurs commonly in migra-
tion with other small species of shorebirds. It passes northward in late April and
early May and southward from July to October, at which times it will undoubtedly be
found regularly in Arkansas. ]

Greater Yellowlegs. Totanus melanoleueus.

)

The ‘‘big yellowlegs,” or ‘‘winter yellowlegs,” as it is frequently
called, is fairly common in the Mississippi Valley during migrations.
It breeds in Canada and Alaska and spends the winter from the Gulf
coast to southern South America. Its northward migration occurs
in April and May and its southward movement from July till Novem-
ber. Audubon speaks of it as quite abundant in spring and fall on
the Arkansas River,' but in recent years it has become relatively
scarce. One was seen at Monticello April 13, 1909, by Miss Cavaness.

1 Birds of Amer., V, p. 316, 1842.

SNIPES AND SANDPIPERS. 31

Yellowlegs. Totanus flavipes.

This snipe is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley both
spring and fall, occurring often in large flocks. The birds pass north
on the way to their summer bome on the Barren Grounds during
April and May, and return southward in July, August, and Septem-
ber. A few remain in the United States as late as November or on
the Gulf coast even through the winter, but the majority pass on to
South America. Only two records from Arkansas are at hand. One
bird was seen at Monticello April 13, 1909, by Miss Cavaness, and one
at Stuttgart May 14, 1910, by myself.

Solitary Sandpiper. Helodromas solitarius.

The solitary sandpiper occurs commonly in spring and fall, never
assembling in large flocks, but found singly or a few together around
the borders of lakes and streams or even small pools in the timber.
The first migrants arrive usually by the middle of April and about
May 1 the birds are numerous, some remaining until the middleof that
month. Very little is known about the breeding of this species, but
its range in summer is chiefly north of the United States. In fall it
returns during July, August, and September, and a few may remain
until late October before passing on to their winter home in South
America. It has been observed at Lake City (April 30), Blytheville
(May 3), and Delight (May 5, August 25).

Western Willet. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus.

This large snipe, or ‘‘tattler,” breeds on the coast of Texas and
Louisiana and from northern Iowa northward and westward, and
winters on the Gulf coast and in Mexico. It is considered rare in
Missouri (Widmann), and the only record from Arkansas is one fur-
nished by Dr. D. A. Richardson, who reported a small flock seen at
Osceola March 29, 1886.

Upland Plover. Bartramia longicauda.

This famous game bird—the ‘‘papabette”’ of the Southern States—
was formerly very abundant in migration on the prairies of the Missis-
sippi Valley, but the terrible slaughter to which it is subjected every
spring, especially in Louisiana and Texas, has greatly diminished its
numbers.

The species still occurs in moderate numbers on its northward
passage during March and April and again as it moves south in July,
August, and September. It breeds from Oklahoma and Missouri
northward to Alaska. Mrs. Stephenson records this bird as a rare
migrant at Helena, and Mr. Savage reports one seen at Delight
August 31, these being the only records from the State. The upland
plover is mainly insectivorous in its diet and is especially fond of
weevils, grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets. During migration it

32 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

frequently visits cotton fields, and it has been known to destroy the
boll weevil.
[Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites subruficollis.
The main migration route of this species is through the Mississippi Valley. It
has frequently been observed in Texas (April and August) and may be expected
to occur in Arkansas. ]

Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia.

The spotted sandpiper, or ‘‘tip-up,” is one of the most widely dis-
tributed and best known of the shorebirds, and is a fairly common
summer resident in the State. Arriving from the south in early April
and departing in October, it feeds chiefly along the shores of rivers,
creeks, and lakes, and nests in near-by fields. It has been noted in
the breeding season at Lake City, Helena, Womble, and Clinton.

The food of this species consists largely of insects, including beetles,
flies, grasshoppers, and may flies. It takes some crawfish and many
aquatic insects, and has been known to visit gardens for cutworms
and other pests.

Long-billed Curlew. Numenius americanus.

The ‘‘sickle-bill’”’ is the largest of the North American shorebirds
and was formerly a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley,
breeding from Oklahoma north to southern Canada. It is now
comparatively scarce, except on the western plains. It has been
occasionally seen in western Missouri (Appleton City, April 3, 1906;
Jasper County, October 15, 1905),1 and so may be expected to occur
in western Arkansas. Audubon speaks of taking a specimen of this
bird in Arkansas—the only record from the State.

Eskimo Curlew. Numenius borealis.

This curlew was formerly a common spring migrant in the Missis-
sippi Valley, but within the last 15 years has become nearly or quite
extinct. The spring flight appeared usually in Texas in March
and reached the latitude of Kansas by the middle of April. In the
fall the birds passed south along the Atlantic coast, reaching their
winter home in Argentina chiefly by a flight over the ocean.? The
only record of the occurrence of this bird in Arkansas is furnished
by Prof. Harvey, who noted its arrival at Fayetteville March 31, 1883.

Black-bellied Plover. Squatarola squatarola.

The black-breasted plover, or beetlehead, is a rare or irregular
transient visitant. Its northward movement is in March and April
and its southward flight from August to the end of October. Two
specimens were taken by Preble at Fort Smith September 19, 1892—
the only record from the State.

1 Widmann, Birds of Missouri, p. 75, 1907. 3 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 35, Biol. Surv., pp. 74-76, 1910.
2 Orn. Biog., III, p. 240, 1835.

PLOVERS. 33

Golden Plover. Charadrius dominicus.

The golden plover was formerly a very abundant spring migrant
in the Mississippi Valley during March and April, but in recent years
its numbers have been greatly reduced by constant persecution, so
that now it is infrequently seen. In the fall most of these plovers
migrated south from their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundras
to their winter home on the pampas of Argentina, by a long flight
over the Atlantic Ocean.! A few, however, passed south through
the Mississippi Valley. They were reported plentiful at Fayetteville
March 20 to 31, 1883 (Harvey), and a small flight was seen near
Crocketts Bluff October 22, 1882.?

Killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus.

The killdeer was formerly a common summer resident over most
of the United States, but now is rare in many sections. It was
reported as breeding at Clinton in 1889, but none were observed
anywhere in the State during my 1910 trip (May-July). It still
occurs frequently in migrations and is recorded as common in win-
ter (November to January) on the Grand Prairie about Stuttgart
(Hollister) and at Van Buren (Hanna). The first arrivals were
noted at Fayetteville March 1 (Harvey, 1883). Two were seen at
Delight, November 7 (Savage), and a few at Mud Lake, November
13, and at Turrell, November 17-19 (McAtee).

[Semipalmated Plover. gialitis semipalmata.

This little plover, often known as the ‘“‘ringneck,’”’ is a common migrant in the
Mississippi Valley, occurring chiefly in April and May, and again in July, August,
and September. It will probably be found as a regular transient in Arkansas. ]

[Piping Plover. Agialitis meloda.

The piping plover is an uncommon migrant in the Mississippi Valley, occurring
in Missouri in May, August, and September (Widmann). It may be looked for
during the same months in Arkansas. ]

Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres morinelia.

The turnstone nests in the Arctic regions and winters from the
Gulf coast southward. It is known as a rather uncommon transient
visitant in the Mississippi Valley during August and September and
less frequently in spring. It was reported by Dr. Richardson in
1886 as a “‘rare migrant’ at Osceola, the only record from the State.

Bobwhite. Colinus virginianus.

The bobwhite or quail is generally distributed in the State, and
may be found in all cleared sections from the Mississippi bottoms
to the tops of the highest mountains. It was formerly abundant

1 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 35, Biol. Surv., pp. 80-85, 1910.
2“ Byrne” [D. B. Wier], Forest and Stream, XIX, p. 286, 1882.

94869°—Bull. 38—11——3

384 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

nearly everywhere, but is now scarce in many localities, particularly
near the larger cities. If protected under a properly enforced game
law it should remain indefinitely one of the important assets of the
State. Gunners of wide experience assert that the quail of Arkansas
are noticeably smaller in bulk than those living in the Northern
States, but the differences, if any, are too intangible to warrant their
separation into a named race. The breeding season of this bird
extends from May to September, so that in many instances probably
two broods are raised. At Lake City, April 28, some of the birds
were paired, and I flushed a male and female from a freshly made
nest under an upturned furrow in a plowed field. On September 25
(1892), at Fayetteville, Preble noted young quails but a few days
old. At Delight, Savage found fresh eggs on August 1 and saw young
just able to fly on September 28.

The food of the bobwhite consists mainly of weed seed, which
forms over half of its total food. Grain constitutes only about one-
sixth of the total and most of this is waste grain taken from stubble
fields. Fruit amounts to about 10 per cent of the total food, and
insects to about 15 per cent.

Ruffed Grouse. Bonasa wmbellus.

In early times the ruffed grouse, or ‘‘pheasant,’’ as it is called in
the South, was probably a common inhabitant of the Ozark region
of northwestern Arkansas, but it is now completely exterminated in
the State. As long ago as 1883 it was reported by Prof. Harvey to
be ‘‘very scarce”’ in the region about Fayetteville, and this, so far as
I can find, is the only positive record of the occurrence of the bird in
Arkansas. It has become very scarce in Missouri also, but Widmann
gives a record for Shannon County as recently as the winter of 1905-6,

Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americanus.

Prairie chickens were once locally common in the State, but with
the increase of hunters in recent years their numbers have been
greatly reduced and in many sections they have been exterminated.
Prof. F. L. Harvey, writing in 1883, recorded them as “formerly
plentiful but now rare” in the vicinity of Fayetteville. He stated
also that they were “‘resident on the Grand Prairie of southeastern
Arkansas, as well as on the prairies south of the Arkansas River.” *
In a list of birds furnished by Mr. W. A. Monroe in 1884 this species
is given asa breeder near Newport. Hollister records it as abundant
in 1899 on the Grand Prairie near Stuttgart, but says that none were
seen there in 1900. Inquiries which I made at the same place in
1910 elicited only the indefinite information that a few could be found
in the remoter parts of the region. This valuable bird is so near
extinction in the State that only a protective law rigidly enforced
for a long term of years can save it from complete extermination.

1 Letter on file in Biological Survey. ‘

TURKEYS AND PIGEONS. 35

Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris.

Wild turkeys were formerly abundant over the whole State.
They are still fairly numerous in the wilder parts of the heavily
timbered bottoms in the eastern counties, but they are practically
exterminated in the Ozark region of the northwest and in the more
thickly settled regions generally. They were reported as common
at Fayetteville in 1883 (Harvey); at Clinton in 1890 (Pleas); at
Stuttgart in 1899 and 1900 (Hollister); and on White River below
Clarendon in 1906.1. During my 1910 trip I learned that they are
still found in moderate numbers in the timbered bottoms near
Blytheville and Turrell. McAtee found them numerous at the
latter place and at Mud Lake in November and heard that they are
still plentiful along Pemiscot Bayou, below Big Lake. A few are
reported on Rich Mountain, in Polk County, but in the hill country
around Pettigrew, where they were formerly common, all have disap-
peared. Mrs. Stephenson reports them still numerous near Helena.
If this fine game bird is to be saved as an asset of the State, the
open season must be very much restricted and a bag limit established.

Passenger Pigeon. Lctopistes migratorius.

The wild pigeon, once enormously abundant over a large part
of the eastern United States, is now practically if not wholly exter-
minated. It occurred in Arkansas as a migrant and winter resi-
dent. In 1883 Prof. Harvey reported it very plentiful in winter
at Fayetteville, and in 1889 Pleas noted the arrival at Clinton on
April 9 of three flocks, numbering in all 36 birds. Mr. L. R. Mor-
phew mentions the occurrence of a small flock of pigeons near Hot
Springs about 1892—the last ones seen in that vicinity? The last
stronghold of these birds seems to have been in the extreme north-
west part of Arkansas. The last shipment received by one game
dealer of St. Louis came from Siloam Springs, Benton County,
about 1893,3 and Mr. O. Widmann informs me that as late as 1902
another St. Louis dealer received 12 dozen pigeons from Rogers,
in the same coutnty.

Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis.

The mourning dove is a common summer resident throughout
the greater part of Arkansas, but is less common in the mountains
than in the lowlands. In fall and winter most of the doves which
nest in the mountainous parts of the State move down into the low-
lands, where they are joined by others from the States to the north.
They are common all winter on the Grand Prairie (Hollister) and
in other favorable localities. Hanna saw a flock of 25 at Van Buren

1 Bacon, W.J. Amer. Field, LXVII, p. 362, 1907.
2 Forest and Stream, LX VIII, p. 536, 1907.
3 Deane, Auk, XII, p. 298, 1895,

36 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

on December 17. Nesting begins in the spring early in April (eggs
found at Helena April 7) and may continue throughout the summer
until September. The food of this species consists mainly of weed
seed, which forms about two-thirds of the total. and grain makes
up the remainder. The grain eaten is almost entirely waste kernels
gleaned from stubble fields. The bird is thus seen to be highly bene-
ficial in its food habits and well worthy of protection by the farmer,

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura septentrionalis.

Turkey buzzards are generally distributed over the State and are
equally common in mountains and lowlands. They remain through-
out the winter even in the Ozark region (common at Fayetteville)
and in some sections are even more abundant at that season than
in summer, since their numbers are increased by many birds from the
more northern States.

Nests may be found in hollow logs or stumps in secluded parts of
the timbered bottoms or in caves or crevices in rocky bluffs. While
exploring a steep bluff along White River at Cotter June 8, I came
upon two young buzzards in a cave near the top of the bluff. They
were about half grown and were covered with white down. They
stood up and hissed at me as long as I remained in sight. As is well
known, these birds feed exclusively on carrion, and in warm climates
render an important service by removing offensive carcasses.

Black Vulture. Catharista urubu.

The black vulture, or carrion crow, is more southern in its dis-
tribution than the turkey buzzard and is not usually found much
beyond the limits of the Lower Austral Zone. It is generally dis-
tributed in the lower parts of the State, though usually less abundant
than the turkey buzzard, with which it often associates.

It remains all winter in some localities and was reported common
in January at Crocketts Bluff, when about 100 were seen feeding on
a dead horse. I have observed it at Wilmot, Eldorado, Camden,
Stuttgart, Arkansas City, and Walker Lake. Savage has noted
it a few times at Delight during June, July, and August. In the
Ozark region it occurs locally, having been reported as a common
resident at Clinton (Pleas) and at Fayetteville (Harvey).

Swallow-tailed Kite. Hlanoides forficatus.

This handsome and graceful hawk nests locally in the Mississippi
Valley, but is nowhere very common and is growing scarcer every
year. Widmann speaks of it as ‘‘a regular, though not numerous,
summer resident” in the cottonfield region of southeastern Missouri,
but I failed to find any there in 1909, nor did I observe the bird in

1“Byrne” [D. B. Wier], Forest and Stream, XX, p. 45, 1883.

KITES AND HAWKS. 37

Arkansas in 1910. In 1884 it was reported to breed at Newport and
in 1890 in Little River County, and doubtless at that time was
fairly numerous in the lowlands of the State, nesting chiefly in the
cypress swamps. At present this interesting and useful species must
be extremely rare. Its food consists largely of snakes and other
reptiles, beetles, grasshoppers, cotton worms, and small frogs.

Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis.

This species occurs as a summer resident in the Mississippi Valley
as far north as southern Illinois. Widmann considers it common
in southeastern Missouri and, although it has been reported from
Arkansas only a few times, it probably occurs locally in the eastern
part of the State. Mr. S. C. Dowell, of Walnut Ridge, has in his
possession a mounted specimen of this bird taken near that town.
In 1884 the species was reported as breeding at Newport. This
bird, like the swallow-tailed kite, subsists largely on insects, small
snakes, and frogs.

Marsh Hawk. Circus hudsonius.

One of the best-known hawks in the United States, this species is
easily recognized as it flies low over the fields and marshes, by the
conspicuous white patch at the base of its long tail. It is a com-
mon migrant and winter resident and may occur rarely as a breeder.
It was reported to breed at Newport in 1884, and was seen in migra-
tion at Fayetteville September 28 (1892). At Delight, Mr. Savage
noted it frequently during the winter. Study of its food habits has
shown it to be a beneficial species, feeding chiefly upon meadow
mice and other small rodents, lizards, frogs, snakes, insects, and, to
some extent, on small ground-dwelling birds. It occasionally preys
upon dead and wounded ducks and other game birds left by hunters,
but seldom chases birds on the wing.’ Unfortunately it is not very
suspicious, and thus often falls prey to the thoughtless sportsman,
who shoots all hawks on sight on the theory that they kill chickens
and game birds.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox.

This little hawk is widely distributed in the United States, but is
not usually common in Arkansas, although it may at times be plenti-
ful in migration. It was reported as a rare breeder at Clinton in
1890, arriving from the south on April 6, and has been reported to
breed also at Newport. Its fall migration is performed chiefly in
September and October. Several were seen by Preble at Fort
Smith September 15 to 23 and at Fayetteville September 24 to
October 1; Savage noted the first in fall at Delight on September 22
and by October 20 they had become common. They remained

1 Fisher, A. K., Bull. 3, Div. Orn, and Mamm., pp. 26-28, 1893.

38 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

there during most of November and one was seen on February 2
(1911). This is one of the few hawks which can be classed as decid-
edly harmful, since its food consists largely of wild birds and young
poultry, varied occasionally with mice, insects, or small reptiles.

Cooper Hawk. <Accipiter cooperi.

The Cooper hawk resembles the sharpshin in general appearance,
but is much larger. It is generally distributed in North America,
and is not uncommon in Arkansas. Savage collected a specimen at
Delight, September 25, 1910, and observed the species frequently
in January. Hanna saw the bird twice in December in the hills
near Van Buren. It occurs locally in summer, but the only record
at that season is from Delight, where Savage collected a set of four
eggs May 4, 1911. This bird is a swift and fearless hunter and is
responsible for a good share of the damage to poultry attributed to
the larger hawks. Its food consists almost entirely of wild birds
and poultry, but occasionally it captures small mammals, reptiles,
batrachians, and insects.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo borealis.

The redtail occurs as a rare breeder and a fairly common winter
resident. It was reported to be a tolerably common summer resi-
dent at Newport in 1884 and at Clinton in 1890. One was seen
at Fayetteville September 29, 1892 (Preble), and the species was
reported common in winter in the vicinity of Stuttgart (Hollister)
and Van Buren (Hanna). McAtee observed one each near Forrest
City, Turrell, and Menasha Lake in November, 1910. This is one
of the larger hawks and shares with several other species the name
“hen hawk.’ Careful study of its food habits by the Biological
Survey has shown that the bird does not merit the title, since mice
and other injurious rodents constitute fully four-fifths of its food
and poultry (including game birds) only one-tenth. So great is the
prejudice against all large hawks, however, that they are subjected
to constant persecution by farmers and hunters, with the result
that this species, with others, in many sections has become very

scarce.
[Harlan Hawk. Buteo borealis harlani.

This dark form of the red-tailed hawk is supposed to be an inhabitant of the lower
Mississippi Valley, but its status as a recognizable subspecies is open to doubt. Hol-
lister records it as fairly common in winter on the Grand Prairie around Stuttgart,
where he shot typical specimens. ]!

Red-shouldered Hawk. Buteo lineatus.

The red-shouldered hawk is a resident of the swamps and river-
bottom woods throughout the State, and in such situations its shrill
cries may frequently be heard. I found it common almost every-
where in eastern Arkansas, but did not observe any in the moun-

1 Wilson Bull., IX, p. 13, 1902.

HAWKS AND EAGLES, 89

tainous sections. It breeds at Lake City, Walker Lake, Turrell,
McGehee, Camden, and Wilmot. Two adult specimens taken at
Wilmot the last, week in June were molting, and at the same time
and place two fully grown young birds were secured. Preble found
the species common at Fort Smith and saw a few at Fayetteville
in September, 1892. Savage reports it uncommon at Delight in
summer, and Hollister records it as “tolerably common” around
Stuttgart in winter. This hawk is a most beneficial species, feeding
chiefly on mice and other small mammals, snakes, frogs, insects, and
very rarely on birds. Two of the hawks collected at Wilmot had
been feeding on a chicken. In the stomachs of the other two there
were beetles, caterpillars, a grasshopper, a spider, and a toad. Of
220 stomachs of this hawk examined in the Biological Survey, only
two contained remains of poultry and only 13 remains of other
birds, while 102 contained mice. In spite of these well-known facts,
the hawks are relentlessly destroyed by farmers on the mistaken
theory that they are inveterate chicken thieves.

Broad-winged Hawk. Buteo platypterus.

The broadwing occurs as a migrant and a locally common summer
resident. In 1890 it was reported as a common breeder at Clinton,
arriving from the south February 18. Mr. Savage noted one at
Delight, Pike County, on March 21, 1910, and Mrs. Stephenson
reports it as a summer resident at Helena. I did not observe the
species in the State, but shot a young bird June 15 in Oregon
County, Mo., about a mile from Mammoth Spring, Ark. Bendire
speaks of this hawk as ‘eminently a bird of the larger forests, and
seldom seen in the more open and cultivated country;’’ while Wid-
mann says that in Missouri it “prefers undulating ground where
wooded tracts, even of medium-sized trees, adjoin creek bottoms,
wet meadows, and cultivated fields.” The broadwing is one of the
beneficial hawks, its food consisting largely of small mammals,
reptiles, batrachians, and insects.

[Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaétos.

The golden eagle is a common bird in the western United States and has frequently
been taken in Missouri in winter. It probably occurs irregularly in Arkansas, and
may possibly breed in the mountainous parts of the State. ]

Bald Eagle. Halizxetus leucocephalus.

This fine bird is a rather rare resident in the wilder sections of the
State, chiefly in the big swamps of the eastern part. It was reported
to be rare at Osceola in 1886, near Clinton in 1890, and near Helena
in 1910. One was seen at Clinton on February 9, and Hollister
reports a few in winter in the vicinity of Stuttgart (1899 and 1900).
Mr. S. C. Dowell, of Walnut Ridge, has in his possession a mounted

40 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

specimen which was killed in Lawrence County. One was shot in
January, 1896, from a fence in the town limits of Helena. It is
known to breed rarely near that town and also in the big swamps
west of Wilmot, where a specimen was killed in June, 1910, by Mr.
E. M. McCormick.

This bird is seldom found far from lakes or streams, where it can
obtain its favorite food. In addition to fish, which form more than
half its food, it destroys many birds, chiefly water fowl, and con-
siderable numbers of mammals, mainly the smaller kinds, and the
young of larger species. Occasionally it attacks domestic animals,
such as lambs and pigs. Oberholser, after treating exhaustively of
its food habits, concluded that it ‘‘is rather more beneficial than

otherwise.’ 1
Duck Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum.

This bold and attractive falcon, although never abundant, was in
former years locally common in the Mississippi Valley, nesting
usually about cliffs, but occasionally also in cavities in tall trees in
the bottom lands. Widmann gives numerous records of its former
occurrence in Missouri, but considers it now decidedly rare and
probably only a migrant. The only record from Arkansas seems to
be one published by Bendire on the authority of Mr. B. T. Gault,
who reports the bird nesting in the spring of 1888 in the sandstone
bluffs along the Little Red River in Cleburne County.? The duck
hawk feeds almost exclusively on birds, and when living in the
vicinity of settlements often does serious damage to poultry and

pigeons.

Pigeon Hawk. Falco columbarius.

The pigeon hawk nests chiefly north of the United States, but is a
rather common migrant and winter resident in the Southern States.
In 1890 it was reported rare in the vicinity of Clinton, one being seen
on January 20, another February 18. Hanna saw one in December,
1910, near Van Buren. There are no other records from the State,
but the bird is doubtless of regular occurrence in fall and winter.
The food of this little hawk consists chiefly of the smaller wild birds
up to the size of a pigeon, with the addition of a few insects and
small mammals. It almost never attacks full-grown poultry, but is
sometimes quite destructive to young chickens.

Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius.

This handsome little hawk—the smallest of its tribe—is a fairly
common resident, nesting in hollow trees about open fields. In
winter it is perhaps even more common than in summer, for its
numbers are at that season increased by migrating individuals from

1 Bull. 27, Biol. Survey, p. 16, 1906. ? Life Hist. N. Am. Birds [T], p. 294, 1892.

HAWKS AND OWLS. 41

the more northern States. The species has been reported as a com-
mon resident at Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Clinton, Newport, Osceola,
and Helena. I saw it in summer at Armorel, Wilmot, and Camden,
and Savage reports a few seen at Delight. In winter it is reported
very common on the Grand Prairie around Stuttgart (Hollister) and
near Van Buren (Hanna). It is a decidedly useful species, its food
consisting during the summer almost exclusively of insects. It is
especially fond of grasshoppers and, when these pests are abundant,
selects them in preference to any other food. In winter its diet is
varied with mice and other small mammals, lizards, snakes, and
small birds.
Osprey. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis.

The osprey, or fish hawk, was formerly a common summer resident
along the larger rivers of the State, but of late years it has become
very scarce. It was reported as breeding at Newport in 1884 and at
Osceola in 1886. Mr. B. T. Gault saw it in May, 1888, on the upper
White River, near the Missouri boundary,' and found it nesting in
holes in the sandstone bluff along Little Red River, central Arkan-
sas.? Preble saw one at Fort Smith September 19, 1892. I did not
observe any during my 1910 trip. The food of this species, as indi-
cated by its common name, consists wholly of fish. Even where it
is abundant, however, as on the Atlantic coast, the toll it levies on
fish is considered to be offset by its graceful appearance and interest-
ing habits.

Barn Owl. Aluco pratincola.

The barn owl is a common resident of the lower Mississippi Valley
and occurs rarely as far north as Missouri. It probably occurs gener-
ally in the lowlands of Arkansas, but not in the mountainous sections.
Mr. H. 8S. Reynolds records the species at Judsonia, in the winter of
1876-77,? Mrs. Stephenson reports it as resident at Helena, and Mr.
Savage took a specimen at Delight, June 1, 1911. This large owl is
one of the strictly beneficial species, its food consisting almost
exclusively of mice, rats, and other small mammals.

Long-eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus.

This owl breeds in Canada and the United States as far south as
Arkansas and winters mainly in the United States and Mexico. It
was reported as breeding at Newport in 1884 and ‘‘resident”’ at Clin-
ton in 1890. Hollister records it common in winter near Stuttgart,
and Savage took a specimen at Delight on November 17. It is ap-
parently rare in most parts of the State. It is a bird of the deep
woods and is rarely observed. This is another of the useful birds of

1 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 104, 1907.
2 Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds [I], p. 323, 1892.
3 Am. Nat., XI, p. 308, 1877.

42 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

prey which is persistently slaughtered at every opportunity under the
mistaken notion that it killschickens. Itsfood consists chiefly of mice
and other small mammals, with a small percentage of wild birds.

Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus.

The short-eared owl is almost cosmopolitan in its distribution, but
is known to occur in the breeding season in the United States no
farther south than Missouri. In winter it moves southward and is
often found in flocks in various parts of the United States. It prefers
more open country than most other owls, habitually seeking its food
and building its nest on the prairies or marshes. Hollister recorded
its presence in small numbers in winter on the Grand Prairie around
Stuttgart, and it is doubtless generally distributed at that season
over the prairie lands of the State.

Barred Owl. Strix varia varia.

The barred owl, or “‘hoot owl,” as it is frequently called, is prob-
ably the most abundant member of its family in the State. A few
may be found in nearly every large tract of river-bottom timber and
it is particularly common in the heavy swamps of the eastern coun-
ties. It is a permanent resident wherever found. The range of the
northern subspecies can not be defined, since no specimens of this form
are available; but it probably occupies the mountainous regions in
the northern and western parts of the State. Records of barred owls
from Fayetteville and Chester are doubtless referable to the northern
bird. This owl has been accused of visiting chicken roosts and carry-
ing off young or half-grown fowls, but examination by the Biological
Survey of over 100 stomachs of this species demonstrated that its food
ordinarily consists chiefly of mice and other small mammals, insects,
birds, crawfish, frogs, and fish. Only three of the stomachs examined
contained poultry. Hence the barred owl is considered in the main
a beneficial species and worthy of protection.

Florida Barred Owl. Strix varia alleni.

The southern form of the barred owl occurs in the southern half of
Arkansas, as shown by specimens from Wilmot, Delight, and Van
Buren, and its range very probably extends northward in the bottom
lands of the Mississippi to the northern border of the State. Barred
owls have been observed at Lake City, Walker Lake, Newport, and
McGehee. Hollister records them common in winter at Stuttgart.
At Wilmot, the last week in June, a number of these owls roosted every
day in a patch of overflowed timber, and at dusk one evening I saw
three fly out and sail leisurely down to a near-by slough, where they
procured their food. In this slough, about 8 o’clock one morning, I
shot a fully grown young one from the thick lower branches of an oak.
Examination of this bird’s stomach showed that it had eaten a craw-
fish and a cutworm.

OWLS. 43
Saw-whet Owl. Cryptoglaux acadica.

The saw-whet, the smallest owl found in the eastern United States,
occurs commonly in the Northern States, but in the lower Missis-
sippi Valley is a rare or accidental winter visitant. There is but one
record from Louisiana and one from Arkansas, based on an entry in
the catalogue of the United States National Museum of a specimen
(No. 3891) collected at Fort Smith by the Whipple Expedition of
1853-54. The specimen itself can not now be found, and con-
siderable doubt attaches to the correctness of the record, especially
in view of the fact that Lieut. Whipple’s party was at Fort Smith
only a few days in the early part of July—a time of year when this
owl would not be expected to occur so far south.

Screech Owl. Otus asio asio.

This familiar little owl is generally distributed in the State, but is
more often heard than seen. It remains throughout the year, nesting
in hollow trees or sometimes in bird boxes or cavities around farm
buildings. No specimens of the northern form (asio) are known to
have been taken in Arkansas, but it probably will be found in the
higher parts of the State. Records of its occurrence at Fayetteville,
Clinton, and Mammoth Spring are considered referable to this sub-
species. In its food habits the screech owl is almost wholly bene-
ficial, feeding largely on mice and insects and less frequently on small
birds, lizards, frogs, and crawfish. With the increase of English
sparrows this owl has acquired a fondness for these pests, and this
fact, coupled with its habit of hunting mice around barnyards and
grain stacks, should lead every farmer to protect it as far as possible.

Florida Screech Owl. Otus asio floridanus.

This southern form of the screech ow! probably inhabits the south-
ern and eastern parts of Arkansas. Several specimens, including
both red and gray individuals, have been taken at Delight by Savage,
and Hanna took one at Van Buren. Screech owls, doubtless of this
subspecies, are reported fairly common at Wilmot, Stuttgart (Hol-
lister), Helena, and Osceola.

Great Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus.

This owl, one of the largest and fiercest of its tribe, is generally
distributed in the State, but in most sections is not very common.
It was reported as a resident and breeder at Newport (1884) and
Clinton (1890), and Preble killed one at Fayetteville, September
28, 1892. Savage reports it fairly common at Delight, and McAtee
noted it at Turrell and Menasha Lake. I did not observe any during
my 1910 trip. This species is notoriously destructive to poultry and
game birds, but it also feeds extensively on mice, rats, rabbits, and
other small mammals. It captures also a few small birds and some

44 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

insects. In thickly settled regions it may at times become a nuisance,
but in the sparsely settled West it is one of the most useful birds of
prey, feeding very largely upon rabbits and other destructive rodents.

Snowy Owl. Nyctea nyctea.

The snowy owl is a resident of the frozen North and visits the
United States only in winter. There are numerous records from
Missouri, but south of that State the species is a very rare straggler.
The only record for Arkansas is one given by Audubon, who states
that this owl occurs in winter on the Arkansas River."

Carolina Paroquet. Conuropsis carolinensis.

This handsome and interesting bird—the only representative of
its family in the eastern United States—was formerly common in
the South Atlantic and Gulf States and the Mississippi Valley gen-
erally as far north as Iowa. At the present time it is restricted
probably to Florida and even there is rare and local. Its extermina-
tion in the Mississippi Valley was practically accomplished about 20
or 25 years ago, although a few stragglers have been seen in Mis-
souri and Kansas as recently as 1905.2. Bendire records it as com-
paratively common in the Mississippi and White River Valleys in 1860,
and mentions seeing large flocks throughout that year in the vicinity of
Fort Smith? Mr. B. T. Gault, writing in 1888, says: ‘‘At one time
paroquets were very plentiful at Paroquet Bluff, between Newport
and Batesville on the White River, but none have been seen there for
at least eight years.”’?

Mr. O. P. Hay, in 1881, stated that paroquets had recently been
seen in southeastern Arkansas,‘ and in 1885 Mr. W. A. Monroe
reported them as summer residents at Newport.

The food of the paroquets consisted of a variety of wild seeds, nuts,
fruits, and berries. They were fond also of cultivated fruit and were
accused of damaging corn and other grain when in the milk. This
habit, coupled with their confiding nature and their habit of flocking
about wounded comrades, furnished the cause and the opportunity
for their extermination by man.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus.

The yellowbill is the common species of cuckoo or “rain crow” in
Arkansas, where it is generally distributed as a summer resident.
The average date of its arrival at Helena is April 25 (earliest, April 19)
and the last one at Delight in autumn was noted September 25. It
has been observed also at Fayetteville, Clinton, Newport, Mammoth
Spring, and other places. Cuckoos inhabit a variety of situations in
both mountains and lowlands, choosing usually for their nesting site

1 Orn. Biog., II, p. 135, 1834. 3 Life History N. Am. Birds [IT], p. 1, 1895.
2 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 116, 1907. 4 Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VU, p. 93, 1882.

CUOKOOS AND KINGFISHERS. 45

a thicket or low tree in some secluded spot. I found them unusually
numerous at Wilmot the last week of June in cypress trees along the
shore of a lake. This species is known to be exceedingly useful,
feeding exclusively on insects and showing a decided preference for
caterpillars, including the hairy kinds rejected by many birds. In
the cotton fields of Texas I found it in large numbers, destroying great
quantities of cotton-leaf worms (Alabama argillacea).

Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythropthalmus.

The black-billed cuckoo is much rarer than the yellow-billed and
is known to breed in the State only in the Ozark region. The only
records are those furnished by Widmann,! who says: “In the Ozarks
it is reported asa breeder as far south as Heburn [= Heber], Cleburne
Co., Ark., by Mr. B. T. Gault in 1888, and at Eureka Springs by Mr.
Philo W. Smith, Jr., in 1906.’ This cuckoo is essentially similar in
its habits to the more common species, and like it deserves the fullest
protection.

Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon.

The kingfisher is found in moderate numbers on practically all the
streams, lakes, and ponds of Arkansas, but is most numerous in the
well-watered sections in the eastern part. It is a hardy bird, many
individuals remaining throughout the winter in the warmer parts.
It has been observed in summer at Mammoth Spring, Clinton, Pea
Ridge, Wilmot, Womble, and other places, and has been recorded in
winter at Helena, Van Buren, and Judsonia;* Mud Lake, November
13; and Turrell, November 19. The food of this bird consists almost
exclusively of fish, the larger part of which is of species of little
value to man. When fish are difficult to obtain, it occasionally has
recourse to other food, such as crawfish, insects, and even vegetable
matter, as the berries of the sour gum.’

Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Campephilus principalis.

This noble bird, the largest of its family in the United States, was
formerly common in the heavy swamps of the Mississippi Valley as
well as the Southeastern States generally. Through constant perse-
cution its numbers have been greatly reduced everywhere and it has
been exterminated over a large part of its range. A few are believed
to remain in the wilder parts of southeastern Arkansas. A writer in
Forest and Stream, in 1885, states that in the region about Newport
the ivorybill ‘‘may be found in unfrequented swamps,” and adds:
“Tt is not rare, but is rarely met with.”’* It was reported from
Osceola in 1887 by Dr. Richardson, and Mrs. Stephenson says that
in 1910 the ivorybill is “reported by fairly reliable people’’ as still

! Birds of Missouri, p. 118, 1907. 3 Bendire, Life Hist. N. Am. Birds [IT], pp. 36-37, 1895.
? Reynolds, H. S., Amer. Nat., XI, p. 307, 1877. 4“ Yell,’ Forest and Stream, XXIV, p. 407, 1885.

46 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

occurring near Helena. Some persons do not distinguish this species
from the pileated woodpecker, with which it shares the names of
“logcock,” “woodcock,” “woodchuck,” etc. It has been ruthlessly
destroyed by hunters for mere sport or for the sake of its brilliant
scalp or its polished white bill. Never widely distributed, this useful
and interesting bird has become yearly more restricted in its range,
until now it is on the verge of extinction.

Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus villosus.

The hairy woodpecker is generally distributed throughout the State
in both summer and winter, but is nowhere very common. The
northern form (villosus) has been found breeding at Mammoth Spring
and at Clinton. One specimen was taken at Van Buren December 7.
The range of this subspecies within the State can not be exactly
defined, but it doubtless occupies only the Ozark region and its
foothills. Its food habits are similar to those of its smaller relative,
the downy woodpecker, and like it the hairy is considered decidedly
aeons Southern Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus auduboni.

This subspecies, a somewhat smaller bird than the northern form,
probably occupies the southern half of the State and the Mississippi
bottoms. A specimen was taken at Armorel, Mississippi County
(May 5), and the bird was observed in small numbers at Turrell,
Wilmot, Camden, Delight, and Rich Mountain.

Southern Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens pubescens.

The little downy woodpecker is common in all parts of the State
and is equally at home in the deep swamps and on the dry rocky
slopes of the mountains. It is nonmigratory and nests throughout
its range. Specimens were taken at Turrell, Wilmot, and Rich
Mountain, and the species was observed at Mammoth Spring, Lake
City, Eldorado, and Camden. Savage reports it fairly common at
Delight. The downy is considered the most useful of all our wood-
peckers. Stomach examinations made in the Biological Survey
showed that three-fourths of its food is made up of insects, few of
which are useful kinds. The balance of its diet consists of wild fruits,
berries, and nuts.

Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens medianus.

The northern and slightly larger form of the downy woodpecker
has been taken at only one locality in the State, Van Buren, where 6
specimens were secured by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna between November
29 and January 7. Whether these birds were migrants or representa-
tives of the breeding form of the Ozark region can not be decided until
breeding specimens are secured from that part of the State. Hollister -
has recorded medianus from Stuttgart in winter, but he took no speci-
mens, and the southern form very probably occurs there also.

WOODPECKERS. 47
Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Dryobates borealis.

This southern woodpecker is of very local distribution in the State
and seems to be confined to pine woods. It was reported as breeding
rather commonly near Clinton in 1890 and a specimen from there was
identified in the Biological Survey. Mr. W. A. Monroe, of Newport,
found it breeding near there in 1884 and killed several specimens.
Mr. B. T. Gault observed the birds daily in the summer of 1888 in
pine woods at Heber, Cleburne County,! and Mr, Savage saw three
individuals at Delight, October 14, 1910, although none had been
observed there during the summer.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Sphyrapicus varius.

The sapsucker is a northern-breeding species, found in the nesting
season from the latitude of St. Louis northward and occurring in
Arkansas as a spring and fall migrant and winter resident. It has
been recorded in winter at Delight and Judsonia.? Hanna took 8
specimens at Van Buren between December 6 and 28, and doubtless
it is common at that season over the greater part of the State. Spring
migration takes place mainly in late March and early April, the first
arrival at Clinton having been noted on April 7 and at Delight on
April 5. The fall migration is chiefly during October, the first birds
having been seen at Delight on the 15th and the species was common
by the 20th. Its occurrence in summer has been reported by Mr.
W. A. Monroe, who found a number of the birds in the hills 50 miles
west of Newport in June, July, and August, 1884.5 No nests or young
birds were observed and the record, being unsubstantiated by speci-
mens, is open to considerable question, since the species has never
been found elsewhere in the Mississippi Valley so far south in summer.
This is the only one of the woodpeckers of the State which is fairly
entitled to be called a ‘‘sapsucker.” It is known to do considerable
damage to certain forest and orchard trees, including birch, maple,
oak, ash, apple, and other species, by puncturing the bark in the
form of girdles, sometimes causing the death of the trees. The birds
feed both on the sap which flows from the punctures and on the insects
attracted to the sap. Their food includes also large numbers of
forest insects, as well as wild fruits and berries.

Pileated Woodpecker. Phieotomus pileatus..

This large woodpecker, known under the vernacular names of
“‘woodcock,” ‘‘logcock,” ‘‘woodchuck,”’ etc., is quite common and.
generally distributed in the heavily timbered parts of the State. It
is nonmigratory and breeds throughout its range, having been

1 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 121, 1907.
2 Reynolds, H. S., Am. Nat., XI, p. 308, 1877.
3 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 2, Div. Econ. Orn., p. 130, 1888.

48 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

reported from Clinton (where eggs ready to hatch were found on
April 28), Newport, Helena, Mammoth Spring, Fayetteville, Stutt-
gart, Wilmot, and Delight. This bird is ordinarily rather shy, but
many of the less experienced individuals fall victims to thoughtless
gunners. Its food consists chiefly of forest insects (particularly the
larvee of wood-boring beetles) and some wild fruits.

Red-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus.

The redhead is an abundant resident in all parts of the State and
especially favors cultivated lands containing much dead timber. Ir-
regularly migratory in the northern parts of its range, it is found
in Arkansas throughout the year, and is perhaps more abundant in
winter than in summer. It has been observed at Fayetteville, Rich
Mountain (at 2,600 feet), McGehee, Lake City, Mammoth Spring, and
other places.

This woodpecker has been frequently accused of pulling up newly
sprouted corn, and it has a decided taste for cultivated fruit and
berries. On the other hand, stomach examinations have shown that
corn forms only about 7 per cent of its total food and that about half
of its food consists of insects, the larger part of which are beetles, ants,
and grasshoppers. At Van Buren, where the bird was common in
December, Hanna noticed its habit of storing acorns and other nuts
in hollows in trees.

Red-bellied Woodpecker. Centurus carolinus.

Although less numerous than the redhead, this woodpecker is a
fairly common residentin nearly all sections. Itisreported commonin
winter at Stuttgart (Hollister), Van Buren (Hanna), and Fayetteville.’
It has been observed also at Clinton, Lake City, Helena, Wilmot,
Camden, and other places.

This species eats more vegetable matter than any other wood-
pecker, its diet including a variety of wild fruits and berries, besides

many insects.
Flicker. Colaptes auratus auratus.

The flicker, or yellow hammer, is a fairly common resident in both
winter and summer. Many migrants pass through in spring and fall,
and many from farther north spend the winter in the State. The
ranges of the northern and southern forms are not accurately known,
but the typical race (auratus) will probably be found breeding in the
southern and eastern parts of the State. The flicker has been
reported as a summer resident at Newport, Helena, Wilmot, and
Delight, but is not usually an abundant bird at this season. In its
diet this species shows a special fondness for ants, which constitute
nearly half of its food, and a single bird has been known to consume

1 Cooke, W. W., Orn. and Ool., VIII, p. 34, 1883.

WOODPECKERS AND GOATSUCKERS. 49

over 3,000 of these insects at a meal. In addition, flickers capture
many beetles and other insects and take a large variety of wild fruits,
berries, and seeds. Corn and other grains are only rarely eaten.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus luteus.

The northern form of the flicker occurs as a breeder only in the
mountainous parts, but in winter it may be found more or less
frequently throughout the State. Breeding specimens were taken
at Mammoth Spring, and the bird is reported in summer from Fayette-
ville and Clinton. In winter it is recorded as abundant at Stutt-
gart‘ (Hollister), and of frequent occurrence at Fayetteville and
Clinton. Hanna found flickers common at Van Buren in December
and took two specimens of this subspecies.

Red-shafted Flicker. Colaptes cafer collaris.

This is a western species breeding as far east as eastern Nebraska
and western Texas. It occurs only casually in Arkansas, there being
but one record—a typical specimen taken by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna
at Van Buren, January 7, 1911. In habits this species closely
resembles the eastern flicker.

Chuck-will’s-widow. Antrostomus carolinensis.

This curious bird, resembling in appearance a large whippoorwill,
is so retiring in its habits that it is rarely seen. It occurs commonly
as a summer resident in many parts of the State, arriving from the
South about the middle of April (Cerro Gordo, April 13, 1890; Hel-
ena, April 19, 1896), and departing in early fall. Although char-
acteristic of the Lower Austral Zone, this species seems to be more
abundant in the foothills than in the lowlands. It is reported as a
summer resident at Newport and Helena, but I did not observe it
in the lowlands. In the foothills near Delight it is common. On
May 20, at dusk, the birds could be heard in every direction calling
from the edges of the mixed upland timber. Three or four were
heard on the lower slopes of Rich Mountain, where the upper limit
of the bird was found to be about 1,800 feet. Although not seen in
the higher parts of the Ozark region, it ranges up the valley of White
River as far, at least, as Cotter. It was noted also at Mammoth
Spring. Mr. C. E. Pleas, writing from Clinton, reports these birds
abundant and says:

Their favorite retreat here is open, sterile, rocky ground bordering the hill-
sides. * * * Of a hundred or more which I have traced up in the moonlight,

every one was perched on the ground, a rock, or a log, or occasionally on a low limb or
snag when singing.”

1 Possibly including also some of the southern form. 2 Oologist, VII, p. 156, 1890,
94869°—Bull. 38—11—4

50 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

The food of this species, according to Bendire, consists mainly of
beetles, winged ants, and other insects, especially the night-flying
Lepidoptera. Strange as it may seem, it occasionally captures and
swallows small birds.

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Fig. 1.—Breeding area of the chuck-will’s-widow (A ntrostomus carolinensis) in Arkansas.
Whippoorwill. Antrostomus vociferus.

The whippoorwill occurs as a summer resident in the more ele-
vated portions of the Ozark region, where it often occupies the same
localities as the chuck-will’s-widow. It is recorded as abundant at
Clinton, arriving there from the south March 31 and nesting in the
rocky ravines of the mountains.‘ It is reported also as breeding at
Pea Ridge, and I noted a few at Pettigrew about June 1, evidently
on their breeding grounds. As a migrant it is reported from Helena,
Newport, Monticello, and Delight, noted at the latter place March 31
and September 9 to 14. Like the preceding species, this bird is very
retiring in its habits and is rarely seen, though its loud voice at night
readily betrays its presence. The mistaken notion that this bird and
the nighthawk are the same species is very prevalent. The whip-
poorwill is one of the most valuable of all our birds, being a great
destroyer of moths, May beetles, caterpillars, and other harmful
insects. It has been known to eat the potato beetle and also the
Rocky Mountain locust.

1 Pleas, C. E., Oologist, VII, pp. 155, 156, 1890.

Bul. 38, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agricuiture. PLATE V.

THE GOATSUCKERS OF ARKANSAS. NIGHTHAWK, WHIPPOORWILL, AND CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW.

GOATSUCKERS. 51
Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus virginanus.

The nighthawk, or ‘‘bullbat,’”’ occurs as a common migrant and a
rare and local summer resident. It arrives from the south about
the 20th of April, and migrating individuals are more or less comunon
for a month or more. In the fall the southward movement begins
late in August and continues through September, the birds being
most abundant during the latter month. The species is reported to
breed at Clinton, Pea Ridge, and near Newport. I observed it in
small numbers at Mena (May 24), Pettigrew (June 1), and Mammoth
Spring (June 15). A flock of 10 seen at Womble, May 22, may have

3° a

S see wine
a

Fic. 2.—Breeding area of the whippoorwill (A ntrostomus vociferus) in Arkansas.

been migrants. Preble found them common at Fort Smith on Sep-
tember 15 and noted them daily at Fayetteville from September 24
to October 1. Savage observed a few at Delight between August 26
and September 24. Nighthawks are strictly insectivorous and emi-
nently beneficial. They are adepts at capturing insects on the wing,
and their stomachs are often gorged with the fruits of their chase.
Among other destructive species which they assist in keeping down
is the cotton-boll weevil, a pest now rapidly spreading over Arkansas.
Cotton growers in the State would do well to see that the law pro-
tecting this valuable bird is strictly enforced, more especially as in the
fall many are shot by irresponsible boys and thoughtless hunters,
to whom the temptation of a flying mark is irresistible.

52 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS,

Florida Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus chapmani.

The occurrence of this southern form of the nighthawk in Arkansas
was unknown until I secured a typical specimen at Stuttgart, May 12,
1910. The subspecies probably breeds in favorable localities in the
southern part of the State. It was observed in small numbers on the
Grand Prairie around Stuttgart, and one was seen at Eldorado
July 3. ;

Chimney Swift. Chextura pelagica.

This bird, commonly known as ‘‘chimney swallow,” or ‘‘chimney
sweep,” is one of the most abundant species in the State and is found
in practically all localities. From their winter home south of the
United States the first ones arrive about the last of March (earliest
at Helena, March 21; average, March 25) and remain until October
(last seen at Helena, October 19).

As is well known, their ordinary breeding places are in unused
chimneys, but in thinly settled districts a few may still retain their
ancient habit of nesting in hollow trees. Pleas, in 1890, stated that
such situations were used by the swifts at Clinton, Ark., and more
recently Widmann has recorded their use of hollow tupelo gums in
the swamps of southeastern Missouri.' In the fall, just prior to the
southward migration, large numbers of swifts often gather into a
flock and roost by thousands-in some large chimney.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Archilochus colubris.

This tiny hummingbird is a common summer resident in most
parts of Arkansas. The earliest date of its arrival at Helena is March
31 (average, April 9) and it remains until October (average, October 6;
latest, October 8). At Delight it was seen as late as October 25.
Hummingbirds readily adapt themselves to civilized surroundings
and are often seen in town and city gardens, but are equally at home
in the depths of the wilderness. I observed them frequently on
Rich Mountain from base to summit and found them also in the
timbered bottoms at Turrell and McGehee. They are reported as
breeding at Pea Ridge, Clinton, PeEnEEOW, Mammoth Spring, Big
Lake, and Delight.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Muscivora forficata.

This handsome flycatcher is a summer resident of the prairies from
Kansas to southern Texas. Its range extends east to eastern Okla-
homa and casually to Arkansas. Bendire, in giving its distribution,
says: ‘‘Occasional in * * * western Arkansas” and, although
no definite locality is given, this statement doubtless refers to the
region about Fort Smith, where Capt. Bendire was stationed in 1860.
On May 28, 1910, I saw from the train one of these birds a little south
of Spiro, Okla., about 10 miles west of the Arkansas boundary.

1 Birds of Missouri, p. 132, 1907.

FLYCATCHERS., 583

Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus.

The kingbird is a common and generally distributed summer resi-
dent, arriving in spring about April 15 and remaining until late Sep-
tember (last seen at Helena September 27). It is recorded as breed-
ing at Clinton, Pea Ridge, and Big Lake, and I found it in the breeding
season at Stuttgart, Mammoth Spring, Conway, Pettigrew, and Rich
Mountain (2,600 feet). Its food consists almost wholly of insects, in-
cluding many noxious species, supplemented by a small percentage of
wild berries and fruits. It has been accused of preying extensively
upon honeybees, but examination of 624 stomachs in the Biological
Survey showed only 22 containing these insects, 61 in all, including
51 drones, 8 workers, and 2 indeterminate. It is evident, therefore,
that the species as a whole is not greatly injurious to apiaries.

Crested Flycatcher. Myiarchus crinitus.

This large flycatcher occurs as a common summer resident in all
parts of the State. The earliest arrivals in spring are noted at Helena
April 12 (average, April 17), and the fall migration is performed chiefly
in September. The species has been reported as breeding at Clinton,
Newport, Helena, and Delight. I found it in the breeding season at
Mammoth Spring, Stuttgart, Wilmot, Pettigrew, Conway, and Rich
Mountain. At the latter place it was common everywhere on the
mountain from base to summit. The food of this bird consists of

beetles, locusts, crickets, ants, flies, moths, and other insects, with

some wild fruit.
Pheebe. Sayornis phebe.

The phebe or “bridge pewee’’ is one of the commonest of the
flycatchers in summer in the mountains and foothills, but is not
found at that season in the lowlands. It has been recorded from
Fayetteville, Pea Ridge, and Clinton. I found it at Pettigrew, Ches-
ter, Cotter, Mammoth Spring, and Rich Mountain, the latter point
marking its southern limit.as a breeder. The bird is common all over
this mountain, and a nest with eggs was found May 27 at the summit.
It is the hardiest member of the family and in winter occurs nearly
throughout the State. The first migrants from the north were seen
at Delight on October 11, and by October 27 the species was common.
It has been recorded at Clinton and Helena in January.

The phebe is one of our most useful birds, its food consisting
mainly of insects, among them many noxious species, such as click
beetles, May beetles, and weevils, including the boll weevil. Its nest
is fixed on the side of a cliff, the rafters or abutments of a bridge, or
under the eaves of a house or farm building.

[Say Pheebe. Sayornis sayus.

This is a western species, breeding east to western Texas and Kansas, and has
occurred also as a straggler in Missouri, Wisconsin, and other eastern States. The only
record for Arkansas is the very indefinite one given by Audubon, who includes the
State in its range, without comment.']

1 Birds of Amer., I, p. 218, 1840.

54 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Olive-sided Flycatcher. Nuttallornis borealis.

The olive-sided is one of the northern-breeding flycatchers, found
in Arkansas only during migration. It passes north in May and south
in September. A specimen was taken by Mr. W. G. Savage at
Delight, September 12, 1910—the only record for the State.

Wood Pewee. Myiochanes virens.

The wood pewee is perhaps the best known of our flycatchers, and
is generally distributed as a summer resident. Its favorite haunts
are open woodlands and orchards, and in such situations its pleasing
song may be heard throughout the heat of summer.

The first migrants reach Helena about the middle of April (earliest
date, April 12) and remain till October (latest, October 12). The
species is recorded as breeding at Mammoth Spring, Wilmot, Delight,
Rich Mountain, Pettigrew, Clinton, Camden, and other places. Like
the other flycatchers, it chooses as food mainly insects, including
beetles, crane flies, dragon flies, ants, grasshoppers, tent caterpillars,
and moths.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Empidonax flaviventris.

This is one of the smaller flycatchers and so quiet and inconspicuous
that it is rarely seen. It breeds in the northern States and Canada
and passes south in winter to Central America. It may be found in
Arkansas during May and again in September. Savage has taken
two specimens at Delight, September 3 and 16, 1910, and these are
the only records from the State.

Acadian Flycatcher. Empidonax virescens.

This retiring little bird is a lover of wooded ravines and bottom-
land timber, occurring commonly as a summer resident. The first
arrivals in spring reach Helena about April 23 (earliest record,
April 20), and the last seen at Delight were noted September 12.
The species is reported as nesting at Clinton and Helena, and I found
it at nearly every locality visited, including Mammoth Spring, Cotter,
Pettigrew, Chester, Rich Mountain, and Wilmot. At the latter place
I found a nest, June 26, in a cypress tree growing in the edge of the
lake near town; the parent birds were feeding young in the nest.
This flycatcher feeds upon various insects, such as beetles, flies, and
wasps, and occasionally eats wild berries.

Traill Flycatcher. Empidonax trailli.

This species is rather rare and of local distribution’ in Arkansas.
It is an inhabitant of the prairies and open valleys, but is not found
in heavy timber. On the Grand Prairie at Stuttgart I found it
fairly common, living in orchards, dooryards, and about small clumps
of trees on the prairie. A specimen was taken there May 13 and

1 This is the type region of ¢railli, Audubon having described the species in 1828 from a pair of birds
which he collected on the “prairie lands of the Arkansas River,’”’

LARKS AND JAYS. 55

another was secured. at Chester, June 4, in a clump of bushes along a
creek running through a cultivated field. The only other record
for the State is furnished by Miss Cavaness, who reports the bird
breeding at Monticello.

[Least Flycatcher. Empidonax minimus.

This little flycatcher, although difficult to distinguish by its colors from the Traill,
is easily recognized by its abrupt call. It isa common and regular migrant in the
Mississippi Valley, occurring in April and May and again in September and October.
Further observations will undoubtedly reveal its presence as a bird of Arkansas.]

Prairie Horned Lark. Otocoris alpestris praticola.

The horned lark occurs as a migrant and winter visitant and locally
as a breeder in the Ozark region, It has been found nesting at
Helena only once, in May, 1911. Harvey reports it as ‘‘resident”’
at Fayetteville, and since it is known to occur in summer in several of
the southern counties of Missouri! it will probably be found breeding
in suitable localities in northern Arkansas. At Helena it is reported
to occur in migration, and at Van Buren, December 28, 1910, Hanna
saw a flock of 22, from which he collected 5 specimens. Horned
larks are hardy birds, nesting in early spring often before the snows
have melted. They are ground dwellers for the most part, but at
mating time often indulge in a flight song after the manner of the -
famous skylark of Europe.

[Magpie. Pica pica hudsonia.

The only evidence of the occurrence of this western species in Arkansas is Audubon’s
inclusion of that State in his definition of the bird’s range.? It may still occasionally
wander into the western part of the State.]

Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata.

The blue jay is common throughout the State, occurring both in
the lowlands and on the mountains. Although partially migratory
in the northern part of its range, it is found in Arkansas during the
entire year. Probably the native birds migrate to some extent, or
at least wander rather widely in search of food, and in winter their
numbers are increased by the arrival of migrants from the north.
Blue jays are reported abundant in winter at Fayetteville, Van Buren,
Clinton, Stuttgart, and Helena. They breed at all those places and
have been noted also in summer at Lake City, McGehee, Wilmot, Rich
Mountain, Pettigrew, and Mammoth Spring. The food of the jay
is made up mainly of acorns and other nuts, with the addition of
various insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, and a
relatively small amount (about 19 per cent of the total) of grain,
chiefly corn.

1 Found by Mr. O. Widmann near West Plains, Howell County, and between Doniphan and Pleasant
Grove, Ripley County. (Reported in a letter to the author.)
2 Birds of America, IV, p. 103, 1856.

56 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.
Raven. Corvus corax sinuatus.

Ravens formerly occurred rarely in the mountains of Arkansas
and there may still be a few remaining in the wilder and more inac-
cessible parts. Pleas reported in 1890 that they bred on cliffs in the
highest hills of Van Buren County, near Copeland, and Monroe
reported them breeding in the region about Newport in 1884—
probably in the hills to the westward.

Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Crows are generally distributed in the State in both summer and
winter, but apparently are nowhere very abundant. They are re-
ported to breed at Clinton (rare), Newport, Helena (rare), and Delight
(uncommon). I noted them in small numbers at Cotter, Womble,
Mena, Pettigrew, and Chester, and at Conway and Mammoth Spring
they were fairly numerous. With the exception of 3 or 4 in the heron
rookery at Walker Lake, none were seen in the bottom lands of eastern
Arkansas. In winter the species is recorded as rare at Stuttgart,
Clinton, Van Buren, Helena, and Fayetteville.

The crow subsists on a great variety of food. Careful study of its
diet by the Biological Survey shows that about 26 per cent of its food
consists of insects, mainly injurious species, about 21 per cent of corn,
and the rest of various grains, nuts, seeds, etc.

Clarke Nutcracker. Nucifraga columbiana.

The only record of this bird’s occurrence in Arkansas is given by
Mr. Robert H. Mitchell, who states that a specimen was killed at
Earl, Crittenden County, about April 1, 1891.1. The species inhabits
the mountains of the western United States, and is only a straggler
east of Colorado and the Black Hills.

Bobolink. Dolichonyx oryzivorus.

The bobolink, or ‘‘ricebird,” as it is called in the South, is an
irregular migrant in the Mississippi Valley, and probably never is so
abundant as on the Atlantic coast. Its summer home is on the
prairies from northern Missouri northward and in the northeastern
States. Migrating flocks have been observed at Helena, May 13,
1894, and April 20, 1904, and at Newport it was reported abundant
in 1884 from May 7 to 19. At Stuttgart, May 11 to 14, 1910, I saw
several hundred birds, mostly males, in flocks numbering 10 to 20.
No records of its fall migration are at hand, but the species is known
to leave Missouri the latter part of August and arrive in southern
Louisiana between September 1 and 15. A decidedly useful bird in
its northern home, the bobolink becomes a serious pest when it reaches
the rice fields of the South Atlantic States. It may prove injurious

1 Auk, XI, p. 327, 1894.

BLACKBIRDS. 57

to the rice industry of Arkansas, but on account of the comparatively
small number of these birds which migrate through the Mississippi
Valley the damage done by them will be much less severe than on the

Atlantic coast.
Cowbird. Molothrus ater.

The cowbird occurs locally inmoderate numbers over most of the State.
It has been reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport, Big Lake, and
Delight, and I found it in the breeding season at Stuttgart, McGehee,
Wilmot, Camden, Gurdon, Mena, Pettigrew, and Mammoth Spring.
At McGehee it was fairly numerous in the clearings and more open
timber, and one of its eggs was found, May 16, in a yellow-breasted
chat’s nest. There is only one report of its occurrence in the State
in winter—at Helena—but doubtless it will be found to be plentiful
at that season. At Stuttgart I was told that this species joins other
blackbirds in depredations on rice, but up to date no serious damage
to this newly established industry has been reported. The food of
the cowbird consists largely of weed seed, with the addition of grain
and insects in about equal proportions. It has been found to capture
limited numbers of boll weevils.

Yellow-headed Blackbird. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

This western species probably occurs occasionally in western Arkan-
sas, since it is known to breed as near the State as Jasper County,
Mo. The only record seems to be that given by Cabot, of a speci-
men said to have been taken in Arkansas by Maj. Townsend and
donated to the Boston Society of Natural History.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius pheniceus pheniceus.

The redwing is an abundant resident in many sections of the
State, particularly on the prairies and throughout the marshy areas
of the eastern part. It is known to breed at Lake City, Stuttgart,
Mammoth Spring, Helena, Wilmot, and Chester. It was abundant
on the prairie at Stuttgart and several nests were found, May 12,
containing one to foureggs. Inthatlocality, blackbirds were reported
to do some damage to sprouting rice, and probably this species
is largely responsible for the depredations. In winter also the
redwing is abundant in the State, as indicated by reports from
Fayetteville (Harvey), Van Buren (Hanna), and Stuttgart (Hol-
lister). Its food consists largely of weed seed, with a small amount
of grain (oats, corn, and wheat) and a fair proportion (about 25 per
cent) of insects, among which a few boll weevils have been found.

Thick-billed Redwing. Agelaius pheniceus fortis.

This northwestern form of the red-winged blackbird occurs in

Arkansas only as a migrant and winter visitant, and it is probably

rather rare. Only one record is known—that of a bird taken by
Mr. G. Dallas Hanna at Van Buren, December 10, 1910.

1 Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.. II, p. 259, 1847.

58 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Northern Redwing. Agelaius pheniceus arctolegus.

Like the preceding, this subspecies is a winter visitor in the State,
known thus far only from 5 specimens taken by Hanna at Van
Buren, December 10 and 17, 1910.

Meadowlark. Sturnella magna magna.

The meadowlark or ‘“‘field lark,” as it is often called, is a locally
common resident in the State, but is rare or absent from mountain-
ous and heavily timbered areas.

The northern form (magna) is not known to breed within our
limits, but when summer specimens are secured from the Ozark
region, they may prove to be of this subspecies. It is reported as
occurring in mild winters at Fayetteville (Harvey), and Hanna col-
lected two specimens from a flock of 35 at Van Buren on December 17.
This is a highly beneficial species, its food consisting mainly of inju-
rious insects, with a small percentage of seeds and some grain,
mostly waste corn picked up about the fields in winter and early
spring. It has been shown to be an important enemy of the cotton-
boll weevil, and for this reason, if for no other, should be carefully

protected. ©
Southern Meadowlark. Sturnella magna argutula.

The southern form of the meadowlark occurs as a summer resi-
dent in favorable situations over the greater part of the State, exclu-
sive of the Ozark region. Specimens taken in summer have been
examined from Blytheville, Stuttgart, Conway, and near Mammoth
Spring, and the bird is reported to breed also at Newport and Helena.
I found it abundant on the prairie at Stuttgart and in old fields at
Wilmot, and fairly common at McGehee, but it is apparently very
scarce in the southwestern part of the State. Savage reports it
absent in summer at Delight, but appearing there in migration Sep-
tember 29 and becoming common by the middle of October. Some
of these migrants, however, may be the northern form (magna).
Both forms probably occur together in winter throughout the low-
lands of the State. The species is reported abundant at that season
at Stuttgart (Hollister) and Judsonia.!

[Western Meadowlark. Sturnella neglecta.

Since the breeding range of the western meadowlark overlaps that of the eastern
species in western Missouri (Johnson and Vernon Counties), the bird may be looked for
as a migrant and possibly as a breeder in extreme western Arkansas. Although diff-
cult to distinguish by its markings, the western bird is easily recognized by its
striking song. ]

Orchard Oriole. Icterus spurius.

The orchard oriole is a common summer resident in most parts of
Arkansas. The average date of its arrival at Helena in spring is
April 10 (earliest date March 30). It departs early, usually in late
August or early September. It has been reported from Newport,

1 Reynolds, Am. Nat., XI, p. 307, 1877.

ORIOLES AND BLACKBIRDS. 59

Clinton, and Delight, and I found it fairly common at Stuttgart,
Conway, Mammoth Spring, Camden, and Wilmot. At the latter
place, young just out of the nest were observed June 24. The species
seems to be rather rare in the mountainous sections of the State. I
noticed only one bird at Mena, and there are no records for the
Ozark region except at Clinton, where it is reported rare. Orioles
are mainly insectivorous in their diet, and among the good quali-
ties of these very useful birds is their pronounced liking for boll
weevils. Investigations in the cotton fields of Texas and Louisiana
showed that nearly one-third of the stomachs of this species collected
there contained remains of this pest.

Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula.

This handsome oriole is fairly common locally in summer, mainly
in the eastern part of the State. It is reported common at Helena,
where it arrives from the south about April 10 (earliest date, April 4),
At Clinton it is given as a rare breeder, at Hopefield as tolerably com-
mon,' and it is reported as breeding at Newport, Big Lake, and Pea
Ridge. I found the species at Stuttgart (May 14), Mammoth Spring
(June 15), and a few other places in the eastern part of the State, but
nowhere was it common. At Delight it is a rare migrant, first seen in
autumn on September 1. The food of this oriole consists mainly of
insects, and caterpillars form a large part. Like the other orioles, it
is an important enemy of the boll weevil. A little fruit is included in
its diet, but not enough to counterbalance its usefulness as an insect-
destroyer.

Rusty Blackbird. Euphagus carolinus.

The rusty blackbird is a northern-breeding species and occurs only
in migration and as a winter resident. Hollister reports it common
near Stuttgart in winter, and Pleas gives it as a migrant at Clinton,
seen November 5, 1889. Hanna noted a flock of 10 at Van Buren on
December 17 and collected several specimens on that date and 1 on
January 7. This blackbird forages mainly in pastures and swamps,
where it destroys many noxious insects. In winter it eats some grain,
most of which is probably waste picked up in the fields.

Brewer Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

This blackbird is the western representative of the rusty and ranges
east in winter casually to Arkansas and Louisiana. Hollister reports
a few seen in winter on the prairie at Stuttgart in company with rusty
blackbirds.? Savage noted a flock of 13 at Delight November 17, and
2 birds on January 5.

1 Hay, O. P., Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VII, p. 92, 1882.
2 Wilson Bull., LX, p. 14, 1902.

60 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Bronzed Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula xneus.

The crow blackbird, as this species is often called, is common over
a large part of the State, particularly in the bottom lands of the eastern
half and in certain valleys of the western part. None were seen in
the mountains proper. It is reported as breeding at Clinton, New-
port, Helena, and Hopefield, and was noted as common at Fayette-
ville in March and September (probably breeding). Several flocks
were seen at Van Buren in December (Hanna) and a large flock at
Delight on February 2 (Savage, 1911). I found it common and
breeding at Mammoth Spring, Lake City, Turrell, Conway, and Wil-
mot. McAtee found it abundant at Big Lake June 20 to 23, 1911.
The adults were feeding well-grown young and were alert in seizing
minnows which sprang upon the banks to escape larger fishes. At
Helena it is common both summer and winter, and after the breeding
season large flocks are often seen flying to and from theirroosts. The
diet of this bird includes both animal matter (insects) and vegetable
matter in the proportion of about 30 per cent of the former to 70 per
cent of thelatter. The vegetable matter consists mainly of corn, with a
little other grain and considerable mast. A good share of the corn
iswaste picked up in the fields, but the grackles are sometimes destruc-
tive to corn in the ear. Among the insects eaten are grasshoppers
and various beetles, including the boll weevil.

English Sparrow. Passer domesticus.

The English sparrow is said to have been introduced at Hot Springs
between 1876 and 1880, but prior to this (in 1871) it had been intro-
duced into Memphis, Tenn., and doubtless spread first ittto Arkansas
from that point, so that by the end of the year 1886 it had established
itself over a considerable area in the northeastern part of the State,
with a few isolated colonies in the western part. Here, as every-
where in America, it has increased with amazing rapidity and is now
found in practically every town and village in the State, as well as on
a great majority of the farms. Almost everywhere it is regarded as
a pest by reason of its destruction of grain, fruit, and garden vege-
tables, its defacement of public buildings and of dwelling houses, and
its habit of driving away native birds. At times it feeds to some
extent on insects, but its destruction of them compensates to only a
slight degree for the damage it does, and hence its destruction is
advocated in a circular issued by the Biological Survey describing
the best methods of ridding localities of this feathered nuisance.

Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus.

The purple finch is a regular and not uncommon migrant and winter
resident. In 1910 the first flock, numbering about 20, arrived at
Delight November 10 and in a few days the species became common,
remaining so all winter. It has been reported at Helena at various

FINCHES AND SPARROWS. 61

dates between January 21 and April 23 and is given as a winter visit-
ant atClinton. Hanna collected 6 specimens at Van Buren between
November 29 and December 22. Purple finches are usually found
in flocks. during the winter season, when they feed largely on the
buds and seeds of various trees.

Crossbill. Lozia curvirostra minor.

The red crossbill is a rare and irregular visitant in Arkansas. It
has twice been reported from Clinton—April 6, 1889 (in numbers),
and May 5, 1890 (one), these being the only records from the State:

Goldfinch. Astragalinus tristis.

The goldfinch, often called “wild canary’’ or “thistle bird,” is an
abundant winter resident in all parts of the State and a fairly com-
mon summer resident in the north central and northwestern counties,
south in the mountains to Polk and Montgomery Counties. It is
reported as breeding at Clinton, and I found it at Womble (May 22),
Rich Mountain (May 25-28), Pettigrew (May 30), Chester (June 4),
and Hoxie (June 22). It was noted by Preble as common at Fayette-
ville in September. Savage reports a flock of 20 seen at Delight
November 19, and Hanna found it numerous at Van Buren between
November 30 and December 17. Mrs. Stephenson reports its occur-
rence at Helena between September 8 and May 1, and states that
immense flocks are often seen there during April and May and in
November. In winter the goldfinch feeds largely on weed seeds, the
seeds of birches, and those of the buttonbush. In summer it sub-
sists to a large extent on weed seed, but destroys many noxious
insects, such as cankerworms, plant lice, small grasshoppers, and
beetles (Forbush).

[Pine Siskin. Spinus pinus.

The siskin occurs in winter over most of the United States, and may therefore be
looked for at that season in Arkansas. It was rather common in Shannon and Grandin
Counties, Mo., in April and May, 1907.!]

Lapland Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus.

This Arctic-breeding bird is a common winter resident in the
Mississippi Valley as far south as Arkansas and Texas. Mr. Howard
Ayers, writing from Fort Smith in 1879, states: ‘‘They [the long-
spurs] appear in this part of the State about November in small
flocks, but as it grows cold they collect in immense numbers and
scatter again as spring comes (about Ist of February).’”’? The
species is reported also as a rare visitor at Clinton, where it was
seen October 13, 1889, and February 4 and April 30, 1890. During
the winter of 1882-1883 it was abundant at Fayetteville.’

1 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 171, 1907.
2 Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, IV, p. 238, 1879.
3 Cooke, W. W., Orn. and Ool., VIII, p. 34, 1883,

62 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Smith Longspur. Calcarius pictus.

This species breeds on the Barren Grounds of Canada and passes
the winter on the prairies of the Mississippi Valley. There is only
one record of its occurrence in Arkansas—a specimen collected by
Prof. Harvey at Fayetteville February 28, 1885,' but the species is
undoubtedly more common in the State than the scarcity of records
indicates.

Vesper Sparrow. Poccetes gramineus.

The vesper sparrow or grass finch occurs commonly in the lower
Mississippi Valley as a migrant and winter resident. Savage noted
its arrival at Delight October 25, and by November 4 it had become
common and remained so until about April 1. It has been reported
as a migrant at Clinton and as a breeder at Newport,” but the latter
record is doubtless an error, since it is not known to breed south of
St. Clair County, Mo. It is a ground-feeding bird, easily recognized
in flight by the white outer tail feathers.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis a

This little grass sparrow is a common migrant in both spring and
fall, and many remain in the State all winter. The fall migration
is performed mainly in October and November. The first birds
arrived from the north at Delight October 5, and by November 10
they had become common, remaining until the middle of May. I
saw 20 or more at Lake City April 29 and 30 and found them com-
mon on the prairie and along roadsides near Stuttgart May 11 to 14.
A belated migrant was seen at McGehee May 17. The Savannah is
one of the most useful of the sparrows. Nearly half its food consists
of insects, beetles being most eagerly sought, and in winter it con-
sumes large quantities of grass seeds and weed seeds. Individuals

taken in cotton fields in winter were found to have eaten a num-
ber of boll weevils.

Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus savannarum australis.

The grasshopper sparrow, so called because of its insectlike song,
occurs probably as a rare or local summer resident, but on account
of its retiring habits its presence is not easily detected. It is a
dweller in grass fields and rarely seeks a higher perch than a fence or
a weed stalk. It is recorded as a breeder at Newport, and will
doubtless be found also at various points in the State in winter as
well as in summer.

{Henslow Sparrow. Passerherbulus henslowi.

This is another of the small ground-dwelling sparrows whose shyness causes it to

be easily overlooked. It livesin old fields and marshes and sings its odd little song on

some weed stalk. The species is a locally common summer resident in Missouri, and
will probably be found breeding in suitable situations in Arkansas.]

1 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 2, Div, Econ, Orn., p. 186, 1888. 2 Tbid., p. 188.

SPARROWS. 63

Leconte Sparrow. Passerherbulus lecontet.

This species probably occurs quite regularly as a migrant and
winter resident, but, like the other ground-dwelling sparrows, its
presence in a locality is often unsuspected. One specimen was taken
at Fayetteville by Prof. Harvey February 28, 1885,t and 2 at Van
Buren by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna January 7, 1911. About 8 were seen
on the latter date in a pasture where the grass was half knee high.

Nelson Sparrow. Passerherbulus nelsoni.

This sparrow breeds in Canada and the Dakotas and migrates
through the Mississippi Valley in spring and fall. It is a marsh-
dwelling bird and even in migration resorts to wet meadows. I saw
one on the prairie near Stuttgart May 14 and several in the valley at
Mena May 24, when I secured a specimen. These are the only
records from the State.

Lark Sparrow. Chondestes grammacus.

Although occurring in various parts of the State, this species can
not be called common as a summer resident except in a few localities,
but as a migrant it may at times be plentiful. Its winter home is
mainly south of the United States. It is reported as a common
breeder at Delight, Pike County, arriving from the south April 8 and
leaving by September 17. I found it fairly common at Mammoth
Spring in June and noted it in small numbers at Lake City (May 1—
probably migrants), Conway, Camden, and Eldorado. At Helena
it is rare, and Mrs. Stephenson has noted it only twice, April 14, 1904,
and April 23, 1905. It was seen at Clinton, April 23, 1890. The
food of this sparrow is made up of seeds of weeds, grasses, and grain,
with about 27 per cent of insects. It is considered to be one of the
most valuable of the sparrows as a destroyer of grasshoppers.

Harris Sparrow. Zonotrichia querula.

This sparrow is a common migrant in western Missouri, eastern
Kansas, and Oklahoma, and probably occurs regularly in western
Arkansas. The only record from the State, however, is that furnished
by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna, who collected a specimen at Van Buren on
January 7, 1911.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys.

The whitecrown is an abundant migrant and an uncommon winter
resident. Migrants reach the State in the fall from their northern
home about the last of October, and in spring the migratory move-
ments extend from March to the middle of May.

1 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 2, Div, Econ, Orn., p. 191, 1888,

64 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Hollister found a few of these sparrows at Stuttgart in January,
Hanna noted them in small numbers at Van Buren in December, and
Pleas reported them as occasionally wintering at Clinton. Mrs.
Stephenson has observed them at Helena between April 17 and May
7, and Savage reports them common at Delight between April 2 and
May 18. I saw 2 at Stuttgart May 13, and 1 at McGehee May 17.

Gambel Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelt.

This western form of the white-crowned sparrow occurs rarely in
migration as far east as Arkansas. Three specimens taken by Mr.
G. Dallas Hanna at Van Buren on December 14, 16, and 22, 1910,
furnish the only records for the State.

White-throated Sparrow. Zonotrichia albicollis.

The whitethroat occurs in great abundance as a migrant and
winter resident. It arrives in the vicinity of Helena about October
10 and remains until the middle of May (latest date, May 19). Savage
noted it at Delight in spring as late as May 16, and I found it numer- ,
ous at Turrell between May 6 and 10. The first fall migrants reached
Delight October 23, becoming common by November 5. Hanna
found the whitethroat the most abundant species at Van Buren
during December. Like many of the members of its family, this
sparrow is a great destroyer of weed seed and has an especial fond-

“ness for the seeds of ragweed and bindweed (Polygonum). It con-
sumes, also, a great many wild berries and a goodly number of
insects. Its food habits in general place it among the useful birds

of the farm.
Tree Sparrow. Spizella montwola.

This hardy little bird breeds in the far north and spends the winter
in the northern United States and as far south as Oklahoma. Its
status in Arkansas is not well known, since it has been observed at
only one locality—Helena, October 25, 1895, and October 30, 31,
1896. Prof. Cooke found these sparrows abundant at Caddo,
Okla., between October 31 and February 26, a few remaining until
March 10,' and they may be expected to occur in Arkansas at about
the same dates.

Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina.

The ‘‘chippy” is one of our most abundant and familiar sparrows.
It is found in all sections of the State, having been observed at Lake
City, Turrell, Wilmot, Mena, Pettigrew, Conway, and other places.
It arrives from the south early in March (earliest record at Helena,
March 5) and remains until November (latest at Helena, November
6). Occasionally a few may be found in winter, as at Delight, where
Savage took a single specimen on December 20. This little bird

1 Bull. 2, Div. Econ. Orn., p. 198, 1888,

Bul. 38 Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. PLATE VI.

x

— fe if |
i

N\A ‘er

ai j Dy yee TE \
3 ACH IS AGO GSIZ HFTES.. \\
\ - \

A WINTER SEED-EATER. THE WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

SPARROWS. 65

gotten makes its home in dooryards and village gardens, and renders
zood service to man by destroying great quantities of weed seed
(notably crab grass) and of noxious insects, which constitute about
one-fourth of its food.

[Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida.

This little sparrow, which closely resembles the chipping sparrow, occurs commonly
in migration in the Mississippi Valley, breeding from Nebraska northward. It passes
through Missouri in April and May and again in September and October, and should
be found also in Arkansas during those months. ]

Field Sparrow. Spizella pusilla pusilla.

The field sparrow occurs as an abundant migrant and winter resi-
dent, but is found in the breeding season mainly in the northern and
northwestern parts of the State. It is reported as breeding at Clin-
ton, and J found it fairly common at Pettigrew and at Hoxie. Two
birds heard singing at Stuttgart May 14 were probably breeders, but
the species is very rare in summer so far south. During the summer
of 1910 Mrs. Stephenson héard it singing constantly at Helena as
late as July 24, but that is the first year in which it’ had been seen
there in the breeding season. Hollister reports it very abundant at
Stuttgart in November, and Hanna found it common at Van Buren
in December. Mrs. Stephenson heard the first song of this species
at Helena March 23, and the last migrants in spring leave there by
April 21. At Delight the last spring migrant was seen on April 10
and the first fall migrant October 10, the species becoming common
November 4.

Western Field Sparrow. Spizella pusilla arenacea.

This subspecies may be expected to occur casually during migra-
tions and in winter. The only record is furnished by Mr. G. Dallas
-Hanna, who collected 2 specimens at Van Buren on January 7, 1911.

Slate-colored Junco. Junco hyemalis.

The junco, or “snowbird,” is a common winter resident, arriving
from the north about the last of October (earliest date at Helena,
October 24) and remaining until th®middle of April (latest date
April 22). It is reported abundant at Stuttgart in November and
January (Hollister), at Van Buren in December (Hanna), and com-
mon at Fayetteville on February 27 (Harvey). At Delight the
species arrived about November 1 and departed northward by
April 6. The food of this bird during its stay in the south is almost
wholly composed of the seeds of various weeds and grasses.

Bachman Sparrow. Peucexa zxstivalis bachmani.

This sparrow is a rather rare and local summer resident, usually
found in old pastures. I secured a single specimen at Conway on
June 7 and another (a singing male) at Camden on July 7. At

94869°—Buil. 38—11——_5

66 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Hoxie, on June 22, in a pasture dotted with a few clumps of trees,
I saw 4 or 5 of the birds, most of them singing. Savage observed
2 individuals at Delight on September 1.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

The familiar song sparrow of the Northern States is found in
Arkansas only as a migrant and winter resident. The fall movement
brings it to the State in late October, where it remains until March
or April. At Delight the first migrants in fall were noted November
10. It was reported as abundant in November and January at
Stuttgart (Hollister) and at Van Buren in December (Hanna).
Harvey noted it at Fayetteville February 28. At Helena it is recorded
as a migrant only, though doubtless occurring there all winter. Like
the other sparrows, it eats mainly seeds of weeds and grasses and a
fair proportion of insects.

Lincoln Sparrow. Melospiza lincolni.

This sparrow is a common migrant ii the Mississippi Valley and a
winter resident*in the southern part. Although it has been observed
in Arkansas only a few times, it probably occurs regularly in moderate
numbers. At Stuttgart, on May 12 and 13, I shot 2 specimens and
saw several more. Hanna noted the species at Van Buren in small
numbers between November 29 and December 22 and secured 6
specimens.

Swamp Sparrow. Melospiza georgiana.

The swamp sparrow breeds from northern Missouri northward and
winters in the southern half of the United States. As its name indi-
cates, it is an inhabitant of swamps, but in winter is often found in
brushy fields. Its northward migration is performed in March and
April; the southward movement in October. The species was
observed by Savage at Delight between April 20 and May 6, and I
saw a few at Lake City April 28 and 29. It is reported common in
winter at Fayetteville (Harvey) and at Van Buren, where Hanna
secured 8 specimens in December.

Fox Sparfow. Passerella iliaca.

This large and handsome sparrow occurs commonly as a migrant
and winter resident. Mrs. Stephenson has noted it at Helena
between November 4 and February 18, but considers it of rare and
irregular occurrence. It is reported also as wintering at Clinton
and Delight, and Hanna found it common at Van Buren in December.
In northward migration it should be found during March and April.

Towhee. Pipilo erythrophthalmus.

The towhee or chewink, one of the largest of the sparrow family,
occurs as a common migrant and winter resident, but in the breed-
ing season is restricted mainly to the Ozark region. It is reported

GROSBEAKS. 67

as breeding at Clinton (rare) and near Newport. I found it fairly
common at Pettigrew, but did not observe any in the mountains
south of the Arkansas River. It has been noted in migration at
Lake City, Helena, Hardy, Benton, and Turrell. At Delight the
first fall migrant was seen October 8. In winter it has been recorded
as common at Fayetteville’ and at Stuttgart (Hollister). At Van
Buren, on December 28, 8 birds were seen and one secured by Hanna.
This bird is a ground dweller and seeks its food mainly by scratching
among fallen leaves and rubbish in the woods or thickets. It destroys
beetles and their larve, ants, moths, caterpillars, grasshoppers,
flies, and earthworms; it takes also a considerable amount of weed
seed and some wild fruits and berries.

Cardinal Grosbeak. Cardinalis cardinalis.

The cardinal, or redbird, as it is often called, is one of the com-
monest and most widely distributed birds of the State. It is most
abundant, however, in the river-bottom thickets and in the lowlands
generally. I observed none on Rich Mountain and only a few in
the hills around Pettigrew, but at all other places visited it was
very common.

The species is nonmigratory and is fully as abundant in winter
asin summer. It has been recorded from a large number of locali-
ties in the State, including the following: Fayetteville, Van Buren,
Mena, Camden, Wilmot, Stuttgart, Conway, Lake City, and Mam-
moth Spring. The food of the cardinal consists of weed seeds,
seeds of wild fruits, and various insects, the latter forming about
one-third of the total. The insects eaten include a number of serious
pests, such as the Rocky Mountain locust, Colorado potato beetle,
cotton-leaf worm, bollworm, boll weevil, and codling moth.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Zamelodia ludoviciana.

This grosbeak, as far as our records show, occurs only as a migrant,
but since it has been found breeding as far south as Lawrence County,
Mo.,? it may yet be discovered in Arkansas in summer. The bird
has been noted by Mrs. Stephenson at Helena between April 27 and
May 10, but is considered rare in that locality. Six individuals
were seen at Clinton May 3, 1890. In the fall it may be looked for
in September and October.

Blue Grosbeak. Guiraca cerulea.

The blue grosbeak is a fairly common summer resident in southern
and southwestern Missouri as well as in Texas and Oklahoma. We
should therefore expect to find it more or less common in Arkansas,
but I did not observe the bird at any point visited, except at Mam-

1 Cooke, Orn. and Ool., VIII, p. 34, 1883.
2 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 195, 1907.

68 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

moth Spring, where I saw one male on June 15 as I was driving over
the hills. I had a near view of his distinctive colors, but did not
secure the specimen. The species arrives from the south in. late
April and remains until October.

Indigo Bunting. Passerina cyanea.

The indigo bird is an abundant summer resident in all parts of
the State. The first migrants from the south arrive about the
middle of April (earliest date at Helena, April 17) and by the 1st
of May the species is common. On the lowlands at Lake City and
near Blytheville I found it very common from April 30 to May 3.
The southward movement takes place in September and early Octo-
ber, and the winter is passed in Mexico and Central America. The
last one seen at Delight was noted October 10. The species has
been observed at Clinton, Pettigrew, Rich Mountain, Wilmot, Big
Lake, Stuttgart, Conway, and Mammoth Spring. The indigo eats
mainly weed seeds and various insects, and is said to be especially
fond of grasshoppers and caterpillars.

Painted Bunting. Passerina ciris.

This beautiful little sparrow—the most brilliantly marked mem-
ber of its family—is a rather uncommon summer resident, occurring
most plentifully in the lowlands of the southeastern part of the State.
At Helena it breeds regularly in moderate numbers, arriving from
the south about the middle of April (earliest date, April 10). I saw
a pair at McGehee May 17, and found several breeding pairs at Wil-
mot in June. Young just out of the nest were seen at the latter
place June 24. This species has been observed at Eureka Springs
by Philo W. Smith, jr.—probably a casual occurrence.‘

Dickcissel. Spiza americana.

The dickcissel, or black-throated bunting, is a locally common sum-
mer resident in the State. Having a marked preference for level
grass fields, it is infrequently found in hilly regions, but is abundant
on the prairies, as at Stuttgart, where I observed the birds, May 11
to 14, singing with characteristic vehemence from fences, bushes,
and weed stalks. In the heavily timbered bottom lands along the
Mississippi it is rare, even as a migrant, and probably never breeds
there, unless it be in open, long-cultivated areas. It has been ob-
served but once by Mrs. Stephenson at Helena—May 4, 1902. Num-
bers arrived at Newport, April 27, 1884,? and on April 30, 1910, I
observed a single migrant at Lake City. One bird was observed
also at Fort Smith May 29, and one at Camden July 6. The fall
migration takes place mainly in September, and before cold weather

1 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 198, 1907.
2 Cooke, W. W., Bull. 2, Div. Econ. Orn., p. 221, 1888.

TANAGERS. 69

all have passed on to their-winter home in South America. The dick-

cissel is a most useful bird on the farm, destroying large numbers of

grasshoppers, crickets, and other injurious insects: About one-

third of its food in summer consists of seeds, including a little grain.
Scarlet Tanager. Piranga erythromelas.

This brilliant tanager occurs as a summer resident in the northern
and western parts of Arkansas as far south as Faulkner County and
the Ouachita Mountains. The first migrants from the south arrive
at Helena about April 10 and in the fall the species departs in Sep-
tember and October. The first birds from farther north reached

Ss

Loe
CLELTELP LA
SSIIaTaae:

+ i wid Me ¢
PRU 71 i

Fic. 3.—Breeding area of the scarlet tanager (Piranga erythromelas) in Arkansas.

Delight on September 17. The species is recorded as breeding at
Heber, Eureka Springs, and Clinton, and I found it in summer at
Mammoth Spring, Conway (one June 6), Chester, Pettigrew (com-
mon), and Rich Mountain (common). The last locality apparently
marks its southern limit as a breeder in the State. One male seen
at McGehee May 17 was probably a belated migrant. Scarlet
tanagers are lovers of oak woods, where they render valuable service
in the destruction of caterpillars, moths, and beetles.
Summer Tanager. Piranga rubra.
The summer tanager is a common summer resident over the greater

part of the State, except on the higher mountains. It usually
arrives at Helena during the second week in April (earliest date,

1 Widmann, O., Birds of Missouri, p. 199, 1907.

70 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

April 7) and departs in early October (latest date, October 2). At
Delight it was noted as late as October 13. It is reported as a com-
mon breeder at Clinton, Newport, and Delight. I found it in every
locality visited, except on Rich Mountain, including the following:
Mammoth Spring, Conway, Wilmot, Camden, Womble, Mena, Pet-
tigrew (in valleys), and Cotter.

This tanager has received the name of “bee bird” on account of
its habit of feeding on honeybees. Its food during the spring and
early summer is said to consist chiefly of various kinds of large
coleopterous insects, bees, wasps, and others. Later in the season
it feeds chiefly on blueberries and other small fruits.

Purple Martin. Progne subis.

The familiar martin is a common and generally distributed summer
resident. Although formerly nesting in hollow trees and reported as
doing so as late as 1889 (at Clinton), its present abundance in a given
locality is largely dependent on the number of boxes put up for its
accommodation. From its winter home in South America the martin
artives in Arkansas usually about the first week in March (earliest
record at Helena, February 18, 1897), but does not become common
until late in March or early in April. By April 10, at Helena, it has
usually begun to nest. Fall migration takes place early, most of the
birds leaving the United States in late August and early September.
This species has been reported as breeding at Fayetteville, Pea Ridge,
Clinton, Newport, Helena, and Delight. I found it at Mammoth
Spring, Lake City, Turrell, Stuttgart, McGehee, Wilmot, Eldorado,
Camden, Womble, Mena, Conway, Cotter, and Pettigrew. At the
last-mentioned place a few pairs were found breeding on the top of a
mountain at about 2,200 feet altitude. Martins are strictly insectiv-
orous and have been found to capture boll weevils. Farmers should
make special efforts to increase their numbers around the farm.

Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon lunifrons.

The cliff swallow is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley and
breeds in the northern part as far south as central Arkansas. The
species is an irregular migrant, but may be expected in spring between
the first week in April and the middle of May, and is usually again com-
mon in late August and September. At Stuttgart, May 12 and 13,
1910, I noted several small flocks of these birds. Asa breeder it is rare
and local, the only reports being from Clinton and Pea Ridge. During
its southward migration in September this species feeds extensively
upon the boll weevil, and when that insect is abundant it forms the prin-
cipal food of this swallow. Of 35 specimens collected in the Texas
cotton fields, all but one had eaten boll weevils, the total number
destroyed by the 34 birds being 638.

1 Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, Hist. N. Am. Birds, I, p. 443, 1874.

SWALLOWS. val

Barn Swallow. Hirundo erythrogastra.

The barn swallow is a common migrant in Arkansas, but occurs in
the breeding season only rarely and locally. Spring migration occurs
from about the first of April to the middle of May and the fall move-
ment takes place chiefly during August and September. I noted the
species in small numbers in migration at Turrell May 9, Stuttgart
May 12 to 14, and Arkansas City May 15. Preble saw one at Fayette-
ville September 23. The only report of its breeding in the State is at
Clinton, in 1890. Like the cliff swallow, this swallow has been found
to be very useful in destroying boll weevils in fall. Of 14 birds col-
lected in Texas in September, 5 had eaten a total of 52 weevils.

Tree Swallow. JIridoprocne bicolor.

This species is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley, passing
northward at intervals during March, April, and early May, and
southward in late September and October. On the St. Francis River,
north of Bertig, I saw a flock of about 50 of these swallows April 30,
1909, and the next day at Kennett, Mo., saw a flock of more than
a thousand feeding over fields near the river. Preble found the
species common at Fort Smith between September 15 and 23 (1892).
Widmann records it as a rare summer resident as far south in Mis-
sourl as the southern border of Dunklin County. Mr. Widmann
writes me that in May, 1894, he found a nest with eggs in a stump in
the middle of the St. Francis River, about a mile south of Bertig.
The bird probably occurs occasionally, therefore, as a breeder in the
Sunken Lands of northeastern Arkansas.

Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia.

The bank swallow is an abundant migrant and a locally common
summer resident. It is with some difficulty distinguished in flight
from the rough-winged swallow, which often nests in banks but
never in large colonies as does the bank swallow. The present spe-
cies breeds commonly at Helena. In some seasons as many as 300
nest holes have been observed there by Mrs. Stephenson. The birds
arrive usually about the first of April (earliest date, March 26) and
depart during August and September. .

This swallow is reported, also, to breed along the Mississippi in the
vicinity of Hopefield1 There are no other positive breeding records
for the State, and I failed to find the species during my 1910 trip.
Like the other members of its family, it feeds upon various winged
insects, including the boll weevil.

Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis.

The roughwing occurs as a fairly common migrant and summer
resident. It nests both in cut banks and in cliffs, usually only a few
pairs in a locality. Migrants from the south arrive at Helena about

1 Hay, O. P., Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, VII, p. 91, 1882.

72 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

March 23 (earliest record, March 21) and are last seen there about
September 21. I observed the species in small numbers at Lake
City, Walker Lake, Turrell, Arkansas City, Camden, Cotter, and
Mammoth Spring. McAtee found small numbers at Big Lake, June,
1911. It probably breeds sparingly throughout the State wherever
it can find suitable nesting sites.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

The cedar bird occurs as an irregular migrant and winter visitant
and in the northern part as a rare breeder. It is reported as breeding
at Clinton and was noted there also on November 10 and January 5
and 16. I saw a flock of 10 or 12 at Pettigrew on June 1, and the
species probably breeds in that vicinity and in other parts of the
Ozark region. A flock of 6, probably migrants, was noted at McGehee
May 17. Savage noted it during every month in summer at Delight,
but found no nests. At Helena the cedar bird is given by Mrs.
Stephenson as an irregular visitant noted on numerous dates between
February 4 and May 23 and in November. At Van Buren Hanna
observed several small flocks in December and early January. The
cedar bird feeds more extensively upon fruit and less upon insects
than most small birds, and its fondness for cherries has gained for it
the name of ‘‘cherry bird.”” However, examination of 152 stomachs
by the Biological Survey showed only 9 containing cherries, while
about three-fourths of the total food consisted of wild fruits or seeds.
Insects constitute about 13 per cent of its food, and include such
forms as cankerworms, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs, and scale insects.
In winter great flocks of these birds are often seen feeding on hack-
berries or other wild fruit.

‘Northern Shrike. Lanius borealis.

The northern shrike, or ‘‘butcher bird,” is a rare winter visitant,
only two having been recorded—one seen at Fayetteville by Prof.
Harvey and the other at Van Buren in December, 1910, by Mr.
Hanna. Its habits are similar to those of its southern relative, the
loggerhead shrike.

Migrant Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus migrans.

This shrike, known as “loggerhead” and ‘‘French mocking bird”
in the South, is rather uncommon and of local distribution in summer
in Arkansas. It is common in migration and occurs also in winter,
probably more abundantly than in summer. It has been reported
in the breeding season at Clinton, Newport, and Helena, and in mi-
gration at Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and West Point. At Delight
specimens were taken August 8 and 22 and September 16 and 23.
In winter it has been reported from Fayetteville, Stuttgart (common;

VIREOS. 73

Hollister), and Van Buren (5 specimens, December 7-30; Hanna).
I found it at only two localities, McGehee and Wilmot, in each of
whick it breeds in small numbers. Specimens taken at these places,
as well as those from Delight and Van Buren, are referable to the
subspecies migrans. The typical form seems not to occur in the
State. The shrike is a decidedly useful bird, feeding in summer
largely upon injurious insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, cater-
pillars, cankerworms, and cutworms. It captures mice at all seasons,
and in winter these rodents form about half of its food. At this sea-
son small birds are occasionally eaten. Shrikes frequently impale
their prey upon thorns or barbed wire and apparently many more
victims are impaled than are eaten.

Red-eyed Vireo. Vireosylva olivacea.

The familiar red-eyed vireo is one of the commonest and most
evenly distributed of our woodland song birds, being found in all
timbered regions both in the lowlands and on the mountains. Mi-
grants arrive at Helena from the south about April 10 (earliest,
March 30) and depart in autumn about the first of October (last,
October 5). The species has been observed at Fayetteville, Clinton,
Mammoth Spring, Lake City, Wilmot, Womble, Rich Mountain,
Pettigrew, Conway, and other places. A nest with young was found
at Eldorado July 4. By reason of its abundance and its well-known
habit of searching every leaf on the trees for caterpillars and the like,
this bird must be reckoned as one of our most valuable assistants in
the work of conserving the forests.

[Philadelphia Vireo. Vireosylva philadelphica.

This vireo, which resembles the warbling vireo in appearance but sings much like
the red-eyed, is a rare but regular migrant in the Mississippi Valley. In Missouri it
occurs in May and in September and October and in Arkansas should be found during
the same months. ]

Warbling Vireo. Vireosylva gilva.

The warbling vireo has a peculiar distribution in the lower Missis-
sippi Valley, occuring as a breeder, so far as known, only in the im-
mediate vicinity of the Mississippi River. The only record of the
species in Arkansas is from Helena, where it is reported by Mrs.
Stephenson as 2 common summer resident, arriving from the south
about March 30 and departing in early October (latest, October 5).
The bird is a lover of tall trees and is often found in elms or other
shade trees along country roads and village streets.

Yellow-throated Vireo. Lanivireo flavifrons.

This vireo is a common summer resident in all parts of the State.
It lives in upland timber tracts in company with the red-eye and is
partial also to small groves and to shade trees on village streets.

74 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Migrants from the south reach Helena about the first week of April
(earliest, March 24) and the return movement takes place during
September and early October. The species was noted during the
summer months at Mammoth Spring, Lake City, Conway, McGehee,
Eldorado, Delight, Rich Mountain, and Pettigrew. Like the ether
vireos the yellowthroat is mainly insectivorous, and its food includes
a variety of caterpillars, moths, beetles, etc., as well as house flies and
mosquitoes.

Blue-headed Vireo. Lanivireo solitarius.

The solitary or blue-headed vireo occurs as a migrant in the Mis-
sissippi Valley, breeding from Minnesota northward. It should
be found regularly in Arkansas in the latter half of April and again
in September and October. The only record for the State, however,
is furnished by Savage, who saw 2 birds at Delight on October 22.

White-eyed Vireo. Vireo griseus.

The white-eyed vireo is almost as common as the red-eye and,
like it, is generally distributed. It occurs in both the mountains
and the lowlands, and is especially abundant in wet river bottom
timber where thickets and tangles of briers cover the ground. It
arrives at Helena usually about the first of April (earliest, March
23) and remains until the middle of October (latest, October 16).
It is reported as breeding at Clinton, Pea Ridge, Newport, Helena,
Big Lake, and Delight. I observed it at Rich Mountain, Pettigrew,
Conway, Mammoth Spring, and Turrell.

Bell Vireo. Vireo belli.

This is the rarest of the vireos and of very local distribution in
Arkansas. It is most numerous in prairie regions and occurs also
to some extent in rolling foothill country. I found this species
rather common on the Grand Prairie about Stuttgart May 11-14,
living in the copses and hedges and even in dooryards close to town.
At Conway in June it was fairly common, and at Fort Smith several
breeding pairs were located in a peach orchard near town. One
was seen at Gurdon May 20.

Black-and-white Warbler. Mniotilta varia.

The black-and-white ‘‘creeper” occurs as a summer resident over
the greater part of the State, but is rare or absent from the extreme
southern part. It arrives at Helena from the south about the first
of April (earliest, March 20) and remains until October. It has been
reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport, Hopefield, and Helena.
I found it at-Mammoth Spring, Turrell, Conway, Delight, Rich Moun-
tain, and Pettigrew. At most of these localities it probably breeds,

WARBLERS. 5

but is nowhere common. This warbler is a typical woodland bird
and is most at home in tracts of heavy timber, where it renders
valuable service in the destruction of wood-boring insects, bark-
beetles, and other injurious insects.

Prothonotary Warbler. Protonotaria citrea.

The prothonotary or golden swamp warbler is a common summer
resident in the swamps and river bottoms of the southern and eastern
part of the State. It arrives from the south about the first of April
and departs in September. It is reported as breeding at Clinton,
Newport, and Helena. I found it common at Wilmot and along the
St. Francis River at Lake City. Several were seen at Camden in
July, one on Cadron River near Conway June 6, and one on White
River at Cotter June 8. It is numerous at Big Lake (McAtee, June,
1911). This brilliant little bird is a prominent and attractive feature
of the big swamps, where it may often be seen flitting lightly over
the water or prying into rotten stumps in search of insects, in securing
which it shows almost as much dexterity as a flycatcher.

Swainson Warbler. AHelinaia swainsont.

This is another of the swamp-inhabiting warblers; but, unlike the
prothonotary, is rare and very shy. It is an inhabitant of river-
bottom timber, where it seeks concealment among the canebrakes
and dense thickets of climbing vinés, often remaining motionless
for many minutes as it repeats at frequent intervals its rather loud
and pleasing song. Although constantly on the alert for sight or
sound of this bird, I detected it in only three localities. One was
seen at Turrell May 8 and heard singing several times on succeeding
days. Another was seen and heard singing in the Cadron River
bottoms near Conway June 6, and several were noted at Camden
July 4-7.

Worm-eating Warbler. Helmitheros vermivorus.

This warbler is a rare and local summer resident, occurring, as far
as known, only in the mountains and foothills in the northern and
western part of the State. It is reported as breeding in the hills west
of Newport, and I saw two on Rich Mountain in Polk County-May 25.
The latter locality probably marks the southern limit of its breeding
range. This bird bears a rather inappropriate name, since its food,
as far as known, consists not of worms but of beetles, spiders, and

ants.
Bachman Warbler. Vermivora bachmani.

This inconspicuous little warbler has a rather restricted range,
having been found in the breeding season only on the coast of South
Carolina and Georgia, in western Kentucky (near Russellville), and
in the Sunken Lands of Arkansas and Missouri. The species was

76 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

_described by Audubon in 1833 and was not found again in the United

States for over 50 years, when it was discovered in Louisiana. Its
occurrence in Arkansas was first made known by Mr. Otto Widmann,
who discovered it on Boland Island, Greene County, in May, 1896,
and the following year found the nest with eggs in Dunklin County,
Missouri. The bird is a moderately common breeder in the Sunken
Lands of northeastern Arkansas. I saw one at Turrell April 28, 1910,
and on May 10 collected two specimens at the same place in heavy
timber with a dense undergrowth of cane. One was seen May 4 in
the cypresses on Walker Lake. On the St. Francis River, 12 miles
above Bertig, I found the birds rather numerous in 1909 (April 25-28)
on the Missouri side of the river, and probably they are equally
common on the Arkansas side.

Blue-winged Warbler. Vermivora pinus.

This warbler is a summer resident in the Mississippi Valley from
Missouri northward, and probably occurs rarely at that season in
extreme northern Arkansas. I observed one bird, probably a migrant,
at Turrell on May 7 and a singing male in southern Missouri, near
Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, June 13, which I believe was breeding
in that vicinity. Mrs. Stephenson has observed the species once in
migration at Helena May 13, 1894, and Mr. Savage noted three south-
bound migrants at Delight on August 20, 1910.

[Golden-winged Warbler. Vermivora chrysoptera.

This species occurs in the Mississippi Valley as a common migrant, breeding from
central Minnesota northward. It may be looked for in Arkansas in late April and
early May and again in September. ]

Nashville Warbler. Vermivora rubricapilla.

The Nashville warbler is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley
in both spring and fall and breeds from Nebraska northward. The
spring migration takes place chiefly between April 20 and May 10,
and the return movement begins in August and continues through
September and October. Savage noted two very early fall migrants
at Delight August 20, and Preble collected a specimen and saw several
more at Fort Smith September 19. Further investigation will doubt-
less show that the bird is a regular migrant in the State.

[Grange-crowned Warbler. Vermivora celata.

The orange-crown breeds in Canada and winters in the Gulf States and Mexico. It
probably occurs regularly in migration in Arkansas and should be looked for in late
April and May and in September and October. ]

1 Auk, XIII, p. 264, 1896; XIV, pp. 305-310, 1897.

WARBLERS. ee es

Tennessee Warbler. Vermiivora peregrina.

The Tennessee is one of the commonest of the wood warblers in
migration, occurring in both spring and fall. Its summer home is in
Canada and the northern United States. A single bird was noted at
Delight as early as April 6 (Savage), but at Helena the species is
usually observed between April 19 and May 12. I saw numbers of
them at Lake City between April 30 and May 2 and at Walker Lake
May 4and5. The fall migration takes place chiefly between Septem-
ber 15 and October 15.

Western Parula Warbler. Compsothlyzis amzricana ramaline.

This tiny warbler is a very common summer resident in most parts
of the State. It arrives in the vicinity of Helena about the first
of April (earliest, March 24) and departs about the first of October.
I observed the species in numbers at Mammoth Spring, Conway,
Wilmot, Camden, Womble, Chester, Pettigrew, and Cotter, and it
probably breeds in all those localities. Specimens were collected at
Chester and Womble. There are no definite fall records. This
species is an inhabitant of river-bottom timber and builds its nest
usually in a bunch of hanging moss. Its food is said to consist largely
of spiders, caterpillars, small flies, and beetles.

[Cape May Warbler. Dendroica tigrina.

This is one of the rarer warblers, but occurs quite regularly in migration in the Missis-
sippi Valley on its way to and from its summer home in Canada. It may be looked for
in Arkansas in late April or May and again in September.]

Yellow Warbler. Dendroica xstiva.

The yellow warbler occurs as a summer resident in the northern and
northwestern parts of Arkansas, but apparently does not breed south
of the Ozarks and their foothills. It is reported as a rare breeder at
Clinton, but does not occurin summer at Helena. I found it in the
breeding season at Pettigrew (common), Chester, Cotter, and Mam-
moth Spring. It appears in migration at Helena between April 14
and May 15. In the fall it leaves very early, passing south from the
last of July to the middle of September. One was noted by Preble
September 16, at Fort Smith. The yellow warbler is at times domes-
tic in its habits, often taking up its abode in orchards and in trees or
shrubbery surrounding farm and village houses. It is considered one
of the most useful birds of the farm, feeding largely on caterpillars,
cankerworms, barkbeetles, wood-boring beetles, and weevils (For-
_ bush).

Black-throated Blue Warbler. Dendroica cxrulescens.

This is a northern breeding species, occurring in the Mississippi
Valley in migration during April, May, and September. “There is
only one record from Arkansas—a bird seen by Mrs. Stephenson at
Helena, April 7, 1904.

13 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.
Myrtle Warbler. Dendroica coronata.

The myrtle warbler is the hardiest of the warblers and the only one
which winters in the Middle States. Its summer home is from the
northern United States northward nearly to the Arctic Ocean. It
occurs as an abundant migrant and winter resident, arriving from the
north in October and departing in the spring in early May (latest date
seen at Helena, May 12). It was abundant at Stuttgart in November
(Hollister) and at Van Buren between November 25 and January 7
(Hanna). It has been observed in migration at Clinton, Lake City,
and Delight. This bird owes its common name to its fondness for the
berries of the wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) and related species, which
in some regions furnish its principal winter food. In the Mississippi
Valley, however, it is said to feed extensively on berries of the poison
ivy and to some extent on red cedar berries. It consumes also many

insects.
Magnolia Warbler. Dendroica magnolia.

The magnolia or black-and-yellow warbler is a common migrant
in Arkansas, passing north in May on the way to its summer home
in Canada and returning in September and early October. It has
been observed at Helena between May 1 and 19, at Lake City May
2, and at Turrell May 9. It is probably rare in the western part of
the State, but three were seen by Mr. Savage at Delight on April 29,
1911.

Cerulean Warbler. Dendroica cerulea.

The cerulean warbler is a common summer resident in nearly all
wooded parts of the State. Its distribution is apparently limited
only by the occurrence of heavy deciduous woodland, for the bird
is equally common in the river bottoms of the Mississippi and on
the slopes of the mountains. Its favorite haunts are in the tops of
the tallest trees, and except for its song its presence would rarely be
detected. At Rich Mountain, May 23 to 28, it was singing almost
constantly, and ranged nearly or quite to 2,500 feet altitude. In the
Ozark hills about Pettigrew it was noted occasionally, but the tim-
ber there is not sufficiently dense to prove very attractive to this
bird. I observed the species frequently in the Sunken Lands at
Lake City and Walker Lake, and less commonly at Mammoth Spring,
Conway, Wilmot, Camden, Womble, Chester, and Cotter. The
average date of arrivalof this bird at Helena is April 7 and the earliest
record March 27,

Chestnut-sided Warbler. Dendroica pensylvanica.

This species breeds from Iron County, Mo., and Illinois north-
ward and eastward, mainly in the Transition zone. It is a regular
and not uncommon transient visitant, passing north in early May and

WARBLERS. 19

returning in September. It has been observed a few times by Mrs.
Stephenson at Helena between May 1 and 16, and I saw 2 at McGehee
May 17, 1910.

[Bay-breasted Warbler. Dendroica castanea.

The baybreast is a rather uncommon but regular migrant in the Mississippi Valley,
and may be looked for in Arkansas in May and in September and October. It breeds
in Canada and the Northern States.]

Black-poll Warbler. Dendroica striata.

The blackpoll, although one of the most abundant warblers in the
northern and eastern St&tes, is a rather uncommon migrant in the
lower Mississippi Valley. This is explained by a study of its migra-
tion route, which shows that most individuals of the species enter
the United States in spring by way of Florida and then pursue a
course across the middle and eastern States to their summer
home in the extreme northern United States, Canada, and Alaska.
The bird has been observed only a few times in Arkansas—once
by Mrs. Stephenson, at Helena, May 3, 1904, and twice by myself
at Turrell, May 7, 1910, and at Rich Mountain, May 26 and 27—
but it is doubtless rather more common than these few records
would indicate. It is one of the very latest migrants in spring,
passing north from May 1 to June 1. The southward movement is
chiefly during September and October.

[Blackburnian Warbler. Dendroica fusca.

This handsome warbler is a moderately common migrant in the Mississippi Valley,
and breeds from central Minnesota northward. It is found in Missouri from the last
of April to the last of May and in September and October, and may be looked for in
Arkansas at about the same dates. ]

Sycamore Warbler. Dendroica dominica albilora.

This species is a rather uncommon summer resident, found chiefly
in the swamps and river bottoms of the eastern part of the State,
where it lives in the tall cypresses, sycamores, and other bottom-land
trees. It has been noted at Helena between April 10 and 21, but
doubtless arrives somewhat earlier than that, since it has been seen
at Hornersville, Mo., on March 21 (Widmann). In fall it has been
observed at Helena as late as October 10. Other records of its oc-
currence in the State are at Hardy, Lake City, and Walker Lake.

Black-throated Green Warbler. Dendroica virens.

This warbler occurs as a common transient visitant in spring and
fall. It has been observed at Helena a number of times between
April 8 and May 16. I noted it at Lake City May 1 and at Walker
Lake May 4. Fall migration takes place in September and October.
In its summer home in the Northern States and Canada this bird
dwells mainly in pines, but in migration it may be found in both
evergreen and deciduous timber.

80 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.
Pine Warbler. Dendroica vigorsi.

The pine warbler, as its name implies, is an inhabitant of pine
timber, and indeed is practically confined in the breeding season to
regions in which considerable tracts of pine occur. Although partly
migratory, the species occurs throughout the year in Arkansas. The
more northern breeding birds move south in winter and occupy, in
company with their southern breeding relatives, the pine forests of
the Southern States. I found this warbler abundant in the breeding
season near Delight, fairly common near Womble, and rather uncom-
mon at Mena, Pettigrew, Eldorado, and Camden. It has been re-
‘ported as breeding in the hills west of Newport. This is one of the
few birds that lives exclusively in pine trees, and as it feeds to a large
extent on the insects infesting those trees, it is considered a valuable
species. Its food in winter includes, besides insects, a considerable
amount of vegetable matter, such as dogwood and sumac berries

and pine seeds.
[Palm Warbler. Dendroica palmarum.

The palm or red-poll warbler is a common transient visitant in the Mississippi
Valley and breeds in Canada and northern Minnesota. It is one of the earliest war-
blers to migrate, passing north through Missouri from early April to the middle of May
and returning during October. It should be found regularly in Arkansas.]

Prairie Warbler. Dendroica discolor.

This warbler is a fairly common summer resident, arriving from
the south about the middle of April and remaining until the middle
of September. Its name is rather inappropriate, since the bird is not
found in prairie regions, but makes its home usually in brushy clear-
ings among second-growth sprouts. It was noted at Helena between
April 22 and 27, 1904, but apparently is not a regular breeder in the
eastern part of the State. It is a common summer resident at De-
light (where it arrived April 9, 1911), and I noted several at Mena
and Rich Mountain. It breeds also in small numbers at Chester,
Pettigrew, Conway, and Mammoth Spring.

Ovenbird. Seiurus aurocapillus.

The ovenbird, so named from the fancied resemblance of its domed
nest to an old-fashioned oven, is one of the ground warblers and a
dweller in deciduous woodland. It occurs commonly as a migrant,
but as a breeder only in the mountains and foothills of the northern
and western parts of the State. It is reported as a fairly common
summer resident at Clinton, where it arrived from the south on April
24. I found it very common and breeding both on Rich Mountain
and in the Ozark hills around Pettigrew. A migrant was observed
at Turrell on May 9 and at Helena the species has been noted a few
times between May 1 and 19.

Bul, 38, Biological Survey, U, S. Dept. of Agriculture, Piate VII.

. ahs
Murs Aga ssre ALLE
~

A SUMMER RESIDENT INSECT-EATER. THE KENTUCKY WARBLER.

WARBLERS, 81

Grinnell Water-thrush. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis.

This subspecies, the western form of the water-thrush, is a common
migrant through the Mississippi Valley and breeds from northern
Minnesota northward to Alaska. It is, of course, not a thrush at all,
in spite of its name, but a ground warbler related to the ovenbird.
It frequents swamps and creek and river bottoms. I noted several
birds of the species at Turrell May 7, and this seems to be the only
record from the State. The bird is probably of regular occurrence,
however, and may be looked for between April 20 and May 15 and
again from the last of August till October.

Louisiana Water-thrush. Seiurus motacilla.

The Louisiana or large-billed water-thrush is a southern breeding
species, finding its northern limit in southern Nebraska and Minne-
sota. It is a fairly common summer resident in Arkansas, arriving
from the south about the middle of March and departing in October.
It frequents wooded ravines in the hills and, to some extent, wet
river-bottom timber. It is reported as breeding at Clinton, Newport,
and Helena. I found it rather common in summer at Mammoth
Spring, and noted a few at Pettigrew, Chester, and Cotter. At
Womble a nest just completed was found May 22, and at Camden
I collected a full-plumaged young bird July 6.

Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus.

This warbler is a common and generally distributed summer resi-
dent in the wooded parts of the State. It is a lover of damp, river-
bottom woods, but is found also in ravines and along streams well up
on the mountains. It is reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport,
Helena, and Delight. I found it at Pettigrew, Rich Mountain,
Camden, Wilmot, and Turrell. The first migrants of this species
were seen at Delight April 10, and at Helena April 13 (average date
of arrival at Helena, April 20). In the fall it was last noted at
Delignt on September 4, but is seen only occasionally after the middle
of August.

[Connecticut Warbler. Oporornis agilis.

The Connecticut warbler is a rather common migrant in spring in the Mississippi
Valley, and breedsin Michigan, Minnesota, and Manitoba. Itsfall migration is mainly
east of the Alleghenies, and the bird is rare in the Mississippi Valley. It should occur
regularly in Arkansas during the first half of May.]

Mourning Warbler. Oporornis philadelphia

The mourning warbler, so named from the black hood it wears, is a
regular and not uncommon migrant in the Mississippi Valley, breeding
from central Minnesota northward. Its spring migration is performed
during May and its fall migration in September. It has been observed
but once in Arkansas—at Helena, May 2, 1909, by Mrs. Stephenson.

94869°—Bull. 38—11——-6

82 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Maryland Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas trichas.

This little warbler is one of the commonest of our small birds.and
inhabits a variety of situations, including open swamps, marshy
fields, brier patches, and brushy clearings. It is found all over the
State—in timbered bottoms, on prairies, and in the valleys among
the mountains. The average date of arrival in spring at Helena is
April 11 and the earliest record April 4. In fall most of the birds
pass south in late September or October. The species is recorded as a
breeder at Clinton, Helena, Stuttgart, Wilmot, Camden, Mena,
Chester, Pettigrew, Conway, Mammoth Spring, and other places.
Specimens have been examined from Stuttgart, Wilmot, Mena, and
Chester, and all prove referable to the typical form. At Turrell,
May 7, I found a nest with 5 eggs on the slope of a railroad embank-
ment within 10 feet of the track. The yellowthroat is a decidedly
useful bird on the farm, feeding upon many injurious insects, such
as leafhoppers, grasshoppers, cankerworms, and other caterpillars,
beetles, moths, etc.

Yellow-breasted Chat. Icteria virens.

This bird, the largest member of the warbler family, is a common
and generally distributed summer resident, occurring in suitable
situations from the Mississippi bottoms to the tops of the highest
mountains. The average date of arrival in spring at Helena is April
20 (earliest record, April 7). After the breeding season the birds
quickly desert their summer homes, and by the middle of September
practically all have left for the south. The last one seen at Delight
was noted September 10. The species is recorded as a breeder at
Mammoth Spring, Clinton, Newport, Helena, Stuttgart, Wilmot,
Delight, Rich Mountain (base to summit), Pettigrew, Cotter, and
other places. At McGehee, M&y 16, I found in a bunch of weeds
a nest containing 3 eggs of the chat and one of the cowbird.

The chat is a lover of thickets and bushy pastures, where its
curious whistling song may be heard at almost any hour of the
day or night. Although usually shy, it occasionally launches into
the air and, with legs dangling and wings raised high above the
body, pours forth a medley of erratic notes. It is largely insectiv-
orous, and has been known to feed on tent caterpillars, wasps, and
beetles. In addition, it takes some vegetable food, as wild berries
and seeds.

Hooded Warbler. Wilsonia citrina.

This brilliant little bird is a locally common summer resident,
living in heavy bottom-land timber grown up to cane thickets, as well
as in the drier brushy timber tracts on the mountain sides. I found
it common on Rich Mountain nearly to the summit, and in a deep

WARBLERS. 83

wooded ravine on the south side discovered a nest with three young
May 28. The bird was common also at Pettigrew in the Ozarks
and at Turrell in the Sunken Lands. A few were noted at Camden
in July. Mrs. Stephenson reports it as breeding at Helena, arriving
usually about April 5 (earliest, March 31). It remains on its breeding
grounds until September and passes south during that month.

Wilson Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla.

The Wilson black-cap warbler is a fairly common transient visitant
in the Mississippi Valley and breeds from northern Minnesota north-
ward. It is probably of regular occurrence in Arkansas, but has
been observed only at Helena, where Mrs. Stephenson has noted it
on various dates between April 30 and May 17.

Canada Warbler. Wilsonia canadensis.

This species nests in Canada and the cooler parts of the United
States and occurs in the Mississippi Valley as a common transient
visitant in spring and fall. It has been observed at Helena between
May 2 and 15 (Stephenson) and at Delight between April 25 and 30
(Savage), these being the only records from the State.

Redstart. Setophaga ruticilla.

This brilliant little warbler is.a fairly common summer resident.
The male bird may be recognized by the orange bands on wings
and tail and the female by corresponding bands of yellow. It is
most numerous in the heavily timbered bottom lands of the eastern
part of the State and is reported as a common breeder at Helena,
where it arrives from the south usually about April 10 (earliest record,
March 31) and departs in August and September (last seen, Septem-
ber 30). It is given as a breeder at Clinton by Pleas and at Big
Lake by McAtee. I found it fairly common at McGehee and Camden
and noted a few at Cotter on White River and at Wilmot.

The redstart is an extremely active bird and is an expert flycatcher.
Its food consists, according to Forbush, of caterpillars, bugs, moths,
gnats, flies, small grasshoppers, and beetles.

Pipit. Anthus rubescens.

The pipit, or ‘‘titlark,”’ nests in the Arctic regions and on high
mountains and winters from the Middle States southward. In win-
ter it is found usually in large flocks, frequenting meadows and plowed
fields. It resembles in general appearance a small, brown, streaked
sparrow, but may be distinguished by its slender bill and the white
outer tail feathers and by its habit of walking instead of hopping.
The species is probably a not uncommon winter resident in Arkansas,
but there are only a few records of its occurrence. I noted four

84 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

birds—belated migrants—at Lake City, April 29, and Hanna col-
lected 5 specimens fram a flock of 25 at Van Buren on December 24.
The food of the pipit is largely insectivorous. It seems to be espe-
cially fond of weevils and has been found to be an important enemy of
the boll weevil, large numbers of which it destroys in winter and
spring. On the farm pipits often follow the plowman and pick up
larve of ground beetles, weevils, and other insects.

Sprague Pipit. Anthus sprague?.

This is a western species, oceurring regularly in migration as far
east as eastern Nebraska and Oklahoma. There is one record from
Arkansas published many years ago by Dr. Elliott Coues, who quotes
from a letter received from Mr. Howard Avers and dated Fert Smith,
February 26, 1879, in which the writer states that this bird appears
in that vicinity about November in small flocks and later in im-
mense numbers, mingling with Lapland longspurs and remaining
until February.' It seems highly probable, however, that this ob-
server was in part mistaken, and that many, if not most, of the pipits
seen were the common species (Anthus rubescens),

Mocking Bird. Mimus poluglotios.

The mocking bird, one of the best-known birds in the State, is a com-
mon and generally distributed permanent resident. Tt is essentially
a bird of cultivated regions, and is rather uncommon in heavily tim-
bered regions and in the higher mountains. None were seen on Rich
Mountain, although they were numerous in the valley around Mena.
At Pettigrew the bird was scarce and at Mammoth Spring rather un-
common, but at all other places visited, including Lake City, Conway,
Stuttgart, Wilmot, Camden, and Womble, it was abundant. At
Clinton it is reported asa rare breeder in the valleys. Tn winter it is
reported common at Stuttgart (Hollister), and Van Buren (Janna).
This bird is sometimes destructive to grapes, figs, and other small
fruits. On the other hand, it renders good service by destroying
noxious insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, beetles,
cutworms, cotton worms, and boll weevils. ts food includes also
various seeds and wild berries, ineluding the seeds of dogwood,
hackberry, red cedar, holly, and pokeberry.

Catbird. Piometella carolinensis,

The catbird is a common summer resident over the greater part of
the State. Tt was not observed on Rich Mountain, but at Pettigrew,
in the Ozarks, it is fairly common, — Tt is reported as breeding alse at
Pea Ridge, Clinton, Newport, and Helena. 7 found it numerous at.
Mammoth Spring, Turrell, Wilmot, Camden, and Delight. ‘The

TRull, Nutt, Orn, Cla, TV, py aaa, ista,

THRASHERS. 85

first migrants of this species arrive at Helena about the middle of
April, and the last birds leave about the first week in October. The
last one seen at Delight was noted October 10. A few winter in
favorable localities in the State and McAtee noted them as fairly
common in Crittenden and St. Francis Counties November 12-18, 1910.
The Biological Survey's study of the catbird’s food habits indicates
that it subsists largely on fruit, of which about one-third is cultivated,
the remainder of wild species, such as blackberries, wild cherries, mul-
berries, elderberries, and the fruit of the dogwood, sour gum, sumac,
and poison ivy. Insects constituted about 44 per cent of the total
food in the stomachs examined, and included ants, beetles, cater-

“Nf
Cs Pao

Fig. 4.—Breeding area of the brown thrasher ( Toresfoma rufum) in Arkansas.

a

pillars, and grasshoppers. Though sometimes a pest where small
fruits are raised, this bird on the whole does more good than harm.

Brown Thrasher. To.xostoma rufum.

This bird, frequently called the ‘‘brown thrush,” is a common mi-
grant and a rare summer resident in the northern part of the State.
It is reported as nesting at Clinton and Newport, and I found it
breeding in small numbers at Conway and Mammoth Spring. At the
latter place a nest with young was found June 15. At Helena it
does not breed but is reported as a rare migrant, arriving from the
south about March-15 (earliest, March 1) and passing south in
October and November (last seen, November 13). A few pass the

86 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

winter in the State, as at Delight, where they were observed in small
numbers by Savage, and at Van Buren, where Hanna saw one bird
January 5. Migrants from the north reached Delight September
27 and by October 15 the species was common there. The thrasher
is a decidedly useful bird, more than half of its food consisting of in-
jurious insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and cater-
pillars. In summer it eats some cultivated fruits, mainly raspberries,
currants, and cherries, but the damage done is usually inconsiderable.
In fall and winter it feeds largely on wild fruits, such as the berries of
dogwood, sumac, and poison ivy.

Carolina Wren. Thryothorus ludovicianus.

The Carolina wren is one of the commonest birds in all parts of
Arkansas. It adapts itself readily to civilized conditions and often
places its nest about houses or farm buildings, and being non-
migratory its cheerful ringing song may be heard throughout the
greater part of the year. It has been observed in abundance at
Lake City, Helena, Wilmot, Camden, Rich Mountain, Van Buren,
Pettigrew, Clinton, and Mammoth Spring. In a tract of heavy
timber at Turrell, May 9, I started a large family of young ones from
the ground. They were able to fly strongly and were chattering noisily
in imitation of their parents. The Carolina wren is an eminently
useful species. It seeks its food on or near the ground, exploring in
great detail every nook and cranny in old logs, tree trunks, and brush
piles, where it finds numbers of beetles, ants, spiders, weevils, and
other insects. In such places it destroys many boll weevils during
their season of hibernation.

Bewick Wren. Thryomanes bewicki.

This wren is much less common than the Carolina wren and is
restricted mainly to the hill country in the northern and western
parts of the State. It is even more domestic in its habits than the
preceding and indeed is a characteristic ‘‘house wren,” taking the
place in Arkansas of the common house wren of the Eastern States.
It is reported as a rare breeder at Clinton and Newport. I found it
in small numbers at Mammoth Spring, Cotter, and Rich Mountain
Station (1,600 feet altitude). It is fairly common at Conway and in
the valleys about Pettigrew. In the lowlands this bird occurs only
as a migrant, recorded from Helena in March and October, and from
Lake City May 1 and 2. A few remain throughout the winter in the
warmer parts of the State, as at Van Buren, where it was observed by
Hanna on January 7. It does not breed at Delight, but appeared
there on October 14 and 15 and remained until March 10.

WRENS. 87

House Wren. Troglodytes aédon parkmani.

The common house wren of the Northern States occurs in Arkansas
only as a migrant. It has been observed infrequently at Helena
between April 17 and 29, and at Clinton between April 29 and May 7
and in early November. I saw one individual at Lake City April 29
and one at Turrell May 7. Savage noted a migrating bird at Delight
October 2. There is but one winter record from the State, that of
H. S. Reynolds, who observed the species at Judsonia.1 Probably
the eastern form (aédon) of this species alco occurs in the State, but
no specimens are available.

Winter Wren. Nannus hiemalis.

This tiny short-tailed wren is a northern-breeding species and occurs
only during migrations and in winter. It is a shy bird, spending its
time during its winter sojourn mainly in and about brush piles and
hollow logs in the woods. McAtee saw several at Turrell and Menasha
in November and Hanna took five specimens at Van Buren in Decem-
ber. It has been observed also at Clinton in April, at Helena in
May, and at Delight on October 29. Its stay in the State ordinarily
extends from October to the middle of April.

Short-billed Marsh Wren. Cistothorus stellaris.

This species breeds in the Mississippi Valley from Missouri north-
ward and winters mainly in the Southern States. It occurs as a
migrant and possibly as a winter resident. There is but one record
of its occurrence in the State—that of a bird which I observed May 17
in a broom sedge field near McGehee. This is an unusually late date,
for the spring migration of this wren takes place usually in April or
early May.

Prairie Marsh Wren. Telmatodytes palustris iliacus.

This is the Mississippi Valley form of the common long-billed
marsh wren. It is a dweller in wet marshes along the borders of
rivers and lakes, where its globular nests are fastened to the upright
stalks of cattail flags over the water. In migration it is sometimes
found in strange situations, as in the ease of one which I caught in
the railroad station at Blytheville about 11 p. m., May 5, or of another
which I saw in a dry broom sedge field at McGehee, May 17. A
single bird shot at Mena May 24 was probably a belated migrant.
The species breeds locally in the State, having been observed in
summer on the St. Francis River at Lake City and Bertig.

1 Am, Nat., XI, p. 307, 1877.

88 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.
Brown Creeper. Certhia familiaris americana.

The brown creeper is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley
and a winter resident in the southern part. Since it is known to
breed regularly in the Sunken Lands of Southeastern Missouri
(Widmann), it will probably be found breeding:also in similar situa-
tions in northeastern Arkansas. The bird has been observed at
Helena and Clinton in April and is reported also from Newport.
Savage saw a few the first week of September at Delight and Hanna
found the species common at Van Buren in December. It is a quiet,
inconspicuous little bird, and seeks its food, mainly insects, on the
trunks of trees, up which it creeps in long spirals.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis.

The white-breasted nuthatch is a generally distributed and not
uncommon permanent resident. It is an inhabitant of wooded
regions, and is perhaps most numerous in the mountains and foot-
hills. It is reported as a breeder at Clinton, Fayetteville, and New-
port. I found it in small numbers at Walker Lake, McGehee,
Wilmot, Delight, Rich Mountain, Pettigrew, and Mammoth Spring.
It is nonmigratory and has been observed in winter at Fayetteville,
Judsonia, and Van Buren. At the latter place Hanna took speci-
mens in November, December, and January. The food of this
nuthatch in summer consists largely of cankerworms, forest tent
caterpillars, plant lice, and other insects. In winter it takes a good
many seeds and berries and some nuts.

Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis.

This species breeds mainly in the Northern States and Canada and
winters over most of the United States. It probably occurs in
Arkansas as an irregular migrant and winter visitant, but has been
recorded only once—by Mrs. Stephenson, at Helena, October 3, 1895.

Brown-headed Nuthatch. Sitta pusilla.

This little nuthatch is a southern bird, common in the Gulf States
and occurring locally as far north as Shannon County, Mo. It has
been recorded in Arkansas only once—at Newport,’ but it will
doubtless be found sparingly in other places, particularly in pine-
forested regions. :

Tufted Titmouse. Bzolophus bicolor.

The tufted titmouse, or “‘tomtit,” is common and generally dis-
tributed in the State, but less numerous in the mountains than in the
heavily timbered river bottoms. It has been reported from Fayette-
ville, Pettigrew, Van Buren, Rich Mountain, Delight, Wilmot, Lake
City, Mammoth Spring, Clinton, and Conway, and is a permanent
resident wherever found.

1 Cooke, W. w., Bull. 2, Div. Orn. and Mamm., U. S. Dept. Agric., p. 276, 1888.

-

CHICKADEES AND KINGLETS. 89

In summer the tufted tit feeds largely on insects, as grasshoppers,
beetles, cutworms, and caterpillars. In winter it consumes, in addi-
tion to insects, a considerable quantity of vegetable food, such as
beechnuts, hazelnuts, acorns, chinquapins, and the berries of the
dogwood, Virginia creeper, and other wild fruits.

Carolina Chickadee. Penthestes carolinensis.

The chickadee is a common bird in nearly all parts of the State,
remaining throughout the year. It is much smaller than its relative,
the tufted tit, with which it is often found associated, especially in
winter. It has been reported from Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Clin-
ton, and Helena. I found it common at Turrell, Wilmot, Womble,
Rich Mountain, Cotter, and Mammoth Spring. Hanna collected 16
specimens at Van Buren in November and December. The chick-
adee is a dweller in both forest and orchard, and is everywhere a valu-
able aid to the farmer. It destroys large numbers of noxious insects,
among them the tent caterpillar, various beetles, and the eggs, larve,
and chrysalids of moths. About one-third of its food is of vegetable
origin, and includes small seeds, the pulp of wild fruit, and wild
berries.

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa.

This tiny bird, but little larger than a humming bird, is a dweller
in the Boreal zone in summer, but in winter is found over most of the
eastern United States. Although recorded from only a few localities
in Arkansas, it doubtless occurs generally as a migrant and winter
resident. H.S. Reynolds records it as wintering at Judsonia,! and
Hanna found it common at Van Buren in December. Mrs. Stephen-
son has observed the species a few times at Helena between March 7
and April 25, and Savage saw one bird at Delight on October 23.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula.

Like its cousin, the goldencrown, this kinglet is a northern breed-
ing species and is found in Arkansas only in migration and in winter.
It is common at that season in the Sunken Lands (Widmann), and
Hanna found it common at Van Buren in December. It has been
observed also at Clinton and Helena in January. The spring migra-
tion takes place in March and April, and at such times one often hears
snatches of its clear sweet song from some thicket in the woods. The
last migrants noted at Helena were seen April 29; at Delight it was
observed between March 15 and April 25. In the fall the species
invades the State during October, having arrived at Delight October
8 and become common there by the 20th of that month.

1 Am, Nat., XI, p. 307, 1877.

90 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptila cxrulea.

The gnatcatcher is a common summer resident, particularly in tim-
bered river bottoms and the big swamps of the Sunken Lands. It is
reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport, and Helena, and I found it
plentiful at Lake City, Walker Lake, Turrell, Wilmot, Womble, and
Mammoth Spring. None were observed on Rich Mountain and only
one at Pettigrew. The first arrivals in spring reach Helena about
March 15, and the last seen in fall were noted October 28. Nest
building sometimes begins by March 30, and by May 1 or sooner the
young are hatched. This bird apparently has no special predilection
for gnats, as its name seems to suggest, but feeds upon a variety of
small Hymenoptera, beetles, flies, caterpillars, and spiders.

Wood Thrush. Hylocichla mustelina.

The wood thrush is a common summer resident in all parts of the
State. As its name indicates, it is a woodland dweller, preferring
heavy deciduous forests on the mountains and in river bottoms. The
species arrives at Helena from the south about April 10 (earliest rec-
ord, April 4) and takes its departure in October. The last was seen
at Delight October 8. It is reported as breeding at Clinton, New-
port, and Helena. I found it numerous at McGehee, Camden,
Womble, Rich Mountain, Pettigrew, Chester, and Mammoth Spring.
Only a few were observed in the Sunken Lands, but McAtee found
them numerous at Big Lake in June, 1911.

The food of this bird consists largely of insects, with a small per-
centage of fruit. The insects eaten include grasshoppers, crickets,
cutworms, ants, caterpillars, and beetles, including the potato beetle.
The fruit consumed is chiefly of wild varieties, such as frost grapes,
wild blackberries, wild cherries, and the seeds of the spicebush and
southern magnolia. Since the wood thrush is a decidedly useful
species and adapts itself readily to civilized surroundings, its presence
about the farm and garden should always be encouraged.

Willow Thrush. AHylocichla fuscescens salicicola.

The willow thrush, the western form of the veery, is a common
migrant in the Mississippi Valley, breeding from Iowa northward.
Itis noted by Mrs, Stephenson nearly every spring at Helena between
April 18 and May 19, the majority passing north during the first week
of May and south during late September and early October. It has
been observed also at Clinton and doubtless will be found generally
throughout the State during migration. The food of this species is
similar to that of the other thrushes, and includes a variety of insects
and wild fruits.

THRUSHES. 91
Gray-cheeked Thrush. Aylocichla alicizx.

This thrush is an abundant migrant in the Mississippi Valley on its
way to and from its breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. It is
one of the latest migrants, reaching Arkansas the last week of April
and lingering sometimes till late in May. It passes south in late
September and October, Mrs. Stephenson having observed one at
Helena as late as October 10. I noted the species in small numbers at
Turrell (May 10), Stuttgart (May 13), Arkansas City (May 15), and
McGehee (May 17). During its spring sojourn, this bird feeds
chiefly on insects, but in the fall it prefers wild fruits and berries, such
as sour gum, dogwood, poke berries, and frost grapes.

Olive-backed Thrush. Aylocichla ustulata swainsoni.

This is another of the northern breeding thrushes, occurring
abundantly in migration in the United States. It resembles the
graycheek closely in general appearance and is with difficulty dis-
tinguished from it in the field. It arrives in Arkansas usually by the
middle of April, becoming common by the first of May and remain-
ing till the 10th or 15th of that month. Mrs. Stephenson has
observed it at Helena between April 30 and May 4, and Mr. Savage
has noted it at Delight between April 15 and May 2. I found it com-
mon at Lake City and Turrell from April 29 to May 10. The south-
ward movement takes place chiefly in late September and October,
although occasionally a few birds linger till November, as in 1889,
when the last were seen at Clinton November 15.

Hermit Thrush. Aylocichla guttata pallasi.

The hermit thrush is the hardiest of its family and often spends the
winter in the United States as far north as Missouri. It nests in the
Northern States and Canada, and is an abundant bird in Arkansas
in migration, the majority passing northward in April and southward '
in October. It rarely sings while migrating, but on its breeding
grounds it is famed for its beautiful song. The species has been
recorded as occurring in winter in small numbers at Judsonia,!
Stuttgart (Hollister), and Delight. Hanna took one specimen at
Van Buren December 10. It is given as a migrant at Clinton and
Helena.

In spring and summer the hermit thrush feeds mainly on insects,
but in fall and winter it partakes largely of various wild fruits and
berries, such as frost grapes, pokeberries, and the fruit of the dog-
wood, cedar, holly, and sumac.

1 Reynolds, H. S., Am. Nat., XI, p. 307, 1877.

92 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS.

Robin. Planesticus migratorius migratorius.

The robin is an abundant migrant and a common winter resident
but occurs in summer only in the northern part of the State and
nowhere very commonly. It is reported as breeding rarely at Clinton
and Newport, and I found it in small numbers at Pettigrew, Chester,
Conway, and Mammoth Spring. It is reported also from Hot Springs,
but must be very rare, as I saw none in the mountains west of there in
Montgomery and Polk Counties. Mrs. Stephenson states that only
once has a pair remained during the summer at Helena. Young birds
were seen at Delight in July, probably stragglers from their nesting
grounds farther north. In winter it occurs in roving flocks, having
been reported from Stuttgart (Hollister), Fayetteville, Judsonia, Tur-
rell, Clinton, Helena, and Van Buren (rare). Breeding specimens of
the northern form have been examined from Mammoth Spring and
one winter specimen from Van Buren. Nearly half the robin’s food
for the entire year consists of insects, mainly beetles, grasshoppers,
and caterpillars. The remainder is made up chiefly of wild fruits,
which are eaten extensively during the fall and winter months and to
a less extent at other seasons. In early summer, robins take consider-
able cultivated fruit, particularly cherries, but the damage done is
rarely sufficient to warrant the wholesale destruction of the birds.
The wild fruits eaten include cherries, grapes, huckleberries, hack-
berries, persimmons, and the fruit of the sumac, dogwood, green-
brier, holly, and elder.

Southern Robin. Planesticus migratorius achrusterus.

The southern form of the robin is probably of accidental occurrence
in Arkansas. The only record from the State is that of a single bird
taken by Mr. G. Dallas Hanna at Van Buren, December 17, 1910.

Bluebird. Sialia sialis.

The familiar bluebird is abundant in both summer and winter. It
nests in hollow trees or fence posts, but is domestic in its habits, and
readily adopts for its use nest boxes placed on poles or about farm
buildings. It is reported as breeding at Fayetteville, Clinton, New-
port, and Helena. I found it common at practically every locality
visited, including Lake City, Wilmot, Eldorado, Rich Mountain, Pet-
tigrew, and Conway. In winter it is reported as abundant at Para-
gould,? Fayetteville, Helena, Judsonia (Reynolds), and Van Buren.
A study of the food habits of this bird has shown it to be highly bene-
ficial. Three-fouths of its food consists of insects, mainly beetles,
grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Practically no cultivated fruit is
eaten, but a great variety of seeds and wild berries, such as black-
berries, cedar berries, and chokeberries, and seeds of the greenbrier,
Virginia creeper, holly, mistletoe, and sumac.?

1 Gault, B. T., Nidiologist, I1I, p. 84, 1896.
? Beal, F. E. L., Farmers’ Bul. 54, U.S. Dept. Agric., pp. 46, 47, 1904.

PN DE

(Scientific names in italics.]

Page,
Acadian flycatcher. ...............00eeeecees 54
Accipiter cooperi.......--- 222-222 ee cece eee ees 38
UClORs canis cee sesewaatguesasadest 37-38
Actitis macularia......-....0-.-2 02 cece eee e ee 32
Aigialitis meloda......-......-..2-2-0.02 eee 33
semipalmata..........2.2-.2222++-+ 33
Agelaius pheniceus arctolegus........-..-+++ 58
: 57
57
Ait sponsd.....-.---- Bice cence 20
Aluco pratincola. 4l
AM GLIGAIL CRTC: 5 2.5.50 si sicis cine slesel sista leprisieueicion ss 25
widgeon 18
Ammodramus savannarum australis. . 62
Anas platyrhyncha . 17
rubripes...... 18
Anhinga anhinga... 15
Anser albifrons gambeli. 22
Anthus rubescens.....- - 83-84
SPVAQ Wel s crsia saci esis 2s bciad eas, SE Sa Belay 84
Antrostomus carolinensis..........2202022+005 49-50
vociferus.. . . c 50
Aquila chrysetos occwasicsiececsvevcces vecegeas 39
Archilochus colubris.......2.2-++00402eeeeeee 52
Ardea herodias
Arenaria interpres morinella.........--+----+ 33
Arkansas, physical features................. 5-7
Asio flammeus
wilsonianus
Astragalinus tristis.........-.2-.2-2--.-2--- 61
Audubon, travels in Arkansas. 2 ll
PV OCC eee ete widnieticisini. semedanwamirineceasenene 29
Bachman sparrow.......-...2...02-.020e00e5 65-66
warbler. . 75-76
Bzolophus bicolor. . . 88-89
Baird sandpiper. 30
Bald eagle... - 39-40
Baldpate.... 18
Baltimore oriole.............222--000--222000 59
Bankiswallow sojcenenecacansseizsqacetavesesdie 71
Barn owl..... 41
Barred owl... 42
Bartramia longicauda..........22...020000005 31-32
Bay-breasted warbler.... 79
Bee bird or summer tanager.... -+-- 69-70
Bees, destruction by kingbird, discussion.... 53
summer tanager...- 70
Beetlehead, or black-bellied plover.......... 32
Bell vireo 74
Belted kingfisher . 45
Bewick wren 86
Big Lake, location, formation, etc........... 5-6
Birds, economic value.............2..2..225+ 9-10

Page

Bitter so2g2 0s cc seeevies wea cacssunyersaseeee 24
least . . 24
Black duck 18
jack, or ring-necked duck......... Bd 21
15
36

Black-and-white creeper or black-and-white
Warbler anc ctistntnenenceie= 74-75

Black-and-yellow warbler or magnolia war-
DIOR essetcie nies Aobignee 78
Black-bellied plover...........--..---2--2--- 32
Black-billed cuckoo..........-------.--.---- 45
Blackbird, Brewer...........---.--.-2------- 59
crow.....- 60
red-winged. . 57
Tusty....-..--- 59
yellow headed...............-..- 57
Blackburnian warbler..........-.--.--..---- 79
Black-crowned night heron. . si 26
Black-poll warbler........-...-.-.-+-2--+-+- 79
Black-throated blue warbler..........-.---- 77
bunting or dickcissel 3 68
green warbler........-...... 79
HOTONs se onassnaeviece oe ded tevieunaet 24, 25,26
WAY visio seats seals nnceweescuebergesaeecewean 55
Blue-bill or scaup duck, lesser - : 21
Bluebird ¢ 22..sccereses egies eee views eee iene 92
Blue-gray gnatcatcher ...............---2.-- 90
Blue-headed vireo... .. - 74
Blue-winged teal...... 19
76
Bobolink............ - 56-57
BOD WHE sc ccmetas samiaeeextenctanaencdacens 33-34
Boll weevil, destruction by birds............. 9, 32,
51, 53, 57-60, 62, 67, 70, 71, 84, 86
Bombycilla cedrorum. mets 72
Bonaparte gull...... < 15
Bonasawmbellus’: occ sisacaileweatesce vaseeancee 34
Botaurus lentiginosus.........-.-2--2+-2------ 24
Bottom lands, Mississippi River, description. 5-6
Brant, white, or snow goose........-.......- 22
speckled, or white-fronted goose...... 22

Branta canadensis canadensis

RULING ccc cwsisis Sees Fees

Brewer blackbird........2....22.-00022-202-
Brewster, C. E., observation of birds. ar 13
Broad-winged hawk............-.-. fiass 39
Bronzed grackle......--.... tod 60
Brown creeper.......---...-- --- 88
thrasher, or brown thrush . 85-86
Brown-headed nuthatch ..... ae 88
Bubo virginianus........0---022-.002 000 cceees 43-44

94 INDEX.
Page.
Buff-breasted sandpiper..................... 82 | Colaptes auratus luteus...-.--------+---+-+--
cafer collaris. . .
Colinus virginianus.....-...----
Compsothlypis americana ramaling®.........- 71
Connecticut warbler......-.------ 81
Conuropsis carolinensis 44
Cooke, W. W., studies of bird migration Sscind 12
Cooper hawk
C00b ssa xsve cose sioeeetme
Cormorant, double-crested
platypterus. 39 | Corvus brachyrhynchos 56
Butorides virescens 26 coraz sinuatus.... 56
Butter-ball, or bufflehead 22 | Coturnicops noveboracensis 28
Biaeeatd, Orbe i as xo xvas o4 eiaeeesemaeeais 36 | Cowbird......-..----.--.--- eee eee eee eee eee 57
Crane, blue, or great blue heron. 4
Calcarius lapponicus........--.2222202202002+ 61 sandhill. .........--..-- 7
pictus... 62 whooping............ _ 2
Campephilus principalis.........---++-+-+-++- 45-46 | Crawfish, destruction by birds.............. 9,
Canada G008Csc:..2ccceccacenss Seoteecmeemese 22, 23 18, 24, 26, 32, 42, 43, 45
83 | Creeper, black-and-white............... wee- TAS
21 prown........ - 88
77 | Crested flycatcher......... . 88
67 | Crops in Lower Austral Zone 7
67 Upper Austral Zone 8
Carolina chickadee.. 89 | Crossbill............-....-- 61
paroquet.....---..--------ee ee eee Be | CHOW scctnuinsie chemaosecumacuesaeeoemetecd sete 56
WION. 000s seen een eee rece eee e een eee 86 blackbird, or bronzed grackle......... 60
Carpodacus PurpuUreUs.......2-002-2 sence eee 60-61 | Cryptoglauz acadica . £8
Carrion crow or black vulture......-..-.....- 86 | Cuckoo, black-billed.............-....-222--- 45
OIG cs eateyenremenars su dee veeaiiewaicuinels 84-85 yellow-billed.............2.2..2022. 44-45
Catharista urubu.. . 36 | Curlew, Eskimo..... 32
Cathartes aura septentrionalis 36 long-billed.. wos 32
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus....... 31 | Cyanocitta cristata.......-...22222222220eeeee 55
Cedar bird or cedar waxwing................ 72
COUUTUS CATOTNUGE. on 00g 0s nine senreeanneees 48 | Dafila acuta...........2.20 02-2 e cence cece eee 20
Certhia familiaris americana........-...---++- 88 | Dendroica xstiva 7
Cerulean warbler........---.-------0-+0--00- 78 7
Coryle CLCYON wrsiciwiaiesacieisowiiacineets b seisinmeresia-ois 45 9
Chetura pelagica...........-.0202- 22s e eee eees 52 78
Charadrius dominicus...........--+.2--+++005 33 v3)
Charitonetta albeola..........22-02..2-0e2eeee 22 80
Chat, yellow-breasted............---.-----+-- 82 79
Chaulelasmus strepeTus.....--2-.2--022200-+- 18 i)
Chen czerulescens.....---2222-002eeceeeeee eee 22 - 8B
hyperboreus hyperboreus ........-.---+-- 22 palmarum Soe rEedeseonmeninseeienice 80
RUG ccs eemndnmmassmmwn ey 22 78
Cherry bird or cedar waxwing.............-- 72 ii
Chestnut-sided warbler 77
80
79
68-69
14
56
35-36
Dowitcher, long-billed. . . 29
Downy woodpecker... .. 46
Chuck-will’s-widow.......-..----------2200- 49-50 | Dryobates borealis............ 47
Circus hudsonius........2.-+20-220+220e2ee2+ 37 pubescens medianus.... 46
Cistothorus stellaris........2..0.02200200ee00- 87 pubescens. . 6
Clangula clangula americana...........+-.-.. 21
Clarke nutcracker................2--252---2- 56
Clay-colored sparrow.........---.-----22--+- 65
Cliff swallow 70
Coccyzus AMETICUNUS....02002-2 2222 e ee eee eee 44-45
erythropthalmus......--.....+++++-- 45
Colaptes Quratus GUIAtUS.....-.-----026--00-- 48-49

INDEX. 95

Gnatcatcher, blue-gray. .
ruddy....... . 22 | Golden eagle

shoveler 19 plover “ 33
wood. 20 swamp warbler, or prothonotary
Duck hawk.... . 40 WOLDIOf ince paccactsacanieesseeewe 75
Dumetella carolinensis. ....... . 84-85 | Golden-crowned kinglet Beets 89
Dutcher, B. H., observation of birds........ 13 | Golden-eye............. -. 21
Eagle, bald..........000...-0seeeeeeeeeeees 39-40 acre as i warhler 1G
golden LO sintataeeag
Earthquake, New Madrid .................. FT a
Ectopistes migratorius 2 35 greater snow
Egret, AMe@riCath.jo<0.0a0: os sia eves cusinsy 25 Hutchins
SNOWY .-----+------------ 22 ee eee ee eee 25 SED Wt stioce hclteac abe Gea eS
Plnieniap te Silas i “pate white-fronted...........2..22.-0.2005 22
eauaicnals peace erty iw nie. er aes Gourdhead, or wood ibis..........--------+- 23-24
Pt hey Wis Tae cat cee ee ae Grackle, bronzed........-------22--22--0e2 es 60
minimis Grass finch, or vesper sparrow... .....-.-.-..- 62
MOH... eccnnrncsmaersenesotee sins Grasshopper SpaITOW........-----22-22-00065 62
Gray duck, or gadwall..........-..-.-------- 18
Gray-cheeked thrush.........-.--.--.-.----- 91
Great blue heron........-....2--2-----+-20+- 24-25

DOMMOGIOW] gicieicsdie gel sidcisizatieeioemse aie 43-44

ula : Cat ne ads SOP Op)

Poppet. pail oeaeeameasen :
cyanocephalus. . A ‘

Extermination of birds. pe ee a

Falco columbarius......-..220..0000200ceeeee Green-winged teal. .........-...2--++--+2++++ 18-19

peregrinus anatum.. : Grinnell water thrush...............-22.....- 81

SPATVETIUS 3. sdin cesses ameeesesaeae eas eee

Field lark or meadow lark................... 58 cardinal... ----.2.-+--+2++eeeeeee 2

34

27

27

67

15

15

14

14

Hairy woodpecker..............--22--2-260- 46

Halixetus leucocephalus............-.....--- 39-40

Hanna, G. Dallas, observation of birds ...... 13

Harlan hawks ss..< cusses dssexvesdesessaces 38

Harris Sparrow. .s2sesoseesestexesessesseencds 63

Harvey, F. L., observation of birds ... 12

39

38

40

41

38

10

French mocking bird or migrant shrike...... a

Fulica americana..........2....0000020220 00s 28-29) = PIBSOM..-c-.ce+ i 40

-- 38-39

CEU E ve bere ideanadintataranaasesiasecanans 18 red-tailed.... 38

Gallinago delicate. . 29 sharp-shinned. . 37-38

Gallinula galeata...............22.-., serena 28 BPRTOW eacrs wen aneananemawemmuncemwmes 40-41

96 INDEX,
Page.

Hay, O. P., observation of birds............ 12 | Lark sparrow .....------------++--+-ee eee
Helinaia swainsoni....- 75 | Larus argentatus
Hell-diver, or pied-billed grebe 14 delawarensis . . .
Helmitheros vermivorus........-.02202-02-0--- 75 franklini......-
Helodromas solitarius... 31 philadelphia... .
Henslow sparrow.....-.....--..00cceceeeeeee 62 | Least flycatcher..........--.--------2-2. eee
Borinit thrushisicicecedeaesees cvceuseeiesscis 254 91 Sandpiper << 22.000 ssetcouccnivs ceeeesas
Herodias egretta 25
Heron, black-crowned night...............-. 26 | Leconte sparrow........222-2222eeeeeceee ees

great blue........... SialgnanuduGesmeee 24-25 | Legislation, game...-.....-...--.----------

BICOD ce soearcis oc aot aetssaniiencieeaeae 26 | Lesser scaup duck .

Little DING 24 2 occu meteeaimecetineelests sis 25-26 | Life zones.......-

OUI ANG soo aw hig acaceieieu srhriccictlsals 25 | Lincoln sparrow.

yellow-crowned night................ 26-27 | Little blue heron......-..-.---.----...- zee.. 25-26
BS 02) ya C6 45-40 1 | payee a poo 14 | Logcock or ivory-billed woodpecker......... 45-46
Hirundo erythrogastra...-.....2.22.0.-2022--- 71 | Loggerhead or migrant shrike mee
Hollister, N., observation of birds........... 12 | Long, Major, explorations...............2...
Hooded merganser..............--...------- 17 | Long-billed curlew ‘

Hummingbird, ruby-throated............... 52
Hunting licenses, laws in Arkansas. ..- 10
Hutchins goose... ......... 222.20... 20 ccee eee 23
Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis................ 25
Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. 15
FLO G ANNE oe vrei cong gnaenuwunecscss ac 91
fuscescens salicicola 90
guttata pallasi 91
MUSLELING...00..02 2.200. c ee eee ote 90
ustulata swainsoni 91
ES Og ace iaixensentceummaneandawmitun eae
Icteria virens.
Icterus galbula.
spurius...
Ictinia mississippiensis .............022222.2- 37
Indian hen, or green heron.................. 26
Indigo bird, or indigo bunting............... 68
Insects, destruction by birds................ 9
Tonornis martinica...... Mesinicieis 28
Tridoprocne bicolor... 71
Ivory-billed woodpecker.................... 45-46
Teobrychus evilis ... 22... .00.00ceccceeeceenees 24
Jay, blue... 55
Junco hyemalis... 65
Slate-colored . as cuwseeeecinnesncneeceos 65
81
33
27
53
45
89
ruby-crowned... 89
Kite, Mississippi 37
Swallow-lalled ses is cietceinenenn+ caesns 36-37
LQtind DOT rau haa ins nonnenneneneansrners 72
ludovicianus migrans . -- 72-73
Lanivireo flavifrons........- = 73
solitarius... oe, 74
Lapland longspur.......... ae 61
Lark, field, or meadow lark . sh 5S
PLAIFIS NOMMEG 6 saciee cincie cs are aapisaeccctins 55

dowitcher . .

Long-eared owl.........
Longspur, Lapland.......
Smith...

Lophodytes cucullatus . ais
Louisiana heron....-....--.-2022.2.222222005

Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus.......... 29
Magnolia warbler.............- wee 98

Mammals, Arkansas, lists... . ¢ aes
injurious, destruction by birds.. 10,
24, 25, 26,37

WHOL, 2is.0'scaieiaw aisiarnsieinhinderrememuarecmas 87

70

Maryland yellowthroat...... 82
McAtee, W. L., observation of birds .......- 13
Meadowlark. «..:). 2-02 soe seeeeeenamueacas 58
SOU MECR saa cecmecesewacoseneces 58
western...... - 58

Melanerpes erythrocephalus..............-.... 48
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris ................. 35
Melospiza georgiana......... . 66
UNCON Ao cesjseiesic isc . 66

melodia..............--+
Merganser

Mimus polyglottos.......22.22..2... -

Mississippi bottom lands............. 5-6
PLE 6 as sonar cea be asniveore ancedigenena oes 37
Mniotilta varia... 2.2... eee 74-15

Mocking Dit «<0. ssccce-cdoscines cv camcinsecnancn 84

French, or migrant shrike.....
Molothrus ater ..-- 22.22.2202 eee eens 57

Mud hen, or coot......---.--.2--.2- sees eee ee
Muscivora forficata ....-.-.....2-.0 22 ee ee eee ee
Mycteria americana .
Myiarchus crinitus . .
Myiochanes virens

Myrtle warbler.......--------+--220+eee seers
Nannus hiemalis ....... eae BE
Nashville warbler . . 76
Nelson SpalTOW.......---0-0-e cere reece eee 63
Nettion carolinense....-.------+-++-+22 222+ 18-19
. 26
51
52
49
58
shrike.... 72
Nucifraga columbiana.. . a 56
Numenius americanus. - 32
borealis. ... 3 32
Nutcracker, Clark.........---2-----2--02-05- 56
Nuthatch, brown-headed................---+ 88
red-breasted. . . 88
white-breasted 88
Nuttall, Thomas, explorations .............. 11-12
Nuttallornis borealis.......- 54
Nyctanassa violaced .....-..--.----- 222222222 26-27
Nyctea nyctea 44
Nycticorax nycticorax N#xvIUS......-.--.--++++ 26
Olive-backed thrush ..........---------+-+++ 91
Olive-sided flycatcher... 54
Olor buccinator..... < 23
columbianus ....- 2... - 222 ecn nena eee enee 23
Oporornis agilis...... 200 cc cece eee cc eceeceee 81
formosus..- 81
philadelphia.......-.2--2--2.-222-- 81
Orange-crowned warbler.........-.--------- 76
Orchard oriole
Oriole, Baltimore
orchard...
Osprey.....-..-.------- a
Otocoris alpestris praticola. --- 55
Otus asio asio.......-.-- . 43
floridanus .... 43
Ouachita Mountain region.................. f
Ovenbird
Owl, barn
barred
Florida barred. .
SCTOCCD owns sexecwrarcuseosye eds
great homed jeeax ss ccwrceeavediemscines
hoot or barred owl...
JOM g-CATE sie ieie is cisine sscenc wcaceie sesaiviersies
saw-whet...
screech.....
short-eared .
snowy........
Oryechus vociferus
Ozark Region... .
Painted bunting. . . 68
Palm warbler............ --- 80

94869° Bull. 38—11——7

97
Page
Pandion haliaétus carolinensis...........2-+++ 41
Papabotte, or upland plover............-.-- 31-32
Paroquet, Carolina. .............2-2.--0-e eee 44
Passenger pigeon. ....----.--.-----02-eeee eee 35
Passer domesticus ss isc0s sedieciewaagectsececcisivn 60
Passerculus sandwichensis savanna..........- 62
Passerella Meee sccss cuss vensesescexescecess 66
Passerherbulus henslowi.......--.--+--+-++++ 62
LOCO GIs icrecedies cenineaasesavaes 63
nelsoni : 63
POSSCrinag Ctri8ss 2s ce cette Rhee e ee ceeds 68
CUQNEY oj0ic conte rnin nemaesreeeeeee 68
Pectoral sandpiper......-.........-.2--2-005 30
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.........----+-+-++- 16
Pelican, white.................-..--2-2----- 16
Penthestes carolinensis .....-...-------+++-+++- 80
Petrochelidon lunifrons..........----.--2++-++ 70
Peucxa xstivalis bachmani ....-..-.---++-+++ 65-66
Pewee, bridge, or phoebe........-...-.....-- 53
WO0d seccauistestiapnsct-asaisancineaeanciee 54
Phalacrocorax auritus auritus .........--2++++ 15-16
Pheasant or ruffed grouse..........-.--.---- 34
Philadelphia vireo.........-.----2-----+--0+ 73
Philohela minor
Phieotomus pileatus
PROD Cee 22. cca zamar ie ciicteaieeresienied cos eventaiic
SAY cece cavecisnseenstce ses eearerseees
Physical features, Arkansas...-...-.-.-..-.- 5-7
Pica pica hudsonia.......-..22--22-202e ee eee 55
Pied-billed grebe..............-----2-22----- 14
Pige0i Haw. joie ss.oe sss dccicicisesininuinacenes 40
passenger. ....-.-------- eee eee eee eee 35
Pileated woodpecker......-..------.--2--+++ 47-48
Pine siskins.cic.ccscotersecumesasekesteamenes 61
WAT DOT iiss sci enencamesnieienmnciarasiarnaistars 80

Planesticus migratorius achrusterus
migratorius.......... 92

Pocecetes gramineus . .

Porzana carolina... . 28
Prairie chicken... ... 34
horned lark 55
lands.....-.- 6
marsh wren. . 87
warbler 80°

Preble, Edward A., observation of birds. ... 13

98 INDEX.

Page.

Progneé Subis.....0...22222 ee nes cccnnseeenncee 70
Prothonotary warbler...............2..-.-+- 75
Protonotaria citrea.....-- 22.0.2... 0 eee cee e eee 75
POI ID ect saiee cis cause oaicahawtan weeds 60-61

AMINO. 65 spc cece ae ceciasieisie 28

PUB ceca cncecnsicwws venus menmensacs 70
Quail, or bobwhite.............2.22222222022 33-34
Querquedula discors.........2022022222000000- 19
Quiscalus quiscula eneus....---....02.000000+ 60

Red-bellied woodpecker...............--.--- 48
Redbird or cardinal grosbeak. . ease 6%
Red-breasted merganser...........-..-2-.--+ 16

nuthaten «os <essesevesceeues 88
Red-cockaded woodpecker

Red-eyed ‘Vireo w:. aie ences ceohesecinceweesices

Red-tailed hawk. . 38
Redwing......... - 87
northern. . 58
thick-billed......-..22.-.202s.-20s 57
Red-winged blackbird.............-....-.-+ 57
Regulus calendula 89
satrapa......---- 89
Reynolds, H. S., observation of birds....... 12
Rice destruction by bobolink and blackbirds. 56-57
PATMING feos: J Fsinciiajicwaene cet eesaed 6,7
Ricebird or bobolink.........-.. Seti be Ses 56
Ring-billed gull 14
Ring-necked duck...-:.2..-s0s0ccessecsenoes 21
71

92

92

Rose-breasted grosbeak..........-.---.----- 67
Rough-winged swallow. . . 71-72
Ruby-crowned kinglet...-. 89
Ruby-throated hummingbird. 52
Ruddy duck.........-...-.-- 22
turnstone. ..... 33

Ruffed grouse......-. 34
Rusty blackbird........-....22-.22222--20-- 59
Sandhill Grane. o...iccccanccamecons sae sxc 27
Sandpiper, Baird...............--------.--- 30
buff-breasted..........--.--.---- 32

30

30

30

31

32

30

Sapsucker, yellow-bellied.....-.------------ 47

Savage, Walter G., observation of birds...... 1

Page.
Savannah sparrow. ......-.-.--------+2-0-e- 62
Saw-whet owl......--.---- 43
Say phoebe......-.-.- 53
Sayornis phebe...-...-.- 53
SAYUS.....--- 53

Scarlet tanager.....-..-- 69
Scaup duck, lesser........ 21
Scissor-tailed flycatcher . . 52
Screech owl.........---.-- 43-44
Seiurus aurocapillus....... 80
motacilla.......-.--..--- 81
noveboracensis notabilis . . . gL
Semipalmated plover........- 33
sandpiper............. 30

Setophaga ruticilla.......-.--...--.... 83
Sharp-shinned hawk csr | TOF
Shelldrake or merganser..................... 16
Short-billed marsh wren.......-............ 87
Short-eared owl. 42
SHOVE] OR 255251332 2ias(sicaiecsemdteasatdeerecremsinces 19
Shrike, MigANl. sajceceesvesccscecvaesise ence 72-73
northern......-.. 72

SOI AE cas ncswinncadccminindwnmsennswmunngy 92
asuvieas 32

af Sheea sees eaeeeTs 61

88

88

88

65

62

Snake bird or water turkey... - 15
Snipe, Wilson.....--..---- . 2%
SNOW. £0080. ereiesscse cisisiessedpesadoueeeetacs 22
65

25

44

Solitary sandpiper...........2--2.2-.2--.22-- 31

vireo or blue-headed vireo.

western field...
white-crowned...
white-throated...
Sparrow hawk

INDEX. 99
Page. Page.
Spatula clypeata............ 22 eee eee eee eee 19 | Totanus flavipes.........-22200000ee eee eee eee 31
Species lists. cisec cic ong gmaeieiaie se aujasreseeieveenets 14-92 melanoleucus.......--22---2200220 ee 30
number in Arkansas............---- 13-14
Speckle-belly or white-fronted goose Toxostoma rufum. .
Speckled branh ven ceweageencsnaeeene- Traill flycatcher
SOhPU PIOUS VOTE ss. 2s exesanncannaenenven Dre SPalrO Wises ieee seworen noun decease
BOWE DUE scan newer enero sesoreevermines ewalloWn csc pees
Spiza americana.........-. 20.20.2020. 2 eee Troglodytes aédon parkmani...........------- 87
Spizella monticola...........-.2...0.0200020-- EVOM Peter SWEties we xisxsasgeresreceeeenees™
pallida ...- 2 Tryngites subruficollis.
POSING oc ccainsntpaudasidawaseantee Tufted titmouse............2...202.00e eee eee
pusilla arenacea..........-++-++++++- 65 | Turkey buzzard or turkey vulture
is 65
Spoonbill or shoveler........--.-.--- 24 seesaw 19) WEE sieencitiacececzemearaneeaete ds
Spotted sandpiper........----------+22e+++-+ Baile. | Wide sag eee ccc mts ance
Sprague pipit.... ‘ 84 | Turnstone, ruddy
Sprig or pintail............. Apeeeauizsioszeeuny 20 | Tympanuchus americanus.........-..------- 34
Squatarola squatarola ...........------------+ 32 | Tyrannus tyrannus.......-.--.--2-2+-22220-+ 53
Stelgidopteryz serripennis
Stephenson, Mrs. L. M., observation of birds. 10,12 | Upland plover...........-....---.22-.------ 31-32
Sterna antillarum....-..-..-.---0--02-e eee eee 15
Sorsteri.... 15 | Vermivora bachmani
Strix varia alleni. 42 CCLOULGE acad oeneatenennaR ener re ies
varia ....... 42 chrysoptera
Sturnella magna argutula 58 peregrina
magne . 58 PANS. sisis siraitnamanamecen cineca
neglecta ... 58 rubricapilla
Summer tanager. .-<c002: s-vecieuvieseseees see 69,70 | Vesper sparrow.......-..-------22--2--2-e-
Sunken lands, Arkansas.........-......-.-.. 5-6: || Vireo, Bellewc .icc-+ceee cee ot vee sevepevess
Swainson warbler... . 75 1) WEL csi raken enn cud ce Spann ees
Swallow, Dank nc <cstverapcosscarediecteennx 71 blue-headed
QT ISCUS = cee eweees aia sk resus ence
Philadelphia. .
TOO-6Y 60 oi) j2ecicintisiewrsaeeecnccwecceeed
solitary, or blue-headed vireo
WEDD R scat ctrciwlevmememeetas osene
Swallow-tailed kite white-eyed
Swamp spalrow.......--------. yellow-throated . - .
Swan, trumpeter. Vireosylva gilua... 2.22.02... 2222 e cece eee eee
whistling. ONVOCE 2 sac res sceteceggneeerses
Swift, chimney. . philadelphica.............2..0...4-
Sycamore warbler. ......-.-....2....00022208 09: |) Mirginiatrall wade ones dcouienlacaceeiueecny Nin
Wultire, Dla ewes es esetuieucee cower sone
TENA Per? SCATICE a bstsistremamemuctesecadcwmelsls GUT ysisres pitted rsraineieiaintseciels ae
summer
Teal, blue-winged Warbler, Bachman..............--...2...... 75-76
green-winged. .. - 18-19 bay-breasted.....-.....-...02...5- 79
Telmatodytes palustris iliacus.... 87 black-and-white................... 74-75
Tennessee warbler.............22...0-220--08 77 black-and-yellow....-............. 78
Tern, black... 15 Blackburnian...........-......... 7
POPSsters j..osccxcapncusesuaelyeeice seus 15 blaek-poll an: .25 swceseascecacvercieea 79
VeaSb: sacs cseeemtnied edie cuvicewnce ce 15 black-throated blue................ 77
Thick-billed redwing. . 57 PTCCM wien ve scciscie earn 79
Thistle bird or goldfinch..... - 61 plue-winged................2.-.--. 76
Thrasher, brown.....-.-... - 85-86 Canada... cacseeiseuseadacscageancs 83
Thrush, brown..... 85-86 Cape May sei cccccicciemencsemwaneees 77
gray-cheeked 91 CeTUGaR sac asiexesiincomacamemcencen 78
hermit...... 91 chestnut-sided.........2.2.2..222-. 78-79
Olive-backed...........2222.....0024 91 Connecticut... .:2.ccceeeescescecee 81
WOW oo ssnctacedacansadecatecdecn ua 90 golden swamp, or prothonotary
wood.... 90 WArD leks ve bn ees cctasnenaisines 75
Thryomanes bewicki........-...22222--022--- 86 golden-winged.._............ 76
Thryothorus ludovicianus............-.------ 86 TOODOM ois. ot sn weieieincente aioe 82-83
Titlark or pipit........... -- 83-84 Kentucky....... 81
Titmouse, tufted, or tomtit...............-. 88-89 magnolia........ 78
Tomtit or tufted titmouse......-............ 88-89 Maryland yellowthroat............ 82

100

Weevil, cotton-boll, destruction by birds. . -- 9,
32, 51, 53, 57-60, 62, 67, 70, 71, 84, 86

Western field sparrow. ....-..-..--.---2.+-.- 65
meadow lark............--.---.---- 58

White-crowned sparrow...-..............--- 63-64
White-eyed vireo.....-......-.-.---2- 222-2 ee 74
White-fronted goose....-....-...-------.-+-- 22
White-rumped sandpiper..............--...- 30
Whitethroat «2. ccccccscsssceeantewuasccesscies 64
White-throated sparrow.......-.---..-....-. 64
Whooping crane..........-..2.-.-.2. 222 e eee 27
Widgeon, American, or baldpate.........-.- 18
Wild turkey sc cscasis sendeciseseesesnsceatesc 35
Willet, western. 31
Willow thrush... s...c02.000e0te28 seeeteee 90
Wilson Snipe ay. aicajscemexccnconsmuscsecrscece 29
Wilsonia canadensis.

OUTING ss satin ti waes eee nniaindedasn

DUSULG «ses rosnexcxgeaawavornrxecees 83
Winter Wrens oo cccssee2 oe eceesccescsczesxese 87

INDEX,

46

46

yellow-bellied................. 47
Worm-eating warbler... .. 15
86

86

87

87

87

87

Xanthocephalus zanthocephalus............-. 87
Yellow hammer...........20.c.cccceeesseceee 48
i 28

7

Yellow-bellied flycatcher . 54
“sapsucker 47

Yellow-billed cuckoo. ............-22-2--.+8. 44
Yellow-breasted chat... . 82
Yellow-crowned night heron...........-..--- 26-27
Yellow-headed blackbird ....-...........2.- 57
Yellowlegs............- 31
BPCALED hee sex sxe wnwssreemesteunse 30
Yellowthroat, Maryland...........-......... 82
Yellow-throated vireo.....-............226-- 73-74
Zamelodia ludoviciana..........--.2---- ++ +25. 67
Zenaidura macroura carolinensis........-....- 35-36
Zone, Lower Austral..........-----0--c2e005 7-8
Upper Austral. ......-..-.----2-----+- 8
Zonotrichia albicollis........-2-.2-220-eeeeees 64
leucophrys gambeli 64
leucophrys...---.++++-+ 63-64

querula.......6 o Sele eieiee mene sewene 63

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