Part 5

On the low-sweeping limb of a beech over a stream is an ideal site for the frail nest of the Acadian. The bird is never found far from it and its low-ranging habits permit us to see its characteristic markings and hear its peculiar sudden, explosive little _pee-e-yúk_ and more commonly uttered _spee_ or _peet_.

The creamy white, brown-spotted eggs are laid the latter part of May.

ALDER FLYCATCHER

_Empidonax trailli alnorum. Case 8, Fig. 62_

Larger than the Least Flycatcher, but resembling it in having the back olive-brown instead of olive-green as in the Acadian and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. L. 6.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from northern New Jersey (locally) and mountains of West Virginia to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, irregularly common T.V., May 8-May 28; Aug. 16-Sept. 17. Ossining, rare T.V., May 19-May 31; Aug. 29. Cambridge, rare T.V., May 28-June 6; Aug.; occasional in summer.

Traill's Flycatcher (_E. t. trailli_), a slightly browner bird is the Mississippi Valley form. N. Ohio, common S.R., May 7-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, quite common S.R., May 14-Sept. 19. S.E. Minn., common S.R., May 6-Aug. 10.

A rare recluse of the alders who, traveling silently between his summer and his winter homes, makes few friends among men. Dwight describes its call note as "a single _pep_," and its song as _ee-zee-e-up_, resembling that of the Acadian. The bird places the nest low down in the crotch of one of the bushes among which it lives and lays 3-4 white, brown-spotted eggs in June.

LEAST FLYCATCHER

_Empidonax minimus. Case 6, Fig. 44_

Smallest of the Flycatchers; like the Alder Flycatcher its back is olive-brown rather than olive-green; no evident yellow on the underparts. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from Iowa, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common T.V., Apl. 20-May 20; Aug. 13-Sept. 15. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Apl. 25-Aug. 26. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 1-Aug. 25. N. Ohio, common T.V. Apl. 15-May 25; Aug. 25-Oct. 1; rare in summer. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., chiefly T.V., May 4-Sept. 24. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 13.

A Flycatcher of lawns and orchard, seldom going far from the tree in which its nest with its white eggs is placed. A dry-voiced little bird whose unmusical, but distinctly uttered _chebéc, chebéc_ makes up in character what it lacks in sweetness. Between whiles he swings out for a passing insect only to call _chebéc, chebéc, chebéc_ when he returns to his perch.

LARKS. FAMILY ALAUDIDÆ

PRAIRIE HORNED LARK

_Otocoris alpestris praticola. Case 2, Fig. 42_

Note the long hind-toe nail (or the track it leaves), the little feathered 'horns,' the black patch on cheeks and breast (less evident in winter). Smaller than the Northern Horned Lark, which visits the United States only in winter, with the line over the eye white, and throat but faintly tinged with yellow. L. 7-1/4.

_Range._ Nests in the Upper Mississippi Valley from Missouri and in the Atlantic States (locally), from Connecticut northward; winters southward to Texas and Georgia. The Horned Lark (_Otocoris alpestris alpestris_), is a more northern race, nesting in the Arctic regions and migrating southward as far as Ohio and rarely Georgia, when it is often associated with the resident Prairie Horned Lark. It is larger than that race (L. 7-3/4) and has the throat and line over the eye yellow.

Washington, common W.V., Aug. 11-Apl. Cambridge, one record. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., S.R., Mch.-Nov., a few in mild winters.

A bird of open places--shores, plains, and prairies, and roadways--who runs (not hops) nimbly ahead of one, or, with a short note, rises, and on its long, pointed wings, flies on ahead. He usually returns to the ground, but may alight on a fence; his long hind toe-nail not being suited to grasping a small perch. The weak, twittering song is uttered on the wing, when the bird, like its relative the Skylark, mounts into the air. It also sings from a perch near the ground.

The Prairie Horned Lark is the first of our small birds to nest, making its home on the ground and laying four finely speckled eggs early in March. After the nesting season the birds gather in flocks.

CROWS, JAYS, ETC. FAMILY CORVIDÆ

BLUE JAY

_Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Case 2, Fig. 20_

Color, habits and voice combine to render the Blue Jay conspicuous. L. 11-3/4.

_Range._ Eastern North America from Georgia to Quebec; migratory only at the northern limit of its range. The Florida Blue Jay (_Cyanocitta cristata florincola_, Case 4, Fig. 75) is smaller (L. 10-3/4) and grayer above. It is found throughout Florida.

Washington, rather rare P.R., common T.V., Apl. 28-May 15; Sept. 15-Oct. 15. Ossining, tolerably common P.R. Cambridge, common P.R., abundant T.V., Apl. and May; Sept. and Oct. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

If the Blue Jay were as good as he is beautiful he would be our most popular bird. But fine feathers do not always make fine birds, and to those who judge birds by human standards the Blue Jay's loud, harsh voice, overbearing manners, and nest-robbing habits are unpardonable. With all his faults, however, the true bird enthusiast loves him still. His bright colors, dashing ways and intelligence win our admiration and we feel honored when he makes his home near ours, building in early May a well-made nest in a tree-crotch, for the reception of the 4-6 olive-green, thickly speckled eggs.

FLORIDA JAY

_Aphelocoma cyanea_

Size of the Blue Jay but quite unlike it in color. The head, wings and tail are grayish blue without white markings; the back is pale brown, the underparts dirty white, with the throat inconspicuously streaked and a faint bluish breast-band.

_Range._ Florida between lat. 27° and 30°, and chiefly along the coasts.

This is the 'Scrub-Jay' of Florida and is not to be confused with the Florida Blue Jay. It lives in districts where scrub palmetto grows, but also comes into gardens and grows where it soon responds to proper treatment and becomes semi-domesticated. It nests early in April.

CANADA JAY.

_Perisoreus canadensis canadensis_

Size of the Blue Jay; a gray bird with a black crown and white forehead, cheeks and throat.

_Range._ Northern New England and northern New York, northward; resident, rarely straggling southward.

Cambridge, A.V., one record, Oct.

It is singular that the Canada Jay at the north and the Florida Jay in the south should show exceptional confidence in man, while the Blue Jay always seems to regard him with suspicion. The very day we make camp in the north woods the Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack becomes our guest. As though assured of a welcome he fearlessly joins our party, helping himself to such supplies as please his fancy. Long before our arrival, when snow still covered the ground, he has reared his family and for the rest of the year has only his own wants to fill.

RAVEN

_Corvus corax principalis_

Much larger than the Crow, the throat with long, pointed feathers, instead of short, rounded ones. L. 24.

_Range._ North America rare and local in the Eastern States, south to New Jersey on the coast and to Georgia in the mountains.

Crows _caw_, while Ravens _croak_; but to be sure that you have actually seen a Raven he should be with Crows, when the Raven's much larger size is evident. Unless, however, you should visit the few localities in the eastern States where Ravens live you are not likely to make the bird's acquaintance. Ravens nest on cliffs as well as in trees. Their eggs, which resemble those of the Crow in color, are laid in April.

CROW

_Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. Case 1, Fig. 19; Case 3, Fig. 27_

Sexes alike in color. L. 19-1/2.

_Range._ North America; migratory at the northern limit of its range; roosting in colonies in winter.

Washington, abundant P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, common P.R. abundant T.V. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch.-Nov., uncommon W.V.

The Crow and the Robin are probably the best known of all our birds. The former we treat as an enemy and the latter as a friend, and one therefore is as wild as the other is tame. Whether the Crow deserves to be outlawed has not as yet been decided. But we should not condemn him out of court and let us remember that as an intelligent, self-respecting citizen, who animates wintry wastes with his shining sable form and clarion call, he has other than economic claims to our consideration. The nest is placed in a tree about 30 feet up, and 4-6 eggs, green thickly marked with brownish are laid in April.

The Florida Crow (_C. b. pascuus_) is very near the northern bird, but has the wings and tail smaller, the bill and feet larger. It lives chiefly in the pine barrens of Florida and is much less common in the state than the Fish Crow.

FISH CROW

_Corvus ossifragus_

Brighter, more uniformly colored above and below, the feathers without dull tips.

_Range._ Atlantic and Gulf coast region from the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island Sound southward. Migratory only at the northern limit of its range. Found throughout Florida, but elsewhere usually not far from tidal water.

Washington, rather common P.R. Cambridge, A.V., one record, Mch.

In life the Fish Crow may be distinguished from the common Crow by its smaller size and hoarser voice. The difference in size, however, is evident only when the two are together, but once the cracked, reedy _car_ (not _caw_) of the Fish Crow has been learned the species may always be identified when heard. It is somewhat like the note of a young Crow, but less immature. The nest and eggs are much like those of the common Crow. The eggs are laid in May.

STARLINGS. FAMILY STURNIDÆ

STARLING

_Sturnus vulgaris. Case 2, Figs. 24, 25_

In winter conspicuously dotted with whitish; in summer with but few dots and a yellow bill; at all times with a short tail and long wings. L 8-1/2.

_Range._ Introduced from Europe into Central Park, New York City, in 1890, now more or less numerous from Virginia to Maine; occasional west of the Alleghanies. It is a quick, active bird, probing the ground now this side, now that, as it walks rapidly over our lawns. The short tail and long wings are most noticeable in the air and distinguish the Starling from our other black birds.

A long-drawn whistle, such as one calls to a dog, is the Starling's most common note, but it has many others. It nests in April, often after quarreling with Flickers for possession of a nest-hole in which to lay its pale bluish eggs. The young appear in mid-May and their harsh, rasping food-call is a common note for several weeks; then the birds begin to gather in companies which, later, form flocks of thousands.

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. FAMILY ICTERIDÆ

BOBOLINK

_Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Case 7, Figs. 13, 14_

In July, after nesting, the male molts into a plumage resembling that of the female, when both are known as Reedbird. L 7-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New Jersey and northern Missouri to southern Canada and westward to British Columbia; leaves the United States through Florida and winters chiefly in northwestern Argentina; returns to United States early in April.

Washington, T.V., common in spring, abundant in fall; Apl. 26-May 30; July 23-Nov. 14. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May 1-Oct. 5. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 8-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 10-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, S.R., Apl. 27-Oct. 9. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 5-Aug. 27.

A bird with a dual personality; welcome minstrel of the meadows when nesting, dread scourge of the rice-fields when traveling. With the loss of his trim suit of black, white, and buff, Bob loses also his merry tinkling, rippling song, and acquires with his streaked Reedbird suit a single watchword. _Tink, tink_ he calls from somewhere overhead, and _tink, tink_ his comrades answer as they follow a trackless path through the sky on their 5000-mile journey.

The nest is placed on the ground and 4-7 grayish, blotched eggs are laid late in May or early in June.

COWBIRD

_Molothrus ater ater. Case 5, Figs. 8, 9_

The male's brown head distinguishes him from other Blackbirds; the female wears a dull gray garb well designed to make her inconspicuous. L. 8.

_Range._ North America; nesting from North Carolina and Louisiana to Canada; winters from Virginia and Ohio southward.

Washington, rather rare P.R., common T.V. Ossining, common S.R., Mch. 23-Nov. 11. Cambridge, common S.R., Mch. 25-Nov. 1; occasional in winter. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 10-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Mch. 15-Sept. 10. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 11-Aug. 19.

Outlaws among birds, they pair not neither do they build. Without moral standards or maternal instincts the female accepts the attention of any male that chances to win her fancy and deposits her eggs in the nests of other birds. She is a slacker and a shirker, who keeps much in the background during the breeding season. Color, habit, his sliding, glassy whistle, and guttural gurgling, make the male conspicuous. Leaving the care of their foster parents the young join others of their kind and flock in the grainfields or about cattle in the pastures.

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD

_Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Case 6, Fig. 45_

Large size and a yellow head distinguish the male; the female is duller, the body brownish, the head yellowish. L. 10.

_Range._ Mississippi Valley and westward, breeding from northern Illinois northward to Canada; winters from the west Gulf coast and southern California into Mexico; accidental east of the Alleghanies.

Washington, A.V., one instance, Aug. Cambridge, A.V., one record, Oct. Glen Ellyn, A.V., May 21, 1898. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 21.

Hanging their cradle nest in the quill-reeds or rushes, the Yellow-heads are not found far from it until the young take wing. The male entertains his mate with a variety of strange calls and whistles, but leaves to her the hatching of the brown speckled eggs and care of the young while they are in the nest. Like other Blackbirds they migrate and winter in flocks.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

_Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus. Case 5, Figs. 5, 6_

The male in spring and early summer is unmistakable; in winter his feathers are tipped with brownish, more pronounced in the young. The streaked females require closer scrutiny. L. 9-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America, nests from Florida to Canada; winters from Maryland southward, sometimes farther north. The Florida Red-wing (_A. p. floridanus_, Case 4, Figs. 28, 29) is smaller and with a slenderer bill. It inhabits Florida (except the southeast coast and Keys) and ranges west along the Gulf coast to Texas. The Bahama Red-wing (_A. p. bahamensis_) is still smaller. It is resident in southeastern Florida, the Keys and Bahamas.

Washington, common P.R., abundant in migration. Ossining, common S.R., Feb. 25-Nov. 11. Cambridge, abundant S.R., Mch. 10-Aug. 30; a few winter. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 1-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 19. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 8-Nov. 14.

The Red-wing's mellow _kong-quer-reee_ is as certain an indication of the presence of water as is the piping of frogs in the spring. It may be only a bit of boggy marshland, it may be a reedy lakeside, but water there will surely be. On a frequented perch he half spreads his wings, fluffs out his scarlet epaulets, bursting into bloom, as it were, when he utters his notes--a singing flower! The nest is in the alders, button-bushes, or reeds, or even on the ground, and although the birds come in March, their pale blue, spotted, blotched, and scrawled eggs are not laid until May. Except when nesting, Red-wings live in flocks.

MEADOWLARK

_Sturnella magna magna. Case 2, Fig. 23_

A large, quail-like bird which shows white outer tail-feathers when it flies; if one can obtain a front view, the yellow underparts and black breast-crescent are conspicuous. L. 10-3/4.

_Range._ Eastern North America, rare west of the Mississippi; nesting from North Carolina and Missouri to Canada; winters from southern New England and northern Ohio southward. The Southern Meadowlark (_S. m. argutula_, Case, 4, Fig. 79) is smaller and darker. It is resident in the south Atlantic and Gulf States.

Washington, common P.R., less common in winter. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb. 20-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, common S.R., not common W.V. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 15; a few winter. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Jan. 24-Nov. 15; irregular W.V. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct. 15; rare W.V.

The Meadowlark is a fifer of the fields, whose high, clear whistle is one of the most welcome bird songs of early spring. In May, when nesting, it often sings an ecstatic twittering warble on the wing. The alarm calls are an unmusical _dzit_ or _yert_ and a string of beady, metallic notes.

The nest is placed on the ground. The 4-6 eggs are white, speckled with brown.

WESTERN MEADOWLARK

_Sturnella neglecta_

Grayer than the Eastern Meadowlark, with disconnected tail-bars and yellow spreading to the sides of the throat.

_Range._ Western United States, rare east of the Mississippi. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct. 15.

With the general appearance and habits of the Eastern Meadowlark, but differing in its call-notes and song. Instead of the sharp _dzit_ or _yert_ and metallic twitter of the eastern bird, the western species calls _chuck_, _chuck_, followed by a rolling _b-r-r-r-_. The eastern bird plays the fife but the western uses the flute, and its bubbling grace-notes are easily distinguishable from the _straight_ whistling of its eastern cousin.

ORCHARD ORIOLE

_Icterus spurius. Case 7, Figs. 10-12_

Adult males are unmistakable, but females and young males in their first fall wear a non-committal costume and must be looked at sharply. In their first nesting season, young males resemble the female but have a black throat. This is a smaller, more slender bird than the Baltimore Oriole, and the female is less orange. L. 7-1/4.

_Range._ Eastern United States, nesting from the Gulf States to Massachusetts and Minnesota; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 20-Aug. 22. Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Aug. 6. Cambridge, S.R., sometimes rather common, May 15-July. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept. 5. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., Apl. 38. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., May 10-Aug. 26.

In the northern part of its range, the Orchard Oriole is somewhat less common, and more local than the Baltimore Oriole, while its duller colors and more retiring habits make it more difficult to see. The voice is richer, more cultured--if one may use the term--than that of its brilliant orange-plumed cousin; indeed, in my opinion, this species deserves a place in the first rank of our songsters. The nest of finely woven grasses is not so deep as that of the Baltimore. Three to five bluish white eggs, spotted and scrawled with black, are laid the latter part of May.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

_Icterus galbula. Case 7, Figs. 8, 9_

The orange and black male needs no introduction; the female is tinted with orange strongly enough to show her relationship. L. 7-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from northern Georgia to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common S.R., Apl. 29-Aug. 26. Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Sept. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 8 through Aug. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 15-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Apl. 26-Sept. 4. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 1-Sept. 1.

This is the orange-and-black whistler of our fruit and shade trees, whose wife skillfully weaves a pendant cradle at the end of some drooping branch, therein to lay her white eggs curiously marked with fine lines and blotches of black. The young, after leaving the nest in June, have a loud, babyish food-call, _dee-dee-dee-dee_, repeated time after time until their wants are satisfied.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD

_Euphagus carolinus. Case 5, Figs. 3, 4_

The bird's common name is based on the fall plumage of the male, which is broadly margined with rusty. By spring these tips wear off and the bird is glossy black. Size of the Red-wing but with a whitish eye and no red; the female unstreaked.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from the northern part of the northern states to Canada; winters from New Jersey and Ohio to the Gulf States.

Washington, common W.V., Oct. 13-Apl. 30. Ossining, common T.V., Mch. 26-May 8; Sept. 28-Nov. 27. Cambridge, very common T.V., Mch. 10-May 8; Sept. 15-Oct. 31. N. Ohio, common T.V., Mch. 5-May 10; Sept. 10-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Mch. 3-May 8; Sept. 12-Nov. 15; uncommon W.V. SE. Minn., common T.V., Mch. 26-Nov. 24.

This is the least conspicuous of our Blackbirds. It nests chiefly north of the United States, migrates in small flocks, and is less noisy than the Red-wing or Grackle and not so much in evidence as the Cowbird. Dwight describes its notes as "a confused medley of whistles, sweeter and higher-pitched than those of the Red-wing." It nests in May, building in coniferous trees or near the ground, and laying 4-7 greenish eggs, heavily marked with brown and purple.

PURPLE GRACKLE

_Quiscalus quiscula quiscula. Case 5, Fig. 1_

Plumage varied with metallic and iridescent reflections; tail long, fan-shaped, often 'keeled' in flight; eye pale yellow. Male, L. 12-1/2. The female is smaller and duller; L. 10-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests east of the Alleghanies from northern Georgia to Connecticut; winters from Maryland southward.

Washington, common T.V. and S.R., Feb. 20; a few winter. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb. 15-Nov. 8. Cambridge, rare S.R.

The Florida Grackle (_Quiscalus quiscula aglæus_, Case 4, Fig. 74) is smaller than the Purple Grackle and has the head and neck violet-purple, the back bottle-green. It is resident in Florida and the Gulf States north to South Carolina.

The Bronzed Grackle (_Quiscalus quiscula oeneus_, Case 5, Fig. 2) is the same size as the Purple Grackle, but has the body bronzy without iridescent markings. It nests from Texas up the Mississippi Valley and eastward through central New York and Massachusetts to New Brunswick, north to Canada; and in migration is found in the range of the Purple Grackle. It winters from the Ohio Valley southward.

Washington, rare T.V., Feb 20-Apl. 17. Ossining, common T.V., Apl; Nov. Cambridge, abundant. S.R., Mch. 10-Nov. 1; occasional in winter. N. Ohio, abundant, S.R., Mch. 1-Nov. 15; rarely winters. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 15, SE. Minn, common S.R., Mch, 18-Nov. 1; rare in winter.

The Grackle is the largest of our northern Blackbirds. In the south it is exceeded in size only by the Boat-tailed Grackle. It migrates in flocks and nests in colonies, often in parks and cemeteries. It feeds chiefly on the ground and is frequently seen upon our lawns when it may be known by its rather waddling, walking gait, and its long tail. Its notes are harsh, cracked and discordant, but when heard in chorus make a pleasing medley. The nest is sometimes placed in pines about 30 feet up, but also in bushes and even in holes in trees. The 3-7 eggs are usually pale bluish, heavily blotched and scrawled with brown and black.

BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE

_Megaquiscalus major major_

The male is a long-tailed, glossy blue-black bird. (L. 16.) The female is much smaller (L. 12), blackish brown above, buff below.

_Range._ Florida north on the Atlantic coast to Virginia; west to Texas.

This giant Grackle frequents lakes, lagoons and bays, where it feeds along the shore or among aquatic plants. The male, a poseur among birds, strikes strange attitudes with bill pointing skyward, and with apparent effort forces out hoarse whistles. The female is quiet and unassuming. They nest in colonies, building in bushes and laying in April 3-5 bluish white eggs, strikingly blotched and scrawled with blackish.

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. FAMILY FRINGILLIDÆ