Part 2

Male with a small patch of scarlet on both sides of the head; female without. The actions and habits are very similar to those of the Downy. The birds can readily be identified at a distance by the cross-barring of white on the back. Their notes are harsher than those of the Downy and have more of the nasal quality, like those of the nuthatches.

Range.—Southeastern United States, west to Texas and north to Virginia.

TEXAN WOODPECKER 396. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. 7¼ inches

On account of its numerous cross-bars, this species is often known as the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. They are quite similar to the Nuttall Woodpecker that is found on the Pacific Coast, but differ in having the underparts brownish-white instead of white, and the outer tail feathers heavily barred. They are found from Texas to southeastern California and north to Colorado.

ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 400. Picoides arcticus. 9.5 inches

Back glossy black, without any white. Only three toes, two in front and one behind. This is the most common of the two species found within the United States. They breed from the northern edge of the Union north to the limit of trees.

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 401. Picoides americanus. 8¾ inches

Back barred with white; outer tail feathers barred with black; yellow crown patch on male mixed with white. Except on some of the higher mountain ranges these birds appear in the United States only during winter. They are very hardy and commence nesting before snow leaves.

Note.—A shrill, loud, nasal shriek, sometimes repeated.

Nest.—In holes of trees as is usual with Woodpeckers. The white eggs measure .95 × .70.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 402. Sphyrapicus varius. 8½ inches

Male with a scarlet crown and throat; female with a scarlet crown and white throat; young with the head and neck mottled gray and white, with a few scarlet feathers.

This species has gained some ill-repute because of its supposed habit of boring through the bark of trees in order to get at the sap, and thus killing the trees. However, I very much doubt if they do any appreciable damage in this manner. I have watched a great many of them in the spring and fall and have clearly seen that they were feeding upon insects in the same way as the Downy.

Note.—A loud whining “whee,” and other harsh calls similar to the scream of a Blue Jay.

Nest.—In holes in trees, at heights from the ground varying from eight to fifty feet. Late in May they lay from four to seven white eggs (.85 × .60).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding from Virginia and Missouri to Hudson Bay, and wintering in southern U. S.

PILEATED WOODPECKER 405. Phlœotomus pileatus. 17 inches

Male with a scarlet crown and crest, and a red moustache or mark extending back from the bill; female with scarlet crest but a blackish forehead and no moustache.

Next to the Ivory-bills, these are the largest of our Woodpeckers. Like that species it is very destructive to trees in its search for food. While engaged in this pursuit, they often drill large holes several inches into sound wood to reach the object of their search. Like all the Woodpeckers, they delight in playing tattoos on dry, resonant limbs with their bills.

Note.—A whistled “cuk,” “cuk,” “cuk,” slowly repeated many times, also a “wick-up” repeated several times.

Nest.—In large cavities in trees, in which they lay four to six white eggs (1.30 × 1.00).

Range.—Southern United States. The Northern Pileated Woodpecker (abietocola) is locally found in temperate N. A.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER 406. Melanerpes erytrocephalus. 9¾ inches

Adults with entire head and breast red; young with a gray head and back, streaked with darker.

This very handsome species is common and very well known in the Middle and Central States. They are the ruffians of the family, very noisy and quarrelsome. One of their worst traits is the devouring of the eggs and young of other birds. To partially offset this, they also eat insects and grubs and a great deal of fruit.

Note.—A loud, whining “charr,” “charr,” besides numerous other calls and imitations.

Nest.—Holes in trees in woods, orchards, or along roadsides and also in fence posts or telegraph poles. In May and June they lay four to six glossy white eggs (1.00 × .75).

Range.—United States east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to New York and Minnesota. Winters in southern United States.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER 409. Centurus carolinus. 9½ inches

Male with whole top of head and back of neck red; female with forehead and hind head red but crown gray. Both sexes have the centre of the belly reddish, and have red eyes.

Like the Red-heads, these birds are noisy, but they have few of the bad qualities of the others. Besides the regular Woodpecker fare, they get a great many ants and beetles from the ground and fruit and acorns from the trees. They are also said to be fond of orange juice. In most of their range they are regarded as rather shy and retiring birds.

Note.—A sharp, resonant “cha,” “cha,” “cha,” repeated.

Nest.—In holes bored usually in live trees and at any height from the ground. Their five or six eggs are glossy white (1.00 × .75).

Range.—United States east of the Plains, breeding from Florida and Texas to southern Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Winters along the Gulf coast; occasionally strays to Massachusetts.

FLICKER 412. Colaptes auratus. 13 inches

Male with a black moustache mark; female without, although young females in the first plumage show some black.

These birds are very often known as “Golden-winged Woodpeckers,” “High-holes” and about a hundred other names in different localities. Flickers are found commonly in woods, orchards, or trees by the roadside; on pleasant days their rapidly uttered, rolling whistle may be heard at all hours of the day.

Note.—A rapidly repeated whistle, “cuk,” “cuk,” “cuk”; an emphatic “quit-u,” “quit-u,” and several others of a similar nature.

Nest.—A cavity in a tree, at any distance from the ground. The white eggs usually vary in number from five to ten, but they have been known to lay as many as seventy-one, where an egg was taken from the nest each day.

Range.—South Atlantic States. The Northern Flicker (luteus) is found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.

RED-SHAFTED FLICKER 413. Colaptes cafer collaris. 13 inches

Crown brown and throat gray, these colors being just reversed from those of the common Flicker.

The male is distinguished by a red moustache mark, which the female lacks. The typical male Red-shafted Flicker lacks the red crescent on the back of the head, but it is often present on individuals, as there are numerous hybrids between this species and the preceding. Flickers are more terrestrial in their habits than are any others of the family; their food consists largely of ants which they get from the ground.

Note.—Same as those of the last; both species often utter a purring whistle when they are startled from the ground.

Nest.—The nesting habits are identical with those of the last and the eggs cannot be distinguished.

Range.—From the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific.

CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW 416. Antrostomus carolinensis. 12 inches

Male with the end half of the outer tail feathers white, and the edge of the outer vanes rusty; female with no white ends to the feathers. Birds of this family have small bills, but extremely large mouths adapted to catching night-flying moths and other insects. They remain sleeping during the day, either perched lengthwise on a limb or concealed beside a stump or rock on the ground, their colors harmonizing with the surroundings in either case. They fly, of their own accord, only at dusk or in the early morning. This species, which is much the largest of our Goatsuckers, is known to, at times, devour small birds, as such have been found in their stomachs.

Note.—A loudly whistled and repeated “chuck-will’s-widow.”

Nest.—None, the two eggs being laid on the ground or dead leaves in underbrush. Eggs white, blotched with gray and lavender (1.40 × 1.00).

Range.—South Atlantic and Gulf States, breeding north to Virginia and Missouri, west to Texas.

WHIP-POOR-WILL 417. Antrostomus vociferus. 9¾ inches

Male with broad white tips to outer tail feathers; female with narrow buffy tips. These birds are often confounded with the Nighthawk, but are very easily distinguished by the long bristles from the base of bill, the black chin, the chestnut and black barred wing feathers and the rounded tail. Whip-poor-wills are more nocturnal than Nighthawks and on moonlight nights continue the whistled repetition of their name throughout the night. They capture and devour a great many of the large-bodied moths that are found in the woods, but are never seen flying over cities like Nighthawks.

Note.—An emphatically whistled repetition of “whip-poor-will,” “whip-poor-will.”

Nest.—In June they lay two grayish or creamy white eggs (1.15 × .85), mottled with pale brown, gray and lilac. These are deposited on the ground in woods.

Range.—East of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba and New Brunswick. Winters south of the United States.

POOR-WILL 418. Phalænoptilus nuttalli. 7½ inches

The female of this beautiful little Night-jar differs from the male only in having narrow buffy tips to the outer tail feathers instead of broad white ones. Like all the members of this family these birds are dusk fliers, remaining at rest on the ground in daylight. Their frosted gray plumage harmonizes so perfectly with their surroundings that it is almost impossible to see them. Their eggs are nearly immaculate, but usually show traces of the lavender blotches that mark others of the family. Their call is a mournful “poor-will-ee.” They are found from the Plains to the Pacific, but are not common east of the Rockies.

MERRILL PARAQUE 419. Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli. 13 inches

As usual with birds of this family, sexual difference in the plumage occurs chiefly on the tips of the outer tail feathers. These birds are common in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Their eggs differ from any of the preceding in having a salmon-colored ground.

NIGHTHAWK 420. Chordeiles virginianus. 10 inches

Male with white throat and white band across tail; female with rusty throat and no white on tail. Notice that the Nighthawk has a forked tail and white band across the wings, thus being readily distinguished at a distance from the Whip-poor-will.

Note.—A loud nasal “peent.”

Nest.—None, the two mottled gray and white eggs being laid on bare rocks in pastures, on the ground or underbrush, or on gravel roofs in cities; size 1.20 × .85.

Range.—United States east of the Plains, breeding from Florida to Labrador; winters south of United States. Three sub-species occur: 420a. Western Nighthawk (henryi), west of the Plains; 420b. Florida Nighthawk (chapmani); 420c. Sennett Nighthawk (sennetti), a pale race found on the Plains north to Saskatchewan.

TEXAN NIGHTHAWK 421. Chordeiles acutipennis texensis

This species is found in southern Texas and New Mexico. It differs from the last in having the primaries spotted with rusty, like those of the whip-poor-will.

CHIMNEY SWIFT 423. Chætura pelagica. 5½ inches

Unused chimneys of old dwellings make favorite roosting and nesting places for these smoke-colored birds. They originally dwelt in hollow trees until the advent of man furnished more convenient places, although we would scarcely consider the soot-lined brick surface as good as a clean hollow tree. Spines on the end of each tail feather enable them to hang to their upright walls, and to slowly hitch their way to the outer world. Throughout the day numbers of them are scouring the air for their fare of insects, but as night approaches, they return to the chimney.

Note.—A continuous and not unmusical twittering uttered while on the wing and also within the depths of the chimney.

Nest.—Made of small twigs or sticks glued to the sides of a chimney and each other by the bird’s saliva. The three to five white eggs are long and narrow (.75 × .50).

Range.—N. A. east to the Plains, breeding from Florida to Labrador; winters south of U. S.

WHITE-THROATED SWIFT 425. Aeronautes melanoleucus. 6½ inches

This beautiful swift is one of the most graceful of winged creatures. Its flight is extremely rapid and its evolutions remarkable. They nest in communities, thousands of them often congregating about the tops of inaccessible cliffs, in the crevices of which they make their homes. No bird has a more appropriate generic name than this species—“aeronautes,” meaning sailor of the air; he is a sailor of the air and a complete master of the art.

Note.—Loud, shrill twittering, uttered chiefly while on the wing.

Nest.—Placed at the end of burrows in earthy cliffs or as far back as possible between crevices in rocks; usually in inaccessible places and as high as possible from the ground. It is a saucer-shaped structure made of vegetable materials cemented together with saliva, and lined with feathers. The four white eggs measure .87 × .52.

Range.—From the eastern foothills of the Rockies to the Pacific; north to Montana and northern California.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 428. Archilochus colubris. 3½ inches

This little gem is the only one of the family found within the territory included in this book. Owners of flower gardens have the best opportunities to study these winged jewels, on their many trips to and fro for honey, or the insects that are also attracted thereby. With whirring wings, they remain suspended before a blossom, then—buzz—and they are examining the next, with bill lost within the sweet depths. Their temper is all out of proportion to their size, for they will dash at an intruder about their moss-covered home as though they would pierce him like a bullet. Their angry twitters and squeaks are amusing and surprising, as are their excitable actions.

Nest.—A most beautiful creation of plant fibres and cobwebs adorned with lichens and resembling a little tuft of moss upon the bough on which it is placed. In June two tiny white eggs are laid (.50 × .35).

Range.—N. A. east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters south of U. S.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER 443. Muscivora forficata. 14½ inches

This pretty creature is the most graceful in appearance of the Flycatcher family, if not of the whole order of perching birds. In the southwest it is frequently known as the “Texan Bird of Paradise.” Its habits are very much like those of the Kingbird; as it gracefully swings through the air in pursuit of insects, it frequently opens and shuts its scissor-like tail. They are usually found in open country or on the borders of woodland. They rarely alight on the ground, for their long tails make them walk very awkwardly, but when they are a-wing they are the embodiment of grace.

Note.—A shrill “tzip,” “tzip,” similar to notes of Kingbirds.

Nest.—Quite large; built of all kinds of trash, such as twigs, grasses, paper, rags, string, etc.; placed in any kind of a tree or bush and at any height. The four or five creamy white eggs are spotted with brown (.90 × .67).

Range.—Breeds from Texas north to Kansas; winters south of U. S.

KINGBIRD 444. Tyrannus tyrannus. 8½ inches.

Adults with a concealed orange crown patch; young with none. From the time of their arrival in May until they leave us in August, Kingbirds are much in evidence in farmyards and orchards. They are one of the most noisy birds, always quarreling about something, and usually coming off victorious in whatever they may undertake. Crows are objects of hatred to them, and they always drive them from the neighborhood, vigorously dashing upon and picking them from above and often following them for a great distance. They have their favorite perches from which they watch for insects, usually a dead branch, a fence post, or a tall stalk in the field.

Note.—A series of shrill, harsh sounds like “thsee,” “thsee.”

Nest.—Of sticks, rootlets, grass, string, etc., placed in orchard trees or open woods at any height. Four or five creamy white eggs, specked and spotted with reddish brown (.95 × .70).

Range.—Breeds from the Gulf to southern Canada.

GRAY KINGBIRD 445. Tyrannus dominicensis. 9 inches

Differs from the common Kingbird in being larger and gray above; has black ear coverts, and no white tip to tail.

Like the last species, these are very noisy and pugnacious, and rule their domains with the hand of a tyrant. After they have mated they quarrel very little among themselves, and often several may use the same lookout twig from which to dash after passing flies or moths.

Note.—A rapidly repeated, shrill shriek: “pe-che-ri,” “pe-che-ri.”

Nest.—Rather more shabbily built but of the same materials as those used by our common Kingbird. Placed in all kinds of trees, but more often in mangroves, where they are commonly found. Three to five pinkish-white eggs, profusely blotched with brown (1.00 × .72).

Range.—West Indies and Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Winters in the West Indies and Central America.

ARKANSAS KINGBIRD 447. Tyrannus verticalis. 9 inches

These tyrant flycatchers are abundant west of the Mississippi, where they are often, and perhaps more aptly, known as the Western Kingbirds. If possible, they are even more noisy and pugnacious than the eastern species. They have a great variety of notes, all rather unpleasant to the ear. Their food, like that of the other Kingbirds, consists of moths, butterflies, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, etc., etc., most of which they catch on the wing.

Note.—A shrill, metallic squeak; a low twittering and a harsh, discordant scream, all impossible to print.

Nest.—Quite large and clumsily made of paper, rags, twigs, rootlets, and grasses, placed in all sorts of locations, frequently in eave troughs or above windows. The eggs are creamy white, spotted with brown (.95 × .65).

Range.—Western United States, breeding from Texas to Manitoba and west to the Pacific; winters south of U. S.

DERBY FLYCATCHER 449. Pitangus sulphuratus derbianus. 10½ inches

This imposing flycatcher is the largest of the family that is found in North America. As usual with members of the family it is of a quarrelsome disposition, but hardly so much so as either the common or Arkansas Kingbirds. Their large, heavy bodies render them considerably less active than the smaller members of the family. On account of the size of the head and bill, they are often known as Bull-headed Flycatchers.

Note.—Very varied, but similar in character to those of the eastern Kingbird.

Nest.—It is said to build its nest at low elevations in trees or in thorny bushes—a large structure of twigs and rubbish with an entrance on the side. The three to five eggs have a cream-colored ground and are prominently specked about the large end with brown (1.15 × .82).

Range.—A Mexican species that is fairly common in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

CRESTED FLYCATCHER 452. Myiarchus crinitus. 9 inches

These large flycatchers are very noisy in the mating season, but their notes are rather more musical than those of the Kingbirds. They appear to be of a quarrelsome disposition, for rarely will more than one pair be found in a single piece of woods. They also frequently chase smaller birds, but never attack larger ones, as do the Kingbirds. They have a queer habit of placing a piece of snakeskin in the hole in which their nest is located, for what purpose, unless to scare away intruders, is not known, but it seems to be a universal practice.

Note.—A clear whistle, “wit-whit,” “wit-whit,” repeated several times. This is the most common call; they have many others less musical.

Nest.—Of straw, etc., in holes of dead limbs. Eggs four to six in number; buffy white, streaked and blotched with brown.

Range.—Eastern N. A. from the Plains to the Atlantic, breeding north to southern Canada.

PHŒBE 456. Sayornis phœbe. 7 inches

A Phœbe is always associated, in my mind, with old bridges and bubbling brooks. Nearly every bridge which is at all adapted for the purpose has its Phœbe home beneath it, to which the same pair of birds will return year after year, sometimes building a new nest, sometimes repairing the old. They seem to be of a nervous temperament, for, as they sit upon their usual lookout perch, their tails are continually twitching as though in anticipation of the insects that are sure to pass sooner or later.

Note.—A jerky, emphatic “phœ-be,” with the accent on the second syllable, and still further accented by a vigorous flirt of the tail.

Nest.—Of mud, grasses, and moss, plastered to the sides of beams or logs under bridges, culverts, or barns. In May or June four or five white eggs are laid (.75 × .55).

Range.—N. A. east of the Rockies, north to southern Canada; winters in southern U. S. and southward.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER 459. Nuttallornis borealis. 7½ inches

These birds can scarcely be called common any where, but single pairs of them may be found, in their breeding range, in suitable pieces of woodland. I have always found them in dead pine swamps, where the trees were covered with hanging moss, making it very difficult to locate their small nests. Their peculiar, loud, clear whistle can be heard for a long distance and serves as a guide-board to their location.

Note.—A loud, clear whistle, “whip-wheeu,” the first syllable short and sharp, the last long and drawn out into a plaintive ending.

Nest.—A small structure for the size of the bird, made of twigs and mosses firmly anchored to horizontal limbs or forks. Three to five eggs are laid; a rich creamy ground, spotted about the large end with brown and lavender (.85 × .65).

Range.—N. A., breeding from the latitude of Massachusetts, and farther south in mountainous regions, north to Labrador and Alaska.

WOOD PEWEE 461. Myiochanes virens. 6½ inches

In life, the Pewee can best be distinguished from the larger Phœbe, with which it is often confounded, by its sad, plaintive “pe-ah-wee,” “pee-wee” which is strikingly different from the brusque call of the Phœbe. Pewees are also found more in high, dry woods where they build their little moss-covered homes on horizontal boughs at quite a height from the ground. Like the other flycatchers they always perch on dead twigs, where their view is as little obstructed as possible.

Note.—A clear, plaintive whistle, “pe-ah-whee,” “pee-wee.”

Nest.—One of the most exquisite of bird creations, composed of plant fibres quilted together and ornamented with rock lichens; situated at varying heights on horizontal limbs, preferably oak or chestnut, and sometimes in apple trees in orchards. Eggs creamy white, specked with brown (.80 × .55).

Range.—U. S. from the Plains to the Atlantic and north to Manitoba and New Brunswick; winters in Central America.

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER 463. Empidonax flaviventris. 5½ inches