Part 6

This species is often known as the White-winged Blackbird, not because it bears any resemblance to any of the Blackbirds, nor because any of the habits are the same, but simply because of its plumage. They are very gregarious and usually fly in flocks even in nesting time.

They seem to be very methodical and well trained; if one of a flock takes wing, the entire flock rises simultaneously and in a very compact body they fly until some leader chooses the next stopping place, when they as suddenly alight. They have the habit of Skylarks in mounting into the air while singing and then descending on set wings.

Song.—A very lively, sweetly modulated warble.

Nest.—On the ground, usually under a tuft of grass or small bush; four or five eggs of a bluish color (.85 × .65), brighter than those of the Dickcissel.

Range.—Western U. S., most abundant from Kansas to Colorado and north to Assiniboia.

SCARLET TANAGER 608. Piranga erythromelas. 7½ inches

Male, scarlet and black; female, greenish yellow and blackish.

These beautiful birds are found in open woods, but they often come out in fields, parks, orchards and sometimes in yards when feeding; one of the prettiest sights that I ever saw was of about a dozen of these birds tripping along the furrows of a ploughed field, where they were feeding on insects. Besides berries and seeds, they live upon quantities of insects, frequently catching them on the wing in true Flycatcher style.

Song.—Resembling that of the Robin, but harsher, less varied and higher pitched. Call, a sharp chip or “chip-churr.”

Nest.—Loosely made of twigs and rootlets, on lower branches of trees; eggs four, pale bluish green, spotted with brown (.95 × .65).

Range.—Breeds in the northern parts of the U. S. from the Atlantic to the Plains; winters in the tropics, whence it arrives about May 15.

SUMMER TANAGER 610. Piranga rubra. 7½ inches

Male, rosy red; female, greenish yellow.

These Tanagers have a more southerly distribution than the Scarlet variety, but are found in the same kind of territory. In its localities it is rather more abundant and less retiring than is the latter bird in the north, and more often dwells in public parks. This bird is often called the Redbird and in localities where both the Scarlet Tanager and this species are found, they are frequently known by the same name, as their habits and notes are similar.

Song.—Similar to that of the Scarlet Tanager but said to be sweeter and clearer, and to more nearly resemble that of the Robin.

Nest.—On the outer horizontal limbs of trees in open woods or groves; nest of twigs and rootlets; eggs bluish green, spotted with brown (.95 × .65).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to New Jersey and Kansas; winters in Central America. A subspecies is found west of the Rockies.

PURPLE MARTIN 611. Progne subis. 7¾ inches

Male, blue black; female, dull black and grayish.

These large, jolly Swallows are commonly seen about cities and towns within their range. Originally they dwelt in hollow trees, and some do yet, but the majority have recognized the superiority of man’s dwelling and now live in houses built especially for them or in cornices of houses or barns. It is no uncommon sight to see a handsome gabled structure of many rooms, perched upon a twelve-foot pole, on the lawns of many wealthy residents; others less bountifully supplied with this world’s goods use plain soap boxes for the same purpose, and the Martins seem to like the one as well as the other.

Song.—A strong, varied grating warble or twitter, more forcible than melodious.

Nest.—Of straw, paper, rags, etc., in bird houses, gables or hollow trees; eggs dull white (.98 × .72).

Range.—N. A., breeding from the Gulf to New Brunswick and Saskatchewan; winters in northern South America.

CLIFF SWALLOW 612. Petrochelidon lunifrons. 5½ inches

Adults similar in plumage but the female slightly paler. Easily distinguished from the Barn Swallow by the square tail and light buffy forehead and rump.

This is what is commonly called the Eave Swallow in the East, because of its habit of plastering its nests on the outside of barns or other buildings, up under the eaves. In the West they usually resort to cliffs where, sometimes, large sections of the face will be completely covered with the little mud flasks; often colonies of several thousand will build their nests together.

Song.—A continuous twitter, uttered while on the wing or at rest.

Nest.—A flask or gourd-shaped structure of mud, lined with straw and feathers, attached under the eaves to the outside of buildings or on the faces of cliffs; five to seven eggs are laid; white dotted and spotted with reddish brown (.80 × .55).

Range.—N. A., breeding from the Gulf to Greenland and Alaska; winters in the Tropics.

BARN SWALLOW 613. Hirundo erythrogastra. 7½ inches

Female duller plumaged and with a less deeply forked tail than the male. Forehead and throat chestnut and entire under parts buffy; tail deeply forked and with a white spot on the inner web of each feather except the central pair.

This is the most graceful and beautiful of all our swallows, and is the most common about farmhouses, the inside beams and rafters of which they appropriate for their own use. They delight in skimming over the rolling meadows or the surface of ponds, now rising with the wind, now swooping downward with the speed of an arrow.

Song.—A continuous, rapid twitter.

Nest.—A bowl-shaped structure made up of pellets of mud cemented together with the birds’ saliva, and lined with feathers; attached to rafters in barns, the opening being at the top and not at the side as in the last; eggs exactly like those of the last.

Range.—N. A., breeding north to the limit of trees; winters in northern South America.

TREE SWALLOW 614. Iridoprocne bicolor. 6 inches

Male, steely blue or greenish above; female, duller and often plain gray above, but both sexes always entirely white below.

These Swallows are also abundant about farmyards; except when they are skimming over ponds, they are almost always scouring the air above buildings or fields, at higher elevations than the Barn Swallows. When weary they roost on dead twigs or telephone wires, hundreds often being seen in rows on the latter. Like the Martins, these birds frequently nest in bird boxes, but usually not more than one or two pairs in a single house.

Notes.—A twittering like that of the other Swallows.

Nest.—Of grass, lined with feathers, in hollow trees on the border of water or in orchards, or in bird boxes erected for their use; eggs white (.75 × .52).

Range.—Breeds in the northern half of the U. S. and northward to Labrador and Alaska; winters in southern U. S. and southward.

BANK SWALLOW 616. Riparia riparia. 5¼ inches

These are the smallest of our Swallows; this species can be distinguished, even at a distance, by the conspicuous band across the breast, showing in bold relief against the lighter throat. They are found throughout North America, breeding from the middle of the U. S. north to the Arctic regions.

They nest in colonies in holes in banks, laying the four to seven white eggs on a grass nest in an enlarged chamber at the end of the tunnel.

ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW 617. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. 5½ inches

In this species the throat is gray as well as the breast. The outer vane of the outer primary is stiff and bristly, thus giving the species its name. These birds breed from the Gulf north to Massachusetts and Washington, in banks or in crevices of stone bridges. The eggs cannot with certainty be distinguished from those of the Bank Swallow. They measure .75 × .52.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING 618. Bombycilla garrula. 8 inches

Larger and grayer than our common Cedar Waxwing and with yellow and white on the wing; it is a northern species and is only casually found in eastern U. S. They nest within the Arctic Circle and only a few of their nests have ever been found. In winter they are found in flocks, roving restlessly about the country, often appearing where least expected and utterly deserting other places where they are usually found.

Nest.—Of small twigs and moss, lined with feathers, usually placed at low elevations in spruce or coniferous trees; eggs dull bluish white specked sparingly with black (1.00 × .70), similar to those of the Cedar Waxwing but larger.

Range.—Northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere, breeding within the Arctic Circle and wintering casually south to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kansas and California.

CEDAR WAXWING 619. Bombycilla cedrorum. 7 inches

Plumage very soft colored with a general brownish tone, shading to gray on the rump. The Waxwings are named from the curious wax-like appendages attached to the tips of the secondaries, and rarely to the tail feathers. They are very sociable and usually feed in flocks. They live chiefly upon fruit and are especially fond of cherries, for which reason they are very often known as Cherry-birds. They are very tame and allow any one to almost touch them while they are feeding or sitting upon their nests.

Note.—An insignificant lisping hiss.

Nest.—A substantial structure of twigs, mosses, twine, etc., lined with fine grasses; placed in cedar trees or, when near habitations, usually in orchard trees; the four or five eggs are dull bluish white specked with black (.85 × .60).

Range.—N. A., breeding from Virginia, Missouri and northern California north to Labrador and southern Alaska; winters throughout the United States.

NORTHERN SHRIKE 621. Lanius borealis. 10 inches

This shrike is larger than any of the species found in summer in the United States and has the breast quite distinctly barred.

Shrikes are cruel, rapacious and carnivorous birds, feeding upon insects, grasshoppers, lizards and small birds. As they have passerine feet, the same as all our small birds, they are unable to hold their prey between the feet while tearing it to pieces, so they impale it upon thorns or the barbs of a wire fence so they may tear it to shreds with their hooked bill.

Song.—Loud snatches consisting of various whistles and imitations suggesting that of a Catbird.

Nest.—They breed chiefly north of the U. S., placing their rude, bulky structures of twigs and weeds in thorny trees or hedges; their four to six eggs are grayish white with spots of light brown and darker gray (1.08 × .80).

Range.—N. A., breeding chiefly in the northern parts of Canada; winters south to Pennsylvania, Kansas and California.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 622. Lanius ludovicianus. 9 inches

Pure white below and with the markings above, intense black instead of the brownish or grayish black of the last species. Although smaller, these Shrikes have the same destructive habits of the northern species. All the Shrikes do considerable good to mankind, for they eat quantities of grasshoppers and mice, and probably resort to their diet of small birds when other food is unusually scarce. It cannot be denied that they are cruel, for they often kill more than they can eat and leave it impaled on thorns to decay.

Song.—Of harsh, discordant whistles.

Nest.—In scrubby hedges and thickets; of twigs, weeds, leaves, etc.; eggs four to seven in number, grayish white, spotted with shades of brown and gray.

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf to southern New England and Manitoba; winters in southern states.

Sub-Species.—622a. White-rumped Shrike (excubitorides), paler and with a white rump; found from the Plains to the Pacific in the U. S.

RED-EYED VIREO 624. Vireosylva olivacea. 6 inches

Crown slaty gray with a black border; white stripe above eye; eye reddish brown.

Throughout the United States this is one of the most abundant of the family. All through the spring and summer months their warble is heard from woodland and roadside, often becoming so monotonous as to be irritating. Oftentimes during the spring migrations of Warblers, Vireos are so numerous and singing so lustily that it is impossible to hear or distinguish the songs of any of the smaller birds.

Song.—Delivered in parts with intermission of a few seconds between, from morning until night; a short varied warble; call, a petulant mew.

Nest.—A basket woven of strips of bark and fibres, and often with pieces of newspaper worked in, lined with fine grass; eggs white with a few blackish-brown specks on the large end (.85 × .55).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to Labrador and Manitoba; winters in Central America.

PHILADELPHIA VIREO 626. Vireosylva philadelphica. 5 inches

This is one of the least common of the eastern Vireos, although it is more common than most people know; its song is not distinctive and it keeps high up in trees, so it is not usually noticed. Their nests are swung from branches at high altitudes and are seldom found.

WARBLING VIREO 627. Vireosylva gilva. 5 inches

Above olive-green; crown grayer but with no black border. These are among the most common of the Vireos and may be found even in the hearts of large cities, swinging their pretty little nests high up in shade trees. Their song is after the style of that of the Purple Finch, very different from that of the Red-eye. The eggs are white with a few brown specks on the large end. These birds breed throughout the U. S. and southern Canada.

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO 628. Lanivireo flavifrons. 5¾ inches

Upper parts greenish; throat, breast and line over eye yellow; two prominent whitish wing bars.

A handsome Vireo found in localities such as are frequented by the Red-eyed species. Nowhere do they appear to be as abundant as that species, however; they are more abundant than many suppose, but the difficulty of clearly seeing the yellow breast when they are feeding in the tree tops, combined with the similarity of their songs, usually caused them to be passed by without inspection.

Song.—Similar to that of the Red-eye, but louder and more nasal, less varied and not uttered as often.

Nest.—A pensile structure of strips of bark, grasses, etc., with the outside often ornamented with lichens; three to five eggs with a creamy or rosy-white tint, specked, more profusely than those of the Red-eye, with reddish brown (.82 × .60).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf to southern Canada; winters in Central America.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO 629. Lanivere solitarius. 5¾ inches

Crown and sides of head bluish slate; lores, eye-ring and underparts white; back and flanks greenish yellow; two whitish wing bars.

This species, to my eye, is the prettiest of the Vireos, all the colors being in just the right proportion and blending and harmonizing perfectly. They are solitary, in that they are usually found in deep woods, glens or ravines, and seldom is more than one pair found in a single woods.

Song.—Similar to that of the Yellow-throated Vireo but longer and more varied.

Nest.—A handsome, finely woven basket, with the outside covered with spider webs and often with lichens; eggs pale creamy white with chestnut specks.

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from the Gulf to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters south of the United States.

Sub-Species.—629c. Mountain Solitary Vireo (alticola), head darker and back less greenish; Alleghanies from North Carolina to Georgia.

BLACK-CAPPED VIREO 630. Vireo atricapillus. 4½ inches

Male, with crown and sides of head glossy black, lores and eye-ring white; female, duller colored.

This strange and comparatively rare Vireo frequents brushwood on the prairies of Kansas, Indian Territory and central and western Texas. Their habits in all respects resemble those of the more common Vireos or Greenlets as they are otherwise called.

Notes.—Similar to those of the White-eyed Vireo.

Nest.—Suspended as usual from forked branches at low elevations; made of fibres and bark strips closely woven together with spider webs. The four eggs are pure white, unmarked (.70 × .52).

Range.—Breeds from central and western Texas north to southern Kansas; winters in Mexico.

WHITE-EYED VIREO 631. Vireo griseus. 5 inches

This species shows a partiality for low, swampy places, covered with briars or tangled thickets of blackberry vines. Their habits are entirely different from any of the preceding Vireos. They do not seem to sing as they eat, but feed in silence, then, the task ended, mount to the tops of the brush and indulge in an endless variety of calls and whistles.

Song.—A great variety of clear whistles and squeaky notes.

Nest.—A bulky structure of strips of bark, leaves, paper, etc., either placed in the branches or partially suspended in a fork; eggs white with minute brown specks (.75 × .55).

Range.—Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to Massachusetts and Manitoba; winters in Mexico.

Sub-Species.—631a. Key West Vireo (maynardi), southern Florida. 631b. Bermuda White-eyed Vireo (bermudianus), resident in the Bermudas. 631c. Small White-eyed Vireo (micrus); southeastern Texas.

BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER 636. Mniotilta varia. 5¼ inches

Male, heavily streaked with black below; female, with only a few streaks on the sides.

These Warblers are usually known as Black and White Creepers because of their habit of creeping along the limbs and branches of trees. They are abundant in northern United States, being found in open woods, swamps and often in parks, gleaning insects and grubs from crevices in the bark.

Song.—A weak, thin, wiry “tsee, tsee, tsee.”

Nest.—Of grasses and strips of bark on the ground at the foot of a stump or tree trunk or beside a rock; they lay four or five eggs, white with a wreath of reddish brown around the large end (.65 × .55).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from Virginia and Louisiana north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters in northern South America.

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER 637. Protonotaria citrea. 5¼ inches

Whole head and underparts intense yellow, almost orange on the head of the male; tail with white spots near the tip; female, duller.

A common species in the interior, found in bushy swamps and the willows around the borders of pools and lakes; they are found in the latter localities with Tree Swallows and often Chickadees all nesting in holes in hollow stubs along the bank, they being one of the few members of this family to make use of such locations for their nests.

Song.—A loud, ringing “tweet, tweet, tweet.”

Nest.—In hollow stubs near or over water, the cavity of the stump being partially filled with moss, leaves and grasses hollowed on the top to receive the four to six creamy-white eggs which are heavily spotted over the entire surface with reddish brown (.72 × .55).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf north to Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota; winters in Central America.

SWAINSON WARBLER 638. Helinaia swainsonii. 5 inches

Upper parts brownish; underparts whitish; a white superciliary stripe and a brown stripe through the eye.

Some of the habits of this species are similar to those of the last but they are even more aquatic; they like swamps or stagnant pools thickly grown with rushes and tangled underbrush; unless cognizant of their habits, one would never look for a Warbler in the places frequented by these birds in company with Least Bitterns and Marsh Wrens. Until within a few years these were regarded as rare birds but are now found to be not uncommon in certain of the South Atlantic states, notably Georgia.

Song.—A series of descending, loud, clear whistles with a ventriloquial effect.

Nest.—Quite large structures consisting mostly of leaves with strips of bark, roots and pine needles. The four or five eggs are plain white, being the only eggs of American Warblers that are unmarked.

Range.—Southeastern U. S. from Georgia to Louisiana and north to North Carolina and Missouri.

WORM-EATING WARBLER 639. Helmitheros vermivorus. 5½ inches

Crown buffy with two black stripes; back, wings and tail olive green with no white markings; below buffy white.

These birds are very unsuspicious and easy to approach; they spend the greater portion of their time on or near the ground; they are very fond of spiders and find quantities by overturning bits of bark and leaves. They also glean part of their living from the underside of the foliage much as do the Vireos. They are met with in open woods and brush-grown pastures.

Song.—A weak, rapid chipping.

Nest.—On the ground in depressions under logs, stones or bushes; of leaves and grass, lined with fine grass or hair; eggs four or five in number, white, spotted principally around the large end with brownish (.70 × .55).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf north to Connecticut, Ohio and Iowa; winters in Central America.

BACHMAN WARBLER 640. Vermivora bachmani. 4¼ inches

Male, with a yellow forehead, shoulders and underparts; black cap and breast patch; female, duller and with less black.

This species was first discovered by Dr. John Bachman near Charleston, S. C.

Song.—An insignificant warble or twitter, similar to the song of the Parula.

Nest.—In low bushes or briers, one to three feet above ground. Made of fine grasses and leaf skeletons, lined with black fibres. Found breeding by Widmann in Missouri, by Embody in Kentucky and by Wayne in South Carolina. Eggs four in number; pure white (.63 × .48).

Range.—Southeastern U. S., north to North Carolina and west to Missouri. Rare and local in distribution.

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER 641. Vermivora pinus. 4¾ inches

Crown and underparts yellow; a narrow black line through the eyes; two broad whitish wing bars.

A common bird of the southeastern states and north to Connecticut, frequenting open woods, thickets and gardens. They are ground birds, spending most of their time on the ground or in low bushes which they clean of the insects which are destructive.

Song.—A loud, rapid chirrup, similar to that of the Grasshopper Sparrow but loud and distinct.

Nest.—Of leaves and strips of bark, lined with fine grasses; on the ground in clumps of weeds or blackberry vines; eggs white, sparingly spotted around the large end with rufous (65. × .50).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding north to southern Connecticut and Wisconsin; winters in the tropics.

Hybrids.—Lawrence Warbler, which is a hybrid between this species and the next; it has the general plumage of this species with the black ear patches and throat of the Golden-winged Warbler. It is found chiefly in southwestern Connecticut and New York.

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER 642. Vermivora chrysoptera. 5 inches

Crown and two large wing bars yellow; throat and ear patches black; rest of plumage gray and white; female with less black.

The distribution of this beautiful Warbler is about the same as that of the last, with which it seems to have many habits in common. It seems to prefer low ridges and side hills covered with small bushes.

Song.—A buzzing “zwee-ze-ze.”