Part 8

Song.—Somewhat like that of the Maryland Yellow-throat; call, a sharp, metallic “peenk.”

Nest.—In thickets or clumps of briars, either on the ground or just above it; made of strips of bark and skeletons of leaves lined with hair; eggs whitish sparingly specked at the large end with brown (.75 × .56).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding north of the U. S.; winters in northern South America.

MOURNING WARBLER 679. Oporornis Philadelphia. 5½ inches

Similar to the last, but with no eye ring and with a black patch on the breast.

These birds are found in swamps and thickets, as well as among the bushes and weeds along walls, fences and the edges of woods. Their habits are like those of the Maryland Yellow-throats, they being found on or near the ground, scratching about among the leaves or gleaning insects from the foliage of the low shrubbery. They appear to be the most abundant in the middle states and northward.

Song.—Similar to the liquid song of the Water-Thrush; call, a sharp “peenk,” like that of the last.

Nest.—On or near the ground in thickets or tangled vines; made of fine bark strips and fibres, lined with hair; eggs white specked with reddish brown (.71 × .54).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from northern New England, Ohio and Michigan north to southern Canada; winters south of the U. S.

MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT 681. Geothlypis trichas. 5¼ inches

One of our most common birds in swamps and also in shrubbery along roadsides or walls. They are very inquisitive, and their bright eyes will peek at you from behind some leaf or shrub as long as you are in sight.

Song.—A lively “witchity-witchity-witch”; call, a deep chip; also a rattling note of alarm.

Nest.—Of grapevine and grasses, located in clumps of weeds on or nearly touching the ground; eggs white with brown specks (.70 × .50).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from the Gulf to New Jersey.

Sub-Species.—681a. Western Yellow-throat (occidentalis), said to be brighter; found chiefly west of the Rockies, but east to the Plains. 681b. Florida Yellow-throat (ignota), South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 68ld. Northern Yellow-throat (brachidactyla), slightly larger and deeper colored; found in northeastern U. S. and southeastern Canada, west to Dakota and south through the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT 683. Icteria virens. 7½ inches

Breast yellow, lores black, line over the eye and underparts white; no white on wings or tail.

Dry side hills and ravines covered with thick underbrush are the places to look for Chats. Usually if they are present they will make themselves heard long before you see them. They are one of the most odd birds both in action and song. They are mimics of the highest order and can make any kind of whistle or squawk, but all their vocal efforts seem to require a great deal of flirting of the tail and twisting of the head. They even jerk their tail up and down while flying, this making them appear extremely ludicrous.

Song.—A varied medley of whistles and calls.

Nest.—Near the ground in tangled thickets; of grass, weeds, etc.; eggs whitish plentifully specked with reddish brown (.90 × .70).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding north to Massachusetts and southern Minnesota; winters in Central America. 683a. Long-tailed Chat (longicauda) is found in the U. S. from the Plains to the Pacific.

HOODED WARBLER 684. Wilsonia citrina. 5½ inches

Male with yellow forehead and cheeks, the rest of the head and throat being black; female much duller with little or no black; both sexes have white spots on the outer tail feathers, but no bars on the wings.

This is one of the liveliest of the family, being very active in catching insects on the wing like a true Flycatcher; because of this habit all the members of this genus are often called Fly-catching Warblers. They also have a habit of often spreading and folding the tail as they flit through the underbrush that they frequent.

Song.—A clear, liquid series of whistles; call, a sharp “chip.”

Nest.—Within a few inches of the ground in low underbrush or vines; made of leaves, bark, etc., held firmly together with cobwebs; the four or five eggs are white, profusely spotted with reddish brown.

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf to southern Connecticut and Michigan; winters south of the U. S.

WILSON WARBLER 685. Wilsonia pusilla. 5 inches

Male, with black crown patch; female, with the crown greenish like the back.

These little fly-catching Warblers are abundant in the United States during migrations, being found in woods or swamps, and very often in apple trees when they are in bloom. They fly about among the outer branches snatching insects from the foliage or blossoms, and often dashing out to catch one that is flying by. Their natural quickness is intensified by their very attractive plumage which harmonizes perfectly with green leaves.

Song.—A simple and rather weak trill.

Nest.—Of leaves and bark, imbedded in the ground under bushes on the edges of swamps or woods; eggs white, specked with reddish brown (.60 × 48).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from the northern edge of the U. S. northward; winters in Central America. Two subspecies are found west of the Rockies.

CANADIAN WARBLER 686. Wilsonia canadensis. 5½ inches

Male, with a necklace of black spots, white eye ring and lores; female, and young, with only a slight indication of the necklace.

These Warblers travel northward in company with many other kinds, always keeping in the underbrush near the ground, except when they come out into orchards and parks. Like the two last, they are very lively, rarely remaining still for more than a few seconds, before they must dash after some tempting morsel that is flying by.

Song.—A loud liquid warble, most nearly resembling that of the Water-Thrush; call, a sharp, querulous chip.

Nest.—Of rootlets and strips of bark, under roots of trees or shrubs or at the foot of stumps in the moss; the four eggs are white with a wreath of chestnut spots around the large end (.68 × .50).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from Massachusetts and Michigan northward; winters in northern South America.

AMERICAN REDSTART 687. Setophaga ruticilla. 5½ inches

Male, black, orange and white; female, grayish, yellow and white; it requires two or three years to attain the black plumage of the male, in the intermediate stages they are sometimes strangely mottled.

In the northeastern half of the United States, these are one of the commonest and most active of the species. Both the males and females seem to be proud of their handsome plumage and are continually spreading and closing their tails. They are equally happy whether in the tree tops or near the ground, and are as often found in the one place as the other.

Song.—“Che-wee, che-wee, che-wee,” very similar to that of the Yellow Warbler and also the Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Nest.—Of plant fibres and grasses in forks of bushes or trees, usually at greater heights than those of the Yellow Warbler; eggs whitish specked with brown.

Range.—N. A., rare west of the Rockies, breeding from North Carolina and Missouri northward; winters south of the U. S.

AMERICAN PIPIT; TITLARK 697. Anthus rubescens. 6½ inches

These are Arctic birds that spend the winter months in the United States. We find them in flocks along roadsides or in fields, feeding upon weed seeds. They are shy and take wing readily, uttering sharp whistles as they wheel about in the air. They are always restless and stay in a place but a short time. They nest on the ground in northern Canada. Eggs grayish, profusely specked with brown.

SPRAGUE PIPIT 700. Anthus spraguei. 6¼ inches

Upper parts streaked with buff and blackish; below pale buffy with black markings. These birds are found on the Plains from the Dakotas to Hudson Bay in summer, migrating to Mexico in winter. They resemble the European Skylark in their habit of soaring to a great height while singing. Their song is very melodious, resembling that of the Bobolink. Their nests are depressions in the ground, lined with grasses. Eggs grayish, finely specked with purplish gray (.87 × .67).

SAGE THRASHER 702. Oreoscoptes montanus. 8¾ inches

This species is often known as the Mountain Mockingbird because of the brilliance of its song, a very varied performance, long continued and mocking that of many other species. They inhabit sage-brush regions and are partial to the lower portions of the country, although frequently met in open mountains. They are not shy and can readily be located by their voices.

Nest.—In bushes, especially the sage and cactus; a loose structure made of bark strips, small twigs and coarse grasses, lined with fine rootlets. The three or four eggs have a rich greenish-blue ground, spotted with bright reddish brown (.95 × .70).

Range.—Sage-brush regions of western United States from the Plains to the Pacific; winters in Mexico and Lower California.

MOCKINGBIRD 703. Mimus polyglottos. 10½ inches

General colors, gray and white; bases of primaries and outer tail feathers with white.

This is the great vocalist of the south, and by many is considered to be the most versatile singer in America. It is found in gardens, pastures and open woods. All its habits are similar to our Catbird, and like that species, it is given to imitating the notes of other birds.

Song.—An indescribable medley, sometimes very sweet and pleasing, at others, harsh and unmusical.

Nest.—Usually built in impenetrable thickets or hedges, or again in more open situation in the garden; made of twigs and rootlets, lined with black rootlets; the four or five eggs are bluish green with blotches of reddish brown (95 × .70).

Range.—Southern U. S., breeding north to New Jersey (and casually farther) and Ohio; winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf states. 703a. Western Mockingbird (leucopterus) is found in southwestern U. S., north to Indian Territory and California.

CATBIRD 704. Dumetella carolinensis. 9 inches

General color dark gray with a black cap and chestnut under tail coverts.

This is one of the most common birds throughout the United States, being found equally abundantly in gardens, swamps and scrubby pastures. They are very persistent songsters and have a large repertoire of notes, as well as being able to imitate those of many other birds. They delight in spending an hour or more at a time, perched in a bush or tree top, singing, and apparently making their song up as they go along, for it is an indescribable medley interspersed with various mews and cat calls.

Song.—A medley like that of the Mockingbird; sometimes pleasing, sometimes not.

Nest.—In hedges or thickets; made of twigs, rootlets and grass, lined with fine black roots; the four eggs are plain greenish blue (.95 × .70).

Range.—N. A., breeding from the Gulf to New Brunswick and Hudson Bay; rare west of the Rockies; winters from the Gulf States southward.

BROWN THRASHER 705. Toxostoma rufum. 11½ inches

Above bright reddish brown; below white with black spots.

Taken as a whole I think that the song of this Thrasher is the most musical and pleasing of any that I have ever heard. It has a similarity to that of the Catbird, but is rounder, fuller and has none of the grating qualities of the song of that species. They apparently have a song of their own and do not deign to copy that of others. They are one of the most useful and desirable birds that we have.

Song.—A bright and cheerful carol, often long continued, but always clear and sweet; call, a clear whistled “wheuu.”

Nest.—Of twigs and rootlets, in hedges, thickets or thorn bushes; the four or five eggs are bluish white with numerous fine dots or reddish brown over the entire surface (1.08 × .80).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from the Gulf to southern Canada; winters in the southern half of the U. S.

CACTUS WREN 713. Heleodytes brunneicapillus. 8½ inches

Cactus groves are the favorite resorts of these large Wrens. Often a bed of cactus not more than thirty feet square will contain the homes of half a dozen pairs of them. Like all the members of the family, they are very sprightly and have violent tempers, scolding any one or anything that incurs their displeasure.

Nest.—Their nests are placed in cactus or other thorny shrubs; they are very large, purse-shaped affairs with an entrance on the side; they are made of little thorny twigs and grasses woven together, and the interior is warmly lined with feathers. The four or five eggs are creamy white, finely sprinkled with reddish brown (.95 × .65). Two or three broods are often raised in a season.

Range.—Southwestern border of the United States, ranging from southern Texas to California.

ROCK WREN 715. Salpinctes obsoletus. 5¾ inches

Upper parts stone color, specked with black; rump brownish; underparts whitish with indistinct streaks on the throat.

A common bird on the dry, rocky foothills of the Rockies and westward. They are well named, for their favorite places are among the rocks, where they are always busily engaged in hunting insects or spiders in the crevices. Owing to their colors and their habits of slinking away behind the rocks they are quite difficult to see, but their sweet song is always heard if any of the birds are in the vicinity.

Song.—Very sweet and varied, almost canary-like, but impossible to describe; call, a harsh grating note.

Nest.—Of sticks, weeds, grasses, etc., concealed in crevices among the rocks; the five or six eggs are white, sparingly specked with reddish brown (.72 × .54).

Range.—Western U. S. from the western border of the Plains to the Pacific, north to Dakota and British Columbia; winters from southwestern U. S. southward.

CAROLINA WREN 718. Thryothorus ludovicianus. 5½ inches

Above rusty brown and below washed with the same, the throat and line over the eye being white.

Like all the Wrens, this one commonly sits or flits about in the brush, with the tail erect over the body; only when singing it is held downward. Their flight is usually only for a short distance, accomplished by rapid wing beats and with a jerking motion of the tail.

Song.—Loud and tinkling, and utterly impossible to describe.

Nest.—In brush heaps, holes in trees, bird boxes or bushes; made of weeds, grass and any trash that they may pick up; eggs, five to seven in number, white, specked with reddish brown (.74 × .60).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf north to Connecticut and Illinois; resident. 718a. Florida Wren (miamensis) is found in southern Florida. 718b. Lomita Wren (lomitensis), found in southern Texas.

BEWICK WREN 719. Thryomanes bewickii. 5 inches

Above dark brown; below and line over eye whitish; tail blackish with the outer feathers barred with white.

Like all the Wrens, these seem to be very restless and are continually creeping about in brush heaps or along stone walls, fences or over fallen trees or stumps. They are locally abundant in interior United States, in some sections entirely replacing the House Wren.

Song.—A sweet chant of liquid melodious notes.

Nest.—In any location that happens to take the bird’s fancy, such as holes in trees, bird boxes, in barns, sheds, etc.; made of straw, grass and trash; eggs white profusely specked with reddish brown.

Range.—Mississippi Valley and the Plains north to South Dakota; east to the Alleghanies and casually to the South Atlantic States. 719c. Texas Bewick Wren (crythus) is found from Texas north to Indian Territory.

HOUSE WREN 721. Troglodytes ædon. 4¾ inches

Above brownish with tail and wings barred; below dull grayish, barred on the flanks with brown.

These are bold, sociable and confiding birds, seeming to prefer men’s society, building their nests in bird boxes that are erected for them, or in the most unexpected situations about buildings. They are one of the most beneficial birds that can be attracted to one’s yard, feeding wholly upon insects.

Song.—Loud, clear and bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Nest.—Of grass or weeds, stuffed into any crevice that takes their fancy, frequently in bird boxes and holes in orchard trees; eggs white, so minutely and thickly dotted with pinkish brown as to nearly conceal the ground color (.64 × .52).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding north to Maine and Manitoba; winters along the Gulf coast. 721b. Western House Wren (aztecus) is found from the Plains to the Pacific Coast ranges.

WINTER WREN 722. Nannus hiemalis. 4 inches

Above bright cinnamon, below paler; sides, wings and tail heavily barred with black.

This is the shortest and most stoutly built Wren that we have. They look very pert with their little stubby tail erect over their back. In most of the United States we only see them in the winter, and they are associated, in my mind, with brush heaps in woods and gardens. They will hide in a small pile of brush, running from side to side, so that it is almost impossible to make them leave it.

Song.—A rippling flow of melody, not as loud, but more musical than that of the House Wren.

Nest.—In brush heaps, tin cans, hollow stumps or crevices in unoccupied buildings; made of piles of grass, weeds, etc., lined with feathers; eggs white, sparingly specked with reddish brown (.65 × .50).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from the northern edge of the U. S. northward; winters from its breeding range to the Gulf.

SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN 724. Cistothorus stellaris. 5¼ inches

This species can readily be distinguished from the next, as the whole crown is streaked with black and white, whereas that of the Long-bill is uniformly colored. Both species are marsh birds, at home among the reeds, to which they attach their globular woven nests, with the little entrance in the side. The eggs of this species are pure white. It is found in eastern N. A. from the Gulf to southern Canada.

LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN 725. Telmatodytes palustris. 5¼ inches

The bill of this species is .5 inch or more in length; that of the last is .4 inch or less. This species is by far the most abundant. Its eggs are so profusely dotted with dark brown as to appear a chocolate color. Breeds from the Gulf to Massachusetts and Manitoba.

BROWN CREEPER 726. Certhia familiaris americana. 5½ inches

Tail feathers stiffened and pointed; rump rusty.

These odd birds are fairly common throughout the United States in winter. They will be found in woods always climbing up tree trunks, carefully investigating every crevice in the bark for larvæ or grubs. When they reach the top of one tree, they drop to the foot of the next and continue the operation. They are very tame, not seeming to comprehend that danger can befall them, for they will allow any one to approach very closely, so that they have been caught under a hat.

Song.—A very faint trill; call, a weak “tseep,” hardly noticeable unless very near them.

Nest.—Of twigs, moss and bark, behind loose bark on dead trees or stumps, usually not high above the ground; eggs white, specked with reddish brown.

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from northern New England and Minnesota northward; winters throughout the U. S.

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 727. Sitta carolinensis. 6 inches

Male with the crown bluish black; female with the crown gray; both sexes with chestnut under tail coverts.

These birds seem to be the very opposite of the Brown Creepers. Their tails are short and square, and nearly always pointed toward the zenith, for Nuthatches usually clamber among the branches and down the tree trunks, head first.

Note.—A nasal “yank-yank,” and a repeated “ya-ya,” all on the same tone.

Nest.—In cavities of hollow limbs and trunks of trees at any elevation from the ground; the cavity is filled with leaves and usually lined with feathers; eggs white, spotted with reddish brown (.75 × .55).

Range.—Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to southern Canada; resident in most of its range. 727b. Florida White-breasted Nuthatch (atkinsi) is slightly smaller; other races are found west of the Rockies.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 728. Sitta canadensis. 4½ inches

These birds have the same habits as the larger Nuthatch, but are often found in flocks, while the White-breasted are usually in pairs and in the fall accompanied by their young. In the winter we usually find them in coniferous trees, where we can locate them by their nasal calls or by the shower of bark that they pry from the tree in their quest for grubs.

Song.—A nasal “yank-yank,” like that of the last, but not so loud, and usually repeated more times.

Nest.—In hollow stumps and limbs, the area about the opening nearly always being coated with fir balsam, for what purpose is not known; the cavity is lined with grasses and feathers; they lay from four to seven white eggs, which are very thickly spotted with reddish brown (.60 × .50).

Range.—N. A., breeding from the northern parts of the northern tier of states, northward; winters south nearly to the Gulf and southern California.

BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH 729. Sitta pusilla. 4¼ inches

Crown brownish with a white patch on the nape.

These diminutive Nuthatches are found in the southern states. Their general habits do not appear to differ from those of other members of the family. They nest very early, commencing to excavate their holes in January and having complete sets of eggs as early as the middle of February.

They usually are found in small flocks and at night they will often be seen flying to the top of a pine where they sleep, all huddled together.

Note.—A continued twittering “nya-nya.”

Nest.—In cavities of dead limbs or stumps, sometimes only a few inches from the ground, and again as high as fifty feet; they lay five or six eggs, white with numerous spots of reddish brown (.62 × .49).

Range.—South Atlantic and Gulf states, breeding north to Virginia.

TUFTED TITMOUSE 731. Bæolophus bicolor. 6 inches

Head crested, forehead black, flanks brownish. The habits of this large Titmouse are almost identical with those of Chickadees. They swing from the ends of twigs in all manner of positions and creep about trunks, peering in crevices of the bark for insects. They are common in the southern states, breeding from the Gulf to New York and Illinois; they are resident in the southern portion of their range. Their eggs are laid in soft nests of down and feathers in hollow stumps. Their notes are loud, clear whistles.

BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE 732. Bæolophus atricristatus. 6 inches

Crest black, forehead white, flanks rusty. The habits of this species are just like those of the very similar preceding one. The birds are very tame, especially so during the nesting season, when they will allow themselves to be lifted from the nest by hand. They are found in southern and western Texas.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE 735. Penthestes atricapillus. 5¼ inches