Part 15

Everywhere they are haunters of streams, usually dashing mountain torrents, over and _under_ which they seem equally at home. Darting into the rushing waters they fly beneath the surface or feed on the bottom with perfect ease, their thick, dense plumage evidently forming a water-proof covering. Their nests are great balls of moss often placed so near some boiling cascade as to receive frequent showers of spray. The opening, however, is at the side, and the eggs and young are well protected by an effective roof.

The Wrens, Thrashers, and Mockingbirds, (Family _Troglodytidæ_) form two well defined subfamilies. The Wrens, (Subfamily _Troglodytinæ_) number about one hundred and fifty species all but a dozen of which are confined to America. The Thrashers and Mockingbirds, (Subfamily _Miminæ_) number some fifty species, all of which are confined to America.

As their dull, neutral colors would lead us to suppose, both Wrens and Thrashers are inhabitants of the lower growth rather than of the tree-tops, and while they may seek an elevated perch whence to deliver their song, their food is secured and their time consequently largely passed near or on the ground.

Few families of birds contain so many noted musicians, nearly every member of this family being a singer of more than usual ability.

The Creepers, (Family _Certhiidæ_) number twelve species, only one of which is found in America. This, however has a wide range and, presenting more or less climatic variation in color, is recognized under several subspecific names. Its habits, nevertheless, are much the same everywhere. It climbs the trees of the mountains of Mexico or of California with the same ceaseless energy it shows in Maine.

The sharply-pointed, stiffened tail-feathers of the Creeper are of evident use to it as it ascends trees and pauses here and there to pick out an insect's egg from the bark. The same type of tail feather is shown by Woodpeckers, an excellent illustration of similar structure accompanying similar habits in birds not at all closely related.

The Nuthatches and Titmice, (Family _Paridæ_), like the Wrens and Thrashers, belong in two well marked Subfamilies; The Nuthatches, (Subfamily _Sittinæ_) number about twenty species, only four of which inhabit America; the Titmice, (Subfamily _Parinæ_) number some seventy-five species, of which thirteen are American.

Nuthatches are tree-creepers, but climbing up or down with equal ease, their tail is not employed as a prop, and consequently shows no special development of pointed or stiffened feathers. Their toes, however, are long, and their nails large and strong, evidently giving them a firm grip on the bark of trees.

The Chickadees are generally resident birds and, as a rule, whatever species we find in a given locality are apt to be there throughout the year. We therefore become better acquainted with some of these lairds than with others which are with us only a short season. This is especially true of our eastern Black-capped Chickadee, which comes familiarly about our homes in winter to partake of the feast of nuts and suet which we spread for him at that season.

Feeding largely on the eggs or larvæ of insects particularly injurious to trees, the Nuthatches and Titmice are of great value to man.

The Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, and Old World Warblers, (Family _Sylviidæ_) number about one hundred and twenty-five species, which are divided among the following well-defined subfamilies: The Kinglets, (Subfamily _Regulinæ_) seven species, three of which are American; the Gnatcatchers, (Subfamily _Polioptilinæ_) some fifteen species, all American; the Old World Warblers, (Subfamily _Sylviinæ_) about one hundred species, all Old World except one which inhabits the Bering Sea coast of Alaska.

The Kinglets are small, olive green birds which may be mistaken for Warblers but, aside from structural differences not evident in the field, they may be known by their smaller size, greater tameness, and habit of nervously flitting their wings at frequent intervals. One of our species, the Ruby-crown, possesses a remarkably loud, clear, and musical song, a surprising performance for so tiny a songster. Kinglets build large nests of moss and feathers and lay as many as ten eggs.

The Gnatcatchers are small, slender, grayish birds which once well seen will not be confused with other species. The Gnatcatchers, like the Kinglets, are architects of more than usual ability, building a nest beautifully covered with lichens. The Thrushes, (Family _Turdidæ_) are variously classified by different ornithologists, but under the ruling of the American Ornithologists' Union they are grouped in the same family with the Bluebird, Solitaires, and Stonechats. This family numbers about three hundred species, of which about one-half are true Thrushes (Subfamily _Turdinæ_). The members of this subfamily are, as a rule, fine singers, many of them being among the best known song birds, and from a musical point of view the group, as a whole, is usually given the first place among birds. If, however, all the fifteen known species of Solitaires sing as well as the four species it has been my privilege to hear, I am assured that no one would dispute their claim to the highest rank which can be awarded singing birds.

In the succeeding pages, the five hundred and fifty odd species and subspecies included in the preceding families of the Order Passeres are grouped according to some obvious color character in order to facilitate their identification in life. A satisfactory arrangement of this kind is out of the question. Lines sharply separating the groups proposed do not exist and some species appear to fit in one section as well as in another. Nevertheless, it is hoped that in most instances, the system will be found to serve the purpose intended. Under its ruling our Perching Birds are grouped as follows:

1. With red markings.

2. With blue markings.

3. With orange or yellow markings.

4. With reddish brown or chestnut markings, chiefly in the form of patches or uniformly colored areas.

5. Brownish, generally streaked birds.

6. Dull, inconspicuously colored birds, without prominent markings.

7. Gray, black, or black and white birds.

While the first object of the bird student is to learn to name birds I would again urge him to acquaint himself with at least the arrangement of the Orders and Families of our birds and their leading structural characters. (see page 2.)

Having identified a bird, its family may always be determined by referring to its number in the systematic list of birds at the end of the book; and the more important characters of its Order and Family will be found in the synopsis of Orders and Families beginning on page 9.

Perching Birds Marked With Red

=607. Louisiana Tanager= (_Piranga ludoviciana_). L. 7.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Yellow; back, wings, and tail black, head more or less red. _Ad._ [Female]. Above olive-green, head rarely red-tinged; below dusky greenish yellow; wings and tail brownish edged with greenish, two yellowish white wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but head and rump greener, underparts yellower. _Notes._ Call, _clit-tuck_; song, resembles that of No. 608.

Range.--Western United States from the Plains to the Pacific; breeds from Arizona to British Columbia; winters in Mexico and Central America.

=608. Scarlet Tanager= (_Piranga erythromelas_). L. 7.4. _Ad._ [Male]. Scarlet; wings and tail black. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green, yellower below, wings and tail blackish brown, no wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but brighter, wing-coverts black. _Ad._ [Male], _Winter_. Like Yng. [Female], but wings and tail black. _Notes._ Call, _chip-churr_; song, a rather forced whistle, suggesting a Robin's song, but less musical, _Look-up_, _way-up_, _look-at-me_, _tree-top_; repeated with pauses.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains: breeds from Virginia and southern Illinois north to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters in Central and South America.

=609. Hepatic Tanager= (_Piranga hepatica_). L. 7.8. Bill large. _Ad._ [Male]. Vermilion, back grayish; tail dull red. _Ad._ [Female]. _No wing-bars_; above _grayish_ olive; crown and tail greener; below dusky yellow. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female]. and variously intermediate between it and ad. [Male]. _Notes._ Call, _clut-tuck_; song, like that of No. 608, but somewhat more robin-like.

Range.--From Guatemala north in spring to New Mexico and Arizona; winters in Mexico and Central America.

=610. Summer Tanager= (_Piranga rubra_). L. 7.5; W. 3.8. _Ad._ [Male]. Rosy red. _Ad._ [Female]. 9. Olive-yellow above, dusky saffron below. _Yng._ [Male]. Variously intermediate between Ad. [Male] and [Female]. _Notes._ Call, _chicky-tucky-tuck_; song, resembles in form that of No. 608 but is more musical and less forced.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains; breeds from Florida and western Texas north to southern New Jersey, southern Illinois, and Kansas; winters in Central and South America.

=610a. Cooper Tanager= (_P. r. cooperi_). Similar to No. 610, but larger; W. 4; bill more swollen, colors paler.

Range.--"Breeds from southwestern Texas to the Colorado Valley, California, and from Arizona and New Mexico to northwestern Mexico; south in winter to western Mexico; casually to Colorado."

=593. Cardinal= (_Cardinalis cardinalis_). L. 9; W. 3.7; T. 4.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Forehead with a well-defined black band; feathers of back (except in worn plumage) tipped with _olive-brown_ or _olive-gray_. _Ad._ [Female]. Above olive-brown; crest, wings and tail dull red edged with olive-brown; throat and region at base of bill gray; breast buffy, sometimes tinged with red; belly whiter. _Notes._ Call, a sharp, insignificant _tsip_; song, a rich, sympathetic whistle, _whe-e-e-you_, _whe-e-e_, _hurry-hurry-hurry_, _quick-quick-quick_, and other notes.

Range.--Eastern United States; resident from northern Florida and eastern Texas north to southern New York and Iowa.

=593a. Arizona Cardinal= (_C. c. superbus_). Largest of our Cardinals, L. 9.5; W. 4; T. 4.9. _Ad._ [Male]. Paler, more rosy, than No. 593; margins to back feathers usually gray; black on forehead usually separated by base of culmen. _Ad._ [Female]. Gray above like No. 593c, but breast richer, much as in No. 593d; gray of throat more restricted and often confined to the chin.

Range.--Southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.

=593b. Saint Lucas Cardinal= (_C. c. igneus_). Similar to No. 593a, but smaller; W. 3.6; T. 4; [Male] with even less, sometimes almost no black on forehead; [Female] paler; gray on chin and about base of bill less defined.

Range.--Southern Lower California.

=593c. Gray-tailed Cardinal= (_C. c. canicaudus_). W. 3.7. _Ad._ [Male]. Red bright as in No. 593d, but black on forehead narrower, usually separated by base of culmen. _Ad._ [Female]. Grayer than [Female] of No. 593, the edgings of wings and tail usually gray _without_ an olive tinge.

Range.--Texas, except western and northeastern parts, and northeastern Mexico.

=593d. Florida Cardinal= (_C. c. floridanus_). Smaller than No. 593, W. 3.4; [Male] averaging deeper red; [Female] darker and richer in color, particularly on breast.

Range.--Southern half of Florida.

=594. Arizona Pyrrhuloxia= (_Pyrrhuloxia sinuata_). L. 9; W. 3.6; T. 4.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Gray; in fresh plumage washed with brownish; crest, wings and tail externally dull red; under wing-coverts, center of breast and of belly, throat, and region about base of bill, rosy red. _Ad._ [Female]. Usually little or no red about bill or on underparts. _Notes._ Call, several flat, thin notes; song, a clear, straight whistle. (Bailey.)

Range.--Northwestern Mexico, north to western Texas, southwestern New Mexico, and Arizona.

=594a. Texas Pyrrhuloxia= (_P. s. texana_). Similar to No. 594, but bill larger; underparts averaging slightly grayer; red before eyes averaging duskier.

=594b. Saint Lucas Pyrrhuloxia= (_P. s. peninsulæ_). Similar in color to No. 594, but decidedly smaller, with the bill larger; W. 3.4; T. 3.7. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Cape Region of Lower California.

=515. Pine Grosbeak= (_Pinicola enucleator leucura_). L. 8.5; W. 4.6. _Ad._ [Male]. Rosy red in varying amounts; belly gray; wings, tail and center of back feathers blackish brown; two white wing-bars. _Ad._ [Female]. Gray, head and rump greenish; breast tinged with greenish. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but with head and rump reddish. _Notes._ Song, sweet; in winter strong and cheery; in spring tender and plaintive. (Chamberlain.)

Range.--Northeastern North America; breeds from New Brunswick and northern New England northward; winters south, irregularly, to southern New England, Ohio, and Manitoba, and casually to District of Columbia and Kansas.

=515a. Rocky Mountain Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. montana_). Similar to No. 515b, but decidedly larger, W. 4.8, and coloration slightly darker; the adult male with the red of a darker, more carmine hue. (Ridgw.)

Range.--"Rocky Mountains of United States, from Montana and Idaho to New Mexico." (Ridgway.)

=515b. California Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. californica_). Similar to No. 515, but [Male] with red much brighter; feathers of back plain ashy gray without darker centers; [Female] with little if any greenish on rump.

Range.--Higher parts of "Central Sierra Nevada, north to Placer County and south to Fresno County, California." (Grinnell.)

=515c. Alaskan Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. alascensis_). Similar to No. 515, but decidedly larger with smaller or shorter bill and paler coloration, both sexes having the gray parts of the plumage distinctly lighter, more ashy. (Ridgw.)

Range.--"Northwestern North America except Pacific coast, breeding in interior of Alaska; south, in winter, to eastern British Columbia, Montana (Bitterroot Valley), etc." (Ridgway.)

=515d. Kadiak Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. flammula_). Similar to No. 515, but with much larger, relatively longer and more strongly hooked bill; wings and tail grayish brown instead of dull blackish.

Range.--"Kadiak Island and south on the coast to Sitka, Alaska." (Ridgway.)

=521. American Crossbill= (_Loxia curvirostra minor_). L. 6.1; W. 3.4; B. .66. Tips of mandibles crossed. _Ad._ [Male]. Red, more or less suffused with greenish or yellow. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green, rump and underparts yellower. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Calls, when feeding, a conversational twittering; louder and more pronounced when flying; song, sweet, varied and musical, but of small volume.

Range.--Northern North America, chiefly eastward; breeds from northern New England (in Alleghanies from Georgia) north and west to Alaska; winters south irregularly to Virginia and Nevada; casually to South Carolina and Louisiana.

=521a. Mexican Crossbill= (_L. c. stricklandi_). Similar to No. 521, but larger; W. 4; B. .78.

Range.--"Mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, west to the Sierra Nevada, and south through New Mexico, Arizona and the tablelands of Mexico to Guatemala." (A.O.U.)

=522. White-winged Crossbill= (_Loxia leucoptera_). L. 6. Tips of mandibles crossed. _Ad._ [Male]. Rose-pink; middle of back black; wings with _two white bars_. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green and dusky; rump and underparts yellower; _wings with two white bars_. _Yng._ Like Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 521.

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from northern New England, northern New York and northern Michigan northward; winters south irregularly to Virginia, Illinois, British Columbia, and Nevada.

=595. Rose-breasted Grosbeak= (_Zamelodia ludoviciana_). L. 8. _Ad._ [Male]. Black; rump, belly, tips of inner vanes of outer tail-feathers and patch in wing white; under wing-coverts and breast rose. _Ad._ [Female]. Under wing-coverts saffron; above streaked brown and black; below whitish streaked with blackish; a _white line over eye_; two white wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Resembles [Female], but under wing-coverts _rose_; breast more or less rose-tinged. _Notes._ Call, a sharp, steely _peek_; song, a rich, fluent, joyous carol.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains; breeds from northern New Jersey, northern Ohio, and northern Indiana (and south in Alleghanies to North Carolina), north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba; winters in Central and South America.

=517. Purple Finch= (_Carpodacus purpureus_). L. 6.2; W. 3.2. Bill swollen and rounded; nostrils large, partially covered by projecting, grayish, bristly feathers; tail slightly forked. _Ad._ [Male]. Dull rose, head and rump brightest; back brownish; lower belly white. _Ad._ [Female]. Above grayish brown, slightly edged with whitish and brownish ashy; below white streaked with dark brownish; a more or less distinct whitish stripe over the eye. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Call, _creak, creak_, and a querulous whistle; song, a sweet, rapidly flowing warble. (See page 175.)

Range.--Eastern North America, west to the Plains; breeds from northern New Jersey, the mountains of Pennsylvania, and northern Illinois northward; winters from the northern States to the Gulf of Mexico.

=517a. California Purple Finch= (_C. p. californicus_). Similar to No. 517, but [Male] duller and darker; [Female] _decidedly_ olive greenish above. (See page 175.)

Range.--Pacific coast region; breeds in the mountains of California; west of the Sierra north to British Columbia; winters from central Oregon to southern Arizona.

=518. Cassin Purple Finch= (_Carpodacus cassini_). L. 6.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Similar to Ad. [Male] of No. 517 and No. 517a, but back much blacker, streaks more sharply defined; crown as bright but appearing _like a cap_; below much paler. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to Ad. [Female] of No. 517a, but larger and more sharply streaked with black, both above and below. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 517.

Range.--Western United States, east to the eastern base of the Rockies, west to the Pacific; breeds in the mountains from New Mexico north to British Columbia.

=519. House Finch= (_Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis_). L. 6.1; W. 3.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat, breast, _forehead_, _line over eye_, and rump, bright rose-red; back grayish brown tinged with red; belly white, streaked with brownish. _Ad._ [Female]. Above brownish gray obscurely streaked with brownish, _no olive_ tint; below white streaked with brownish. _Ad._ [Male] _in Winter_. Red areas dull purplish pink tipped with grayish. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Call, nasal, in chorus, chattering; song, a musical cheery, varied warble, reminding one of that of No. 517, but recognizably different.

Range.--Western United States, east to the Plains, west to the Pacific, and from northern Mexico north to southern Wyoming and Oregon.

=519b. St. Lucas House Finch= (_C. m. ruberrimus_). Similar to No. 519, but smaller, W. 2.8; red more extended, always showing in males on under tail-coverts.

Range.--Southern Lower California.

=519c. San Clemente House Finch= (_C. m. clementis_). Similar to No. 519, but wing and tail averaging shorter, the bill decidedly, and feet slightly larger; coloration somewhat darker. W. 3; B. .48. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Santa Barbara Island, California; Todos Santos Island, Lower California.

=520. Guadalupe House Finch= (_Carpodacus amplus_). Similar to No. 519, but red deeper; back dark brown without red suffusion.

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

=520.1 San Benito House Finch= (_Carpodacus mcgregori_). Similar to No. 519, but much larger with relatively shorter wings and tail; above much grayer and more distinctly streaked; red areas paler, more flesh-colored, often dull yellow; W. 3.2; T. 2.5; B. .5. (Ridgw.)

Range.--San Benito Island, Lower California.

=527. Greenland Redpoll= (_Acanthis hornemannii_). L. 6.1; W. 3.3. A red crown-patch. _Ad._ [Male]. Rump, lower breast, sides and belly _white_, generally _unstreaked_; breast and rump sometimes faintly tinged with pink. In winter. Throat, breast, and above washed with buff. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to [Male], but no pink on breast or rump, sides sometimes lightly streaked.

Range.--Breeds in Greenland; winters south to Labrador.

=527a. Hoary Redpoll= (_A. h. exilipes_). Similar to No. 527 but smaller and darker; rump still _white_, but with sides more apt to be streaked; L. 5; W. 3; T. 2.3; B. .3.

Range.--Breeds in Arctic regions; in America, winters south irregularly to Massachusetts, Ontario, northern Illinois, and Michigan.

=528. Redpoll= (_Acanthis linaria_). L. 5.3; W. 2.8; T. 2.3. B. .36. Crown-cap red. _Ad._ [Male]. Above blackish brown edged with yellowish brown and some whitish; rump _heavily_ streaked with blackish edged with whitish and tinged with rose; breast rose; sides heavily streaked. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but no pink on rump or breast. _Yng._ [Male]. Like female. _Notes._ Call like that of Goldfinch or Siskin and _chit_; song like that of American Goldfinch but distinct. (Minot.)

Range.--Breeds in northern parts of northern hemisphere; in America, winters south to northern United States, irregularly to Virginia, Alabama, Kansas, Colorado, and northern California.

=528a. Holbœll Redpoll= (_A. l. holbœllii_). Similar to No. 528, but larger, the bill longer; W. 3.2; T. 2.3; B. .38.

Range.--Breeds in northern parts of northern hemisphere; in America, winters south, casually to northern United States, (Quebec, Ontario, and Massachusetts.)

=528b. Greater Redpoll= (_A. l. rostrata_). Similar to No. 528, but larger, above darker; L. 5.5; W. 3.2; T. 2.5; B. .35; depth at base, .28.

Range.--"Southern Greenland in summer, migrating south in winter, through Labrador to (sparingly) the northern border of the United States, (New England, lower Hudson Valley, northern Illinois, etc.), and west to Manitoba." (Ridgway.)

=749. Ruby-crowned Kinglet= (_Regulus calendula_). L. 4.4. A conspicuous whitish eye-ring. _Ad._ [Male]. A more or less concealed vermilion crown-patch; back olive-green; underparts soiled whitish more or less tinged with buffy; two white wing-bars. _Ad._ [Female] _and Yng._ Similar, but no crown-patch. _Notes._ Call, a wren-like _cack_; song, a surprisingly loud, rich, musical, varied, flute-like whistle.

Range.--North America; breeds from the northern border of the United States northward and south in the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and on the Sierra Nevada of California; winters from South Carolina and Oregon southward to Central America.

=749a. Sitkan Kinglet= (_R. c. grinnelli_). Similar to No. 749, but more olive-green above, more buffy below.

Range.--Pacific coast; breeds In southern Alaska; winters southward to California.

=750. Dusky Kinglet= (_Regulus obscurus_). Similar to No. 749, but above sooty olive. _Ad._ [Male]. With crown-patch pinkish or purplish vermilion-red. (Ridgw.) (See page 176.)

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

--=European Goldfinch= (_Carduelis carduelis_). L. 5.50. Feathers at base of bill red; crown and neck-stripe black; back brownish; wings with a yellow band; inner webs of tail-feathers tipped with white; below white tinged with brownish. _Notes._ Call, _twit_; song, "sweet and varied." (See page 176.)

Range.--Introduced in this country near Hoboken, N. J., in 1878; now not uncommon near New York City.

=443. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher= (_Muscivora forficata_). L. 14.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Above gray, back washed with red or yellow; crown-patch red. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but tail shorter, red less bright, back grayer. _Notes._ Loud, harsh, chattering notes uttered on the wing.