Chapter 2

The birds are arranged in the order of their arrival from the South in the vicinity of New York City. Nos. 43, 46, 47, 51, 57, 60-64, 67, 68, 70-72 winter in the Southern (chiefly Gulf) States. The remainder winter in the tropics and reach the Southern States a month or more before they arrive at New York. Compared with the dates here given for New York City, Washington dates are from ten to fifteen days earlier; Boston, about a week later; northern Ohio, eight to twelve days earlier; northern Illinois, six to ten days earlier; southeastern Minnesota, about the same as those for New York.

39 Nighthawk, male, p. 34 40 Chuckwill's Widow (Southern States), p. 33 41 Whip-poor-will, male, p. 34 42 Chimney Swift, p. 35 43 Red-headed Woodpecker, p. 31 44 Least Flycatcher, p. 42 45 Yellow-headed Blackbird, male, p. 49 (Mississippi Valley) 46 Seaside Sparrow, p. 67 47 Sharp-tailed Sparrow, p. 66 48 Clay-colored Sparrow, p. 72 (Mississippi Valley) 49 Painted Bunting, female, p. 79 (Southern States) 50 Painted Bunting, male, p. 79 (Southern States) 51 Towhee, male, p. 76 52 Blue Grosbeak, male, p. 78 (Southern States) 53 Blue Grosbeak, female, p. 78 (Southern States) 54 Bank Swallow, p. 84 55 Cliff Swallow, p. 82 56 Rough-winged Swallow, p. 84 57 Black and White Warbler, p. 92 58 Black-throated Blue Warbler, male, p. 99 59 Black-throated Blue Warbler, female, p. 99 60 Pine Warbler, p. 107 61 Palm Warbler, p. 108 62 Black-throated Green Warbler, p. 106 63 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, p. 129 (Southern States) 64 Oven-bird, p. 109 65 Bell's Vireo, p. 92 (Mississippi Valley) 66 Red-eyed Vireo, p. 88 67 White-eyed Vireo, p. 91 68 Blue-headed Vireo, p. 90 69 Yellow-throated Vireo, p. 90 70 House Wren, p. 120 71 Catbird, p. 117 72 Brown Thrasher, p. 118 73 Veery, p. 130 74 Wood Thrush, p. 129

CASE NO. 7 FIGS. 1-39

LATE SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

For times of arrival at other localities see remarks under Case No. 6

1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, p. 25 2 Black-billed Cuckoo, p. 25 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, female, p. 36 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male, p. 36 5 Crested Flycatcher, p. 38 6 Kingbird, p. 37 7 Gray Kingbird, p. 37 (Southern States) 8 Baltimore Oriole, male, p. 52 9 Baltimore Oriole, female, p. 52 10 Orchard Oriole, adult male, p. 51 11 Orchard Oriole, female, p. 51 12 Orchard Oriole, young male, p. 51 13 Bobolink, female, p. 48 14 Bobolink, male, p. 48 15 Lincoln's Sparrow, p. 75 16 Grasshopper Sparrow, p. 64 17 Henslow's Sparrow, p. 65 18 Leconte's Sparrow, p. 65 (Mississippi Valley) 19 Lark Sparrow, p. 68 (Mississippi Valley) 20 Dickcissel, p. 80 (Mississippi Valley) 21 Harris's Sparrow, p. 69 (Mississippi Valley) 22 White-crowned Sparrow, p. 69 23 Indigo Bunting, male, p. 79 24 Indigo Bunting, female, p. 79 25 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female, p. 78 26 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male, p. 78 27 Scarlet Tanager, male, p. 80 28 Scarlet Tanager, p. 80 29 Warbling Vireo, p. 89 30 Philadelphia Vireo, p. 89 31 Worm-eating Warbler, p. 93 32 Orange-crowned Warbler, p. 96 33 Nashville Warbler, p. 96 34 Golden-winged Warbler, male, p. 95 35 Blue-winged Warbler, p. 94 36 Golden-winged Warbler, female, p. 95 37 Lawrence's Warbler, p. 95 38 Brewster's Warbler, p. 95 39 Parula Warbler, p. 97

CASE NO. 8. FIGS. 40-82

LATE SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

For times of arrival at other localities see remarks under Case No. 6.

40 Yellow Warbler, female, p. 99 41 Yellow Warbler, male, p. 99 42 Magnolia Warbler, p. 101 43 Chestnut-sided Warbler, male, p. 102 44 Chestnut-sided Warbler, female, p. 102 45 Kirtland's Warbler, p. 106 46 Cerulean Warbler, female, p. 102 47 Cerulean Warbler, male, p. 102 48 Prairie Warbler, p. 108 49 Chat, p. 113 50 Maryland Yellow-throat, male, p. 113 51 Maryland Yellow-throat, female, p. 113 52 Kentucky Warbler, p. 111 53 Canadian Warbler, p. 115 54 Hooded Warbler, male, p. 114 55 Hooded Warbler, female, p. 114 56 Northern Water-Thrush, p. 110 57 Redstart, female, p. 115 58 Redstart, male, p. 115 59 Olive-sided Flycatcher, p. 39 60 Acadian Flycatcher, p. 41 61 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, p. 40 62 Alder Flycatcher, p. 41 63 Wood Pewee, p. 40 64 Tennessee Warbler, p. 97 65 Cape May Warbler, male, p. 98 66 Cape May Warbler, female, p. 98 67 Blackburnian Warbler, male, p. 104 68 Blackburnian Warbler, female, p. 104 69 Bay-breasted Warbler, male, p. 103 70 Bay-breasted Warbler, female, p. 103 71 Blackpoll Warbler, male, p. 103 72 Blackpoll Warbler, female, p. 103 71 Wilson's Warbler, female, p. 114 74 Wilson's Warbler, male, p. 114 75 Mourning Warbler, male, p. 112 76 Mourning Warbler, female, p. 112 77 Connecticut Warbler, male, p. 111 78 Connecticut Warbler, female, p. 111 79 Long-billed Marsh Wren, p. 122 80 Short-billed Marsh Wren, p. 121 81 Olive-backed Thrush, p. 131 82 Gray-cheeked Thrush, p. 130

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

A.V. Accidental Visitant. A bird found beyond the limits of its usual range.

L. Length of a bird from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. Remember that living birds look shorter than the measurements of specimens given beyond.

P.R. Permanent Resident. A species which is found in the same locality throughout the year. The Bob-white, Ruffed Grouse, most Owls, and Hawks, the Crow, Jays, Black-capped Chickadee and the White-breasted Nuthatch are Permanent Residents.

S.R. Summer Resident. A species which comes from the South in the spring and, after nesting, returns to its winter quarters.

T.V. Transient Visitant. A species which visits us in the spring while en route to its more northern nesting grounds, and in the fall when returning to its winter home in the South. Most Transient Visitants are found both in the spring and fall, but some, like the Connecticut Warbler, are found in the North Atlantic States only in the fall.

W.V. Winter Visitant. A species which comes from the North to remain with us all, or part of the winter and then return to the North. Winter Visitants may arrive in September and remain until April, or they may come later and only for a brief stay.

* * * * *

NOTE. Measurements are in inches.

Land Birds of the Eastern United States

GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. ORDER GALLINÆ

AMERICAN QUAIL. FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDÆ

BOB-WHITE

_Colinus virginianus virginianus. Case 1. Figs. 1, 2_

The black and white markings of the male are respectively buff and brown in the female. In flight the Bob-white, or Quail, suggests a Meadowlark, but the tail is without white feathers. L. 10.

_Range._ Eastern United States north to Minnesota and Maine south to the Gulf. A Permanent Resident. Severe winters and much shooting have made it rare in the more northern parts of its range.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, P.R. N. Ohio, not common P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.

Except when nesting Bob-whites live in flocks or "coveys" usually composed of the members of one family. Their song, heard in spring and summer, is the clear, ringing two- or three-noted whistle which gives them their common name. Their fall and winter notes, which sportsmen term "scatter calls" are signals by which the members of a flock keep within speaking distance of one another. "_Where_ are you?" "_Where_ are you?" they seem to say. As with other protectively colored, ground-inhabiting birds, Bob-whites do not take wing until one almost steps upon them. Then, like a bursting bomb, the covey seems to explode, its brown pieces flying in every direction. The nest is on the ground and the 10-18 white, pear-shaped eggs are laid in May or June.

The Florida Bob-white (_C. v. floridanus_, Case 3, Figs. 1, 2), a smaller darker race is resident in Florida, except in the northern part of the state. It begins to nest in April.

GROUSE. FAMILY TETRAONIDÆ

CANADA SPRUCE PARTRIDGE

_Canachites canadensis canace_

The male is a grayish bird with a jet black throat and breast, the former bordered with white; the skin above the eye is red. The female is barred with black and reddish brown with a black mottled tail tipped with brown. L. 15.

_Range._ Northern parts of United States from New Brunswick to Manitoba. Other races are found throughout the wooded parts of Canada and Alaska.

An unsuspicious inhabitant of swampy coniferous forests. Now rare in the United States. It nests on the ground in June, laying 9-16 eggs, buff, lightly speckled with brown.

RUFFED GROUSE

_Bonasa umbellus umbellus. Case 1, Fig. 3_

The female resembles the male in color but has the black neck-tufts smaller. The tail-feathers vary from gray to bright rusty. L. 17.

_Range._ Eastern United States south in the Alleghanies to Georgia. In the southern states the Grouse is often called 'Pheasant.' A Permanent Resident.

Washington, not common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, P.R., formerly very common. N. Ohio, rare P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare and local P.R.

On our western plains and prairies there is a Grouse which we call Prairie Hen and we might well apply the name Wood Hen to this Grouse of our forests. To flush a Grouse in the quiet of the woods always makes the "heart jump." His whirring wings not only produce the roar which accompanies his flight, but they are also responsible for the "drumming" which constitutes the Grouse's song as sitting upright on some favorite log, he rapidly beats the air with his wings.

The horny fringes which in winter border the toes of the Grouse, or Partridge, as he is also called, form in effect snow-shoes which help to support the bird on soft snow. At this season they also feed in trees on buds and catkins, and they may roost in trees or seek a bed by plunging into a snow-bank.

The nest, lined with leaves, is placed at the base of a tree or stump; the 8-14 buffy eggs are laid in May.

The Canada Ruffed Grouse (_B. u. togata_), of northern New England and northwards is grayer above and more distinctly barred below.

PRAIRIE CHICKEN

_Tympanuchus americanus_

The Prairie Hen has a rounded or nearly square tail and a barred breast; in the Sharp-tailed Grouse the tail is pointed, the breast with V-shaped markings. L. 18.

_Range._ Central Plains region from Texas to Manitoba, east to Indiana. Migratory at its northern limits.

Glen Ellyn, P.R. local, S.E. Minn., P.R. much decreased in numbers.

The Ruffed Grouse sounds his rolling, muffled drum-call in the seclusion of the forest, but the Prairie Hen beats his loud _boom-ah-boom_ in the open freedom of the plains. Hardy and strong of wing, he can cope with winter storms and natural enemies, but against the combined assault of man, dog, and gun, he cannot successfully contend.

About a dozen buff-olive eggs are laid on the ground in April or early May.

HEATH HEN

_Tympanuchus cupido_

This is a close relative of the Prairie Hen, having the black neck-tuft of less than ten feathers with pointed, not rounded, ends. It is now found only on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, but formerly inhabited plains or barrens, locally, from New Jersey to Massachusetts. It nests in June.

TURKEYS. FAMILY MELEAGRIDÆ

WILD TURKEY

_Meleagris gallopavo silvestris_

The Wild Turkey was formerly found as far north as Maine and Ontario but it is unknown now north of central Pennsylvania. South of Maryland it is not uncommon locally.

_Range._ Kansas and central Pennsylvania to the Gulf coast, and northern Florida. Non-migratory.

Washington, rare P.R.

Our domestic Turkey is descended from the Mexican Wild Turkey and like that race has the upper tail-coverts and tail tipped with whitish, whereas in our eastern Wild Turkey these tips are chestnut. The nest is on the ground and 10-14 eggs, pale cream-color finely speckled with brownish, are laid in April.

The Florida Wild Turkey (_M. g. osceola_), of southern Florida, is smaller and the white bars on the primaries are narrower and more broken.

PIGEONS AND DOVES. ORDER COLUMBÆ

PIGEONS AND DOVES. FAMILY COLUMBIDÆ

MOURNING DOVE

_Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Case 3, Fig. 3; Case 5, Fig. 11_

Except the southern little Ground Dove, this is our only Dove. Its long, pointed tail and the swift, darting flight are its field characters. It is often mistaken for the Wild or Passenger Pigeon, now extinct. The two birds differ in size and in color, but size is a matter of distance, and color, of comparison, so it seems probable that as long as there is a possibility of seeing a Passenger Pigeon, Mourning Doves will be mistaken for them. L. 11-3/4. The Wild Pigeon is about five inches longer.

_Range._ North America. In a railway journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific one may expect to see the Dove daily. Winters from Virginia southward, migrating northward in March.

Washington, P.R., common, except in midwinter. Ossining, common S.R., Mch. 3-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, rather rare T.V., Apl. 8-June 18; Sept. 18-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Mch. 20-Oct. 25; rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common S.R., formerly common, Mch. 12-Oct. 21. S.E. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 15-Dec. 25.

Doves are particularly common in the southern states where, ranked as game-birds, they are shot in large numbers. The Wild Pigeon's note was an explosive squawk; the Dove's is a soft, mournful _coo-oo-ah, coo-o-o-coo-o-o-coo-o-o-_. During the winter, Doves are usually found in small flocks but, unlike the Wild Pigeon, they nest in scattered pairs. The nest is in a tree or on the ground. Two white eggs are laid in April.

GROUND DOVE

_Chæmepelia passerina terrestris. Case 3, Fig. 4_

The female is duller than the male. L. 6-3/4.

_Range._ Tropical and subtemperate parts of the Western Hemisphere. Our form is found in Florida and on the coast region from North Carolina to Texas.

Washington, accidental; two records, Sept., Oct.

This dainty, miniature Pigeon is common in southern gardens and old fields. It runs gracefully before one, and when flushed rises with a whirring flight but soon alights, usually on the ground. Its call is a crooning _coo_. The nest is placed on the ground and in low trees and bushes. Two white eggs are laid in March.

BIRDS OF PREY. ORDER RAPTORES

AMERICAN VULTURES. FAMILY CATHARTIDÆ

TURKEY VULTURE

_Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Case 3, Fig. 9_

Head red, plumage with a brownish cast. Young birds have the head covered with brownish down. L. 30.

_Range._ Most of the Western Hemisphere in several subspecies; in the eastern states north to northern New Jersey and, locally, southern New York. Migrating south from the northern part of its range.

Washington, abundant P.R. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, casual, two records. N. Ohio, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 5-Oct. 30. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27.

The 'Turkey Buzzard' has a wider wing-stretch and is a better aviator than the Black Vulture. It is more a bird of the country than the last-named species which is the common Vulture of the streets in many southern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in April in Virginia.

BLACK VULTURE

_Catharista urubu urubu. Case 3, Fig. 10_

Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of the Turkey Vulture.

_Range._ Eastern U.S., north to Virginia; an abundant Permanent Resident. Washington, casual, Mch., July, Dec.

The Vulture of southern cities; a frequenter of slaughter houses and markets. In flight the under surfaces of the wing look silvery. It is by no means so impressive a figure in the air as the Turkey Vulture. Two pale bluish white eggs, generally with brown markings, are laid on the ground under logs, bushes, palmettoes, etc., in March and April.

HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, ETC. FAMILY BUTEONIDÆ

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE

_Elanoides forficatus forficatus_

The head and lower parts are white, the rest of the plumage glossy black; the tail deeply forked. L. 24.

_Range._ Florida to South Carolina, and up the Mississippi Valley rarely to Saskatchewan; winters south of the United States, returning in March.

Washington, three records, Aug.; Apl. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., May 4.

Color, form, grace, and power of motion combine to make the flight of the Swallow-tail an impressive demonstration of the bird's mastery of the air. It feeds on lizards and small snakes which it captures when on the wing from the branches of trees. The nest is placed in the upper branches of tall trees, 2-3 eggs heavily marked with brown being laid in Florida in April; in Iowa in June.

WHITE-TAILED KITE

_Elanus leucurus_

A gray bird with white underparts, rather short white tail and black shoulders. L. 15-1/2.

_Range._ Chiefly southwestern United States and southward east to the lower Mississippi Valley.

This is a rare bird east of the Mississippi. It frequents open marshy places and feeds upon small snakes, lizards, grasshoppers, etc., which it captures on the ground. The nest is built in trees, and the 3-5 eggs, heavily marked with brown, are laid in May.

MISSISSIPPI KITE

_Ictinia mississippiensis_

A slaty-blue bird with black tail and wings and red eyes. L. 14.

_Range._ Southern United States, north to South Carolina, and southern Indiana; winters chiefly south of the United States and returns in April.

A low-flying hunter of insects, snakes and frogs. It migrates in loose flocks sometimes near the earth, at others far above it. The nest is placed in tall trees. The eggs are laid in May; they number 1-3, and are dull white, occasionally with a bluish tinge.

EVERGLADE KITE

_Rostrhamus sociabilis_

A dark slate-colored bird with a white rump and a rather slender hooked bill. The young are quite different; black above, tipped with reddish brown, below mottled and barred with black, reddish brown and buff, but with the white rump-patch of the adult. L. 18.

_Range._ Tropical America north to southern Florida.

The Everglade Kite is found in marshes and about lakes and ponds hunting for its favorite food of large snails, which it extracts from their shells by means of its hooked bill. It is rarely seen north of southern Florida. The nest is placed in bushes or among reeds. The 2-3 eggs, which are heavily marked with brown, are laid in March.

MARSH HAWK

_Circus hudsonius. Case 3, Fig. 15_

The immature bird and adult female are dark brown above, reddish brown below, but, in any plumage, the species may be known by the white upper tail-coverts which show clearly in flight. L., male, 19; female, 22.

_Range._ North America, wintering from New Jersey southward; migrates northward in March.

Washington, common W.V., July-Apl. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 6-Oct. 30; a few winter. Cambridge, common T.V., Mch. 20-Nov. 10, one breeding record. N. Ohio, not common S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 30. Glen Ellyn, S.R., several pairs, Apl. 4-Nov. 6. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 6-Nov. 1.

The Marsh Hawk quarters low over the fields turning sharply here and there to follow the course of a meadow mouse in the grass forest below. As a rule the bird is silent but in the mating season he repeats a 'screeching' note. The nest is made on the ground in the marshes; the 4-6 white eggs are laid in May.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK

_Accipiter velox. Case 1, Figs. 11, 12; Case 3, Figs. 7, 8_

The sexes differ only in size, the female being much the larger. There is a marked difference in color between adult and immature birds, the latter being more commonly seen. L. male, 11-1/4; female, 13-1/2.

_Range._ North America; wintering from Massachusetts southward.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, common T.V., Apl. 3-May 11; Sept. 5-Oct. 25; rare S.R., uncommon W.V. N. Ohio, not common P.R., a few winter. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., Mch. 19-Dec. 9. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 28-Dec 28.

This small, bird-killing Hawk dashes recklessly after its victims, following them through thick cover. It is less often seen in the open than the Sparrow Hawk, which it resembles in size, but from which it may be known by its different color, longer tail, and much shorter wings. It nests in trees 15-40 feet from the ground. The eggs, 3-6 in number, are bluish white or cream, marked with brown and are laid in May.

COOPER'S HAWK

_Accipiter cooperi. Case 1, Figs. 9, 10_

A large edition of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, with the tail more rounded, the adult with a darker crown. L. male, 15-1/2; female, 19.

_Range._ Nests throughout United States; winters from southern New England southward.

Washington, common S.R., less common W.V. Ossining, tolerably common P.R. Cambridge, common T.V., not uncommon S.R., rare W.V., Apl. 10-Oct. 20. N. Ohio, not common, Mch. 20-Nov. 1; a few winter. Glen Ellyn, local S.R., a few winter. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 3.

This is the real 'Chicken Hawk,' but it is less often seen and heard than the soaring, screaming Buteos to which the name is usually applied. It resembles the Sharp-shinned in habits but being larger may prey on larger birds. The female may be easily distinguished from the Sharp-shinned by her larger size, but the male is not appreciably larger than a female Sharp-shin.

The nest is built in a tree 25-50 feet up. The bluish white, rarely spotted eggs are laid in late April or early May.

GOSHAWK

_Astur atricapillus_

The adult is blue-gray above with a darker crown and a white line over the eye. The underparts are finely and beautifully marked with gray and white. Young birds resemble the young of Cooper's Hawk, but are much larger. L., male, 22; female, 24.

_Range._ North America, nests chiefly north of the United States and winters southward, usually rarely, as far as Virginia.

Washington, casual in winter. Ossining, rare W.V., Oct. 10-Jan. 14. Cambridge, irregular and uncommon W.V. SE. Minn., W.R., Nov. 5-Apl. 4.