Part 4

_Plover_, _Sandpipers_ and the _Woodcock_ are strikingly different representatives of the great order of _Shore Birds_. The plover family have stout, short bills, while the sandpipers and woodcock belong to a family which have soft probing bills of greatly varying length, for obtaining their food in soft mud.

*Sandpipers have pointed wings, are dull-colored, and are usually found slipping gracefully along the water's edge in search of food. They skim rapidly over the water on outspread wings, and their clear, reed-like notes are distinctly musical.

*Plovers are small and plump, with long pointed wings, short necks and rather flat heads. They run and fly very rapidly, generally in flocks piping loudly but sweetly. They frequent the inland as well as the shore.

_Shore_ and _Water Birds_ are often extremely shy and they can detect the presence of an observer at a distance. The caution is therefore emphasized to approach them slowly and quietly.

Particular Hints.

*Note:--Owing to a lack of sufficient data the following _Shore_ and _Water Birds_ are arranged according to the American Ornithologist's Union order instead of their average first appearance. They have all been seen, however, in Lincoln Park by the authors.

115. HORNED GREBE. 14 in. (Colymbus auritus. 3.)

Brownish, sooty black, extending in narrow line up _back of neck_; rest of neck, sides and upper breast rich chestnut-brown; _silky_ white below; head and chin deep black, set off by buffy "horns" or crests, which slant abruptly backwards from the eyes; black bill, tipped with yellow; eye, red. Winter Plumage: Black parts sooty; brown replaced by white; grayer below; crests and ruff less conspicuous. *Pied-billed Grebe.

116. PIED-BILLED GREBE. 13-1/2 in. (Podilymbus podiceps. 6.)

Brownish-black, showing gray on head and neck; belly, dusky white, otherwise brownish below; black throat-patch and a conspicuous black band across bill. Winter Plumage: Throat whitish; browner below; no band on bill. *Horned Grebe.

117. LOON. 33 in. (Gavia imber. 7.)

Black, showing greenish on head and neck, spotted with square or oval patches of white on back and wings and striped with white in front of wings; white below; two conspicuous white-striped bars across the black neck give the effect of a _broad black collar_; tail, very short; eye, red; large black bill, long and pointed; dives and sinks like the _Grebes_; note, an eerie, prolonged cry.

118. AMERICAN HERRING GULL. 24 in. (Larus argentatus smithsonianus. 51a.)

White; wings and back, pearly blue-gray; bill yellow, showing a small vermillion spot on either side; the longest wing feathers are partly black, marked and _tipped with white_; the closed wing therefore shows black towards the end, marked with a regular line of white spots and tipped with white at the extreme point; eyelids, bright yellow; looks large and heavy in flight. Winter Plumage: Streaked on head and neck with gray. Immature Plumage: Dark and much streaked with brownish; bill darker. *Ring-billed Gull.

119. RING-BILLED GULL. 19 in. (Larus delawarensis. 54.)

Similar to the _American Herring Gull_, but _smaller_; bill, greenish-yellow, bright at tip, _banded with black around the middle_; wing tipped at extreme point with black; feet greenish-yellow; eyelids vermillion-red. *American Herring Gull.

120. BONAPARTE GULL. 13 in. (Larus philadelphia. 60.)

Back and wings, light pearl-gray; head and throat, dark slate color; back of head, neck, underparts and square tail, white; wings tipped, and _bordered narrowly on the outside edge with black_; feet and legs, red; bill black. Winter Plumage: Hood, grayish white. Large flocks seen in Lincoln Park. *Common Tern.

121. COMMON TERN. 15 in. (Sterna hirundo. 70.)

Pearly gray back and wings, whiter on rump; _top of head, shining black_; pure white on throat; dusky-white below; tail forked, _outer edge darkest_; bill long and red, blackening towards tip; feet reddish. Winter Plumage: Front of head and under-parts, white; bill nearly black. *Bonaparte Gull.

122. AMERICAN MERGANSER. 25 in. (Merganser americanus. 129.)

Black; rump and tail, ashy gray; head, throat and upper part of neck, greenish black; wing, _largely white_, edged with black and crossed by a black bar; white below, extending around the neck in a narrow collar; long red bill tipped with black; eye, red; shows salmon tinge below in flight. Female: Ashy-gray, with sharply defined brown head and neck and a pale salmon or brownish tinge across upper breast; _throat_, _white_; wings largely dark with a white patch; small crest on back of neck; feet orange; eye yellow; rare; "pursues and catches food under water." *American Golden-eye. *Red-breasted Merganser.

123. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 22 in. (Merganser serrator. 130.)

Long ragged crest; head and neck black; broad white collar; broad cinnamon band streaked with black across the breast, otherwise white below, showing salmon tinge in flight; wing largely white, edged and barred twice with black; eye and bill, red. Female: Back and wings dark gray turning to brown on head and neck; much paler on sides of neck and throat and gray across breast; crest, less prominent; white wing-patch; common. *American Merganser.

124. HOODED MERGANSER. 18 in. (Lophodytes cucullatus. 131.)

Black, including throat and neck; large, circular crest, white, bordered with black; white below running up in front of the wings in two points; sides brownish, finely lined with black; white wing-patch, crossed by black bar; also lengthwise white streaks on end of wings; _short_ black bill; eye yellow. Female: Grayish-brown; throat white; crest small; sides unmarked. *Buffle-head.

125. MALLARD. 23 in. (Anas boschas. 132.)

Head, throat and neck glossy green; _narrow_ white collar; breast, rich brown; back, dark brownish; underparts, silver-gray; tail white, set off by black feathers which curl up from either side of the black rump; wing-patch purple, bordered on either side with a black and then a white bar. Female: Buffy-brown and black; much streaked and speckled; lighter on throat; shows wing-patch as in male; common.

126. GREEN-WINGED TEAL. 14-1/2 in. (Nettion carolinensis. 139.)

Gray, finely lined on sides and shoulders with black; _white bar in front of wing_; head, including throat, brown with a broad green stripe from eye to back of head, ending in a small tuft; wings, gray-brown with brilliant green and black wing-patch, bordered by buffy bars; breast very pale reddish-brown, speckled with round black spots; buffy patches on sides of tail; white belly. Female: Mottled brown; top of head and back of neck dark brown; sides of head and neck buff-colored and finely streaked; throat buff, unmarked; no green on head nor white bar in front of wings; wing-patch as in male, but smaller. *Blue-winged Teal.

127. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 15 in. (Querquedula discors. 140.)

Back and underparts thickly mottled brownish and black, lightest below; head slaty, showing purplish gloss; a conspicuous crescent-shaped white stripe in front of eye; _shows blue_ on bend of wing, followed by a white bar and a bright green wing-patch; white patch on sides of tail; bill black. Female: Dusky-brown; black on top of head; streaked and whitish on neck and sides of head; throat and about base of bill, _white_; back and underparts, mottled and spotted; wing shows blue but no green; white bars on head are wanting. *Green-winged Teal.

128. PINTAIL. 27 in. (Dafila acuta. 143.)

Head, including throat, brown, darkest on top; long, swan-like neck, black above, finely waved white and dusky on back and sides; _long middle tail feathers_, black; white below with a conspicuous curved white stripe running up sides of neck to head and ending in a point; bronzy patch on wings. Female: Tail much shorter but pointed; dusky, everywhere streaked; no white stripe on neck; whitish wing-bars; smaller than male. *Old-squaw.

129. WOOD DUCK. 18 in. (Aix sponsa. 144.)

Highly variegated; long, smooth, glossy crest, showing green and purple iridescence and marked by two very narrow white parallel lines, curving from bill and behind eye almost to end of crest; throat white, extending irregularly in two stripes, one up behind eye, the other nearly around neck; breast, glossy brown, spotted with white and set off on either side by a conspicuous white stripe bordered with black; wings highly iridescent, marked by green patch bordered with white. Female: Much duller and less conspicuously marked; head brownish-gray, slightly crested showing greenish tints; throat and line extending from it around base of bill, with space about eye, white.

130. REDHEAD. 20 in. (Aythya americana. 146.)

Puffy head and _upper_ part of neck and throat, bright reddish brown; breast and upper part of back with rump, _black_; belly white; middle back and _sides_ evenly and finely waved black and white, _which shows gray at a distance_. Female: Grayish-brown, almost white on throat; brown on head, light brown on neck. *Canvas-back.

131. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 16 in. (Aythya affinis. 149.)

Head, neck and breast black, showing _purple_ reflections on head; back black and white, very narrowly barred; upper parts of wings dark, finely mottled with white; lower part of wing brownish-black, showing a small white patch; lower breast and belly white; bill, bluish, tipped with black. Female: Black replaced by brown, lighter on head; region around bill white. *Female Redhead, easily confused with female Lesser Scaup.

132. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. 19 in. (Clangula americana. 151.)

Black, glossed with green; white below, extending around the neck in a collar; head bunchy, slightly crested and marked _below eye_ and just back of eye by a nearly oval _white spot_; wings largely white; short bill. Female: Brown, snuff-colored on head; white collar; white wing patch; band of bluish gray across breast and down sides. *American Merganser.

133. BUFFLE-HEAD. 15 in. (Charitonetta albeola. 153.)

Head, throat and upper neck, iridescent black; conspicuous black crest broadly banded with white over head from eye to eye; back black, ashy on tail; wings black with a very large white patch; _collar and entire under parts, white_. Female: Smaller; brownish, lighter below with no crest and only a white patch on cheeks and a small white wing patch. *Hooded Merganser.

134. OLD-SQUAW. 21 in. (Harelda hiemalis. 154.)

Winter Plumage: Back, long tail-feathers and breast with conspicuous _patch on sides of neck_, black; throat and upper breast, top of head, neck and belly, white; cheeks grayish-brown; wings black and gray; bill crossed by yellowish band. Female: Dark brown, lighter on head, grayish on tail; throat, breast and region about the eye, gray-white; below white, brown on lower part of throat; no long tail-feathers; smaller than male. Summer Plumage: Head and neck, dusky black; grayish-white on sides of head, and female shows more brown. *Pintail.

135. CANADA GOOSE. 40 in. (Branta canadensis. 172.)

Head and neck, black with white throat-patch extending up to and just behind eye; brownish-gray marked with lighter, darkest on back; rump and tail, black above and white below; fly after a leader in harrow-shaped ranks, often high up, crying, "honk, honk, honk."

136. AMERICAN BITTERN. 30 in. (Botaurus lentiginosus. 190.)

Streaky tawny- and dark-brown; tawny-yellowish below, mixed with white and streaked with dark brown; conspicuous black streak on sides of neck; short brown tail; breast feathers loose and baggy; yellow eye; call, loud resounding squawk or booming notes which have given it the common name of "stake-driver."

137. LEAST BITTERN. 13 in. (Ardetta exilis. 191.)

Crown, with back, tail and upper half of wings, shining greenish-black; rest of wing shows buff and bright chestnut; throat and baggy breast, whitish, shading into yellowish-brown on sides of neck, and chestnut on back of neck; buffy white below; tufts of dark feathers on either side of breast; yellow eye. *Green Heron.

138. GREEN HERON. 17 in. (Butorides virescens. 201.)

Wings and back dark green, latter tinged with blue-gray; crown, greenish-black; neck and breast, rich reddish brown; throat and line down middle of neck to breast whitish, ending in light streaks on breast; the smallest heron; carries neck curved in flight; squawking note, "scow." *Least Bittern.

139. SORA. 8-1/2 in. (Porzana carolina. 214.)

Olive-brown with lengthwise markings of black and some white; short tail turned up, showing buffy white underside; sides _barred_ posteriorily with white; front of head and _throat, black_; slaty line over eye; sides of neck and breast, grayish slate; bill _short and yellowish_; legs long. Young: No black; throat whitish and brown on breast; very stealthy; skulks and crouches in grass.

140. AMERICAN COOT. 15 in. (Fulica americana. 221.)

Smooth blackish slate color, lighter below and black on head and neck; white bill shows _dark marks near the tip_; turned up tail; white underneath; wing edged with white; eye red; young show white below and no marks on bill; toes with scalloped edges. May be mistaken for a small duck.

141. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 10-1/2 in. (Philohela minor. 228.)

Black, mixed black and rusty slate; below reddish-brown, no markings; _large_ head with short neck and _very long straight bill_; eye set _high up and far back_; crown barred crosswise with black and rusty; short tail; burrows in soft mud for earthworms; nocturnal.

142. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER. 6 in. (Ereunetes pusillus. 246.)

Grayish-brown, marked with black and buffy; rump very dark; tail tapering; underparts _pure white_, slightly tinged and streaked across breast; white line over eye and dusky line beneath; note, "peep-peep." *Other Sandpipers.

143. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 8-1/2 in. (Helodromas solitarius. 256.)

Back, dusky olive-brown, _finely spotted with white_; crown and back of neck showing dark streaks; white below, throat unmarked; sides of head and neck with breast slightly buffy and _distinctly streaked_; sides lightly barred; wings dark brown with one narrow white wing-bar; middle of tail very dark; outer feathers _white, barred with black_; note, a soft whistle. *Spotted Sandpiper.

144. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 7-1/2 in. (Actitis macularia. 263.)

Greenish-ash marked lightly with black; _long white line over eye_; pure white below everywhere with dark round spots; wings brownish, marked broadly with white bar; flies close to the water with wings full-spread, showing white wing-bar; note, penetrating "pee-weet, weet;" walks with tilting motion. *Solitary Sandpiper.

145. KILLDEER. 10 in. (Oxyechus vociferus. 273.)

Gray-brown; rump rusty-brown; tail rather long; white below; white collar followed by a black collar, and a _black band across breast_; forehead, line over eye and wing-bar, white; bill black; runs very swiftly; note, loud and persistent "kill-dee" often heard high overhead.

Explanation of Chart.

The "height of the migration" usually comes during the second or third week in May. This chart makes a comparison of the observations of six years graphic.

For instance, the largest number of different species seen on any one morning in 1903 was 68 (May 12), while in 1901 it was 48 (May 16).

The sudden rise or fall in the migration may also be seen at a glance. May 9, 1899, for example, only 16 different species were observed and May 10 the record was 40. Similarly, in 1901, the number of species seen May 17 dropped from 45 to 15 in three days.

A chart showing the number of different kinds of birds seen in _LINCOLN PARK_ during the _HEIGHT OF THE MIGRATION_

Note to Key.

In response to many demands, the following simple field-key has been devised, to the end that the beginner may be aided in learning to observe correctly those points about a bird that appear most conspicuous in the field or which are particularly distinctive.

Technical analyses and measurements have not been employed, but instead, the birds are roughly placed in three groups according to size, the Robin and English Sparrow marking respectively the 10-inch and 6-inch lines of division.

The first part of the key deals with _general_ differences in color and markings, while the second seeks to emphasize the most noteworthy _special_ points which distinguish the different species. Incidentally a few striking peculiarities of bill, wings and tail have been included.

It will readily be seen that a key embracing so little cannot do more than reduce wild guessing to a few reasonable chances in identifying a strange bird. Some practice is of course necessary to enable the student to use the key readily. Its helpfulness will largely depend upon accuracy of observation and a careful application of the points which it suggests.

Shore and water birds have been omitted--first, in order to keep the key as simple as possible; second, because quite full descriptions of these birds are given in the "Particular Hints;" and, third, for the reason that beginners, as a rule, meet with far better success by becoming familiar with the common land birds before attempting the study of water and shore birds.

EXPLANATIONS.

1. The heading, "Dull Colors," includes all shades of gray or olive, very dull dark-brown and black not showing conspicuous iridescence. Birds in this group are very rarely streaked or spotted, never barred and seldom show any trace of bright colors.

2. To make the key compact and to avoid referring to the index the birds are indicated by their respective numbers as given under "Particular Hints."

3. Females differing greatly _in coloration_ from the males are denoted by heavy figures. Differences in markings are taken into account only when the female is particularly obscure or liable to be mistaken for another species.

4. Every bird appears once under the first six general headings, and a few twice, some of which come under apparently contradictory headings in order to cover incomplete as well as complete observations. For example, the _Robin_ has a streaked throat and the _Fox Sparrow_ an indistinctly streaked back, both inconspicuous points, often overlooked in the field, yet useful if complete observations have been made. Again, the _Yellow-bellied Flycatcher_, though brighter colored than most of its kind, would scarcely be described as having either brilliant or very dull plumage, and is therefore difficult to tabulate exclusively in one place.

HOW TO USE THE KEY.

Two illustrations will most briefly indicate the easiest method of using the key--

_Observation:_ A dull-colored bird of medium size, nearer six inches than ten, much streaked all over, showing nothing distinctive unless a kind of spot on the breast. Turning to the key, pass by "_Bright Colors_," "_Iridescent_" and "_Dull Colors_," choosing "_Streaked, Barred or Spotted._" Not being sure of the size, it may be necessary to try all the birds between "6 and 10 inches," as well as those "less than 6 inches." Before going to so much trouble, however, pass on to "_Under Parts_" and see whether an easier approach can be made there. The sub-heading "Spot or patch on throat, sides, breast or sides of neck" looks comprehensive enough to apply, while in this case it contains fewer examples. Comparing the numbers there given with those under the first heading selected, it is found that only 10 and 23 appear in both places. On looking up 10 and 23 it is found that they refer to the _Song Sparrow_ and _Sapsucker_, two species so widely different in coloration, habits and movements that it ought not to be necessary to study the key further in order to be sure of the bird in question--namely, the _Song Sparrow_.

_Observation:_ A bird in flight, pure white below, without doubt over 10 inches on account of its long tail. Not having seen the general color with any certainty, but being fairly sure of the white breast and long tail, try "Under Parts" first. Only two birds over 10 inches are given under the sub-heading "Pure white or ashy," and these are 103 and 109. Turning to "Tail," both numbers appear under "very long, sometimes keeled or forked," but only 103, the _Yellow-billed Cuckoo_, comes under "Outer tail-feathers conspicuously white or spotted." _If conspicuous tail spots had been seen_ the key would have helped to identify the bird, but the key alone cannot make up for lack of observations.

The second illustration may give force to the suggestion that certain birds can be satisfactorily identified only after very careful observation and some further study.