-NRLF IP ms BIOLOGY LIBRARY FRONTISPIECE. Upper fig., CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER; lower, BLACK THROATED GREEN DIRECTORY TO THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA Illustrated with Many Wood Cuts and Twenty Plates Drawn and En- graved by the Author By Charles J. Maynard West Newton Mass. C. J. Maynard 19O7 COPYRIGHT Dec. 26, 1905, April 12, 1906, Oct. 2, 1906, Dec. 18, 1906, Feb. 16, 1907, April 22, 1907, Oct. 11, 1907, By C. J. Maynard. AN INVITATION. leave the restless city And come to the sylvan dell Where the wood thrush gives his anthem And the blue jay tolls his bell. Where, deep in the tangled thicket, The veery sings a lay That trembles with whispered lomgings Then slowly dies away. Or go where the tawny hermit With motif high and strong Beareth the spirit upward On the soaring wings of song. From wooded hill and valley fair, From plain and sea-girt isle, A thousand songs rise up to cheer, And the weary heart beguile. Then leave the restless city And come to some forest haunt Where Nature's breath fills all the air And sweetly wild birds chant. 382258 This manual is intended to aid students in identifying- birds in the field; hence external characters are chiefly used r and, as far as possible, those only which are conspicuous enough to be seen by the aid of a bird glass at a reasonable distance ; while the author has endeavored to avoid using^ any characters not absolutely necessary for identification. Characteristic habits and the manner of flight are men- tioned; the song, and other notes and cries are also given. When birds belonging to certain groups have similar hab- its these are given under group headings ; for an example,, see page 5, under Grebes. Groups are indicated by letters in varying type, accord- ing to the value of each group, followed by the common and technical name of each. Following is a key to the lettering; -A. 9 order; A, family ; a, genus. Species are numbered, be- ginning with 1 under each genus. Sub-species are indicated by the same number as that of the nearest allied species fol- lowed by an asterisk (*). The beginner in bird study should first consult the key to the orders and families, to be found at the end of the book. Having become satisfied that a bird in question belongs to a certain order and family, the student should carefully read the characters of those groups given in the body of the book ; then study the generic characters, which on account of their condensed contents are a key in themselves. The genus once found, the species can easily be determined. The following is an example of the method of using the book : A bird is seen upon a pond or river. It rides lightly on the water, has a short body, and carries the head well back. The bill is short and thick. It has no visible tail. It is dark in color on all of the parts that can be seen above water, and thus there is no white wing patch. By watching the bird a little while it will be seen to dive often. It also sinks slowly beneath the water, sometimes keeping the head and neck only above the surface. Keeping this last mentioned habit in mind when consult- ing the key, it will be seen that there are two groups that possess the power of sinking slowly beneath the water; the Grebes and Anhingas. The latter named are confined to the southern part of the United States and southward, and have long bodies and tails. Hence the Grebes, with their short, tailless bodies, remain, regardless of the location in which the bird in question is observed; and upon reading the char~ acters of the order, given on page 11, it becomes evident that our bird belongs to this group. Under family characters, which should now be consulted, it will be found that the bird is not a Slender-billed Grebe, as all of these not only have slender bills but also a white wing patch, and other characters given do not agree with our observations. Hence we find that our bird must belong to the Thick-billed Grebes, and consequently, there being but a single species, must be a Pied-billed Grebe. By reading the description of this spe- cies it will be found to agree with the facts observed. We have ascertained that the Pied-billed Grebe belongs to -A. , the order of Grebes; B, the family of Thick-billed Grebes ; a, the genus of Black-throated Grebes ; it is species No. 1 in this genus. This species is always designated in this book as, A. 9 J3, a, 1 ; a method which link* the species with its order, family, and genus, and no other species has exactly this same combination of letters arid number, for the letter of the order is never repeated. For examples of this method as applied to the Pied-billed Grebe, see letters and figures under figs. 1, 2, and 6. Additional fractional figures, as 1-15 under fig. 1, indicate the comparative size of the fig- ure to that of the life-sized bird, thus it will be seen that the cut of the Pied-billed Grebe is only one fifteenth the size of life. Figures that do not have the fraction following the spe- cific number are life-sized; examples, figs. 4, 5, and 6. INTRODUCTION. O I wifl now add a few words of advice to beginners in biid study such as I have been accustomed to give to pupils for many years. The first and most important thing to observe about a bird, aside from its size, is its form, including the comparative size of all the parts. If the bird is singin-g or uttering any other sounds, try and fix all these sounds in the mind. Then note its color, including the distribution of spots and position of all markings. Note all habits and where the bird is, whether in a tree, bush, thicket, or on the ground. If it starts, observe its flight. All observations should be re- corded as soon as completed, and checked, if possible, by a second observation. In identifying a species always keep in mind the season of the year in which it should normally oc- cur where seen, and the range of the species. While it is a fact that wonders are constantly occurring in the bird world (and herein lies much of the charm of bird study), and there is no good reason why some of the discov- eries which are constantly being made, of species far from their usual habitat, or out of season, should not fall to the lot of even beginners, it will be well for all of us to exercise caution in our observations upon such matters. In identify- ing a supposed rare bird in the field, it will be well to keep in mind the fact that two pairs of eyes are better than one, and that it is best that one of these pairs should belong to some- one who has had a rather wide experience in the study of birds. I now offer this manual, so long promised, to my many pupils, and all others interested in ornithology, trusting that they will find herein some ideas which will prove useful to them in their studies of the many beautiful and interest ing birds with which we are surrounded. WEST NEWTON, MASS., Nov. 105. DIAGRAM OF CHIPPNIG SPAKKOW. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. EXPLANATION OF DIAGRAM OF CHIPPING SPARROW. A, EXTERNAL PARTS:- 1, bill; 2, forehead; 3, crown; 4, occiput; 5, nape; 6, hind neck; 7, back; 8, wing; 9, up- per tail coverts ; 10, under tail coverts; 11, tibia; 12, abdo- men; 13, belly; 14, breast; 15, throat; 16, chin; 17, supercil- iary region; 18, lores; 19, ear coverts; 20, maxillary region; 22, tarsus ; 32, hind toe ; 42, front toe ; 52, tail. INTERNAL PARTS:- A, tongue; B, larynx; p, syrinx; c r windpipe; E, sterno trachealis; F, bronchial tube; G G, gul- let; H, crop; K, stomach; j, proventriculus*, L, fold of duo- denum; M, pancreas; o, vent; D, ovaries; Q, vertebrae of neck; R, vertebrae of back; s, tail bones; T, heart; N, lungs; v, keel; i M, liver. B, WING OF CHIPPING SPARROW:- 1, lesser coverts; 2 r middle coverts; 3, greater coverts; 4, spurious wing; 5, pri- maries; 6, secondaries. C, BILL OF CARDINAL GROSBEAK:- A, upper mandible; B, lower mandible; D, nostril. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF E ASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 11 B, a, 1-15. IPodieipides. Water birds with short bodies, medium long necks, and short wings which are concealed by the feathers of the sides and back when folded. Expert divers, but do not use the Fig. 1 wings under water. Possess the power of sinking slowly beneath the surface. Head, rather large and carried well back over the body as the bird swims, fig 1. Bill, more or less pointed, figs. 4, 5, 6. Space in front of eye, naked. Feathers, especially beneath, not close- ly constructed, and fringed with hair-like terminations ; these peculiar feathers retain the air in their interspaces when the bird dives, thus keeping the plumage dry; when it emerges the water which clings to the outer surface is thrown off by the agitation of the hair-like fringes, much as in the musk- rat and other aquatic mam- Fig. 2. mals, fig. 2. Tail, absent. Feet, with lobed toes; nails, flattened, fig. 3. Walk, or ev- I en run for a short distance, by making a special effort, but rise in flight from the water only. Flight, direct, neck and head, outstretched; feet, extended behind ; wing-beats I rapid. Nests, of matted vege- tation, placed in reedy ponds, never on dry land, and are quite often floating ; eggs, 6-8, greenish covered with a white A *>arbule ; B, tip of feather, enlarged. incrustation. Young, downy, streaked and mottled with whitish and dark brown, slowly assuming the adult dress j active when hatched, swimming with their parents. Food, vegetable matter (often fresh water algae), insects, and small 1. 12 GREBES. fishes. Sexes, similar in color. To approach a grebe the ob- server should endeavor to see the bird before it perceives him. When the bird dives for food, walk toward it, standing perfectly still when it comes up ; by continuing to do this, the margin of the water may be reached without alarming the bird. Grebes sink when they perceive anything of which they are suspicious, and dive when suddenly alarmed. Fig. 3. A, b, 1, 1-2. A. SLENDER-BILLED GREBES. Podicipidae. Bill, slender, longer than twice its depth, figs. 4, 5. Us- ually inhabit salt water in winter, but breed more often in fresh. Provided with special plumes about head and neck during the nesting season, which are reddish in color and more or less conspicuous. White patch on wing, noticeable in flight. Fig. 4. A., A, a, 1. a. Long-billed Grebes. Colymbus. Bill, three times as long as deep, fig. 4, Size, large, 18.00 20.00. Breeding plumes, short. Dull black above; silky white beneath. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 13 1. HOLBOELL'S GREBE, C. HOI,BOEKLII. Largest of our grebes ; bill, yellowish. In summer, neck reddish with short plumes. Breeds in the Arctic regions; found along the coast in autumn and winter, sometimes on fresh waters. Oct. 15 to May 15. Rather common. b. Short-billed Grebes. Dytes, Bill, less than twice as long as deep, fig. 5. Size, small, 12.00-14.00. Also differs from a in having the breeding plumes long and conspicuous. 1. HORNED GREBE, D. AURITUS. Smaller than a, 1, but similar in color in winter. In summer, line through eye, Fig. 5 broadening behind into long plumes ; j lower neck, and chest, reddish ; oth- | er elongated head plumes, greenish I black. Breeds chiefly north of the ! U. S. ; migrates south in Oct. and | Nov. ; winters from southern X. E. to Fla. ; comes north in April ; com- B. THICK-BILLED GREBES. Podilymbidae. Bill, thick, shorter than twice its depth, fig. 6; no white patch on wing ; no special head plumes. Occur mostly on fresh waters. a. Black-throated Grebes. Podilymbus. Throat, with a conspicuous black patch in the summer. Male larger than the female and probably polygamous. 1. PIED-BILLED GREBE, P. PODICEPS. Male, 15.00; female, 12.00. In summer, bill, bluish white with a black band crossing middle, fig. 6; dark- Fig. 6 brown above, lighter on sides of head and neck, and lower neck in front; silvery white beneath with obscure spots of dusky. In winter, throat, white; bill, brown without band, and there are no spots on the white beneath ; neck, decidedly red- .A_ 9 B, a. 1. 14 LOONS. dish and this extends along the breast. Breeds in April and May from the British Provinces southward into S. A., nest- ing in small ponds in the more unsettled districts; migrates southward in Sep. and Oct. to winter from the Carolinas south- ward ; comes north in April. Yery common. Note, heard from March to June, given by both sexes, a hollow, quaver- ing cry, uttered rapidly and with considerable volume. B. LOONS. TJrinatorides. Water birds with long, flattened bodies, rather long necks, and long wings which are not wholly concealed by the feathers of the sides when folded. Expert divers which use their wings to aid in swimming under water. Sit low in Fig. 7. B, A a, 1. 1-10. the water and carry the medium sized head well forward of the body when swimming, fig. 7. Tail, short. Feet, large; front toes, long and fully webbed ; hind toe, short. Cannot walk on land or stand upright without making a special ef- fort, thus cannot rise from the land. Flight, direct and rap- id with neck and feet outstretched ; wing-beats,- rapid. Nests placed 011 dry land near water. Eggs,Jtwo, dark brown, mottled with darker. Young, downy \nd active when hatched, swimming with parents. Food, fishes. Occur in fresh and salt water. Usual note, a quavering cry like a weird laugh. Sexes, similar. A. LOONS. Gaviidae. Characters as above, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 15 a, Loons. Gavia. Characters as on the preceding page, under order. 1. LOON, G. IMBER. Largest of our Loons, 32.00. In summer, black above and on head and neck ; marked on back with transverse bands of square spots, two to each feather, figs. 7, 8 ; white beneath ; a collar, composed of elevated lines Fig. 8. Fig. 9. B, A, a, 1. B, A, a, 3. of white, on lower neck, and transverse spot of same on mid- dle neck beneath. In winter and young, duller above with- out white markings ; throat and neck in front, white. Breeds on the borders of large inland ponds and lakes from northern U. S. northward. Very common. In winter occurs on salt water, off the coast, on bays, sounds, etc., from Me. to the Carolinas ; rare in Fla. 2. BLACK-THROATED LOON, G. ARCTICUS. Smaller than 1, 29.00 ; differs in color in having the back of head and hind neck deep gray; the throat is black, and there are no white streakings on neck. In winter differs from 1 only in having each feather of back broadly margined with grayish. Breeds in the Arctic regions; south in winter to extreme northern U. S., where it is very rare. 3. RED-THROATED LOON, G. LUMME. Smallest of our Loons, 26.00 ; differs from 1 in having the head and neck ashy at all seasons ; in summer there is a triangular patch of red on throat ; at all seasons each feather of back has two oblique, rounded, sub-terminal spots of white, fig. 9. Breeds 1O AUKS, MUK11ES, PUFFINS, ETC. from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward, chiefly along the coast. Winters from Mass, southward, occurring off the coast, in bays, etc. Comes south in Sep. and Oct. ; most common in N. E. in Nov. ; goes north in April. Very com- mon; less shy than 1. Fig. 10; flying under water. C. ^.TJKS, MTJRRES, Water birds with rather short bodies; tails, short; front toes webbed ; hind toe, absent, fig. Fig. 10. 11. All swim and dive well like Loons. Sit upright on land, and walk well. All occur on salt water. Food, fishes. Flight, swift and di- rect, often with a swaying motion, but all turn readily in air ; wing- beats, very rapid. The outer cover- ing of portions of bill is moulted in some species. The young are cov- ered with down when hatched, but are comparatively helpless, being B, A, a, 3. 1-15. fed by regurgitation. All of the species occur on the open ocean in winter, but often not far from land, and thus can be sometimes seen from rocky promontories or open sea beach es. Sexes, similar. A. AUKS, MURRES, GUILLEMOTS. Alcidae. Kather large-bodied, short-necked birds which ride light- ly on the water, and sit upright on land, resting on the whole Fig. 11. O, A, a, 1. 1-2 foot. a. Aftks. Alca. Heavy-bodied, rather thick- necked birds with the bill deep butvery much compressed, and crossed by two grooves and a white band, fig. 12, on the next page. DIRECTOIJY TO BIRDS OF KASTKRX NOKTH AMERICA. 17 1. RAZOR-BILLED AUK, A. TORDA. 15.00 long: black above ; white beneath ; narrow white wing band ; brownish on head, neck, and throat, fig. 12. In Fig. 12. winter the throat is white. Young have a smaller bill without grooves or bands. Nests in cavities about rocks ; eggs, 1, 2, white, heavily mot- tled with brown and umber. Breeds the last week in June. A trim, neat, bird, rather unsocial, and quite quarrelsome. Occurs in summer from Grand Menan northward ; mi- grates south late in Oct. ; winters from Mass, to N. J. ; goes north in early March. This species holds its tail upright when swimming. Cries, loud and harsh. b. Murres. Uria. Differ from a in being more slender, with a pointed bi_l which is not much compressed nor at all ridged, figs. 13, 14. Colors, brownish or black above ; white beneath : wing band, Fig. 13. O, A, a. 1. 1-8. C, A. b, 1. much as in a, 1. Downy young, blackish, sprinkled with yellowish. Eggs, 1, pyri- f orm, greenish or white, spotted, dotted, and lined with black , placed on shelves of rocky cliffs. The birds when on land sit on 18 MVRKES, GUILLEMOTS. the whole foot; on water, hold head upright, and, when seen at a distance, somewhat resemble floating bottles, but differ from a, 1 in not holding the tail upright. Social, gentle, and friendly. All migrate southward in Nov. and northward in Feb. and early March. Note, when annoyed, a murmuring sound, like "murre" , often repeated. 1. MURRE, U. TROILE. 18.00 long; brownish-black above and on neck and throat. White to chin in winter. Bill, whol- ly black. Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward in late June. Winters as far south as northern N. E. Common. 2. RINGED MURRE, U. RLTOVIA. Differs from 1 in hav- ing a white ring around eye and a line running from it on side of head, plate 1. Range, similar to that of 1. Rather rare. 3. BRUNNICH'S MURRE, U. LOMVIA. Differs from 1 in Fig. 14 being nearly black above, with a short- er, thicker bill, that has the basal por- tion of the cutting edge of upper man- dible thickened and yellowish in color, fig. 14. It ranges with 1 in summer; in winter south as far asN. J. Abund- ant. O, A, b, 3. c. Guillemots. Cepphus. Similar in general form and habits to b, but smaller: in summer black throughout ; often with a targe, white wing patch, very conspicuous in flight ; feet, bright red ; winter plu- mage, mottled with white and black. Egg, 2, 4, oval, green- ish to whitish, mottled with black and brown. 1. BLACK GUILLEMOT, C. GRYLLE. 13.00 long; white patch on wing often entirely or partly divided by a black wedge, fig. 15 (dark dress, summer; mottled, winter). Coast DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 19 of Me. northward ; comes south in early Oct, ; winters to X. J. Goes north in April; breeds in Fig. 15. June. Note, when disturbed, a mournful whistle ; at other times gives a chuckling cry. Yery com- mon. 2. MANDT'S GUILLEMOT, C. MANDTII. Differs from 1 in having the white wing patch lar- ger and never divided by a black wedge. Breeds from the coast of Labrador northward in .June and July ; southward range in winter not well known. d. Little Auks. Alle. O, A, c, 1. 1-10. Very small, 8.00; bill shorter than head, not compressed (fig. 16). 1. DOVEKIE, A. ALLE. Black on upper parts and on the head and neck all around; wing bands, streaks on sec- ondaries and beneath, white ; in winter, white to the chin Fig. 16. with a whitish collar extending around neck. A plump bird, looking very small on the water, upon which it rides very lightly. Breeds in the far north, migrat ing south in winter to N. J., ap- pearing in early Nov. ; goes north in April. Common, occurring singly or in flocks, sometimes O, A, d, 1. 1-6. blown inland in severe storms which occur during the southward migration. The single, pyriform, greenish-white, unspotted egg is placed on the shelves of rocky cliffs. 20 PUFFINS. e. Puffins. Fraterculao Thick-bodied, short-necked birds with a deep, much compressed bill which gives them a parrot-like appearance. Eyelid, with horny appendages, fig. 17. 1. PUFFIN, F. ARCTICA. 13.00 long; a broad collar around neck ; upper parts and sides, brownish-black ; sides of head and chin, ashy ; white beneath ; bill, bluish with the ridges orange; feet, coral red. Young, similar, but the bill is smaller, without ridges, and dusky; Fig. 17. cheeks, dusky. The single egg is placed in a burrow excavated by the bird, white, occasionally mottled with green- ish. Very social, friendly birds when breeding. When annoyed utter a croak- ing cry. Breed in July from the Bay of Fundy northward; comes south in Oct. to N. J. ; goes north in April. In winter keeps well out to sea, rarely ap- proaching land, excepting islands or points that project into the ocean. 1*. LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN, F. O, A, e, 1. 1-6. A. GLACIALIS. Similar to 1, but a little larger with the bill proportionately larger. Coasts and islands of the Arctic Ocean, northern and western Greenland ; probably ranging southward in winter. f . Crested Puffins. Lunda. Both sides of head in breeding season with a large, pen- dent tuft of silky, straw-colored feathers ; general form of bill as in e, but the under mandible is without grooves, and there are no horny appendages on eyelid^, 1. TUFTED PUFFIN, L. CIRRHATA. Differs from a. 1 in being sooty gray beneath in all stages. Coasts and is- lands of the north Pacific ; accidental in the Bay of Fundy and Kennebeck River, Me. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. g. Murrelets. 21 Synthliboramphus. Bill, short, somewhat compressed ; rather small, short- necked, compact birds, auk-like in general habit ; lead-col- ored above; white beneath. 1. ANCIENT MURRELET, S. ANTIQUUS. 10.00 long ; top and sides of head, throat, and fore neck, black ; sides of neck and a broad stripe on either side of back of head, white ; up- per back, streaked with white ; in winter the throat is white and the white streakings above are absent. Coasts and is- lands of the north Pacific; accidental in Wisconsin. r>. TUBE-IVOSEI} SWIMMERS. TuTbinares. Ocean-inhabiting birds of varying sizes, but always with long, narrow wings, webbed anterior toes, and nostrils more or less protected by exter- Fig. 18. nal tubes which open for- ward, figs. 18, 20, 22, 24. All of the species move with ease upon the wing, and among them are found some of the strongest fly- ing birds known: all swim well, but none of our spe- cies dive; when annoyed, I>, B, a, 1 nearly all eject an oily fluid from the mouth which has a strong odor. The outer covering of bill consists of several pieces, fig. 18. Egg, single, white; young, covered with down when hatched, but helpless and fed by regurgitation. A. ALBATROSSES. Diomedeidae. Very large birds living upon the open ocean remote from continental land. Wings, very long and narrow, hav- ing 30 to 50 flight feathers ; nasal tubes, widely separated. Nests, placed upon oceanic islands, mound-like structures, placed in open situations; single egg, white, sometimes sprinkled with reddish dots. All of the species occur in the Pacific or oceans of the southern hemisphere ; accidental elsewhere. 22 PETRELS. FULMARS. a. Yellow-billed Albatrosses; Thalaissogeron. Upper division of bill-covering, narrow with a strip of na- ked skin extending from nasal tubes to base. Dark slaty above : white beneath. 1. YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS. T. CULMINATUS. 36.00 long ; rump and upper tail coverts, white ; tail, grayish ; head, varying from white tinged with slaty to grayish ; dark space bofore and behind eye and a white spot on lower eye- lid. Indian and South Pacific Oceans; accidental in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. B. PETRELS. Procellariidae, Ocean birds of varying sizes. Wings, shorter than in A, the flight feathers being 30 or less ; nasal tubes, connected, figs. 19, 22, 24. Nests, placed in cavities of rocks or in bur- rows. Species of this group occur 011 all oceans. Food, fish- es, squid, and cuttlefish ; are also fond of fatty matter cast overboard from vessels and will follow them to obtain it. a. Fulmars. Fulmarus. Birds of the open ocean ; excepting to breed, seldom ap- proaching land; of rather large size and gull-like appear- ance, white with a Fig. 19. bluish mantle; bill, short and stout, as deep as one half its length, fig. 18 ; wing, folding about to tip of tail. Our species have a light (fig. 19) and dark phase of plumage. Common on the ocean. D 9 B, a, 1. 1. FULMAR, F. GLACIALIS. 18.00 long head, neck, and lower parts, white; upper parts, bluish- gray. Dark phase:- smoky-brown throughout. North At- lantic, breeding on St. Kidda and other Scottish islands that lie far out to sea : south on the American side, in winter, as far as the Georges Banks. 1-10 Light phase:- llfe^llfer ^"'ssfe^is :*& '-^?>* o CQ , B, f, 1. black. 1. LEACH'S PETREL, O. LEUCORHOA. 8,00; sooty- black, lighter beneath, and with a decidedly palish brown space on middle of wing ; spot on Fig. 23. rump, white. North Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans ; breeds on our coast from Me. northward in June, nesting usually in burrows, dug by the birds in the surface of peaty soil on islands, but occasionally on the face of earthy or sandy cliffs, like Bank Swallows. Common from June until Oct. g. Long-legged Petrels. Oceanites. Small; bill, weak, not half as 33, B, f, 1. 1-5. long as head, fig. 24 ; tips of outstreached toes reaching be- yond tail, fig. 25 ; tarsus, much longer than toes ; wings, Fig. 24. long, folding beyond the nearly square tail. 1. WILSON'S PETREL, O. OCEANICUS. 7.00; sooty-black throughout, a little lighter be- ll), B, g, 1. neath; wings and tail, wholly black ; webs of toes, mostly yellow. North and South At- DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 27 lantic and southern oceans ; breeds on Kergulen Island in February. Abundant off the eastern Fig. 25 coast of the U. S. from June until Sep. [XOTE: on page 21, under I>, I stated that none of the order dive. Since this was printed I find, up- g_ on good authority, that the Fulmar g occasionally dives a little way under ^ water for its food. The Shearwaters may also sometimes do this in order to catch the squid upon which some f~= of them feed, but I have never seen one dive. ] D , B, g, 1-5 SWIMMERS. ^teg^itw. oj3od.es . Water birds of varying sizes, but many of them are large. Fig. 26. Hind toe, connected with the anterior toes by a web, fig. 33 ; there is an exten- sible pouch beneath the bill (gula sac) ? fig. 31 ; external nostrils, very small, fig. 27, or wholly absent, fig. 31. A well de- fined, easily recognized group of birds, having well established and clearly sep- arated families, genera and species ; com- paratively few in number, but, excepting the polar regions, generally distributed throughout the world. Young, naked when hatched, fig. 26, but soon covered E, B, a, 1. 1-3. with down; helpless and fed by regurgita- tion. Middle toe nail pectinated in some genera, fig. 33, 35. A. TROPIC BIRDS. Phaethontidae. Ocean birds' of moderate size, mainly white, but with some dark markings above ; bill, pointed; gula sac, mostly feathered, fig. 27; tail, short, graduated, but with the cen- tral feathers narrowed and greatly elongated, fig. 29 ; toes, 28 TOTIPALMATE BIRDS. 1-4. fully webbed, fig. 28 ; external nostrils, present. Single egg placed in a cavity on rocky cliffs Fig. 27. of oceanic islands ; purplish- brown, sprinkled and spotted with darker brown. Flight, di- rect, steady; wing-beats, rapid, but the birds can turn in air and , circle with ease. Procure their prey by diving like Terns. Cries, loud and harsh. Gregarious when breeding, solitary at oth- er times, Tropical and subtropical. Sexes, similar. Fig. 28. a. Long-tailed Tropic Birds. Phaethon. Characters as in A 1. YELLOW-BILLED TROP- IC BIRD, P. AMERICANUS. 28.00 to 30.00; bill yellow or orange; plumage, especially beneath, well tinged with salmon-pink which A, a. 1. 1-2 becomes deeper on the elongated tail feathers; curved mark on side of head, patch on wing, near back, and one near termi- nal portion of primaries, pur- plish-black. Young, without the greatly elongated central tail feathers, and are more or less banded above with black. Breeds in the West Indies, Ba- hamas, and Bermudas in May ; occasional in Florida ; accident- al in western N. Y. 2. RED-BILLED TROPIC BIRD, P. AETHERETJS. Differs from 1 in being a little larger, 30.00 to 35.00; the bill is coral-red Fig. 29. E, A, 1. 1-6. the elongated tail feath- ers, white. Coasts of tropical America ; breeds on islands DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 29 in the Gulf of California ; accidental on the Banks of New- foundland. B. Gannets. Sulidae. Ocean birds of from moderate to large size ; white with black QJ; brown primaries ; Fig. 30. bill, pointed; space about face, naked ; gular sac rath- er small, not wholly feath- ered ; tail, graduated, with central feathers not very much elongated; toes, ful- ly webbed; external nos- trils, absent, fig. 30. Nests, placed on the ground, on rocks, and on trees ; they are bulky structures, com- posed of sticks, sea-weed, and other coarse materials. Eggs, one or two, white, E, B, a, 1. 1-10. covered with a chalky incrustation. Flight, steady, direct; wing-beats, rather rapid ; turn in air and circle with ease ; procure their prey by diving directly downward from a con- siderable height, becoming completely submerged ; the feet are usually wholly concealed in flight ; walk well and perch on trees with ease. Cries, harsh and loud. Downy young, white. Sexes, similar. Tropical, subtropical and temperate. a. GANNETS. Sula. Characters as above. 1. GANNET, S. BASSANA. 39.00 ; white, becoming buff on neck and head ; primaries, brownish-black ; bill, bluish- white ; iris, blue ; naked space about face, and gula sac, dark- bluish : feet, bluish with lines of green along tarsi and toes. Young, dark-brown, streaked and spotted with white, fig. 30, upper bird, adult ; lower, young. Breeds on islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in May ; migrates north in March and April, south from Sep., to Nov. ; winters from N. E. to Fla. 3D GANNETS, PELICAITO. 2. BLUE-FACED GANNET, S. CYANOPS. 28.00; white; primaries and their coverts, tail (excepting central feath- ers and base which are white), dark-brown; naked skin of face, bluish. Young, head, neck and upper parts, dark- brown ; rump, streaked with white ; lower parts, white, with dusky streaks on flanks. Breeds from the Bahamas south- ward in May ; wandering to Florida. [CORY'S GANNET, 5. coryi, which breeds on the northern Cayman Islands, may be expected to occur as an occasional visitor to the coast of the Gulf States. Differs from 2 in hav- ing the tail wholly white. See Maynard's Contributions to Science, vol. i, p. 40.] 3. KED-FACED GANKET, S. PISCATOR. 28.00 ; white ; primaries, hoary-slate ; naked space of face, yellowish or red. Young, brown throughout, lighter beneath. Breeds on is- lands in intertropical seas, wandering north to Florida. 4. BOOBY, S. SULA. 30.50; head, neck, breast, and upper parts, sooty-brown tinged with grayish on head and neck; lower parts behind breast, white. Young, brown throughout. Tropical and subtropical coasts of America; common off the east coast of Florida ; rare as far north as Ga. ; accidental in Mass. C. PELICANS. Pelecanidae. Water birds of large size ; white or brownish ; bill, long, flattened and promi- Fig. 31. nently hooked ; gu- la sac, very large, not feathered; tail, short, rounded; toes "i'H^ and nostrils as in B, fig 31. Nests. placed E:> C, a, 1. 1-7. in trees or on the ground; eggs, 1 or 2, much as in B. Young in down, grayish. Flight, slow, direct, the birds, often form- ing lines side by side or V-shaped flocks, move by alternate flapping and sailing; wing-beats, slow. Incapable of pro- ducing any sound, save a low grunt. Highly gregarious at DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 31 all times. Walk well and perch on trees with ease ; when sitting, the head is usually held back with the bill down and resting on the breast, fig. 32. Sexes, similar. a. Pelicans. Pelecanus. Characters as above. 1. WHITE PELICAN, P. ERYTHRORHYNCHOS. One of our largest birds, 68.00; primaries and most of the seconda- ries, black ; center of scapularies, andtail feathers, salmon ; spot on breast and wing coverts, pale straw ; iris, white in summer, brown in winter; bill, naked space about face and gula sac, yellow ; there is a central elevation on the bill in summer, fig. 31, which is moulted in autumn. Winter adults and young are without the salmon and straw markings. Feed by swimming and scooping the small fishes, upon which it usually subsists, into its gula sac by a side movement of the head that is often entirely submerged ; the sac is then con- tracted and the water forced out on either side of the bill; the fish are then swallowed at once. After feeding, all rise to a considerable height and circle about for an hour or more. Kest on isolated sandbars at night and often resort to them by day. Breed in the interior of N. A. from Utah north- ward ; common in West Florida and along the Gulf coast in winter ; go north in early April to breed Fig. 32. in May; return south in Sep. ; now rath- er rare on the Atlantic coast, but stray- ing as far north as Mass. 2. BROWN PELICAN, P. FUSCTJS. 50.00 ; above, grayish with feathers more or less margined with dark-brown ; head and stripe on neck adjoining gula sac, white, the former tinged with yellow; remainder of neck, dark chestnut-brown ; beneath, sooty-black, streaked with whit- ish; patch on breast, pale straw; iris, white; bill, whitish edged on lower man- dible and tipped on upper with red; na- E, A, a, 2. 1-20. 32 TOTIPALMATE BIRDS. ked space about face and gula sac, greenish ; feet, bluish. In winter the entire head and neck are white. Young, gray above and white beneath. Brown Pelicans fish more often by flying at a slight elevation over the water, then dropping into it, than by swimming. Fish are carried to the young in the gullet, not in the gula sac, and regurgitated. Breed in abundance on the islands of southern Fla., Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and West Indies, wandering north regularly to N. C. and accidentally to 111. D. CORMORANTS. Phalacrocoracidae. Water birds of from moderate to large size ; black or brownish; bill, shorter than head, Fig- 33. not flattened, but prominently hooked; gula sac, small, fig. 34 ;> tail, long, rounded, with feathers stiffened ; toes and nostrils as in B, fig. 33; foot, 1-3; toe nail, life- size. Nests, placed on rocky cliffs, trees, and bushes, composed of El, D. a, 2. sticks, seaweed, etc. ; eggs, 2 to 5, much as in B. Flight, Fig. 34. rapid, direct, often in lines or Ys, but fre- quently breaking into irregular masses ; wing-beats, continuous and rather rapid. Often perch on buoys, beacons, partly submerged rocks, and trees; when sit- ting upright, the neck is curved and the head is held well up slightly in advance of the body; sometimes the wings are widely spread and held in this way for ; a considerable time, fig. 34 ; walk fairly ; well ; dive with ease, sometimes from i the wing, but usually when swimming, remaining beneath the surface of the water for some time ; in alighting, will E, D, a, 2. 1 10. usually pass the object on which they intend to rest, then turn and come back to it ; in starting from a perch, will almost always drop downward nearly to DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 33 the water, then rise; when suddenly alarmed by a loud Khout or gun shot, if flying low over the water, will often drop into it, diving as soon as they strike it ; the cry, seldom given, is a harsh croak. The young are naked when hatched with the skin bluish or black and shining as if polished. Sexes, similar. a. Cormorants. Phalacrocorax. Characters, as in family. 1. CORMORANT, P. CARBO. 38.00 ; feathers of throat, encroaching upon gula sac in a point which extends nearly to bill; tail feathers, 14; blue-black, grayish-brown on back and wing coverts where each feather is bordered with black ; space adjoining gula sac, filamentous feathers scattered over head, especially above eye, and large patch on flanks, white ; iris, green ; naked space about head, greenish-brown ; gula sac, orange ; feet, black. Young, brown above, lighter or even whitish beneath ; no white patches anywhere as in adults. Atlantic coast of N. A., breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward in May ; goes south in Nov. ; north jn April; winters from Greenland to N. J. ; not uncommon, especially north of the U. S. 2. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, D. DILOPHUS. Tail feathers, 12; differs from 1 in being smaller (32.00); in having no white in any stage of plumage, save the elongated feathers over eye in adult breeding birds, and in not having the feathers of throat encroaching on gular sac in a point, fig. 34 ; naked space about bill, orange ; bill, black banded with blue and white; feet, black. Young, light brown be- neath but never whitish. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy, the Great Lakes, Minn., and Da. northward in May; goes south through the interior and along the coast in Sep. and Oct ; winters from N. E. southward through the Gulf States ; comes north in April ; common ; occasionally found on fresh water ponds. 3. FLORIDA CORMORANT, P. FLORIDANTJS. Similar to 2 but smaller (30. 00) and with a larger bill, there are sel- 34: ANHINGAS. dom any white feathers over eye. South Atlantic and Gulf States, breeding chiefly along the coast in April, wandering up the Mississippi Ya.ley to southern 111 ; common. 4. MEXICAN CORMORANT, P. MEXICANUS. 26.00, brownish-black; slaty on back where the border of each feather is black ; line adjoining gula sac, white ; naked space about the face, brownish ; in breeding birds there are short, scattering, filamentous, white feathers 011 top of head. Young grayish-brown, lighter beneath, sometimes white on throat near gula sac and on lower tail coverts. Breeds in Mexico, Texas and Cuba, wandering along Fig. 35. the Gulf and up the Mississippi Valley to southern 111. ; common. B. ANHINGAS. Anhin- gidae. Rather large but slender birds that occur chiefly on inland wa- ters ; sexes, unlike ; males, nearly black ; females, more or less brown; bill, slender, small ; space in front of eye, naked; gula sac, small; neck, long and slender with a pe- culiar arrangment of joints near the middle whereby it may be part- ly withdrawn within its skin which is very dilatable; tail, long, round- ed and fan-like, central feathers, corrugated transversely ; toes, ful- ly webbed ; external nostrils, ab- sent, fig. 35. Nests of sticks and weeds placed on trees or bushes ; eggs, 2 to 5, much as in D ; young, covered with short, yellowish down. Flight, steady and diiect; wing-beats, rapid, but the birds often soar at a considerable height much as do the White Pelicans. E, E, a 1. 1-10. DIKECTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 35 a. Anhingas. Anhinga. Characters as under A. 1. ANHINGA, A. ANHINGA. 35.00 ; male, greenish-black spotted on upper back and streaked on scapularies and wing coverts ( forming a patch on greater ) with gray ; tail, tipped with reddish-ash; in breeding birds there are numerous, long, filamentous, ashy-white feathers scattered over the head and neck ; gula sac and lower mandible, orange ; upper mandible and space in front of eye, dark-brown, the latter black lined with green in breeding birds ; iris, red ; feet, brown. Young, with more or less whitish on head and neck and the tail feathers are not corrugated. Female differs from male in having head, neck and upper breast ashy-yellow, becoming brownish above. Young, browner with few or no white markings above. Common along rivers and on inland bodies of fresh water where it sits upright on trees that pro- ject over the water; when suddenly alarmed drops directly into the water and instantly disappears ; has the power of sinking slowly under the surface, beneath which it can swim with ease, thus capturing the fishes upon which it feeds ; sometimes plunges into the water when in full flight, but always obliquely, and can emerge in flight ; often swims with the head and neck or even the head or bill projecting above the surface. The cry, seldom given, is guttural and harsh. Resident in tropical and subtropical America, north in sum- mer to the Carolinas, the mouth of the Ohio and southern Kansas. Breeds in Florida in March. Fig. 36. F. FRIGATE BIRDS. Fregatidae. Ocean birds of large size and power- ful flight; bill, longer than head, some- what flattened and strongly hooked, fig. 36, head, large and somewhat crested; gula sac, rather large; space around eye, naked but this does not extend to bill ; neck, short; wings, long; tail, deeply forked, outer feathers, considerably elon- gated; feet, very small, toes, about half E, F, a, 1. 1-20. 36 MAN O' WAR BIRD. webbed, fig. 37 ; external nostrils, absent. Nests and eggs, much as in D. Flight, steady, majestic, and exceedingly Fig. 37. F, a, 1. graceful ; wing-beats, slow. Cries, harsh and loud. Pro- cure their food mainly by robbing other sea birds of fishes which they have cap- tured. Highly gregareous at all times. Young, naked at first, lead-colored, but soon covered with long, white down. Perch well on trees and rocks but do not walk well. Sexes, not similar. Tropical and subtropical. a. Frigates. Fregata. Characters as in F. 1. MAN O' WAR BIRD, F. AQUILA. 40.00; male, black with the lanceolate scapularies and interscapula- ries irridescent with green and purple. Female, duller black, breast and sides whit- ish. Young, head, neck, and most of under parts, white ; dull black elsewhere. Trop- ical and subtropical seas, chiefly north of the equator ; breeds as far north as the Ba- hamas, Florida and Texas; accidental in Pa., Ohio, Kan., and Nova Scotia. w b O o g DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 37 F. LO1VO- WINGED SWIMMERS, Lonjyi pennes . Water birds of varying sizes, with long wings and with anterior toes webbed to a greater __?!? 38> or less extent, fig. 38 ; bill, vari- able, but the nostrils are always open, figs. 39, 50, plate 3; gula sac, absent ; color, variable, but often F 9 B, d. 3. 1-2 bluish or slaty above and white beneath ; some few species are black above, and some brown or even dusky throughout. Young, covered with down when hatched, plate 4, active, but are fed by their parents. Food, mainly fishes, a few are scavengers, and a few subsist partly upon insects. Inhabit all regions of the globe on sea coasts or in the neighborhood of large bodies of fresh water. Sexes, similar. A. SKUAS AND JAEGKERS. Stercorariidae. Gull-like birds of large or medium size, dark above and Fig. 39. also sometimes below; often banded below ; bill, strong- ly curved with covering of up- ss. per mandible composed of four pieces, one at tip, one on eith- er side and one at base, fig. 39 ; A, b, 2. wings, long; tail, short, square with central feathers projecting beyond the others, figs. 41 ? 43, 44 ; toes, fully webbed. Ocean birds which breed on or near the coasts of the colder waters of the world ; nests, placed on the ground; eggs, 2 or 3, oval, brown or greenish-brown, spotted and blotched with darker. Food, usually fishes oft- en procured by robbing Gulls and Terns. Social when breed- ing, solitary at other times. a. Skuas. Megalestris. Size, large, about that of Herring Gull; form, robust; dusky brown throughout, a little lighter below ; central tail feathers, only slightly projecting, fig. 40. 38 JAEGER GULLS. 1. SKUA, M. SKUA. 22.00; dull brown, streaked on back and neck with pale Fig. 40. cinnamon and beneath often with pale cinnamon and brownish ; a distinct white spot on base of primaries. Young, more distinctly streaked with lighter colors especially on head and neck. IF 1 , A, a, 1. 1-2 Coasts and islands of the north Atlantic ; not very common off the coast of N. A. but seldom seen near the land; casual as far south as N. C. ft. Hunter Gulls, Jaegers. Stercorarius. Size, medium, about equal to Laughing Gull, generally paler than a, often whitish below banded with darker; cen- tral tail feathers, decidedly projecting, figs. 41, 42. Occur along the coast, frequently near the land, sometimes flying over it. 1. POMARINE JAEGER, S. POMAKINUS. 20.00 to 23.00; central tail feathers, broad, rounded at ends, fig. 41. LIGHT Fig. 41. PHASE:- top of head and upper parts, dusky slate ; rest of head, with nape, and lower parts, white; ear coverts, straw-yellow; un- der tail coverts, slaty. DARK PHASE ;- .uni- form sooty-slate. Young, differ from the dark phase in being more or less banded be- low with buff, but in adults all stages occur between the light and dark phases, conse- quently many specimens are more or less , A, b, 1. 1-2. banded below with drisky. Breeds in the northern portion of the northern hemisphere on sea coasts and inland waters ; migrates southward in Aug. Sep. and Oct. ; winters far south : goes north in May ; not uncommon off the coast, but not often seen near the land. 2. PARASITIC JAEGER, S. PABASITICUS. Differs from 1 in being smaller (15.00 to 21-00), in having the central tail A, b. 2. 1-10. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 39 feathers, narrowed and pointed at tips, fig. 43 ; the sides of head and the nape are both Fig. 42. straw-yellow ; there are also light and dark phases with intermediate plumages as in 1. Breeds in the northern parts of the northern hemi- sphere ; migrates south in July, Aug. and Sep. ; win- ters from N. J. to S. A. ; goes north in May and early June ; very common, often seen from the land, fig. 42. 3. LONG-TAILED JAEGER, P. LONGICATJDUS. About the size of 2, but differs in having the central tail feathers Fig. 43. Fig. 44. much longer, fig. 44, projecting in adults 8.00 to 10.00, in being lighter on the back, in having the tarsus blu- ish and feet black, not both black as in 1 and 2. In the young, when the tail feathers are short and much as in 2, the best distinguishing character is the color of the shafts of the primari- es, the three outer of which only are white (not all as in 2 ) and these be- come dusky at the tips. Breeds in the Arctic Regions, migrating southward in Aug.; northward in May; exact winter range, unknown. B. GULLS, Laridae. Birds of varying sizes, in the adult stage white beneath and seldom very dark above, usually some shade of bluish which is confined to the back and wings and the area so col- ored is known as the mantle, figs. 47, 48, 49 ; bill, curved on upper mandible and somewhat hooked at tip, lower mandi- ble angled and the bill is deeper there than at the nostrils, A, b, 2 & 3. 4O GULLS. fig. 45 ; wings, usually folding at the tip of tail or beyond it; tail, short, usually square, Fig. 45. figs 46 to 49 ; feet, rather large and fitted for walk- ing ; toes, fully webbed, fig. 38. Birds of the ocean, coasts, and large bodies of fresh water. Nests, placed on rocks, on the ground or F, B. b, 1. sometimes in trees, composed of sticks, weeds, etc. ; eggs 2 to 4, similar to A, but somewhat lighter in color. Procure their food which consists chiefly of fishes, other sea animals and floating garbage, usually by swooping downward from a moderate height, but sometimes, especially when securing living fish, they will make an attempt at diving, but even then they invariably strike the water at an acute angle and never drop directly downward ; a few species feed upon lo- custs and other insects. a. Ice Gulls. G-avia. Size, medium ; wholly white ; tail square ; hind toe, well developed but small. 1. IYOKY GULL, G. ALBA. Pure white ; shafts of pri- Fig. 46. maries, yellowish; feet, black, fig. 46. Young, with feathers of primaries, wing coverts and tail tipped with a spot of dusky. Breeds in the Arctic Regions where it is not uncommon ; migrat- ing southern winter along the coast of N. A. to Lab_ rador and Newfoundland, F, B, a, 1. 1-10. casually to New Brunswick and Mass. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. b. Ocean Gulls. Rissa. Size, medium ; mantle, bluish ; white beneath in all stages of plumage ; bill, short, rather slender, fig. 45 ; tail, slightly emarginate ; hind toe, rudimentary or absent. Habits, social. 1. KITTIWAKE GULL, E. TRIDACTYLA. 17.00; man- tle, bluish-gray ; five out- Fig. 47. er quills with the termi- nal portions black; oth- ^rwisft pure white; eye- lids, vermilion, iris, brown ; bill, yellow ; feet, black, fig. 47. In winter suffused with grayish on hind head and neck , and in front and behind eye. IT, A, b, 1, 1-10. Young, differ from winter adult in having a line crossing in- ner portion of wing, a patch on back of neck and tip of tail, black, and more black on primaries ; iris, yellowish-white ; bill, yellow, vermillion spot near tip of lower mandible; feet, pink. Downy young, white, with base of wings, hind neck, back, rump and flanks, yellowish. Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward in June; migrating southward in Sept. ; winters, from coast of N. E. south to the Middle States, casually nearly to the Bahamas ; goes north in April. Oc- curs off the coast but approaches the land at times, especi- ally off headlands and along open beaches. Flight, graceful, easy, and rather tern-like. Common cry in breeding season, '"''Kittiivke, wake wake ivaker." c. Gulls. Larus. Size, variable comprising the largest and smallest of the family; adults, white beneath with mantles of varying shades ; head and neck, white ; grayish behind in winter. Young, brown, assuming the adult dress slowly ; tail short and square. Very social. Flight, strong, steady, direct ; wing-beats, rath- er slow; cries, loud, harsh, and considerably varied. 1. GEE AT BLACK-BACKED GULL, L. MARINTJS. Fig. 48. Large, 28.00-31.00; mantle, dark slate, appearing black in the distance; prima- ries, with white tips and spots near ends, fig. 48. Young rath- ^ er pale brownish, - darkest above, and I vy; :; streaked with buff ^ ' ^// and grayish. Downy ttljj^ y un >g ra y ish - ^&^v white, mottled above ^r ^"Ji'.ic^^- w ith dusky; top of B, C 9 1. 1-10. head, spotted with black. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy northward in May on coasts and islands of the North Atlantic ; migrates south- ward in Sept. ; winters from Southern Greenland, as far south as L. I. ; goes north the last of April ; occasionally a few will remain as far south as Cape Ann, Mass, in summer; common. 2. SIBERIAN GULL, L. AFFINIS. Smaller than 1 ; 20.00; mantle a little paler and the feet are yellow. Northern Asia; accidental in Southern Greenland. 3. GLAUCOUS GULL, L. GLATJCUS. About the size of 1 ; mantle and wings, pale pearl-gray. Young, grayish-white ; brownish-gray below ; upper parts, transversely mottled with pale brownish. Downy young, grayish-white, paler beneath mottled and clouded above with dusky and grayish. Breeds in the Arctic regions, where it is common ; south in winter regularly to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and rarely to the Great Lakes and L. I. 4. HERRING GULL, L. ARGENTATUS. 24.00; white; mantle, pearl-gray ; primaries, with white tips and spots near ends, that on outer feather, usually extending to the tip with- out being interrupted by a black cross bar, fig. 50 ; bill, yellow ; DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 43 feet, pinkish ; iris, white. Young, third year, although show- ing some of the colors of the adult, is more or less mottled Fig. 49. B. C, 4. 1-8. with dusky; bill, brownish. Second year, pale buff above, banded and mottled with yellowish-brown ; beneath, nearly Fig. 50. Fig. 51. IF, B, c, 4. F, B, c, 5. uniform yellowish-brown; no white on primary tips; bill, 44 GULLS. dark-brown. First year, nearly uniform dark brown, with comparatively few streakings of buffy above. Downy young, grayish-white ; top of head, spotted with black ; remaining upper parts, clouded with grayish. Old World, south in win- ter to the Azores ; Cumberland Sound ; occasionally on the eastern coast of the U. S. 5. AMERICAN HERRING GULL, L. SMITHSONIANUS. Differs from 4 in having the white near the tip of the outer primary, separated from the white of tip by a bar of black, and this is rarely less than .50 wide, fig. 51. Breeds through- out the whole of N. E.from about the latitude of Me. north- ward; constantly resident as far south as Cape Ann, Mass., on the coast ; winters in abundance from Me. to the Caroli- nas, rather common as far as the St. John's River, Fla., and occasional along the coast to Cuba ; migrates south in Sept. ; north in April, fig. 49, young in flight. 6. KUMLIEN'S GULL, L. KTJMLIENI. Size of 4; differs in being very pale, the primaries gray, but with the white marks at the tips showing distinctly, though the wings usu- ally appear quite white in flight. Young, mottled with brown- ish, much as in 3. Breeds about Cumberland Gulf, migrat- ing south in winter regularly to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Mass., where it is rare. 7. ICELAND GULL, L. LEUCOPTERUS. Size of 4, but similar to 3 in all plumages. Coasts of the North Atlantic, migrating south in winter to Newfoundland and very rarely as far as Mass. 8. RING-BILLED GULL, L. DELAWARENSIS. Color, much as in 5 ; man- Fig. 52. - tie, a little darker; size, smaller, 19.00; bill, greenish crossed by a black band, fig. 52 ; iris, pale yellow. Young, much lighter F 9 B, C, 8. than in 5, even in the first year the head, neck and beneath are nearly white, and the back is lighter; the bill is whitish DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 45 but the black ring is not very prominent ; iris, white. Breeds in northern N. A. ; migrates southward over the whole coun- try in Aug. and Sep. ; winters from theCarolinas to Cuba and Mexico ; common, excepting in N. E. where it is rather un- common. 9. MEW GULL, L. CANUS. Similar in size and general coloration to 8, but the black band on the bill is absent and the gray wedge 011 the inner web of the third primary is not tipped with white. Europe and Asia; accidental in Lab- rador. d. Hooded G-ulls. Chroicocephalus. Size, medium or small ; head in summer adults, sooty- black, whitish or grayish in winter; white beneath, tinged with rosy in summer ; white pattern on primaries, variable, but always different from c ; but form, generally similar ; flight, somewhat variable ; the wing-beats are rather more rapid than in c; social. 1 LAUGHING GULL, C. ATRICILLA. 16.00; dark blu- ish-gray, darker than any Fig. 53. species given in C, except- ing 1 ; primaries, often nar- rowly tipped with white on the three outer ; secondari- es, more broadly tipped with white; bill, crimson- lake; iris, and feet, brown, fig. 53. In winter, head white, tinged on back of F 9 B, d, 1. 1-6. crown, around eyes, and in a band back of them, with bluish- gray like back, fig. 54. Young, differ in having the seconda- ries gray, a grayish patch on back of neck, head more decid- edly grayish, a well defined band back of eye which widens out and extends along side, pearly-gray; this color crosses the breast in a more or less well defined band of varying width leaving throat clearly white; bill, brown; no white tips to primaries ; tail, broadly tipped with black. Downy GULLS. young, varying from grayish to umber, paler below ; head, irregularly striped and spotted, and other parts mottled with dusky. Cries, when breed- Fig. 54. ing, singular, sounding like peals of prolonged, derisive laughter. Nests, placed on the ground. Breeds from the southern coast of Maine -^ff===^ southward through the Ba- hamas. Migrates s o u t h - F, B, d, 1. 1-10. ward in Sep. and Oct., remaining on the coasts of the Caroli- nas until Dec ; winters in Mexico, Central America, and North- ern S. A. ; arrive in the Bahamas in spring, about April 15 ; in Mass. May 1. Common as far north as N. J. but local and rather uncommon north of this; a few still breed at Muske- get Island, Mass., and probably on a few other islands off the shore, and Metinic Green Island, Me. 2. FRANKLIN'S GULL, C. FRANKLINII. 14.00; a lit- tle smaller than 1, somewhat similar but darker on mantle; primaries, bluish-gray and in all stages of plumage broadly tipped with white; beneath deeply tinted with rose-pink; other stages of plumage corresponding to 1. Breeds from northern Iowa, north through Minn, and the interior of the country; migrates southward in late Sept. through Oct., into early Nov. ; winters in northern S. A. ; goes north in April. Common; known to the farmers of the west as the Prairie Dove, and feeds largely upon the land, often far from water, subsisting principally upon insects. 3. BONAPARTE'S GULL, C. PHILADELPHIA. Smallest of our Gulls, 13.00; mantle, pale bluish ; outer wing feathers, white ; inner, pale bluish ; outer portion of three outer pri- maries and tips of all the wing feathers, black; bill black, orange at base; feet, bright orange, fig. 55, upper figure. Winter adult ; head, white tinged with gray and with, a dark spot on either side of the back part. Young ; upper wing cov- erts, brownish ; tail, rather narrowly tipped with black, fig. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 47 55, lower figure. Whole of the U. S. and northward, breed- ing in the Arctic regions ; migrates southward in Aug., Sep. and Oct. along the coasts Fig. 55. and waters of the interi- or; winters, in our sec- tion, from the Carolinas south to the Gulf of Mex- ico ; goes north in March, April and May. Flight, ij~ easy, graceful and tern- like ; w h e n migrating, J often flies along shor close to land, usually in F 9 B, d, 3. 1-6. small companies, sometimes whirling with a sweeping flight much like sandpipers ; in the south in winter occurs scatter- ingly, flying over sounds or creeks, or often far up fresh wa- ter rivers. The cry, seldom heard in migration, is harsh and rasping. Common. 4. LITTLE GULL, C. MINUTUS. Differs from 2 in be- ing smaller, (11.00) and in having little or no black on the wings ; in the young the tail is without a black tip. Europe and parts of Asia and Africa ; accidental in the Bermudas and on Long Island. e. Rosy Gulls. Rhodostethia. Size, small ; head, always white in adults ; entire plu- mage, strongly tinged with rosy ; tail, graduated, fig. 56. 1. ROSS'S GULL, R. ROSEA. White tinged with pink; mantle and lower surface of wing, pale Fig. 56. pearl-gray ; outer web of first primary and narrow ring around neck, black. In win- ter the black collar is absent, the head is tinged with pearl-gray and there is a black- ish spot in front of eye. Young; upper parts, more or less clouded with dusky and some of the inner tail feathers are ~F* 9 B, e, 1. 1-3. tipped with black. Arctic regions, south, within our limits, to Disco Bay, Greenland. Rare. 48 TEKXS. f. Fork-tailed Gulls. Xema. Size, small ; tail, prominently forked, fig. 57 ; mantle, much darker than in e. SABINE'S GULL, X. SABINA. 13.50; head and up'per neck, plumbeous, bordered below by a black collar; mantle, dark bluish-gray; primaries, black, the five inner more or less marked with white ; plumage, otherwise white ; bill black, tipped with yellow. In winter, head white with ear- coverts and back of head and neck, plumbeous. Young, , B 1. 1-6. with the mantle, brownish-gray; tail, with a broad black band near end, and this is narrowly tipped with white. Breeds in the Arctic regions ; south in winter very rarely to Mass., N. Y.. and the Great Lakes. C. TERNS, Sternidae. Birds of varying sizes but more slender and graceful in form than in B, with more pointed bills which are never hooked; angle of lower mandible, not so decided as in 13, plate 4 ; wings, very long and pointed, 1st primary, longest ; secondaries, short; feet, rather small, not well fitted for walking. Occur on ocean coasts and estuaries and on bod- ies of fresh water. Nests, placed on sand, rocks, or occasion- ally on bushes; eggs, 1 to 5, similar tolB. Procure their prey, which usually consists of small fishes, by diving direct- ly downward, often becoming wholly submerged. In flight the bill is frequently pointed downward ; in alighting the wings are often stretched upward before folding, much as is done by many waders. $ I. * DIKECTOKY TO BIKDS OF EASTEKN NOKTH AMEKICA. 49 a. Gull Terns. Gelochelidon. Form, rather robust; bill, thick and somewhat gull-like; fig. 58 ; wholly black ; tail, slightly forked, outer feath- ers, but little narrowed at tip. fig. 59 ; web of toes, con- siderably incised; top cf head, black ; mantle, pearly ; white, beneath ; size, moderate. 1. GULL- BILLED TEEN, G Fig. 59. Fig C, a, 1. C, a, 1. 1-7. NILOTICA. 14.00; head and kind neck, black ; mantle, pale; outer webs of primaries, hoary ; outer tail feathers are nearly white; feet, black, fig. 59. In w i n t e r , head white more or less tinged on nape and ear coverts with dusky. Young, more or less tinged with buffy above, and the top of head, hind neck, and back are often streaked with dusky. Downy young, grayish-buff above marked with prominent dusky spots, and with a dusky stripe down either side of hind nock and upper back ; white beneath. Nearly cosmopolitan ; in N. A. breeds commonly from south- ern N. J. southward along the Gulf coasts ; occasionally wan- dering in late summer and early autumn as far north as Mass. Flight, rather heavy and slow. b, Giant Terns. Thalasseus. The largest of the terns, with robust form and long but heavy bill which is not very sharply pointed; inner webs of primaries slaty or gray ; tail, much less forked than in a, fig* 60, but color much the same ; bill, red. 50 21.00; white; top of Fig. 60. 1. CASPIAN TEEN, T. CASPIA. head and nape, black ; man- tle, pale. In winter, back of head, streaked with whitish. Young, pale gray above marked with a few roundish spots of dusky ; back o f head, dusky, crown, necked with black ; and each tail feather, marked with a sub-terminal dusky spot ; bill, dull reddish-orange. Downy young, pale grayish above; back and rump, very finely mot- tled with darker gray: white JP, C, b, 1. 1 1-2. beneath, with throat and fore neck, pale gray. Nearly cos- mopolitan, breeding southward in N. A. to Ya., Texas, Cal., Nevada, and Lake Michigan. Not common along the N. E. coast in Aug. and Sep. Flight, rapid and tern-like. Cries, harsh and rasping. c. Crested Terns. Actochelidon. Form, more slender than inb; bill, more slender and pointed ; tail, more deeply forked and the outer feathers are narrowed terminally ; occipital feathers, lengthened, form- ing a kind of crest, fig. 61, and lanceolate in form ; inner por- tion of inner web of primaries, white; colors as in b. 1. ROYAL TEEN, A. MAXIMA. 20.00; mantle, pale; beneath, white tinged with rosy ; cap, deep black ; tail and its coverts, ashy-white; bill, orange; feet, black. In winter the occiput is streaked with white. Young, sparingly spot- ted above with brownish ; tail, tipped with dusky. Tropical America and warmer parts of N. A. ; breecfl from the coast of Ya., southward, late in May and in June, wandering rarely to Mass, and the Great Lakes; winters from the Caroliiias, southward at which season it visits rivers often far from the ocean t Abundant. Cries, harsh, loud and often piercing. Flight, rather heavy and not very graceful. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 51 2. CABOT'S TERN, A. ACUFLAVIDA. Smaller than 1 (14.00) and more slender; bill, more slender, black, yellow at tip, Fig. 61. Fig. 61. Flight, easy and graceful. Cries, - ^4^||B% y x . harsh. Breeds com- ^' monly on the Ba- ^ hamas and Gulf Coasts in May and June, wandering northward in late summer, casually as far as Chatham, Mass. Winters on the Florida Keys. F, C, C, 2. 1-7. d. Pale-backed Terns. Sterna. Size, rather small ; mantle, pearly-blue ;black cap present in adults in sum- Fig. 62. mer in all of our species excepting 1 ; bill, very slen- der and sharply pointed, plates F,C,d, 2. 3 and 5 ; tail, deeply forked with outer feathers narrowed terminally, figs. 62, 64; graceful, swiftly flying birds popu- larly known as Sea Swallows. 1. TRUDEAU'S TER]S,S. TRTJDEAUI. About the size of 2; form similar; head, white, dusky spot on either side ex- tending from bill to ear coverts and enclosing eye; under tail coverts, white ; outer primaries, silvery-white ; remain- der of plumage, pearl gray ; bill, black, yellow at base and tip. In winter, entire lower parts, white. Southern S. A. ; accidental in N. J. and Long Island (Audubon). 2. COMMON TERN, S. HIRUNDO. 14.00; mantle, rath- er dark ; outer tail feather not extending beyond tip of the Ifa TEENS. folded wing and its outer web is dusky, inner, white ; outer web of outer primary, Fig. 63. black ; beneath, tinged with pearly on abdomen only; bill, red, black on terminal half, plate 3 ; feet, rather light red. In winter the crown is more or less white but the oc- ciput is always b 1 a c k M Young, Jine along fore- arm, dusky; rump and upper tail coverts, gray; tail shorter, tips of feath- F, C, d, 2. 1-10. ers, not much narrowed, fig. 63; bill, black, yellow at base of lower mandible; pure white beneath. Downy young; buff above of varying shades marbled with dusky; white be- neath ; throat, more ^ or less dusky. Cry, "Te arr" with the last syllable pro- C, d, 3. longed; alarm note, "AY" repeated rapidly many times. Greater part of northern hemisphere and Africa; in N. A. breeds along the coast and in suitable places in the interior, but east of the Plains, from Fla., Texas, and Arizona to the Arctic regions in May and June; comes north in early May; goes south in Sep., but a few linger as far north as Mass, until the middle of Oct. ; winters south of the U. S. Abundant. 3. FOSTER'S TERN, S. FOSTEEI. Differs from 2 in hav- ing the bill black, yellow at tip only.; with the outer web of the outer primary, hoary; outer web of outer tail feather, white. In winter the whole of the black cap is overwashed with whitish thus including the occiput, but there is a patch of black on either side of head surrounding eye and extend- ing over ear coverts, fig. 65 ; this mark also characterizes the DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Breeds from Manitoba southward to Fig. 65. young; feet, yellow. Ya., 111., Tex- as, and Cal., thus chiefly in the interior;^ winters from the Carolinas southward to Brazil; wan- ders occasion- ally to the coast of Mass. F 9 C, d, 3. 1-2. Cries, similar to 2 but harsher. Common. 4. AECTIC TEEN, S. PARADISAEA; differs from 2 in having the bill nearly red, plate 5, the under parts pearly gray and the feet coral-red. Young have the bill wholly black, the feet yellow, but the rump is always abruptly white. Northern hemisphere ; in N. A. breeding from Me. (formerly Mass.) northward ; winters south of the U. S. ; time of mi- gration like 2 ; cries also similar. Not now at all common on the coast of the U. S. 5. EOSEATE TEEN, S. DOUGALLJ; differs from 2 in be- ing more slender in form Fig. 66. with a longer tail which is all white, and the out- er feathers are very nar- row ; strongly tinged with rosy below; bill, usually all black, but is some- times orange at base; feet, yellow, plate 6. young have the back quite heavily but irregu- larly banded and mottled with dusky, and the cap !F% C, d, 5. 1-10. dusky narrowly streaked with white, fig. 63 ; the outer web 54 TEENS. of the outer feather of the short tail is nearly white ; feet, black. The adult is the most graceful as well as the most beautiful of our terns. Cry, " O-ar-ar-ar " ; a peculiar roll- ing sound difficult to imitate; it is harsher than in 2. Tem- perate and Tropical regions, breeding on the Atlantic coast of N. A. from the south shore of Mass, southward ; winters far south of our limits ; comes north in May ; goes south in Sep. Common. e. Little Terns. Sternula. Size, small; bill, very slender; form much as in d and the colors are much the same, but there is a sharply denned lunette of white on the forehead, fig. 67. 1. LEAST TEEN, S. ANTILLARUM. Our smallest Tern, 9.00; entire upper parts, inclu- Fig. 67. ing tail, pale, pearl-grey ; two outer primaries, sooty-black on outer portion; outer tail feather, mostly white ; pure white beneath ; bill, yellow, black at- extern e tip; feet, yel- low. In winter the white of forehead is more extended. Young, with a patch of dusky^ on wing and with U- or V- F 9 . C, e, 1. 1-6. shaped marks of dusky on back ; tail, not as deeply forked. Downy young, nearly white; grayish above often sprinkled with blackish. Breeds from the south shore of Mass, south- ward from late May (Bahamas) to early July (Mass) ; migates north in May and June ; goes south in Sep. ; winters south of our limits. Rather uncommon now in ~$. E. but abundant further south. Cries, "Tce~dcel-deedle" and when alarmed, a harsher, more decidedly given, "Hoyt" repeated at irregu- lar intervals. Flight, not as steady as in the other species of Terns given, but rather jerky, the bird falling a little be- tween every wing-beat. In common with all of the Terns al- ready given, and the two following, this species has the hab- it of darting obliquely downward when flying in company DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 55 with several of its fellows, this general movement being made suddenly in response to a cry given by some member of the flock that evidently acts as a leader. f. Dusky-backed Terns. Haliplana. Size, rather large; mantle and head, dusky or black; bill, slender, and with feet, wholly black ; tail, deeply forked, figs, 68, 69 : flight, much as in d ; tropical and subtropical in distribution. Egg, single, lighter in color than in d. 1. BRIDLED TERN, H. ANAETHETUS. 14.00; form; slender; above, rather pale brownish-slate becoming lighter, nearly white, in Fig. 68. a, collar on back of neck and on tail, the outer feather of which is white except- ing at tip and all jp the others white ^^~^~^-^=^ at base ; three ==: outer primaries "^~^ have a pure white space on the middle of the inner web which narrows to a point terminally ; top of head, brownish-black with a well defined frontal lunette the horns of which extend back- ward over and behind eye; beneath, pure white, fig 68. The young have the white of the forehead more extended and and the back is grayish more or less streaked with white. Flight, swift and graceful, the wing-beats being long and sweeping. Cries, rather shrill; ordinary note, "Killlick", often repeated ; the alarm note is a croak ; the signal for the flock to dart downward when flying is a shrill, snarling note. Tropical sea coasts in general ; breeds commonly on the Ba- hamas in May in places rather apart from other Terns, nest- ing under rocks ; appears on the Bahamas the last week in April and disappears in autumn ; Accidental in Florida. 2, SOOTY TERX, H. FUI.IGIXOSA. Differs from 1 in be- ing larger. 16.00; not as slender; darker above, uniform 56 TEENS. sooty-black; the feathers of the tail are not white at base, but the outer is Fig. 69- nearly white, dark on terminal portion of inner < web only; mid- dle of inner web of outer primari- es, gray, and the horns of lunette extend only to middle of eye, fig. 69. Young, sooty brown throughout F 9 C, f . 2. 1-6. paler below ; wing coverts and scapularies narrowly but dis- tinctly tipped with white. Cries, harsh ; ordinary note, "Quanti", repeated irregularly; alarm note, "^>//-tf" rap- idly repeated; also gives a harsh, snarling cry as a signal for darting downward through the air. Flight, rather heavi- er and less graceful than in 1. Range, similar to 1 in gener- al, but breeds commonly on the Tortugas Islands, Fla. and occurs regularly, but rarely along the coast to S. C. and cas- ually to N . E. Abundant. g. Short-tailed Terns. Hydrochelidon. Fig. 70. Size small; Mantle, deep plumbeous; bill, slender, black or dark-brown ; tail, shorter than tips of fold- ed wings and but slightly forked.^ Eggs 3, 4, averag- ing darker than any others in the family. AMERICAN BLACK TERN. H. SURINAMKNSI8. Dark plumbeous above be- coming sooty black on * C T ! 1-5* Ji nape, head, and wings; DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 57 beneath, sooty-black ; under portion of wings and under tail coverts, white. In winter, the head, neck, and lower parts are white; eye-ring and ear coverts, dusky. Young, with the back marked with brownish and the sides washed with plumbeous. Breeds from middle IT. S. west of the Allegha- nies, northward in May. Common ; not uncommon on the coast of N. E or near it in Aug. and Sep. ; rare in June; win- ters in S. A. 2. WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN, H. LETJCOPTERA. Differs from 1 in having the tail and upper coverts white. Europe ; one specimen only taken in America, at Lake Kosh- konong, Wis. a number of years ago. h. Noddies. Anous. Size, large; color, sooty-brown throughout, becoming hoary or white on top of head; tail, graduated. Egg, single. Birds of tropical and sub-tropical sea coasts. 1. NODDY, A. STOLIDUS. 15.00; forehead and top of head, white, gradual- Fig. 71. ly grading into the plumbeous o f neck and sides of head; spot in front of eye and upper e y e 1 i d , t black ; bill and feet, black. Intertropical seas ; breeds on the Tortugas Islands, Fla. in May; eom- mon ; of rather un-~ common occurrence along the coasts of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. Flight, rather erratic, with long, sweeping wing-beats, while the bird keeps low over the water, giving it a petrel-like ap- pearance ; in sitting, unlike the other terns, which usually keep the head on a level with the body, it holds its head high, giving it a dove-like aspect. Cries, a series of croaks. 58 SKIMMEliS. A gentle bird which may be taken from its nest without it making any effort to defend itself. D. SKIMMERS. Rynchopidae. Birds of general tern-like appearance with very long Fig. 72. D, a, 1. 1-5. wings and short, slightly forked tails; bill, excessively com- pressed, both mandibles being thin and knife-like terminal- ly; the lower mandible considerably exceeds the upper in length and is crossed by many oblique ridges, Fig. 72, j col- or, mainly black above and white beneath. a. Skimmers. Rynchops. Characters as above. 1 BLACK SKIMMEK, R. NIGAR. 18.00; beneath, fore- head, tips of secondaries, inner primaries and tail, except- ing middle feathers which are brownish, white; bill, black, basal portion and feet, vermillion. lit winter, brownish above with a broad white collar crossing neck. Young, with the feathers of head and back more or less tipped with white and the tail is tipped with brownish. These singular birds are found resting on sand bars in large flocks during the day and, when startled, move with an eccentric flight, with long, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 59 sweeping wing-beats ; at nightfall they separate into small companies, and forming lines, fly up estuaries and rivers, keeping close to the water with the elongated lower mandi. ble beneath the surface, in this way securing food which must consist of substances that float upon the surface. Cries, harsh and abrupt, much like the bark of a young puppy. Eggs placed upon sandy spots near the sea, 2, 3, white, handsomely mottled with dark-brown and lilac. Sea coasts of the warmer portions of America; breeding on the Atlan- tic side from N. J. southward in May; winters from the Fla. Keys southward. G. SHORE BIROS. Limicolae. Long legged and often long winged birds with elongated tertiaries, and are usually found in the vicinity of water ; bill of variable length, sometimes shorter than head but oft- en longer and nearly always grooved on either side of both mandibles; size never very large, often small; colors, not bright, grays, white and buff or reddish buff being usual, occasionally relieved by black markings. Eggs, usually 4 almost invariably placed on the ground. Young, covered with down and active when hatched. Inhabit nearly all re- gions of the globe. A. PHALAROPES. Phalaropodidae. Sandpiper-like birds with duck-like habits; breeding far inland but passing a greater portion of their lives on the op- en ocean ; folded wings at least reaching to end of short tail ; feet with tarsus compressed ; toes, 4, the anterior provided with lateral and basal membranes, figs. 73, 74, 79 ; plumage beneath, greatly thickened closely blended and duck-like enabling the birds to rest lightly on the water and to swim with ease, fig. 78. Sexes, dissimilar, the females being brighter than the males. Gregarious. Notes, weak whistles. a. Coot-footed Phalaropes. Crymophilus. Bill, short, thick and broadened at the end, fig. 74; lat- eral membranes of toes, slighty lobed, fig. 73 ; summer female, entirely reddish beneath. 60 PHALAKOPES. 1. RED PHALAEOPE, C. FULICARITJS. 8.00; summer female, beneath, purplish-cinnamon extending around on neck behind; sides of head, white; top of head, dark plum- beous ; back, light reddish or buff streaked with black ; rump, white, fig. 75. Summer male, smaller, duller, with the top of head streaked with bufTy. Winter adult, head, neck, and lower parts, white ; occiput and space around eye, plumbeous ; back, pearl-gray. Young, above dull black ; wing coverts and rump, plumbeous with all of the feathers more or less tinged with ochraceous ; white beneath, throat and breast tinged with brownish-buff. Downy young, bright red- dish-buff above, darkest on crown, every, where broadly striped with black; dull/ white beneath with chin, throat, and chest* tinged with reddish-buff. Northern hem- isphere, breeding far northward; migrat- ing southward in winter in IS". A. as far as O, A, a 1 Fig. 74. the Middle States ; not uncommon off the coast of N. E. in Sep., Oct., and May; rare in the interior. b. Priiiged-footed Phalaropes. Steganopus. A, a, 1. Bill, long, slender and awJ-like, fig. 77 ; lateral membrane of toes, continuous and fringe-like, fig. 76. Summer fe- male, white below, reddish on neck on- iy- 1. WILSON'S PHALAKOPE, S. TRICOLOR. 9.00; white beneath, pale bufXy-red on neck ; Fig. 75. A, b, 1. 1-4. w H n 1 ff i tf DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 61 A, b, 1. top of head, grayish-white which becomes pure white on oc- ciput and back of neck, this Fig. 76. Fig. 77. passes into plumbeous-gray on the back to become abruptly white on the upper tail coverts and a portion of the tail ; re- mainder of tail, gray ; a widen- ing line of black passes through eye to back of head and neck where it becomes chestnut, then narrowing, passes along sides of back to join a broader line of ' the same color on the scapulari- es, fig. 78. Summer male, much duller but with the same mark- ings indicated. Winter adult, ash-gray above; upper tail coverts and lower parts, white. Young, blackish above Fig. 78. more or less streaked with buff ; supercilia- ry stripe, upper tail coverts, and lower parts, white; neck, ^tinged with buff. Downy young, bright tawny above, paler beneath ; black stripe on occiput and hind neck and three broad ones on lower back Gr, A, b, 1. 1-4. and rump; a black band near tail and a black spot on flanks. Temperate N. A. ; breeding from southern 111. and Utah north to the Saskat- chewan region ; in winter to Brazil and Patagonia ; very rare on the N. E. coast in spring and autumn (May and Aug.). c. Lobe-footed Phalaropes. Phalaropus. Smaller than in b, but with the bill similar; lateral toe 02 PHALAROPES. membrane, distinctly lobed, fig. 79 ; no distinct red markings above. 1. NORTHERN PHALAROPE, P. LOBATUS. 7.50; above, dark plumbeous striped on back with Fig. 79. reddish-buff; upper tail coverts, like back ; distinct wing band and under parts, white; sides of neck and chest, rufous. Summer male, much duller, the rufous confined to sides of neck, and the chest is mottled with white and grayish. Winter adult, forehead, superciliary Line, and beneath, white; above, grayish ; patch on sides of head, blackish, fig. 80. Young differ from last in being streaked above with red- dish-buff. Downy young, bright taw- GJ-, A, C, 1. Fig. 80. ny above ; three black stripes on rump ; triangular patch of b 1 a c k on crown ; black line over eye; white beneath, throat, pale taw- ny. Northern hemisphere, breeding far north ; winters off the coast of the Caroli- nas southward ; common off Gr, A, C, 1. 1-4. the coast of N. E. from mid- dle Aug. to early Oct. ; occasionally seen on beaches and rarely on the waters of the interior ; migrates north in May when it is less common. B. AVOCETS AND STILTS. Recurvirostridae. Legs, greatly lengthened, longer than any other in G ; tibea, naked for at least half its length ; toes, with a well developed basel web ; rather large birds of social habits that usually occur in the vicinity of fresh water. a. Avocets. Recurvirostra. Bill, flattened, longer than head and decidedly recurved, fig. 81 ; toes, 4, the anterior fully webbed ; wings, short, when DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 63 folded not reaching end of tail. Colors, black, white, and reddish. Sexes, similar. 1. AMERICAN AYOCET, R. AMERICANA. 17.00 ; head, neck, and chest, light cinna- Fig. 81. mon ; wings and two broad stripes on back, brownish-black ;, tail, ashy; white elsewhere, fig. 81. In winter, head, neck, and chest, white tinged with bluish. Swims well and frequently alights on the water. Cries, harsh and continuous. Breeds in the interior west of the Miss- issippi River, from Kansas north to the Saskatchewan and Greatj Slave Lake ; exceedingly rare in Eastern U. S. ; winters south to! Guatemala. b. Stilts. Himantopus. Bill, not flattened, slender Fig. 82. G, B, a, 1. 1-4, , B, b, 1. 1-4. and nearly straight ; toes, three, webbed at base only ; wings, long, when folded reaching be- yond end of tail, fig. 82, colors, black and white. Sexes, dis- similar. 1. BLACK-NECKED STILT, H. MEXICANUS. 14.00 ; m a 1 e , top and sides of head below eye, back of neck, middle of back, and wings, glossy, greenish- black ; tail gray ; spot behind eye and parts not mentioned, white ; bill, black : iris, red ; feet and legs, carmine, fig. 82. The female differs in having the back slaty-brown and the other 64 SHORE BIRDS. black portions duller. Young, differ from the last in having- the feathers of the back bordered with dull white and the top of head finely mottled with the same. Downy young, yel- lowish gray above, paler beneath, mottled and spotted above with dusky with a median line on head of the same. Breed- ing note, ''''Put" repeated many times at regular intervals as the bird both sits and flies; alarm note, a series of harsh screams. Flight, steady, not swift, wing-beats rather slow and sweeping low, the head is held partly back but the legs are fully extended, or in short flights are held dangling ; al- though it often wades in water so deeply that it nearly floats, it seldom swims ; a number will sometimes sit together in the water occasionally moving the primaries up and down with a fan-like movement while the secondaries are kept motionless. Breeds from northern U. S., west of the Miss- issippi River, southward and in Fla., the Bahamas, and the Antilles in late April and early May. Common ; very rare in eastern U. S. north of Fla. ; arrives in Fla. about the middle of March ; goes south in early Oct. C. WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. Scolecopaoidae. Birds of fresh water swamps and marshes ; bill, much longer than Fig. 83. head, covered with soft skin sensitive near tip (rough- G, C, b, 1. ened by pits and wrinkled when dry, fig. 83), with it the birds procure worms and similar animals by probing in mud or soft earth ; in order to enable the birds*to perceive dang- er when the bill is buried to the base, the eyes are placed far back in the head directly over the ears, figs. 85, 86; neck, and wings, short, folding within the tip of the short, round- ed tail ; legs, short ; toes, four, long, no basal webs ; plumage the same at all seasons ; sexes, similar. All of the species are well known game birds. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 65 a. Narrow -quilled "Woodcocks. Philohela. Very short-necked stout-bodied birds that live in swamps and are protectively clad in dull reds and wood browns ; wings, very short, folding at the base of tail, and with three prima- Fig. 84. G, C, a, 1. ries, somewhat shorter than the fourth and much narrower than the others, fig. 84; tibia, feathered to the tarsal joint. Solitary in habit, or occasionally found in scattered flocks. 1. AMERICAN WOODCOCK, P. MINOR. 11.00; dark brown above, with three distinct bands of reddish-buff cross- ing occiput, and otherwise finely banded with reddish-buff and mottled with ashy brown ; forehead to eye, sides of head, and tip of tail, ashy brown ; a dusky line from bill to eye ; be- neath, reddish buff brightest on sides and flanks, ashy on neck beneath ; downy young, rusty buff throughout, mottled and spotted above with brown; iris, bill, and feet, brown. Flight, direct and swift, with rapid wing-beats, sometimes accompanied by a whistling sound, commonly supposed to be vocal ; from early March to July gives what is known as the sky song; the bird selects an open spot near its breeding ground, to which it resorts at twilight; the performance be- gins with the utterance cf a number of bleating notes not un- like the cry of the nighthawk, but rather more tremulous and not as sharp; this sound is repeated at regular intervals from a few to many times, then the bird rises, and giving the whist- ling flight-sound, describes a wide circle, two or three hun- dred yards in diameter, but constantly ascending and circling spiraliy, each successive circle being smaller than the last, until he has reached a point at the apex directly above the spot from which he had started, then he drops downward 66 SHORE BIRDS. C, b, 1.1-6. with a rocking motion on extended wings, uttering a rather subdued, liquid whistle. Alight- Fig. 58. ing, this performance is repeated, often a number of times during an evening. To hear this song the observer should station him- self shortly after sunset at a point near enough to a known spot where a woodcock performs to hear the opening bleats, but not near enough to disturb the bird when he comes from the swamp. Just as soon as the bird rises to begin the upward flight walk very swiftly forward, taking care to drop flat on the ground as the bird approaches the earth ; thus by exercising caution and keeping perfect silence, it is possible to approach wittiin a few yards and witness the bird's behavior when on the ground. Alder swamps are favorite resorts of the woodcock and in them it may be found in early spring, at which time it is not especially shy. Breeds throughout Eastern N. A. from the British Provinces, south to Fla., in March and April, placing its nest in woodlands near swamps; winters in the Southern States, goes south in Oct. and Nov. ; comes north in late Feb. and Mar. Quite common, but far less so than in former years, fig. 58. b. Broad-quilled Woodcocks. Scolopax. Larger, and differs otherwise in having the outer prima- ry longer than the second and as broad as the others. 1. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK, S. RUSTICOLA. Differs from a, 1 in being larger (13.00) and in being distinctly band- ed beneath. Northern parts of eastern hemisphere: occas- ional in Eastern N. A. c. Snipes. Gallinago. More slender birds with longer necks that live in marshes and are clad in browns and reddish-grays ; wings longer than DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 67 in a, reaching beyond middle of tail, the first primary is long- est and all are broad ; tibia, not f eatherd to the tarsal joint. Eggs, placed in marshes. Not as solitary in habit as in a, numbers often associate together, especially in winter. 1. WILSON'S SNIPE, G. DELICATA. 11.00; dusky-brown above streaked, mottled, and banded with reddish-buff, ru- fous and grayish-white ; median line of buff on head ; tail, black with a sub-terminal band of pale chestnut ; white be- neath and on side of head, grayish on lower neck and chest mottled with dusky ; dusky line in front of eye ; under wing coverts, axillaries, and sides, distinctly marked with black bands that are as wide, or wider, than the white interspaces. It is almost impossible to see Fig. 86. this bird on the ground as it lies , very close ; when startled, it ris- es quickly and flies swiftly in a zigzag course, uttering its singu-* lar bleating "Scape' 1 ' 1 as it goes ; > after flying some twenty yards its course becomes more direct, but it still winds and circles, and s after rising to a considerableN height, and going some distanced away, it is quite apt to return and Gr, C, C, 1. 1-6. alight near where it started. Upon its breeding grounds, and occasionally when migrating, it produces the sound called winnowing. The bird rises high in air and when it reaches a certain altitude darts rapidly in a zigzag, flight much like a Nighthawk, at the same time giving the sound which has received the appropriate name of winnowing; whether this is made by the wings or is vocal is difficult to decide. Breeds from northern U. S. northward, occasionally further south ; winters regularly from the Carolinas southward to northern S. A., and irregularly as far north as Mass. ; comes north in April and May ; goes south in Sep. and Oct. 68 SHORE BIRDS. 2. EUKOPEAN SNIPE, G. GALI.INAGO. Differs from 1 in having the white bandings on the under wing coverts, ax- illaries, and sides, wider then the dark interspaces, and the tail feathers are broader. Europe, northern Asia and Africa ; frequent in Greenland ; accidental in the Bermudas. D. SANDPIPERS, TATTLERS, GOD WITS, CURLEWS, ETC. Tringidae. Birds which usually occur in marshes, either salt or fresh or on sea beaches ; a few species occur on dry land but never in wooded swamps ; eyes, placed in front of ears ; wings, longer than in C ; tibia, never feathered to the tarsal joint ; front of tarsus covered with a continuous row of scales, toes four, excepting in i ; highly gregarious in habit ; sum- mer and winter plumages are very different ; sexes, similar. General flight, swift and direct, with rapid wing-beats, turning and wheeling in air is performed with grace and ease. All of the species run swiftly, although none when adult swim voluntarily when uninjured, wounded birds, and young often enter the water and swim with ease. a. Snipe Sandpipers. Macrorhamphus. Medium sized, snipe-like birds with long, sensitive-tip- ped bills, rather long necks, Fig 87. folded wings reaching tip square tail, legs, long and feet with partly webbed toes, fig. 87; sometimes oc- cur on muddy borders of fresh waters, but more com- monly in muddy places on salt marshes where they feed by probing. 1. DOWITCHEK, M. GRISETJS. 10.00 ; bill, 2.35 ; dusky brown above so thick- O, D, a, 1. 1-6. iy streaked and banded with pale cinnamon as to appear red- dish when seen at a distance; lower back and rump, white DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 69 spotted with dusky ; beneath, pale cinnamon somewhat mot- tled with lighter, marked with a number of rounded spots and some bars of dusky ; bill, brown ; feet, greenish, fig. 81. Winter, gray above; lower back and rump as in summer; white beneath, grayish on lower neck and sides where there are slight bandings and spottings of dusky. Young, differ from the last in being darker above where all of the feathers, excepting on lower back, rump and upper tail coverts, are edged and banded with yellowish-rufous; beneath, tinged with reddish-buff. Note, a mellow whistle uttered when the bird rises and when it is on the wing; this call is often fol- lowed by one or two others which are low and querulous. An unsuspicious species which, although sometimes found singly, more often occurs in flocks, some of which are very large, and fly in compact form. Eastern N. A; breeding far north ; pass south, chiefly along the coast in July and Aug. ; winters from the Carolinas to the West Indies and Brazil; come north in May ; abundant at this season in Fla. and the Bahamas but not as common further north. 2. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, M. SCOLOPACEUS. Dif- fers from 1 in being deeper in color beneath, where there are no blotches. Western N. A. breeding in Alaska to the Arctic coast ; migrating south through western U. S. (including the Mississippi Valley ) and less commonly along the Atlantic coast to winter in Mexico; time of migration same as in 1. b. Long-legged Sandpipers. Micropalma. Very long legged birds with slightly webbed toes, slen- der, somewhat sensitive tipped bills w,hich are not as long as in a, fig. 88. Similar in general habit to a and frequent sim- ilar places. 1, STILT SANDPIPER, M. HIMANTOPUS. 9.00. bill, 1.60 ; tail, white ; remaining upper parts dusky-brown streaked and banded with pale buff ; patch on side of head, light rusty ; beneath, white, banded with dusky ; bill, brown ; feet, green- ish. In winter rather grayer above and dull white beneath without bandings ; no reddish spot on side of head, fig. 88. Young, rather more buffy above than the last and with a buff 88. 7O SHORE BIRDS. tingeing on breast. Note, a chuckling whistle. Flight, swift and direct, with rapid wing beats. Eastern N. A., breeding north of the Fig. U. S. ; goes ^ south i 11 Aug. w h c 11 it is not un- common on the coast of Mass., to winter in S. A, ; comes north in Ap- ril, when it is common in Fla. but rare further north on the coast. c. Ruddy Sandpipers. Tringa. Rather large, stout sandpipers with quite thick and not very long bills that are not sensitive at tip ; legs not long ; toes without webs ; occur on sandy beaches and procure their Gr 9 D, b, 1. 1-3, Fig. 89. B, c, 1. 1-5. food, which consists chiefly o f small marine animals, between tide marks. 1. KNOT, T. CANUTUS. 10.50 ; bill, 1.35; ashy-gray above mottled with dull 1 black and pale reddish ; ' upper t a, i 1 coverts, white . banded with dusky ; be- ~" neath, pale cinnamon streaked on throat and banded on sides with dusky bill, brown ; feet, greenish, fig. 89. Winter, gray above DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA 71 with feathers margined with white and the white beneath is tinged with yellowish. Young, differ from the last in being without the yellowish tingeing beneath. Note, a clear, dou- ble whistle, not loud and not often given. Occurs in small flocks often associating with Black-bellied Plover and other beach birds, but frequently alone on sand spits. Northern Hemisphere, breeding far north migrating south in N. A. on the Atlantic coast from the middle of July until the first of Nov. ; winters from the Carolinas southward but is not found on the Bahamas and is rare in the West Indies; migrates northward in May, arriving in N. E. the latter part of the month, when it is not uncommon along the south shore and on Gape Cod, but rare north of Cape Ann. d, Feather-legged Stints. Arquatella. Medium sized sandpipers with robust form, slender, not long bills, short legs with tibia provided with long feathers the tips of which reach below the tarsal joint, and with round- ed tail, fig. 90. 1. PURPLE SANDPIPER, A. MARITIMA. 8.50; bill, 1.25 : brownish-black above with the scapularies and inter- scapularies irregularly spotted with dull buff and bordered with whitish at tips; white beneath streaked on neck and Fig. 90. G, B, d, 1, 1-5. chest with dusky ; breast, light grayish spotted with darker; bill, dark-brown, orange at base ; feet, green- ish-yellow. Winter, black- ish brown above glossed with purplish, scapularies, interscapularies, and wing coverts bordered with plumbeous, fig. 90. Young differ from the last in hav- ing the dark of upper parts much obscured with plumb- eous and the plumbeous be- 72 SHORE BIRDS. neath is extended on to the neck ; rump and upper tail cov- erts, black in all stages. Note, a feeble whistle. Flight, or- dinary. Northern portions of northern hemisphere, breeding far north ; in N. A. migrating south in Oct. appearing on the coast of N. E. about Nov. 1 ; winters from the British Prov- inces south to the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi Valley, on the Atlantic coast commonly from Grand Manan to the south shore of N. E. ; more rarely to N. J. and casually to Fla. Occurs on rocky islands. Common. e. Stints. Actodromas. Medium to small sized sandpipers differing from d in having a more slender form and longer legs which are not feathered so near the tarsal joint; toes, not palmate, plate 7. Upper tail coverts dark brown excepting in 2 and 3. 1. PECTOKAL SANDPIPER, A. MACULATA. 8.50; bill, 1.15; rump, dark-brown; above, dark-brown with the feath- ers margined with brownish-buff ; white beneath with fore neck and breast grayish-buff broadly streaked with dusky ; bill, brown ; feet, greenish. Plate 8, A. Winter, differs in "being less rusty above with the dark markings less distinct. Young, more rusty above than the summer adult and more buff beneath where the streakings are narrower. !Note, a shrill, rolling whistle, often given harshly and gratingly. Flight, when started singly, swift and erratic, something as in C, C, 1. Occurs, as a rule, among the grass of the higher portions of the salt marshes where it has a habit of squatting to hide when approached. Breeds in the Arctic regions of N. A. migrating southward from the middle of July until the first of Nov. ; abundant at this season on the coast and rather common in the interior ; not common on the Atlantic coast south of N. J. ; winters far south in S. A. ; comes north in May but is then rare on the Atlantic coast and common in the interior. 2. WH1TE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, A. FUSCICOLMS. A little smaller than 1 (7.00) ; bill, more slender, shorter (.95) ; upper tail coverts, white; brownish gray above rather broad- Kir I. :..-' v,-,., Ayr" DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 73 ly streaked with dusky and tinged with yellowish red ; white beneath with sides of head, lower neck, and breast tinged with ashy and streaked with dusky; bill, brown ; feet, green- Fig. 01. ish, fig. 91. Winter, differs in having no reddish above and fewer streaks beneath. Young, differ in having many of t h e feathers above tipped with rus- ty and some buff tinge- ing on breast. Note, a short, sharp whistle. Fl i ght ordinary. Oc- curs on both beach and salt marsh; unsus- picious birds which are sometimes found G- t D, 2. 1-4. in small flocks by themselves, or often in company with other sandpipers. Eastern N. A. breeding far north ; migrates south in Sep. and Oct. but sometimes specimens occur earlier or later in N. E. ; winters in southern S. A. casually as far north as Fla. 3. COOPER'S SANDPIPER, A. COOPERI. Differs from 4 in being larger ( 9.50 ), in having only a trace of reddish on the longer scapularies, plate 71, and in having conspicu- ous Y-shaped marks on upper tail coverts. Only a single specimen known, obtained on Long Island, N. Y., May 24, 1833. 4. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, A. BAIRDII. Somewhat sim- ilar to 1, differs in being smaller ( 7.25 ), in having a weaker bill, ( .95 ), plate 8, B, in being much paler above, and in having fewer streakings on the breast below. The young have all of the feathers above very narrowly margined with pale grayish-buff conspicuous enough to give the back a scaled appearance. Note, not very unlike 1. Flight, much as in 74 SHORE BIRDS. 2. Breeds in Alaska and on the Barren Grounds; migrates south in Aug. and Sep., but chiefly through the interior o f the western states where it is often found on dry ground; rare on the Atlantic Coast from N. E. south, occurring with other sandpipers on both marsh and beach ; winters in south- ern S. A. ; comes north in April always through the interior. 5. LEAST SANDPIPER, A. MINUTILLA. Smallest of all our sandpipers ( 6.15 ; bill .85 ), in spring much like a small edition of 1 but with less buff beneath and fewer streakings, plate 7. Winter, grayish above ;' indistinctly streaked with dusky and grayish on breast. Young, with the dark brown feathers above very conspicuously bordered with bright ru- fous and a few spots of whitish; breast, buff; bill, always brown and feet greenish yellow. Ordinary call a trilling whistle, also give a low piping note when feeding; Dr. C. W. Townsend in his incomparable Birds of Essex County, Mass, says; " In Spring I have frequently seen them fly over the marsh with wings quivering forcibly downward, uttering constantly sweet tremulo calls, the flight song of the spe- cies. " In flight flocks often oscillate from side to side show- ing first the dark backs then the white under parts. The most abundant of our sandpipers, occurring more often on marshes and mud flats than on the beaches, sometimes singly but more frequently in flocks of from three or four to hun- dreds, the larger numbers being usually found in the south in winter; usually unsuspicious, allowing near approach. Breeds north of the U.S., passes south in July and Aug. often occurring in the interior but chiefly along the coast ; winters from the Carolinas southward into S.' A. but not common in the U. S. at this season; cqmes north in May. f. Dunlin Sandpipers. Pelidna. Medium sized Sandpipers with long, decidedly curved l)ills, plate 9, A ; otherwise much as in e. 1. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER, P. SAKIIALINA. 8.35; bill, 1.50. Above red distinctly spotted with black; wings DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 75 gray; beneath, white streaked with dusky, belly covered with a nearly continuous patch of black. Winter, ashy- gray above ; white beneath with breast tinged with ashy and narrowly streaked with dusky, plate 9, A. Young, differ from the last in having the feathers of upper parts, especially of the wings, margined with rufous; upper tail coverts, bill, and feet always black. A very unsuspicious species that oc- curs more often on sandy beaches than elsewhere, some- times singly but more often in flocks or in company with other shore birds. Call, a rather plaintive, melodious note sounding something like " Fur re " ; when disturbed utters a short chuckling cry ; flight, ordinary. N .A. ; breeding f ar north ; goes south in Sep., Oct., and Nov. ; winters from the Carolinas southward, occasionally remaining further north ; comes north in May. Abundant on the coasts in fall ; rather uncommon in spring along the Atlantic coast north of the Carolinas. 2. DUNLIN, P. ALPINA. Differs from 1 in being smaller (7.50; bill, 1.25 ) and in having less red above, the black pre- dominating, but is more heavily streaked below with dusky ; thus the black of the belly is not in as strong contrast with the lighter parts. Northern parts of the Old World ; acci- dental in Eastern N. A. ; one record for Mass. g. Curve-billed Sandpipers. Erolia. Medium sized sandpipers with long, slender, curved, bills, fig. 92, long slender legs and short, nearly square tails. 1. CURLEW SANDPIPER, E. FERRUGINEA. 8.00; bill 1.50; upper tail coverts, white; lower parts, reddish chest- nut; upper parts, varied with blackish and rusty. Winter and young much as in f, 1, Fig. 92. excepting that the upper* tail coverts are white. Old World, occasional in east- ern N. A. and Alaska; there ' are a number of N. E. re- Gr, D. g, 1. cords. 76 SHORE r> T TU>S. h. Semipalmated Sandpipers,, Ereunetes. Differs from e chiefly in having a proportionately stout- er bill and webs between the anterior toes ; plate 10. 1. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, E. PUSILLUS. Differs from e, 5 in being larger (6.75 ; bill, .75) ; grayer above with only a slight tingeing of reddish on sides of head and scapu- laries and no buff below ; in winter there is no buff anywhere and but little above in the young; bill and feet, always black, plate 10. An abundant species both spring and fall all along our coast, but rather shy in frequented locations, yet quite unsuspicious when not molested ; frequents sandy beaches rather than mud flats and mud holes in the marsh- es, although it is sometimes found in those places. Ordina- ry call note not unlike that of e, 5 but rather more shrill. I cannot refrain from quoting Dr. Townsend's charming de- scription of the spring notes as he heard them at Ipswich, Mass. He says; " A harsh rasping note and a peeping note are sometimes heard. A low, rolling, gossipy note is often emitted when they approach other birds. This latter note is often imitated with success by gunners. In spring, how- ever, the bird is delightfully musical on occasions, and his flight song may be heard on the beach and among the bogs of the dunes. Rising on quivering wings to about thirty feet from the ground, the bird advances with rapid wing- beats, curving the pinions strongly downward, pouring forth a succession of musical notes, a continuous quavering trill, and ending with a very few sweet notes that recall those of a Goldfinch. He then descends to the ground where one may be lucky enough, if near at hand, to hea'r a low musi- cal u c/c"from the excited bird. This is^ I suppose, the full love song, and is not often heard in its entirety, but the first quavering trill is not uncommon, a single bird, or a member of a flock singing thus as he flies over. I have seen birds chasing one another on the beach with raised wings, emit- ting a few quavering notes, and have been reminded of a Long-billed Marsh Wren. " ( Birds of Essex County, p. 178 ). DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 77 Eastern N. A. , breeding north of the U. S. ; migrates south from the middle of July until the first of Nov. ; winters from the Carolinas through the Bahamas and West Indies to S. A. ; comes north in May. Stragglers of this species, of e. 5 and of f , 1 are sometimes found all summer as far south as 1. WESTERN SANDPIPER, E. OCCIDENTALS. Differs from 1 in having the upper parts prominently marked with bright cinnamon and the breast with distinct streaks and tri- angular spots of dusky, the sides with arrow-shaped marks of the same: bill, stouter and longer, about 1.00, plate 9, B. Breeds far north in western N. A., migrates south about the same time as 1 and winters in the same section ; common in Fla. in winter and spring but rather uncommon further north ; a few occur along the coast in autumn as far north as N. E. ; not found as far north as this in spring. i. Three-toed Sandpipers. Calidris. Medium sized sandpipers with robust forms, rather short- stout bills, short legs, and feet with three short toes, with- out basal webs, the posterior being absent, fig. 93. 1. SANDERLING, C. ARENARIA. 7.50; bill, 1.00; light rusty, palest on head, neck and chest where it is spotted with blackish on back ; Eig. 93. bill and under tail coverts, white ; spot on b e n d of wing and of fore arm , blackish and there is a white patch on wing conspicuous in flight; win- ter ; pale gray above ; pure white beneath, fig. 93. Young, differ from last in being mot- Gr, D, i, 2. 1-8 78 SHORE BIRDS. tied with black above and with dusky beneath ; bill and feet, always black. Breeds in the arctic and subarctic regions of both hemispheres; migrates south in N. A. from the middle of July until the middle of Nov., when it is abundant on sandy beaches all along the coast, occurring singly, in flocks of va- rying sizes, or in company with other beach birds, unsus- picious at this season; winters from the Carolinas south to Patagonia ; goes north in May. j. Tatlers. Tetanus. Slender-bodied birds with large heads, long, slender black bills, with rather wide gape; long greenish or yellow legs, long toes with small basal webs; and long wings, fold- ing beyond tip of slightly rounded tail ; upper tail coverts, white sometimes barred with dusky, Fig. 94. 1. GREATER FELLOW-LEGS, T. MELANOLEUCUS. Largest of our species, 14.00; bill, 2.25; blackish-gray above streaked and spotted with yellowish white; white beneath, streaked on lower neck and breast with dusky and banded on sides, axilliaries, and under wing coverts with the same. Occurs on marshes and mud flats where it makes itself con- spicuous by its loud, clear whistle which is given very fre- quently ; also occurs in fresh waters ; flight steady with long wing beats, varied with intervals of sailing; in alighting the bird sails, then suddenly alights by dropping its long legs ; when down it often raises its wings perpendicularly over its back, as do some other of the shore birds; besides the call note it gives a kind of scream in spring something like that emitted by the Common Tern and a rolling, or scolding note. Common on the coast and not infrequent in the interior near water. Breeds in northern N. A. ; migrates south from July 15 to Nov. 15 : winters from the Carolinas southward near- ly all over S. A. ; comes north in April and May. 2. LESSER YELLOW-LEGS, T. FLAVIPES. Generally similar to 1; differs in being much smaller ( 10.25; bill, 1.45 ), in having the head always ashy and with more indi s - DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 79 tinct dusky markings below, fig. 94. Call, not very different, from 1. but less prolonged and Fig. 94. with less volume; habits also simi- lar but this species is always unsus-, picious. Breeds far north in N. A. ; migrates south from July 1 to Sep. 15 when it is common along the coast and not infrequent in the in- terior; winters in southern S. A., rare in Fla. at this season (Lake Jessup, Feb. 20, 1901, five speci- mens); migrates north in April and May, rare at this season on the Atlantic coast, abundant in the Mississippi Valley. 3. GREENSHANKS. T. NEB- ULARIUS. Differs from 1 in having the lower back and rump pure G, D, f , 2.. 1-5 white without markings. Eastern nemisphere, breeding far north ; accidental in Florida. ( near Cape Sable, Audubon ). k. Fresh-water Tatlers. Helodromas. Differs from j in having the bill more slender and never Fig. 95. upcurved, dark legs* shorter wings not fold- ing beyond tip of tail, and dark upper tail coverts, fig. 95. 1. SOLITARY SANDPIPER, II. sol- ITARIUS. 8.50; bill, 1 .25 ; dark greenish slate above finely marked with white; tail, broadly banded Gr, D, k, 1.1-4 with white ( except- ing middle feathers which are spotted on sides with white) ; 8O SHORE BIRDS. white beneath, distinctly streaked on lower neck, breast, sides, and beneath wings, with dusky; bill, greenish black; feet, dark greenish. Winter, more ashy above and less dis- tinctly marked with white above and dusky below. Young, lighter slate above marked with buffy white; throat and breast very indistinctly marked with ashy-buff Common, usually occurring singly about pools or small ponds of fresh water, but sometimes two or three are found together; un- suspicious. Teters somewhat when sitting but not as much as in p 1. Note, a rather loud whistling "peet" repeated four or five times when the bird is on the wing. Flight, rather rapid, not very direct; wings kept high and their beats are strong. Breeds occasionally in northern U. S. but more com- monly further north ; migrates south in Aug., Sep., and Oct. ; winters in the extreme southern states, the West Indies and northern S. A. ; comes north in April ( Bahamas, rare ) and May. 2. GREEN SANDPIPER, T. OCHROPUS. Differs from 1 in being a little larger ( 10.00; bill 1.35 ) , and in having the middle tail feathers broadly banded with white, and the up- per tail coverts pure white. Places its eggs in the aban- doned nest of some tree-building bird. Northern parts of the Old World; accidental in Eastern N. A. 1. Semipalmated Tatlers. Symphemia. Differ from j in being stouter with shorter, thicker bills, dark legs, toes well webbed basally, white unhanded upper tail coverts, and white marked wings. Size, large, fig. 96. 1. WILLET, S. SEMIPALMATA. 14.00; bill, 2.25; above, brownish buff , varied with dark brown; large- white patch on wing; axilliaries and wing lining, dull black, both of these latter characteristics prominent inflight; white be- neath, pale buff on breast and sides and here streaked and banded with dusky ; bill, brown; feet, plumbeous, fig. 96. Winter, differs in having no dark markings above or below. Young, have the feathers above margined with yellowish and the sides are tinged with it and finely mottled with grayish DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 81 Downy young, brownish-gray above, irregularly and coarse- ly marbled with dusky, dull white beneath; four or more Fig. 96. G, D, 1. 1. 1-4. dusky lines on sides of head. A noisy bird constantly cry- ing " Pillie -willie ivillet " in loud, shrill, tones; also gives a loud, rasping cry, and a chuckling note when alighting. Social, usually occurring in flocks of three or four to a dozen or more ; feeds on mud flats but sometimes occurs on sandy beaches ; sometimes perches on dead limbs of trees ; flight quite slow but direct ; wing beats strong and well down, not rapid. Breeds from K. J. south to Fla. and irregularly north to N. E. ; resident and all winter from the Carolinas south- w r ard. Uncommon on the coast of Mass, in fall and rare in spring. m. Fighting Sandpipers. Pavoncella. Large stout sandpipers the males of which are remark- able in having a cape of elongated feathers about the neck and a ruff on the back of the upper neck ; face naked and covered with papillae. Noted for their pugnacity, fig. 97. 0-5 SHORE BIJiDS. 1. RUFF, P. PUGNAX. 11.00; bill, 1.25; colors, very variable, above varied with black, buff, and gray; ruff and cape either chestnut, buff, black, or whitish, streaked, plain or barred ; beneath, white; sides of rump white, fig. 97. Female, without ruff and cape; plumage barred with black- ish, white and rusty, face feathered. Young, brownish-black Fig. 97. above with the feathers bor- dered on back with buff and streaked on head with reddish ; white beneath, becoming buffy anteriorly. More northern parts of eastern hemisphere ; oc- casional in east ern IL S., but chiefly on the coast, n. Highland Sandpipers. , Bartramia. Rather large sandpipers that live on the uplands, with short, slender bills with a very wide gape, enabling the birds to swallow locusts and other in- sects upon which they feed; neck, long and thin ; tail, very GS-, D, m, 1. 1-5. long ; outer toes slightly webbed, inner not at all, other char- acters much as in e, fig. 98. 1. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER, B. LONGICATJDA. 12.00; bill, 1.10. Brownish-buff above, varied with reddish and spotted and barred with blackish; tail, buff, tipped with white and somewhat banded with spots of black ; beneath buffy-white banded on under wing coverts and axillaries and spotted with arrow shaped marks on neck, breast and sides with dusky-brown, fig. 98. Young, differ in being more yellowish above and the secondaries and inner prima- ries are tipped with white. Downy young, grayish-white,, tinged with rusty coarsely and irregularly mottled with dusky; beneath, buffy-white, spots on flanks and on sides of DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERX NORTH AMERICA. 8& head, black, Breeds through eastern and central N. A. from Fig. 98. Penn. north to Quebec in suitable places. The call, note is very musical and bubbling and is almost invaria- bly given as the bird flies. I not infrequent- ly hear it here in New- ton as the bird flies over my house during migrations, sometimes in th e n i g h t ; if d i s- turbed when breeding O, D, n, 1. 1-6. it utters harsher cries ; and when alighting emits a chuckling sound. Frequents the hill tops near the coast especially in the autumn, but sometimes occurs on the marshes both in N. E. and further south ; goes south in Sep. to winter in northern S. A. ; comes north in April and May. o. Buffy Sandpipers. Tryngites. Rather small, slender sandpipers with shorter tails than in n, and with bill more slender, otherwise quite similar. 1. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, T. SUBRUFICOLLIS. Fig. 99. 1-3. 8.00; bill, .80; grayish- buff above mixed with blackish ; buff beneath somewhat spotted on breast with duskv ; ax- illaries, whit e, show- ing in flight ; lining of wing and inner webs of primaries, white, marbled with dusky. Young, differ in hav- ing the feathers bor- dered with whitish. Breeds in the far north- 84 SHORE BIRDS. ern interior of N. A. where it is abundant ; migrates south in Aug. but on its way south appears to be nowhere com- mon ; once not very uncommon on the hills on or near the coast of X. E. but now seldom seen there. Flight, rapid but rather flitting. Call note, a clear whistle, given as the bird flies. Winters in S. A. ; comes north in May when very sel- dom, if ever, found on the Atlantic coast. p. Tilting Sandpipers. Actitis. Small, rather short-beaked, short-legged sandpipers with outer toes conspicuously webbed, and which tilt fre- quently when moving on the ground, fig. 100. 1. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. A. MACULARIS, 7.50; bill, .95 ; white beneath marked with rounded spots of dusky ; broad band through under side of wing, conspicuous in flight, white; above, ashy-brown, glossed with greenish, banded, streaked, and spotted with dusky ; bill, yellowish- brown ; feet, yellow ; tail, tipped with white and outer feath- ers banded with same, fig. 100. Winter, differs in being without dusky markings above ( excepting on wing coverts), and below. Young, differ from last in having buff bandings on wings and tail. Downy young, yellowish-gray above with a narrow black line down back and one on either side of head ; white beneath. Breeds throughout temperate N. A. nesting both on the Fig. 100. coast and in the inte- rior; common. Flight direct, but slow, wing" beats short and jerky, the wing tips being held below the level of the body; in passing over water it is apt to fly close to the surface. Call note, " Feet -wcet iveet weet " , rather> shrill, but quite mu- sical. Rather solitary, or at best found in Gr, D, p, 1. 1-4. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 85 small companies in autumn, but never flying in compact flocks. Goes south in late Oct. but some remain into Nov. as far north as Mass. ; winters sparingly from the Carolinas to Fla. ; common from this point and on the Bahamas, south- ward to southern Brazil; comes north in late April, q. Godwits. Limosa. Large, sandpiper-like birds with very long, somewhat recurved bills, long pointed wings which fold beyond the end of the short, square tail; legs, long; toes, somewhat webbed, fig. 101 1. MAKBLED GODWIT, L. FEDOA. 18.50; bill, 4.00 ; pale cinnamon throughout ; streaked on head and neck and irregularly barred and spotted elsewhere ( excepting on Fig. 101. throat and abdomen ) with dusky-brown, fig. 101. Young, differ in being more reddish and in having no markings beneath. Breeds in the interior from Iowa and Nebras- ka, northward to Man- itoba and the Sas- katchewan, when it occurs on the dry prairies; migrates south in Aug. and Sep. accidental or rare then on the Atlantic Gr, D, q, 1. 1-6. coast from Mass, to the Carolinas; formerly wintered com- monly in nothern and middle Fla. on both coasts, now rarely if ever found there, but occurs in Guatemala and Yucatan. In spring it gives a series of shivering notes; in winter, when alarmed, utters harsh and discordant cries. Occurs on the, borders of pools, both salt and fresh, and on mud flats in flocks from a few individuals to hundreds, as in Fla. up to 8G SHORE BIRDS. 1877 and probably somewhat later, sometimes associates with other shore birds ; Fig. 102. comes north in April. 2. HUDSONIAN GODWIT, L. HAEMAS- TICA. 15.00; bill, 3.00; upper tail coverts, al- ways pure white ; and * tail, black. Head and neck, pale chestnut, streaked with dusky ; b e neath b r ight- er chestnut, barred with dusky; back, 5 "' blackish, marked with Gr, D, q, 2. 1-6. buff. Winter, back brownish-gray ; head, neck, and beneath grayish-white, grayish anteriorly. Young, differ from last in being buffy throughout. Breeds in eastern N. A. but far north ; migrates south in Aug. and Sep. when it is rare on the coast of N. E. ; not common anywhere ; winters in ex- treme southern S. A. ; comes north in April and May. Fre- quents mud flats and sloughs. Note, low and double. 3. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, L. LIMOSA. Differs from 1 in having two white wing patches, one at base of pri- maries and one occupying most of the secondaries, both con- spicuous in flight. Northern portions of eastern hemi- sphere, accidental in Greenland. r. Curlews. Numenius. Large, rather stout birds with long, strongly curved bills, long wings, folding beyond tip of square tail, short, stout legs, and toes with basal membranes. Color, pale or reddish-buff more or less marked with dusky ; figs. 103 to 105. 1. LONG-BILLED CURLEW, N. LONGIROSTRIS. Larg- est of our Curlews, 24.00; bill, 3.00 to 8.00; pale cinnamon, decided reddish below and on axillaries, marked above with DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 87 blackish and streaked below on neck, breast, and sides with Fig. 103. G, D, r, 1. 1-8. the same; bill, brown, yellow at base of lower mandible; feet, brown ; no buffy central or supercilliary stripes on head ; axillaries, unbanded, fig. 103. Downy Young, buffy yellow, darker above tinged with sulphur yellow beneath, coarsely and irregularly marbled above with black ; bill ? straight. Breeds through the interior of temperate N. A. north into the British Provinces ; at this season frequents alike dry prairies and moist situations ; migrates southward in Sep., when formerly was not uncommon on the coast of X. E. ; now probably never occurs there ; winters largely in Guatemala; formerly, up to 1877 and somewhat later, was abundant at this season from the Carolinas to middle Fla., now none occur in this section, nor is it probable that it is very common anywhere ; comes north in April. Note, a shrill whistle sounding almost like a scream, also utters a mellow, undulating whistle as it flies. Flight, slow with long rather sweeping wing-beats. 88 SHORE BIRDS. 2. HUDSONIAN CUKLEW, N. HUDSONICUS. Differs from 1 in being smaller, 17.00; bill, 3.50; in being paler, in Fig. 104. having a distinct central line of buff on head and a su- perciliary line of the same, and the axillaries banded with dusky; inner webs of primaries, spotted with red- dish on their edges, fig. 104. Breeds far north in N. A. mi_ grating south in Aug. at which time it is not uncommon on the coast of G, D, r, 2. 1-8. Mass, and southward, sometimes remaining until the mid- dle of Sep. ; winters south of the U. S. occurring at that sea- son all over S. A., Call note, a clear, rather shrill whistle. Flight not unlike that of 1. 3. ESQUIMO CURLEW, K. BORKALIS. Smallest of our Curlews, 13.50; bill, 2.25; differs from 2 in color, in the Fig. 105. absence of the central line of buff on crown, in having the mark- ings- on the sides arrow shaped, and in having the inner webs of primaries with- out light spot- t ings , fig. 105. Breeds far north in eastern N. A. G, D, r, 3. 1-8. migrating south DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTEKX NORTH AMERICA. 89 in Aug. when was abundant on the coasts of the British Provinces and rare further south ; formerly abundant on the N. E. coast at this season, but has been gradually diminish- ing since the early 70's and is now very rare; winters in southern S. A. ; comes north in April, when it avoids the At- lantic coast and is abundant in the Mississippi Valley and westward on the Plains. Note, a soft, mellow whistle, given as the bird flies. Moves in large, close flocks, sweeping about much as sandpipers do ; flight, swift ; wing beats regu- lar and not rapid. This species now appears to be very rare everywhere even north of N. E. and in the Mississippi Valley in spring. 4. WHIMBREL, N. PHAEOPUS. Much like 2, but the rump is plain white, and the axillaries are white banded with grayish-brown. Northern parts of Old World; occa- sional in Greenland. C. PLOVER. Charadriidae. Differ from B in being stouter in form, in having a short- er, harder, bill, and in having the tarsus in front covered with small hexagonal or irregular scales. Excepting in a and b the hind toe is absent, figs. 106 to 110. a. Vanellus. Crested Plover. Head, crested ; upper plumage with metallic luster ; hind toe, present. Plover-like birds found mostly in the Old World. 1. LAPWING, V. VANELLUS. 13.00; bill, 1.00; top and fore part of head, chin, throat and breast, blue-black ; back, metallic green, bluish and purple; upper tail coverts, rufous; tail, black with basal half and tip, sides of head, neck and belly, white ; lower tail coverts, rufous. Winter, differs in having the chin and throat white and the sides and head tinged with buff. Active, noisy birds. Northern parts of the eastern hemisphere ; occasional in Greenland and on Long Island, b. Four-toed Plover. Squatarola. Large plover with large heads, rather long bills, long 90 SHOKE BIRDS. legs; a short hind toe and with the three anterior provided with a basal mem- Fig. 106. brane ; summer adults l.ight above, black beneath ; axillaries, always black , fig. 106. 1. BLACK-BEL- LIED PLOVER, S. j SQUATAROLA. 1.00; I bill, 1.25 ; lower parts /^ and sides of head, black; forehead* sides of the breast? upper and under tail ' coverts, white: up- per parts, irregularly Gr, B, b, 1. 1-8. spotted with dusky and whitish ; bill and feet, black, fig. 106. Young, grayish above, most of the feathers edged with whitish; white beneath, tinged and mottled with grayish Fig. 107. on breast. Young, differ from last in having the back spotted with pale yellow ; basal half of inner portion of in- ner webs of prima- ries, white, contrast- ing inflight with the black axillaries. Breeds in the north- ern portion o f t h e northern hemi- sphere; migrating southward in N. A. 1, 1-8. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 91 from the middle of July to Nov. 1 ; winters from the Caroli- nas and Bahamas south through the West Indies to Brazil and Colombia; comes north in May ; common on the coast but rather rare in the interior. Frequents beaches but is sometimes seen on the mud flats. Note, a wild, sweet doub- le whistle, also gives a chuckling note when alighting. Flight, swift and strong with rapid wing beats. Occurs sin- gly or in small flocks. c. Golden Plovers. Charadrius. Smaller than in b ; bill more slender; legs as long as in b, but more slender; hind toe, absent; axillaries, never black, otherwise much as in b, fig. 107. 1. GOLDEN PLOVER, C. DOMINICUS. 10.50; bill, .85; sides of head, chin, and throat, and lower parts, dull black ; above, dusky spotted with bright ochre yellow ; forehead, line over eye, sides f neck, and breast, pure white; axillar- ies gray; bill and feet, black. Winter, differs in being gray- ish below obscurely marked with bands of spots across breast, fig. 107. Young, similar to last but more yellowish on breast. Breeds in Arctic America ; migrates south in Aug. and Sep. at which time it is common on the coast of the British Provinces and rare in N. E., where up to the ear- ly seventies it was common, frequenting .the hills along the shore, now the greater number fly directly south from New- foundland to the West Indies, on the way to their winter quarters in southern S. A. ; comes north in May passing through the interior and is then common in the Mississippi Valley and on the plains west of it. Note, a single mellow whistle. Flight, about as in b, 1. 2. GOLDEN PLOVER, C. APRICARIUS. Differs from 1 in having the axillaries and under wing coverts white. Breeds in northern Europe and eastern Greenland. c. Double-ringed Plovers. Oxyechus. Medium sized, slender plovers with very long, rounded tails, and moderately long bills; wings folding well within the tip of tail ; a well defined ring crosses breast and another broader one surrounds neck, fig. 108. 92 SHOKE BIRDS. 1. KILLDEER PLOVER, O. VOCIFERA. 10.00; bill .75 ; ashy-brown above ; Fig. 108. upper back, rump, and upper tail coverts, pale cinnamon ; tail, pale cinnamon, ashy cen- trally, tipped with white and cinnamon which is preceded by a black band ; t i p s of secondaries, small patch on primaries, edge of inner webs of primaries and second- Gr B, C, 1. 1-3. aries, lunette on forehead, spot over eye, and under parts, white; narrow line over lunette, broad line on side of head, and rings, black, fig. 108. Young, with slight indications of reddish on edge of feathers above ; bill, black ; feet, yellow ; eyelids, red, in all stages. Downy young, ashy above, mixed with rufous; black on head much as in the adult, but the bands meet behind; white beneath with a single black band surrounding neck. A noisy bird, constantly crying " Kill- dee " in loud and shrill tones as it flies. Flight, rapid, not direct for the bird twists and turns, wing beats, quick but long and decided. Frequents moist places, either on the coast or in the interior, sometimes on sea beaches or on bod- ies of fresh water. Often squats to hide when approached, then rises suddenly with loud cries. Somewhat nocturnal, flying readily by night. Breeds throughout temperate N. A. but is not common in IS". E. at any time. * Goes south in Oct. and Nov. to winter from the Carolinas southward to north- ern S. A. ; not common in the Bahamas and Greater Antil- les ; comes north in March and April. d. Single-ringed Plover. Aegialitis. Small sized, rather stout plovers with short bills, short, slightly rounded tails, wings folding at tip, and short legs; with single ring on neck ; sexes, similar, fig. 109. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 93 PLOVER, A. SEMIPALMATA. Fig. 109. 1. SEMIPALMATED 7.00; bill, .50; ring completely encircling neck ; grayish-brown above, but paler than in c, 1 ; lunette on forehead, outer tail feathers and tips of all but centra] pair and beneath, white ; wide band on top of head, extending around eye on to ear coverts and over forehead ( thus G 9 B, d, 1. 1-3. including white lunette ), neck ring, spot on middle sub- terminal portion of tail, black; bill, yellow-orange at base; feet, yellow, fig. 109. Winter, black markings replaced by brownish. Young, differs from last in having the feathers of back margined with light buff. Downy young, grayish- brown above mottled with black ; lunette, collar on back of neck, and beneath, white. Breeds in arctic and subarctic America, migrating south from the middle of July until the middle of Oct. when it is abundant along the coast and not uncommon in suitable places in the interior; winters from southern Fla. and the Bahamas south through the West In- dies to Brazil; comes north in April and May when it is less common on the Atlantic Coast. A common beach bird and also found in sloughs and on mud flats ; very social, associa- ting in flocks of varying sizes ; upon the ground scatters much, running about in all directions, keeping the head well up ; these two latter named habits characterize all Plovers ; flight, swift and direct, with rather long wing beats. Call note a rather plaintive double whistle, also gives a single prolonged note when sitting. SHORK BIRDS. 2. RING PLOVER, A. HISTICULA. Differs from 1 in having the ring much broader. Breeds in the northern parts of the Old World and in North America on the west shore of Cumberland Gulf. 3. PIPING PLOVER, A. MELODA. Palest of our Plo- ver. About the size of 1 ; differs in being much - paler above, in having no black on sides of head and that ou top . reduced to a-J; small, inverted lunette, the: neck ring is re- ^1 presented by two spots on either Gr, E, d, 3. 1-3. side of breast but does not often extend wholly across breast ; there is an oblique patch on primaries and the base of tail is white, fig. 110. Downy young, above, yellowish ash mixed with rufous; white beneath. Breeds from the coast of Vir- ginia to Newfoundland in June; migrates south in Aug. and Sep. ; winters on the Florida Keys and Greater Antilles ; mi- grates north from middle April (when it is rare on the Baha- mas) through May. Common, but rare now on the coast of Mass, in summer. Note, a long, sweet, mournful whistle. Often associates with 1 and has similar habits. 3*. BELTED PIPING PLOVER, A. M. CIRCUMCINTA. Differs from 3 in having the band across breast continuous, Mississippi Valley, breeding from northern 111. north to Lake Winnipeg, more or less frequent, but chiefly during migra- tion, eastward to the Atlantic coast. e. Large-billed Plovers. Oohthodromus. Differ from d in having a much larger, longer bill, longer legs, and in the sexes not being similar, plate 11 A. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 95 1. WILSON'S PLOVER, C. WILSONINUS. 8.00; bill/ .90; male, forehead, superciliary stripe, and beneath, white; fore part of crown, streak from bill to eye and continuous band on breast, black ; light ashy-brown above ; wings and tail, much as in d, 3. Female, differs in having the black re- placed by brownish-gray with more or less light rusty on breast ring. Young, differs from female in having the feath- ers above bordered with lighter. Downy young, pale gray- ish buff above spotted with black, forehead, sides of head, collar on hind neck, hand of wing, and beneath, white; spot behind eye, black, plate 11, B. Breeds from Long Island southward through the Bahamas and West Indies, and along the Gulf Coast in May ; migrates south in Sep. ; winters from the Fla. Keys and the Bahamas south through the We-st In- dies to S. A. ; casual as far north as Nova Scotia in summer. Associate together in small flocks or with other small plovers and shore birds. Flight, rather heavy. Call note, a single short but loud whistle; during the breeding season a rattling cry is given. Very common. f. Ringless Plovers. Podasocys. Larger than e; bill, a little shorter and much more slen- der; legs, much longer; no black band on breast; sexes simi- lar. 1. MOUNTAIN PLOVER, P. MONTANA. 8.50; bill, .85; similar in general color to e, 1, but the black on breast is re- placed by a more or less continuous tingeing of slaty-brown ; in winter the black markings of head are replaced by slaty- brown. Breeds on the Western Plains from Kansas north- ward to the British boundary in May; occurs on dry plains and feeds largely on insects; migrates south in late fall to winter in central and southern Cal., Lower Cal., Texas, and northern Mexico; accidental on Key West, Fla. Note, alow, pleasing whistle. F. TURNSTONES. Arenariidae. Medium sized birds with short bills, pointed and hard at tip; wings long, folding beyond tip of short, slightly rounded 96 SHORE BIRDS. tail; legs, very short; scales of tarsus, continuous in front, hexagonal behind ; toes, four and unwebbed ; upper tail cov- erts, white, fig. 111. a. Turnstones. Arenaria. Characters, as above. 1. TUBNSTOKE, A. INTERPRES. 9.50; bill, 85; fore, head, middle and lower back, wing band, upper tail coverts, all of tail, and lower parts, white ; large patch on breast, ex- tending along heck to sides of head, Y-shaped mark on rump, and subterminal band on tail, black ; upper parts, varied with black and reddish, fig. 111. Winter, less reddish above. Young, wholly without rufous above ; white markings always conspicuous in flight. Breeds in high northern latitudes of both hemispheres ; migrates southward in Aug., Sep., and Oct., when it is common on the Atlantic coast and on the bor- ders of large bodies of water in the interior ; winters from the Carolinas south through S. A. to the Straits of Magellan ; comes north in April and May. Frequents sandy and stony beaches, where it turns over small stones, seaweed, etc., in search of food, whence its name. Occurs in flocks of from Fig. 111. G, F, a, 1. 1-5. three or four to thirty or more. Call note, a clear melodious whis- tle, consisting of two or three notes, also gives a chuckling sound. Flight, moderately swift and direct with strong wing- beats. Less com- mon on the At- 1 anti c coast north of the Car. olinas in spring than in autumn. PLATE 8. B HEADS OF SANDPIPERS: A, PECTORAL; B, BAIRD'S. DIBKCTOKY TO 1UKDS OF EASTEKX NOKTH AMERICA. 97 GK Oyster-Catchers. Haematopoidae. Large birds, black and white or wholly black, with long strongly compressed bills bright red in color, short legs wholly covered with irregular scales, with three unwebbed toes ; wings folding at tip of slightly rounded tail. Sexes, similar, fig. 112. a. Oyster-Catchers. Haematopus. Characters as above. 1. AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER, II. PAI.LIATUS. 19.00; bill, 3.25 ; head and neck all around, sooty black; up- per parts, slaty-brown ; large patch on wing, upper tail cov- erts, and beneath, white; bill and eyelids, carmine; feet, pale pink, fig. 112. Young, with the feathers above bor- dered with pale buff; black, duller. Downy young, grayish above, palest on head ,fine- Fig. 112. ly mottled with dusky ; white beneath. Breeds on the Atlantic coast from N. J. southward; formerly wintered from the CarolL nas south to Patagonia, now rare on the Atlantic coast at this season ; acci- dental along the coast to- Grand Menan. Frequents^ sandy beaches and mud r flats feeding largely upon oysters. Flight, slow, but direct, with slow, strong wing-beats. Note, a harsh, G-, G, a 1. 1-10. discordant scream. Not now very common on the Atlantic coast of the U. S. 2. OYSTER-CATCHER, H. OSTRALEGUS. Differs from 1, in being smaller, 16.00; and in having the white of upper tail coverts extended to lower back. Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa ; occasional in Greenland. 98 SHOKE BIRDS. H. SPOONBILLS -AJVI> Large birds with long bills, long necks and long legs ; the wings are broad, the secondaries being Considerably lengthened and are as long or longer than the primaries in the closed wing; tail short; hind toe quite well developed and on a level with the anterior toes which are more or less webbed at base; body stout and compact. Aquatic, fre- quenting mud flats and muddy shores of both salt and fresh water. Food, crabs, crayfish, and other small crustaceans also small fishes. Flight, direct and rapid with quick wing beats; the neck is extended and the feet held straight out behind. Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks. Social, often gathering in large flocks. Cries, harsh and unmusical. A. SPOONBILLS. Plataleidae. Bill, flattened, greatly broadened and spoon-shaped at the end ; only slightly curved at tip ; head and portion of neck naked. Eggs, 2-4, ashy-white spotted and mottled with pale reddish-brown. Sexes, similar, fig. 113. o, American Spoonbills. Ajaja. Characters as above. I. EOSEATE SPOONBILL, A. AJAJA. 30.00; bill, 6.00; r o s e-p ink through- Fig. 113. out, lightest on neck ; carmine on re- c-urved feathers of neck, patch on wing, and upper and u der tail coverts ; tail, brownish orange ; naked head, green ; space around eye and s throat, orange, line on side of head, black; bill, bluish; U, A, o* 1-1-20- feet, pinkish ; iris carmine, fig. 113. Young, differs in hav- DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 99 ing the head feathered and in being much paler in color, without the carmine markings. Resident in the southern Atlantic and Gulf states and the Bahamas, southward to Pat- agonia. Common in the wilder sections. B. IBISES. Ibididae. Bill, slender and curved for its whole length. Eggs sim- ilar to A. a. Naked-faced Ibises. G-uara. Forepart of head, naked; feathers of crown, short, blen- ded and with rounded tips. Eggs, greenish or grayish-white, spotted with pale brown, fig. 114. 1. WHITE IBIS, G. ALBA. 24.00; bill, 5.25; white throughout ; tips of Fig. 114. four outer primaries, black glossed with green; bill, naked space about head, and feet, yellow; iris, blue, fig. 114. Young, head, neck, and above, slaty-brown, H, B. a 1. 1-4. glossed with greenish, lower back, rump, upper tail coverts, and beneath, white; top of head, wholly feathered, Resident in Florida and other Gulf States, Greater Antilles, and north- ern S. A. ; migrating north in summer to N. C. and 111. ; cas- ually to Long Island and Conn. 2. SCARLET IBIS, G. RUBRA. 29.00; bill 6.00; bright scarlet throughout ; tips of three or four primaries, glossy blue-black. Young, dark brownish-gray ; belly, white. Res- ident on eastern coast of tropical America ; accidental in Fla., La., and Texas. b. Crested Ibises. Plegadis. Head, wholly feathered, excepting in front of eyes, elon- gated on crown and lanceolate, forming a short crest. Eggs, greenish-blue unspotted, fig. 115. 1OO SHORE BIRDS. 1. GLOSSY IBIS, P. AUTUMNAKTS. 23.00; bill, 5.00; head, neck, lesser wing coverts, and beneath, dark chest- nut; above, metallic green, Fig. 115. bronze, and purple ; space in front of eye, greenish. Bill and feet, brown, fig. 115. Young, grayish- brown with head and neck streak- ed with white. Downy young, blackish throughout ; broad white band crossing crown. Warmer parts of eastern hemisphere ; not uncommon in extreme southern portion of eastern U. S. ; wander- ing casually as far north as N. E. and 111. ; accidental in the greater Antilles. 2. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS, P. GUARAUNA. Differs from 1 in having the feathers at base H 9 B, b, 1. 1-16. of bill white, and the space in front of eye, lake-red. Downy young, without white on crown. Western U. S. south to the Argentine Republic; occasionally breeding in Fla. I. HERONS. Herodiones. Wading birds with lo^.g legs and necks, long, pointed bills ; space in front of eye, naked ; wings, broad ; tail, short ; toes, long with the nail of the middle one comb-like ; fig. 116 ; portion of plumage of breast and sometimes of the sides of rump, shortened and greatly modified, forming the powdered down patches ; these feathers break up into oily particles and have a strong odor and falling upon the water may serve Fig. 116. to attract fishes. Flight, strong with comparatively slow wing-beats, the neck is doubled backward, the bill held straight forward and the legs extended behind, fig. 117, small fig- ure. Food, mainly fishes (sometimes I A, a, 1. crabs and other crustaceans and DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF NORTH AMSRICA. 1O1 small mammals) which are secured by being grasped in the bill. Ciies, harsh and unmusical. 'Young* rwiked when hatched but are soon covered with down ; " helpless and are* fed by regurgitation. A. BITTERNS. Botauridae. Tail feathers, ten, not stiffened ; no plume-like feathers on head or body ; lower neck behind destitute of feathers, fig. 117. a. Striped Bitterns. Botaurus. Oesophagus, modified during the breeding season into a sound-producing organ. Sexes, similar. Young, not strik- ingly different. Nests, placed on the grouud, usually in fresh-water bogs ; eggs, 3-6 ; greenish-ash or brown. Never gregarious even when breeding. 1. AMERICAN BITTERN, B. LKNTIGINOSUS. 28.50; bill, 3.00; above dark brown sprinkled and spotted with yel- lowish ; beneath, and Fig. 117. on sides of head and . V neck, pale yellowish %1 broadly streaked with yellowish-rufous and dusky ; triangular patch on side of neck, ^ black ; iris, yellow ; bill and feet greenish, fig. 117. Young, sim- ilar but somewhat pal- er. Nestlings, covered with long, yellowish ?; down. Breeds through- out temperate N. A.; T , A, a, 1. 1-20. usually nests in inaccessible fresh water bogs but occasion- ally breeds on salt marshes ; migrates south in Oct. ; winters from Fla. southward to Guatemala ; comes north in April. Common. When not breeding frequents alike fresh and salt 102 marshes ; when alarmed it will often squat amid the grass or will even enter the water leaving only the bill exposed; at other ciinesr it will sta&'d perfectly motionless with the body and neck perpendicular and the bill pointed upward, thus re- sembling a stajke. Cries, when started, harsh and sharp ; dur- ing the breeding season (May and June) the singular oesoph- agal notes are given ; the bird treads down a portion of the grass in a bog upon which it stands with bill pointed upward and air is taken into the gullet in several audible gulps then this ejected rather forcibly, producing two sounds, the first single, the second double, sounding like " Punk a-pog " ; when uttering these notes the bird bows its head up and down. ( For a detailed account of the vocal organs see May- nard's Contributions to Science, Vol. 1, 1889, pp 59-68.) b. Little Bitterns. Ardetta. Oesophagus not modified to produce sound. Sexes not similar. Young, somewhat different. Nests, placed in reeds, high grass, or bushes, never on the ground ; eggs, 3-4 ; pale, greenish-blue. Size, small; often breeds in scattering com- munities, otherwise solitary; fig. 118. 1. LEAST BITTERN, A. EXILIS. 13.00; top of head, back, and tail black, glossed with greenish ; wings, brown ; Fig. 118. stripe on side of head, sides of neck} and markings on wing chestnut ; upper wing coverts, and beneath, buffy-yellow, mixed with white; spot on si,d^s of breast, brown; naked space in front of eye, bill, and feet, yellowing. 118. Temperate N. A. ; breeding in east- er^ U. S. from Mass. ( where it is .not commpn ) to Fla. (where it is abundant ) , in May and June ; mi- v grates s^uthin ^arJy.Sep. ; winters I, A, b, 1, 1-6. from Fla. south to Brazil, rare in the Bahamas and West Indies ; comes north in May. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2. CORY'S LEAST BITTERN, A. NEOXEXA. Differs from 1 in having the lower parts uniform reddish-chestnut and in being darker above. Southern Fla. ; Ontario ; Mich. ; rare. B. HERONS. Ardeidae. Tail feathers, twelve stiffened. Either head, lower neck in front or back, and sometimes all three provided with plume-like feathers in the breeding season, absent in adults at other times and in the young. Lower neck behind quite well feathered. Sexes similar. Nests, placed in trees, com- posed of sticks; eggs, 3-5, greenish-blue. Flight, direct; wing-beats, slow. Usually gregarious when breeding, fig* 119. a. Large Herons. Ardea. Size, large. Head, neck, and back plumes, present, lance- olate ; barbs not spreading nor elongated. Neck and legs, long. Solitary when not nesting, fig. 119. 1. GREAT WHITE HERON, A. OCCIDENTALS. Large, 47.00; bill, 6.50; pure Fig. 119. white ; bill and iris, yellow ; feet and space in front of eye, greenish. Occurs on the low, mud-bordered Fla. Keys ; no- where very common ; rare in the interior of the state as far north as Lake George ; acci- dental in Cuba and Jamaica. Breeds in March, nesting on low trees. 2. WURDEMAN'S HERON A. WURDEMANI. Size of 1 ; differs i h being bluish ash above, in having streaks of black on sides below, streaks of black and rufous on neck I, fi, a. 3. 1-12. in front, and bend of wing, and tibia, chestnut; top of head, 104 SHORE BIRDS. white with forehead streaked with black. Resident on Fla. Keys ; rare. 3. WARD'S HERON, A. WARDI. Slightly smaller than 2; differs in having the lower parts more broadly streaked with black with a large black patch on sides of "breast, and the occiput with its plume and sides of head, black, leaving the middle of the crown and forehead white ; neck, yellowish-gray, fig. 119. Young, with top of head, dull slate ; neck darker and marked with reddish ; back marked with reddish. Resident in Fla., breeding in March, nesting usually on high trees. 4. GREAT BLUE HERON, A. HERODIAS. Differs from 3 in being smaller, 45.00; bill, 5.50, and in usually hav- ing more black below. Breeds throughout entire N. A. from the Arctic regions southward, excepting possibly Fla., Ba- hamas and the West Indies, nesting in high trees; migrates southward in Sep., Oct., and Nov. ; winters from the Caroli- nas southward to northern S. A. ; occasionally as far north as Mass. ; comes north in March and April. Common. 5. EUROPEAN BLUE HERON, A. CINEREA. Differs from 4 in being smaller, 37.00; bill, 4.80, and in having the bend of wing and tibia white. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere; accidental in southern Greenland. b. Plumed Herons. Fig. 120. Herodias. Size medium. Back, plumes, greatly elongated, reaching beyond end of tail, straight, stiffened with barbs separated and lengthened; head and breast plumes absent, fig. 120. Color, always white. -! Wing-beats rather slow. Gregarious at all times. 1. WHITE HERON, H. I, B t b, 1. 1-30. EGRETTA. 38.00 ; bill, 4.00 : iris, pale yellow; bill, orange; DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1O5 feet, black, fig. 120. Breeds through temperate and tropical America from X. J., Minn., and Oregon south to Patagonia; casually on the Atlantic coast as far north as Nova Scotia. Now not common anywhere in the U. S. c. Egrets. Garzetta. Size, small ; head, breast, and back plumes well developed with separated and lengthened barbs which are more or'less recurved at tips, fig. 121. White in color. Wing-beats, rap- id. Nests, placed in low trees. Gregarious at all times. 1. SNOWY EGRET. G. CANDIDISSIMA. 23.75; bill, 3.70; bill and legs, black; feet, and space at base of bill, orange; iris, yellow, fig. 121. Tern- Fig. 121. perate and tropical Amer- ica from N. J. south to the Argentine Republic and Chili ; casually as far north as Nova Scotia. Now not common anywhere in the ' U. S. d. Dichromic Egrets. ' Dicliromanassa. Size, medium. Back plumes well developed with separated, lengthened, I, B, c, 1. 1-8. straight, stiffened, barbs; head and neck without plumes but are provided with lengthened, lanceolate, slightly curled feathers. Color, white, reddish or mixed. Wing-beats, about as in I). Nests, placed in low trees. 1. REDDISH EGRET. D. RTJFA. 30.00; bill, 4.00; plain slate-gray; head and neck rufous tinged with violet; bill, black with basal half and space in front of eye, bright pur- ple : iris, white; feet, blue-black. Young, plain grayish, tinged with light rusty. Resident in southern Fla. main- ly on the extreme southern and western coasts west along the Gulf coast to Texas and both coasts of Mexico and Guat- emala ; Andros, Bahamas ; in summer wandering north to 106 EGBETS. southern 111. recorded from Cuba and Jamaica : now rare in the U. S. Breeds in May. 1*. CHANGING EGRET, D. R. MUTATA. Differs from 1 in having the plumage irregularly mixed with white. Young, similar to 1 or possibly occasionally mottled with white. Not rare on west coast of Andros, Bahamas, casual in Fla. Breeds in May. ( See birds of Eastern North America, Revised Edition, 1896. ) 2. PEALE'S EGRET, D. PEALEI. Differs from 1 in be- ing pure white throughout. Resident in southern Fla. mainly the east coast, west along the Gulf coast to Texas, Honduras and both coasts of Guatemala ; Andros and Inagua, Bahamas; recorded from Cuba. Breeds in Feb. (Inagua); April and May (An- dros, and Fla. ) . e. J>amsel Egrets. Hydranassa. Slender herons with long, slender bills and necks. Head plumes, rather short^ Fig. 122. ?SSi barbs, separated ; neck j plumes lengthened and = lanceolate; back plumes, long, with sepa- I, B, e, 1. 1-6. rated barbs, soft and hair-like. Wing-beats, rapid, fig. 122. 1. LOUISIANA HERON, H. KUFICOLLIS. 25.50; bill, 3.75 ; above, ashy-blue tinged with chestnut-fed; occipital plumes and line down neck in front rufous, and white; back plumes, yellowish-ash; beneath, pure white; iris, rosy-red, bill and space in front of eye, cobalt-blue, tip of former, black ; feet, dark-plumbeous, fig. 122; in winter iris, bill and feet are greenish, becoming yellow towards spring. Young, much tinged with reddish on neck and wings. Resident in the Gulf States, Mexico, Central America, Bahamas, and the West In- dies ; casual northward to N. J. and Ind. Breeds in May, placing its nests in low trees. Common and u^nspioious. Solitary when not mating. PLATE 9. HEADS OF SANDPIPERS: B, WESTERN; A, KED-BACKED. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1O7 f. Blue and White Herons. Florida. Rather small herons with lanceolate plumes on neck and back and slightly filamentous ones on head. Colors, blue and white, fig. 123. Gregarious at all times, but solitary in- .dividuals are not infre- Fig. 123. quently seen in winter. LITTLE BLUE HERO1S, F. CAKRULA. 21.75; bill, 3.25; dark slaty-blue ; head and neck, maroon, more or less tinged with bluish, fig. 123. This is the usual p 1 u m a g e, but % some specimens are white with tips of pri- I, B, f, 1. 1-8. maries bluish, while others occur in all stages of mixed dress between the white and blue. Young always white with tips of primaries bluish, without the plumes. Iris, yellow, bill, black; basal half, space in front of eye, and feet, greenish. Eastern U. S. f rom N. J., 111., and Kan. southward through the Bahamas (where not common), the West ladies to north- ern S. A. ; casually north on the Atlantic coast to Mass, and 124. Me ; winters from the Carolinas southward. An agile species^ springing into air very quickly a.nd flying with rapid wing-beats. g. Green Herons. Butorides. Small, rather short-legged herons, with compact, lanceolate head and back plumes. Back, green or brown, fig. 124. 1. LITTLE GBEEN HER- ON, B. VIRESCENS. 17.50; bill, 2.25 ; top of head and back, green- 1O8 HERONS. ish (looking dark in the living bird when seen at a distance); neck, chestnut-red with line down middle in front, of mixed black and white; beneath, brownish slate; iris and bill, yel- low; bill and space in front of eye, brown and yellow, fig. 124 Young, more or less marked with reddish above. Breeds through temperate N. A. southward to Fla. and southern S. A. A very agile species springing into air quickly and fly- ing with rapid wing-beats. Note, a rather shrill cry fre- quently repeated several times. Common, frequenting the swampy margins of rivers and ponds where it breeds, plac- ing its nest in low trees or bushes, sometimes, as among the Florida Keys, at the base of mangroves near the ground. Rather solitary, but sometimes associating in scattered com- munities to breed. Winters from the Carolinas southward, h. Night Herons. Nycticorax. Medium sized, quite robust herons with thick bills, short legs, and large eyes; no elongated plume feathers excepting two or three long and narrow ones on back of head, fig. 125. Colors, whitish or ashy with top of head and back black. Largely nocturnal in habit. 1. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERCXN, N. NAEVIUS 25.00; bill, 3.00: ashy-white, darkest above; top of head and back, black glossedwith green- ish; bill, blackish; feet, yel- low; eyes, carmine, fig. 125. Young, the second year lack the white head plumes and are much tinged with rufous above, the black showing only in patches. Young, the first year are streaked throughout;: with yellowish-white a n d j brownish, fig. 125, small figure. America as far north as Mani- : toba and Ontario and as far- south as the Falkland Islands and eastward through the Ba~ Fig. 125. I, B, h, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1O9 hamas and the West Indies, breeding over most of its range ; migrates southward in late Oct. to winter from the Carolinas southward, occasionally remaining as far north as Mass. Comes north in April. Common. Flight rather slow w ith quite slow wing-beats. Although nocturnal, may often be found feeding by day, especially when breeding, frequenting salt marshes and inland waters. Cry, a harsh, abruptly giv- en ' qaaivk" uttered in flight, and some guttural sounds best heard on the breeding grounds. Social at all times, roosting in companies by day and feeding together by night. Nesting time from March (Fla.) to June (Northern N. E.). i. Thick-billed Nigbt Herons. Nyctanassa. Differs from h in having the bill thicker, both head and back plumes and the top of head and back without a black patch, fig. 126 1. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT*HERON, N. VIOL ACE A. 23.00; bill, 3.00; differs from h, 1 in being darker in all plu- mages, ashy-blue in adults, streaked with black above, with crown and sides of head, Fiff. 126. yellowish, fig. 126. Young are darker than in h, 1, the prevailing color above very dark greenish-brown, streaked with lighter. America from the Carolinas and the lower Ohio YalJey south to Brazil and Peru, casually north to Mass. Breeds in April. Cry, simi- lar to that of h, 1, but not as harsh and is less seldom giv- en. Often feeds by day; a I, B. i, 1. 1-8. large portion of its food consists of crabs. Somewhat social when breeding, often nesting in small communities, but more solitary at other times. Flight, quite rapid, with rather quick wing-beats. no WOOD IBISES. JT. STORKS. Ciconiae. Large, stout birds with necks, legs and bills quite long 1 , head and a portion of neck often destitute of feathers. Hind toe not much elevated. Young, helpless. A. WOOD IBISES. Tantalidae. Bill, longer than head, stout at base, strongly curved at tip ; head in adults destitute of feathers and covered with scale-like projections of the skin. Under tail coverts pro- jecting beyond tail. Colors, mostly white with primaries and tail black. a. Wood Ibises. Tantalus. Characters as above, iig. 127. 1. WOOD IBIS, T. LOCULATOK. 43.00; bill, 8.00; white, primaries and tail glossy, greenish-black with a bronze iridescence; under wing coverts, pinkish in breeding plu- mage; bill, and nakfcd Fig. 127. skin of head, blackish, neck, covered with whit- ish scales, legs and tarsus, black, feet yellow; iris, brown, fig. 127. Young, head and neck mostly covered with grayish- brown feathers, and body plumage dull. Nestlings,,) purewhite. Southern U. S. north to the Ohio Valley, south to the Ar- gentine Republic ; has oc- curred casually in Pa, and N. Y. cries harsh and discordant. Nests, composed of sticks and T 9 A, a, 1. 1--10. placed in trees in swamps. Eggs, 1 or 2, chalky-white,, sometimes faintly spotted with reddish, they are deposited in April in Fla., a little later further north. During the DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Ill breeding season and in summer the species is social and fre- quents ponds and pools in marshes, swamps and in the pine woods, but in winter are apt to live in thick swamps, and are then more solitary ; in flight, head and neck outstretched, wing-beats, slow, at all seasons rise high in air and circle about for a long time. Perch on trees, especially at night. Common. Has occurred in Mass. K. CK-AJVES. Grues. Differ from T in having the hind toe smaller and eleva- ted; front portion of head only ( in our species ) destitute of feathers. Nests, placed on the ground in fresh-water marsh- es; eggs, one or two, yellowish-brown. Young, leave the nest early and follow the parents. Not very social. A. CRANES. Gruiclae. Characters as above. a. Grus. Crying Cranes. Head destitute of feathers on front part and covered with a scaly skin. Emit loud, harsh, continuous gobbling cries. Many species dance with half raised wings. 1. SANDHILL CRANE, G. MEXICANA. 41.00; bill, 5.00; slaty-blue throughout, primaries, broVnish ; bill and feet, Fig. 128. K, A, a, 1. 1-4. black ; naked space about head, lake ; iris, ruby-red, fig. 128 Young, more or less tinged with yellowish above ; iris, yellow 112 CRANES. Southern portion of N. A. Rather common in Fla., frequent- ing marshy places in the pine woods and elsewhere. Shy and difficult to approach. 2. WHOOPING CRANE, G. AMERICANA. 52.00; bill, 5.50; white, primaries, black. Young, yellowish; otherwise as in 1. The wing-beats of both species are slow, and in flight the neck and head are outstretched. Both species soar liigh in air much as in J~, A, a, 1. L. CRYING JBXRDS. ^T-ami. Based upon the Limpkin, A. GIGANTEUS, the chief char- acters of this order are; Bill, much longer than the large head ; neck, long ; wings, rather long, folding nearly to tip of short tail, broad with ten primaries, the outer of which is curved inward and enlarged at the terminal end and is much shorter than the others; secondaries broad, and the inner are as long as the primaries. The tendon of the lesser pectoral muscle is ossified along the coracoid. Tibia, naked for half its length ; tarsus and toes, long with reticulated scales. Feathers of body, especially above, broad and large. Tongue, long and slender; trachea, in adult males, convoluted into three or four whorles near the middle ; sternum, narrow with- out indentations on posterior margin. For other internal structure see Maynard, Birds of Eastern N. A. in both edi- tions, and Contributions to Science, Vol. III. Colors, brown with arrow-shaped marks of white, fig. 129. Sexes, similar. A. COUKLANS. Aramidae. Characters as above. a. Limpkiiis. Aramus. ^te Characters as under L. 1. LIMPKIN, A. GIGAXTEUS. 26.00; bill. 4.50; brown, more or less glossed with purplish above, each feather of body and neck marked with an arrow-shaped stripe of white; throat white; bill, feet and iris, brownish. Young, duller, with narrower stripes. Nestlings, black. Fla., Greater An- tilles and Central America. Common. A noisy bird with partly nocturnal habits, that occurs on the borders of swamps. , A, a, 1. 1-8. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NOKTII AMERICA. 1 L3 Cries, very loud i nd discordant; when alarmed gives a chuckling note, and Fig. 120. the head is jerked back and the tail held- erect; runs among bushes with g r en, t swiftness. Food. chiefly the animals oC fi os h-water moll risks. Kests, composed o t! F ticks p laced i:i "bushes near water ; eggs, 5 to 7, dull buff spotted with brown and grayish. Flight, heavy with slow w r ing-beats, the head is out-stretched and the feet held dangling, fig. 120. M. KAILS, OALLUNITLKS ATVI> COOT:S. Ralli. Medium sized or small birds with strong legs and long toes, and couipressed bodies which enable them to pass tli rough the herbage of marshes which they chiefly inhabit. The wings are short and rounded and all of the species are poor flyers, usually moving in a straight line with rapid win^- beats and dangling legs; in alighting will drop to the ground or water. Food, insects, aquatic animals arid vegeta- ble substances. Young, covered with down when hatched and active. A. TRUE RAILS. Rallidae. Marsh birds with closely blended, rather stiffened plu- mage, quite cull in color; toes, without lobes. Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places; eggs, 5 or more. Cries, harsh and craking. Although not strictly social, some species live in scattering communities. Downy young, black. Partly nocturnal. Skulk in the herbage and are difficult to start* Swim with ease, and even rise from the water. Also dive well and cling to submerged vegetation 114 BAILS. a. Long-billed Rails. Rallus. Bill, longer than head, and slightly curved ; color, red 01 reddish beneath without prominent black markings, fig. 130. 1. KING KAIL, R. ELEGANS. 18.00; bill, 2.50; ashy- red above distinctly streaked with dark-brown ; chestnut-red on wing coverts and be- Fig. 130. neath ; dusky-brown on under wing coverts and flanks banded with white; throat, line from bill to over eye, and ab- domen white; iris, bill and feet, brownish, fig. $ 130. Eastern U. S., north | to the middle states and ca su all y to Mass., Me. "^jp and Ontario. Occurs usually on fresh-water M, A, a, 1. 1-6. marshes but occasionally found on salt marshes. Common. Breeds in May. 2. VIRGINIA RAIL, R. YIKGJNIANUP. Similar to 1 but smaller, 9.25; bill, 1.50. Young, much darker, nearly black in earlier stages. N- A. from the British Provinces south to the Gulf of Mexico. Migrates southward in early Oct. to winter from the Carolinas to Guatemala ; occasionally found jn Cuba; comes north in early April. Common, frequenting bushy marshes. Breeds in early June. Besides the harsh, rail-like craking rapidly given, it gives a chucklin'gnote when slightly alarmed and a sharp squeak when much annoyed The downy young keep up a constant peeping when running about in the marshes. 3. CLAPPER RAIL, R. CEEPITANS. 14.00; bill, 2.25; Differs from 1 in being bluish-ash above indistinctly streaked with greenish-brown ; reddish of wings and ben ath paler tinged with bluish on breast ; dusky of lower parts bluish; throat, creamy; line in front of eye, reddish, fig 131. Atlan- DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 115 tic and Gulf coasts of the U. S. north to C^nn., casual in Mass. ; Resident from the Fig. 131. Potomac southward. B r e e ds in March and April. Abundant. Notes. the usual rail-like crake and a harsh scream when annoyed. 3*. LOUISIANA CLAPPER RAIL, R. c. SATUKATUS. Similar to 3 but paler ashy above and more broadly and dis- tinctly streaked with M, A, a, 3. 1-4. greenish and deeper red below. Coast of Louisiana. 4. FLORIDA CLAPPER RAIL, R. SCOTTII. Differs from 3 in having- a more slender bill and in being darker above, nearly black : below, ashy-gray mixed with cinnamon. Salt marshes of western Fla. b. Short-billed Rails. Porzaiia. Fig. 132. IMMKi JWC, A, b, 1, 1-2. Bill, shorter than head, slaty and white ; face and throat black 1. CAROLINA RAIL, P. CAROLINA. 8.75; bill, .85; line back of eye and upper parts, brownish-yellow broadly streak- ed with brown and very distinctly dotted and short-lined with ^\hite; line on top of head, face a'nd throat, black ; breast, and sides of neck and head, slaty- blue; remaining under parts, white banded with white and dusky on sides and flanks ; iris, brown, bill, yellow, feet, green, fig. 132. Young, differ in being overwashed with reddish below and the black markings are ab- 116 RAILS. sent. Downy young, black with orange bristles at base of bill. Temperate N. A., breeding from the middle slates north- ward ; migrates southward in early Oct. to winter from the Carolinas to the Bahamas, West Indies and northern S. A. ; comes north in April ; breeds in early June. Notes not as rapid as in a, 2 ; gives a whistling note like "Cur-iuc" in ad- dition to some short chuckles, also gives a piping cry when alarmed. Very common in nearly all fresh- water marshes if wet enough ; also occurs on salt marshes, especially during migration. 2. SPOTTED CRAKE, P. POKZANA. A little smaller than in 1 with head, neck and breast quite thickly spotted with white. Northern parts of the Old World; occasional in GreenJand. c. Buffy Kails. Coturnicops. Small rails which differ from b in being yellowish-buff, in having white secondaries and no conspicuous black mark- ings. 1. YELLOW RAIL, C. NOVEBOKACENSIS. 6.75 ; bill, .55 ; yellowish-buff becoming reddish on neck, breast and un ier tail coverts broadly streaked above and on flanks with dark- brown ; abdomen, white; white-tipped secondaries, conspicu- ous in flight. Young paler below. Breeds north of the U. S. ; migrates south in Sept. and early Oct. north in May; winters in Fla. and Cuba. When disturbed utters a squeaking sound. Rare. d. Dusky Kails. Creciscus. Smallest of our rails and very dark in color with no very conspicuous white markings. 1. BLACK RAIL, C. JAMAICENSIS. 5.50; bill, .55; veiy dark brown above ; spotted and transversely banded with white ; back and neck chestnut-red ; sides of head and under portions, bluish-ash, banded on abdomen and under tail cov- erts with white. Young, duller; throat, whitish; head, red- dish. Breeds throughout temperate N. A. north to Mass., V DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 117 northern 111. and Oregon. Very rare everywhere. Winters from Fla. south through the West Indies to Guatemala. Breeds in May ; migrates south in Sept., north in April. a. Land Kails. Crex. Small Rails with longer wings than in b, folding nearly to the end of tail, and with shorter legs; live mostly on dry land among herbage. 1. CORN CRAKE, C. CREX. 10.50; bill, .90; Dark brown above mottled with yellowish-brown ; upper and under wing coverts, rusty-red ; bluish-gray below becoming ashy on throat; flanks, barred with reddish. Europe and northern Asia; casual in Greenland, Bermuda and eastern N. A. B. GALLINCKES. Gallinulidae. Birds that inhabit the grassy or reedy borders of fresh- waters with scarcely depressed bodies, but otherwise much like rails under A, b, but the toes are very long and narrow. Bill, shorter than head and with a frontal shield, fig. 134. Somewhat social, occurring in small scattering flocks. a. Slaty Gallinules. Gallinula. General colors slaty-blue ; bill, not very stout, fig. 133. 1. FLORIDA GALLINULE, G. GALEATA. 14.00; bill, 1.25; head and neck, dusky; back, bronzy-green ; tail and its middle lower coverts, Fig. 133. black, the outer por tion of tli clatter white ; tip of bill, yel- ' low; remainder,front- al plate and tibia, ^ ealing-wax red ; feet, i greenish, fig. 133. Young, duller, over- j washed with reddish j above, feathers be- * neath tipped with white ; bill and frontal plate greenish. Nest- ]ME, B, a, 1. 1-4. lings, black glossed with greenish, no frontal plate, bill yel- 118 GALLINTJLES. low; feet, black. Temperate and tropical America from Bra- zil and Chili north to Canada. Common, but rare in Middle States and N. E. Resident in Florida, migratory further north. Not shy, frequently appearing on the borders of streams and other bodies of fresh water; swims well and dives with ease;: clings to aquatic vegetation ; in swimming the feet are moved as in walking and the head is moved backward and forward with them. Notes, a harsh, rail-like " Kra " repeated sever- al times and given more often at night-fall and and a metal- lic " Chuck " when annoyed. Flight, direct with rapid wing- beats and dangling legs. Breeds in May ; downy young fol- low the parents as soon as hatched. Eggs, similar to B. b. Sultana Gallinules. lonornis. Bill, thick : colors, bright, purple and blue predominat- ing : frontal shield large. 1. PURPLE GALLINULE, I. MAKTINICA. 12.50; bill, 1.15; bright brownish-green above; head and under parts,, bluish-purple ; sides Fig. 134. greenish; bill, red tipped with yellow ; frontal plate, blue; under tail coverts, white ; feet, greenish, fig. 134. Young, dul- ler above and reddish mixed with whitish below. South Atlan- tic and Gulf States southward through the West Indies, Mex- ico, Central America M- B, b 1. 1-4. and northern S. A. Common; rare or casual north to Me., N. Y., and Wis. Migratory in the U. S., going south in Sep. and coming north in May. 1 reeds in Fla. in late May or early June. Habits, similar to a, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 119 C. COOTS. Fuliciclae. Differ from JB chiefly in having the toes widely lobated, and the frontal shield is large. Fig. 135. C. a, 1. a. Coots. Fuiica. Characters as above. 1. AMERICAN COOT, F. AMERICANA. 16.00; bill. 1.30; slaty-blue; head and neck, dusky; tips of secondaries (show- ing in flight) and under tail coverts, white, the latter with a black line in the center ; bill, yellow, white at tip with a band in center and frontal Fig. 136. plate, brownish-red ; iris, brown; legs, greenish, fig. 136. Young, duller with the feathers more or less tipped with white. Downy young, black. Breeds chiefly in northern U. S. and southern Canada; common, oc- M, C, a, .1. 1-4. curring more rarely north to Greenland and Alaska ; migrates southward, (largely through the interior, but occurring in greater or less numbers east to the Atlantic) to winter in the Gulf States and southward through the West Indies, occur- ring in immense, compact flocks at this season on fresh and brackish waters in Fla. ; -comes north in May, when less com- mon in'the Atlantic States north of the Carolinas. Dives well but does not use the wings under water. Flight, direct with rapid wing-beats ; in rising from the water, swims rapid- 12O COOTS. jy then runs with flapping wings ; in flight the head and neck are outstretched and the feet are held straight out behind. Often leaves the water and walks about among the grass, reeds, etc. When swimming the head is moved as in B, a, 1. Notes, half melancholy whistles followed by a guttur- al chuckle. 2. EUROPEAN COOT, F. ATKA. Differs from 1 in hav- ing the bill and frontal plate, edge of wing, and first prima- ry, white; there is no white on under tail coverts. Northern parts of eastern hemisphere; accidental in Greenland. Water birds with webbed front toes, closely blended plu- mage, large bodies, long necks, bill with tooth-like lamellae on sides and with a nail at tip, fig. 136. Fig. 136. IV, A, a, 1. A. MERGANSERS. Mergiiiidae. Long-bodied, long-necked ducks with slender bills in which the lamellae are prominent and inclined backward, fig. 136. Dive well. a. Tooth-billed Mergansers. Merganser. Bill, very distinctly toothed with the teeth well inclined backward, fig. 136. Large white wing-patch. 1. AMERICAN MERGANSER, M. AMERICANUS. 24.00; bill, 2.00 ; head, upper neck, and anterior back, black, glossed with greenish and purplish ; remainder of back, bluish-ash ; DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 121 white beneath strongly tinged with salmon : iris, red ; bill and feet, orange, fig. 137. Female, head and neck, reddish with a well defined line of demarkation between this color and the white below; entire back, bluish-ash. i r oung, simi- lar to female. Breeds from Penn. and the mountains of Col. nnd Gal. northward, in May, nesting in holes of trees ; mi- ; grates southward in Sep. and Oct. to winter from the Middle States southward to the Gulf of Mexico and more scattering- ly north to Mass. ; comes north in April. Common, on fresh waters and occasionally found on salt water, occurring an small flocks. Eggs, 6 to 10, pale buff. Kise obliquely from the water into swift, direct flight with very rapid wing-beats ; Cries, harsh but duck-like. 2. RED-BREAST- Fig. 137. ED MERGANSER, M. SERRATOR. Differs from 1 in being smaller, 22.00 ; the males have a \ well-d e f i n e d crest of lanceolate feathers,^ the breast and sides of - - neck are buff streaked with black, and the lower parts are creamy- IV , A, a, 1. 1-10. white, fig. 138; the female has the throat less white and the reddish of the head and neck is not separated from the white by a well-defined line of demarkation. Breeds chiefly north of the U. S., placing its nest on the ground; migrates south in Oct. to winter from N. E. to Fla., occurring mainly on the coast often in large flocks; goes north in April. A few occur on fresh waters. Eggs, deposited in May, greenish-brown, b. Crested Mergansers. Lophodytes. Bill not as distinctly toothed as in a, and the teeth are not as much inclined backward, fig. 139; head, crested. 122 MERGANSERS. L. CUCUKLATUS. Fig. 138. 1. HOODED MERGANSER, L. CUCULLATUS. 19.00; bill, 1.70; above, head, upper neck, and collar on lower neck, black with violet irides- cence; triangular patch on head and crest, some streakingB above, spots on wings, and beneath, white; sides, chestnut finely B banded with black; T iris, orange; bill, black ; feet, dusky-or- 1 ange, fig. 139. Female and young, brown on head, neck and upper parts; white beneath. IN", A, a, 2. 1-10. N. A. south to Mexico and Cuba, breeding throughout most of its range; resident from the Carolinas southward. Eggs, 6 to 10, pure white, placed in holes or shallow cavities of trees in May. Common, occurring more often on fresh waters than on salt. Fig. 139. Fig. 140. , A, b, 1. 1-8. N, A, c, 1. 1-8. c. Smews. Mergus. Differ from b in having the bill shorter and the crest not as prominent. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1. SMEW, M. AKBELLUS. 16.50 ; bill, 1.00 ; white patch in front of eye, back, and two crescent-shaped bars on side of breast, black, fig. 140. Female, top of head, brown, rest of head and beneath, white ; back, ashy-brown. Northern Eu- rope and Asia; accidental in eastern N. A. B. RIVER DUCKS. Anatidae. Bill, widened, flattened and more or less expanded at tip, fig. 143; legs rather short but the birds walk well and often feed on land ; terminal portion of inner secondaries, irides- cent, forming a shining surface, the speculum. a. Fresli-water Ducks. Anas. Large-sized ducks with the bill but little expanded at tip. Do not dive for their food but feed by reaching down in shallow water, sometimes tipping the body forward. Nests placed on the ground, eggs, 6 to 12, greenish. Flight, swift and direct with rapid wing-beats. Note of males a low, soft- ly given " Quack" often repeated ; of females a lower " Quack"** more harshly given. 1. MALLARD, A. BOSCHAS. 24.00 ; bill, 2.25 ; head and upper neck, green ; lower neck in front and breast, chestnut; lower neck and back, reddish-brown finely banded with white but darker behind and quite black on the upper tail coverts the tips of which are upturned; beneath, back of breast, creamy-white ; wings, marked with reddish-brown, white and chestnut; speculum, dark-blue glossed with violet, surround- ed by a black border which is margined before and behind with a white band ; bill, greenish; feet, orange, fig. 141. Fe- male, and young, dark-brown banded and spotted with yel- lowish-red which predominates below ; speculum, as in male. Northern parts of northern hemisphere; in N. A. breeding south to southern U. S. ; most common in north-eastern U. S. during migrations, in April, Sept. and Oct. ; a few remain all winter as far north as Mass, but the greater portion pass the winter in the southern states. Breeds in May. In starting from the water, rises obliquely. More common on fresh than 124 KIVKIi DUCKS. salt waters. Easily tamed and is the origin of many of our domestic ducks. Fig. 141. Fig. 142. 1ST, B, a, 1. 1-12. IS", B, a 3 2. 1-12. 2. BLACK DUCK, A. OBSCURA. 23.00; bill, 2.00 : dark brown with all the feathers, especially below streaked and margined with reddish-yellow ; speculum, green, bordered by black only, fig. 142. Female and young with rather more yellowish ; in all stages the throat is clear yellowish with few or no spots ; feet, brownish-orange; bill, greenish. Breeds from Massachusetts northward in May ; common ; more abun- dant during migration in April and Sept. ; winters from Mass, to the Carolinas. In rising from the water or land, springs into air to the height of ten feet or more before darting away in swift flight. More often found on fresh than salt water. 2*. RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK, A. o. RUBRIPES. Fig. 143. Larger than 1, general- ly d arker; th roat, thickly spotted, fig. 143; bill, yellow, feet, red. Breeds north of the U. S. ; migrates southward in Oct. to ) winter in great num- bers from Mass, south to the Chesapeake; goes north in April. B, a 2*. 1-2. Occurs mc^e often on PLATE 11. WILSON'S PLOVER : B, YOUNG ; A, ADULT MALE. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 125 salt water than on fresh, sometimes occurring along the coast in flocks of hundreds. 3. FLORIDA BLACK DUCK, A. FULVIGULA. Differs from 1 in being smaller, much more yellowish with longitud- inal marks in the feathers above and Y-shaped marks of the same in tail feathers ; bill, greenish ; feet, reddish-orange. Central and southern Fla. Common, but seldom seen in large flocks. Nests in April. b. Gray Ducks. Chaulelasmus. Medium sized ducks that do not dive, which differ from a in having the bill narrower and not at all expanded at tip. 1. GAD WALL, C. STREPERUS. 21.00; bill, 2.10; spec- ulum, white bordered in front with black ; head and neck, yellowish spotted with black ; top of head, reddish ; upper parts, lower neck and sides, dusky finely banded with white ; bill, black ; feet, greenish, fig. 144. Female, brownish through- out ; speculum as in male. Nearly cosmopolitan; in N. A. breeds in western U. S. where it is common, rare on the At- lantic coast. Migrates south in Nov. wintering as far south as Central America ; comes north in April; breeds in May, nesting on the ground ; eggs, 6 to 10, pale brownish-buff. Fig. 144. Fig. 145. IV, B, b, 1. 1-12. JV, B, C, 1. 1-12. c. Widgeons. Mareca. Medium-sized ducks with short, narrow bills and top of head whitish. 126 WIDGEONS. 1. BALDPATE, M. AMERICANA. 20.00; bill, 1.50; speculum, black; head and neck, creamy-white finely banded and spotted, excepting on crown, with dusky; lower neck, breast and sides reddish-ash more or less banded with dusky ; dark brown above finely banded with white, fig. 145. Female, duller, with crown spotted with dusky. Breeds in the inter- ior of N. A. but chiefly north of the U. S. ; eggs, similar to b, 1 ; winters from the southern border of the U. S. to Central America; migrates south in Nov., north in April. Common, occurring in small flocks or in company with other ducks ; Tare on the Atlantic coast north of Fla. 2. WIDGEON, M. PENELOPE. Differs from 1 in having the top of head yellowish and the remainder of head and neck, chestnut-red sparingly spotted with dusky ; female, speculum gray bordered with white excepting below. Northern parts of the Old World ; occurs frequently in eastern U. S. d. Little Teals. Nettion. Contains the smallest of our ducks. All have short, nar- TOW bills and are prominently marked with striking colors. 1. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, N. CAROLINENSIS. 14.00; bill, 1.60; speculum, green above black below narrowly bor- dered by white behind; head and neck, chestnut-red with a green line behind eye ; brown above finely banded with white ; Fig. 146. Fig. 147. B, d, 1. 1-8. IV, B, e, 1. 1-8. crescent-shaped mark in front of wing, ring around neck and beneath, white ; breast, purplish with rounded spots of black ; under tail coverts creamy with a central line of black; bill DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 127 and feet, brown, fig. 146. Female, brown above with feath- ers edged with whitish; white beneath slightly spotted on breast with dusky. Young, similar to female and all stages occur between this and the male ; speculum always as in male. N. A. breeding chiefly north of the U. S. in May : nests on the ground, eggs, 6 to 10, pale brownish-buff ; goes south in Sep. and Oct. to winter along the southern border of the U. S. Comes north in April. Common, but less so along the Atlantic border of the U. S. Occurs in small flocks rather more fre- quently in eastern N. E. on salt than fresh water. EUROPEAN TEAL, IS". CRECCA. Differs from 1 in the absence of the white crescent in front of wing and in having the green band on side of head decidedly bordered with whit- ish; bandings on sides, coarser; female and young scarcely to be distinguished from 1. Northern parts of Old World;, occasional in eastern IN". A. e. Teals. Querquedula. Larger than in d with a prominent blue patch on wing. 1. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, Q. DISCORS. 16.00; bill, 1.62 ; speculum, greenish-black bordered with white behind ; lesser wing coverts blue ; head and neck all around ashy-gray ; white crescent in front of eye; top of head, black, back, brown; outer webs of scapularies, blue, black and green; beneath, purplish-ash spotted with black; bill, black, feet, yellowish, fig. 147. Female, brown with feathers edged with whitish,, more broadly below; speculum, pale. Young, like female; with intermediate stages in males. N. A. more common east- ward. Breeds chiefly in the interior from Kansas and south- ern 111. northward; migrates south in Sep. in small flocks, when it occurs all over our section frequenting small ponds or even pools and occasionally occurring on salt water creeks ; winters from the Carolinas southward through the Bahamas and West Indies; comes north in April when it is less com- mon on the Atlantic coast ; flight, exceedingly swift ; when alarmed, gathers in close bodies on the water. Nesting hab- its and eggs similar to d, 1. 128 SPOON-BILLED DUCKS. 2. CINNAMON TEAL, Q. CYANOPTERA. Differs from 1 in having the speculum green, head, neck and lower parts rich purplish-chestnut and the feet orange. Female differs in having the upper part of throat unstreaked and the abdo- men spotted distinctly. Western America, in N. A. west of the Kocky Mountains, casual in the Mississippi Valley and Fla. f. Spoon-billed Ducks. Spatula. Larger ducks with the bill greatly widened at tip. Wing coverts, blue as in e. 1. SHOVELLER, S. CLYPEATA. 20.00; bill, 2.50; spec- ulum, green glassed with violet ; head and upper neck, green- ish; remainder of neck, breast, sides of back, and wing-band, white: under parts, chestnut; under tail coverts, black; bill, black, iris, yellow ; feet, orange, fig. 148. Female, yellowish- buff, streaked, spotted and banded, more prominently above, with dusky. Northern hemisphere; in N. A. breeds from Texas to Alaska; nests, placed on the ground, eggs, 6 to 10, greenish. Migrates south in Sep. and Oct. to winter in con- siderable numbers from the Carolinas through the Gulf States . Comes north in April ; uncommon on the Atlantic coast north of the Carolinas. Occurs in small ponds both salt and fresh in small flocks. Very unsuspicious. Fig. 148. Fig. 149. 3V, B, f, 1. 1-10. B, g, 1. 140. PLATE 12. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 129 g. Sprig-tailed Ducks. Dafila. Larger ducks with long necks, elongated and narrowed central tail feathers and rather narrow bills which are but slightly narrowed at tip. 1. PINTAIL, D. ACUTA. 25.00; bill, 2.00; speculum, greenish with a violet iridescence; head, neck and back brown, the latter finely banded with white ; two lines of white extend down sides of neck to back with a patch of black be- tween and join the white of the lower parts ; wing coverts ashy-brown, the greater tipped with reddish; bill, blackish* feet, brown. Female; speculum, gray; above, dark-brown banded, streaked and spotted with yellowish-white and ruf- ous ; beneath, yellowish-white spotted on throat, neck and under tail coverts with dusky ; white wing-band in both sex- es. Northern hemisphere ; in N. A. breeds north of the U. S. ; migrates south in Sep., Oct. and Nov. to winter from the Gulf States south to Panama when it is very abundant in Fla. fre- quenting the salt estuaries of the coasts and fre'sh waters of the interior ; comes north in March ; not common on the At- lantic coast north of Georgia. Nest, placed on the ground ; eggs, 6 to 10, greenish-brown. h. Arboreal IHicks. Aix. Medium-sized ducks with conspicuous markings and crested heads, which inhabit fresh waters. All of the species are beautiful. 1. WOOD DUCK, A. SPONSA. 18.00; bill, 1.35.; head, green brightest on top, Fig. 150. line over eye, one be. hind it, throat running upward in a triangular patch, ring around neck, and beneath, white ; above, brown much glossed with greenish; breast chestnut spotted with white; sides, buff fine- ly banded with black 13O DUCKS. with coarser black and white transverse bandings behind; white crescent in front of wing bordered behind by one of black; speculum, green and bronze bordered behind with white; iris, red; bill, pinkish; feet, brown, fig. 150. Female and young, duller with the head plain slaty-brown with throat, line at base of bill and space around eye, white ; young have the breast streaked. Temperate N. A. breeding through- out its range ; migrates south in Oct. to winter in the Gulf States ; comes north in April. Breeds in April in Fla., in May further north; nests, placed in holes of trees: eggs, 6 to 10, pale brownish. Frequents wooded streams and small ponds, often hiding in thickets, rises suddenly and flies swiftly away usually along the course of the stream. Note when breeding, given by both sexes, a clear, long-drawn, plaintive cry, often repeated. C. SEA DUCKS. Fuligulidae. Sea-inhabiting ducks with the bill not often expanded at tip but somewhat so in the middle in a few genera, a. Pochards. Netta. Head, conspicuously crested; bill, not expanded; specu- lum, present. 1. RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK, N. RUFINA. 21.00; bill, 2.00; speculum, white; head and neck, purplish-red; lower neck, stripe along hind neck, lower parts, and rump, black- ish; back, brown; large patch on flanks, white; bill and feet, bright red. Female, brownish throughout; speculum, gray bordered behind with a band of brown ; crest, smaller. East- ern hemisphere; accidental in eastern U. S. All dive with ease. b. Bay Ducks, Aythya. Differ from a in being without crest. 1. REDHEAD, A. AMERICANA. 20.00; bill, 2.00, low at base and not projected backward on forehead; speculum, bluish with the upper feathers black margined; head, and IV, C, b, 1. 1-15. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 131 neck for more than half its length, brownish-red tinged with violet; remainder of neck, Fig. 151. body in front of wings and lower back, black; canvassing on back and sides with the black and white of about equal area; bill, black; feet, bluish; iris, orange, fig. 151. Female, brownish throughout with the canvassing above faintly indicated. Breeds from southern Mich, and northern Me. northward, migrating southward in Oct. to winter from Mass, (where it is rare north of Cape Cod) southward, becoming very common from Chesapeake Bay through the Carolinas ; comes north in April. Nests on ground ; eggs, 6 to 10, creamy-white. Occurs in flocks or occasionally singly. 2. CANVAS-BACK. A. VALLISNERIA. Differs from 1 in being a trifle larger ; bill, long and tapering, 2.75 produced back on forehead ; red of neck not extending over more than half its length ; canvassing with white predominating, fig. 152. Breeds from the northwestern States northward; time of migration and winter Fig. 152. range with nesting habits about as in 1. c. Black-headed Ducks. Fuligula. Bill, flatter than in b and slightly expanded tow- ard tip ; head and neck, and upper breast, black. 1. SCAUP, F. MARILA. 19.00; bill, 1.80; speculum, J\ , C, b, 2. 1-16. White; head glossed with green and violet; space in middle 132 DUCKS. of neck slightly ringed with brownish ; back and sides can- vassed with about equal proportions of black and white; be- neath, white; bill, blue; feet, black; iris, orange, fig. 153. Female, with black of male replaced with dark brown ; white space at base of upper mandible, fig. 154. Young male, sim- ilar and all stages occur between this and adults. Breeds far north ; migrates south in Oct. to winter from the coast of the middle States south ward as far as Guatemala; comes north in April; common in N. E. in spring and autumn, often remain- ing until Dec. Often occurs in large close flocks, or rafts, and in rising flies in a close body. Usually found on salt water but are sometimes seen on fresh. Nesting habits and eggs similar to those of b, 1. 2. LESSER SCAUP, F. AFFINIS. Smaller than 1, 17.00; Fig. 153. head without the greenish gloss, otherwise similar. Breeds a little further south and occurs in the Bahamas and West Indies in winter, but otherwise range and nesting habits similar. 3. RING-NECKED DUCK, F. COLLARIS. Dif- fers from 2 in having the speculum gray and a dis- tinct reddish ring around the neck. Breeding habits and range, similar. Occurs more often on fresh waters than on salt and in not large flocks, but frequently singly or in pairs. d. Black and White Ducks. Clang-ula. Black and white ducks with short necks and narrow bills which are high at the base and not flattened. 1. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE, C. AMERICANA. 20.00; bill, 1.60; head, upper neck and back, black; round spot at base of bill, lower neck, under parts, and wing patch, white; scapularies, lance-shaped and streaked and edged with white ; C, o. 1. 1-10. PLATE 13. HEAD AND FOOT OF ANI. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 133 bill, black; feet, yellow; iris, orange, fig. 155. Female and young, black replaced by Fig. 154. ashy brown and the feathers are edged with whitish; young males occur in all stages between this and adults but the white spot at base of bill is usually indi- cated. Breeds from north- ern Maine northward ; mi- grates southward to winter in abundance on the coast of N. E. frequenting the open N, C. C, 1. 1-3. water about the mouths of rivers, and southward to Cuba; goes north in April. Flies rather high even in passing over comparatively short distances, and swiftly, producing a loud whistling with its wings. Nests, placed in holes of trees ; eggs, ashy-green. 2. BARROWS GOLDEN-EYE, C. ISLANDICA. Differs from 1 in having the bill higher at base and the white spot on head triangular in form, the green glossing is absent from head, and the scapularies are rounded at tip with a pointed projection on one or both sides. Breeds from the Gulf of St. Fig. 155. TV, C, d, 1. 1-10. Lawrence northward ; south in winter rarely to Mass, and N. Y. e. Dipper Ducks. Charitoiietta. Small ducks which oc- cur on salt water oftener than on fresh and which are expert divers. Differ from d in being smaller, in hav- ing the feathers of head elon- gated with a large white patch behind eye. 156. 134 LUCKS. 1. BUFFLE-HEAD, C, ALBEOLA. 14.00; bill, 1.15; head, upper neck, and back, black ; triangular patch back of eye, broad line through wing, and beneath, white ; bill, black ; feet, yellow, fig. 157. Female, smoky-brown above, white below : white patch on wing and a small one back of eye and below it. Breeds from Me. northward, placing its nest in holes and cavities of trees and stumps. South in Oct. to win- ter from Mass, southward to Cuba. Comes north in March. f. Long-tailed Ducks. Harelcla. Medium-sized, small-headed, short-necked ducks, mostly black in color and which change plumage in winter; bill, short and narrow. 1. OLDSQUAW, H. HYEMALIS. 18.00; bill, 1.15 ; summer, head, neck, breast, upper parts, and middle tail, brownish- black; sides of head and body, bluish-ash; patch behind eye, longitudinal streak on sides of occiput, under parts, and sides of tail, white; some feathers of upper parts, edged with C, d, 2. 1-8. chestnut; bill, black with narrow ring of orange near tip ; feet, bluish. Winter, differs from summer in having head, neck, upper breast, and back, white; patch of brown on side of head below one of ashy, fig. 158. Female differs in lacking the long central tail feathers, the head and neck are dusky with whitish patch around eye and on neck behind. Breeds far north throughout the north- ern hemisphere; migrates south in middle Oct. to winter in abundance along the coast of N. E. south to the Potomac; comes north in late April. Frequents bays along the coast keeping in close flocks from a few pairs to a hundred or more. In feeding all of a flock are apt to dive at once and reappear TV, C, e, 1. 1-10. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 135 simultaneously; cries, musical and frequently given both when the birds are in flight Fig. 157. and when sitting on the water; the notes may be ren- , dered by " Er-lit ah-er-lit " varied by " Ah-ah ah-er-lit" When a number are vociferat- ing the effect produced is sim- ilar to childish, or feminine articulations uttered in an un- known tongue. Nests, placed on the ground; eggs, bluish- ash. g. Painted. J>ucks. Histrioiiicus: Similar in general form to f , but lack the the long cen- tral tail feathers, and are singularly marked with white, chest- nut and black. 1. HARLEQUIN DUCK, H. HISTRIONICUS. 16.75; bill, 1.60; blackish tinged with slaty; triangle in front of eye, spot on back of head, line on neck, two crescents on sides, and markings on back, white; line on top of head and flanks, chestnut, fig. 159. Female, ashy-brown, mottled with whit- ish below; whitish spot in front of eye and one of pure white on back of ear coverts. Breeds in N. A. from Newfoundland northward chiefly in the interior ; comes south in Nov. to win- ter quite commonly in the Bay of Fundy and rarely to the coast of Mass, and southward to N. J. h, Eiders. Soinateria. Large ducks which frequent the sea coast; males, black and white ; females, brown : bill, rather long, provided at base with a divided, fleshy projection that extends on to the fore- head. 1. AMERICAN EIDER. S. DRESSERI. 25.00; bill, 2.40; head, neck, and above, white; forehead, line through eye. and beneath, black ; portion of head, glossed with greenish, 136 DUCKS. fig. 160. Female, reddish-brown transversely banded with dark-brown. Young male, similar to female. Breeds on the Fig. 159. Fig. 158. jv, c, g, i. i-i5. wYc, f, i. i-isf Atlantic coast from northern Me. to Labrador; winters from Mass, to Del. and west to the Great Lakes; comes south in late Oct. ; north in April ; common, but on the coast of Mass, keeps well out to sea, feeding about islands that lie well out. Nests placed on the ground near the sea ; eggs, ashy-green. 1*. NORTHERN EIDER, S. D. BORE ALLS. Differs from 1 in having the fleshy process at base of bill terminating in a point, fig. 161. Breeds in northeastern N. A. and Greenland ; south in winter to coast of Mass. i. Arctic Eiders. Eritonetta. Differ from h in having the base of bill considerably swol- len and its fleshy process greatly widened, fig. 162. 1. KING EIDER, E. SPECTABILIS. Differs from h, 1 in having the top of head bluish-ash with black reduced to a narrow line about fleshy process and spot under eye; black Y-shaped mark on throat, lower back and wings, dark-brown. Breeds in the Arctic regions ; in N. A. south to winter as far as northern N. E. and rarely along the coast to Ga. j. Black Scoters. Oidemia. Base of bill slightly swollen; color wholly black. 1. AMERICAN SCOTER, O. AMERICANA. 19.00; bill, 1.50; base of bill orange, black terminally ; feet, greenish, fig. 163. Female, dull brown, whitish on sides of head. Breeds PLATK 14. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 137 in Labrador and the northern interior ; migrates south in mid- dle Oct. to winter from the coast of N. E. to Fla. ; abundant; Fig. 161. Fig. 160. TV, C,h, 1*. 1-3. TV, C, h, 1. 1-3. comes north in April. k. Black and White Scoters. Melanitta. Males black and both sexes have a large patch of white on wing; base of bill, considerably swollen with feathers of forehead, projecting forward, fig. 164. 1. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, M. DEGLANDI. 21.00; bill, 1.70; elongated spot under and back of eye, white; bill, red black at base and on edges; iris, yellow; feet, reddish- brown, fig. 165. Female, dull brown ; circular space at base of Fig. 162. Fig. 163. IV, C, i, 1. 1-3. IV, C, j, 1. 1-3. bill, elongated patch back of ear and beneath, whitish. Breeding. range much as in j, 1 and time of migration the same. Winters from the coast of N. E. to the Carolinas. Abundant. Nests, placed on the ground ; eggs, pale brown. NORTHERN BLUE YELLOW-BACK. MALE. FEMALE. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 139 D. STIFF-TAILED DUCKS. Erismaturidae. Small ducks rather brightly colored in summer b ut chang- ing into duller plumage in winter; head, small; neck, large and short; tail feathers, narrowed Fig. 166. and stiffened, fig. 166; entire plum- age, closely blended. a. Rudder Ducks. Erismatura. Bill, slightly bent upward at tip and its nail is small and bent under; its edge is harder and finely serrated and the lower mandible is also provided with a similar edging at its tip, fig. 166, showing under side. 1. RUDDY DUCK, E. RUBIDA. 15.00; bill, 1.40; neck and upper parts, chestnut ; top of head, black, sides, white ; beneath, whitish transversely banded with dusky; bill and feet, ashy-blue, fig. 167. Female and winter male ; chestnut replaced by reddish-brown marked with spots and wavy lines of dusky; throat and line at base of bill, whitish. Breeds locally throughout N. A. south to Guatemala ; migrates south Fig. 167. Fig. 168. N", D, a, 1. ^ N, D, a, 1. 1-2. x, D, b, 1. 1-2. in Oct. to winter from the Carolinas to the Bahamas and West Indies: comes north in April. Common. Occurs singly or in small flocks on both salt and fresh waters but seldom on 14O DUCKS. the ocean, often on small ponds and pools. Very unsuspic- ious. When started flies swiftly but is apt to circle and return near the point from which it started. Nests > placed on the ground ; eggs, whitish. b. Black-faced Ducks. Nomonyx. 1. MASKED DUCK, N. DOMINICUS. 13.00; bill, 1.40; front of head, black ; back of head and neck, deep reddish- brown becoming paler on the low- er surface of body ; white wing- patch ; back, black with feathers margined with reddish ; bill, blu- ish with a narrow stripe of black ; feet, gray, fig. 168. Female, dull- er with top of head and two stripes on its sides, blackish. Tropical America, including some portions of the West Indies ; accidental in Wis., N. Y., and Mass. IV, E, a, 1. 1-6. E. GEESE. Aiiseridae. Usually large birds with long necks and quite long legs well fitted for walking. Bill, rather short and high at base. Sexes, similar. Nests placed on the ground; eggs, 6 to 10, dirty-white or yellowish. Flight, heavy, direct, often in lines side by side or in Y-shaped flocks. Notes loud and sonorous, a. White Geese. Chen. Greater portion of plumage either white or very light in color; bill and feet, purplish-red. Young, with head and neck grayish. 1. BLUE GOOSE, C. CAERULESCENS. 28.00; grayish- brown, bluish on wing coverts ; head and neck, white, fig. 169. Breeds on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay ; migrates south through the interior to winter on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico west of Louisana ; rare on the Atlantic coast. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 141 2. LESSER SNOW GOOSE, C. HYPERBOREA. 25.00; white ; primaries, black, fig. 170. Breeds in Alaska ; migrates south in winter to southern 111. and southern Cal; casual in N. E. 2*. GREATER SNOW GOOSE, C. 11. NIVALIS. Differs from 2 in being larger, 35.00. Breeds on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay ; migrates south in winter very rarely to N. E. and southward as far as Cuba ; rare in U. S. b. Gray Geese. Anser. Large gray geese with both upper and under tail coverts white, and tail tipped with white. 1. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, A. GAMBELI. 30.00 ; bluish-gray above, brownish on head and neck ; fore- head, white; grayish-white beneath irregularly spotted on breast with black, fig. 171. Breeds far north in N. A., mi- grating south in Oct. to winter in abundance in the south- west as far south as Mexico ; return north in March ; rare on the Atlantic coast but occurs as far south as Cuba, Fig. 170. Fig. 171. E, a, 2. 1-18. JV, E, b, 1. 1-4. 2. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, A. ALBIFRONS. A little smaller than 1 and with a considerably smaller bill. North- ern parts of eastern hemisphere; accidental in Greenland. 3. BEAN GOOSE, A. FABALIS. Differs from 1 in the absence of white on forehead and dark mottling beneath. Northern portions of eastern hemisphere; accidental in Greenland. 142 GEESE. 40.00; tailfeath- Fig. 172. E, c, 1. 1-4. c. Short-billed Geese. Branta. Bather large geese, dark above, lighter beneath ; head and neck, conspicuously marked with black and white ; bill, short and black ; feet, black. 1. CANADA GOOSE, B. CANADENSIS. ers, 18 to 20 in number; head and neck, black; white patch on cheeks usually meeting on throat; brownish-gray above, lighter below ; upper tail coverts and posterior portions below, t white, fig. 172. Breeds in north- " ern U. S. and British Provinces ; migrates south in early Nov. to winter from Chesapeake Bay south to Fla. and Mexico ; returns north in March. Abundant. 2. HUTCHINS' GOOSE, B. HUTCIIISSII. Much smaller than 1, 32.00. Breeds in Arctic N. A. ; migrates south in Oct. through western U. S. and Mississippi Yalley to winter from Kansas southward; returns north in March. 3. CACKLING GOOSE, B. MINIMA. Differs from 2 in being smaller, 24.00; tail feathers, 14 to 16; distinct white collar on lower neck ; nearly or quite as dark below as above. Breeds on the northern Pacific coast; migrates south in win- ter into western U. S. ; rarely east to Wis. Fig. 173. 4. BARNACLE GOOSE, B. LEUCOPSIS. 26.00; fore part of head, white; space in front of eye, occiput, neck and chest, black ; bluish-'gray above some- what banded with black and white; grayish- white beneath, fig. 173. Northern parts of Old World ; casual in eastern N. A. E, c,4. 1-4. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 143 5. BRANT, B. BEKNICLA. No white on head, neck with a patch of white streaks on sides of mid- Fig. 174. die ; brownish-gray above ; pale gray be- neath, fig. 174. Breeds in the Arctic re- gions; in N. A. chiefly on the Atlantic coast : migrate south in Oct. and Nov. to winter in southern U. S. ; return north in April ; occur chiefly on the coast or out at sea in migration. 6. BLACK BRANT, B. NIGRICANS. Differs from 5 in being a little smaller, in having the white on neck extended across the front, and in being considerably dark- er beneath. Breeds in Arctic N. A. mi- JN , E, C, 5. 1-4. grating south through the west and wintering as far south as Lower California ; casual on the Atlantic coast. b. Tree Ducks. Dendrocygna. Medium sized, duck like birds with long legs and strik- ing colors, reddish-brown, chestnut, and black. Eggs, 10 to 15, yellowish or pale greenish. 1. FULVOUS TREE DUCK, D. FULVA. 21.00; head, neck, and below, light cinnamon ; back, black with the feath- ers tipped with cinnamon ; bill, black. Southern border of U. S. from La. westward and southward to Mexico; casual in N. C. F. SWANS. Cygnidae. Large birds with neck longer than body ; swim with ease and have the power of elevating the enlarged secondaries which serve as sails ; fly with great swiftness, when migrat- ing moving high in air, often in Y-shaped flocks; cries, loud and harsh. Colors, white, black and white, or wholly black. a. White Swans. Olor. Pure white ; bill and feet, black; young, tinged with brownish on head and neck ; bill and feet lighter. Nests, placed on the ground; eggs, 3 to 5, white or buff. Usually frequent inland waters both salt and fresh. 1 WHOOPING SWAN, O. CYGNUS. 60.00; basal por- tion of bill, including nostrils, yellow ; nostrils, in center of bill. Northern parts of eastern hemisphere; occasional in southern Greenland. 2. WHISTLING SWAN, O. COLUMBIANS. Differs from 1 in being a little smaller and having only a small spot of yel- low at base of bill. Breeds far north migrating south in au- tumn to winter from the Chesapeake to the Gulf coast ; very rare on the Atlantic coast north of Maryland. 3. TRUMPETER SWAN, O. BUCCINATOR. Larger, 65.00; bill, wholly black with nostrils nearer base; tail feathers, usually 24. Breeds in the interior of N. A. from Iowa north- ward ; casual on the Atlantic coast. O. JVAIL-BIDL.JL.EJ} WA13ERS. Odontog-lossae . Large birds with very long necks and legs, webbed toes, Fig. 175. and bill abruptly bent in the mid- dle; partly or wholly scarlet. Fre- quent islands and seaboards in the tropics or subtropics. Cries, sonorous and goose-like. Flight, rapid and direct with rather slow wing-beats, and with outstretched neck and legs. Nests built of marl piled in the form of a trun- cated pyramid ; eggs 1 sometimes 2, greenish covered with a chalky incrustation. Young helpless and fed by regurgitation. 'Food small mollusks which are procured from the bottom of the water by im- mersing the head and inverting it so that the upper mandible is un- derneath. O, A, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. A. FLAMINGOES. Phoenicopteridae. Characters as above. a. Flamingoes. Phoenicopterus. Characters as above. 1. AMERICAN FLAMINGO, P. RUBER. 45.00; scarlet; primaries, black, fig. 175. Young, grayish-white more or less mottled with darker gray. Nestlings, wholly white. Breeds in southern FJa., the Banamas, West Indies and Atlantic coast of Tropical America. P. GROUSE, QUAILS, ETC. Birds of varying size with feet fitted for walking ; bills hard, adapted for gathering seeds and other vegetable matter and insects. Eggs, many, placed on the ground in rudely constructed nests ; young active when hatched and covered with down and capable of feeding themselves. All run rap- idly, often hiding when alarmed to rise suddenly when ap- proached closely. A. PARTRIDGES. Perdicidae. Small or medium sized birds with rather short, rounded wings and short tails. Sexes, not similar. Fly well for short distances, usually moving in a straight line with quick wing- beats. a. Bob-whites. Colinus. Rather plainly marked birds with the feathers of head only slightly elongated. Young, unable to fly until well grown. Frequent the open country. Eggs, white. Not mi- gratory. Social, congregating in flocks of from 10 to 20 or more. 1. BOB-WHITE, C. VIRGINIANUS. 10.00; above, chest- nut marked with ashy, buff, and dark brown ; forehead, line over eye, and throat, white ; patch on neck extending on either side to bill, black ; beneath, creamy streaked on upper breast and sides with chestnut; iris, bill, and feet, brown, fig. 176. 146 PARTRIDGES. Female differs in having the white about head replaced by buff. Downy young, buff streaked with dark-brown, plate 12. mois," Bob-white" OT" Mo re-wet", sometimes ^No-more- -wet"; also a chuckling when dis- Fig. 176. turbed and a call when a bevy is sep- arated. Eastern U. S. from southern Me. to Fla. 1*. FLOBIDA BOB-WHITE,.C. v. FLORIDANUS. Smaller with larger bill and feet; darker with black of breast considerably extended over upper breast. Florida. B. GROUSE. Tetronidae. 1*7 A, a, 1. MO. Larger birds with feathers of head considerably elonga- ted and crest-like; tarsi, feathered, naked colored space over eye ; toes, with fringe-like scales on the sides. Eise on the wing with a rapid whirring sound and fly swiftly with quick wing-beats but usually in a straight line, often sailing with outstretched wings before alighting. Kun swiftly when down. Nests on the ground, eggs buffy, sometimes spotted. a. Spruce Grouse. Canacliites. Kather small grouse with moderately long tails and dark colors ; naked space over and around eye, red ; toes, slightly webbed and these are feathered. Eggs, spotted. 1. CANADA GROUSE, C. CANADENSIS. 15.50; black, banded above with ashy and chestnut and blotched and band- ed below with white ; terminal band on tail, chestnut, fig. 177. Female duller with much of the black replaced by chestnut, especially or4 the breast. Young, much more reddish. Brit- ish America east of the Rocky Mountains and into the U. S. in the northern portions of Minn., Mich., N. Y., and N. E. Yery unsuspicious birds inhabiting the coniferous forests. b. Wood Grouse. Boiiasa. Larger birds with longer tails and prominent ruffs of black feathers on sides of neck which are rounded terminally. The young acquire their wing feathers whe.n only a few days old and fly quite well when half grown. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 147 BUFFED GKOUSE, B. UMBELLUS. 18.00; reddish-brown above mottled and spotted with dark-brown and ashy-white ; reddish-brown band across breast ; remaining under parts, white banded with brown ; tail, tipped with ashy in which there is a sub-terminal band of brown, fig. 178. Female dul- ler with a smaller tail. Eastern U.S. "south to the mountains of northern Ga., and southern Canada. Frequents brushy woodlands. Note, a whistling chuck- Fig. 177. le given when alarmed; also give the drumming sound in spring, summer f and autumn ; this begins loud and distinct, increases in rapidity, but , diminishes in volume and dies away almost as a continuous murmur. Has the habit of spreading the fan-like tail and turning it from side to side to attract attention to itself when ac- companied by its young, Nests in early May. 1*. CANADIAN HUFFED GKOUSE, B. u. TOGATA. Differs from 1 in being grayer above especial- IP, B, a, 1. 1-12. ly on tail and in having the brown markings broader. Inhab- Fig. 178. its the spruce forests of northern N. E., northern N. Y. and the British Pro- vinces north to James Bay, west to Oregon and British Columbia. c. Ptarmigans. Lagopus. Medium sized, cOmpact- ly formed grouse that in- B, b, 1. 1-12. habit cold regions and which are nearly white in winter, fig. 179, but change to a 148 PTARMIGANS. brown dress in summer, fig. 180 ; entire feet, thickly feath- ered; upper tail coverts elongated, sometimes as long, or longer than tail. Tail, in all of our species, black. Fig. 179. 1. WILLOW PTAR- MIGANS. L. LAGOPUS. 15.00; shafts of seconda- ries, white. Summer dress ; reddish-cinnamon excepting a greater por- tion of wings, middle un- der parts, and feet, which remain white, a B, c, 1. 1-8. spotted and banded above and finely banded across breast and on sides with black. Breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, in America south to Sitka and the British Provinces; accidental inN. E. (Me. and Mass.). 1*. ALLEN'S PTARMIGAN, L. L. ALLENI. Shafts of secondaries, black ; primaries, more or less blotched with dus- ky. Newfoundland. 2. ROCK PTARMIGAN, L. RUPESTRIS. 14.00; bill, small and slender; lores, black. Summer dress; grayish above, coarsely and irregularly banded and mottled with black ; top of head, blackish, feathers tipped with reddish ; sides of head and throat mixed white and dusky; upper breast and sides, brownish, barred with dusky; remaining under parts, white. Arctic America south to Alaska, Labra- dor, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 2*. REINHARDT'S PTARMIGAN, L. B. REIN- HARDI. Differs from 2 in summer in being less regu- larly and more coarsely banded above, where the black predominates, varied with pale grayish-buff. Greenland, western shores , of Cumberland Gulf, and northern Labrador. P*, B, c, 1. 1-8. Fig. 180.. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 3. WELCH'S PTARMIGAN, L. WELCHI. Differs from 2* in summer in being darker above where many feathers are tipped with white; head, neck, upper breast, and sides, rather coarsely banded with black, grayish-white, and gray- ish-buff ; throat, white. Newfoundland. d. Prairie Grouse. Tympanuchus. Rather large, strongly built grouse, light colored, but banded with dusky ; wings, long, tail, short ; feathers of sides of upper neck, elongated into an erectable tuft, beneath which is a naked space capable of expansion. Inhabit prai- ries or brushy plains. Notes in the breeding season a loud booming given by the male when strutting with uplifted neck plumes and extended pouches. 1. PRAIRIE HEN, T. AMERICANUS. 18.50; yellowish and buffy above and on Fig. 181. throat ; white beneath ; throat, without bands, fig. 181 ; feathers of neck tuft, rounded at tips, fig. 182. Prairies of Mich. and westward. 2. HEATH HEN, T. CUPIDO. Differs from 1 in having the brown bandings broader and the tips of the feathers of P, B, d, 1. 1-8. the neck tufts pointed, fig. 183. Martha's Yineyard, Mass. e. Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pedioecetes. Differs from d in the absence of neck tufts, in being more irregularly banded and spotted above where there are large rounded x white spots on wings; white beneath with Y-shaped marks of dusky. Inhabit similar regions. 1. PRAIRIE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, P. CAMPESTRIS. 17.00 ; quite rusty above. Great Plains of the U. S. east to Wis. and northern 111. 15O TURKEYS. C. TURKEYS. Meleagridae. Large birds with naked heads and necks with a tuft of black bristles depending from up- Fig. 183, per breast ; tail, long and fan-like ; tarsus, furnished with a spur. a. Turkeys. Meleagris. Feathers, more or less irides- cent. 1. WILD TURKEY, M. GAL- LIP AVO. 45.00; differs from the dark form of the well known do- I*, B, d, 1. mestic turkey in being rather more P, B, d,2. brilliant in the iridescent tints and in having the feet red- dish. U. S. from Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf Coast and west to the plains. 1*. FLORIDA TURKEY, M. o. OSCEOLA. Darker than 1 with little white on wings, this when present appears as de- tached bars which are narrow and broken, not reaching the shaft of the feather. Southern Fla. Q. PIGEOTVS. OolnmJbae. Birds of varying size with long wings and well developed tails ; bill, weak and with a soft, naked space above nostrils. Flight, rapid and direct with quick wing-beats. Eggs 2, white, placed in stick-built nests often in trees but sometimes on the ground or rocky shelves of caves ; young hatched help- less and naked and are fed by regurgitation. Inhabit all sec- tions of temperate and tropical zones. Food, vegetable sub- stances. A. DOVES. Columbidae. Tail feathers, 12 or 14 ; tarsus, slightly feathered in front, birds of wide distribution. a. Pig-eons. Columba. Rather large with short or rounded tails ; colors, dull. 1. WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON, C. LEUCOCEPHALA. 13.00; dark slaty-blue; top of head, white; sides and lower portions of neck, iridescent with greenish and gold and each DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 151 feather is margined with black. Bahamas, and some of the West Indies; rather uncommon on the Fla. Keys. Notes, given in a minor key much those of some owls ; " Wof, wof, iv o, co-woo" ; the first three notes are repeated several times, then the last is long drawn out. Social, occurring in flocks and breeding in communities. b. Long-tailed Pig-eons. Ectopistes. Medium-sized pigeons with long pointed tails that are conspicuously marked with white. 1. PASSENGER PIGEON, E. MIGRATORIUS. 16.50 ; up- Fig. 184. per parts, head, neck, and sides, ashy- blue; beneath, purplish-red; under tail coverts and tip of tail, white ; sides, and back of neck iridescent with violet, green, and gold, fig. 184. Breeding range now restricted to portions of the C a n a d a s and the northern border of middle U. S. but formerly ranged through eastern N. A. from Hudson Bay southward. Alarm note, a kind of laughing coo. Yery social, occurring in large flocks and breeding in communi- ties. c. Spotted Doves. Zenaidura. Generally similar to b but with bill Q, A, b, 1. 1-8. more slender and conspicuously spotted on secondaries with black. 1. MOURNING DOYE, Z. MACROURA. 12.00; reddish- brown above under tinted with bluish ; purplish-red beneath becoming lighter behind and ashy-blue on sides; tail, except- ing central feathers, broadly tipped with white and crossed above this by a black band ; spot on sides of upper neck, black ; below it an iridescent patch of purple and gold, fig. 185 ; fe- male, duller; tail, shorter. N. A. from southern Maine and 152 DOVES. Canada south to Panama ; not common on the Bahamas ; lo- Fig. 185. cal in distribution. Social but not dur- ing the breeding season and never con- gregating in very large flocks. Breeds in late June. Flight, swift and direct and when rising the wings produce a whistling sound. Note, a mournful double coo. Feeds on the ground, but a flock will often sit together side by side on the branches of a tree, d. Short-tailed Doves. Zeiiaida. Kather compactly formed, medium sized doves with short rounded tails. 1. ZENAIDA DOYE, Z. ZENAIDA. 11.00; yellowish-red above overwashed Q, A, c, 1. 1-8. with ashy; a narrow white wing-band; beneath and on sides of head and neck, reddish-brown be- coming bluish on sides, flanks and under tail coverts; small bluish-black spot behind eye and a larger one on side of neck where there is an iridescent patch of purple and green. Com- mon on the Bahamas and in some of the West Indies ; rare on the Fla. Keys. Not at all social, rarely, if ever occurring even in small flocks ; lives most of the time on the ground. The coo consists of two notes, the first uttered with a falling inflection, the second follows quickly, but is not as prolonged, then " Who, ivho, who" with a decided pause between the first two ; all are loud, but in a minor key. e. Little Doves. Columbigalliiia. Very small doves with short tails and -slender bills that live mostly on the ground. 1. GROUND DOVE, C. PASSEBINA. 7.00 ; brownish-ash above with inner portion of wings spotted with black having a violet iridescence; under portion of wing, showing in flight, chestnut; beneath, purplish-red with breast obscurely spot- ted with dusky ; bill, orange black at tip, fig. 186. Female, somewhat duller. South Atlantic and Gulf States. Note, a loud " Who" often repeated, always in a minor tone. Ordina- PLATE 16. EUBY-THKOATED HUMMINGBIRD. DIBKCTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMKRICA. L53 ry flight when among the thickets which it frequents, flitting, but when passing over wid- Fig. 186. er spaces direct and rapid. Very common. 2. BAHAMA GROUND DOVE, C. BAHAMENSIS. Differs from 1 in being some- what smaller and paler; bill, nearly black. Baham- Q, A, e, 1. 1-3.. as ; accidental in Fla. f. Quail Doves. Greotrygon.. Medium-sized doves with short tails and large feet. 1. KEY WEST QUAIL DOYE, G. CHRYSEA. 11.00: dull chestnut, purplish-red beneath, whitish behind; glos- sed above with metallic purple and bronze ; broad stripe on lower jaw and throat, whitish. Bahamas, and some of the West Indies ; casual in summer on the Fla. Keys. Notes, loud y long drawn, and particularly mournful. Keep well in the scrub seldom appearing in open places; run swiftly on the ground. 2. RUDDY QUAIL DOYE, G. MONTANA. Differs from 1 in being without the brillant metallic gloss above, this being only slightly indicated ; the jaw stripe, throat and lower parts behind are buff y ; above, purplish-red; yellowish buff on breast. Tropical America ; accidental on Key West, Fla. g. Partridge Doves. Starnoenas. Medium sized, ground inhabiting doves with short round- ed tails and wings ; form, robust and partridge-like. 1. BLUE-HEADED PARTRIDGE DOYE. S. CYANO- CEPHALA. 12.00; deep-brown above, more reddish beneath ; head, black ; crown, bluish ; line on side of head beneath eye and one bordering throat, white. Cuba, casual on the Fla. Keys. 154 VULTURES. VULTURES. R. Large birds with naked heads, large wings fitted for strong flight ; feet adapted for walking, not for grasping ; food, usually animal matter found dead and sometimes par- tially decayed. Sexes, similar. A. DUSKY VULTURES. Catliartidae. Dusky throughout with no prominent white markings; neck without spinal ruff of elongated feathers. (Note :- the small figs.* representing birds in silhouette with extended wings are flight contours as seen from below, see fig. 187*etc.) a. Naked-breasted Vultures. Cathartes, Bill, short and thick ; nostrils, open; tail, long and round ed, upper breast, naked, but concealed by elongated feathers on its sides. Eggs, 2, whitish mottled with brown ; young, covered with whitish down. 1. TURKEY VULTUBE, C. AURA. 27.50; dark-brown with a slight bluish iridescence; head, a livid red, fig. 187 America, from N. J., the Ohio Valley, Fig. 187. and Saskatchewan southward through a portion of the Bahamas and West In- dies to Patagonia ; casual in N. E. Flight, steady, with long sweeping curves, sail- ing most of the time without flapping, sometimes at a considerable height where it moves in wide circles. Food, mainly freshly killed animals. Incap- able of producing any vocal sound save a kind of hiss. .Social, gathering in large flocks during the day and restin g together in larger numbers during the R, A, a, 1. 1-12, night. DIRECTORY TO BIKDS OF KASTKRN ]S T ORTH AMERICA. b. Square-tailed Vultures. Fig. 187*. Catharista. Bill, long and slender ; nostrils, closed by a flap of skin ; tail, short and square ; breast, feathered. 1. BLACK VULTURE, C. ATRATA. 26.00; black, including head; space on pri- maries beneath, showing in flight, whitish, figs. 188, 188*. N. C. to Fla. north to the lower Ohio Valley, west to the Great Plains, south to Mexico, some of the West Indies and over most of South America ; casual in N. E. andN. Y. Flight, by alternate flapping and sailing with rapid wing-beats, some- times ascends to a considerable height but moves in compar- atively small circles. Food, largely decaying animal matter* Rather more social than a, 1. s. HAWKS, EAGLES, Etc. JTaleones. Birds of varying sizes with strongly curved and hooked bills; feet, with strong claws capable of grasping. Young, covered with down when hatched but helpless and fed by their parents. Females, larger than males. Fig. 188. Fig. 189. Fig. 190. R, A, b, 1. 1-12. S, A, b, 1. 1-8. A, a, 1. 1-8 156 KITES. A. KITES. Milvidae. Birds of prey of varying sizes and forms but which usu- ally capture living animals for food by swooping suddenly upon them from above. a. Fork-tailed Kites. Elaiioides. Rather large birds with quite small bills which do not have the upper mandible lobed ; tarsus short and nearly na- ked; tail, long and deeply forked, fig. 190, 190*. Sexes sim- ilar. Fig. 188*. Fig. 190*. Fig. 189*. 1. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, E. FOKFICATUS. 22.00; black above ; head, neck, and lower parts, white. Breeds in the U. S. from the Carolinas and Minn, southward, in May; migrates southward in Oct. to winter in South America ; comes north in April; casual in southern N. E. (Mass.). Flight, swallow-like, very graceful and easy. Food, largely snakes and other reptiles, which it catches by swooping downward an d, grasping them with its claws, eats them as it flies. Nests, placed in trees, eggs, 4 to 6, greenish-white spotted and blotched with brown and umber, fig. 190. b. Prairie Kites. Ictinia. Compact birds with a short, broad bill, cutting edge of upper mandible lobed : wings, long ; tail, but little emargin- ate. Sexes, similar. 1. MISSISSIPPI KITE, I. MISSI88IPPIEN8IS. 14.00; head, neck, and beneath, bluish-ash; black above glossed with greenish ; longitudinal stripe in each primary, showing in flight, bright chestnut; a wing bar of whitish, fig. 189. Southern U. S. from S. C. and casually fromPenn., Wis., and Iowa southward. Winters in Guatemala. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. c. Black and White Kites. Elanus. Bill, short; wings, long; tail, short and square. 1. WHITE-TAILED KITE, E. LEUCURUS. 16.00; head, neck, tail, and beneath, white; above with central tail feath- ers, ashy-gray ; patch on bend of wing, black. Breeds in southern U. S. from S. 0. and southern 111. to Tex. and Cal. ; winters in South America ; casual in Mich. d. Curve-billed Kites. Rostrhamus. Rather large, slender kites with well-curved bills, long wings, and nearly square tails. 1. EVERGLADE KITE, R. SOCIABTLIS. 17.00; ashy- black above, brown beneath ; base of tail and its coverts, white, fig. 191. Female browner above and much marked with reddish below. Breeds in Fla., Cuba, and southward into eastern South America. Nests placed in low bushes in Fla. in March ; eggs, 1 or 2, bluish-white spotted and blotched with brown of varying shades. Flies low over marshes with rather slow wing-beats and erratic movements. Food, large- ly fresh-water mollusks. Fig. 191. Fig. 192. S,A, d, 1. 1-8. 1-6. A, e, 1. e. Harriers. Circus. Slender birds with long wings, legs and tail; lower por- tion of face surrounded by a ruff. 158 FALCONS. 1. MARSH HAWK, C. IIUDSONIUS. 23.00; above, blu- ish-ash ;' upper tail coverts, white; beneath, white spotted with pale reddish, fig. 192. Female and young, brown above, reddish beneath spotted with dark-brown. Breeds through- out N. A., nesting in marshy places in May; migrates south in early Nov. to winter from the Carolinas southward to Pan- ama rarely as far north as Mass. ; comes north in April. Flies low over fields and marshes, moving with an irregular flight with rather slow wing-beats. Food, mice, frogs, snakes and lizards. Common. B. FALCONS. Falconidae. Birds of varying size having long, pointed wings, tails of medium length ; cutting edge of lower mandible, toothed ; lower, notched. a. Gyrfalcons. Hierofalco. Large falcons often white with some dark bandings but with no special dark markings about head; breeds in north- ern latitudes. Nests on cliffs. 1. WHITE GYRFALCON, H. ISLANDUS. 22.00; white somewhat banded on back with dusky, fig. 193. Young, more or less streaked below with dusky. Arctic regions, wander- ing south in winter to Labrador and northern Me. 2. GRAY GYRFALCON, H. BUSTICOLUS. Dusky throughout much streaked on head and barred on tail with whitish, these bars being nearly as wide as the dark inter- spaces ; banded elsewhere above with pale grayish or buffy, and streaked beneath with the same. Young, with streakings. beneath narrower and the upper parts are spotted with whit- ish or light buffy. Arctic regions straggling southward in winter. 2*. GYRFALCON, H. K. GYRFALCO. Darker than 2, with very few whitish markings on head; light tail bands narrower and darker and bluish gray; bandings above, in- distinct and streakings below broader than light interspaces; much banded with dusky on flanks and thighs. Young even DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 159 darker. Northern Europe, Greenland and Arctic America south to northern Labrador; rare in winter in Mass. andR. I. 2**. BLACK GYRFALCON, H. G. OBSOLETUS. Much darker than 2*. with the light interspaces below narrower than the dark, sometimes nearly obsolete; above, nearly uni- form dusky. Labrador, south in winter rarely to Canada, Me., Mass., and N. Y. b. Noble Falcons. Khynchodoii. Smaller than a, dark above and whitish below more or less banded on both surfaces with dark-brown ; young with- out bands above and streaked below; black patch on side of head. Fig. 193. Fig. 194. Fig. 195. S, B, a, 1. 1-6. S, B, b, 1. 1-6. S, B, c, 1. 1-6. 1. DUCK HAWK, R. ANATUM. 18.00 ; dark slaty above, top of head, black ; creamy-white below transversely banded behind only, fig. 194. Young, dark-brown above, reddish- white below. N. A., breeding locally throughout the U. S., nesting usually on cliffs; migrates south in Sep. and Oct. to winter from Fla. southward into South America. Flight, swift with rapid wing-beats, seldom sailing. Captures its prey, usually birds, on the wing. Eggs, 3 or 4, creamy-white very thickly mottled with dark-brown. Not very common. 1OO HAWKS. c. Merlins. Aesalon. Smaller than b, not banded above but streaked below and with hind neck with light streakings; no dark chest patch. 1. PIGEON HAWK, A. COLUMBABIUS. ll.~50; dark slaty above, lighter on tail ; back streaked with narrow lines of black ; beneath, pale buff quite heavily streaked with dark- brown; tail, ashy-white at tip, and crossed with about four bands of the same; wings banded on inner webs with whit- ish, conspicuous in flight, fig. 195. Female and yoiing, browner above and more reddish below. Breeds from the northern border of the U. S. northward, placing its nest either in the branches of a tree or in a cavity in rocks or a tree ; mi- grates south in Sep. and early Oct. to winter in northern S. A. ; north in late March and early April. Common. 2. RICHARDSON'S MERLIN, A. BICHABDSONII. Differs from 1 in having the tail crossed by five or six light bands and both outer and inner webs of primaries banded with light spots. Western N. A. from the Mississippi River to the Pa- cific. 3. MERLIN, A. BEGULUS. Differs from 1 in having the streakings on cheeks crowded into a patch, and in having the tail of male crossed by six light bands> female by eight. Europe, Asia, and Africa; accidental in Greenland. d. Sparrow Hawks. Tinnunculu Small hawks marked with chestnut and with two trian- gular black marks on sides of head ; young scarcely different from the adults ; nests placed in holes of trees or in cavities of rocks or buildings; eggs, 4 to 6, buff thickly- spotted with reddish. 1. AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK, T. SPABVEBIUS. 10.00 ; chestnut above, lighter below ; top of head and wings, bluish, center of former usually chestnut; spot on occiput, bands on back, sub-terminal band on tail (it is tipped with ashy-white), spots on wings above and below, and round spots below, black ; primaries, black, banded with white ; throat DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 161 and sides of head, white, fig.. 196. The female is heavily banded above with dusky and streaked below with brown. Breeds throughout N. A. east of the Rocky Mountains in May ; migrates south in Oct. to winter from Mass, southward ; north in April. [Note :- a pair of Sparrow Hawks nested in the summer of 1905 in a bird box near the house of one of my neighbors in West Newton, Mass, and in 1908 in a hole in the eaves of the house of another neighbor, where a brood of four young were reared. All through the last winter, 1906-07 the birds have constantly visited the nesting site, and on several occasions I have seen them enter the hole; once all six came and went in one after the other. My neighbor, Mr. Ohlsen, kindly presented me with one of the young, but it escaped after I had kept it a few days.] 2. CUBAN SPARROW-HAWK, T. DOMINICENSIS. Dif- fers from 1 in being chiefly dark slaty-gray above ; beneath deep rusty. Female, rusty above and below; dark markings on sides of head indistinct in both sexes and inner webs of wings are mostly white with dark spots very small. Cuba, casual in Fla. 3. KESTREL, T. TINNUNCULUS. Differs from 1 in being larger, 14.00, in having the bluish of head extended over portions of the upper parts, and in being conspicuously streaked below. Europe, accidental in Mass. Fig. 196. Fig. 197. R, d, 1. 1-4. , C, a, 1. 1-6. HAWKS. e. Gray Falcons. Gennaia. Rather large hawks very pale without any conspicuous markings. 1. PRAIRIE FALCON, G. MEXICANUS. 18.00; grayish- brown above, each feather margined with lighter and indis- tinctly barred with lighter; band on back of head and be- neath, white heavily streaked with brown; secondaries, with lighter spots on outer webs. Western U. S. from the eastern border of the Plains to the Pacific south into Mexico; casual in 111. C. SHORT-WINGED HAWKS. Accipitridae. Hawks of varying size with short, rounded wings and long tails, fig. 198, which seldom sail in circles but move with an irregular flight, alternately flapping and sailing ; legs, long. Nests in trees ; eggs 4, usually whitish, sometimes spotted. a. Short-winged Hawks. Accipiter. Characters as above. 1. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, A. YELOX. Male, 11.00 ; female, 13.00; tail, square, fig. 197; slaty-brown above, white spots on scapularies, four dusky bands on tail, inner webs of wing feathers barred with white; beneath, pale yellowish- rufous banded with white and narrowly streaked with dusky. Breeds throughout N. A. south to Panama; winters from the Middle States, south ward, rarely as far north as Mass. Goes south in Oct., north in April. Breeds in May. Common. Eggs, heavily spotted. 2. COOPER'S HAWK, A. COOPERII. Male, 17.00; fe- male, 19.00 ; differs from 1 in having the tail more rounded and the legs and middle toe shorter, fig. 198*. Range and time of migration similar to 1. Eggs, seldom spotted, never heav- iiy- 3. AMERICAN GOSHAWK, A. ATRICAPILLUS. Male, 21.00; female, 23.00; bluish above; top of head, and broad band on its sides, black ; white spots on occiput ; three dusky tail bands ; mixed white and bluish beneath mostly in bands narrowly lined with dusky, fig. 198. Young, brown above, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1 03 white beneath broadly streaked with brown. Eggs, seldom spotted. Breeds from northern N. E. northward passing south In Nov. to winter from the Middle States northward ; north in April. Sometimes common in Mass. D. BUZZARD HAWKS. Buteonidae. Rather large hawks, with quite long but rounded wings and not long tails, which often sail in circles high in air ; form, robust; nests, in trees; eggs, spotted. a. Naked-legged Hawks, Buteo. Tarsus, not feathered to the toes in front. 1. RED-TAILED HAWK, B. BORKALIS. Male, tail, long, fig. 200; 20.00; female, 23.00; brown above; tail, cinna- mon, white at base and with subterminal band of black ; white beneath, streaks on throat and in band on breast and across middle of body. Young, with tail paler and having twelve or more dusky bands. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. north to about northern Labrador ; feet, stout : four outer primaries, incised on inner webs. Note, a wheezy scream. 1*. KRIDER'S HAWK, B. B. KRIDERII. Lighter above than 1, no terminal band on tail, few or no terminal spots be- neath. Plains of the IT. S. from the Dakotas and Wyoming to Minn, south to Texas; casual in Wis. and 111. Fig. 198. Fig. 200. Fig. 201. C, a, 2. 1-10. S, D, a, 1. 1-10. S, D, a, 4. 1-10, 164 HAWKS. 1**. WESTERN RED-TAIL, B. B. CALARUS. Differs from 1 in being darker above, tail always with terminal bar and sometimes with two or three above it; beneath, much more reddish, especially across breast. Western N. A. from the Rockies to the Pacific; casual in 111. 2. HARLAN'S HAWK, B. HARLANI. Male, 20.00; fe- male, 22.00; dark-brown above sometimes streaked with white; tail, irregularly mottled with grayish, white, rufous and dusky; beneath, varying from dark, sooty-brown to white, but if white then streaked across breast and on sides with dusky. Young with tail banded with grayish-brown and dusky. Breeds in the Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley south to Central America; casual north to Penn. and Iowa. 3. EUROPEAN BUZZARD, B. BUTEO. Male, 20.00; fe- male, 23.00; four outer primaries, incised; variable, usually mixed brownish and whitish, tail with from 10 to 13 narrow dusky bands. Europe; accidental in Mich. 4. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, B. LINEATUS. Four outer quills incised; male, 21.00; female, 24.00: dark-brown above with feathersj especially on bend of wing, more or less mar- gined with reddish ; wings with many white bands ; tail with four; tail, short in proportion to spread of wings, fig. 201; white beneath banded with reddish. Young, streaked with brown beneath ; tail with many bands. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Fla. to Nova Scotia; winters from Mass, southward. Note a loud, high scream, "ke-ar" repeated sev- eral times with the last syllable prolonged. Fig. 197*. Fig. 198*. Fig. 200*. Fig. 201*. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN ?TORTH AMERICA. 165 4*. FLORIDA RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, B. L. AL- LENI. Differs from 4 in being smaller and darker. South Atlantic and Gulf States. 5. SWAINSON'S HAWK, B. SWAINSONI. Three outer quills incised ; male, 19.00 ; female, 20.00 ; brown above ; wings obscurely banded with dusky ; tail, tipped with whitish and with about twelve bands of dusky ; white beneath, unmarked on throat, elsewhere banded with ashy-red; there is a dark phase in which the under parts are dark-brown, and interme- diates occur between this and the light phase. Young, red- dish-ash beneath, thickly marked with drop-shaped streak- ings especially across breast. Western N. A. east to 111., cas- ual to Mass, and Me. 6. BROAD-WINGED HAWK, B. LATISSIMUS. Differs from 4 in being smaller, 15.00-17.00 and in having two white bars on tail, fig. 202. Young have the throat whiter. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Fla. to New Brunswick ; goes south in Oct. to winter from the Southern States to northern S. A. ; comes north in April. Note, a squeaking whistle. 7. SHORT-TAILED HAWK, B. BBACHYURUS. 16.00; dark-brown above with tail crossed by about seven bands of grayish; white beneath, reddish on side of breast. Young, more or less streaked beneath and the reddish on side of breast is absent. There is a dark phase in which the lower parts are nearly dark -brown ; forehead always white. S. A. north to Fla. b. Feather-legged Hawks. Archibuteo. Differ from a in being rather more robust, in having smaller feet with tarsus feathered to toes ; gape, narrow ; food, small animals ; not very active. 1. AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, A. SAIJCTI- JOHAN > IF. Male, 21.00 ; female, 23.00 ; dark-brown above ; tail bands, white, 6 to 8 ; yellowish-white beneath ; band of spots on breast and broad band on abdomen, brown; sides of head and above more or less streaked with white and yellowish, fig. 202; from this phase frequently rar; 3s to a ne?~'ly black PLATK 17. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 167 World; in the U. S. breeds chiefly in mountainous parts of unsettled districts.. Nests on cliffs; eggs, 2, white spotted with brown. Resident. F. FISH EAGL.ES. Haliaetidae. Large birds with the tarsus naked and the tail at least white in adults ; food, very largely fish ; flight, strong and di- rect, wing-beats rather slow; often circle high in air. Cries, harsh and loud. Nests often in trees, sometimes on cliffs; eggs, 2 to 3, white, unspotted. a. White-tailed Eagles. Haliaetus. Characters as above. 1. BALD EAGLE, H. LEUCOCEPHALUS. Male, 32.00; female, 37.00; dark-brown; head, neck, and tail, white; iris, bill, and feet, yellow. Young, brown throughout. U. S., breeding in the unsettled districts. Alarm note, a cackling cry. Frequently robs the osprey of fish, when it moves with a rapid flight with quick wing-beats. Resident, fig. 204. 1*. NORTHERN BALD EAGLE, H. L. ALASCANUS. Dif- fers from 1 in being larger. N. A. north of the U. S. 2. GRAY SEA EAGLE, H. ALBICILLA. Differs from 1 in having the head always brown. Northern Europe, Asia, and Greenland. O. OSPREYS. JPandionidae. Large birds with strong feet and naked tarsi, very long wings and rather short tails, which feed wholly on fish. Flight, strong, direct with slow wing-beats. Often sail in cir- cles over water; fish by dropping directly downward and the secured fish is carried head forward. Nests, in trees ; eggs, 3 to 5, creamy thickly spotted and blotched* with reddish. Cries, shrill, whistling screams. a. Fish Hawks. Pandion. Characters as above. 1. AMERICAN OSPREY, P. CAROLINENSIS. Male, 22.00; female, 24.00; sides of head and under parts, white with a band of spots crossing breast ; line through eye and above, 168 EAGLES. dark-brown, fig. 205. Breeds from Hudson Bay to Fla. west to the Pacific. Winters from the Carolinas south to northern S. A. Migrates south in Oct. ; north in April. H. VULTURE EAGLES. Polyboridae. Rather singular birds with long wings, tails and legs, which are chiefly terrestrial and which live largely upon de- caying animal matter, but will occasionally catch living ani- mals. Flight direct by alternate sailings and flappings ; some- times circle in air like vultures. Nests in trees, eggs 2 to 4 whiti&h spotted with reddish-brown. Fig, 205. Fig. 206. a. Caracaras. Polyborus. Characters as above. 1. AUDUBON'S CARACAKA, P. CHERIWAY. 23.00; dark-brown above banded on upper tail coverts and tail with dusky, on wings with white ; tail, white at base, bl'ack at tip ; white beneath with a dusky band on tibia and abdomen, fine- ly banded elsewhere with dusky ; feet, yellow, fig. 206. Fla., Tex., and Arizona south to northern S. A. Resident. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 169 T, I?ARJEfcOTH, Psittaci. Birds of varying size, color and form with a strong hooked bill and with two toes in front and two behind. A. LONG-TAILED P>ARROTS. Psittacidae. Tail, long and pointed; cheeks, feathered. a. American Paroquets. Coiiurus. Medium-sized parrots with long wings, green with bright markings on head. Flight, very swift and direct with rapid wing-beats. Cries, harsh and loud. 1. CAROLINA PAROQUET, C. CAROLINENSIS. 13.50; green ; head and neck, yellow ; forehead, sides of head, and inner webs of most of tail feathers, orange. Young with head and neck green more or less spotted with yellow, fig. 207. Formerly ranged throughout middle and southern U. S. from the Mississippi Valley eastward, now confined to a small sec- tion of middle Fla. Nests in communities; eggs, white. 17. OWLS. Stri^i. Well known birds of varying size, loose, fluffy plumage, large eyes which are directed forward, surrounded by a par- tial or entire disk of ray-like feathers; bill, strong and hook- Fig. 207. Fig. 208. T, A, a, 1. 1-6. /r v\ TJ, A, a, 1. 140. 17O OWLS. ed ; toes, two in front and two behind; tarsus feathered; mainly nocturnal in habit. Young, inactive when hatched and covered with whitish dow,n. Flight, direct with rather slow wing-beats. Eggs, white, 2 to 7. Food, small animals and insects, and occasionally fishes. A. DISKED OWLS. Strigidae. Light-colored owls with the facial disk perfect, which nest in caves or deserted buildings. a. Barn Owls, Strix. Wings, very long; tail, short; plumage very soft. Cries, loud and shrieking. 1. AMERICAN BARN x OWL, S. PKATINCOLA. 17.00; pale yellowish-brown, lighter beneath, spotted everywhere with darker brown; edge of facial disk and bands on wings and tail also brownish, fig. 208. U. S., rare in the northern portions. Breeds from the middle sections southward where it is a resident. B. HORNED OWLS, Etc. Bubonidae. Owls of varying sizes, with the plumage not as soft as in A, and the facial disk is never as perfect. a. Dusky Owls. Syrnium. Dark-colored, banded owls without ear tufts and with plumage very full. 1. BARRED OWL, S. NEBULOSUM. 20.00 ; banded with dusky and white, transversely above and on upper breast, longitudinally below this; iris, brown, bill, yellow, fig. 209. Eastern U. S. from the Gulf States to Canada. Resident. Open nests in trees, eggs, in Feb. and March. Cries, pro- onged hoot's, " Woe -woe ^vu woo" followed by a series of 4 Wock ivock ivock ivo-o-o' 1 ' 1 . Common in unsettled sections. 1*. FLORIDA BARRED OWL, S. ]sr. ALLENI. Smaller and darker than 1 with fewer feathers on toes. South At- *an"lc and Gulf States. Very common. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 171 b. Gray Owls. Seotiaptex. Large gray owls with rather irregular whitish markings and with toes densely covered with long, hair-like feathers, 1. GREAT GRAY OWL, S. CINERA. 22.00; gray irreg- ularly barred above and longitudinally streaked below with whitish ; iris and bill, yellow. Arctic America straggling- south in winter as far south as N. J. and 111. Fig. 209. Fig. 210. U, B, a, 1. 1-11. TJ, B, c, 1. 1-10 c. Long- winged Owls. Asio, Medium- sized owls with very long wings and moderately long tails ; plumage soft but net very full ; form, slender. 1. AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL, A. WILSONIANUS. 15.00; ear tufts long; dark brown streaked, spotted and mottled with yellowish white which predominates below, fig. 210. Resident throughout tem- perate N. A. Occurs in thick swamps. Note, a single loud screech. Nests, placed in trees ; eggs, in early May. 2. SHORT-EARED OWL, A. ACCIPI- TRINUS. 15,00; ear-tufts, very short; dark- brown with the feathers prominently mar- Fig. 211. U, B, c, 2. 1-10. 172 OWLS. gined, spotted, barred and streaked with yellowish, fig. 211; prominent dusky spot on under side of wing showing in flight. Occurs in open sections, commonly on the sea coast among low bushes. Breeds in N. A. chiefly north of the U. S. ; winters from southern N. E., rarely from Mass, south- ward ; migrates in Oct. and April. d. Horned Owls. Bubo. Large, robust owls with prominent ear tufts, long wings, .and moderately long tails; plumage not very soft. 1. GREAT HORNED OWL, B. VIUGINIANUS. 23.00; dark-brown mottled, spotted, barred and streaked with yel- lowish, reddish and white; patch on upper breast, white, fig. 212. Eastern N. A. from Labrador south, resident in the un- settled sections. Cries, not dissimilar to a, 1. 1*. WESTERN HORDED OWL, B. v. SUBARCTICUS. Differs from 1 in being much Fig. 212. lighter, the white markings are prominent. 1**. DUSKY HORNED OWL, B. v. SATUBATUS. Dif- fers from 1 in being much dark- er, the black predominating. Pacific coast from Cal. north- ward, Labrador and H u d s o n Bay. e. Eared Owls. Megascops. TJ, B, d, 1. 1-12. Small, robust owls with long wings and short 'tails and prominent ear tufts. 1. SCREECH OWL, M. ASIO. 9.00; reddish above, white beneath, streaked on back, barred on wings and tail, barred and streaked beneath, with dusky; above from red varies to gray, with similar markings with a grayish tone, fig. 213. Resident in temperate eastern N. A. west to the U, B, e, 1. 1-5. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. plains, south to Ga. Common. Fig. 213. Nests, in holes; eggs, in May. Note, a shivering cry. 1*. FLORIDA SCREECH OWL, M. A. FLORIDANUS. Dif- fers from 1 in being smaller and darker. South Atlantic and Gulf States, f. Bird Owls. Nyctalea. Small, rather slender, long-winged, short-tailed owls without prominent ear tufts. Nests, in holes. 1. SAW-WHET OWL, N. ACADICA. 8.00; reddish-brown above, narrow, white lines on head and face and white spots elsewhere; tail with three lines of spots; white beneath Fig. 214. streaked with reddish-brown, fig. 214. Breeds locally from the Middle States north- ward, wandering somewhat in winter. Not common. Note, a rasping cry. 2. RICHARDSON'S OWL, N. RICH- ARDSONI. 9.00; differs from 1 in color in being greenish-brown where that is reddish and in having five lines of white spots on U, B, f, 1. 1-8. tail. Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, northward, wandering south in winter into northern U. S. Rare. g, Long-tailed Owls. Surnia. Medium-sized owls with long wings, long, graduated tails, and compact plumage; they are rather diurnal. 1. AMERICAN HAWK OWL, S. CAPAROCH. 15.25; dark, greenish-brown above with narrow lines on head and face and spots elsewhere of white; tail, with eight lines of white spots; white beneath, spotted on sides of neck and transversely banded elsewhere with black, fig. 215. Breeds from Newfoundland northward, wandering southward into northern U. S. in winter. 174 OWLS. h. Arctic Owls. Nyctea. Large owls with long wings and tails, compact plumage, Fig. 215. feet covered with long, hair-like feathers, and diurnal habits. 1. SNOWY OWL, N. NYCTEA. 22.00; white, more or less spotted, mottled and bar- red, especially above, with dark-brown, fig. 216; females and young being more heavily marked. Northern portions of northern hemi- sphere, in N. A. breeding north of the U. S. migrating south in winter to t h e Middle States. Nov. to April. Note, a whistling cry. C. GROUND OWLS. Athenidae. Rather small owls with long wings and U, .B, g, 1. 1-10. legs, short tails, and small eyes ; facial Fig. 216. disk very imperfect. a. Burrowing Owls. Speotyto. Characters as above ; nests, placed in holes in the ground. 1. BURROWING OWL, S. HYPO- OAEA. 10.00 : yellowish-white barred .and spotted with reddish or yellowish brown, the dark color predominating above. Western U. S. from the Great Plains to the Pacific ; accidental in N. Y. and Mass. V. CTJCKOOS. Slender birds of varying size but never very small, with long tails, compact plumage, and two toes in ''front and two behind. A. ANIS. Crotophagidae. Slender cuckoos black in color, with long tails of eight feathers, long wings and bill compressed, and with the cul- men of upper mandible elevated and ridge-like, plate 14. 1-15. DIKECTOKY TO BIKDS OF EASTEKN NOKTH AMERICA. a. Black Cuckoos. Crotopliaga. Characters as abov-e. 1. ANI, C. ANI. 14.00; feathers of head and neck mar- gined with a bronzy iridescence. West Indies, Bahamas, and eastern S. A., casual in southern Fla. and La. ; accidental in Penn. Cries, loud and in a minor tone. Flight, heavy and jay-like. Social at all times, several females placing their eggs in one nest, probably polygamous. B. AMERICAN CUCKOOS. Coccyzidae. Slender cuckoos with long, graduated tails and smooth plumage; space around eye, naked. a. Brown-Backed Cuckoos. Coccyzus. Brown above, white beneath with more or less white on tip of tail. Nests, in bushes; eggs, blue, unspotted and de- posited irregularly. Feathers of tibia elongated. Flight, steady and direct with rather rapid wing-beats, suggesting a pigeon. CUCKOO 1. YELLOW-BILLED 12.00; tail, dark, outer feathers, broadly tipped with white; wing, strongly tinged with cin- namon ; under mandible, yellow; space a round eye, d ark, fig. 217. Breeds in eastern tem- perate N. A. west to the plains in May; winters in Costa Rica; migrates in May and Sep. Notes, ' ' COTV-CO-COVJ-CO" rath er brokenly given in a de- cidedly minor tone. Common most seasons. C. AMERICANOS. Fig. 217. V, B, a, 1. 1-4. 1 7O CUCKOOS. 2. MANGROVE CUCKOO, C. MINOR. Differs from 1 in being strongly tinged with reddish yellow beneath and in having dark space around eye darker. Breeds in the West Indies ; rare on the Fla. Keys and in La. Resident. 2*. MAYNARD'S CUCKOO, C. M. MAYXAKDI. Differs from 2 in being much paler beneath. Bahamas, largely res- ident ; rare on the Fla. Keys. Notes, "Oti-ou-ou-ou-qua-qua- qua-coo-coo-co" The first four are cuckoo-like, the. next three harsh, and the last three decidedly cuckoo-like. Fig. 218. 3. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, C. ERYTHKOPHTHALMTJS. Differs from 1 in having the tail wholly like back nar- rowly tipped with white, no cinnamon on wings, no black on head, and under mandible dark-blue; naked space around eye, red, plate 14, fig. 218, tip of V, B, a, 3. tail feather. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. west to the Rockies and north to Labrador; winters in S. A. W. WOODPECKERS. Piei. Well-known birds with chisel-shaped bills, large, strong heads, long wings, two toes in front and two behind, or one absent. A. TRUE WOODPECKERS. Picidae. Tail feathers, stiffened and pointed. Nests, in holes made by the birds ; eggs, 6 or 7, white. Young, naked and helpless. Flight, heavy and undulating but often swift. Drum on trees, etc. as a roll-call. a. Mottled Woodpeckers. Sphrygrapicus. Woodpeckers with rather short, slender bills and with plumage much mottled above and yellowish below. 1. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKEE, S. VAKIUS. 8.50; longitudinal white patch in wing ; male with top of head and throat crimson ; black patch on breast fig. 219 ; female, throat white. Young, with the black of breast replaced with gray DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. L7T and little red on head, fig. 219; adult plumage, gradually as- sumed. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Fig. 219. northern Mass, northward; winters from the Carol inas southward through the Bahamas and West Indies to Costa Rica. Migrates in April and Oct. Common. Cries, excepting the "yucka" note, all harsh and quite querulous. b. Banded Woodpeckers. Centurus. Woodpeckers with stouter, slightly curved bills, banded with black and white above, plain beneath. 1. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, W, A, a, 1-6. C. CAROLINUS. 10.00; male, top of head from bill to nape, scarlet ; ashy-gray beneath more or less tinged with red ; up- Fig. 220. per tail coverts, white, fig. 220; female with top of head gray, nape, scarlet. Resident in eastern U. S. from Penn. southward ; casual as far north as Mass. Cries, harsh and quer- ulous, with the "yucka"'' 1 note rarely given, c. Tri-colored Woodpeckers. Melanerpes, Rather stout woodpeckers with colors , red, white and black, arranged in masses. 1. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, M. ERYTHROCEPHALUS. 9.00; head arid neck all around, scarlet ; band on secondaries and rump and beneath, white; remaining upper portions, black, fig. 221. Young, head, gray; white of secondaries broadly banded with black. Sexes, similar; Breeds in the U. S. west to the Rockies ; local east of the Hud- son River, usually migratory north of Penn. Very noisy,, cries, harsh and loud. 178 d. WOODPECKERS. Black and White Woodpeckers, Dryobates. Rather small woodpeckers black and white, especially above ; males with some red on head. Fig. 221 Fig. 222. W, A, c, 1. 1-6. W, A, d, 1. 1-6. 1. HAIRY WOODPECKER, D. VILLOSUS. 10.00 ; mark- ings on side of head, stripe down back, bands of spots on wings, outer tail feathers, and beneath, white, otherwise black above ; male with red on nape, fig. 222. Resident in the northern and middle portions of eastern U. S. Cries, sharp, sometimes rapidly repeated as a call. 1*. NORTHERN HAIRY WOODPECKER, D. v. LEU- COMELAS. Larger than 1. Breeds in northern N. A. north of the U. S. wandering somewhat south in winter. Fig. 223. 1**. SOUTHERN HAIRY WOODPECK- J_J f'\ f ER, D. v. AU DUB ONI I. Smaller than 1. South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to the Carolinas. 2. SOUTHERN DOWNY WOODPECK- ER, D. PUBESCENS. Differs f$om 1 in being smaller, 6.50, and in having the outer tail feathers barred with black, fig. 223, dusky be- neath. South Atlantic and Gulf States north to the Carolinas. 2*. DOWNY WOODPECKER, D. P. ME- DIANTJS. Larger than 2 and clearer white be- i A, d, 1. 1-4. neath. Middle and northern portions of DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN XORTH AMERICA. 1 79 eastern U S. and northward. Fig. 224. 3. COCKADED WOOD- PECKEE, D. BOREAL is. 8.25 ; Differs from 2* in be- ing transversely banded with white above and streaked on sides below with black; red in males confined to a small spot on side of nape. fig. 224. South- ern U. S. from N. C. south- ward. Somewhat social and very noisy; cries, harsh and querulous. e. Three-toed Woodpeckers. Picoides. Black and white woodpeckers with three toes; males with yellow on top of head. 1. ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, P. ARCTI- cus. 9.50; wings banded with white spots and sides with black, fig. 225. Northern N. A. wandering south into north- ern U. S. as far as X. E. Fig. 225. Fig. 226. W, A, d, 4. 1-5. W, A, e, 1. 1-6. W, A, e, 2. 1-6. 2. AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, P. AMERICANUS. Differs from 1 in having the entire back band- Fig. 227. 18O WOODPECKEKS. ed with white, fig. 226. Northern N. A. east of the Rockies, wandering south into northern U. S. as far as Mass. f. Scarlet-crested Woodpeckers. Campephilus. Large woodpeckers with short feathers on neck ; white bills ; black with white markings. 1. IVORY-BILLED WOODPECK- ER, C. PBINCIPALIS. 21.00; seconda- ries and line on side of neck extending down back, white; back part of head and upper ireck, scarlet; black else- where, fig. 22V; female with scarlet re- placed with black. Now restricted to a small portion of middle Fla. ; formerly ranged through most of the Southern States. Cries, loud and harsh, some- times run together to form a continuous call. g. Black Woodpeckers Ceophloeus. Fig- 228. W, A, g, 1. 1-9. W, A, f, 1. 1-10. Form, similar to f and size but little inferior; no white on secondaries above. 1. PILE ATED WOOD- PECKER, C. PILEATUS. 18.50; black; throat, line on sides of neck, patch on primaries afod basal half of win g> white; maxillary patch and top of head with crest, scarlet, fig. 228; fe- North male, front of head and maxillary patches, black. Carolina southward. Common. Fig. 229. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 181 1*. NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER, C. P. ABIETICOLA. Larger than 1. Southern AHeghanies north- ward but restricted to large areas of forests, h. Flickers. Colaptes. Medium sized woodpeckers with a long, curved bill, and a patch of white on rump. 1. FLICKER, C. AURATLJS. 12.00; brown above, reddish- ash beneath with a whitish washing on chest and abdomen, banded above, maxillary patch, crescent on breast, and round spots beneath, black; top of head, bluish ; scarlet patch on nape, fig. 229; female lacks the black maxillary patch. South- ern U. S. south of S. C. Com- mon. Cries, a whistling scream, an interrupted call, a series of "yucka" notes; the first is an alarm, the next two breeding notes. 1*. NORTHERN FLICKER, C. A. LTJTEUS. Larger, lighter above but with less white beneath. Eastern N. A. from S. C. northward. Abundant. X. GOATSUCKERS. Oaprimul^i. Long-winged birds with small bills having a wide gape; Fig. 230. eyes, large; colors, dull and incon- spicuous; feet, small, middle toe nail, pectinated, fig. 230. Distributed throughout the temperate and trop- ical zones. Eggs, 2, deposited on the ground, sometimes in caves. Young, X, A, a, 1. covered with down but helpless. Food, insects. W, A, h. 1. 182 GOATSUCKERS. A. NIGHT-JARS. Caprimulgidae. Characters as above. a. Whippoor wills. Antrostomns. Goatsuckers of nocturnal habits with bristles at base of bill; colors, browns and blacks mingled. Eggs, creamy,, spotted with brown. 1. CHUCK- WILL'S WIDOW, A. CAROLINENSIS. 13.00; Fig. 231. mixed reddish- brown and black; crescent on throat, yel lo wi s h-r ed; patch on inner webs of three out- er tail feathers, white above, buff beneath ; female lacks the crescent on throat and white on tail, fig. A, a, 1. 1-4. 231. Breed from Ya. southward through the South Atlantic and Gulf States; accidental in Mass. ; winters in the Bahamas, Cuba, eastern Mexico south to Central Fig. 232. America ; migrates in Sep. and March. Com- mon. Note "Chuck- iviirs-ividoiv' 1 ' 1 rapidly given, sometimes also a series of chuckling notes. Found in woodlands by day, fly about dwellings at night. 2. WHIP-POOB- WILL, A. VOCIFERTJS; 10.00; mixed ashy brown X, A, 2. 1-1. and black, white crescent on throat and white patch on outer UPPER FIG., FEMALE KOBE-BREASTED GROSBEAK : LOWER FIG., REDPOLL. PIBECTOBY TO BIBDS OF EASTEBN NOBTH AMEBICA. tail feathers ; female does not have the crescent well defined and no white on tail, fig. 232. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from the Carolinas north to Canada, west to the Plains. Common in the unsettled districts. Note, " Whip-poor-will" given very rapidly and repeatedly, also a chuckling note. Found in woodlands by day. b. Nighthawks. Chordeiles. Similar in form to a, but with smaller bills with no bris- tles at base ; fly by day or in the twilight. Occur in the open country. Eggs, grayish spotted with dusky. 1. NIGHTHAWK, C. VIBGINIANTJS. 9.40; mixed gray- ish and dusky above; Fig. 233. banded with white and dusky beneath; large spot on primaries, cres- cent on throat and line of spots on tail, white, fig. 233; female lacks the white spots on tail and has the crescent spotted with dusky. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Fla. north to Labrador; winters in S. A. ; migrates in Sep. and X, A, b, 1. 1-5. May. Eggs, placed in gravelly spots, sometimes on the gra- velled roofs of buildings. Notes, a shrill, rasping cry repeated when the bird is darting zigzag high in air, and a booming sound as the bird descends from this height to a point near the ground when he turns to ascend. Common. 1*. FLOKIDA NIGHTHAWK, C..v. CHAPMANI. Small- er, darker, but with ^aore white above than in 1. Florida, 184 SWIFTS. Y. SWIFTS. Cypseli. Compact birds with long primaries but the other portion of the wing shortened ; bill, small with a wide gape; color, dull sometimes relieved by white markings. A. SPINE-TAILED SWIFTS. Cliaeturidae. Tail feathers denuded at tip and produced into a spine, Fig._234. fig. 234; nests of sticks fastened to- gether with a gluey secretion from the mouth, placed in a hollow tree, cave or other rock shelter orinchim- Y, A, a, 1. neys; eggs, white, 4; young naked and helpless ; adults are incapable of alighting on other than a vertical surface, hence are seldom seen at Fig. 235. rest ; move with a swift, continuous flight by alternately moving the wing tips with a quivering motion and sailing. Food, insects. a. Spine-tailed Swifts. Chaetura. Characters as above. 1. CHIMNEY SWIFT, C. PELAGICA. 5.30; sooty-brown; wings, blackish, fig. 235. Eastern N. A. north to Labrador; winters south of the U. S. ; migrates in Oct. and late April. Cries, a shrill chatter. Common. Z. HUMMINGMBIRIDS. Troeliili. Y, A, a, 1. 1-4. Small birds with wings similar to Y but which differ in having an awl-shaped bill, with a peculiar tongue ; portions of plumage, frequently iridescent; nests in trees, bushes, etc. made of fine material often covered with lichens; eggs, 2, white; young naked and helpless; flight swift and darting; wing-beats exceedingly rapid ; food, the sweet juices of flow- ers, and small insects ; sexes usually different, often with very differently formed tails. Found only in America. DIKECTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 185 A. FORKED-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS. Trochilidae. Medium sized hummingbirds with rather short bills; throat with scale-like, iridescent feathers. a. Green-backed Hummingbirds. Trochilus. Tail, forked in adult male and dark, rounded in female and young and tipped with white ; back, green. 1. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, T. COLUBRIS. 3.50; throat of male, metallic ruby, other wife white beneath. Female without ruby throat, plate 16. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Fla. to Labrador; migrates north in May, south in Sep. ; winters fom Fla. to Mexico. Alcedinae. Birds of varying sizes, but with long bills having wide gapes, long wings, short tails, and small feet. Food, often fishes, sometimes other small animals. Occur throughout temperate and tropical regions of .the world. Colors, often bright. Eggs, white. Young naked when hatched and help- less. A. CRESTED KINGFISHERS. Cerylidae. Head, crested, legs very short ; Fig. 236. two outer toes joined at base. a. Belted Kingfishers. Ceryle. Bluish above with the lower parts conspicuously banded. Sexes, unlike. 1. BELTED KINGFISHER, C. ALCYON . 22.00 ; male with single band of bluish like the back, fig. 236; female with an ad- ditional band of brownish-red be- low this. Breeds throughout IS". -A. A., A, a, 1. 1-10. A. from the southern border of the U. S. north to the Arctic 186 KINGFISHERS. Ocean. Winters from the Middle States, occasionally as far north as Mass., south to Panama; migrates south in Oct., north in April. Nests in holes of perpendicular banks ; eggs, 6, white. Note, a harsh rattle, given as the bird flies or perches. Flight direct, often slow and rather jerky but some- times swift and darting. Common. BJ3. Hind toe on a level with the anterior toes ; scales of hind portion of tarsus not Fig. 237. projected backward* y: into a sharp ridge, fig. \ 237, (upper fig., tarsus of Kingbird; lower of Pine Grosbeak, . T much enlarged) ; mu-||_ ^ f^ sical apparatus (sy- rinx) provided with less- than four pairs of vocal muscles, Fig. 238. fig. 238 (enlarged). Small birds, inhabiting temperate and tropical regions, which are not capable of producing varied songs. Young naked and helpless. A. TYRANT FLYCATCHERS. Tyraimidae. Bather small, dull- colored birds with quite long wings, flattened bills with bristles at the base. Sexes, similar. Food, mainly insects, eaught in air. BB, A, b, 1. a. Scissor-tails. Milvulus. Tail, very long and forked ; outer primaries, narrowed at tip; crown, with a concealed bright spot. Nests, in trees; s, 4, spotted. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 187 1. FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, M. TYRANNUS. 12.00; ashy above, white beneath ; top and sides of head, black; crown patch, yel low; only one outer quill, incised. South America, north to Mexico and ac- cidentally to the U. S. east to N. J. 2. SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCH- ER, M. FORFICATTJS. Differs from 1 in having portion of tail rosy, under wings and hind parts beneath, and crown patch, orange; three outer primaries, incised, fig. 239. South-western States ; accidental in Fla., N. J., N. E., and Hud- son Bay. b. King Birds. Tyrannus. Differ from a in having the tail much shorter without the long outer feathers. 1. KINGBIRD, T. TYRANNUS. 8.40; dark slaty above, white beneath Fig. 239. Fig. 240. BB, A, a, 2. 1-4. BB,A, b, 1. and on tip of tail, fig. 240. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. ; winters from Mexico to S. A. ; migrates north in early May, south in Sep. Nests in trees or bushes, often over water ; eggs in early June. Cries, shrill and loud, sometimes darts about in air, especially in the ev- ening, uttering a shrill twittering ; flight direct, swift, with rapid downward wing-beats. Frequents open sections and perches much, often low, launching out after in- sects. Very common. 188 KINGBIRDS. 2. GRAY KINGBIRD, T. DOMINICENSIS. Larger than 1, 9.50; tail, somewhat forked, fig. 241; lighter gray above, yellowish below, no white on tail tip. South Atlantic States, Fig. 241. Bahamas and West Indies? winters further south , acci- dental in Mass. Migrates north in April. More noisy than 1 with harsher cries. 3. ARKANSAS KING- BIRD, T. VERTICALIS. Dif- fers from 2 in being bright yellow beneath with throat ashy and four outer prima- ries are narrowed at tip ; lighter ash above. Western A, b, 2. 1-4. U. S. ; accidental in Md., N. J., N. Y., Mass., and Me. c. Crested Flycatchers. Myiarchus. Good-sized flycatchers with the feathers of the head elon- gatad, throat ashy; yellow beneath; back, green; more or less cinnamon on inner webs of wings and tail. Nests in holes of trees ; eggs, 4 or 5, buff lined and streaked with brown and lilac. 1. CRESTED FLYCATCHER, M. CEINITUS. 9.00; cin- namon on wings and tail very conspicuous. Breeds through eastern U. S. north into southern Canada, in early June ; mi- grates in May and Sep. Cries, a series of surprised w r histles followed by a series of chatters, all loud. Frequents open woodlands and orchards, not very common ajid rather local in N. E. but abundant further south and west. Fig. 242. d. Phoebes. Sayornis. Smaller flycatchers with nearly square, but broad tails and with the feathers of the crown not as long as in c; slight wing bands; under mandible, black. DIBECTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 189 7.00; brownish-olive above, Fig. 242. BB, A, c, 1. 1-4. Winters from the Carolinas 1. PHOEBE, S. PHOEBE. darker on head, yellowish- white beneath, more yellow in winter, fig. 243. Breeds- through eastern N. A. from S. C. northward in April and late May. Moves tail up and down -^ and switches it immediately : after alighting. Note, "Phee- bee" quickly and rather harsh- ly given with the accent on the first syllable; sometimes the note is prolonged and becomes more musical ; heard usually in spring, sometimes in autumn, southward ; migrates in March and Oct. Nests placed in the shelter of out buildings, rocky cliff banks, etc. composed of moss, grass, etc., mixed with mud; eggs white, occasionally dotted with reddish. 2. SAY'S PHOEBE, S. SAYA. A little larger than 1, paler above, and reddish-ash beneath. East- ern U. S. ; accidental on Cape Cod, Mass. e. JPewees. Contopus. Differs from d in having the wing-bands more prominent and the under mandible yellow. Nests in trees ; eggs, always spotted. 1. WOODPEWEE, C.VIRENS. 6.50 ; dark olive-brown above, white beneath, tinged with olive across breast and on sides, fig. 244. Breeds through eastern N. A. from Fla. to Newfoundland in May and June. Note, "Pee-ivee" or "Pe-e-tvee" given in a sweet, long-drawn, re- signed tone. Frequents open woodlands and groves, some- Fig. 243. BB, A, d, 1. 1-4. BB, A, e, 1. 19O FLYCATCHEKS. times in villages. Nest of grass, etc. covered with lichens, Fig. 244. saddled on a limb of a tree. Winters in Central America and northern S. A. Migrates in May and Oct. Common. f. Long-winged Pewees. Nuttallornis. More robust in form than e with longer wings and larger feet. 1. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, N. BOREALIS. Larger than e, 1,7.60; with the olive of the sides darker and inclined to be streaked, in strong con- trast with the yellowish of under parts a long, silky tuft of white feathers on flank, fig. 245. Breeds in the higher mountainous parts of the U. S., occasionally from Mass, northward to British Columbia and the Saskatch- ewan River ; winters in Central Fig. 245. America and northern S. A. ; migrates north in late May, south in Sep. Not very com- mon. Nest of sticks ; eggs, 4, creamy, heavily spotted with brown. Notes, loud whistles. Frequents open spots, near woodlands. g. Little Flycatchers. Empidoiiax. Small flycatchers with short bills, greenish or olive BB, A, f, 1. 1-4. above, white or yellowish beneath ; light eye ring and wing- bands. Alarm note a short "Pewit". 1. LEAST FLYCATCHER, E. MINIMUS. 5.50; brown- ish-olive above, yellowish-white beneath ; two wing-bands and eye-ring white ; under mandible, dark, fig. 246. Breeds in eastern N. A. from the Northern States northward ; winters DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERX NORTH AMERICA. 191 in Central America; migrates in May and Sep. Note, "Che- lee" given with great energy and repeated constantly while the bird throws up its head and jerks all over; also a low twitter given while the wings are slightly raised and fluttered. Frequents orchards and low, open growths. Common. Nests, in trees, of hempen fibers, lined with fine material; eggs, 4, white, usually unspotted. 2. TRAILL'S FLYCATCHEE, E. TRAILLII. A little lar- ger than 1, usually darker above; plumage always more silky; eye ring, narrow and yellowish; under mandible, yel- low. Western N. A. from the Mississippi Yalley, east into Ohio, 111., and Mich. 2*. ALDER FLYCATCHER, E. T. ALNORUM. Darker than 2. Breeds in eastern N. A. rarely from Mass, northward; winters in Central America ; migrates in Fig. 246. late May and Sep. Nests of sticks, often placed in alders ; eggs, creamy, spotted with reddish-brown. Notes, " Ke--wick" often re- peated but is rather more slowly than 1 and more harshly, with less display of energy; frequents low growths in swampy lands. 3. GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, E. VIRESCENS. Larger than 2* ; bill, broad- er; greener above, lighter beneath, with less olive on sides; with 4th primary very short, fig. 247. Eastern N. A. north to south- ern N. Y. and southern Mich. ; rare as far BB, A, b, north as southern Mass. ; winters in Central 1. 1-4. Fig. 247. America ; migrates north in late May, south in Sep. Com- mon. Notes, ^ Se-tvitik" ^ em- phatically given, sometimes followed by a series of chuck- ling notes, made with flutter- BB, A, g, 3. ing wings; frequents low growths in wooded glens. Nests, of sticks, lichens and moss, 192 FLYCATCHERS. placed in bushes; eggs, 3 or 4 spotted and blotched with red- dish-brown. Common. 4. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, E. FLAVIVEN- TBIS. A little smaller than 3; yellowish-green above; pale greenish-yellow on wing-bands, eye ring, and beneath. Breeds in eastern N. A. from northern U. S. northward to southern Labrador, in June; winters in Mexico and Central America ; migrates north in late May, south in Sep. Occurs in alder and other swampy thickets, keeps low among the fo- liage, not very active. Note a low "Pea" rather plaintive and long-drawn, frequently given, then, less often, a gravely ren- dered "Ktl-ltck". Nest on the ground in the shelter of up- turned roots of fallen trees or in a bunch of moss; eggs 4 or 5, white dotted with pale reddish. CC. SIJVGIIVG The largest order of birds in the world and generally dis- tributed. Differ from BB in having the back of tarsus pro- duced into a sharp ridge (note exception to this rule in A, ), fig. 237, upper fig. tarsus of Kingbird; lower, of Pine Gros- beak, both enlarged ; syrinx, provided with four or more pairs of vocal muscles. All of the species, with few excep- tions, are capable of producing varied and more or less mus- ical sounds, fig. 248. Young as in BB. A. LARKS. Alauclidae. Medium sized birds with long wings, long inner second- aries, short, conical bills, elongated hind claw, fig, 249 B, and tarsus much as in CC, fig. 249 A. Colors dull. a. Skylarks. Alaucla. Rather robust birds with the outer primary much short- ened and hind claw greatly elongated, fig. 250. 1. SKYLARK, A. ARVENSIS. 7.50; brown above streaked with reddish-yellow ; dull white beneath, reddish on breast and sides where streaked with dark-brown. Europe DIRECTOIiY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 193 and portions of Asia; accidental in Greenland and Bermuda. Celebrated in song and story. b. Horned Larks. Otocoris. Differ from a in having hind toe nail shorter, fig. 248 B, Fig. 248. black markings about head and on breast and elongated f e a t h e rs on sides of crown, fig. 248. Throat, white or yellow- ish. Nests on ground, eggs>4or5, grayish, spotted with yellowish- brown. . Song, given while soaring in air, but spend much time on the ground where they run about very actively, squat for concealment, rise when alarmed and OO, A, b, 1. move with a flitting flight, seldom direct, but erratic ; gregarious ; give a shrill, double note when on the wing. 1. NORTHERN HORNED LARK, O. ALPESTRIS. 7.50; pinkish-brown above and on sides, otherwise white below ; black markings as in fig. 248; throat and line over eye, yel- low. Breeds in northeastern N. A., Greenland, and northern parts of the Old World ; south in Oct. to winter, especially along the coast, to the Middle States arid less commonly to the Carolinas ; north in April. Abundant. 2. PRAIRIE HORNED LARK, A. PRATICOLA. A little smaller than 1 and much paler, especially above. Breeds in Mass., N. H., Yt., N. Y. and west to the Mississippi Yalley in April ; in winter as in 1 but less common on the coast in the north; south in Oct., north in April. 194 MAGPIES. B. MAGPIES AND JAYS. Garrulidae. Bather large birds, usually with bright or striking colors ; Fig. 249. bills, conical; nostrils concealed by bristly feathers ; wings, short, rounded ; tails, long, often rounded. Nests of sticks, placed in trees or bushes ; eggs, 3 to 10, whitish, buff or greenish, thick- ly spotted with darker. Cries, harsh, seldom very musical. Intelligent and active; somewhat gregarious; not mi- gratory. Flight, heavy and direct. a. Magpies. Pica. Large birds with short wings and long, graduated tails; black and white. 00, A. 1. AMERICAN MAGPIE, P. HUD- SONICA. 20.00; black, glossed with green, purple, blue, and violet; white on scapularies, Fig. 250. inner webs of secondaries, and abdomen, fig. 251. Northern and western N. A. ; casual east to Mich, and northern III. b. Banded Jays. Cyannocitta. CC, A, a, 1. Smaller; tail, shorter and rounded; wings and tail more or less banded with black ; head, crested. 1. BLUE JAY, C. CRISTATA. 12.00; blue above, gray- ish-white beneath; wing-band, tips of secondaries and prima- ries, white; black about head as in fig. 252. Eastern N. A. from Fla. northward. Abundant in woodlands and about dwellings. With the harsh and well-known varied cries, has a low song. 1*. FLOBIDA BLUE JAF, C. c. FLOBINCOLA. Small- er than 1 and duller, more purplish-blue above. Fla. and Gulf coast to southwestern Texas. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 195 c. Bush Jays. Aphelocoma. Crestless jays with long, nearly graduated tails and with Fig. 251. no black or white mark- ings. 1. FLORIDA JAY, A. F L O R I D A N A. 12.00 ; dull blue above: back, ashy ; ashy beneath, streaked across breast with bluish, fig. 253. Scrub lands of Florida. Abundant and gregar- ious; not shy; cries and general habits, very jay- OC, B, a, 1. 1-10. like. d. Gray Jays. Perisoreus. Crestless jays with long, loose, titmouse-like plumage with no striking markings. 1. CANADA JAY, P. CANADENSIS. 12.00; gray, dark- Fig. 252. Fig. 253. CC, B, b, 1. 1-6- CC, B, c, 1. 1-6. er above especially on head behind ; yeliowfsh on top of head and on neck behind, fig. 254. From northern N. E. to north- ern Mich, northward to Arctic America. Common in heavily wooded sections; very unsuspicious; cries, jay-like. 196 CHICKADEES. 1*. LABRADOR JAY, P. c. NIGRACAPILLUS. Differs from 1 but the dusky of top and sides of head is more exten- Fig. 254. ded forward. Coast of Labrador, and Newfoundland. B* TITMICE. Paridae. Small birds but scarcely differing in general form from A. Nest in holes of trees ; eggs, 6 or 7, white spotted with reddish. Food, small insects and their eggs. a. Chickadees. Peiithestes. Head, not crested ; plumage, soft and fluffy; wings, short, rounded; CC, B, d, 1. 1-8. tail, long. 1. CHICKADEE, P. ATRICAPILLUS. 5.60; gray above; white beneath ; top of head and throat, black ; sides, reddish, especially in winter, fig. 255. Eastern N. A. north of the Potomac and Ohio Valleys. Common nearly everywhere. Notes, " Chick-a-dee-de-dee" given Fig. 255. with energy, a short, squeaking chirp when disturbed, and other low notes; along-drawn "Cee-dee" given at all seasons, often mistaken for the note of the Phoebe, and a low, silvery song, seldom heard. Flight, wavering and unsteady. 2. CAROLINA CHICKADEE, P. CAROLINENSIS. Smaller than 1 with the line of demarkation between the black and white of breast very sharply defined, fig. 256. Southeast- CC, B,* a, 1. 1-3. ern States from N. J. southward. Sings more often than 1. 2*. FLORIDA CHICKADEE, P. c. IMPIGER. Smaller and darker than 2. Lake Ashby, Fla. PLATE 18. UPPER FIGUBE, BLUE GROSBEAK; LOWER, MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 197 3. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE, P. HUDSONICUS. Dif- fers from 1 in being more reddish above and on sides ; black only on throat, fig. 257. Northern Fig. 256. N. A. from northern N. S., rarely as far south as Mass, (in winter) northward. Notes, similar to 1 but harsher. 3*. See appendix. b. Titmice. Baeolophus. Larger than a ; plumage, not as fluffy; head, crested. 1. TUFTED TITMOUSE, B. BICOLOR. 6.25; gray above; dull CC, B*a, 2. white beneath ; forehead and eyelids, black ; sides, reddish, Fig. 257 fig. 258. Eastern U. S. from southern N. J. southward ; cas- ual as far north as southern N. E. Common. Notes, similar to those of a, 1; but harsher and louder; song, similar. C. CROWS, Corvidae. Large birds with very long wings folding nearly to the tip of tail ; all of our species are black, more or less iridescent. CC, B* a, 3. Cries, harsh. Nests, placed in trees or on cliffs ; eggs, 3 to 6, grayish spotted with dusky. Flight, strong and direct. a. Crows. Corvus. Characters as above. 1. AMERICAN CROW, C. AMERICANTJS. 20.00; feet, short and stout, fig. 259. N. A. excepting Fla. Notes," Caw" repeated several times, more rapidly when alarmed ; a series of croaks, given quickly; and various guttural notes; some individuals, at least, have a quite musical, but low song. 198 CROWS. 1*. FLORIDA CROW, C. A. PASCUUS. Smaller than 1 with the bill and feet proportionately larger. Florida. Fig. 258. 2. FISH CROW, C. OSSIFRAGUS. 16.00; feet long and slender. Atlan- tic and Gulf Coasts from Conn, to La. ; casual as far north as Mass. Notes, "Ha ha" and some guttural cries. Flight, rather more rapid than 1 with quicker wing-beats. Highly gregarious. 3. NORTHERN RAVEN, C. PBINCIPALIS. 24.00 ; feathers of neck lance-shaped, fig. 260. Northern N. A. south to the Carolinasinthemore CC, I5,*b, 1. 1-3. unsettled and mountainous districts. Note, a harsh croak; flight, heavy, sails much. Nests, often on cliffs. D. STARLINGS. Sturnidae. Medium sized birds Fig. 259. with long wings, short tails, and large feet. a. Sturnus. Starling's. Characters as above. 1. STARLING, S. VULGABIS. 8.00; glossy black streaked and spot- ted with white and buff , fig. 261. Europe; acci- dental in Greenland ; in- troduced about N. Y. city. CC, C, a, 1. 1-10. E. ORIOLES. Icteridae. Birds of varying sizes but with the bill more or less pointed and with the lower mandible swollen at base. Eggs, usually bluish, lined with black. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 199 a. Meadow Larks. Sturnella. Bill, long and flattened at tip, wings long; tail, short; feet, large. 1. MEADOW LARK, S. MAGNA. 10.40; reddish- brown above streakedwith dark-brown ; yel- low beneath, black CC, C, a, 3. crescent on breast ; outer tail feathers, white, fig. 262. East- ern U. S. from Canada to Fla. Winters from Mass, southward. Comes north in March, south in Oct. Frequents open fields. Nests on ground ; eggs, white, spotted with brown. Call song, " You can't see me" rather high and prolonged; a sharp chat- ter when alarmed ; a song, rarely heard, often, possibly al- ways, given on the wing, consisting of a continuous sweet warble. Flight direct, with rapid downward wing-beats, sometimes sailing. Fig. 261. Fig. 262. CC, D, a, 1. 1-4. CC, E, a, 1. 1-5. 1*. FLORIDA MEADOW LARK, S. M. ARGUTTJLA. Smaller than 1 and much darker above and more yellow be- low. Fla. and Gulf Coast to La. Call song, shorter and not as loud as 1, "See me hear" rather plaintively given. Occurs in open savannas and pine woods. 200 STARLINGS. 2. WESTERN MEADOW LARK, S. NEGLECTA. Differs from 1 in being much paler, the light areas on tail and wings touching shafts of the feathers. Western U. S. east to 111. Sings often both while sitting and when flying. b. Red-winged Starling's. Agelaius. Bill, slightly flattened, wings and tail rather long; black with red patch on wing. Nests in marshes and swamps. 1. RED- WINGED BLACKBIRD, A. PHOENICEUS. 9.00; scarlet of wing bordered with pale buff, plate 17, A. Female, smaller, streaked with brown and buff. Young male, like fe- male, gradually assuming the male dress. N. A. from Great Slave Lake to Fla. ; winters from the Carolinas southward ; goes south in Oct., comes north in March. Frequents open, marshy sections; gregarious. Nests, placed in bushes or in tussocks ; eggs, bluish, lined with black. Notes, a sharp chuck, a squealing cry, a chatter, given by both sexes, and the " Oker-re.ee' 1 ' 1 song of the male. Males and females do not associate, excepting to breed. 1*. FLORIDA REDWING, A. P. FLORIDAJOJS. Differs from 1 in being smaller with a longer, more pointed bill ; black darker and plumage softer ; buff margin of red on wing deeper; female, rather more pinkish on throat, plate 17, B. Florida and Gulf Coast to Texas. Song, shorter than 1, like "Cnej*. 2. BAHAMA REDWING, A. BBYANTI. Differs from 1* in being even darker with longer bill, plate 17, C. Female, much paler. Many of the Bahama Islands; casual in south- ern Fla. on the keys (Ridgway). Song more husky than 1*. c. Troupials. Icterus. Rather large orioles with very pointed bills and striking colors. 1. TROUPIAL, I. ICTERUS. 9.50 ; black ; patch on wing, broad collar on hind neck, upper back, and beneath behind chest, orange ; patch and stripings on wing, white. Northern DIRECTORY TO BIBDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2O1 S. A. ; introduced into Jamaica and other of the West Inches. Accidental at Charleston, S. C. (Audubon). Song, a series of loud, clear whistles. d. Tricolorecl Orioles. Yphantes. Medium sized orioles usually conspicuously marked with orange, black, and white. Nests in trees, woven and pendu- lous. 1. BALTIMORE ORIOLE, Y. GALBTJLA. 7.60; orange; head, upper breast, back, wings and band on tail, black ; bar and streakings on wings, white, fig. 263. Female duller without black on tail. Breeds in Fig. 263. eastern N. A. from Va. north to Canada ; comes north in May, goes south in Sep. Song, loud, clear, distinct whistles, but very varia- ble, given in full only in May and June ; heard somewhat shortened in late Aug. and early Sep. Has a scolding chatter when annoyed ; the young utter a monotonous piping after leaving the nest in July. Common about farm hous- es and in country villages. e. Black-tailed Orioles. Pendulinus. Medium sized or small orioles with the tail without bright markings and either wholly black or with some white. Nests as in . 1. ORCHARD ORIOLE, P. SPURIUS. 6.70; tail, black; chestnut bar on wing, otherwise the black and white mark- ings are about as in d, 1, but the orange is replaced by chest- nut, fig. 264. Female greenish with the wliite markings of the male. Young male like female, gradually assuming the male dress. Eastern U. S.. from Fla. north to Mass., where it is rare, common south of this. Nests made of grass woven CC, E, d, 1. 1-3. 2O2 ORIOLES. when it is green, it then bleaches. Song, softer and rather more musical than d, 1. Migrates north in May, south in Sep. f. Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Xanthocephalus. Fig. 264. Rather large birds with thick, but pointed bills, quite long tails and wings. 1 . Y E L L O W-HE ADED BLACKBIRD, X. XANTHO- CEPHALUS. 10.50; dull black; head, mostly yellow; small white patch on wing, fig. 265. Female duller, no white on wing. Young male, like fe- CC, "E, e, 1. 1-4. male but has white on wing. Western U. S. east to 111. ; casual in Mass., Pa.. Md., W. Ya., District of Columbia, S. C. and Fig. 265. Fla. Song, a wheezy squeak. Largely resident. g. Rusty Blackbirds. Scolecophagu s. Rather slender, medium sized birds, wholly black with greenish iridescence, becoming rusty or grayish in autumn; wings, long ;tail, long and some- what rounded; bill, somewhat curved; irides, yellowish-white. 1. RUSTY BLACKBIRD, CC, ]g, f, 1. 1-5. S. CAROLINUS. 9.50; bill, slender, iridescence of head not different from body, fig. 266 ; tips of feathers rusty in autumn. Female, grayish. Eastern N. A. from northern N. E. north- ward ; winters on the Gulf Coast; goes south in Sep., north in March. Common. Nests in bushes. DIRECTORY TO BIBDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2O3 2. BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, S. CYANOCEPHALUS. Dif- fers from 1 in having a thicker Fig. 266. bill, fig. 267; iridescence of head violet ; tippings of feathers in au- tumn, grayish; female not as gray. Western U. S. and British .Provinces, during migrations east to 111., La., and casually to S. C. h. Grackles. Quiscalus. Larger with long wings and very long, somewhat graduated tails, which can be made boat- shaped ; large, curved bills ; black, CC, E, g, 1. 1-6. highly iridescent. Females a little smaller and duller ; gre- garious at all times. Nest in communities, on trees or bush- es. Notes, harsh and grating, not unlike the creaking of a rusty hinge ; alarm, a rather soft chirp. Fig. 267. 1. BRONZED GRACKLE, Q. AENE- us. 12.50; body above and behind chest be- low, uniform bronzy or brassy without ad- mixture of other tints ; head, neck and chest varying from greenish- blue to purple, fig. 268. Temperate N. A., east of the Rockies, except- CC, E, g, 2. ing the region occu- pied by 2 and 3 ; winters in the Southern States. The origin- al form which, coming from the southwest, spread slowly over the section which it now occupies after the close of the glacial period, hence the most staple species. Migratory; 2O4 GRACKLES. south in Nov., north in Feb. Note, "Chat" varied by " We- chaf' 1 , harshly given. Fig. 268. \\ CC, E, h, 1. 1-5. 2. FLORIDA GRACKLE, Q. AGLAEUS. Smaller than 1, excepting bill and feet, which are as large or larger; the parts that are bronzy in 1 are greenish and are mixed and somewhat barred with violet and blue ; head and wings blu- ish and violet. Fla. and along the Gulf Coast to La. This was the first form to become separated from 1 (as it spread north-east) and, adapting itself to the environment, early be- came much as it now is, hence on account of its specific age is nearly as staple as the ancestral stock. Resident. 3. PURPLE GRACKLE, Q. QUISCALA. Size and form of 1 with much of the colors of 2 but averaging less bright and exceedingly variable. Atlantic Coast region east of the Alleghanies from the northern shores of Long Island Sound and lower Hudson Valley to Ga. ; migratory as in 1. This is a later form which has become separated from the ancestral stock, 1, and changed to what it now is by its environment. It probably found its way to the coast south of the Alleghany DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2O5 Mountain range as an offshoot from 1, and followed the re- treating ice of the glacial period up the coast where it would have been barred from mingling with the parent stock to the westward by the high and cold mountain range. Shows its instability not only in its variability but by an inclination to return to its ancestral color characters when placed under environment similar to that in which 1 lives, as in some por- tions of southern N. E. [Note :- For theory concerning mi- gration of birds see a report of a lecture given by C. J. May- nard before the JJpston Scientific Society in the "Boston Com- monwealth" Nov. BO, 1895, and a longer account in "Contri- butions to Science" Vol. Ill, No. 1, March, 1896; also a con- tinuation of the same in No. 2 wherein the relationship of these Grackles is discussed at greater length. ] i. Boat-tails. Megaquiscalus. Differ from h in being larger, with longer, more strongly graduated tails ; males nearly uniform iridescent black and the females brownish. Nests in marshy places. 1. BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE, M. MAJOR. 16.00; iri- descence of head, neck and upper breast bluish-violet ; blu- ish-green elsewhere, fig. 269. Female reddish-brown, dark- est above. Young, both sexes similar to female. South At- lantic and Gulf Coasts of U. S. from Ya. to Texas. Song, a series of sharp, loud notes given rapidly, as a kind of chat- ter, this is sometimes preceded by a single, more mellow, note; also makes a shuffling sound which may be produced by the wings, and a sharp croak when annoyed. The sexes do not, as a rule, associate unless breeding. Occur in open, marshy places. Yery abundant. j. Parasitical Blackbirds. Molothrus. Small blackbirds nearly uniform in color ; bill, short, con- ical ; wings, rather long, tail not long and slightly rounded. Our species is polygamous, and deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds. 2O6 BLACKBIRDS. 1. COWBIKD, M. ATER. 7.80; greenish-black; head, Fig. 269. neck, and upper breast, choco- late-brown, fig. 270. Female, grayish-brown above, lighter below; nestlings, both sexes, similar to female, moulting at once into adult dress. Breeds from Ga. northward through- out temperate N. A. ; winters in Mexico a^jd southward; goes south in Oct.; comes north in April. Flight, very swift and winding. Gregar- ious in autumn, often alighting about cattle. Song, "Sweet su-sie'*' 1 very sweetly given in a liquid tone ; this is rarely heard the usual song being a kind of CC, E, i, 1. 1-6. wheezy, double croak, given while the bird ruffles his feathers and Fig. 270. bows his head, also a prolonged whist- ling cry more often emitted when flying, and a blackbird-like chirp. An inter- esting species. k. Rice Buntings. Dolichonyx. Finch-like birds with short, conical bills, long wings and not long tails hav- ing stiffened, pointed feathers. Nest on ground. Food, seeds and insects. 1. BOBOLINK, D. ORYZIVORTJS. 7.50 ; spring male, black ; yellowish- white patch on back of head and whit- CC, E, j, 1. 1-5. ish markings above, fig. 271. Female, yellowish-buff streaked above and on sides with dusky, fig. 271. Male in autumn and winter similar to female. Breeds from the Middle States northward into the British Provinces, west to Utah. Winters DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2O7 in northern S. A. ; goes south in early Oct. ; comes north in early May. Frequents meadows and moist, grassy fields; gregarious when migrating. A Fig. 271. well known rollicking song, a blackbird-like chirp, and a metal- lic clink when migrating. F. SPARROWS A1ST> FINCHES. Fringlllidae. Kather robust birds of varying sizes, but never very large, having conical bills, which are deeper at the base than one half the length and have the cutting edge of upper mandible angled, consult diagram on page 8 for these and other char- acters. A wide spread family with numerous species. CC, E, k, 1. a. Silk Bunting's. Spiza. Medium sized sparrows with rather thick bills, long pointed wings and nearly square tails. Streaked above not below. Fig. 272. 1. BLACK-THROATED BUNTING, S. AMERICANA. 6.75 ; ashy-yellow above ; streaks, dusky ; white beneath ; yellow on breast and under wings ; black spot on throat, fig. 272. Female duller. Breeds in U. S. between the Alleghanies and the Rockies, now rare in the eastern section. Winters in Mexico and Cen- tral America. Nests in trees and bushes ; eggs r 3 to 5, bluish-green, unspotted. Song,' a lisp- ing twitter. b. Arboreal Sparrows. Spizella. Small sparrows streaked above, plain be- CC, 1. 1-4. 1-4. 208 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. low; our common Fig. 273. settlements. Fig. 274. eastern species have red crowns ; bill, rather small ; tail, slightly forked. Nests in trees and bushes. Nestlings, streaked below. Young, streaked on crown. Food, chiefly seeds. 1. CHIPPING SPARKOW, S. SOCIALIS. 5.50; head in strong con- trast with gray of neck above ; dis- tinct dark line through eye ; gray be- low; wing bands, not conspicuous, fig. 273. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from Canada south to the Gulf Coast, west to the Plains ; winters in southern U. S. ; goes south in Oct., comes north in April. Frequents open CC, F, b, 1. 1-3. sections, often near Song, a thin, quickly given, wiry trill ; a low, rather sharp chirp of annoyance. Nest, of fine rootlets, lined with horse hair, eggs, blu- ish, spotted and lined with black. Abundant. 2. TREE SPARROW, S. MON- TICOLA. 6.50; head not in very strong contrast with neck ; wing bands conspicuous ; sides of head, plain grayish; under mandible, yellow; dark spot on middle of breast ; chestnut patch on its sides, fig. 274. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Labrador northward ; winters from N. E. to S. C. South CC, F, b, 2. 1-4. in late Oct. ; north in late April. Common. Frequents the margins of woodlands and thickets, venturing into weed patches in winter. Song, a clear chant, beginning with two DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2O9 or three loud notes, falls to other lower notes and ends with a low, sweet warble; in autumn Fig. 275. and winter gives a low murmur- ing, warbling song. Nests in trees; eggs, pale-blue, spotted with reddish. 3. FIELD SPARROW, S. PU- SILLA. 5.90; top of head uniform with back ; sides of head beneath, yellowish-gray; bill, red; tail, long, fig. 275. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Ga. north to the south- ern British Provinces ; winters in southern U. S. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Common on brushy or cedar-covered hillsides. Song, begins with two or three CC, F, b, 3. 1-3. single notes then continues with a constantly diminishing trill which ascends, is a monotone, or descends ; very sweetly given and appeals to all who love bird music. Chirp of alarm, rather sharp. Nests, often in low bushes, sometimes on the ground, of weeds, grass, etc. ; eggs, pale blue spotted with reddish, 3*, WESTERN FIELD SPARROW, S. p. ARENACEA. Differs from 3 in having wings and tail longer ; grayer above ; crown with median line; paler below. Western portion of Great Plains ; south in winter to Texas, casually to eastern La. 4. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, S. PALLADA. 5.65; crown, streaked ; ear coverts brown in contrast with buff of sides of head; buffy brown above streaked with dark-brown, dull white deneath ; bill, pale brown. Breeds on the Great Plains from north-western 111. west to the Rockies ; in winter south into Mexico, rare during migration in western Ind. and Mich. 21O SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 5. BKEWER'S SPARROW, S. BREWERI. Differs from 4 in having sides of head uniform buff and in being more nar- rowly streaked above. Western U. S. in winter south to Mex- ico; accidental in Mass. c. Zone-throated Sparrows. Zoiiotrachia. Large sparrows with rather long, pointed wings and long, somewhat rounded tail ; streaks above but none below ; throat, nearly white or lighter than other lower parts (See 4 for exception) ; crown, marked with black; distinct white wing bands. Nests on ground; eggs, pale bluish much spot- ted with brown. 1. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, Z. ALBICOLLIS. 6.35 ; reddish above ; white of throat in strong contrast with gray of breast; yellow line from over eye to bill, white be- Fig. 276. hind ; crown, black ; median line, white, fig. 276. Breeds in eastern N. A. from the mountains of Mass, north to Hud- son Bay ; winters from Mass, (not com- monly) south to Ela. ; comes north in April ; goes south in Oct. Frequents the margins of woodlands and thickets near the ground. Song, a series of prolonged, sweet whistles, frequently given at night on the breeding ground; alarm, a sharp chirp. Common ; somewhat gregarious. 2. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, Z. LEUCOPHRYS. 7.00; grayish above; no yellow about head ; -white of throat grading into gray of breast without CC, F, c, 1. 1-3. strong contrast ; head with three distinct white stripes; bill, deep red, fig. 277. Young, with top of head reddish with lines of reddish-buff. Breeds in eastern N. A. from northern N. E. northward through Labrador to to southern Greenland ; goes south in Oct. ; north in May. PLATE 18*. GOLDEN-WINGED WAKBLER. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 211 Frequents open sections near thickets. Song, notes much Fig. 277. shorter than 1 and given more quickly, something like those of the Yesper Sparrow, which see. 3. GOLDEN- CROWNED SPAR- ROW, Z. CORONATA. Differs from 2 in being grayer, especially on throat, and in having the median line on crown yel- low and wider. Breeds in the northern Pacific Coast Region, migrating south in winter as far as Lower California ; cas- ual during migration in Wis. 4. HARRIS'S SPARROW, Z. QUER- ULA. Differs from 3 in being a little larger, in having the top of head and throat black, and the lower parts white elsewhere. Interior plains of N. A. ; in CC, F, c, 2. 1-3. winter south to Texas; during migration east to AVis. and 111. d. Song- Sparrows. Melospiza. Sparrows of varying sizes with short, rounded wings and long, rounded tails streaked on both surfaces. Frequent thickets, into which they dart when disturbed. Flight, weak and erratic. Nests on the ground or in bushes ; eggs, simi- lar to c. 1. SONG SPARROW, M. MELODIA. 6.40; reddish above, white below where the streaks accumulate to form a central spot on breast and on lower jaws, fig. 278. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Va. north to the Fur Countries; winters from Mass, to Fla. ; comes north in March ; goes south in Nov. ; abundant. Song, variable, but typically begins with three detached notes, runs into a warble, and ends with two notes ; a summer variation is " Be-e-e-e -wretched" , the first portion being given slowly, the "ivretch-ed" rapidly with the accent 212 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. on the "ed" ; alarm chirp, soft. Occurs in scattering flocks in migration, often with other sparrows ; is especially fond of bushes which border water. Fig. 278. 2. LINCOLN'S SPARROW, M. LINCOLNII. 5.50; more slender than 1; bill, smaller, paler red above, buff band across breast ; streakings, finer, fig. 279. Breeds throughout N. A. chiefly north of the U. S. ; winters in Panama ; goes south in Oct. ; north in May. Not very common in N. E. Song, low, prolonged, varied and pleasing. Frequents thick- ets, often near water. 3. SWAMP SPARROW, M. GEOR- GIANA. 5.70; bill more slender than 1 ; top of head wholly reddish-brown ; back and wings with a much richer under tinting of reddish-brown and with dark- er streakings; beneath, grayish across breast with the streakings faintly indi- cated, fig. 280. In winter and young, CJC, F, d, 1. 1-3. with top of head more or less streaked and streakings below more distinct. Breeds in eastern N. A. Fig. 279. Fig. 280. ' CC, F, d, 2. CC, F, d, 3. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 213 from Mass, north to Labrador and Newfoundland ; winters from Middle States south to Fla., less commonly north to Mass. ; south in Oct., north in April. Frequents swampy thickets which border large marshes. Very common. Song a rather musical trill ; in autumn a low, murmuring warble. Nests on tussocks in open marshes. e. Rufous Sparrows. Passerella. Large sparrows with rather long wings, long, slightly rounded tails, strong bills, and large feet; heavily streaked above and below. 1. FOX-COLORED SPARROW, P. ILIACA. 7.25; red- dish-yellow and ashy above, brightest on tail; white beneath where markings are reddish, streakings accumulate as in d, 1, those in center of breast being dark, fig. 281. Breeds from the islands about the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward ; (less commonly in northern Me.) to the Arctic regions ; win- ters from southern N. E. to Fla. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Common. Frequents thickets, feeding on the ground, scratches much among the leaves, etc. Song, begins loud and clear with three double notes ending with two. the last accented, " Wil-lie wil-lie wil-lie work you" one of the finest of our sparrow songs. Nest on ground ; eggs, pale blue heav- ily spotted with reddish-brown. f. Ground Bunting's. Pipilo. Large Fringiline birds with long tails, short wings, and large feet, which live mostly upon the ground in thickets ; nests on ground ; eggs (of our species), pale blue thickly spot- ted with reddish-brown. 1. RED-EYED TOWHEE, P. ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 8.00; upper parts, lower neck, and upper breast, black ; sides, red- dish-brown ; few markings on wings, tips of outer tail feath- ers, and middle parts beneath, white ; iris, red, fig. 282. Fe- male, black replaced by brownish. Breeds from southern British Provinces south to Gulf Coast, winters from Middle States (rarely north to Mass.) to Fla. ; south in Oct. ; north in 214 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. May. Common. Song, uttered when perching high, two ab- ruptly given, accented notes followed by a prolonged trill 4 , Fig. 281. Fig. 282. CC, F, e, 1. 1-3. CC, F, f, 1. 1-4. *- k Drink your te-e-e-e-e" ; a loudly and sharply given "Tou>- Siee" when annoyed which is sometimes interpreted as "C/te- ivink' 1 ' 1 by which name the bird is sometimes known. Fre- quently scratches among fallen leaves in dry thickets. 2. FLORIDA TOWHEE, P. ALLANI. A little smaller than 1 ; less white on tail and wings, paler reddish on sides ; black inclined to be slaty ; iris, white or yellowish-white. Florida. Song, shorter and more quickly given ; alarm note, "Jo-ree." 3. ARCTIC TOWHEE, P. ARCTICUS. Differs from 1 in being grayer above, paler on sides, more white on wings and tail, and streaks of white on sides of back. Great Plains to the Rockies, east casually to Wis. g. Snowbirds. Junco. Small sparrows with long, pointed wings and moderately long tails ; bills, rather small ; dark, often slaty, above ; white below, adults unstreaked on either surface; young, streaked above and below ; outer tail feathers, white. 1. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO, J. HYEMALIS. 6.25; dark slaty throughout excepting nearly black on head, mid- dle portions beneath, and on outer tail feathers, the line of DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 215 demarkation between the white and slate of breast being sharply denned ; bill, pink, fig. 283. Female, duller. Breeds from the mountains of Penn., Mass., and N. Y. northward to the Arctic Coast; winters from Mass, south to northern Fla. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Nests on ground; eggs, pale blue, finely spotted with reddish-brown. Frequents the neighborhood of thickets and woodlands. Song, a musical, tinkling trill ; in winter and early spring, a low, more mus- ical warble; note of annoyance, a sharp chirp, given double when much alarmed. Flight, rapid and darting, but some- what erratic. Common. 2. CAROLINA JUNCO, J. CAROLINENSIS. Differs from 1 in being larger, with larger bill, lighter above, head nearly like back; young, more narrowly streaked and darker on breast and sides. Breeds in the higher portions of the south- ern Alleghanies from Ya. south to northern Ga. ; in winter, descends to the surrounding lowlands. 3. MONTANA JUNCO, J. MONTANUS. Differs from 1 in being a little smaller; brownish patch on back ; sides and flanks, purplish-cinnamon; general tinting above, grayer. Breeds from northwestern Montana and northern Idaho, north to Northwest Territory ; winters from Ariz, south to Tex . and northern Mexico; straggling eastward to Kan., 111., Mich.? Ind., Mass., and Md. Fig. 283. Fig. 284. CC, F, g, 1. 1-4. CC, F, h, 1. 1-4. SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 4. GRAY-HEADED JUNCO, J. CANICEPS. Differs from 1 in being uniform gray above ; patch of reddish-cinnamon on back. Breeds in the mountains of southern Wyo., Utah, Nev., and northern N. M. ; winters in surrounding lowlands and southward to northern Mexico ; accidental in Mich, h. Woodland Sparrows. Peucaea. Small or medium sparrows with short, often truncate, wings and rather long, graduated tails ; streaked above, but unstreaked below. 1. PINE-WOODS SPARROW, P. ASTIVALIS. 6.70 ; gray above thickly streaked with chestnut, darkening to brown on middle of back; white below; throat, breast, and sides, dull buff, fig. 284. Young, more reddish above and narrowly streaked on breast with dusky. Partly resident, but many migrate southward in winter. Frequents the flat, grassy pine woods. Flight, low, fluttering and erratic ; keeps much in the grass, through which it runs nimbly, and is quite diffi- cult to start. Song, given when perching on the lower limb of a tree, or on a stump, a prolonged, rather swee,t trill end- ing with a series of chirps or a harsh tiill. 1*. BACHMAN'S SPARROW, P. A. BACHMANI. A lit- tle larger than 1, more buffy above ; streakings more reddish , and clearer buff beneath. Breeds from S. C., northern Ga. and the Gulf Coast west of Fla. north to southern Va., south ern Ind., and southern 111. ; south in winter to Fla. i. Buffy Sparrows. Coturniculus. Small sparrows with short, truncated wings, short, grad- uated tails with narrow, pointed feathers, with ab.uffy under tint; crown, with central stripe of buff. 1. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, C. PASfeERiNUS. 5.15; ashy above streaked with reddish and brown; edge of wing and line over eye to bill, yellow; middle lower parts, white, fig. 285. Young, and winter adults narrowly and obscurely streaked across breast with reddish. Breeds in eastern U. S. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 217 from the Middle States north to southern Ontario ; winters in Fla. and some of the West Indies; south in Sep.; north in May. Nest, placed on the ground ; eggs, white, spotted with reddish-brown. Frequents sandy fields if grassy, hence of local distribution. Flight, fluttering and direct; runs nim- bly through grass and is difficult to start. Song, given as the "bird perches on some slight elevation, a feeble, stridulating trill, inaudible a few yards away. 2. FLORIDA GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, C. AUSTRA- L.IS. Smaller than 1, lighter in buffy tints but with the browns darker. Young and winter adults more distinctly streaked on breast. Fla. ; southern portion of state and Ba- hamas in winter. Fig. 285. Fig. 286. CC, F, i, 1. 1-4. CC, F, i, 3. 1-4. 3. HENSLOW'S SPARROW, C. HENSLOWII. More slen- der than 1 ; back and wings more red ; head and neck above, greenish; distinct dusky streaks across breast and on sides; no yellow over eye, fig. 286. Breeds in eastern U. S. from the Middle States northward ; winters from its southern range to middle Fla. ; south in Sep. ; north in May ; of local and rather uncommon occurrence in N. E. Frequents marshy lands in summer; grassy savannas in winter. Flight, much like 1, Song, feeble, "Se-e-e -wick" the first notes prolonged, the last given quickly and accented. 218 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 4. LECONTE'S SPARROW, C. I.ECONTEII. 5.00; more slender than 3; head and hind neck, buff, the latter streaked with chestnut, more buff beneath ; edge of wing, white, fig. 287. Breeds in the prairie marshes of the upper Mississippi Valley north into the British Possessions ; winters in the Southern States from S. C. to western Fla. Habits, similar to 3. j. Marsh Sparrows. Ammodramus. Slender sparrows differing from i in having longer and more slender bills, rather larger feet, and in being more heavily streaked beneath. Nests, often on the ground ; eggs, pale blue spotted with brown. Flight, low and direct with rapid wing-beats. Fig. 287. Fig. 288. CC, F, i, 4. 1-3. CC, F, j, 1. 1-3. 1. SEASIDE SPARROW, A. MARITIMUS. 5.50; green- ish gray above obscurely streaked with darker ; line from over eye to bill and edge of wing, yellow ; white beneath, reddish- buff of breast, sides and under tail coverts rather obscurely streaked with gray ; sides of head, gray ; a dusky maxillary line, fig. 288. Salt marshes of Atlantic Coast of U. S., breed- ing from southern N. E. to Ga. ; winters from the Carolinas southward. Abundant. Frequents the tall grasses of the marshes which are submerged by the tides, nesting on the dry marshes, sometimes on the ground but often fastened to BIKBCTOUY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NOKTH AMERICA. 2 grass stems or placed in low bushes. Song, a low twitter, given as the bird hovers low over the grass. 1*. MACGILLIVRAY'S SEASIDE SPARROW, A. M. MACGII.I.IVRAII. Differs from 1 in being darker, with back distinctly streaked with black and the streaks beneath are broader. From Charleston S. C. to eastern Fla. breeding on Anastasia Island ; in winter along the Gulf coast to La. 2. SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW, A. PENINSULAE, Dif- fers from 1 in being more uniformly colored above with no prominent streakings; grayer below with the streakings ex- tended often encroaching upon the throat. Breeds in west- ern Fla. from Tarpon Springs to Cedar Keys, in March. Song, four notes ; the first two low and quickly uttered with a dis- tinct articulation, the last two more connected, more prolong- ed with a decided accent, the song somewhat resembling that of a Red-winged Blackbird and the bird bows his head, spreads his tail, and ruffles his feathers much as does the Red-wing; the song is given as the bird sits low in the grass. 3. FISHER'S SEASIDE SPARROW, A. FISHERI. Dif- fers from 1* in being much darker; more black above; the breast and sides deep buffy. Breeds on the coast of La. ; in winter along the west coast of Fla. to Tarpon Springs. 4. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW, A. NIGRESCENS. Dif- fers from 1 in being black above indistinctly streaked with grayish ; white beneath broadly streaked everywhere with black. Merritt's Island and shores of Banana and Indian Rivers north to the old Haulover Canal and about Salt Lake, upper St. Johns River, east Fla. Frequents dry marshes. Song, and manner of singing, like 1. Common. Resident. 5. SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, A. CAUDACUTUS. 5.50; sides of head, deep buff; spot below eye, gray; paler buff be- neath excepting middle of body which is white, much streak- ed on sides and across breast with dark-brown ; top of head, dark-brown, with a median line of gray ; upper parts, mixed olive-brown, ashy, and buff, fig. 289. Breeds on the Atlantic coast of U. S. from Mass, south to northern Fla. ; winters 22O SPARROWS AND FINCHES. from the Carolinas southward to northern Fla. ; casually as Fig. 289. far as Mass. ; south in Oct. ; north in May. Frequents rather dry marshes. Song, a very feeble twitter given as the bird hovers over the grass. Abundant. 6. NELSON'S SPARROW, A. NELSONI. Smaller than 5, especially bill; brighter in color ; streakings above more sharply de- nned ; those below paler, often grayish. Breeds on the prairie marshes of the Missis- sippi Yalley from northern 111. north to Manitoba; winters along the Gulf coast from Texas east to the coast of S. C., occas- CC, F, j, 5. 1-4. ionally at this season and during migration as far north as the coast of Mass. Time of migration as in 5. 7. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, A. SUBVIR- GATUS. Differs from 5 in being more plainly marked, the back without conspicuous lighter streaks ; sides of head, pale-buff ; paler buff beneath. Breeds on the Atlantic coast of the Brit- ish Provinces from the mouth of the St. Lawrence southward, occasionally to the coast of Me. Winter range and time of migration as in 5. k. Grass Sparrows. Passerculus. Small sparrows with long, broad wings, inner seconda- ries nearly, or quite as long as primaries ; rather short, quite square tails, with feathers somewhat pointed ; conspicuously streaked above and below. Nest on ground; eggs, much as in d. Frequent open sections of country. 1. SAVANNA SPARROW, P. SAVANNA, 5.75 ; grayish- buff above with the dark-brown streakings sharply denned ; crown with median line of buff; sides of head buff with a dark spot having a lighter center below eye ; line from over eye to bill, and edge of wing, yellow; white beneath, streak- ings arranged much as in d, 1 ; feet, pale brown, fig. 290. Eastern N. A., breeding from the Middle States north to Hud- DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 221 on the coast; winters from Fig. 290. CC, F, k, 1. 1-3. son Bay, more commonly in N. E. the Carolinas to Fla. and rarely in the Bahamas ; cas- ually north to Mass. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Flight, swift and darting, but not direct; never takes refuge in a thicket; runs nimbly through grass where it hides. Song, a series of feeble, grasshopper-like notes fol- lowed by a low warble given as the bird perches at a slight elevation. 2. IPSWICH SPARKOW, P. PRINCEPS. Larger than 1, 6.25 ; inner secondaries longer, as long as primaries; paler, about sand-color, with streakings not as well denned. Breeds on Sable Island off Nova Scotia ; winters south to N. J., cas- ually to Ga. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Frequents the sand dunes of the coast. Common. 1. Bay-winged Sparrows. Poocaetes. Differ from k in being grayer, having white outer tail feathers, streakings below confined chiefly to breast, and crown undivided. VESPER SPARROW, P. GRAMINEUS. 6.25; differs from k, 1 in being much gray- er and in showing the white outer tail feathers in flight. Breeds in eastern U. S. from the Middle States north to southern Canada, winters from the Carolinas to Fla., rarely as far north as Mass ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Fre- quents open fields and pastures on uplands where there is scanty herbage; runs much on ground ; unsuspicious. Song, given at an elevation, two short 1. Fig. 291. CC, F, 1, 1. 1-4. 222 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. notes followed by a fine clear warble, ending with three de- tached notes. Flight, like ]^ 1. m. Prairie Sparrows. Cliondestes. Medium-sized, ground-inhabiting, sparrows with long pointed wings, and rather long well rounded tails; no streaks beneath. 1. LARK SPARROW, C. GRAMMACUS. 6.50 ; grayish-brown Fig. 292. above heavily streaked with black ; crown, chestnut and black with a median line of gray ; dull white beneath ; black spot on breast; black markings on sides of head as in fig. 292 ; tip of tail, broad- ly white. Breeds in north- ern Mississippi Valley, mi- CC, F, m, 1. 1-4. grating southward in winter to Gulf coast; eastward rarely to Atlantic states north to Mass. Frequents open fields and cultivated lands, often in the vicinity of houses. Song, rich and clear, consisting of a series of liquid notes freely interspersed with trills. n. Black and White Sparrows. Calamospiza. Rather large sparrows with large bills, long wings, rath- er long, square tails, and large feet ; black with white mark- ings ; ground-inhabiting. 1. LARK BUNTING, C. MELANOCORYS. 6.00; black; large white patch on wing and some white on tip of tail, fig. 293, upper figure male, lower fe- male ; female, winter male and young, brownish buff above streaked with dusky ; white beneath, streaked with black; wings and tail as in male. Great Plains from Kansas north to Manitoba ; winters south to Fig. 293.- CO, F, n, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 223 Mexico; accidental in migration in N. Y., S. C., and Mass. Song, sweet and varied as the bird hovers in air. Gregarious excepting when breeding. Flight, swift, strong and direct. o. Snow Buntings. Passerina. Good-sized, ground-inhabiting sparrows with very long, pointed wings, moderately long, square tails, and small bills; black and white ; hind toe nail long. 1. SNOW BUNTING, P. NIVALIS. 6.66; white; back, middle wing and tail, black; bill, orange, fig. 294; in winter and young, tinged with reddish. Breeds in Arctic and sub- Arctic regions from northern Labrador northward; in N. A. migrating south in winter regularly to N. E., more rarely as far south as Ga. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Gregarious in winter, frequenting the sand -Fig. 294. dunes of the coast and open fields of the interior ; flight, strong and swift, but very erra- tic ; run swiftly on the ground ; restless, flying often from place to place. Song, a sweet warble, given while hovering, seldom heard off the breeding grounds ; in winter, a sweet sin- gle or double note, less often a quite melodious trill and a kind of chirring sound, all given when on the wing, p. Longspurs. Calcariiis. Differ from o in having the color more varied, black, white and chestnut, streaked above; hind toe nail, longer. 1. LAPLAND LONGSPUR, C. LAPPONICUS. 6.10; dark-brown above streaked with buffy and chestnut; a dis- tinct chestnut collar; buffy-white beneath; throat and spots on sides, black ; sides, tinged with reddish ; outer tail feath- ers with terminal spot of white, fig. 295. Female and young differ in having the back much obscured by whitish ; duller. CC, F, o, 1. 1-4. 224 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. Breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic districts of Europe, Green- land and north-eastern N. A. ; winters from N. E. south, somewhat irregularly to S. C. ; common in N. E. from middle Oct. to Dec. ; 1 ess common in winter ; rare in spring. Song on Fig. 295. breeding ground, a rollicking, joy- ous melody, given when hovering ; in autumn and winter, a call like O, 1, but rather more liquid \ a harsh chirr given when starting to fly ; flight, rather more steady than o,l. Associate with Horned Larks arid Snow Buntings, or gath- er in small flocks by themselves ; CC, F, p, 1. 1-4. occur in similar places. 2, PAINTED LONGSPUR, C. PICTUS. Differs from 1 in having the outer tail feathers white; entire lower parts deep, yellowish-buff; crown and sides of head, black; stripe behind eye, on middle ear coverts, and on lower jaw, white; white wing bar. Breeds on interior plains of N. A. from Great Slave Lake north to the Arctic coast; south in winter to Texas; east regularly to 111. and northwestern Ind. ; cas- ually to S. C. 3. CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR, C. ORNATUS. Differs from 1 in having top of head, spot on ear coverts, and beneath, black ; throat, broad stripe over eye, and wing band, white. Breeds on the Great Plains of N. A. from Kansas north to the Saskatchewan ; migrates south to Mexico and casually east to the coast of N. E. and Long Island. Song, short, shrill and sweet, given usually in flight. q. Short-tailed Long-spurs. Rynchophanes. Differ from p in having a decidedly thicker bill and shorter tail ; flight, undulating. 1. MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR, R. MCCOWNII. 6.00; front of crown, narrow line from bill to eye, and crescent on breast, black; brownish and buffy-gray above broadly streaked with dusky ; outer portion of tail, white broadly tipped with black. DIRECTORY TO BIHDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 225 Female without black of head or breast; buffy beneath. Breeding range and southward migration much as in p, 2 ; casual east to 111. r. Rosy Finches. Carpodacus. Usually small, tree-inhabiting finches with long wings and moderately long, forked tails; bills, short and thick; males, partly crimson ; females, gray ; feathers of crown some- what elongated. 1. PURPLE FINCH, C. PURPTJREUS. 6.00; crimson- lake, brightest on crown, obscurely streaked with dusky on back : abdomen and under tail coverts white ; bill, pale brown, fig. 296. Female and young, greenish-brown above, white be- low, heavily streaked with dusky ; a prominent white line over eye, adult male dress not assumed Fig. 296. the first year. Eastern N. A. ; breeds from Penn. north to Hudson Bay ; win- ters from Mass, to Fla. Common, less so now in eastern Mass, than formerly. Frequents open country. Nests usually in cedar trees ; eggs, blue spotted with black. Song, given also by the young male, and, at least occasionally, by the female, a continuous warble ; sometimes given more rapidly and musically as the bird ascends in air and descends; a low, whispered melody given while in con- cealment; alarm, a sharp chirp. Flight, swift, direct, undulating, with a charac- teristic quiver to wings. In perching, sit upright. s. Pine Grosbeaks. Pinicola. Large, tree-inhabiting finches with long wings and forked tails ; bills, large and hooked ; no streakings beneath. Nests, in trees ; eggs, pale blue, dotted with black. CC, F, r, 1. 1-4. 226 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 1. CANADIAN PINE GROSBEAK, P. CANADENSIS. 8.60; rosy-red; back, obscurely spotted with dusky; two Fig. 297. white wing bands, fig. 297. Female, gray ; top of h e a d and rump, bronzy- yellow. Young male, similar to female but more or less red, depending upon age. Breeds in northeastern N. A. from New Brunswick north to the limits of the coniferous forests; wandering south when the coniferous seed crop fails, to N. J., northern Ohio, Ind., and 111. ; cas- ual further south. Occurs wherever it can obtain food, which, with us, consists of the fruit of the cedar, mountain ash, common ash, etc. Yery unsuspicious. Song, a low, continuous, quite sweet, CC, F, s, 1. 1-5. warble; call, a loud, clear, double note. Flight, swift, direct, and undulating. Gregarious in winter. t. Redpolls. Acanthis. Small birds with very short, pointed bills, long, pointed wings, and long, forked tails ; streaked, often rosy ; tree-in- habiting. Nests, in trees; eggs, pale blue dotted with black. Gregarious. Flight, undulating. 1. REDPOLL, A. LINARIA. Chord of upper mandible straight ; ashy-white streaked above and below with dusky ; crown, crimson; dusky, spot on throat; anterior parts below and rump, rosy, plate 21. Female and young male, rosy tint- ing absent; less crimson on crown. Northern part's of north- ern hemisphere, breeding from the islands iathe Gulf of St. Lawrence northward ; south irregularly when one source of the food supply (seeds of birches) fails and another (weed seeds) is covered by deep snows, to the more northern U. S., rarely to Ya. and northern Ala. Common. Come south in Nov. ; go north in March or early April. Song, a sweet, me- lodious warble; call, a double note similar to that of the Goldfinch, but not as clear; a kind of chatter when flying. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. '227 1*. HOLBOELL'S REDPOLL, A. i,. HOLBOELLII. Dif- fers from 1 in being larger. Extreme northern portions of Europe, Asia, and N. A., wandering south in winter rarely as far as Mass., northern Ind., and Mich. 2. GREATER REDPOLL, A. ROSTRATA. Larger than 1 ; chord of upper mandible convex and bill heavier, fig. 298, A ; streakings broader, rosy less extended. Resident in Green- land, wandering south in winter, irregularly and at wide in- tervals as far as Mass, (where sometimes common), N. Y., Mich., northern Ind., and northern 111 3. GREENLAND REDPOLL, A. HORKEMANN i. Larger than 1 ; very pale ; rump, white, unstreaked ; rosy tinting very pale. Resident in Greenland, Iceland, and Spitzbergen, wan- dering in winter irregularly to the region about Hudson Bay and casually to Ontario. 4. HOARY REDPOLL, A. EXILIPHS. Differs from 3 in being much smaller (about the size of 1) and slightly dark- er; bill, very short; chord of upper Fig. 298. mandible, concave, fig. 298, B. Cir- ^ ^ cumpolar-continental districts, "T- ^g? .T^ south irregularly in winter to the more northern U. S., Mass, (rare), Mich., and 111. 5. BREWSTER'S LINNETT, A. BREWSTKRI. Like an immature female 1 but differs in having no red on the crown, primaries and tail feathers edged with pale yellow, rump tinged with yellow. Known only from the type specimen taken at Waltham, Mass., Nov. 1, 1870. u. Siskins. Spinus. Differ from t in having the bill longer and more pointed; colors, black, white and yellow. 1. PINE SISKIN, S. PINUS. 5.25 ; grayish-white streaked with dusky; bases of wing feathers and tail, pale yellow, fig. 299. Breeds in the higher mountains of N. C., Penn., N. E., and northward through the coniferous forest districts of the British Possessions, wandering south with the failure of food 228 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. supply, similar to t, 1, as far as the Gulf Coast. Gregarious. Fig, 299. Notes, not dissimilar to those of t, 1, but rather clearer. v. Goldfinches. Astrag-alinus. Differ from u in having the bill shorter and not as pointed. No yellow at the base of wing or tail feathers. 1. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, A. TRIS- TIS. 5.60; bright lemon yellow; top of head, wings, and tail, black; two white . wing bars and some white markings on tips of wing feathers, fig. 300. Female and win- ter male, .greenish above, dull white below; CC, F, u, 1. 1-4. wings and tail much as in summer (brown- er in female) ; young strongly tinged with buffy. Breeds in U. S. east of the Rockies north Fig. 300. into the southern British Pos- sessions, southward along the mountains to Ga. ; winters from Mass, to Fla. Frequents open country; gregarious in winter. Song, a continuous warble, very sweet, sometimes given as the bird flies in a circle ; call, a single plaintive cry and a "Per chick-cr-ry' 1 ' 1 given when rising in its undulating flight. Nests CC, F, v, 1. 1-4. often In willows or ornamental trees ; eggs, pale blue, un- spotted ; breeds late in June. w. Crossbills. Loxia. Medim-sizerl finches with bills crossed at tip, fig. 301 ; wings, long ; tail, short and forked : tree-inhabiting. Nests, in trees; eggs, pale blue, dotted with black. 1. AMERICAN CROSSBILL, L. MINOR. 6.00; yellow- ish-red; wings and tail, dusky. Female and young male, greenish-gray ; yellow on top of head ; from this males grad- CC, F, w, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 229 ually assume the adult dress through a series of mixed plu mages. Breeds in northern Fig. 301. and eastern N. A. from the mountains of northern Ga. into the British Possessions, but ir- regularly as to season and lo- cality ; in winter wandering about irregularly according to the foodsupply. Flight, steady, swift and undulating. Gregarious. Song, a Tow, sweet warble; call, loud and clear, also give a murmuring chatter when feeding. Very unsuspi- cious. 2. WHITE-WINGED CEOSSBILL, L. I.EUCOPTERA. Differs from 1 in being more slender, bill not as stout; crim- Fig. 302. son; wings and tail, black, the former with a conspicuous patch of white, fig. 302. Female and young male, similar with inter- mediate plumages, but with white wing patch. Breeds in the coni- ferous forests of northern N. A. from the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Me., N. H , northern N. Y. and northern Mich., north- ward; in winter south irregularly (movements governed by food sup- CC, F, w, 2. 1-3. ply) as far as District of Columbia, southern Ohio, central Ind., and southern 111. Habits, song etc. much like those of 1 but feeds more, of ten on weed seeds and is even more unsuspicious. x. American Hawfinches. Hesperiphones. Large tree-inhabiting, fringiline birds with very large bills, long wings, short tails and legs. 23O SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 1. EVENING GROSBEAK, H. VESPERTINA. 7.60; forehead and broad line over eye, yellow; top of head black, Fig. 303. gradually changing through olive on back of neck and upper back to clear yellow behind on both sur- faces ; wings, brownish with a large patch of white ; tail, black ; bill, greenish-yellow, fig. 303. In_ terior of N. A. east of the Rockies, wandering eastward irregularly south to E&nsas east to N. E. Call note, loud and frequently giv- en; song, short and not very pleas- ing. y. Song- Grosbeak. Zameloclia. Large fringiline birds with large bills, long wings, and long, square tails; nests of sticks placed in trees or bushes, very frail structures ; eggs, blue, spotted with reddish-brown . 1. HOSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, Z. LUDOVICI>^\ 7.75 ; head, neck and above, black, large patch on wings and CC, F, x, 1. several smaller ones, spots on outer tail feathers, rump, and beneath, white; under wing coverts and triangular patch on breast, rose, fig. 304. Female, brown above, buffy below, streaked with dusky ; under wing coverts, saffron-yellow; median line of crown, and line over eye whitish, plate 2l bill in both sexes, pale-brown, whitish beneath. Breeds in eastern N. A. from the Middle States to the southern British Fig. 304. CC, F, y, 1. 1-4. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 231 Possessions ; along the Alleghanies to N. C. ; winters in Cen- tral America and northern S. A. ; south in Sep. ; north in May. Frequents open woodlands, groves and orchards. Common. Song, rich, clear and varied, the notes flowing together, given sometimes as the bird flies ; alarm, a metallic click. Unsus- picious. Flight, rather swift and undulating. 2. BLACK-HEADED GKOSBEAK, Z. MELANOCEPHALA. Differs from 1 in having a line behind eye, collar on neck be- hind, sometimes mottlings on back rump, and most of lower parts buffy cinnamon ; no rose ; under wing coverts and belly, yellow. Female, differs from 1 chiefly in being buffy or ochraceous, streakings on sides, but usually none on breast ; yellow beneath as in male. Western U. S. from Mexico to British Columbia ; accidental in Mich. z. Cardinals. Cardinalis. Large, crested grosbeaks, with thick bills, short wings, and long tails; males, bright red. Nests, in trees; eggs, grayish spotted with brown. 1. CARDINAL GROSBEAK, C. CARDINALIS. 8.50; ver- milion-red duller above; line surround- Fig. 306. ing bill, with throat, black ;bill, orange, fig. 305. Female, differs in being gray- ish-yellow above and buffy yellow below, tinged on crest and breast with red; black replaced by dusky. Eastern U. S. from the Gulf States, excepting Fla., north to southeastern N. Y., including Long Island. Resident. Common, fre- quenting thickets and the margins of swamps and woodlands. Song, loud, clear, and very melodious, " Whe-er" re- peated six times, liquid and clear ; u ^*V-a" quickly given five or six times ; 44 Wheat" a little prolonged and exceed- ingly sweet and clear also given six CC, F, z, 1. 1-6. 232 SPARROWS ANI> FINCHES. times. Sings at almost all seasons, at least from Feb. to Nov. Alarm note, a sharp chirp. 1*. FLORIDA CARDINAL, C. c. FLORIDANUS. Differs from 1 in being smaller, darker, and deeper red beneath, female, deeper buff below. Fla. aa. Blue Grosbeaks. Guiraca. Medium-sized grosbeaks with rather long, pointed wings and long tails ; blue with tawny wing-bands. Nests, in trees ; eggs, plain pale bluish. 1. BLUE GROSBEAK G CAERULEA. 7.00; deep blue; narrow line at base of bill, black, plate 18. Female and young, reddish-brown, paler beneath. Breeds in southern portions of eastern U. S. from N. J. andPenn. (locally) south- ward ; winters in Yucatan and Cuba. Song, short and low, but sweet; alarm note, a rather loud chirp. Frequents open sections, on the banks of streams, among scattering trees. bb. Painted Sparrows. Cyaiiospiza. Small, bright-colored sparrows with long wings and rath- er short tails. Females, dull, quite uniform in color. Our species about 5.00. 1. INDIGO BIRD, C. CYANEA. Greenish-blue, darker anteriorly. Female, brownish above, paler beneath, some- Fig. 306. times slightly tinged with blue, fig. 306. Eastern U. S. north to the British Provinces; winters in Central America ; south in Oct. ; north in May. Frequents brushy hillsides. Nest, placed in a low bush ; eggs, pale blue. Song, ut- tered when perching on a tree top, a rather harsh, unmusical warble, CC, F, bb, 1. divided into two parts, and given with energy, ending abruptly, heard until the middle of Aug. ; alarm, a sharp chirp. Locally common. DIRECTORY TO BIKDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 233 2. PAINTED BUNTING, C. CIRIS. Head, purplish- "biue; back, green; rump, upper tail coverts, and beneath, red. Female, greenish above; yellowish-green beneath. Southern U. S. north to N. C. and southern 111. ; winters from southern Fla. south to Central America; south in Sep. ; north in March, Frequents thickets in the concealment of which the song, which is exceedingly sweet, is given. 3. VARIED BUNTING, C. VERSICOLOH. Differs from 2 in having the parts varied with purplish, bluish, and red- dish ; hind part of head and upper neck, vermilion ; beneath, dull purple, reddish patch on throat. Female, grayish-brown, paler beneath ; whitish on throat and abdomen. Mexico, north to Texas and southern Arizona; accidental in Mich. cc. Grassquits. Euetheia. Small, dull, tree-inhabiting sparrows with rounded wings and short tails. Nests, in trees, spherical; eggs, pale blue spotted with brown. 1. BAHAMA GRASSQUIT, E. BICOLOR. 4.00; dull black on head, neck, and anterior portion of body ; grayish- green elsewhere, fig. 307. Female Fig. 307. sometimes like male but usually duller with little or no black. Ba- hamas : accidental in southern Fla. Frequents settlements, nesting in trees about houses. Unsuspicious. Song, begins with two or three li- quid notes given with a clear, bell- like tone, followed by a lisping series of notes. Somewhat grega- rious. Abundant. 2. MELODIOUS GRASSQUIT, E. OANORA. Differs from 1 in being CC, F, cc, 1. 1-2. more greenish above and darker below ; line back of eye and tuft of elongated feathers on side of neck, yellow. Female, with black of head replaced by chestnut; yellow, duller. Cuba; accidental on Sombrero Key, Fla. 234 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. G. HONEY CREEPERS. Coerebidae. Small birds with nine primaries, moderately long wings Fig. 308. and tails, curved, sharp- ly pointed bills, fig. 308; deeply cleft tongue, and small st o m a ch . Fre- quent woodlands. Food, chiefly, or wholly, fruit and the sweet juices of flowers. Tropics of America. a. Bananaquits. CC, G, a, 1. 1-2. Coereba. Tarsi, long; colors, black above or throughout, often with yellow and white markings. 1. BAHAMA BANANAQUIT, C. BAHAMENSIS. 4.50; dull black above; line over eye, spot on wing, and beneath, white ; rump and patch on breast, yellow. Bahamas, com- mon ; casual or rare in southern Fla. Flight, strong and di- rect. Song, a series of low, crackling notes. Nests, in trees, domed, but irregular in form. H. AMERICAN WARBLERS. Mniotiltidae. Differ from G in having bills less strongly curved, slen- der or flat; stomachs, large. Confined to the continent of America and adjacent islands. Food, chiefly insects. Eggs, white to greenish, or bluish, spotted with brown of varying shades. (Note. The view which I have taken regarding the gen- eric divisions of this family is the result of Tny anatomical and other investigations of the group. The generic charac- ters, here given in brief, will be further elaborated in a work which I now have in hand upon the subject.) DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 235 a. Creeping Warblers. Mniotilta. Slender warblers with long, somewhat curved bills, long wings, large feet with the hind toe long; black and white; ancestral home, north-western S. A. 1. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, M. VARIA. 5.25; black and white in stripes ; crown divided by a white line, fig. 309. Female, duller. Breeds in Fig. 309. eastern N. A. from Ya. north to Hud- son Bay ; winters from the Gulf States, Bahamas, and West Indies to north- ern S. A. ; north in late April; south in Sep. Common ; frequents open woodlands, creeping with a sidling, jerky motion about trees. Song, a sharp " We-see" given five or six times; a longer, louder lay, much like the ordinary song of the Nash- ville Warbler. Nests on ground near base of a tree, clump of bushes, or rock, usually partly domed with fal- len leaves. b. Long-billed Warblers. Neodendroica, General form, similar to a, bill stouter, wings shorter, and feet smaller; two wing bands and tail spots on three or four outer tail feathers. Ancestral home, Central America. 1. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, N. DOMINICA. 5.25; throat, yellow; otherwise white below; pale slaty-blue above; front of crown and markings on sides of head and sides as in fig. 310; line from bill over eye, yellow in front, white behind. Breeds in the Atlantic coast district from Fla. north to Ya., casually to N. Y., Conn., and Mass. ; winters in Fla., Bahamas, and most of the West Indies ; north in March ; south in Aug. and Sep. Occurs in open woodlands, usually in tree tops. Song, a short, low warble. CC, H, 236 WARBLESS. 1*. SYCAMORE WAKELER, K. D. ALBILORA. Smaller than 1 with a smaller bill, line at base of bill with little orno yellow. Mississippi Valley, north to southern Mich., east to Ohio and casually to S. C. during migration. c. Blue Warblers. Caeruleocantor. Bill, wings, and tail coverts, rather short; feet, small; tail spots, present ; white spot at base of primaries ; no wing bands nor yellow markings; sexes dissimilar. Origin of group, north-western S. A. Type, Motacilla caerulescens Gmelin. Fig. 310. Fig. 311. CC, H, b, 1. 1-3. CC, H, c, 1. 1-3. 1. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, C. CAERU- 5.25; dusky-blue above; white beneath, fig. 311. Female, olivaceous above, ochraceous-white beneath and on line over eye ; white wing patch present. Common, breeding from the mountains of Penn., eastward to western Mass., east through Worcester Co., north to Hudson Bay ; winters in Bahamas, West Indies, and north-eastern S. A. ; north in May ; south in Sep. Song, a zweeing lisp rather weak. Occurs us- ually in swampy, sometimes other, thickets. 1*. CAIRN'S WARBLER, C. c. CAIRNSI. Differs from 1 in being darker above where it is more or less clouded with black. Higher mountains of Penn. and N. C, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 237 d. Wood Warblers. Dentlroica. Wings and tail longer than c ; under tail coverts reach- ing middle of tail, upper shorter; wing bands (two) and tail spots present ; sexes, quite similar, both with conspicuous yellow patches. Origin of group, Mexico. 1. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, D. CORONATA. 5.50; slaty-blue above; white beneath, streaked on back, and broadly on breast and sides Fig. 312. with b 1 ack ; yellow patch- es on rump, sides and crown, fig. 312. Female and winter male brownish above and duller. Breeds from the mountains of western Mass, and in about the same lat- itude west to the Rockies north to Labrador and west- ern Alaska ; winters from the southern coast of Me. CC, H, d f 1. 1-4. and southern 111. south to the Bahamas, West Indies, and Central America; north in April; south in Sep. and Oct. Very abundant ; found everywhere. Song, a low warble of four or five notes. 2. AUDUBON'S WARBLER, D. AUDUBONI. Differs from 1 in having the throat yellow and less black on side of head. Western N. A. : accidental in Mass, and Penn. e. Honey Warblers. Perissoglossa. Bill, very sharp, slender, and slightly curved at tip ; wings, long, pointed, folding beyond middle of tail ; upper tail cov- erts, reaching middle of tail ; under tail coverts reaching be- yond middle ; white spots on tail ; wing bands, enlarged to a patch ; yellow beneath and on rump. Ancestral origin, West Indies. 238 WARBLERS. 1. CAPE MAY WARBLER, P. TIGRINA. 5.00; cheeks, chestnut ; top of head, black; back, greenish, spotted with Fig. 313. black ; streaks on breast and sides, black, fig. 313. Fe- male, tinged with grayish above and below, duller; streakings indistinct. Breeds from northern N. E., north- ern Mich, north to Hudson Bay: winters in Key West, Bahamas, and the West In- dies ; north in May ; south in Sep. Frequents woodlands and orchards. Song, a low, lively, rather pleasing war- CC, H, e, 1. 1-3. ble. f. Spotted Warblers. Maculocaiitor. Wings and tail shorter than in d, the former rounded; upper tail coverts, short, and about equal in length ; wholly yellow below, large white wing patch and band of spots cross- ing inner webs of tail in middle. Type, Motacilla maculosa Gmelin. Origin of group, Central America. 1. BLACK AND YELLOW WARBLER, M. MACULOSA. 5.00; band of black spots crossing breast having pendants ex- tending along sides; top of head, slaty-blue; back, black; rump, yellow, fig. 314. Female and young, considerably duller. Breeds from the elevated regions of western Mass, west to Mich., north to Hudson Bay; winters in Mexico and Central America ; north in May ; south in Sep. Common, but less so most seasons in eastern Mass. Song, a.short, pleasing, rather broken, warble. Frequents woodlands and thickets. g. Azure Warblers. Azuria. Small warblers with rather short bills, long wings fold- ing beyond the middle of the short tail which has white spots on the inner webs of all the feathers ; two wing bands ; blue PLATE 20. LAWRENCE'S WARBLER. DIKECTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 239 and white ; no yellow. Ancestral origin, north-western S. A. Type, Sylvia rara Wilson (see Atlas explanation of plate XXXII). Fig. 314. Fig. 315. V CC, H, f, 1. 1-3. CC, H, g, 1. 1-3. 1. CERULEAN WARBLER, A. KARA. 4.50; bright blue above; white beneath with a more or less distinct bluish band across breast ; dusky lines on sides and on head, fig. 315. Female, greenish-blue above, greenish-yellow beneath. Breeds from the Ohio Eiver Valley north to southern Mich. ; east to western N. Y. rarely east of the Alleghanies ; casually to southern N. E. ; winters from Panama south to Peru. Goes south in August; north in April. Song, a guttural trill. Oc- curs in low woodlands. h. Busli Warblers. Sylviocantor. Wings, rather short and rounded, not reaching middle of rather short tail ; upper and under tail coverts of medium length, reaching middle of tail ; two broad greenish-white wing bands ; tail spots on three outer feathers, white ; green- ish above; white below; yellow on crown. Sexes, similar. Ancestral home, Central America. Type, Motacillapennsyl- vanica Linnaeus. 24O WARBLERS. 1. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, S. PENNSYLVANIA. 5.00 ; white beneath, broadly streaked with chestnut on sides ; " crown, yellow ; greenish above, patch on side of head and Fig. 316. streaks on back, black, fig. 316. Female, some- what duller ; young with- out chestnut on sides. Breeds commonly throughout N. E., N. Y., and Penn., north to On- tario, less commonly west to Ind. and III; winters from Guatemala to Pana- CC, H, h, 1. 1-3. ma; north in May; south in Aug. and Sep. Frequents brushy fields, especially if moist. Usual song, "Sweet siveet sweet toweecher" 1 " 1 with a pause before the two terminal syllables which are given with a de- cidedly rising inflection ; another, not unusual song, is a rather disconnected lay not unlike that of the Canadian Warbler; another, not as usual, is a song similar to that of the Nashville Warbler. i. Streaked Warblers. Lineocantor. Large warblers with stout bills, long wings, folding be- yond middle of moderately long tail which has both its co- verts long, reaching considerably beyond its tip; streaked above and sometimes below with dusky ; no yellow markings^ Sexes, unlike; wing bands and tail spots present in both. Ancestral origin, northern S. A. 1. BLACK-POLLED WARBLER, L. STRIATA. 5.50; black and white in stripes; top of head, solid black; back, grayish, fig. 317. Female, autumnal male, and young, greenish above, greenish-white beneath, streaked above and on breast and sides with dusky; wing bars often greenish. Breeds from extreme northern N. E. and northern Mich, to Hudson Bay ; winters in northern S. A. ; north in May ; south in Sep. and Oct. Abundant, occurring in orchards and low DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 24:1 growths in woodlands. Song, a weak "ZY^" given four or five times, occasionally heard in autumn. 2. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, L. CASTANEA. 5.50; grayish above, streaked with Fig. 317. dusky; sides of head and fore- head, dusky; crown, throat, breast and sides, reddish-brown or bay, fig. 318. Female, autum- nal male and young, quite similar to 1 but differ in always being buffy below and in often showing traces of bay. Breeds from north- ern N. E. and Mich, to Hudson Bay ; winters in northern S. A. ; north in May ; south in Sep. Com- mon over most of its breeding and migration range but rather uncom- mon in eastern N. E. ; occurs in evergreen woodlands. Song, begins with a series of lisping notes and ends with a short warble. j. Spruce Warblers. Piceacantor. CC, H, i, 1. 1-3. Fig. 318. Small ; wings of medium length, folding to middle of tail, pointed ; upper tail co- verts, shorter than middle of tail; under, longer; wing bands forming one patch ; tail spots, large ; much black above; throat and breast, orange. Type, Motacilla blackburniae Gmelin. An- cestral origin, north-western S. A. CC, H, i, 2. 1-3. 242 WAKBLEKS. CC, H, j, 1. 1-3. 1. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, P. BLACKBURNIAE. 4.80; throat, upper breast, spot on top of head and behind Fig. 319. ear coverts, and line over eye, bright orange ; upper parts, streaked with whitish ; lower parts behind, yellow, fig. 319. Female, similar but brown- ish above with the orange markings duller. Breeds from the southern Alleghanies and Mich, north through the mountains of western Mass, to Labrador; not very common on the eastern coast of II. S. ; winters in north-western S. A. ; south in Sep. : north in May. Frequents evergreen and sometimes other woodlands. Song, a series of about six double lisping notes which become some- what squeaky as they advance, and terminate in an ascend- ing scale. k. Green Warblers. Vireocaiitor. Small; bills, rather slender; wings, slightly rounded, not reaching beyond middle of tail, both coverts of which do not reach beyond its middle ; two w r ing bars ; tail spots, large ; bright green above. Type, Motacilla virens Gmelin. Ances- tral origin, Central America. 1. BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, Y. VIRENS. 5.00; cheeks and forehead, yellow; throat, and streaks on sides, black, fig. 320. Female, throat more or less yellow, thus encroaching on the black patch. Young, with less black on breast. Breeds in eastern K. A. from Conn, and southern 111. north to Hudson Bay and south along the Alleghanies to S. C. ; winters in Central America ; south in Sep. ; north in May. Abundant in white pine woodlands and less so among pitch pines. Song, of five or six notes, "Good Saint The-re- sa" given with a rising inflection and with a decided accent on the last syllable ; another song, usually given in late sum- Differs Fig. 320. CC, H, k, 1. "1-3. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. mer is, 'Trees, trees, mur-mur-ing trees" ; there are also other variations but all are given with a peculiar intonation that always characterizes the species. 2. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, Y. TOWNSENDI. irom 1 in having the top of head and cheeks blacfc, and in being dis- tinctly yellow below the black breast patch. Breeds in western N. A. from the mountains of south- ern Cal. to Alaska ; winters in Cen- tral America; south in Sep. ; north in May. Accidental in Perm. 1. Field Warblers. Ag-reocaiitor. Large ; wings short and rather rounded, not reaching middle of tail ; two wing bands ; tail spots not large; slaty above; yellow beneath with black markings. Type, Sylvicola kirtlandii Baird. Ancestral origin, West In- dies. 1. KIRTLAND'S WARBLER, A KIRTLANDI. 5.50; Fig. 321. slaty above with feathers of back tinged with rufous ; yel- low beneath; patch on side of head, spots on breast and on top of head, black, fig. 321. Female, duller. Breeds in Mich. ; nest, placed on ground ; winters in the Bahamas and probably some of the West In- dies ; north in May; south in Sep. Frequents low bushes in fields, often on the ground; moves tail up and down ; gives a sharp note of alarm ; song as CC, H, 1, 1. 1-3. heard by Mr. Norman A. Wood, 244 WARBLEBS. who discovered the breeding grounds, " Ch-ch-che-che-a" or "O/ia, cha-che-chee wicha-a-a" with the terminal "a" pro- longed in both. Rare. m. Pine Warblers. Pinacantor. Large; bills, stout; wings, more or less rounded, reach- ing middle of tail or shorter ; upper and lower tail coverts^ barely reaching middle of tail; wing bands, two, distinct; tail spots, large; greenish-yellow, darker above, lighter be- low; no prominent black markings. Type, Sylvia vigorsii Audubon. Ancestral origin, West Indies. 1. PINE WARBLER, P. VIGORSII. 5.50; greenish-yel- Fig. 322. low above, yellowish-green beneath to the lower part of breast, obscurely streaked on breast with dusky; remain- ing lower parts dull white, ng. 322. Female, grayish-olive above; grayish-white beneath slightly tinged with yellow. Breeds in eastern U. S. from northern Fla. north to New Brunswick ; winters from N. C. occasionally asfar north as Mass., to Fla. ; north in April ; CC, H, m, 1. 1-3. south in Sep. and Oct. Abundant in pitch pine woods, less common elsewhere. Song, a musical trill of about six notes sometimes followed by a short warble, occasionally the warble is given without the trill ; song also heard in Sep. Double brooded, nesting in May and July. 1*. FLORIDA PINE WARBLER, P. v. FLORIDA. Bill, larger than in 1 and also differs in being decidedly golden yellow above and below, the yellow of the lower surface ex- tending backward along the flanks, thus leaving the abdomen and under tail coverts white. Female but little duller, DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 24:5 about as bright as the male of 1 and with the distribution of the yellow below restricted as in that form. Types, taken in middle Fla. (Enterprise and Deep Creek, near Lake Asbby) in March, 1901, now in my collection. n. Ground Warblers. Terracantor. Size, medium; bill, small; wings, medium, rounded, folding to middle of tail, both coverts of which reach about to its middle ; no wing bands ; tail spots, short, square *, top of head, chestnut; yellow beneath ; ground nesting. Sexes, sim- ilar. Ancestral origin, West Indies. Type, Motacilla pal- marum Gmelin. 1. BED-POLLED WARBLER, T. PALMARUM. 5.25; brownish-olive above ; rump, yellow ; remaining lower por- tions, white; crown, Fig. 323. streaks on breast and sides, chestnut, fig. 323. Young, with little or no chestnut on crown and streaked with dusky be- neath on a dull white ground ; under tail cov- erts, always yellow. Breeds in the interior of British America west of CC, H, n, 1. 1-3. Hudson Bay; winters from N. C. southward through Fla., Bahamas, and many of the West Indies ; uncommon during the fall migration north of IS". C. east of the Alleghanies and in N. E. Frequents open places, feeding much on the ground, often in the vicinity of dwellings. Alarm, a sharp chirp ; song, a feeble trill. In common with 2 has the habit of rais- ing and lowering tail. 2. YELLOW REDPOLL, T. HYPOCHRYSEA. Larger than 1 and always wholly yellow beneath. Breeds from northern N. E. north to the eastern shores of Hudson Bay ; winters from N. C. to southern Fla. ; south in Sep. ; north in April. Common ; rare west of the Alleghanies. 240 WABBLEB8. o. Fruticantor. Scrub Warblers. Bill, small; wings, short, much rounded, not reaching middle of tail, the upper coverts of which are very short; lower barely reaching its middle; one or two yellow wing bands ; tail spots, large. Type, Sylvia discolor Vieillot. 1. PRAIRIE WARBLER, F. DISCOLOR. 5.00; golden- yellow above ; yellow beneath and on line over eye ; line through eye, spots from base of bill along sides, black ; spots Fig. 324. on middle back, chestnut ; two wing bars, fig. 324. Female, somewhat duller. Breeds from northern Fla. north to Mass., where it is common locally, also occurs less commonly west to 111., Ind., and southern Mich. ; winters in the Bahamas and West In- dies; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in May. Frequents scrub 1 a n d s . Song, a rather harsh trill of about six notes given in an ascending scale. p. Golden Warblers. Chrysocantor. Bill, rather large; wings, quite long, rounded; tail, short, its under coverts long, two thirds its length; upper coverts, but little shorter; no wing bars nor tail spots, but feathers of tail and wings margined with yellow. Type, Moiacilla aestiva Gmelin. Ancestral origin, northern S. A. 1. YELLOW WARBLER, C. AESTIVA. &.00; golden- yellow above ; clear yellow beneath, streaked on breast and sides with reddish, fig. 325. Female, duller and with few streaks beneath ; young with no streaks. Breeds throughout eastern N. A. from northern Ga. north to the Barren Grounds and far west; winters in northern S. A. ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Frequents open sections in CC, H, o, 1. 1-3. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 247 the vicinity of thickets where it is common. Song, a lively lay of about seven notes something like " Sweet sweet sweet to sweetee" sometimes another "Sweet" being added. q. Little Warblers. Compsothlypis. Small warblers with short, acute bills, white wing patch and tail spots bluish above, more or less yellow beneath, with yellowish patch in middle of back. Fig. 325. Ancestral origin, northern S. A. 1. BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WAR- BLER, C. AMERICANA. 4.75; bluish above and on sides of head ; throat and breast, yellow with a band of dusky and chestnut on breast. Female, duller. Breeds from Ta. southward to the Gulf States; winters in Fla. ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Frequents woodlands and builds its nest in the "Spanish moss" which drapes the trees in the south. 1*. NORTHERN BLUE YELLOW- BACK^ C. A. TJSNEAE. Differs from 1 in being a little larger, and darker with more chestnut below, especially on sides, plate CC, H, p, 1.1-3. 15. Breeds from Ya. north to Canada but confined to those sections in which the long, pendulous lichens of the genus Usnea grow, for in these it builds its nest. Occurs every- where during migration; very active. Song, a vehemently uttered "Swee swee swee swee sivee-zer" the last two syllables being quickly given, the last ascending; these are sometimes omitted. 1**. WESTERN BLUE YELLOW-BACK, C. A. RAMA- I.INAE. Colored as in 1* but smaller than 1. Breeds from Mich, and Minn, south to the Gulf. Both 1* and 1** winter in the Bahamas and West Indies. 24:8 WARBLEKS. r. Sharp-billed Warblers. Helminthophila. Small warblers with rather long, very acute bills, wings folding about middle of tail or shorter; with or without tail spots. A. Wing Bands and Tail Spots present. 1. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, H. CHKYSOPTEKA. 5.00; bluish-ash above, ashy-white on line over eye and be- low ; broad patch on side of head, and on throat, black ; patch on wing, sometimes two bands, and top of head yellow. Female duller with black markings replaced by dusky, plate 18. Breeds from Mass, west to Mich., south to Conn. andN. J. and along the Alleghanies to Ga. Frequents low growths and is of somewhat local distribution. Song, a rather drawl- ing "Zee" repeated from four to six times and a guttural warble seldom heard; alarm, sharp. 2. BREWSTER'S WARBLER, H. LEUCOBRONCHIALIS. Differs from 1 in being without the black throat patch and in having a very narrow line through eye, with the lower parts often tinged with yellow. Female, with the throat white or dusky, but always with a narrow black line through eye, plate 19. Breeds in Mass, (rarely), Conn., N. Y., Penn., N. J., Md., and Ya. Winter range unknown, but has been taken in La. Song, averaging shorter and more quickly given. 3. LAWRENCE'S WARBLER, H. LAWRENC EI. Differs from 1 in having the sides of head and lower parts yellow but the line through eye is narrow as in 2; wing bands, usually white, but sometimes tinged with yellow, plate 20; back, greenish as in 4. 4. BLUE- WINGED WARBLER, H. PINUS. 5.00; green- ish above, yellow below and on top of head; narrow black line through eye; wings, bluish, wing bands white or some- times tinged with yellow, plate 21. Female, duller. Breeds from Conn, west to Mich., but is local in distribution ; winters in Mexico and Central America ; north in May ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; casual in Mass. Song, a wiry, lisping trill. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 24:1) B. "Wing Bands and prominent Tail Spots absent. 5. BACHMAN'S WARBLER, H. BACHMANI . 4.25; olive-green above, yellow beneath and on forehead ; patch on crown and on throat and breast, black ; a little white on out- er tail feathers. Female, much duller, plain gray below, slightly yellow on crown. Breeds in N. C., S. C., and Mo., casually in Ya. and Ark. ; winters in Cuba; north in March ; south in Aug. Rare. 6. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, H. CELATA. 5.00; grayish-olive above ; grayish-yellow beneath ; concealed spot of dull orange on top of head, fig. 326. Female, a little dul- ler. Young, without much orange on crown. Occurs in wood- lands. Song, a low, sweet trill. Breeds from Manitoba north to Alaska, occas- ionally further south ; winters sparingly from S. C. to Key West, more commonly in Mexico ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in April and May. Casual in N. E. 7. NASHVILLE WARBLER, H. RUBRICAPILLA. 4.80; greenish above; yellow below; head, bluish with a part- ly concealed patch of chestnut; a whit- ish eye ring. Female, duller. Young, CC, very dull, no chestnut on crown. Breeds from Conn, and Mass, north to Canada and west to 111. ; winters in Mexico; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in May. Common. Frequents the margins of woodlands. Song, four or five harsh, quite rapidly given notes ("Swe"), followed by four in quite a dif- ferent tone (a kind of a trill "_De"), and ending abruptly, as if unfinished. The song is uttered as the bird perches high in a tree. 8. TENNESSEE WARBLER, H. PEREGRINA. 6.00; back, greenish; head, bluish; beneath, dull white; slight whitish line over eye, fig. 327. Female, somewhat duller, sometimes tinged with greenish beneath. Breeds in northern N. E. 25O WARBLERS. north to Labrador; rare during migration east of the Alle- ghanies and Hudson River Valley ; winters in Central Amer- Fig. 327. ica ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in May. Song, a little like 7, but the first part is more divided and the last part shriller. s. Orang-e Warblers. Protonotaria. Large; bill, large, long, and acute ; wings, long; color, quite uniform. Nest in holes of trees. Ancestral origin, north-western S. CC, H, r, 8. A. 1. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, P. CITREA. 5.40; greater part of head and beneath, rich yellow ; back, orange- green ; rump and wings, bluish ; all but terminal portion of inner webs of all but two central tail feathers, white, plate 22, A 1. Female, duller. Breeds in river bottoms from Fla. to Ya. west to the Mississippi Valley ; winters in northern S. A. ; north in April ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; casual as far north as N. E. and New Brunswick. Song, loud and not un- like the "Peet tweet" of the spotted sandpiper; also gives a flight song which is a low, sweet warble. t. Buffy Warblers. Helmitheros. Plain-colored warblers with stout bills and striped heads. Ground nesting. Sexes, similar. Ancestral origin, northern S. A. 1. WORM-EATING WARBLER, H. VERMIVORUS. 5.35; greenish above; head, and beneath, buffy; stripe on side of crown and behind eye, dull black, plate 22, B. Breeds from S. C. to southern N. Y., west to 111. and Ind. ; casual further north (Mass., N. Y., Mich., etc.); winters in Fla., Bahamas, West Indies, and Mexico; north in April; south in Aug. Frequents low woodlands, nesting on the ground. Song, a feeble trill. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 251 u. Plain Warblers. Helinaia. Bill, longer than in t; colors, plain with no prominent spots or streaks ; nests attached to grass stalks, etc. 1. SWAINSON'S WARBLER, H. SWAINSONII. 5.50; olive above ; yellowish-white beneath ; top of head brownish ; line over eye, buff. Frequents swampy sections. Breeds from Ya. west to Ind. ; south to north-western Fla. and La. ; winters in Jamaica; south in Sep. ; north in April. v. Thicket Warblers. Frutiornis. Bill, rather stout; wings, folding to middle of tail which is slightly rounded; under parts, wholly yellow; head, con- spicuously marked with black (see explanation of plate XXXI in Atlas). 1. KENTUCKY WARBLER, F. FORMOSA. 5.50; green- ish above ; yellow beneath ; portion of top of head and patch on its side, black, fig. 328. Fe- Fig. 328. male, usually a little duller. Breeds in the Mississippi Val- ley north to the Ohio and east to western N. C. ; casual further north and east; winters in Central America ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April. Fre- quents heavy woodlands. Song, loud and clear, not un- like that of the Maryland Yel- low-throat. w. Long-winged Warblers. Oporornis. Large, stout warblers with long wings and large feet; colors, plain. 1. CONNECTICUT WARBLER, O. AGILIS. 5.50; dark olive. green above; yellow below; head, throat, and breast, ashy-gray, more or less mixed with black; eye ring, white, fig. 329. Female, with ashy of head anl breast replaced by CC, H, v, 1. 1-3. 252 WARBLERS. brownish-gray. Breeding range, as far as known, Minn, and Fig. 329. Manitoba, possibly pouthern Wis. ; winter range, unknown; south in Sep. (Mass.) and Oct. (N. J. to the Bahamas). Frequents swampy thickets; has habit of jerking tail. Song, as heard in Mass, in May, a low, sweet warble; alarm, a very sharp note. CC, H, w, 1. 1-3. x. Ashy Warblers. Ciiierosa. Differ from u in having the wings shorter and not as pointed: tail, somewhat rounded. 1. MOURNING WARBLER, C. PHILADELPHIA. 5.00; differs from w, 1 in the absence of the white eye ring and in having more black on breast, fig. 330. Breeds from northern N. E. west to Mich, north Fig. 330. to Canada ; winters in north- western S. A. ; north in May ; south in Aug. and Sep. Frequents thickets on the margins of woodlands but is very rare along the Atlantic coast. Song, loud, clear and pleasing, suggest- ing that of the Water Thrush. y. Yellow-throats. Geothlypis, Wings, short and round- CC, H, X, ! ed, barely reaching base of tail, which is rounded; throat, yellow with a conspicuous mask of black on face. PLATE 21. BLUE-WINGED YELLOW WARBLER. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2253 1. MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT, G. TRICHAS. 5.00; grayish-green above, yellow of lower parts not extending be- yond middle ; mask not extending down on sides of neck in- to a point ; margined behind with whitish. Female, without mask and not as yellow below. Breeds on the Atlantic coast of U. S. from Md. south to Ga. ; casual as far north as R. I. For song and habits, see 1*. 1*. NORTHERN YELLOW-THROAT, G. T. BRACHIDAC- TYI.A. Larger than 1, yellow extending over nearly the whole of lower surface ; mask extending into a point on sides of neck ; darker above, fig. 331. Breeds from Fig. 331. N.- E. west to Mich., north to Canada, south to range of 1 ; winters from the Carolinas southward to the West Indies, casually as far north as Mass. ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in March and April. Common, fre- quents swampy thickets. Song, loud and ringing, " Witch-i-ty" repeated rather slow- ly five or six times ; a warbling song, given while hovering, and a continuous ratch- like sound, emitted occasionally, probably by both sexes; alarm, harsh. 1**. SOUTHERN YELLOW-THROAT, G. T. IGNOTA. Differs from 1* in having the wing rounder, colors darker, deeper yellow below with sides quite brownish. Breeds from southern Va. south to Fla. and along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas ; winters from the Carolinas to Key West. z. Flycatcliiiig" Warblers. Wilsoiiia. Bill, flattened, with bristles at base ; wings, rather short ; 110 wing bands. 1. HOODED WARBLER, W. MITRATA. 5.25; black hood covering head, leaving yellow mask on face; greenish above ; yellow below ; tail with white spots, fig. 332. Female, duller. Breeds in eastern N. A. from southern Conn, to Fla. ; 254: WAKBLERS. winters in Central America ; south in Sep. ; north in April. Frequents high thickets in swampy places, notably the rho- dodendrons. Song, loud and clear, not unlike that of the Louisana Water Thrush; alarm, sharp. Fig. 332. 2. WILSON'S WARBLER, W. PUSILLUS. 5.00; golden- green above; greenish-yellow beneath ; crown, black, fig. 333. Female, with less black on back of head. Breeds from ex- treme northern N. E. north to Labrador; winters in Central America; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Yery active, frequenting 1 o w growths, especially willows. Song, a trill; sometimes a low CC, H, z, 1. warble. 3. CANADIAN WARBLER, W. CANADENSIS. 5.50; bluish above ; yellow beneath ; Fig. 333. spots on crown, space behind eye and necklace of spots on breast, black, fig. 334. Female, duller. Frequents swampy thickets. Song, a disconnected warble of from three to six notes. Breeds from the eleva- ted regions of Mass, south along the mountains to N. C., west to central Minn., north to CC, H, Z, 2. 1-3. Labrador ; winters in north-western S. A. ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. aa. Painted Warblers. Setophag-a. Bill, shorter, flatter, and wider at base than in z, with more bristles ; habits, decidedly flycatcher-like. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 255 1. AMERICAN REDSTART, S. RUTICILLA. 5.40 ; black excepting on abdomen ; six red- Fig. 334. dish-orange patches on sides, wings and tail, plate 21. Female, and young male, with the black replaced by grayish and the spots by yellow. Breeds from N. C. and Ark. north to Hudson Bay, west to Utah; winters in the Bahamas and West Indies ; casually in S. C. ; south in Aug., Sep., and Oct.; north in April. Restless, constant- ly moving and spreading its tail. Song, a sharp, trill-like warble of CC, H, z, 3. 1-3. from four to six notes, given rapidly and ending abruptly. I. ,CHATS. Icteridae. Larger than in H; bill, rather thick, arched; wings, short, rounded; tail, long, rounded. a. Olive and Yellow Chats. Icteria. Greenish above ; yellow below. Sexes, similar. Xests, in bushes. 1. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, I. VIRENS. 7.25 ; spot in front of eye, white ; line in this, extending from bill to eye, black, fig. 335. Breeds from southern N. E. (rarely from Mass.) west to southern Mich, and Wis. south to th e Carolinas ; winters in Central America; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Frequents thickets and low growths; shy and retiring, oftener heard than seen. Habits somewhat wren-like; drops wings and raises tail. Notes, much varied, with whistles, chucklings, trills, and oriole- like scolds ; flight song a series of whistling "Tutes" given as the bird drops downward in jerks with wings thrown up- ward, tail down, and legs dangling. 256 WOOD WAGTAILS. J. WOOD WAGTAILS. Seiuridae. Slender birds with not large bills, long wings and square tails, that are often moved up and down. Nests, on ground. a. Wagtail Thrushes. Seiurus. Colors, nearly uniform above; light beneath, streaked with darker, Sexes, similar. Fig. 335. Fig. 335. CC, I, a, 1. CC, J, a, 1. 1. OVEN BIKD, S. AUROCAPIKLUS. 6.00; pale olive- green above; crown, dull yellowish-orange, margined with black, fig. 336; white beneath, streakings black. Breeds from Va. west to Kan., north to Hudson Bay ; winters from middle Fla. south through the Bahamas to the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Frequents open woodlands. Song, " Techee" five or six times repeated with increasing volume; the "vesper" hovering song, a rapidly given, sweet warble. Walks much on ground, and on the large, lower Mmbs of trees. Abundant. 2. WATEK THRUSH, S. NOVEJBOKACENSIS. 5.90; dark olive-brown above; line over eye and beneath, decidedly greenish, fig. 337. Breeds from northern N. E. west to north- ern 111., north to Hudson Bay; winters in Key West, Baha- DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. !2 mas, West Indies, Central America, and northern S. A. ; south in Aug. and Sep. ; north in April and May. Frequents swampy locations in the vicin- Fig. 337. ity of water, into which it wades like a sandpiper. Song, several loud, clear notes, fol- lowed by a lower, sweet war- ble; alarm > a very sharp chirp. Common. 2*. GRENNELL WATEK THRUSH, S. N. NOTABILIS. Differs from 2 in being larger, CC, J, a, 2. 1-5. more grayish above and less yellow below, sometimes iiearly r or quite, white. Breeds in western N. A. from Minn, north to Alaska; rare in migration in the Atlantic Coast States from N. J. southward; winters in the West Indies and Central America ; migration as in 2. 3. LOUISANA WATER THRUSH, S. MOTACILLA. Dif- Fig. 338. fers from 2 in being a little larger; bill, larger; decidedly 5 white over eye, fig. 338; white | or buffy beneath ; always buffy on flanks and under tail coverts. Song, a more uniform melody than 2, terminating more soft- ly. Breeds from southern N. E. west to southern Minn., south to the Gulf States; win- ters in Central America, Baha- mas, and West Indies; south in Sep.; north in March and CC, J, a, 3. April. K. WAGTAILS AND PIPITS. Motacillidae. Rather small, ground-inhabiting birds with long wings, having elongated tertials, long tails, and slender bills; move tails up and down. Nest on ground; eggs, spotted. WAGTAILS AND PIPITS. a. Wagtails. Motacilla. Tail, quite long ; colors, black, white, and gray, some- times yellow beneath. 1. WHITE WAGTAIL, M. ALBA. 7.00; forehead, sides of neck, beneath, and outer tail feathers, white ; crown, hind neck, and throat, black; back, ashy. Breeds in Europe; ac- cidental in Greenland. b. Pipits. Anthus. Tail, not as long; brown above; whitish below, streaked with brown. 1. AMEBICAN PIPIT, A. PENNSYLVANICUS. 6.50; grayish-olive above, indistinctly streaked with darker; be- neath, cinnamon-buff; streaks on breast and sides, broad and numerous, fig. 339 ; outer tail feathers, nearly white. Breeds Fig. 339. from Newfoundland and mountains of Colorado northward; winters from the Carolinas southward to M e x i c o . Common during migration, espec- ially near the coast ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in May. Frequents open fields and marshes, Call, a low, double note. Flight, CC, K, b, 1. 1-3. and beaches. Gregarious, undulating and erratic. 2. MEADOW PIPIT, A. PKATENSIS. Differs from 1 in being greenish above and below and in being more heavily streaked above. Europe ; accidental in Greenland. 3, SPKAGUE'S PIPIT, A. BPKAGU KIT Smaller than 1 ; bill, shorter; paler beneath with narrow streakings, very few on sides; light edgings to feathers above paler. Breeds on the interior plains of N. A. from eastern Montana north in- to Manitoba; winters in Tex., Mexico, and southern La. ; rare in S. C. Flight song, a clear, harmonious melody, given as the bird hovers high in air. DIRECTOUY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. L. SWALLOWS. Hirundinidae. Singing perchers modified for taking their food on the wing ; bill, small, but with a very wide gape ; wings, long and pointed ; feet, small. Eggs, white, with or without spots. a. Martins. Progne. Large, nearly uniformly colored swallows ; bill and feet, fig. 340, large; tail, somewhat forked. Fig. 340. Fig. 341. CC, L,, a, 1. 1. PURPLE MARTIN, A. SUBIS. 8.25 ; uniform steel- blue with violet iridescence, fig. 341. Female, duller above ; grayish-white beneath. Breeds throughout temperate N. A. ; winters in Mexico and northern S. A. ; south in Sep. ; north in April. Nests in holes of trees and bird boxes ; eggs, un- spotted. Flight, strong but rather heavy. Notes, loud, clear, and melodious. 1*. FLOEIDA MARTIN, P. s. FI.ORIDANA. Differs from 1 in being smaller; male, darker; female, much more grayish beneath, with the white more dull. Breeds in mid- dle and southern Fla. ; north in March. 2. CUBAN MARTIN, P. CRYPTOLEUCA. Differs from 1 in the more deeply forked tail ; male with a broad, but con- 26O SWALLOWS. cealed, band of white crossing lower abdomen ; female, sim- ilar to 1* but with abdomen pure white. Cuba, resident ; ac- cidental in southern Fla. b. Cliff Swallows. Petroclielidon. Smaller; colors not uniform; tail, not forked, fig. 342. Sexes, similar. Fig. 342. Fig. 343. CC, L, b, 1. 1. CLIFF SWALLOW, P. LUNIPRONS. 5.75; above and spot on throat, dark steel-blue; crescent on forehead, and rump, reddish-buff ; throat, chestnut; whitish beneath, fig. 343. Breeds throughout the greater part of N. A. Winters in S. A. ; south in Sep. ; north in April. Nests in communi- ties under eaves of buildings and on rocky cliffs ; eggs, spot- ted. Notes, a musical chatter. Flight, rather heavy. 2. CUBAN CLIFF SWALLOW, P. FULVA. Differs from 1 in having the throat pale reddish-cinnamon, and the rump deep chestnut. Cuba, resident ; accidental on the Fla. Keys. c. Sand Swallows. Riparia. Small swallows, brown above, white beneath; tail, mod- erately forked ; sexes, similar. Tuft of feathers at base of hind toe, fig. 344. 1. BANK SWALLOW, R. RIPARIA. 5.25; mouse-brown above ; white beneath with band of brown crossing breast, fig. 345. Breeds throughout the northern hemisphere ; in N. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. A. from Ga. and northern Mexico, north to the Arctic regions ; winters in S. A. ; south in Sep. ; north in April and May. Common. Xests in communities, in holes of sand banks; eggs, unspotted. Notes, a feeble twitter. Flight, rather weak. Fig. 344. Fig. 345. CC, L, c, 1. d. Rough- winged Swallows. Stelgldopteryx. Rather small swallows, brownish above, white below; tail, moderately forked ; adult males with the barbs of the outer wing feather hooked backward, rig. 346. 1. ROUGH- WINGED SWALLOW, S. SERRIPENNIS. 5.50; brown throughout, excepting middle lower parts, abdomen, and under tail coverts, fig. 347. Breeds in temperate N, A. from Central America north to southern Conn, and British Columbia ; winters in Central America ; south in Sep. ; north in May. Nests' in holes of bridges, buildings, banks, etc., seldom in communities ; eggs, unspotted. Notes, feeble twit- ters. Flight, not very strong. Fig. 346. Fig. 347. CC, L, d, 1. SWALLOWS. e. Tree Swallows. Iridoprocne. Larger swallows, with medium forked tails; bluish above ; white beneath. 1. WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW, I. BICOLOB. 6.00; greenish steel-blue above; white beneath, fig. 348. Female, Fig. 348. usually dull er . Young, grayish- brown above and in a band across breast. Breeds from Ya. and Cal. northward into British America ; win- ters from S. C. through the Gulf States and occasional- CC, L, e, 1. ly further north ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in April. Nests in holes of trees, sometimes excavated by the birds, in bird boxes, or about buildings. Flight, easy and rather graceful. Song, a pleasant twitter. Abundant; gregarious in autumn, congre- gating by thousands on the sea shore, f. Green and White Swallows. Cliallichelidon. Differ from e in having larger bills and longer, more deeply forked tails. 1. BAHAMA SWALLOW, C. OYANEOVIBIDIS. 6.00; velvety-green above with golden iridescence; wing coverts, rump, and tail, steel-blue; white beneath. Female, duller. Kesident on New Providence, Bahamas, and occurs n some other of the Islands ; accidental in Fla. Song, a musical twit- ter. Nests in holes of buildings. g. Long-tailed Swallows. Hirundo. Bill, rather small; tail, long, and forked for more than one third its length. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2(53 1. AMEKICAN BAKN SWALLOW, H. KRYTHROGASTRA. 7.00; dark steel-blue above; forehead, throat, and breast, chestnut; remaining Fig. 349. lower parts, rich brown ; tail, crossed by a band of white spots, fig. 349. Fe- male, duller. Breeds throughout N. A. from the Arctic re- gions to the Gulf and into Mexico, except- ing Fla. ; winters in S. A. ; south in Sep. and Oct.; north in April. Nests inside of buildings, and very rarely beneath their eaves. Somewhat gre- garious. Song, a CC, L, g, 1. pleasing, bubbling melody. Flight, very graceful and easy. M. WAXWIl^GS. Ampelidae. Wings, long, pointed, folding beyond middle of short, square tail, which is sharply tipped with yellow or red ; head, crested; tips of shafts of secondaries (in our species), and sometimes of tail feathers, tipped with a horny, sealingwax- like expansion. Plumage, very smooth and blended. Nests, in trees ; eggs, spotted. a. Waxwings. Ampelis. Characters as above. 1. CEDAR WAXWING, A. CEDORUM. 7.25 ; wood-brown above grading into slate on upper tail coverts ; beneath, black on chin grading into brown on breast, yellow on abdomen, and white on under tail coverts ; black line on forehead through eye ; not over 20 per cent have the red tips to second- AVAXWINGS. aries and not over 1 per cent on tail, fig. 350. Breeds in tem- perate N. A. from Ya. north to Hudson Bay ; in fall and win- tar wandering south to Fla., Bahamas, and some of the West Indies. Gregarious. Flight, strong, steady and direct, with a peculiar flutter of the wings. Note, a rather low, hissing chirp. Fig. 350. Fig. 351. CC, M, a, 1. 1-4. CC, M, a, 2. 1-4. 2. BOHEMIAN WAXWING, A. GAKKULUS. 7.75 ; dif- fers from 1 in being grayer, with no yellow on abdomen ; yel- low or white lines on tips of wing feathers, white tips to spu- rious wing, and chestnut under tail coverts, fig. 351. Breeds in the coniferous forests of Northern Hemisphere; wander- ing south in winter, irregularly, to northern U. S. Notes, similar to those of 1, but louder. N. TAXAGERS. TANAGRIDAE, A large group of thick-billed, rather small singing perch- ersthat are very closely allied to the Sparrows and Finches, in fact, intergrading completely with them, but our species do not have the cutting edge of upper mandible angled, page 8, C ; chiefly tropical and sub-tropical in distribution, a. Tooth-billed Tanagers. Pyranga. Bill, slightly toothed. Nests, placed in trees ; eggs, spot- ted. CO, N, a, 1. 1-4. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 2 1. SCARLET TANAGER, P. ERYTHROMELAS. 7.50; scarlet; wings and tail, black, fig. 352. Female and winter male, scarlet replaced by greenish. Fig. 352. Breeds in eastern U. S. from Ya. north into the southern British Provinces; winters in northern S. A. ; south in Sep. and Oct.^, north in May. Frequents open wood- lands. Flight, swift and direct. Song, loud and distinct "Chip cherry, cherry chip' 1 ' 1 varied some- what, sometimes sweet and pleas- ing but usually marred by a harsh tone which occurs in some of the notes. 2. LOUIS I AX AT AN AGER, P. L.UDOVICIAXA. Differs from 1 in having the neck black, two bands on wing, hind neck, rump, upper tail coverts, and beneath, yellow. Female, differs chiefly in having yellow wing bands. Breeds in western IT. S. ; accidental in N. E., N. Y., and La. ; winters in Mexico. 3. SUMMER TANAGER, P. RUBRA. 7.25 ; dull red throughout ; brownish on wings and tail. Female, yellowish- green, brightest beneath. Breeds in eastern U. S. from south- ern X. J. south to the Gulf States; casual north as far as Nova Scotia; winters in northern S. A. ; soutn in Sep. ; north in April. Frequents the pine barrens and other open wood- lands. Song, loud and clear. O. SHRIKES. Laiiiidae. Singing perchers with hawk-like feeding habits; bill, short, strongly curved, hooked and toothed; wings, short: tail, long. a. Gray Shrikes. Laniiis. Gray; wings and tail, black. Nests, in trees and bushes; eggs, spotted. Food, insects, small mammals, and birds. 266 SHRIKES. 1. NORTHERN" SHRIKE, L. BOBKALIS. 10.00; pale bluish-gray above; white beneath, with narrow, wavy lines (vermiculations) of dusky ; patch on side of head, black ; scap- ularies, patch on wing, tip of secondaries, and all but cen- Fig. 353. CC, O, a, 1. tral tail feathers, white, fig. 353. Young, much obscured above with rusty. Breeds in northern N. A. from Labrador to Alaska ; wandering south in winter, somewhat irregularly, as far south as Ya. and central Cal. Song, a loud, clear and varied melody ; also a harsh cry. Frequents open fields. Flight, swift, direct, but with long, sweeping undulations ; always rises to alight. Sits very upright. 2. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, L. LUDOVICANUS. 9.25 ; differs from 1 ;n being darker above ; black head spots ex- tending over forehead, and in having no dusky markings be- low, excepting in very young specimens, fig. 354. Resident in the coast district of S. C., Ga., and west to La.,' also all of Fla. Song and habits similar to those of 1. 2. NORTHERN LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, L. L. MIGRANS. Differs from 1 in having a smaller bill and shorter tail ; paler above and slightly grayish beneath. Breeds over a greater portion of eastern U. S. from N. C. and eastern Kan. north to the more southern of the British Provinces : south in winter to La. and Tex. Of local distribution. PLATE 22. UPPER FIGURE, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; LOWER FIGURE, WORM-EATING WARBLER. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 267 P. VIREOS. Vireonidae. Small, arboreal birds with large heads, and bills which are strongly curved at tip ; rather deliberate in movement ; food, insects, chiefly caterpillars; Fig. 354. colors, mostly plain ; nests sus- pended from a forked twig of a tree or bush ; eggs, white, usually sparingly spotted. a. Wood Vireos. Vireosylva. Bill, rather prominent; wing bands, absent ; white or pale yel- low beneath. 1. RED-EYED YIREO Y. OLIVACEA. 6.25 ; top of head, gray ; above, grayish-green ; white CC, O, a, 2. 1-6. beneath ; dark line through eye, whitish line over it, bordered above by a black line ; iris, red, fig. 355. Breeds throughout temperate N. A. from Fla. into the British Provinces; winters in northern S. A. ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in April and May. Frequents woodlands. Song, monotonous repititions of syllables; "Hear me, see me, hear it, heed it; sweer William, sweer it, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet" (quickly given but not always following the other por- tion) at the rate of 36 or more in a minute; also the common vireo scold. Very common. 2. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO, Y. BARBATULA. Lar- ger than 1 ; bill, longer ; grayer above ; dark lines on head not as clear; a slight maxillary line of dusky. Breeds in the Ba- hamas and southern Fla ; winters in the West Indies ; north in April. Song, '''Whip torn kelley (a decided accent on the CC, P, a, 1. 268 VIREOS. 3. PHILADELPHIA YIREO, Y. PHILADELPHIA. 5.00; grayer than 1 on back ; lines on head distinct ; strongly tinged with yellow beneath. Breeds from northern N. E. northward into the British Provinces ; winters in Central America; south in Sep. and Oct.; north in May. Yery rare east of the Connecticut River and Alleghanies Song, simi- lar to 1. 4. WARBLING YIREO, Y. GILVA, 5.40; the grayest of our vireos, there being but little difference between the Fig. 356. color of head and back ; no black on sides of head, but there is a slight whitish line over eye ; white beneath slightly tinged with yellow, fig. 356 ; iris, brown. Breeds in eastern N. A. from Fla. north into the British Prov- CC, P, a, 4. inces ; winters in Mexico ; south in Sep. ; north in April. Frequents open groves or or- namental trees in streets. Song, a continuous warble con- sisting of about six notes uttered at rather wide intervals. b. Banded Vireos. Laiiivireo. Bill, somewhat stouter than in a, wing bands, present, white; more or less yellow be- neath. 1. YELLOW- THROATED YIREO, L. FLAVIFEONS. 6.00 ; greenish above and on sides of head; line over eye, throat, and breast, Fig. 357. CC, P, b, 1. lemon-yellow; remaining under parts, white, fig. 357. Breeds in eastern N. A. from northern Fla. north to the British DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 269 Provinces; winters in Colombia, S. A.; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in May. Frequents the margins of woodlands, orchards, and open groves. Song, "Do you hear me; do you see me; here I am" given with emphatic energy, slightly harsh repeated about 8 or 10 times a minute. Nest, covered with lichens. 2. SOLITARY VIEEO, L. SOLITARIUS. 5.50; top of head, deep slate-gray; back, dark olive-green ; ring round eye and line to bill, white ; beneath, white ; sides tinged with yel- low and greenish ; wing bands Fig. 358. and under tail coverts, tinged with yellow, fig. 358. Breeds locally in southern N. E. north commonly from northern N. E. into the British Provinces; winters in the Gulf States south into Central America. Song, shorter and lower than in 1, and given with less ener- gy, without the harsh intona- tion. Frequents woodlands. CC, P, b, 2. 3. MOUNTAIN YIREO, L. ALTICOLA. Differs from 2 in being larger, darker, with more gray on back. Breeds in the southern Alleghanies from Md. to N. C. ; winters in the lowlands of the eastern Gulf and south Atlantic States. 4. PLUMBEOUS YIREO, L. PLUMBEUS. Differs from 3 in having back wholly gray, and less yellow beneath. Rocky Mountains of U. S. and mountains of Mexico ; accidental in N. Y. c. Little Vireos. Vireo. Small vireos, often greenish above with much yellow about head ; wing bands, present. 1. WHITE-EYED YIREO, Y. NOVEBORACENSIS. 5.25; greenish-olive above; white beneath much tinged with yel- low on sides ; line from bill over eye, eye ring, and wing bands, sulphur yellow ; iris, white, fig. 359. Breeds in east- 270 VIREOS. ern U. S. from northern Fla. and Tex. north to Mass, and southern Wis. ; winters from S. C. to Central America ; south Fig. 359. CC, P, c. 1. in Sep. ; north in May. Fre- quents swamps, rather local. Song, varied detached notes, given emphatically, "I-will give-youa-lick" i s an ex- ample ; sometimes these detached notes run together as a low, continuous song. 1*. KEY WEST YIREO, Y. N. MAYNARDI. Differs from 1 in being larger, and much grayer above and on sides of head, fig. 360. Breeds from middle Fla. south to Key West. 2. BELL'S YIREO, Y. BELLII. 4.75 ; head, grayish, brown; back, dull olive- Fig. 360. green; line over eye, ring around it, wing bands, and beneath, dull white ; breast, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts, tinged wit.h yellowish. Breeds in the prairie districts of the Miss- issippi Yalley from south- ern Minn, to northern 111. south to eastern Texas ; win- ters in Mexico; accidental in Mass. Q. MOCKING BIROS AND THRASHERS. Mimidae. Large birds with short wings, and long tails which are not banded ; bills, slender. Sexes, similar. a. Mockingbirds. Mimus. Upper mandible of rather short bill, curved; tail, much rounded ; colors, dark above, white beneath ; prominent wing patch and tail spots. Nests, in trees and bushes ; eggs, spot- ted. CC, P, c, 1*. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 271 1. MOCKINGBIRD, M. POLYGLOTTUS. 10.00; dark, ashy-gray above ; dull-white beneath ; patch at base of prim- aries, and large portion of outer primaries, white ; iris, yel- Fig. 301. lowish-white, fig. 361. Fig. 363. Resident from Mexi- co north to Md. and Colo., casually to Mass. Frequents thickets. Song, loud, clear, and varied, of- ten mimicking the songs of other birds. b. Catbirds. Galeo coptes. Bill, shorter than a; tail, less rounded; colors, more uniform ; no white on tail or wings. Nests, in CC, Q, a, 1. bushes; eggs, blue, CC, Q, c, 1. 1-5. unspotted. 1-6. 1. CATBIRD, O. CAROLINENSIS. 9.00; dark plumbeous; lighter beneath; top of head and tail, black; under tail cov- erts, chestnut. Breeds in eastern U. S. from the Gulf States north into the British Provinces west to the Rockies; winters in the Southern States, casually north to Mass. ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in April and May. Frequents thickets, often near dwellings. Song, rich and varied, sometimes mi- micking other birds; notes rather deliberately given. 1*. KEY WEST CATBIRD, G. c. GRISIFRONS. Smaller than 1; bill, more slender; darker, but with forehead gray- ish, fig. 362, page 272. Key West. c. Thrashers. Toxostonia. Larger than b; bill, longer; somewhat curved tail much rounded. Nests, on or near the ground ; eggs, spotted. 272 Fig. 362. CC, Q, b, 1* Fig. 377. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1573 1. BROWN THRASHER, T. RUFUM. 11.50; bright red- l>rown above ; wing bands and beneath, bufTy-white ; streaked on sides of neck, breast, and sides, with brown, fig. 363. Breeds throughout eastern IT. S. from the Carolinas south- ward ; south in Oct. ; north in April and May. Frequents dry thickets; song, loud and varied, each note being repeated once or twice. When singing is usually perched in some elevated situation. R. WREXS. Troglodytidae. Small birds with slender bills ; brown above, white below ; usually banded on wings or tail ; often keep tail erect. a. Mocking Wrens. Thryothorus. Rather large wrens with quite long curved bills and grad- uated tails. Nests, in cavities of logs, stumps, etc. 1. CAROLINA WREN, T. LUDOVICIANUS. 5.25;rusty- l>rown above; line from bill Fig. 364. over eye down neck, buffy- Avhite; narrow line over this, olack; buffy beneath, nearly ^white on throat ; no bands on flanks, fig. 364. Breeds from northern Fla. north to south- ern N. E. rarely to Mass., west to middle Kan. ; winters from the Carolinas southward. Fre- quents low thickets. Song, loud, clear and varied; often mimics other birds. 1*. FLORIDA WREN, T. L. MIAMENSIS. Differs from 1 in being larger and much darker; rich chestnut above, tawny-ochraceous below, excepting throat. Peninsula of Fla! b. L,Qngvtailed Wrens. TLryomanes. Bill, slender; wings and tail, rather long; in our species, bandings and tippings on tail. CC, K, a, 1. 274 1. BEWICK'S WREN, T. BEWICKII. 5.50; plain brown above ; line over eye and beneath, dull white ; wings, tail, and Fig. 365. under tail coverts, barred with dusky; whitish band- ings on tail, conspicuous, fig. 365. Breeds in eastern U. S. from N. J. west to southern Minn., south to northern Fla. and Tex ; win- ters in southern portion of range; south in Sep. ; north in May; accidental in N. H. CC, R, b, 1. Frequents open sections. Nests in holes about buildings. Song, a continuous bubbling melody. c. *House Wrens. Troglodytes. Small wrens ; bill, rather stout; wings and tails, short; both banded with dusky. 1. HOUSE WREN, T, AEDON. 5.00; dark reddish- brown above and on sides ; dull white beneath tinged with brownish ; flanks barred with dus- Fig. 306. ky, fig. 366. Breeds throughout eastern U. S. north into Canada; winters from the Carolinas through the Gulf States; common but locally distributed in N. E. ; south in Sep. and Oct. : north in May. Frequents orchards. Nests in holes of trees and about build- ings. Song, acontinuous bub- bling melody. In autumn and winter, seeks the shelter of brush heaps and thickets. 1*. WESTERN HOUSE WREN, T. A. PAKKMANII. Dif- fers from 1 in being much paler with back usually barred with dusky. Breeds throughout western U. S. and Canada, east to 111 ; winters in Mexico. CC, R, C, 1. 1-4. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTEKJN NORTH AMERICA. 275 d. Little Wrens. Olbiorchilus. Small wrens with rather short wings and tails ; dark, much banded below with dusky. 1. WINTER WREN, O. HIEMALIS. 4.10; dark reddish- brown above; pale brownish beneath sprinkled on fore parts and banded behind with dusky. Upper wing coverts and sides of neck, spotted with white, fig. Fig. 367. 367. Breeds in northern portion of eastern U. S. and Canada from northern N. E. west to Mich, rarely south to Mass, and along the AlleghaniestoN. C. ; win- ters from southern N. E. rarely further north, to northern Fla. and along the Gulf coast to Tex. ; south in Sep. and Oct.; north in April. Frequents dense thickets along walls and fences, remain- CC, R, d, 1. 368. ing much in concealment. Song, an ex- quisite, but quickly given, melody. e. Marsh Wrens. Telmatodytes. Small wrens with long, slender bills, short, rounded wings and tails ; streaked with white on back. Nests, globular, en- trance on side ; eggs, brown. 1. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN, T. PALUSTRIS. 5.25 ; dark-brown on head and back, reddish-brown elsewhere; streaks on back, line over eye and beneath, white, tinged with reddish on sides and flanks; tail barred with dusky, wings with whitish, fig. 368. Breeds chiefly east of the Alle- ghanies from Ya. and Md. north to western N. Y. and Mass. ; winters south to the Car- o.inas; south in Sep. and Oct.; north in CC, R, e, 1. 1-3. May. Frequents very wet marshes. Nests, 276 WRENS. attached to reeds, grass steins and bushes. Song, often giv- en in flight, a bubbling melody, rising and falling, sometimes, connected with trilling notes. Flight, weak and fluttering.. Local in distribution. 1*. MARIAN'S MARSH WREN, T. p. MABIANAE. Dif- fers from 1 in being smaller and much darker and more heav- ily banded. Breeds on the coasts of the Carolinas ; winters, in western Fla. 1**. LOUISANA MARSH WREN, T. p. THRYOPHILUS. Differs from 1* in being smaller and paler; crown with med- ian stripe, often wide, upper tail coverts often unbarred. Coast of La. and Tex. 1***. WORTHINGTON'S MARSH WREN, T. p. GRIS- ETJS. Differs from 1* in being much paler and grayer with black of upper parts not as extended ; top of head and back,, olive; white streakings, few. South Atlantic coast from southern S. C. to northern Fla. f , Meadow Wrens. Cistothorus. Very small wrens ; bills, short and slender , head and back streaked with white. Nests, in sedges, globular ; eggs, white. 1. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN, C. STELLARIS. 4.25; dark-brown above streaked on head and back with whitish ,. Fig. 369. banded elsewhere with buff; white be- neath tinged with buff on breast and sides, fig. 369. Breeds in eastern N. A. from southern N. H. and Manitoba south to the Gulf coast; winters in the Gulf States ; south in Sep. ; north in May. Frequents sedgy, not very wet, marshes, in summer, dry savannas in winter. Song, an oft-repeated tinkle somewhat CC, R, f, 1. like the sound produced by a light ham- mer striking an anvil with a sharp blow then rebounding three or four times; never given on the wing; more often heard during cloudy weather or by night. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 277 S. CREEPERS. Certltiidae. Small, slender-billed birds with broad, long wings, large, strong feet fitted for creeping about trees. a. Tree Creepers. Certhia. Bill, long and strongly curved; tail, long, with pointed, stiffened feathers. Nests, behind strips of loosened bark; eggs, spotted. 1. BROWN CREEPER, C. AMERICANA. 5.50; brown above streaked with white ; rump, rusty ; dull, silky-white be- neath, fig. 370. Breeds in Fig. 370. eastern N. A. from Mass, north into the British Pro- vinces, also south along the higher mountains to N. C. ; south in winter to northern Fla. ; s o u t h in Oct. ; north in April. Frequents open woodlands, groves, and or- namental trees everywhere. Creeps spirally up trees then drops to the base of ei- ther the same tree or anoth- er to reascend. Usual note, a thin, sharp lisp; also a crack- ling cry and a rather unusual silvery, tinkling song. T. NUTHATCHES. Sittidae. Small birds with straight bills, long wings, short tails and large feet; fitted for climbing trees ; descend head down- ward. Nests, in cavities usually excavated by the birds; ggs, white spotted. a. Nuthatches. Sitta. Characters as above. 1. WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH, S. CAROLINENSIS. 6.00; bluish-gray above; top of head and hind neck, black; beneath, white; chestnut on under tail coverts; excepting CC, S, a, 1. A 278 NUTHATCHES. central feathers, tail black with a band of white, fig. 371. Fig. 371. Female, with black of head obscured by bluish. Breeds throughout east- ern U. S. into the British Provinces, south into the Carolinas, west to the eastern margin of the Great Plains ; chiefly res- ident. Frequents alike woodlands, orchards and ornamental trees. Ordi- nary call, a harsh "Cac/i" also an interrupted series of calls given in a rather CC, T, a, 1. minor tone, suggesting the familiar call of the Flicker. Common. 1*. FLOKIDA WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH, S. c. ATKINSI. Differs from 1 in being smaller, a little darker, more grayish-white beneath, with flanks tinged with gray- ish. Female, with head black, or nearly so. Fla. west along the Gulf coast to Miss., north to the coast region of N. C. where it intergrades with 1. Has a singular low, warbling song given usually while flying restlessly about. 2. KED-BELLIED NUTHATCH, S. CANADENSIS. 4.50; differs from 1 in color in having a black line through eye broadening out behind it ; hind neck like back, strongly tinged with reddish beneath, fig. 372. Female has the head line bluish and is lighter below. Breeds in the forests of northern N. A. from Mass, to Labrador south along the high- er Alleghanies to N. C. south in winter from Mass, to the ex- treme southern states; south in Aug., Sep.> and Oct. ; north in April. Notes, a little sharper than 1, and more deliberate when breeding. Found nearly everywhere, but most com- monly in woodlands. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 279 3. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, S. PTJSILLA. 4.00; dark-bluish above; crown and hind neck, brown; spot on nape, white; beneath, dull Fig. 372. white; tail, save central feathers, black, with an in- distinct band of white. Res- ident in the coast pine belt from southern Del. to Tex. ; casually north to N. Y., Mich., etc.; Great Bahama Island. Note, a harsh, sol- emnly given "Cac/i" often repeated. Gregarious. Fig. 373. U. WARBLERS. Sylviidae. Our species are small birds with long wings, short deep- ly notched tails ; bills, small with nostrils concealed, a. Kinglets. Regulus. Very small ; crown with a bright spot ; wing, with a sin- gle band of white in a dark area. Nests, in trees, globular; eggs, spotted. 1. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, R. SATRAPA. 3.50; grayish-green above ; dull white beneath ; top of head, or- CC, T, a, 2 Fig. 373. CC, T, a, 3. 1-4. ange, with a yellow and black line on either side, fig. 374. Female, with the or- ange crown spot. Breeds from northern N. E., northern N. Y., and northern Mich, north to Labrador, rarely south to Mass, and regularly along the Alleghanies to N. C. ; winters from Mass, to northern Fla. ; south in Oct. ; north in April. Song, a rather feeble lisping trill; alarm and call, a feeble lisp. Found everywhere, most commonly in evergreen woodlands. 28O WARBLERS. 2. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, R. CALENDULA. Dif- fers from 1 in having a partly concealed spot of ruby-red on Fig. 374. crown with no other markings, although the female sometimes has this it is usually absent. Breeding range in the east similar to 1, but win- ters further south, to southern Fla. and Mexi- co ; rarely north to Mass. ; north in April ; south in Sep. and Oct. Song, be- gins with a few lisping notes, runs into a clear, high warble, ending with some notes with a rising inflection. Occurs mostly in woodlands. Fig. 375. V. GNATCATCHERS. Polioptilidae. Very small with short, rounded wings, long tails, round- ed and white marked ; bills, long, somewhat flattened ; hab- its, flycatcher-like. Fig. 375. a. Gnatcatcliers. Polioptila. Characters as above. 1. BLUE-GRAY GNAT- CATCHER, P. CAERULA. 4.75 ; bluish-gray above; bluish- white beneath ; U-shaped line on forehead extending back on sides of head, black ; nearly CC, U, a, 2. 1-3. whole of outer and terminal spot on two next tail feathers, white, fig. 376. Female, without black on forehead. Breeds from N. J. west to southern Mich, south to the Gulf States; CC, U, a, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. accidental in K. E. and Minn. ; winters in the Gulf States, Bahamas, and West Indies. Common. Nests Fig. 376. in trees, hung from fork of limb ; lichen-cov- ered ; eggs, spotted. Call note "See see" lisp- ingly given ; song, a low, tinkling, silvery war- ble. Very restless and active. W. THRUSHES. Turdidae. Fig. 378. Medium to large Singing Perchers, well proportioned, for among them we find the ideal bird form, as well as the power of song developed to the highest degree ; widely dis- tributed throughQut the temperate and trop- ical regions of the globe. CC, V, a, 1. a. Spotted Thrushes. Hylocichla. 1-4. Medium-sized thrushes; wings, folding to middle of tail or a little beyond; bill, short; adults, spotted beneath; sex- es, similar. Eggs, blue. 1. WOOD THRUSH, H. MUSTELINUS. 8,25; above reddish-brown, de- cidedly brighter on head; white beneath marked nearly every- where with spots of dark- brown, fig. 377 page 272. Breeds in eastern U. S. from Ya. and Kan, north to C a n a d a ; winters in Central America; south in Sep. ; north in May. CC, W, a, 2. Common, frequenting wooded glens. Song, loud, clear, and bell-like; "Tru-ral lu tru-ral lee" are the louder notes with other lower variations ; a rather harsh, stammering alarm. Nests, in trees; eggs, unspotted. 282 THRUSHES. 2. HERMIT THRUSH, H. TALLASII. 7.00 ; tawny above, decidedly reddish on tail ; white beneath, tinged with creamy on breast; spots, triangular, not extending on sides; eye ring, creamy, fig. 378. Breeds in eastern IS". A. from Mass. (Barnstable, Plymouth, Worcester Counties, westward, and irregularly elsewhere), northern Alleghanies, and northern Mich, northward; winters from Northern States southward; north in April ; south in Oct. Song, the finest of all our birds ; there are four strains ; 1, "O/i twee ttvee twee" clear and high ; 2, "E twter twter twter" lower but pure; 3, "Oh phera phera phera" lower in tone, almost pathetic in terminal note, all prolonged ; 4, "J che te wete" softly given, often almost in a whisper ; method of giving song very varied ; all of the four Fig. 379. CC, W, a, 3. strains are seldom given successively, and while 1 i-s almost always given first, this may be followed by any of the others, from 2 to 4, thus the song may consist of from two (very rarely) to four strains, but I have never heard any note giv- en in advance of one which should follow it; thus the com- binations of notes are limited to seven, all of which I have beard given by a single bird on my own place in Barnstable; DIRECTORY TO BIKDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 283 alarm, a whistling "Cluck." Frequents woodlands. Nests on ground ; eggs, unspotted. 3. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH, H. SWAINSONII. 7.00; uniform olive above ; eye ring, sides of head, and breast, red- dish-buff ; spots beneath, broadly triangular, fig. 379. Breeds in eastern N. A. from the mountains of Penn. and N. Y., and northern X. E., northward; winters in S. A. ; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in April and May. Song, differs from 2 in being lower in scale; alarm like 2. Frequents heavy wood- lands. Nests in low trees or bushes; eggs, spotted. 4. GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, H. ALICIAE. Differs from 3 in having the eye ring and sides of head grayish-white Fig. 380. and the breast with little or no tingeing of buff. Breeds in east- ern N. A. chiefly north of the U. S. ; winters in Central America; south in Sep. and Oct. ; north in May. Common, frequenting wood- lands and copses. Song, as heard here in West Newton, al- .most exactly like that of 5, but rather lower. 4*. BICKNELL'S THRUSH, H. A. BICKNELLI. Differs from 4 in being smaller. Breeds on the mountains of the northeastern States and Nova Scotia. Migration as in 4. Song (as heard in West Newton, Mass.), begins with two or three notes similar to those of 1, and terminates like 4. 5. WILSON'S THRUSH, H. FUSCESCENS. 7.00; reddifch- tawny throughout above ; white beneath ; eye ring, sides of head and breast, pale buff ; spots confined to upper breast and very pale reddish-brown, fig. 380. Breeds from northern N. J. 284 THRUSHES. west to northern Minn, north into the British Possessions ; winters chiefly south of the U. S. Common, frequenting moist thickets. Song, a series of fife-like notes, beginning softly, gradually decreasing in volume, and ending imper- ceptibly ; the exact tone and effect produced by it are indes- cribably weird; alarm, a whistled "PAew." Nests on the ground; eggs, unspotted. 5. NEWFOUNDLAND THRUSH, H. F. FULIGINOSA. Differs from 5 in being paler above and more indistinctly spotted below. Breeds in Newfoundland. b. Thrushes. Turdus. Larger than a; wings, longer; white line over eye. 1. RED-WINGED THRUSH, T. ILIACUS. 8.50 Brown- ish above ; line over eye, stripe on sides of throat, and mid- dle portions below, white; sides and flanks, reddish; breast, streaked with dusky. Northern Europe and Asia ; accidental in Greenland. Fig. 381. CC, W, c, 1. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 285 c. Unspotted Thrushes. Planesticus. Larger ; wings, not extending beyond tail ; not spotted below in adults. 1. AMERICAN ROBIN, P. MIGRATORIA. 10.00; ashy- gray above; top of head, black; golden-brown beneath; throat, white, streaked with black; bill, yellow, fig. 381. Fe- male, duller. Young, spotted with dusky above and below. Breeds in eastern N. A. from the Atlantic to the ffockies, north of N. C. ; winters from Canada southward to the Gulf States ; south in Oct. and Nov. ; north in March and April. Found everywhere. Song, loud and hurriedly given ; varia- ble, but a usual form is, "Chip cherry chip" with other notes ; a single sharp whistle of inquiry ; the young, when nearly fledged, give a practicing song, similar to the adult, uttered with closed bill, and thus low and muffled. Nests in trees and bushes, sometimes within buildings or about them ; eggs, unspotted. d. Western Thrushes. Hesperocichla. Differ from b in having proportionately larger feet, and black markings below, and varied wings. 1. VARIED THRUSH, H. NAEVIA. Differs from a, 1 in having top of head like back ; throat, unstreaked and with under parts, wing bands, other wing markings, and line over and behind eye, brownish yellow ; band across breast and patch on side of head, black. Breeds on the Pacific coast of N. A. ; accidental in N. J., N. Y., and Mass. X. STONE CHATS AND BLUEBIRDS. Saxicolidae. Smaller than W, with longer wings, always folding be- yond middle of tail. In our species, nests, usually in holes; eggs, blue, unspotted. a. Stone Chats. Saxicola. No bright colors ; base of tail, white ; no spots in adults. 286 STONE CHATS AND BLUEBIRDS. 1. GKEENLAND WHEATEAR, S. LEUCORHOA. 6.50; ash-gray above,* terminal third of tail, black, remainder with tail coverts, forehead, line over eye, and lower parts behind, white, otherwise plain buff below; patch on side of head, black; in winter, strongly tinged with cinnamon. Breeds in Iceland, Greenland and Labrador, straggling south to Nova Scotia, Me., N. Y., and Bermuda; accidental in La. ; winters in northern Africa, Labrador birds reaching their winter quarters via Greenland and the British Isles. b. Bluebirds. Sialia. Prevailing color above, bright blue, unspotted in adults ; no white on tail. 1. BLUEBIRD, S. SIALIS. 7.00; cobalt-blue above; Fig. 382. throat, breast, and sides deep cinnamon ; remaining under parts, white", fig. 382. Female, much duller. Young, reddish above, spotted with white ; wholly white beneath, streaked with reddish-brown. Breeds from Ga. north to the British Provinces, west to the CC, X, b, 1. 1-4. Rockies ; winters from the Middle States to the Gulf; south in Oct. and Nov. ; north in Feb. and March. Common, frequenting 'the open country. Call song, of three notes, often repeated, "Cheer- i-ly" given by both sexes and the young; song, by the male, a low, sweet warble, uttered sometimes in flight or when perched with fluttering wings. Catches insects on the ground but flies to perch to eat them. Flight, rather indirect and wabbling. DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 287 1*. FLORIDA BLUEBIRD, S. s. GRATA. Differs from 1 in having larger bill and feet and in being considerably deeper in color, a more purple-blue above and a deeper, rich- er cinnamon beneath. Resident in Fla. EXTIIVOT SJPJE2OIESS. The following species have been described by authors, as inhabiting our section, but have not been taken recently anywhere. Not included in key. GREAT AUK, ALCA IMPENNIS. Form of Razor-bill. Above, black, with large spot in front of eye, and beneath, white. Length, 30.00; wing, 5.50. Formerly abundant on our coast, but last seen over sixty-six years ago. LABRADOR DUCK, CAMPOTOLEMUS I.ABRADORIUS. 22.00 ; white, tinged with ashy ; top of head, ring around neck, and middle back, and beneath, black. Former range, from N. J. northward. Has not been seen alive since the early 70s. TOWNSEND'S BUNTING, EUSPIZA TOWNSENDI. Simi- lar to the Black-throated, but with throat white. One spec- imen obtained, May 11, 1833, near New Garden, Pa. None have been seen since. CARBONATED WARBLER, PERISSOGLOSSA CARBON- ATA. Differs from the Cape May Warbler in having yellow wing bands, no chestuut on cheeks nor white on tail. Known only from Audubon's description and colored plate of a spec- imen obtained at Henderson, Ky. in May, 1811. BLUE MOUNTAIN WARBLER> DENDROECA MONTANA. Greenish above and yellow beneath, streaked on breast and sides with dusky ; tail and wings, black. One specimen ob- tained by Wilson in the Blue Mountains, Ya. years ago. SMALL-HEADED FLYCATCHER, WILSONIA MINUTUS. Greenish above, and pale yellow beneath, with wings band- ed, and outer tail feathers patched, with white. Found by 288 EXTINCT SPECIES. Audubon and others, in the Middle States. There are no specimens of either this or the above now in existence. CINCINNATI WAKBLER, HELMINTHOPHILA CINCIN- NATIENSIS. Greenish above ; yellow beneath ; patch before eye and on ear, and line on sides of crown, black. Length, 4.75 ; wing, 2.50; tail, 1.85; A single specimen obtained by de- scriber, F. W. Langdon, at Madisonville, Ohio, May 1, 1880. BLACK AND YELLOW WAKBLEK. KEY. 289 KEY TO ORDERS. I. WATER BIRDS. a, bill, pointed. 1, dive from water. U, dive from air. 3, dive from water and perch. 4, do not dive. 1, head, carried over body, neck thin; A, p. 11. 1, head, carried over body, neck, thick; C, A, p. 16. 1, head, carried in advance of body; B, p. 14. 1, large, white; E, B, p. 29. 2, smaller; F, C, p. 48. 3, neck, very long; E, p. 34. 4, central tail feathers, very long; E, A, p. 27. b, bill, hooked. 1, dive from water. 2, dive from air. 3, drop into water. 4, do not dive. 1, bill, slender; N, A, p. 120. 2, dark; E, D, p. 32. 3, large; E, C, p. 30. 4, swoop down for food; F, A, p. 27. 4, fly high over surface of water- tail, forked, E, F, p. 35. 4, ocean birds, fly close over surface; D, p. 21. C, bill, compressed. 1, bill, black; C, A, a, p. 16. 2, bill, red; C, A, e, p. 20. d, bill, conical. 1, small; C, A, d, p. 19. e, bills, flattened, toothed. 1, N, excepting A, p. 120. 29O KEY. II. WADING BIRDS. a, bill, not sharply pointed. 1, legs and neck, very long; bill, bent downward ; O, p. 144. 2, wings, long and pointed; flight, swift; G, p. 59. 3, wings, shorter; flight, slow with dangling legs; M, p. 113. b, bill, not strongly curved ; size, large. 1, head and neck, naked; J, p. 110. 2, top of head only naked; K, p. 111. 3, head, feathered; L, p. 112. c, bill, sharply pointed. 1, neck, bent in flight; I, p. 100. d, bill, spoon-shaped or strongly curved. 1, neck, held straight in flight; H, p. 98. III. LAND BIRDS. a, bill, short and thick ; feet, fitted for running. 1, flight, sudden, swift, and noisy; P, p. 145. b, bill, weak. 1, wings, long ; flight, swift and prolonged ; Q, p. 150. c, bill, strongly hooked. *, diurnal. 1, head, without feathers ; R, p. 154. 2, head, feathered ; colors, not bright ; S, p. 155. 3, head, nearly feathered ; colors, bright ; T, p. 169. **, nocturnal. 1, plumage, long and fluffy; U, p. 169. d, bill, somewhat curved. 1, tail, long, rounded; V, p. 174. , bill, chisel-shaped. 1, tail, stiff; tree climbers; W, p. 176. f, wings, long; plumage, soft. 1, eyes, large* partly or wholly nocturnal ; X, p. 181. KEY. 291 g, bill, small; wings, long. 1, inhabit chimneys; flight, swift; Y, p. 184. h, size, very small; bill, long, slender. 1, much about flowers ; Z, p. 184. i, bill, long, pointed; wings, long. 1, head, crested ; food, chiefly fishes; AA, p. 185. j, small birds with flattened bills; songless. 1, food, insects, caught in flight; BB, p. 186. k, singing birds ; never large. 1, colors, varied; CC, p. 192. KEY TO FAMILIES. A, p. 11. 1, bill, slender; B, p. 12. 2. bill, thick; B, p. 13. B, p. 14. 1, bill, pointed; p. 14. C, p. 16. 1, neck, short; bill, compressed; black; A, a, p. 16. 2, neck, short; bill, compressed; red; C, e, p. 20. 3, bill, pointed; white beneath; C, b, p. 17. 4, bill, pointed; black or mottled beneath; C, c, p. 18. 5, small; bill, conical; C, d, p. 19. D, ocean birds; p. 21. 1, very large; wings, long and narrow; A, p. 22. 2, size, variable; fly near the surface of water; A, p. 22, E, p. 27. a, bill, pointed. 1, central tail feathers, greatly elongated ; A, p. 27. 2, tail pointed ; large ; B, p. 29. 3, tail and neck, long; E, p. 34. 292 KEY. b, bill, hooked. 1, very large; bill, long with prominent pouch; C, p. 30. 2, smaller; uniformly dark; D, p. 32. 3, tail, deeply forked; F, p. 35. F, p. 37. a, bill, hooked. 1, middle tail feathers, projecting; A, p. 37. 2, tail, square, rarely forked; B, p. 39. b, bill, pointed. 1, dive from wing, C, p. 48. 2, bill, compressed; under mandible, projecting; D, p. 58. G, p. 59. 1, habits, duck-like; small; A, p. 59. 2, legs, very long; B, p. 62. 3, wings, short; bill, very long; B, p. 62. 4, wings, long; flight, swift; D, p. 68. H, p. 98. 1, bill, curved; B, p. 99. I, p. 100. 1, no plumes on head or body ; A, p. 101. 2, plumes on head or body or on both; B, p. 103. J, p. 110. 1, bill, curved; A, p. 110. K, p. 111. 1, bill, straight: A, p. 111. L, p. 112. KEY. 293 K, p. 120. 1, bill, slender, not flattened; A, p. 120. 2, bill, flattened, widened at tip : B, p. 123. 3, bill, not noticeably widened at tip; C, p. 130. 4, size, small; tail, stiffened; D, p. 139. 5, larger; neck, nearly as long as head; E, p. 140. 6, very large; neck, longer than body; F, p. 143. O, p. 144. 1, scarlet; A, p. 145. P, p. 145. 1, small; A, p. 145. 2, larger; B, p. 146. Q, p. 150. 1, bill, slender; A, p. 150. E, p. 154. 1, head, destitute of feathers; A, p. 154. K, p. 155. 1, wings, pointed; A, p. 156. 2, wings, short, rounded; B, p. 162. 3, wings, longer, slightly rounded; sail much; D, p. 163. 4, very large; tarsi feathered; E, p. 166. 5, very large; tarsus naked; F, p. 167. 6, wings, very long; G, p. 167. 7, legs, long; face without feathers ; H, p. 168. T, p. 169. 1, tail, long, pointed; A, p. 169. U, p. 169. 1, color, pale ; white beneath ; A, p. 170. 2, darker : with ear tufts, if absent, banded or small and streaked: B, p. 170. 3, legs, long, nearly naked; C, p. 174. Y, p. 174. 1, black; bill, compressed; A, p. 174. 2, white beneath ; bill, curved; B, p. 175. W, p. 176. 1, climbing habits ; A, p. 176. 294: KEY. X, p. 181. 1, partly or wholly nocturnal ; A, p. 182. Y, p. 184. 1, tail spiny; A, p. 184. Z, p. 184. 1, green above; A, p. 185. AA, p. 186. 1, belted beneath ; A, p. 186. BB, p. 186. 1, colors, plain; A, p. 186. CC, p. 192. 1, wings, long; colors, dull; bill, not thickened; A, p. 192. 2, larger; wings, short; colors, bright; B, p. 194. 3, smaller; plumage, long, fluffy; B* , p. 196. 4, larger; black; C, p. 197. 5, smaller; streaked with white ; D, p. 198. 6, bright colored, brightly iridescent with long tail, black with red wing patch, plain black, white above, or with brown head; E, p. 198. 7, bill, deeper at base than one half its length ; F, p. 207. 8, small; rump, yellow; bill, strongly curved; G, p. 234. 9, small, about 5.00 long; yellow beneath or in patches, with black markings or streakings of reddish, darker above, or if no yellow, black and white or bluish and and white, with occasionally chestnut markings ; H, p. 234. 10, larger; wholly yellow beneath; I, p. 255. 11, greenish or olive above; streaked below; no-yellow; J, p. 256. 12, tail, longer; tertiaries, long; K, p. 257. 13, wings, long; bill, small; capture food on wing; L, p. 259. 14, brown, crested; M, p. 263. 15, colors, bright; scarlet, etc; N, p. 264. 16, size rather large; bill, strongly hooked; O, p. 265. KEY. 295 17, smaller; greenish abo^e; bill less hooked; P, p. 267. 18, bill, long; wing, short; tail, long; larger; Q, p. 270. 19, much smaller; bill, slender; brown above; K, p. 273. 20, small; bill, slender, curved; tail, long ; tree climb- ers ; S, p. 277. 21, bill, straight; wings, long; tail, short ; tree climbers; T, p. 277. 22, very small; greenish above; lighter below; crown patch, bright; U, p. 279. 23, small, bluish ; tail, black with white markings ; V, p. 280. 5&, larger; brown above, spotted below, or else reddish below, unspotted ; W, p. 281. 25, blue above, reddish below, or grayish above, buify below, black patch on cheeks; X, p. 285, INDEX. 297 Acadian Sharp-tail- ed Sparrow 220 Alcedinae, 185 Aicidae 16 m. inacgillivrali 219 Acanthus 226 brewsteri 227 Aider Flycatcher 191 nelsoni 220 mgrescens 219 exilipes 227 Alectorides 185 peninsulae 219 1. holboelii 227 Alle 19 subvirgatus 220 hornmanii 227 alle 19 Ampelidae 263 linaria 226 Alien's Ptarmigan Ampelis 263 rostrata 227 148 cedorum 263 Accipiter 162 atricapillus 162 American Avocet, 63 garrulus 264 Anas 123 cooperii 162 Barn Owl 170 boschas 123 velox 162 Accipitridae 162 Barn Swallow, 263 fulvigula 125 obscura 124 Actitis, 184 Bittern. 101 o. rubripes 124 macularis, 184 Black Tern 56 Anatidae 123 Actochelidon 50 Coot 119 Ancient Murrelet acutlavida 51 Crossbill 228 21 maxima 50 Crow, 197 Anhingas 34 Actodromas 72 Cookoos, 175 Anhingidae 34 bairdii 73 Eider 135 Anhinga 35 cooperii 73 fuscicollis 72 Flamingo 145 Golden Plover 91 Anis 174 An Invitation, 1 maculata 72 minutilla 74 Hawtiinches 229 Hawk Owl 173 Anous 57 stolidus 57 Aegialitis 92 hiaticula 94 Herring Gull 44 Golden-eye 132 Anser 141 albifrons 141 meloda 94 Golden Plover 91 fabalis 141 m. circumcinta Goldfinch 228 gambeli 141 94 Goshawk 162 Anseres 120 semipalmata 93 wilsoniauus 95 Long-eared Owl 171 Anthus, 258 pennsylvanicus Aesalon 160 Magpie 194 258 columbarus 160 Merganser. 120 praten$is 258 regulus 160 Osprev 167 spragui'i 258 rishardsonii 160 Oyster-catcher 97 Antrostoinus, 182 Aestrelata 25 Paroquets 169 carolinensis, 182 hasitata 25 Pipits 258 vociferus, 182 scalaris 25 Redstart 254 Aphelocoma 195 Agelaius 200 Robin 285 floridana 195 bryanti 200 phoeniceus 200 Rough-legged Hawk 165 Aquila 166 chrysoetos 166 p. floridanus 200 Scoter 136 Aquilidae 166 Agreocantor 243 Sparrow Hawk Arami 112 kirtlandi 243 160 Aramidae 112 Aix 129 Spoonbills 98 Aramus 112 sponsa 129 Swifts 184 giganteus 112 Ajaja 98 Vultures 154 Arboreal Ducks 129 ajaja 98 Warblers 234 Arboreal Sparrows Alaudidae 192 Three-toed 207 Alauda 192 Woodpecker 179 Archibuteo, 165 arvensis 192 White-fronted sanctijohanis 165 Albatross 22 Goose 141 Arctic yellow-nosed, 22 Woodcock 65 Eiders 136 Albatrosses 21 Ammondramus 218 Owls 174 Tern 53 yellow-billed, 22 Alca 16 caudacutus 219 fisheri 219 Three-toed Wood- pecker, 179 torda 17 maritimas 218 Towhee 214 298 INDEX. Ardea, 103 Northern, 167 Brant, 143 cinera, 104 Baldpate 126 Capped Petrel 25 herodias 104 Baltimore Oriole Crowned Night occidentalis 103 201 Heron, 103 wardi, 104 Bananaquits, 234 Cookoos, 175 wurdemani, 103 Banded Duck, 124 Ardeidae 103 Jays 194 Faced Ducks, 140 Ardetta 102 Vireos, 268 Guillemot, 18 exilis 102 Woodpeckers 177 Gyrfalcon, 159 neoxena 103 Bank Swallow, 260 Kail, 116 Arenaria 96 Barn Owls 170 Scoters, 186 interpres 96 Barnacle Goose 142 Skimmer 58 Arenariidae 95 Barred Owl, 170 Kites. 150 Arkansas King-bird Florida, 170 Vulaures, 155 188 ' Barrow's Golden- Woodpeckers 180 Arquatella 71 eye, 133 Black and White maritima 71 Bartraniia, 82 Ducks 132 Ashy Warblers 252 longicauda, 82 Sparrows 222 Asio, 171 Bartramian Sand- Warbler 235 accipitrinus 171 wilsonianus 171 piper, 82 Bay-breasted Woo-dpeckers, 178 Black and Yellow Astur 182 Warbler 241 Warbler, 238 atricapillus 182 Athenidae 174 Bay Ducks, 130 Bay-winged Spar- Black-bellied Plo- ver 90 Audaubon's rows 221 Black-billed Caracara, ' 168 Bean Goose, 141 Cuckoo 176 Shearwater, 24 Bell's Vireo 270 Blackbird Warbler 237 Belted Kingfisher Brewer's 203 Auk, Razor-billed, 185 Red-winged 200 17 Berwickfs Wren,* Rusty 202 Great, 287 274 Yellow-headed Auks, Murres Bicknell's Thrush 202 Guillemots 16 * 283 Blackbirds, Auks 19 Bird Parasitical, 205 Avocets and Stilts Blue, 280 Red-winged 200 t>2 Cat, 270 Rusty 202 Avocets 62 Frigate, 35 Yellow-headed Avocet Indigo, 232 202 American 63 King, 187 Blackburnian Aythya 130 Man's- War. 56 Warbler 242 americana 130 Mocking, 27 Black-capped Pet- vallisneria 131 Azuria, 238 Oven 256 Bird Owls 173 rel 125 Black Duck 124 rara, 239 Birds, Florida 125 Bachman's Blue, 290 Red-legged 124 Sparrow 216 Crying, 112 Black-headed Warbler 249 Frigate, 35 Grosbeak 231 Baeolophus 197 Shore, 50 Black-necked bicolor 197 Snow, 214 Stilt *63 Bahama Tropic, 27 Black-polled Bananaquit 234 Bitterns, Warbler 240 Grassquit 233 American, 101 Black Skimmer 58 Ground Dove, 153 Cory's Least, 103 Black-tailed Redwing 200 Least, 102 Godwit 86 Swallow 262 Bitterns Orioles 201 Baird's Little, 102 Black-throated Sandpiper 73 Striped. 101 Blue Warbler 236 Bald Eagle, 167 Black Bunting 207 Grebes 13 Green Warbler 242 Loon 15 Black-whiskered Vireo 267 Blue and White Herons 107 Faced Gannet 30 Bluebird 286 Florida, 287 Grosbeak 232 Grosbeaks 232 Headed Par- tridge Dove 153 Jay 194 Mountain Warb- ler 287 Warblers 236 Yellow-backed Warbler 247 Bluebirds 286 Blue-faced Gan- net 30 Blue gray gnat- catcher 280 Blue Headed Par- tridge Dove 153 Blue- winged Teal 127 Warbler 248 Boat-tailed Grac- kle 205 Boat-tails 205 Bobolink 206 Bob-white 145 Florida, 146 Bob-whites 145 Bohemian Wax- wing 264 Bonaparte's Gull 46 Bonasa umbellus 147 u. togata 147 Booby 30 Botauridae 101 Botaurus 101 lentiginosus 101 Brant 143 Black, 143 Branta 142 berniela 143 canadensis 142 hutchinsii 142 leucopsis 142 minima 142 nigricans 143 INDEX. Brewer's Blackbird 203 Sparrow 210 Brewsteria 166 ferrugineus 166 Brewster's Linnet 227 Warbler 248 Bridled Tern 55 Bi-oad-quilled Woodcocks 66 European Wood- cock 66 Broad-winged Hawk 165 Bronzed Grackle 203 Brown Creeper 277 Pelican 31 Thrasher 273 Brown-backed Cuckoos 175 Brown-headed Nut- hatch 279 Brunnich's Murre 18 Bubo 172 saturatus 172 virgin ianus 172 v. subarcticus 172 Bubonidae 170 Buff-breasted Sandpiper 83 Buffle-head 134 Buffy Rails 116 Sandpipers 83 Sparrows 216 Warblers 250 Bulweria 25 btilweri 25 Bulweri's Petrel 25 Bunting, Black-throated, 207 Lark 222 Painted. 223 Snow. 222 Townsend'g, 287 Varied 233 Buntings, Ground 213 Rice 206 Silk 207 Burrowing Owl 174 299 Florida Addenda Burrowing Owls 174 Bush Jays 195 Warblers 239 Buteo 163 boreal is 163 b. calarus 164 b. kriderii 163 brachyurus 165 buteo 164 harlani 164 latissimus 165 lineatus 164 I. alleni 165 swainsoni 165 Buteonidae 163 Butorides 107 virescens 107 Buzzard, European, Buzzard Hawks 163 Cackling Goose 142 Cabot's Tern 51 Caeruleocantor caerutescens 236 e. carnsi 236 Cairn's Warbler Calcarins 223 lapponicus 223 ornatus 224 pictus 224 Calamospiza 222 melanocorvs 222 Calidris 77* arenarit 7 7 Campephilus 180 principals 180 Campotolemus labradorius 287 Canachites 146 canadensis 146 Canada Goose 142 Grouse 146 Jay 195 Canadian Pine Grosbeak 226 Ruffed Grouse 147 Warbler 254 Canvas-back 131 Cape May Warbler 238 300 INDEX. Capnniulgi 181 Changing Egret Capmuulgidae 106 182 Charadriidae 89 Carauara, Charadnus 91 Audubon's 168 apricarius 91 Caracaras 168 dominicus 91 Car uonated Warb- Charitonetta 133 ler 287 albeola 134 Carainalis 231 Chat, Floridanus 22 3 Stone 270 Cardinals 231 Yellow-breasted, Cardinal Gros- 255 beak 231 Chats 255 Florida Chauielasmus 125 Cams' Warbler streperus 125 2o(J Chen 140 Carolina caeruiescens 140 Chickadee 196 hyoerborea 141 Junco 215 b. nivalis 141 Paronuet 169 Chestnut-collared Rail 115 .Longspur 224 Carpodacus 225 Chestnut-sided purpureus 225 W T arbler 240 Caspian Tern 50 Catbird 271 Key West 271 Catbirds 271 Catharidae 154 Catharista 155 Chickadee, 196 Carolina, 196 Florida, 19t> Hudsonian 197 Chimney Swift 184 Chipping Sparrow atrata 155 Cathartes 154 208 Chondestes 222 grammacus 222 aura 154 Cedar Waxwing QOf Chordeiles 183 virginianus 183 Zoo Centurus 177 carolinus 177 Ceoplaeus 180 b. abieticola 181 flilaatus 180 Ce j>im ides 16 Cepphus 18 grylle 18 mandtil 19 Certha 277 am eric an a 277 Certhiidae 277 v. chapniani 183 Chroicocephalus 45 atricilla 45 franklinii 46 miutus 47 Philadelphia 46 Chrysocantor 246 aestiva 246 Chrysomitris, 228 pinus 228 tristris, 228 Chuck-will's Wid- Cerulean WftrMer' OQQ ow 182 Ciconine 110 joy Ceryle 180 aicyon 185 Cerylidae 185 Caeture 184 Cincinnati Warb- ler 288 Clnerosa 252 Philadelphia 252 pelagica 184 Cinnamon Teal 128 Gheturidae 184 Challichelidon 262 c.yaineoviridia ' Circus 157 hudsonicus 158 Cistothorus 276 262 stellaris 276 Clamatores 186 Clangula 132 americana 132 islandica 133 Clapper Rail 114 Florida, 115 JLouisiana, 115 Clay-colored Spar. row 209 Coccyidae 175 americanus 175 erythropthalinus 176 minor 176 m. maynardi 176 Cockaded Wood- pecker 179 Coereba 234 bahamensis 234 Coerebidae 234 Colaptes 181 auratus 181 a. luteus 181 Colinus 145 virgin-la nu,s 145 V. floridanus 146 Columba 150 leucocephala 150 Columbidae 150 Colurnbigallina 152 bahamensis 153 passerina 152 Colymbus 12 holloellii 13 Common Tern 51 Compsothlypis 247 americana 247 a. ramalinae 247 a. usneae 247 Connecticut Warb- ler 251 Contopus 189 boreais 189 virens 189 Conuros 169 carolinensis 169 Cooper's Hawk 162 Sandpiper 73 Coot 119 Coot-footed Phala^ ropes 59 Coots, 119 American, 119 European, 120 Cormorant, 33 Dou ble-crest ed, 38 Florida, 33 Mexican 34 Cormorants 33 Corn Crake 117 Corvidae 197 Corvus 197 americanus 197 a. pascuus 198 oasifraus 198 principalis 198 Cotur'nteulus 216 anstralis 217 henslowii 217 leconteii 218 passerinus 216 Coturnicops 116 noveboracensis 116 Cory's Gannet 30 Least Bittern 107 Shearwater 24 Courlans 112 Cowbirds 206 Crake Corn, 117 {Spotted, 116 Crane Sand hill. 111 Whooping 112 Cranes 111' Creciscus 116 jamaicensis 116 Creeper, Brown 277 Creepers 277 Honey, 234 Tree. 277 Creeping Warblers 255 Crested Flycatcher 188 Flycatchers 188 Ibises 99 Merganser 121 Kingfisb.es 185 Plover 89 Terns 50 Crex 117 crex 117 Crosbill. American, 228 White-winged 229 Crossbills 228 Crotophaga 175 INDEX. ani 175 Crotophagidae 174 Crow, American 197 Fish 198 Florida, 198 Crows 197 Crying Birds 112 Cranes 111 Crymophilus 59 fulcarius 59 Cuban Sparrow Hawk 161 Cuckoo Blacked-billed, 176 Maynard's 176 Yellow-billed 175 Cuckoos, 174 American 175 Black, 175 Brown- backed 175 Cuculi 174 Curlew Esquimo, 88 Hudsonian 88 Long-billed, 86 Curlews 86 Curlew ' Sandpiper Curved-billed Kites 157 Sandpipers 75 Cuvier's Kinglet 270 Cyannocitta 194 cristata 194 C. floridana 194 Cyanospiza 232 caris 233 cyanea 232 versocolor 233 Cygnidae 143 Cygnus, 143 Cypseli 184 Dafila 129 acuta 129 Damsel Egrets 106 Dendrocygna 143 fulva 143 Dendroica auduboni 237 coronata 237 rnontana 287 301 Diabolic Petrels 25 Diagram of Chip- ping Sparrows 9 Dichromanassa 105 pealei 106 rufa 105 r. rnutata 106 Dichromic Egrets 105 Diomedeidae 21 Dipper Ducks 133 Disked Owls 170 Dolichonix 206 oryzivorus 206 Double-crested Cormorant 33 'Double-ringed Plo- ver 92 Dove, 150 Bahama Ground;, 153 Blue-headed par- tridge, 153 Ground, 152 Key West Quail, 153 Keddy Quail, 153 Zienaida 152 Dovekie 19 Doves, 150 Ground, 152 Little, 152 Quail, 153 Mourning 151 Partridge, 153 Short-tailed 152 - Spotted, 151 Dowitcher, 68 Long-billed, 69 Downy Woodpeck- er 178 Northern, 178 Southern, 178 Dryobates 178 borealis 179 pubescens 178 p. medianus 178 villosus 178 v. audubonii 178 v. leucomelas 178 Duck Black 124 Florida Black, 125 Fnlvus Tree, 148 Harlequin, 135 Duck, Labrador, 270 Masked 140 302 INDEX. Red-legged Black, 124 Damsel, 106 Dichrom ic, 105 Ring-necked 132 Eider, 135 Ruddy, 139 American, 135 Rufous-crested 130 King, 136 W T ood, 129 Northern 136 Ring-necked, 132 Eiders, 135 Ducks Arctic 136 Arboreal, 129 Elanus 157 Bay, 130 levcurns 157 Black and White Elanoides 156 132 forficatus 156 Black-faced, 140 Empidonax 190 Black-headed 140 flaviventris 192 Dipper, 133 minimus 190 Fresh Water, 123 trailli 191 Gravy, 125 t. alnorum 191 Long-Railed, 134 virescens 191 Painted, 135 ' Ereunnctes 76 River, 153 occidentalis 77 Rudder, 131 pusillus 77 Sea, 130 Erismatura 139 Spoon-billed, 128 rubia 139 Sprig-tallied, 129 Erismaturidae 139 Stiff-tailed, 139 Esquimo Curlew 88 Tree, 145 Dunlin 75 Dunlin Sandpipers Eritonetta 136 spectabilis 136 Erola 75 74 Dusky-backed ferrugenea, 75 Euethia 233 Terns 55 bicolor 233 Dusky canora 233 Horned Owl 172 European Owls 170 Buzzard 164 Rails 116 Co6t 120 Seaside Sparrow Blue Heron 104 219 Snipe 68 Vultures 154 Teal 127 Dytes 13 Woodcock 66 auritus Evening Grosbeak Eagles, 13 230 Bald, 167 Golden, -66 Everglade Kite 157 Falcon, Gray Sea, 167 Northern Bald Prairie 162 Falcones 155 167 Falconidae 158 Eagl(?s 166 , Falcons 158 Fish, 157 Gray 162 White-railed, 167 Noble 159 Vulture. 168 Eared Owls 172 Ectopistes 151 Feather-legged Hawks 165 Stints 71 migratoria 151 Ferrugneus Hawk Egret. 105 . 166 Changing, 106 Fighting Sandpip- Peale's, 106 ers Podrlish. 105 Flold Sparrow 209 Egrets, 105 Western 209 Warblers 243 Field Warblers 243 Fisher's Seaside Sparrow 219 Finch Purple 225 Finches Rosy 225 Fish Crow 198 Eagles 167 Hawks 167 Fisher's Seaside Sparrow 219 Flamingo Ameri- can 145 Flamingoes 145 Flicker 181 Northern 181 Flickers 181 Florida Barred Owl 170 Black and White Ducks 132 132 Black Duck 125 Blue Jay 194 Bob White 146 Cardinal 232 Cormorant 33 Chickadee 196 Clapper Rail 115 Gallinule 117 Grackle 204 Grasshopper Spar- row 217 Jay 195 Meadow Lark 199 Night Hawk 183 Pine Warbler 244 Red-wing 200 Red-shouldered Hawk 165 Screech - Owl 173 Towhee 213 Turkey 150 White-bellied Nuthach 270 Florida 107 caerulea 107 Flycatcher Alder 191 Fork-tailed 189 Great-creisted 191 Least 190 Olive-sided 190 INDEX. 303 Scissor-tailed 187 c. grisifrous 271 Golden Plover 91 Trail's 191 Gallinago 67 Golden-winged Yellow-bellied delicata 67 Warbler 241 192 gallinago 68 Goldfinch Ameri- Flycatchers Gallinula 117 can. 228 Crested 188 galeata 117 Golden Warblers Little 190 Gallinute 246 Tyrant 186 Florida 117 Goldfinches 228 Flycatching War- Purple 118 Goose biers 253 Gallinules 117 American White- Fork-tailed Gallinulidae 117 fronted 141 Flycatcher 187 Gannet 29 Barnacle 142 Frigate Birds 33 Blue-faced 30 Bean 141 Humming Birds Booby 30 Blue 140 185 Cory's 30 Cackling 142 Kites 156 Red-faced 30 Canada 142 Sooty Petrels 26 Gannets 29 Greater Snow 141 Foster's Tern 52 Garrulidae 194 Hutchin's 142 Four-toed Plovers Garzetta 105 Lesser Snow 141 89 G'andidissima 105 White-fronted Fox-colored Spar- row 213 Gavia 15 arcticus 15 141 Goshawk American Franklin's Gull 46 imber 15 162 Fratercula 20 lumme 15 Grackle arctia 20 Geese 140 Boat-flailed 205 a. glacial is 20 Gray 141 Bronzed 203 aquila Short-billed 142 Florida 204 Fregatidae Frigate Birds 35 White 140 Gelochelidon 49 Purple 204 Grackles 203 Fregates 36 Fringe-footed Pha- nilotica 49 Gennaia 162 Boat-tailed 205 Grasshopper Spar- laropes 60 Fringillidae 207 Fruticantor 246 discolor Frontiornis 251 mexicanus 162 Geothlypis 252 trichas 253 t. brachadactyia 253 rows 216 Grass quit Bahama 233 Melodious 233 Grass Sparrows forrnoisa 251 t. ignota 253 220 Fulica 119 americana 11" atra 120 Geotrygon 153 chrysea 153 montana 153 Gray Ducks 125 Falcon 162 Fulicidae 119 Giant Terns 49 Glaucous Gull 42 Geese 141 Gyrfalcon 138 niilnis 132 Glossy Imite 100 Jays 195 Collaris 132 marila 181 Fuligulidae loO Fulmar 22 Goatsuckers 181 Gnatcatchers Blue-gray 280 Godwit Kingbird 188 Owls 171 Sea Eagles 167 Gray-cheeked Lesser 23 Fulmars 22 Black-tailed 86 Hudsonian 86 Thrush 283 Gray-headed Jun- Fulmarus 22 Marbled 85 co 215 glacialis 22 Godwits 85 Great g. minor 22 Fulvous Tree Duck Golden Eagle 166 Golden Eye 132 Auk 287 Black-backed 143 Barrow's 133 Gull 42 Gadwall 125 Golden Crowned Blue Heron 104 Galoscoptes 271 Kinglet 279 Gray Owl 171 carolinensis 271 Sparrow 211 Horned Owl 172 304 INDEX. White Heron 103 Prairie Sharp- Hairy Woodpecker Greater tail 149 178 Redpoll 227 Ruffed 147 Haliaetidae 167 Shearwater 23 Sharp-tailed 149 Saliaetus 167 Snow Goose 141 Spruce 146 ala-scanus 167 Yellow-legs 78 Wood 146 albicilla 167 Grebe Grues 111 leucocephalus 167 Holboell'is 13 Gruidae 111 Haliplana 55 Horned 13 Grus 111 anaethetus 55 Pied-billed 13 americana 111 fuliginosa 55 Grebes 11 mexicana 111 Haralda 134 Black-throated 13 Guara 99 hyemajis 134 Long-billed 12 alba 99 Harland's Hawk Short-billed 13 Guillemot 164 Slender-billed 12 Black 18 Harlequin Duck Thick-billed 13 Mandt's 19 135 Green and White Guillemots 16-8 Harriers 157 Swallows 262 Guiraca 232 Harris's Sparrow Green-backed Hum coerulea 232 211 mingbird 185 Gull Hawfinches Green-crested Fly- American H ex- American 229 catcher 191 ing 44 Hawk Green Herons 107 Bonaparte's 46 American Rough- Greenland Redpoll Franklin's 46 legged 165 231 Glaucous 42 American Spar- Green Sandpiper Great Black- row 160 80 backed 42 Broad-winged 165 Greenshanks 79 Green-winged Teal Herring 42 Iceland 44 Cooper's 162 Cuban Sparrow 126 Ivory 40 160 Green Warblers 242 Kittiwake 41 Duck 159 Qrennel's Witter Gull Ferrugineous 165 Thrush 257 Kumlien's 44 Florida Red- Grosbeak Black-headed 231 Laughing 45 Little 47 shouldered 165 Harland's 164 Canadian Piner Mew 45 Krider's 163 226 Cardinal 231 Ring-billed 44 Ross's 47 Marsh 158 Pigeon 160 Evening 230 Rose-breasted 230 Grosbeakjs Sabine's 48 Siberian 42 Terns 49 Red-shouldered 164 Red-tailed 163 Blue 232 Gulls 39-41 Rough-legged 165 Cardinal 231 Fork-tailed 48 Sharp ed-shinned Song 232 Hooded 45 162 Ground Hunter 38 Short-tailed 165 Buntings 213 Ice 40 Sparrow 169 Dove 152 Ocean 41 Svftftinson's 165 Owls 174 Sparrows 160 Rosy 47 Gyrfalcon Western Redtail 164 Warblers 245 Black 159 Hawk Owl, Ameri- Grouse, Quail, etc. Grav 158 can 155 145 White 158 Hawks Grouse 146 Gyrfalcons 158 Buzzard 163 Canada 146 Canadian Ruffed Haematopodidae 97 Haematopus 97 Feather-legged 165 147 ostralegus 97 Fish 167 Prairie 149 palliatus 97 Naked-legged 163 INDEX. 305 Sharp-shinned Plumed 104 Hylocichla 281 162 Thick-billed alicae 283 Short-winged 162 Night 109 a. bickneli 283 Sparrow 160 Herring- Gull 42 fuscescens '^83 Wide-mouthed Hesperiphones 229 f. fuliginosa 284 166 vespertina 230 mustelinus 281 Hawks, Eagles, Hesperochchla 255 pallasii 282 etc. 155 naevia 285 swainsonii 282 Heath Hen 149 Hierofalco 158 Hydrochelidon 56 Helenaia 251 islandica 158 lencoptera 57 swaiusonii 251 Helininthophila rusticolus 158 r. gyrfalco 158 surinainensis 56 Ibidae 99 248 r. obseletus 159 Ibis, bachmani 249 celata 249 Highland Sandpip- ers 82 Glossy, 100 Scarlet, 99 chrysoptera 248 lawrenci 248 Himantopus 63 mexicauus 63 White, 99 W T hJe-a,0ed leucobronchialia Hirundinidae 259 Glossy, 100 248 Hirundo 262 Wood, 110 peregrina 249 pinus 248 erythrogastra 263 Histrionicus 135 Ibises 98 Crested, 99 rubricapilla 249 histrionicus 135 Herodias 104 Hoary Redpoll 227 Wood 110 * egretta 104 Holboell'odicipidae 12 Podicipides 11 Podilymbus 13 auduboni 24 borealis 24 fullginosa 24 americana 63 Recurvirostridae 62 Ked-eyed Towhee VI *%. podiceps 13 Podyivmbidae 13 Polioptilidae 280 Polioptila 280 caerulea 280 Polyboridae 168 Polyborus 168 cheriway 168 Pomarine Jasrer 38 Poocaetes 221 gramineus 221 gavis 23 puffinus 24 i'urple Finch 225 Gallinule 118 Grackle 204 Martin 259 Sandpiper 71 Fyranga 264 erythromelas 265 ludoviciana 265 rubra 265 ZJLO Red-bellied Nuthatch 278 Woodpecker 177 Red-billed Tropic Bird 28 Red-breasted Mer- ganser 121 Reddish Egret 104 Red-eyed Towhee 213 Vireo 267 Porzana 115 Carolina 115 porzana 116 Prairie Falcon 162 Grouse 149 Hen 149 Horned Lark 193 Kites 156 Sharp-tailed Grouse 149 Sparrows 222 Warbler 249 Procellaria 25 Belagica 25 Procellaridae 22 Progne Quail Dove 153 Key West, 153 Ruddy, 153 Quail Doves 153 Querquedula 127 cyanoptera 128 discors 127 Quiscalus 203 aeneus 203 agelaeus 204 quiscala 204 Rail, Carolina, 115 Clapper, 114 Black, 116 Florida Clapper 115 Red-faced Gannet 30 Redhead 130 Red-headed Wood- pecker 177 Red-legged Black Duck 124 Red Phalarope 60 - Kedpoll 226 Greater, 227 Greenland, 227 Hoary, 227 Holboell's 227 iRed-polled Warb- ler 245 Redpolls 226 Red-shouldered Hawk 164 cryptoluca 259 subis 259 s. floridana ?50 King, 114 Louisiana Clapper, Florida, 165 Redstart, Ameri- can 255 Prothonotary War- Virginia 114 Red-failed Hawk bler 250 Yellow, 115 i63 Protonataria 250 citrea 250 Kails, Buffy, lie Red-throated Loon 15 PslttacI 169 Dusky, 114 Red-wing INDEX. 311 Bahama, 200 Florida, 200 Red-winged Black- Ruby-throated Hummingbird 185 Rudder Ducks 139 Savanna Sparrow 220 Saw-whet Owl 173 bird 200 Ruddy Saxicola 286 Starlings 200 Duck 139 leucorhoa 286 Thrush 284 Quail Dove 153 Saxicolidae 28 Regulus 27 Sandpiper 70 Sayorms- 188 calendula 280 cuvereri Addenda Ruff 82 Ruffed Grouse 147 phoephe 189 sayi 189 satrapa 279 Reluhardt's Ptar- Rufous Sparrows 213 Say's Pheobe 189 Sctled Petrel 25 migan 148 Rhodostethia 47 Rufous-crested Duck 130 Scarlet-crested Woodpecker 180 rosea 47 Rhynchodon 160 Rusty Blackbird 202 Scarlet ibis 99 anatuni 159 Rhynchops 58 Rusty Blackbirds 202 Tanager 265 Scaup, 181 nigar 58 Rhynchopidae 58 Rice Buntings 206 Ryhnchophanes 224 mccownii 224 Sabine's Gull 48 Lesser, 132 Scissor-tailed F4y- catcher 189 Rlehardson's Sanderling 77 Scissor-tails 186 Merlin 160 Sandhill Crane 111 Scolecophagus 202 Owl 173 Ring-billed Gull 44 Sandpiper, Baird's, 73 carolinus 202 cyanocephalus Ringed Bartrarnian, 82 202 Murre 18 Buff ; -breas.ted 83 Scolecopacidae 34 Plover 94 Ringless Plover 95 Ring-necked Duck Cooper's 73 Curlew 75 Green, 80 Scolopax 66 rusticolor 66 Scoter, 136 132 Least, 74 American, 136 Riparia 260 Pectoral, 72 . Surf, 138 riparia 260 Purple, 71 White-winged, Risea 41 Red-backed. 74 137 tridactyla 41 River Ducks 123 Robin, American, Smipealmat'ed, 76 Solitary, 79 Spotted, 84 Scoters, 136 Black, 136 Black' and White, 285 Stilt, 69 137 iRock Ptarmigan Western, 77 White-capped, 138 s 148 Roseate Spoonbill 98 White-rumper 72 Sandpipers, Buffv, 83 Scott's Sea-side Sparrow 214 Scotiaptrex 171 Tern 53 Rose-breasted Gros- Curved-billed, 75 Dunlin, 74 cinera 171 Screech Owl 173 beak 235 Ross's Gull 47 Rostrhamus 157 sociabilis 157 Rosy Fighting, 81 Highland 82 Long-legged 69 Rucidy, 70 Florida, 173 Seiuridae 256 Seiurus aurocapillus 256 moticella 257 Finches 225 Sandpipers, etc. noveboracensis 256 Gulls 47 Rough-legged Hawk, American, 68 Snipe, 68 Three- toed, 77 n. notabilis 257 Semipalmated Plover y3 165 Tilting, 84 Sandpiper 93 Rough-winged Semipalmated 76 Sandpipers 93 Swallow 262 Sand Swallows 262 Tatlers 93 Royal Tern 50 Rubv-crowned Kinglet 280 Sapsucker, Yellow- bellied, 176 Sarcorhamphi 154 Setophaga 255 ruticilla 255 Sharp-billed Warb- lers 258 312 INDEX. Sharp-shinned Hawk 162 Sharp-tailed Grouse 149 Prairie, 149 Sharp-tailed Spar- row 219 Arcadian 220 Nelson's 220 Shearwater, Audubon's, 24 Cory's, 24 Greater, 23 Manx, 24 Sooty, 24 Shearwaters 23 Shore Birds 59 Short-billed Geese 142 Grebes 13 Marsh Wrens 276 -Kails 115 Short-eared Owls IT Short-tailed Doves 132 Hawks 165 Terns 56 Short-winged Hawks 162 Shoveller 128 Shrike, Loggerhead, 266 Northern, 266 .Northern Loggar- head 266 Shrikes, Gray, 265 Sialia 286 sialis 286 s. grata 287 Silk Buntings 207 Single-ringed Plover 92 Singing Perchers 192 Siskin, Pine, 227 Siskins 227 Sitta 277 canadensis 278 carolinensis 272 c. atkinsi 278 pusilla 279 Sittidae 277 Skimmer, Black, 58 Skimmers 58 Skua 38 Skuas 37 Skuas and Saegeris 37 Sky-lark 192 Sky-Larks 192 Slate-colored Junco 214 Slaty Gallinules 117 Slender-billed Grebes 12 Small-headed Fly- catcher 287 Smew 123 Smews 122 Snipe, European, 69 Sandpipers 68 Wilson's 67 Snipes 66 Snowbirds 214 Snow Bunting 223 Buntings 223 Goose 141 Goose, Greater, 141 Goose, Lesser, 141 Snowy Egret 105 Owl 174 Solitary Sandpiper 79 Vireo 269 Somateria 135 dresseri 135 d. borealis 136 Songless Perchers 186 Song Grosbeaks 230 Sougless Perchers 186 Song Sparrow 211 Sooty Shearwater 24 Tern 55 Southern Downy Wood- pecker 178 Hairy Woodpeck- er 178 Yellow-throat 253 'Sparrow, Acadian Sharp- tailed 220 Bachman's 216 Brewer's 216 Chipping, 208 Clay-colored, 207 Dusky Seaside, 215 Field, 219 Fisher's Seaside 215 Fox-colored 213 Golden-crowned 211 Grasshopper 217 Harris's 211 Heuslow's 217 Ipswich, 221 Lark. 222 Leconte's 212 Lincoln's 212 Macgilliway's Seaside, 219 Nelson's 219 Pine-Woods Sparrow 216 Savanna 220 Scott's Seaside 218 Seaside, 218 Sharp^ta^ied, 219 Song, 211 Southern Grass- hopper, 217 Swamp, 212 Tree, 208 Western Field 209 White-crowned 210 White-throated 210 Vesper 221 Sparrow Hawk American, 160 Cuban, 161 Sparrows and Finches 207 Sparrows, Arboreal, 207 Butty, 216 Bay-winged, 221 Grass, 220 Marsh, 218 Painted, 232 Prairie; 222 Kufous 213 Spng, 211 SWamp, 212 Woodland, 216 Zone-throated 210 Spatula 128 clypeata 128 Speotyto 174 hyppgaea 174 floriclana/, Adden- da Sph-yrapicus 176 INDEX. 313 varius 178 Spine-tailed Swifts 184 Spinus '227 pinus 227 Spizella 207 breweri 207 monticola. 208 pallida 209 p. arenacca 207 pusiila 209 sociaiis 208 Spiza 207 americaDa 207 Spoonbill Roseate, 98 Spoonbills, Ameri- can 98 Spoonbills and Ibises 98 Spoon-billed Ducks 128 Spotted Crake 116 Doves 151 Sandpiper 84 Thrushes 281 Warblers 238 Sprague's Pipet 258 Sprig-tailed Duck 128 Spruce Grouse 146 Warblers 241 Square-tailed Vul- tures 155 Squatarola 89 squatarola 89 Starling 198 Starlings 198 Starnoenas 153 cyanocephala 153 Steganopodes 27 Steganopus 60 tricolor 60 Stelgidopteryx 261 serripennis 261 Stercoharidae 37 Stercorarius 38 longicaudus 39 parasiticus 38 pomalinus 38 Sterna 51 dougalli 53 forsteri 52 hlrundo 51 paridisaea 53 tradeaui 51 Sternella 199 magna 199 m. argu tula 199 neglecta 200 Sternidae 198 Sternula 54 antillarum 54 Stiff-tailed Ducks 139 Stilt, Black-necked, 63 Sandpiper 69 Sandpipers 68 Stilts 63 Stints 72 Stone Chats 285 Stone Chats and Bluebirds 285 Storm Petrels 25 Stormy Petrel 25 Storks 110 Streaked Bitterns 101 Streaked Warblers 240 Strigi 169 Strigidae 170 Striped Bitterns 101 Strix 170 pratincola 170 Sturnus 198 vulgaris 198 Sula 29 bassana 29 coryi 30 cyanops 30 piscator 30 sula 30 Sulidae 29 Sultana Gallinules 118 Summer Tanager 265 Surf Scoter 138 Sumia 173 caparoch 173 Swainson's Hawk 165 Warbler 151 Swallow, American Barn, 263 Bahama, 262 Bank 260 Cliff, 260 Cuban Cliff 261 Kough-winged, 261 White-bellied, 262 Swallows 259 Cliff, 260 Green and White 262 Long-tailed, 262 Kough-winged 261 Sand, 260 Tree, .'?62 Swallow-tailed Kite 150 Swamp Sparrow Swan, Trumpeter, 144 Whistling, 144 Whooping, 144 Swans, White 143 Swift, Chimney, 184 Swifts, Spine-tail- ed, 184 Swimmers, JN ail-billed, 120 totipalmate, 27 Sycamore Warbler, 236 Sylvidae, 278 Sylviocantor, 238 pennsylvanica 240 Symphemia 80 semipalmata 80 Synthiboramplius antiquas 21 Syrnium 170 nebulosum 170 n. alleni 170 Tanager, Louisiana, 265 scarlet, 265 summer, 265 Tanagers, Toottt- billed 264 Tanagridae 264 Tantalidae 110 Tantalus 110 loculata 110 Tatlers, 78 Freshwater, 79 Semipalmated, 80 Teal. Blue-winged, 127 Cinnamon, 128 European, 127 Green- winged, 126 Teals, Little, 126 Telmatodytes 275 palustris 275 314 INDEX. p. griseus 275 Olive-backed, 283 Troglodytes 274 p. marinae 275 Red-winged, 284 aedon 274 p. thryophilus Water, 236 a. parkniani 274 27(5 Wilson's, 283 Troglodytidae 273 Tennesse Warbler Wood, 281 Tropic Bird, 249 Varied, 285 Kea- billed, 28 Tern, Thrushes 281-284 Yellow-billed, 28 American Black, Spotted 281 Tropic Birds, 27 56 Wagtail 256 Long-tailed, 28 Arctic, 53 Western 285 Troupial 200 Bridled, 55 Thryomaues 273 Troupials 200 Cabot's 51 bewickii 274 Trudeau's Tern 51 Caspian, 50 Common, 51 Thryothor'us 273 ludovicianua 273 True Rails 113 Woodpeckers 170 Foster's 52 1. miameusis 273 Trumpeter Swan Gull-billed, 49 Tilting Sandpipers 144 .Least, 54 84 Tryngites 83 Noddy, 57 Tinnunculus 160 ,,subruncollis 83 Koseate. 53 domenicensis 161 Tube-nosed Swim- Royal, 50 sparverius 160 mers 21 Sooty, 55 tinnunculus 161 Tubinares 21 Trudeau's 51 Titmice 196-197 Tufted Puffin 20 White-winged Titmouse, Tufted, Turdidae 281 Black, 57 197 Turdus 280 Terns, 48 Tooth-billed iliacus 280 Crested, 50 Merganser 120 Turkey Dusky-backed, 55 Tanager 204 Florida, 150 Giant, 49 Totanus 78 Vulture 154 Gull 49 flavipes 78 Wild 150 JLittle, 54 rnelanoleucus 78 Turnstone 96 Pale-backed, 51 nebularius 79 Turnstones 95-96 Short-tailed, 56 Totipalmate Swim- Tympanuchns 149 Terracantor 245 mers 27 americanus 149 hypochrysea 245 palmarum 245 Towhesf, Arctic, 214 cupido 149 Tyrannidae 186 Tetronidae 146 Florida, 214 Tyrannus 187 Thalaissogeron 22 culminatus 22 Ked-eyed, 213 Townsend's Warb- dominicensis 188 tyrannus 187 Thalassius 49 ler 243 verticals 188 caspia 50 Toxostoma 271 Tyrant Flycatchers Thick-billed Grebes rufum, 273 186 13 Thicket Warblers Traill's Flycatcher 191 Unspotted Thrushes 285 251 Tree Uria 17 Thasher, Brown, 273 Ducks 143 Orioles 201 lomvia 18" ringvia 18 Thrashers 271 Sparrow 208 Swallows 262 troie 18 Urinatorides 14 Three-toed Tri-colored Wood- Vanellus 89 Sandpipers 77 Woodpeckers 179 peckers 177 Orioles 201 vanellus 89 Varied Thrush, Tringa 70 Bunting 233 Bicknell's 283 canutus 70 Thrush 285 Grey-cheeked, 288 Tringidae 68 Velvet Scoter 138 Hermit, 282 Louisana Water, ocrr Trochli 184 Trochilidae 185 Vesper Sparrow 221 n) ( Newfoundland, 2*4 Troehilus 185 colubris 185 Vireo, Bell's 270 INDEX. 315 Black-whiskered Blackburnean, Blue, 236 267 242 Butty, 250 Key West, 270 BLack-poHed,. 240 Bush, 239 Mountain 267 Black-throated Creeping, 235 Philadelphia, 268 Plumbeous 269 Blue, 236 Black-throated Field, 243 Flycatching, 253 Red-eyed, 267 Green, 242 Golden, 246 Solitary, 269 Blue Mountain, Green, 242 Warbling 268 287 Ground 245 White-eyed 269 Yellow-throated Blue-winged, 248 Blue Yellow-back Honey, 237 Long-billed, 235 268 247 Warblers, Vireo Brewster's, 24j8 Long-winged, 251 noveboracensis Canadian, 254 Little, 247 269 maynardi 270 Cape May, 238 Carbonated, 287 Orange, 250 Painted, 254 Vireocantor 242 Cam's, 236 Plain 251 townseudi 243 Caeruiikanj, 2391 ' Scrub, 246 virens 242 Chestnut-sided, Spotted, 238 Vireos, 267 240 Spruce, 241 Banded, 268 Little, 269 Wood, 267 Vireosylva 267 barbatula 267 Cincinnati, 251 Connecticut, 251 Florida Pine, 244 Golden-winged, 248 Sharp-billed, 248 Streaked, 240 Thicket, 251 Wood, 237 Warbling Vireo, gilva 268 olivacea 267 Philadelphia 267 Vironidae 207 Virginia Rail 114 Vulture, Black, 155 Hooded, 253 Kentuckey, 251 Kirtland's 243 Lawrence's 248 Mourning, 252 JNashville, 249 JNorthern Blue 268 Ward's Heron, 104 Water Thrush, 256 Grinnell, 256 Louisiana, 257 Waxwing, Bohemian, 264 Eagles 168 Turkey, 154 Vultures, Yellow-back, 247 Orange-crowned, 249 Cedar, 263 Wax wings 263 Wedge-tailed Pet- Amercan, 154 Dusky, 154 Pine, 244 Prairie, 246 rels 25 Welch's Ptarmigan .Naked-breasted, Prothonatary, 250 149 154 Square-tailed, 155 Red-poll, 245 Swainson's 251 Blue Yellow-back Wagtail, White. 258 Sycamore, 236 Tennesee, 249 247 Field Sparrow Wagtails, 258 Wag-tails, Wood, 256 Townsend's 243 Western Blue Yellow-back 247 209 Horned Owl 172 Meadow Lark Wag-tails and Pip- ets 257 W"aders,\ JN3|il-bill- ed, 144 Wilson's 254 Worm-eating, 250 Yellow, 246 Yellow Red-poll, 200 Red-tail 164 Sandpiper 77 Thrushes 285 Whippoorwill 182 Warbler, Audubon's, 237 Bachman's, 249 Bav-breaster, 241 Y ellow-rumped, 237 Yellow-throated, 235 Whippoorwills 182 W 7 himbrel 87 Winter Wren 275 Whistling Swan 1 * A Black and White, Warblers 279 144 235 American. 234 White Black and Yellow Ashy, 252 Eagles 167 238 Azure, 238 Geese 140 316 INDEX. Gyrfalcon 158 Narrow-quilled, Western House, Heron 104 65 274 ibis 99 Woodcocks and Winter, 275 Pelican 31 Snipes 66 Worthington's Swan 142 Wood Marsh, 276 Wagtail 170 Ducks 129 Wrens 273 White-bellied Grouse 146 House, 274 Nuthatch 277 Ibis 110 Little, 275 Swallows 262 Ibises 110 Long-tailed White-capped Pewee 189 Marsh, 275 Scoter 138 Thrush 170 Meadow, 275 White-crowned Vireos 267 Mocking, 273 Sparrow 210 Wagtails 256 Wurdemann's White-eyed Vireo Warblers 237 Heron, 107 269 Woodpecker, Xanthocephalus White-faced Glossy American Three- 202 ibis 100 toed, 179 xanthocephalus White-fronted Arctic Three- 202 Goose 141 toed 179 Xema 48 White-rumped Cockaded, 179 sabina 48 Sandpiper 72 White-tailed KJta Downy, 178 Hairy, 178 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 192 157 White-tailed Kites Ivory-billed, 180,. Northern Hairy, Sapsucker, 176 Yellow-billed 157 178 Albatrosses 22 White-thraoted Northern Pileat- Cuckoo 175 Sparrow 210 ed, 180 Tropic Bird 28 White-winged Pileated, 180 Yellow-breasted Black Tern 57 Keel-bellied, 177 chat, 255 Crossbill 229 Ked-headed, 177 Yellow-crowned Scoter 137 Southern Downy. Night Heron, 109 Whooping Crane 178 Yellow-headed 112 Southern Hairy, Blackbird 102 WMe-mouthed 178 Blackbirds 102 Hawks 166 Woodpeckers, 176 Yellow legs, Widgeon 126 Banded, 177 Greater, 79 Widgeons 125 Black, 180 Lesser, 79 Wild Turkey 150 Black and White, Yellows-nosed (Air Willet 80 178 batross 22 Willow Ptarmig- Mottled, 176 Yellow nam 148 Scarlet-crested Kail 116 Wilsonia 253 canadensis 254 minuta 287 initrata 254 180 Three-toed, 179 Tri-colored 177 True, 176 Kedpoll 245 Warbler 246 Yellow-ruinped Warbler 237 pusillus 254 Wilson's Worm-eating Warbler 250 Xellow-throated Warbler 235 Thrush, 283 Petral 26 Phalarope 60 Plover 95 Winter Wren 275 Woodcock Wren, Bewick's, 274 Carolina, 273 Florida, 273 House, 274 Long-billed Marsh 276 Vireo 268 Yellow-throat, Maryland, 253 Northern 253 Southern, 253 Yellow- throats, 252 American, 65 European, 66 Loisanna Marsh 276 Yphantes 201 galbula 201 Woodcocks Marian's Marsh Zaelodia 230 Broad-quilled, C6 276 ludoviciana 230 INDEX. 317 melanocephala 231 macroura 151 albicollis 210 Zanaida 152 Zone-throated Spar- coronata 211 zanaida 152 rows 210 querula 211 Zanaida Dove 152 Zonotrachia 210 leucophrys 211 Zenaidura 151 ADDENDA including CORRECTIONS. Page 22, after Yellow-billed Albatrosses, for Thal- aissogeron read Thalassogeron. Page 33, after DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, for D read P. Pago 40, after Ice Gulls, for Gavia read Pagophila, and oext line below after IVORY GULL for G. read P. . Page 48, Fig. 57, insert IT before the ,. Page 58. after BLACK SKIMMER, for XIGAR read NIGH A. Page 60, Fig. 75. for b read a. Page (14, Fio-. 83, for b read c. Page 64, after WOODCOCKS AIS1D SNIPES, for Scolec*opac'idae ; read Scolopacidae. Page ()(>, for Fig. 58, read Fig. 85, and for b read a. Page 69, after Long-legged Sand-pipers, for Mi- cropalma, read Micropalama. Page 70, Fig. 89, for B read D. Page 71, Fig. 90, " " " ". Page 73, Fig. 91, insert e between D and 2. Page 79, Fig. 94, for f read j. Page 89, near center, for C read E. Page 91, insert AMERICAN between 1 and GOLDEN. Page 94, after BELTED PIPING PLOVER, for CIRCUM- CIXTA, read < IKCUMCJNCTA. Page 174, after description of Burrowing Owl add, 1* FLORIDA BURROWING OWL, S. if. FI.O.BIDANA. Differs from 1 in being nearly pure white below and the spot- tings above are white. Resident in Fla. Page 188, under Crested Flycatcher, 2d line, for, Breeds through eastern U. S. north into southern Canada, read, Breeds in Fla. Page 188 below description of Crested Flycatcher add, 1* NORTHERN CRESTED FLYCATCHER, M. c. BO- iiEUS. Similar to 1 but differs in being generally paler and in having a smaller, less strongly curved bill. Breeds in eastern IT. S. from Fla. north into southern Canada. UNIVEESITY OF CALIFOBNIA LIBEAEY BERKELEY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW Books not returned on time are subject to a fine of 50c per volume after the third day overdue, increasing to $1.00 per volume after the sixth day. Books not in demand may be renewed if application is made before expiration of loan period. 50m-7,'16 uji. i o u K v * y birds -of eastern North America M3 BIOLOGY N''V 1& 193 X 382258 JHP UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY