; "tS AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. CORNELL LAB of ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY AT SAPSUCKER WOODS Illustration of Snowy Owl by Louis Agassiz Fuertes Cornell University Library North American birds e Photo by Lispenard 8, Horton. NEST AND EGGS OF GREEN HERON. NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS BY CHESTER A. REED, B. S. AUTHOR, WITH FRANK M. CHAPMAN, OF “COLOR KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.”’ EDITOR OF AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY ILLUSTRATING THE EGGS OF NEARLY EVERY SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN — BIRDS NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1904 COPYRIGHT CHESTER A, REED 1904 PREFACE. The greatest interest in the study of birds centers in their home life. Soon after their arrival from their winter quarters, all birds take upon themselves the duties of reproduction, the first step of which is the se- curing of a satisfactory location; some species, such as Auklets, Pe- trels, Burrowing Owls, Kingfishers, Bank Swallows, etc., nest at the end of burrows or holes in the ground; a great many nest upon the ground, some laying their eggs upon the bare sand, leaves, or rock, while others build nests, either bulky or slight as suits their respective tastes ; hundreds construct their homes among the branches of trees or bushes, some close to the ground, others among the highest branches, and still others swaying from the ends of the outermost limbs; other species lay their eggs at the bottom of holes in trees, either in natural cavities or in holes dug by their own efforts, the most noticeable in the latter class being the Woodpeckers, which often chisel their way into limbs of living trees. The study of nests alone is most interesting; the rude and slight platforms of the Herons, Cuckoos, Grosbeaks, etc.; the rough but sub- stantial structures of the Robin; and the exquisite, architectural crea- tions of the Hummingbirds, Flycatchers, Orioles, Bush-tits, etc. Sure- ly the work of some of these little feathered creatures, these ‘““ homes without hands,’’ show as great a degree of skill and artistic tempera- ment as is seen in the human race. The eggs of the different species vary through all the tints from white to blue, green and brown, some unmarked, others handsomely specked, spotted, blotched or wreathed with different shades of brown, lilac and lavender, aad their sizes vary from that of the diminutive Hummingbird to the Albatross, Swan and California Vulture as the largest North American eggs, and the Ostrich of Africa whose egg will contain several quarts. The nesting season ranges from January with some of the Owls to August in the case of the American Goldfinch, but by far the majority of species lay their eggs during May or June. It is at this period dur- ing their lives, that birds are at their best; their plumage is the bright- est, their voices are the sweetest, and their actions the most brilliant. The purpose of this volume is to furnish a reference and guide to all bird students who may desire to study the home life of our feathered creatures, by a description of how, when and where they build their nests, and the appearance of theireggs. At some time during youth, PREFACE. the desire to collect something is paramount; it has very frequently culminated in the indiscriminate collecting of birds’ eggs, merely to gratify a passing whim or to see how large a number could be gotten together, without regard to classification. It is this in conjunction with the many natural enemies that birds have had to contend with, that has caused the great decrease in numbers of certain birds. It is neither the author’s wish nor intention that this volume shall tend in the least to stimulate this desire in our youths. Knowledge does not imply pos- session and it is far more enjoyable to intimately know the birds in life than to possess empty eggshells or stuffeds kins. Withthe exception of a very few species, we now have all the information that can be derived from specimens of either eggs or birds, and it is especially desirable to study their habits and peculiarities in life, as this has been sadly neg- lected in the desire to possess. In regard to the few rare birds whose breeding habits are practically unknown, it will probably be for the best if we remain in ignorance. While the discovery of nests of Kirtland Warbler establishes the breeding range of that bird and the probable route of migration, I fear that it will swiftly lead to the total extermi- nation of that very rare species. Those who are the possessors of cameras can get a great deal of pleasure by photographing nests with eggs or young birds in natural situations, just as they were found. The examples of this class of work found on the following pages are the best efforts of some of the leading workers in this field. In the preparation of this volume, the author has had the coopera- tion of many active field oologists and his thanks are especially due Col. John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass., Mr. Chauncey W. Crandall, Woodside, N. Y.. and Mr. John Lewis Childs of Floral Park, N. Y., each of whom kindly placed their very extensive collections at his dis- posal for study and photographing, and to the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia, for permission to photograph the egg of the Great Auk in their collection, their specimen being the best of the only two in this country, both of which were formerly in this institution. CHESTER A. REED. Worcester, Massachusetts, 1904. Nest and eggs of Green Heron........ Pott Mercer en ore et AL A frontispiece as a & Pied-billed Grebe). o.046.3 cancasea iid teens cam oees ted Page 3 we UG SN HOl DOC Grebe iss: s sorcan: up aes Bae aas Siecle toe a ines elee 4 es 6 > SELOTM eG Gre besakainas ns ciecebitae ean arena satecenannetsol meal a 6 ag fe EES TOO Di apeptencah otc vanciavatieen oaetaiae aaa wa autioad rie een aeons ae 8, 13 ee fe oe Herring Gulls ss sa senepasteniaacs ooh% paaliene aetekaues dbs 31 ele ue HS ACOMMO DN Were. as aais avasses eas Moss see Dds Soe ia ales Sune aU 39 ue a Foe VIGCAS LOOTING) tos o nih Soccer te eteecuate de AMS eek Oh te sei ctna een idee 43 ce se *€ “Yellow-billed Tropic Bird.............. 0... c cece eee eee 56 Nesting Gannets on Bird Rocks... 0. cccs ene asea eden cncemene addons dw aes 58 Nest and eggs of Double-crested Cormorants..................0.. 0000 e eae 61 He es ** checkin 2 rte a atte ee eee ee 223 oe a SE MB ODIC 4. bk Soak sees. Boa chars ene CR Ee Re eee 229 “ec 66 a -CanadaSays cate, ena hh saan eee ee a eee ree 233 spe a ‘« Yellow-headed Blackbird... 9.0.2.0... 0... e eee eeee eee 230 ae us ‘« Meadowlark TAG Saas eR RRO REE Tee eR LS wie ee te N@SPer SParrOwn wants auch Ousmane Tees SOC eRe eae 254 Grasshopper Sparrow on its Nest. .. . sivcisnhsdackmatee ede aera erates 260 Nest and eggs of Rose-breasted Grossbeak iw... se eee eee ee ee 275 ae a ‘Bank Swallow: ccsssec oe tees ae eRe ee EO ut es “ Loggerhead ‘Shrike: icin. 8 sc seench a ee see eee eee 284 Red-eyed Vireo om its Nest: 3 a cricn sian eh edges cane eames ee eve ee ee 287 Nest and eggs of Yellow Warbler. Ee Sane ere Rega ope eee OE) Ge et “ “Magnolia. Warbler: mocesey ne ciccananstelts eek treater 296 a fe fo Prairie Warbler. ccc ac ceteaclesie ne as <¢-eOverisDird., 0a 1c ee enter ener ee mI (10 cit i 6" awe Water-thrushyyccn 2.2 sees eae eR UE, se ve ~American: Red startisacet cence eaten eee a ae eee 307 oe a ‘ “‘Long-billed Marsh: Wren).< 32¢05.40.- dss sooo ees 315 Go uy ce “Townsend «Solutaires, sa aancseee ers eae ey ere eee 321 ae a 89 © Walle (Biuisin= bitin messenger eee ee eae ee 325 os gs s° Bluesoray eGniatcatcher:2- e425 sae ee ee eee 826 Wood LhrushcondNestynn eee tec eric Can eer eee a are eee 829 3382 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Diving Birds. Order I. Pygopodes ........ cece cece cece eens 1 Grebes; Family Podicipided., 22s ass. aesencce sac a cargos mation a erteene au ere 1 ToonSs— Maal y Gana Woes 20+ ae ovens vin GehetotSce as een giateianeial uae ghacneavn akin wee ek 5 Auks, Murres and Puflins. Family Alcidee .................0...... 11 Long-winged Swimmers. OrderII. Longipennes........................... 28 Skuas and Jaegers. Family Stercorarid®................0..000.000005. 25 Gulls-and ‘Terns. Pamiily: Daride:.:..c.dascscsvk Vocdenses see seavaauacce 2D Skimmers. Family Rynchopide .................0 00 ccc eee e eee eee 45 Tube-nosed Swimmers. Order HI. Tubinares..............0.0.....00.... . 45 Albatrosses. Family Diomedeide...........0....00000 00.00 cee eee 45 Fulmars and Shearwaters. Family Procellariide...................... 47 Totipalmate Swimmers. Order IV. Steganopodes....................0.00.. 55 Tropic Birds. Family Pheethontide: .. ..c..c000 6c. cece eae nen ens 55 Gannets. Family Salida ic)s:3.522003 94a atvsnl ete sania iad aus ceerene sts 57 Darters,. Family Amin g idee: ..sc<24: 2 ceccscasneny aacaceawmu eg neain ads aleess 60 Cormorants. Family Phalacrocoracide....................00 0.0.0.2... 60 Pelicans; RamilysAlaudidees toc .tus swstr cans aati ae 226 Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. Family Corvide.......................0... 228 Starlings. ‘Ramily with it, andis no longer a sub-species. It is twenty-four inches in length, has a light gray mantle and black prim- aries which are tipped with white. The Herring Gulls nest in colonies in favorable localities throughout their range, chiefly on the coasts and islands. A few pairs also nest on islands in some of the inland bodies of fresh water. Except in places where 3ult. they are continually molested, when they will build in trees, they place their nests on the ground, either making no nest on the bare sand, or building a bulky nest of seaweed in the grass on higher parts of the island. They lay three eggs of a grayish color marked with brown. In rare cases unspotted bluish white eggs are found. Size 2.8.x 1.7. Data.—Deer Is. Maine, June 11, 1891. Three eggs; nest of weeds and grass on high portion of the island. Collector, R. N. Knight. 52. Vega Gull. Larus rege. Range.—Coast of Alaska, south in winter to Califor- nia. Similar to the Herring Gull, but with the mantle darker, but not so dark as in the Western Gull. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the Herring Gull, except that in a series, the eggs of the Vega will average a little darker in ground color. It nests during May on the coasts and islands of Ber- ing Sea, placing its eggs in a hollow on the ground. Size 2.75 x 1.65. Data.— Yukon River, June 20, 1sv9. Nesta large mass of Bromnisn bute weeds on an island inthe river, Collector, J. Weston. NortTH AMERICAN Brirps EGGs. 33 53. California Gull. Larus californicus. Range.—Western North America, breeding in the interior. A smaller Gull than the Herring with the primaries gravish instead of black ; length twenty-five inches. This Gull is found in winter on the coast from British Columbia southward to Lower California, but nests in the interior from Utah northward. They nest very abundantly around the Great Salt Lake, placing their nests generally upon the bare ground, some- times there is a scant lining of grasses or weeds and again the nests will be situated in the midst of a tussock of grass. Three or four eggs generally constitute a set, but occasionally five are laid. The usual nesting time is during May. They show the same great varia- tions in color and markings common to most of the Gulls. Size 2.60 x 1.80. Data. —Pyramid Lake, Nevada, May 26, 1898. Slight nest of grasses on the rocks on an island. Collector, R. D. Wheeler, {Grayish brown.| 54. Ring-billed Gull. Zarus delawarensis. Range.—Whole of North America, breeding from the United States north- ward and wintering south to the Gulf States. A small Gull, eighteen inches in length, with a light gray mantle, black primaries with white tips, and always to be dis- tinguished in the breeding season by the black band around the middle of the greenish yellow bill. They nest in enormous colonies on islands in the interior of the country and in smaller colonies on the coasts. — Thous- ands of them breed on the lakes ofthe Dakotas and northward. The majority of them nest on the ground, although on _ the coast they are often found on the cliffs. They commonly lay three eggs placing them ina slight (Gray. | hollow in the ground, generally on the grassy portions of theislands. Thecolorvaries from grayish to brownish, marked with brown and lilac. The height of the nesting season is in June. Size of eggs, 2.80 x 1.75. Data.—Larimore, N. Dakota, May 31, 1898. Three eggs. Nest a hollow in the sand on an island, lined with a few grasses. Collector, T. F. Eastgate. Ky SZ 4 and grass and placed on the ground [Pale greenishbrown.| 34 NortuH AMERICAN Brrps EGGs. 55. Short-billed Gull. Larus brachyrhynchus. Range.—Breeds from the interior of British Columbia northward to Alaska ; south in winter to Lower California. The Short-billed or American Mew Gull is seventeen inches in length, has a short, stout bill and is otherwise similar to the preced- ing species. Nests on islands in the lakes and along the river banks of Alaska. The nest is made of grass, weeds and moss and is placed on the ground. Early in June the birds lay their set of three eggs, the ground color of which is green- ish brown marked with dark brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data.—Mackenzie River, N. W. T., June 18, 1900. Three eggs. Nest made of seaweed on an island in the river. (56.] Mew Gull. Larus canus. This is the European variety of the above species, breeding common- ly both in the British Isles and northern Europe. This species is given a place in our avifauna because of its accidental appearance in Labrador. {Pale greenish brown. |] 57. Heerman Gull. Larus heermani. Range.—Pacific Coast of North America from British Columbia south to Panama, breeding chiefly south of the United States border. A very handsome species, often called the White-headed Gull, and wholly unlike any other; length seventeen inches. Adults, in sammer, have the entire head, neck and throat white, this shading quite abruptly into the slaty upper and under parts ; the primaries and tail are black, the latter and the secondaries being tipped with white. The legs and bill are vermilion. They are found off the coast of California, but are not believed to breed there. They are known to breed on some of the islands off the Mexican coast nesting on the ground the same as the other species. The three eggs are greenish drab in color and are marked with different shades of brown and lilac. Size 2.45 x 1.50. NortH AMERICAN Birps EGGs. 35 58. Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla. Range.—Eastern North America, breeding from the Gulf to Nova Scotia, chiefly on the coast. A beautiful Gull, 16 inches long, with a dark slate colored head, gray mantle, black primaries, and white neck, underparts and tail. Bill and feet red. This bird has its name from its peculiar laughing cry when alarmed or angry; it is also called the Black-headed Gull. They nest by thousands on the islands off the Gulf Coast and along the South Atlantic States. The nest is placed on the ground and is made of seaweed. Three, four and sometimes five eggs are laid, of a grayish to greenish brown color, marked with brown and lilac. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data.—Timbalin Is., La., June 38, 1896. Three eggs. Nest [Pale grayish brown.] of drift grass thrown in a pile about 8 inches high, slightly hollowed on top, in low marsh back of beach. Collector, E. A. MclIlhenny. 59. Franklin Gull. Larus franklini. Range.— Interior North America, breeding from middle United States northward. Like the last but smaller and with the primaries light. Under- parts rosy in breeding season. Nests very abundantly in the marshes of Minnesota and north- ward. Nest made of grasses and placed in the marsh grass barely above the surface of the water. Eggs same color as the last but the markings more inclined to zigzag lines. Size 2.10 x 1.40. Data.— Heron Lake, Minn., May 26, 1885. Nest of wet sedge stalks and rub- bish placed in a bunch of standing sedge in shallow water; at least five thous- and birds in rookery. Collector, J. W. Preston. 60. Bonaparte Gull. Larus philadelphia. Range.—Breeds in the northern parts of North America; winters from Maine and British Columbia to the southern border of the United States. Smaller than the last; 14 inches long. Plumage similar, but bill slender and black. They nest in great numbers on the marshes of Manitoba and to the northward. The nests of sticks and grass are placed on the higher parts of the marsh and the usual complement of three eggs is laid during the latter part of June. The eggs are grayish to greenish brown, marked with dark brown and lilac. Size 1.90 x 1.80. Gg es ASS SS Z [Grayish brown. | [Pale grayish brown.] 36 Nortu AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. (60.1] Little Gull. Larus minutus. This Gull is the smallest of the family; it is a European bird, and has acci- dentally strayed to our shores but a few times. Its plumage is similar to that of the Bonaparte Gull but the bill is red. It breeds in the marshes around the Baltic Sea, placing its nest of dead vege- tation on the highest parts of the marsh. They lay three eggs of a greenish gray color marked with dark brown and lilac. Size 1.75 x 1.25. [Greenish gray. ] 61. Ross Gull. Rhodostethia rosea. Range.—The Arctic regions, south in winter to Alaska, Greenland, northern Europe and Asia. This beautiful bird is the most rare of all the Gulls, being very difficult to obtain because of its extreme northerly distribution. It is in form and plumage like Bonaparte Gull, with the exceptions that the head is white, there being a narrow black collar around the neck, the tail is wedge shaped, and the whole under parts from the chin to the tail are rosy in the breeding plumage. The nests and eggs remain still undiscovered, although Nansen, in August 1896, found a supposed breeding ground in Franz Josef Land, because of the num- bers of the birds, but found no nests. 62. Sabine Gull. Yema sabinii. 7" Range.—Arctic regions, breeding from Alaska and Greenland northward, and wintering south to New England. A handsome bird, having the slaty hood bordered behind with a black ring, the primar- ies black, white tipped, and the tail slightly forked. They breed abundantly on the marshes of northern Alaska and Greenland, nesting the same as others of the species. The two or three eggs are laid in June. They are greenish brown in color and are marked with dark brown. Size 1.75 x 1.25. Data.—Hudson Bay, August 1, 1894. Eggs laid on the ground in [Greenish brown. | the moss; no nest except the hollow in the moss. Collector, G. Comer. NortH AMERICAN Birbs EGGs. 37 63. Gull-billed Tern. Gelochelidon nilotica. Range.—Found in North America along the Gulf Coast and on the Atlantic Coast north to Virginia and casually farther. This is one of the largest of the Terns, is 14 inches long, has a short, thick, black bill and a short slightly forked tail; the crown is black, mantle pearly gray, white below. This species is very widely distributed, being found in Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa, They are known locally as ‘‘ Marsh Terns’’ where they breed in immense numbers on some of the marshes about the Gulf, particularly in Texas. They also breed on many of the islands along the Coast, rarely making any nest, but laying the eggs in ahollowin the sand. They nest most abundantly in the latter part of May, generally laying three eggs. They are of a yellowish, grayish or greenish buff color and are spotted with brown and _ lilac. Size 1.80 x 1.30. Data.— Northhampton Co., Va., May 28, 1882. Three eggs laid on a mass of seaweed on marsh above tide water. Collector, T.S. Hayward. [Pale greenish buff.| 64. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia. Range.—Like the preceding species, this bird is nearly cosmopolitan in its range, in North America breeding from the Gulf Coast and Texas northward to the Arctic Regions. This beautiful bird is the largest of the Tern family, being about 22 inches in length, with the tail forked about 1.56 inches. The bill is large, heavy and bright red; the crest, with which this and the next three species are adorned, is black. The mantle is pale pearl and the under parts white. These Terns some- times nest in large colonies and then again only a few pairs will be found on an island. In Texas, the breed- ing "Season commences in May, it being later in the more northern breeding grounds. They may be re- garded as largely eastern birds, as while they are com- mon in the interior of the country, they are rarely found on the Pacific Coast. Two or three eggs constitute a com- plete set; these are laid on the [Grayish buff.| sand in a slight hollow scooped out by the birds. They vary from gray to greenish buff, marked with brown and lilac. Size 2.60 x 1.75. Data.—Hat Island, Lake Michigan, July 1, 1896. No nest. Two eggs laid in a hollow in the gravel, Fully a thousand terns nesting on about one acre. Collector, Charles L. Cass. 38 65. Royal Tern. Sterna maxima. NortH AMERICAN Brirps EGGs. Range.—Temperate North and South America, breeding in the United States locally from Texas and the Gulf States northward to the northern boundary of the United States. The Royal Terns nest in great numbers on the coasts and islands on the South Atlantic and Gul States and in the marshes of south- ern Texas. Like the for- — , mer species they lay two or 4 three eggs ina hollow onthe | . bare sand. The eggs are the {t same size but differ in being \ tee more pointed and having a lighter ground and with the markings more bold and dis- tinct. Size 2.60x1.70. Data. —Ragged Is., Bahamas. No nest. Eggs laid onsand bank. Never have seen in the Tropics more than a single egg in a nest. Collector, D. P. Ingraham. 66. Elegant Tern, Sterna elegans. A De BE Oe f : : a wae OF mi fen oe: Bo oe eee Fone bea 2 - & . e a> 2 ee * (Grayish buff.] Range.—Pacific Coast of South and Central America; north to California in summer. {Cream color.] Cabot Tern. Range.—A tropical species breeding regularly north to the Bahamas and Florida; casually farther north.