ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY THE GIFT OF /h'cliard /^wj^ The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022564920 BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS A MANUAL FOB THE IDENTIFICATION- OF SPECIES IN HAND on IN THE BUSH By AUSTIN C. APGAR AUTHOR OF "trees of THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES," ETC. oXWo NEW YORK.:. CINCINNATI-:- CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY Copyright, 1898, by AMERICAN" BOOK COMPANY. APGAK'a BIRDS. W. P. 3 PREFACE Much interest and enjoyment may be added to our lives by familiarity with those most beautiful, sprightly, and musi- cal forms of life, — the birds. Yet few of us know or even see more than a very small part of the feathered songsters of our woods, fields, and waysides. The object of this book is to encourage the study of birds by rendering it a pleasant and easy task. The introductory chapters explain briefly the meaning of technical terms used by ornithologists. These chapters are designed chiefly for reference, a much smaller vocabulary being employed in the body of the book. The descriptions have been prepared with great care, and present several advantages over those in other books : (1) They are short, being limited to points essential to the identification of the species. (2) They consist generally of only two connected sen- tences, which can readily be recalled while looking at a bird. They are thus especially adapted for field use. (3) Sufficient reference is made to the changes due to sex, age, and season, without describing in any particular species all the phases found in nature. 4 PREFACE (4) They are adapted for the use of beginners in the study of birds, not for reference by ornithologists, who have access to more comprehensive vrorks. Keys, if properly arranged, furnish the easiest and most practicable method of enabling beginners to identify species. The Keys in this book were originally prepared as aids in discovering the names of birds by examination of their external features only. They were thus printed, and used by over a thousand students under the direct supervision of the author. Every difiiculty encountered by the pupils suggested to the author changes to render the Keys more effectual; and now, after their final revision, they are so simply and carefully arranged that even a child can follow them with ease, and discover by their aid the names of birds both in the hand and in the bush. Two series of Keys have been introduced : (1) Keys to be used only with birds in the hand; that is, with prepared skins, mounted specimens, or recently killed birds. These place emphasis on the parts which change least with age, sex, or season, and give exact measurements of these parts. (2) Keys to be used in the field for identifying the living birds that frequent our fields and groves. These emphasize such features as can be seen with the naked eye or through an opera glass, with the birds at some distance from the observer. In these Keys the birds are separated for conven- ience into groups, determined by their relation in size to our most familiar birds, the English sparrow and the robin. The illustrations were drawn especially for this work by Miss Ada Collins Apgar and Mr. Richard B. Farley, and their scientific accuracy and careful execution add much to PREFACE 5 the value and the interest of the book. The line under each cut represents an inch, and can be used in measuring the various parts. Its main purpose, however, is to show the scale of the drawing. If the line is half an inch long, it indicates that the illustration is one half as large as the living bird; if the line is but one tenth inch, the scale is but one tenth ; etc. The map on page 41 shows the territory covered by the birds described in this book. Because of the migration of birds, a book describing all the species of a given section necessarily includes nearly all those of regions extending hundreds of miles beyond. Hence the ground covered by this book practically extends to Ontario, Quebec, etc. In nomenclature and classification, the " Check List of North American Birds," by the American Ornithologists' Union, has been followed without any change, except a re- versal of the order of the families, the higher classes of birds being placed first. The numbers with the scientific names in parenthesis are in accordance with those in the Check List. These numbers will be found useful in com- paring the descriptions with those in other books where the same classification is followed ; also in labeling specimens of eggs, nests, or birds, without writing the full names. The common name at the beginning of each description is the one given in the Check List ; the names at the end in parenthesis are others in popular use. Scientific names are marked to indicate the pronunciation. The vowel of the accented syllable is marked with the grave accent ( ^ ) if long, and with the acute ( ' ) if short. Through the kindness of the authorities of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and of the American 6 PREFACE Museum of Natural History, of New York, the large collec- tions in both museums were placed at the disposal of the artists and the author. Thanks are due especially to Mr. Witmer Stone, Mr. Samuel N. Rhodes, Dr. J. A. Allen, and Mr. Frank M. Chapman for valuable advice and assistance. AUSTIN C. APGAR. State Normal School, Tkenton, New Jersey. CONTENTS PART I EXTERNAL PARTS AND THE TEEMU NEEDED EOR THEIR DESCRIPTION PAGE CHAPTER I. Birds and their Feathers 9 II. Head and Body . 14 III. The Bill 16 IV. Wings . .... 22 V. Legs 26 VI. The Tail . 31 VII. Voice, Movement, and Migration . . 34 VIII. Nests and Eggs 36 PART II key, classification, and description of the species Method of using the Key . . .39 Key to the Families of Birds . 42 ORDER I. Perching Birds ... ... 49 II. HUiMMINGBIRDS, GOATSUCKERS, EtC. . . 166 III. Woodpeckers and Wrynecks . . 171 IV. Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Etc. . . . 179 V. Parrots, Macaws, Etc. . . . . 183 VI. Birds of Prey ... . . 184 VII. Pigeons, Etc. . . ... 214 VIII. Gallinaceous Birds 219 7 CONTENTS ORDER IX. Shore Birds . X. Rait.s, Cranes, Etc. XI. Herons, Storks, Etc. XII. Tooth-billed Waders XIII. ToOTH-IilLLED SwiMMERS XIV. TOTIPALMATE SwiMMERS XV. TuBE-NOSED Swimmers XVI. Long-winged Swimmers XVII. Diving Birds . PAGE 227 254 263 275 276 306 314 320 337 PART III The Stody of Birds in the Field Key to Birds in the Field 349 355 PART IV Preparation of Bird Specimens 373 Glossary Index . 391 397 PART I EXTERNAL PARTS AND THE TERMS NEEDED FOR THEIR DESCRIPTION CHAPTER I BIRDS AND THEIR FEATHERS Thekb is no group in Nature which can be defined so accu- rately and so easily as that of birds. Birds are animals with feathers. All animals with feathers are birds. Many other peculiarities might be mentioned ; many statements might be made about the structure and the organs of birds, which would make us realize more comprehensively the differences between them and other animate forms. A complete definition is neces- sary for the ornithologist; but many years' work in botany and zoology in schoolrooms has convinced the author that such statements are beyond the comprehension of beginners, and that any attempt to force them on the pupils at the start results in loss of interest in the work. Full knowledge is a growth, hence the end, not the beginning, of the book is the place for a complete definition of birds. The great external parts of birds are the head, the body, the tail, the wings, and the legs ; these parts will be treated in subsequent chapters. The feathers form the covering, more or less complete, of all these parts. Feathers are the most won- derfully complex and perfect of skin growths. They not only protect the body from the effects of all atmospheric changes, 9 10 EXTERNAL PARTS but form the best and lightest of all flying organs. Some study of the parts of feathers and a knowledge of the descrip- tive terms applied to them are important. Parts and kinds of feathers. — Every feather ^ consists of the main scape, or stem, and the two webs. The scape has first the hollow portion, the calamus or quill, and then the four-sided solid portion, the rhachis, which ex- tends to the tip of the feather. The rhachis bears on each of its sides lateral processes called barbs. These, with the rhachis, form the spreading portion of the feather, the vane. The calamus has an opening at the bottom through which the pulp penetrates, and another open- ing, the superior aperture or umbilicus, on the lower side where the calamus joins the rhachis. The barbs are narrow plates obliquely joining the rhachis, and tapering to points at their free ends, their edges being directed upward and downward when the vane is horizontal. On the sides of the barbs are minute processes, called barbules, branching from the barbs as the barbs branch from the rhachis. These barbules are often serrated and terminated by little hooks which interlock with hooks on the next barbule. (All these parts can be seen with the naked eye, or by the aid of a magnifying glass. With a microscope, the barbules will be found to divide again into barbicels or cilia and hooMets, forming a fringe to the barbules.) This gives firmness to the vane. If there is no inter- locking of barbules, downy ^ feathers are formed. Sometimes the scape is very long, and the barbs are very short; such feathers are called filament ^ feathers, or filoplum.es. BinDS AND TBEIR FEATHERS 11 Many a feather' has, besides what is above described, another rhachis, on its lower side, called an aflershaft. This after- shaft joins the scape at the umbilicus, and has on its sides barbs and barbules about the same as those on the main rha- chis. This part of the feather, even when present, is, in all of our birds, much smaller than the main vane. The figure shows a feather from the back of the English sparrow, with an aftershaft, and, at the right, the aftershaft separated from the feather. The description so far given is that of the usual feather, and, if the aftershaft is present, of a complete feather. There are, however, many modifications of these forms, concerning which some knowledge is important. First, as has already been said, the aftershaft is frequently wanting. Sometimes the barbs are found on only one side of the rhachis ; this makes a one- sided vane. Frequently the barbs are lacking on both sides, thus changing the feather to a bristle,* as around the mouth, nostrils, and eyelids of most birds. Some- i^KsJ~~ times the barbs lack barbules on certain sections of »^*^^_: their length, forming feathers with transparent por- tions. Sometimes the barbs are so far apart that there can be no locking of barbules, even when present ; this causes the for- mation, in certain cases, of the most beautiful of plumes, as in the " aigrette " of the herons during the breeding season. In review, it is well to recall the types of feathers spoken of in the foregoing pages, and to notice examples of each, as shown in the English sparrow. 1. The typical feather, or pen feather, where the interlocking of the barbs is complete, as in the great quills of the wing. 2. The complete feather, where there is an aftershaft as well as the main vane, as in the larger feathers of the back. 12 EXTERNAL PARTS 3. The downy feather, or plume'- feather, where the stem is short and weak, the rhachis soft, and the barbs have long, slender, thread-like barbules without booklets. These are abundant everywhere over the body of the sparrow, under and among the feathers which form the outer coating. 4. The hairy^ feathers, where the stem is very long and slen- der and the vanes very small. These can readily be seen after plucking the feathers from the sparrow as, apparently, hairs scattered over the body. They are the parts singed off by the cook before preparing a bird for the oven. 5. The bristly feathers or bristles," where the rhachis lacks vanes either throughout, or toward, the external end. These are abundant around the mouth of the sparrow. Many feathers show in different portions two or even more of the above types. A complete feather may have a downy base, a. x>ennaceous center, and a bristly" tip. Location of different kinds of feathers. — The feathers which form the great bulk of the plumage of birds are called contour feathers. These usually consist of a perfect stem or quill at the base, an interlocked or pennaceous tip, and a downy por- tion between. They give outline, color, and most of the orna- mental appendages of birds. Among the different birds there is a wonderful variety of contour feathers. They range from the almost fish-like scales of the penguins to the magnificent gorget of the hummingbirds. In their various modifications they form almost all the gorgeous crests, tufts, ruffs, and plumes which render the birds the most beautiful of animate forms. These contour feathers can all be moved by muscles situated under the skin. Many birds have thousands of these feather muscles, by the aid of which the feathers can be made to stand erect, as can readily be seen in the turkey when its tail is erected and its feathers ruffled up, giving the bird the appearance of great beauty and of twice its usual size. Under these contour feathers and usually entirely hidden from view, but forming more or less of a complete covering to the body, there are the downy ' feathers. These have the plume- BIBDS AND TBEIR FEATHEBS 13 like structure throughout. They frequently consist of a stem without any rhachis, the barbs forming merely a tuft at the end of the quill. Finally, there are among the contour feathers, coming from the same holes in the skin, long, slender, almost hair-like parts, filament feathers, or hair^ feathers. These have little distinction of stem and rhachis, and almost no barbs at all, though some- times there are a few small ones near the end of the rhachis. Besides the foregoing, which can be found on nearly all birds, there are peculiar growths which are characteristic of certain groups, distinguishing them from others. Thus the herons and a few other birds have on their breast and hips downy feathers which continue to grow indefinitely; but as fast as they grow the ends crumble to powder, forming a whit- ish, greasy or dusty spot. These are called powder-clown tracts, and are covered with powder-down feathers. Very few birds have the feathers equally distributed over the skin. Most birds have the feathers closely placed on cer- tain patches or bands of the body, while other spaces are either entirely bare (as the lower breast and belly of the English sparrow), or merely covered with down. The penguins and toucans have the skin almost entirely and evenly covered with feathers, but the great majority of birds have large open or naked spaces as far as the skin is concerned, though the plum- age as a whole in most cases really covers the body com- pletely. There are a few exceptions ; thus the head and more or less of the neck are naked in such birds as the vultures, buzzards, etc. The general marking or coloring of a bird depends upon the changes in the coloring of its individual feathers. Mottled plumage is given by margined^ feathers; streaked plumage by striped* feathers; spotted plumage by dotted^ feathers, and barred plumage by cross-striped^ feathers. 14 EXTERNAL PARTS CHAPTER II HEAD AND BODY Certain regions of the head and body have received special names, which are much used in descriptions. A few diagrams and definitions of these parts will be necessary. The top of the head (see cut) is the crown; in front of this next the bill is the forehead ; back of the crown is the nape. Above the eye there is a region often marked by a peculiar color; this is the superciliary line, in this book usually called the line over eye. A line around the eye has been called orbital NOSTRIL IS4 ,! NA5/\L rOSSA ring. A straight band extending from the eye to the bill is called the lore; this strip is bare of feathers on many swim- ming birds. Below and back of the eye, in the region of the ear, are the auriculars. This region, including a little below it, forms the cheek. The back corner of the mouth forms the rictus. This section is often bristly with hairs which are called rictal bristles. HEAD AND BODY 15 The space just below the bill in front is the chin (see cut) ; 'below this, to about the bend of the closed wing (sometimes including the chin), is the throat. The greatest bulging portion of the body in front is the breast. From this backward, under the body, about to the legs in most birds, is the belly. Back of the position of the legs, in typical birds like the English sparrow, is the anal region (this is not marked on the diagram), and still further back is the crissum, or under tail coverts. From the hind neck about half way to the tail is the back; next comes the rump, and then the upper tail coverts. The under and upper tail coverts are formed of those feathers which cover the stem portion of the tail feathers. By the side of the back there are often a number of enlarged feathers, and these form the scapu- lars or shoulders. Under the wings' are the sides in front, and the flanks back of them. In the description of birds in Part II., the expression back or upper parts is often used, in a more general sense, to include all of the back, rump, etc. In the same way below is used to include nearly all the lower parts. 16 EXTEllNAL PARTS CHAPTER III THE BILL The bills of birds, although equipped with neither lips nor teeth, have many offices. They are implements for cutting, handling, and carrying ; they are organs of touch or feeling; they contain the nostrils for breathing and smelling. With the possible exception of the legs, no feature of birds is more varied in form, size, or appendages, or is more frequently used MOSTRIL IN , J NASAL rOSSA in systems of classification. Birds can often be classified into families by noting the peculiarities of the bill alone. It would therefore be well to study this chapter thoroughly before using the "Key to the Families of Birds." Parts of the biU. — The two great parts are the upper mandihle and the lower mandihle. These consist of projecting skull bones covered by a horny material, usually comprising one piece for each jaw. Both jaws are movable. The lower jaw, in most birds, has a great range of movement, while that of the upper jaw is but slight. In parrots this is reversed, the upper jaw having THE BILL 17 the greater range. The ridge along the upper side of the upper mandible is the culmen, that along the lower side of the lower is the gonys. The gonys extends from the tip of the bill to where the central ridge forks ; these two ridges at the base are called the rhami (singular rhamus). The angle of the gonys is between the gonys and the rhami. The openings in the upper mandibles are the nostrils. These openings are frequently found in grooved portions of the bill ; in such cases the groove is called the nasal fossa (plural /ossce). The gape is the whole opening of the mouth. Though rictus is sometimes used to mean the same thing, it is usually and more properly restricted to the back corner of the mouth as ex- plained below. The term commissure is used to indicate the edges of the mouth when closed, and the commissural point or angle is the back angle of the mouth. The word tomia is used to indicate the cutting edges of the mandibles. The rictus proper extends from the basal end of the tomia to the corner of the mouth. The covering of the bill. — The sheath-like covering of the mandibles is usually hard and horny as in the sparrows, but in many groups of birds it becomes, in part or as a whole, soft and skin-like, and is furnished with nerves of feeling. Most water birds, especially, have soft, leathery, or skin-like and very sensitive coverings to the bills, for feeling the food in the mud at the bottom of the water. A duck has a hard, so-called nail at the tip of the upper mandible.^ A pigeon has a bill, soft at base and hard at tip, and a soft, swollen membrane at the top base of the upper mandible, roofing the nostrils.^ Eagles, hawks, and parrots have a peculiar covering over the base of the upper mandible extending beyond the nostrils.^ This covering is so peculiar that it is given a special name, the cere,* because it frequently has a waxy appearance. In the 2 apgar's birds. — 2 18 EXTERNAL PARTS parrots the cere is generally covered witK feathers, and looks much like a part of the forehead, but 'as the nostrils open through it, it must be considered as part of the bill. Positions of the nostrils. — The nostrils are frequently in a sort of hollow which has already been spoken of as a nasal fossa} The groove, if long and narrow, is sometimes called the nasal sulcus.^ Many birds show no evident fossae at all, but the nostrils open flush with the surface of the bill.^ There are a number of terms used to denote the position which the nostrils occupy in the upper mandible. They are almost universally lateral,^ that is, on the sides of the mandi- ble, away from the ridge ; rarely they are culmitial," that is, together on the ridge of the culmen. The position on the sides, with reference to the width and length of the man- dible, is defined as follows : superior " indicates a position above the central line between the culmen and the tomia, and i»/f/'/or' below it; Sasa?* indicates a position at the fore- head; sub-basal'^ neax it; median^" half way between the base and the tip of the bill ; terminal " nearer the tip than- the base. Kinds of nostrils. — The nostrils are usually open or pervious. Sometimes they are not distinctly open, in which case they are said to be impervious. Usually the two nostrils are sepa- rated by a partition ; they are then said to be imperforate}^ Earely it is possible to see through the nostrils from side to side, as in the turkey buzzard, when they are said to be per- forate.^^ Forms of nostrils. — A linear'^* nostril is elongated and of ^^ ^^ ^® ^ G THE BILL 19 about equal width throughout; davate, or club-shaped,^^ indi- cates an enlargement at the end nearer the tip of the bill, and ovate^^ at the end nearer the base of the bill. An oral" nostril is widest near the middle and wide for its length, while an elliptical ^ one is narrower. If the nostril is about as wide as long, it is called circular; ''' if there is a raised border to the circular nostril, it is called tubular.'^ Appendages to the nostrils. — The usual plan is to have the opening through material like the covering of the rest of the bill, of soft skin in the snipes, and of horn in the sparrows. Some- times there is a special piece of about the same material as the bill either above or below the nostril, called a nasal scale.^ A more frequent appendage consists of feathers proper or bristle- tipped feathers. These are usually frontal feathers, more or less changed into bristles, often entirely filling the nasal fossa3, and frequently so covering the base of the bill as com2)letely to cover the nostrils.^^ This is well seen in the crow and in the blue jay. Sometimes the nostrils have special feathers of their OAvn. If these are separated and quite feather-like, they form nasal tufts.^ When not separated but extending from side to side, they form a ruff.-'^ Those feathers or bristles which are turned forward are called retrorse.^^ Other appendages to the bill. — The base of the bill is, in hawks, etc., covered by a special membrane extending beyond the nostrils; this is called a cere}^ Something somewhat cere-like, but consisting of an enlarged and sivollen rnem- 20 EXTERNAL PARTS brane ' extending over the nostrils, is found in the doves and in the pigeons. The rictal portion of the mouth is frequently- fringed with longer or shorter hairs ; these are called rictal bristles} Shape of the gape. — The gape is straight ^ when the commis- sural line, formed by the tomia and the rictus, is straight. This line may be curved,'^ sinuate* or ungulate.^ General size and form of the bill. — The length of the head is used to measure the length of the bill. A long " bill is longer than the head, a short ^ bill shorter, and one of medium length is about as long as the head. A compressed^ bill is one flat- tened sideways, so that its height is greater than its width. A depressed ^ one is flattened up and down, or is wider than high. A straight '"' bill is not only straight throughout its length, but is also in line with the head. If not in line with the head, it is said to be bent}^ A recurved " bill is one that curves upward, and a decurved^^ bill one that curves downward. A bill may be decurved throughout, or it may have merely a dec%irved tip}* The usual bill is sharp-pointed at the end and is called acute}' If it has an abrupt and somewhat rounded end, it is obtuse}^ Acuminate " indicates not only an acute end, but a slender bill as well. If very slender and sharp, it is called at- temtate}^ In some cases, as among the hummingbirds, still more emphatic words are needed to denote slenderness and sharpness. Subulate'^^ is more emphatic than attenuate, and acicular indicates the extreme limit in this direction. THE BILL 21 A bill is hooked ^ when the upper mandible is abruptly curved over the lower. In such cases the mandible often has teeth along its edge, and the word dentate '^^ is used ; if there are a number of teeth of about equal size, the word serrate ^ is used. Spatulate, or spoon-sliaped,^ indicates a bill much depressed as well as widened at the end. Cultrate, or knife-sJiaped,-^ indicates a much compressed bill with sharp edges. Falcate, or scythe- shaped, indicates a curved, cultrate one. In the crossbill, the upper and lower mandibles are oppositely falcate.^ The ducks, geese, and a few other birds have a peculiar set of ridges just within the edges of the mandibles, in certain cases looking much like teeth ; they are called lamellce, and a bill that has them, lamelktte.^ Besides the foregoing general terms, applying more or less to all bills, there are some special forms which have been given names that are frequently used in descriptions of birds. These need to be well fixed in mind. Conirostral indicates such a bill as the English sparrow has, — stout at base, conical in form, and with the gape so angulated as to bring the corners of the mouth down. Conirostral bills are sho7-t ^ in the sparrows and long^ in the orioles. The swallows, etc., have fissirostral^ bills. In this class of bills the culmen is very short, but the gape is both wide and deep, — about as wide as the head and so deep as to reach to the eyes. The creepers and the hum- mingbirds have tenuirostral^^ bills. The tenuirostral bill is slender, long, and has a rather short gape. The snipes have longirostral ^ bills ; the bill is elongated, nearly equal in size throughout, and with the upper mandible grooved for the slit- like nostrils. 22 JEXTERNAL PARTS CHAPTER IV WINGS Use. — The general purpose of a wing is to be an organ of flight, and in most birds this is its principal use.. In a few- birds the body is too large and the wings are too small for this office. This is true in the ostrich and a few swimming birds. These use their wings to lighten their weight on the ground and possibly to aid them in running. In a few species, as in the penguins, the wings are not covered with feathers and quills, but with scale-like parts. In these, the wings act almost like the fins of fishes, and just like the paddles of whales and of porpoises, and enable the bird to move through the water almost if not quite as rapidly as any of the fishes. Some birds, as the divers, the dippers, etc., use their wings both for flight and for swimming. Many birds can use their wings as pow- erful weapons in fighting, and some have them fitted with strong and sharp spurs to render them the more useful for this office. Most birds make use of their wings to protect their young from enemies and from storms. Parts. — The bones and the flesh of the wings consist of four readily seen parts, — the up2xr arm, the forearm, the pinion, and the tliumh. Feathers. — The quills or remiges are the stiffest, strongest, and most pennaceous (pen-like) of feathers, and form the spread WINGS 23 of the wing. These form the flight feathers proper. Their number is smallest in the hummingbird (16) and very large in the albatross (50 or more). Most of the other feathers are small and very weak ; they are used for covering up the bases of the quills, both above and below, and for this reason are called wing coverts. Besides the remiges and coverts of the wing there is a third group of small quills, fastened to the thumb. These quills form the alula or little iving ; they are generally of little use to the bird. Quills. — The remiges or quills are readily divided into three groups, according to the joint of wing to which they are attached. Those fastened to the pinion are called pri- maries ; those to the forearm, secondaries; and those to the upper arm, tertiaries or tertials. This third term is generally applied rather indiiferently to the inner secondaries, those attached to the elbow, which are frequently different in form, size, and color from the other secondaries. Primaries. — In number, the primaries are wonderfully uni- form, being in almost all birds either nine or ten. Not only is 24 EXTERNAL PARTS there great uniformity with birds in this number, but the posi- tion of a bird in a system of classification can often be deter- mined most readily by the number of the primaries and the comparative length of the outer oy first primary . Secondaries. — The secondaries vary in number from only six in the English sparrow to upwards of forty in the albatross. These secondary quills are sometimes peculiarly colored ; among some of the ducks they are very bright and iridescent. Such a colored spot on the secondaries is called a speculum^ Sometimes the secondaries are very much enlarged and brilliantly marked, as in the Argus pheasant, and sometimes of remarkable shapes, as in some tropical birds. The inner secondaries are much elongated in the larks and in the snipe, and in the grebes they are all so long as to cover the primaries completely when the wing is closed. In the chimney swift and in the hummingbirds they are peculiarly short. Tertiaries or tertials. — The quills growing upon the upper arm — the true tertiaries — are not very evident upon most birds, but two or three of the inner secondaries are frequently conspicuous for either their length or their coloring; these are attached to the elbow and are the feathers which in the descriptions of the birds are generally called tertiaries. Sometimes conspicuously enlarged feathers on the shoulders, though not quills at all, are described as tertiaries. It is unfortunate that there is so little definiteness in the use of this term, but students will usually be right in considering any specially enlarged or peculiarly colored feathers about the shoulders of birds as being called tertiaries, as, for example, the enlarged inner secondaries of the larks, snipes, etc., and the peculiarly marked ones of the sparrows. First primary and point of wing. — When qnills are com- pared in length, the comparison refers to the position of their tips when the wing is closed. The iirst primary is the outer one, seen from below, and is often very short, as in the blue- bird ; frequently it is nearly as long as the longest; rarely it is the longest of all. Technically speaking, the expression j^rsi WINGS 25 primary refers to the outer one of ten, as though we always considered the number to be ten ; if there are only nine primaries, the first one is absent, and the series begins with the second. In other cases where there is a very short one beginning the series, the first primary is called spurious. In this book, which is written neither for anatomists nor orni- thologists, but for beginners, no such technical use of the term will be attempted. The first primary - will always refer to the first apparent quill as seen from below at the outer edge of the wing. The point of the wing is frequently formed by about the third quill. ^ Sometimes, in what are called rounded wings,* the fifth or sixth forms it, while in the pointed wings '' of the swallows it is formed by the first. Coverts. — The feathers covering the bases of the primaries usually show imperfectly if at all on the closed wing, and are generally not mentioned in the descriptions of birds. The coverts fastened to the forearm on the upper side are the most important, and in many birds regularly form three series, as in the English sparrow.* The longest are called greater coverts. The next in size are called middle coverts. Each of these consists usually of a single row of feathers of nearly equal length. The last, called the lesser coverts, are generally small feathers in several rows. One or more rows of the coverts are apt to have their ends of a decidedly different color from the rest of the wing; these bands of color are called luing hars.^ The English sparrow has one white wing bar formed by the tips of the middle coverts.' The under side of the wings has under coverts, but these are rarely mentioned. The first primary and its length as compared with the others are important points to be determined in classifying most song birds. By raising the wing, if the bird is alive, or has been recently killed, the first primary will be readily seen. 26 EXTERNAL PARTS If the bird is mounted, any raising of the wing should be prohibited as it would permanently injure the specimen. If the bird has been properly mounted for study, the wings will be spread enough to allow the first primary to show. If not, the feathers of the body can usually be pressed away from the wing by the tip of a pencil, enough to enable one to see it. The first primary is said to be spurious^ when only about one third the length of the second, and slwrt - when two thirds as long. In many birds of prey and in many shore birds, more or less of the primaries are rather abruptly narrowed on their inner webs ; such primaries are said to be emarginate or notched.' If not so abruptly narrowed, the word attenuated * is used. These words do not refer to the tip of the quill itself; it can be rounded, acute, or even acuminate. Forms of wings. — The three great varieties of wings are the long and po»t?e(? ' (swallows), sJiort and rounded'^ (wrens), and the ample, or both long and broad (herons). CHAPTER V LEGS Use. — The legs of birds serve many minor purposes in the different groups, besides the general one of locomotion. A large majority of birds perch on stems and hop (leap or jump would be more accurate words for the purpose) from twig to twig. The woodpeckers and many others climb up the surfaces of tree trunks; ducks swim; the grebes dive; and the parrots grasp and handle. In the use of the organ for locomotion there are wonderful differences in the various families. The LEGS 27 ostrich can run more rapidly than the horse, the barn fowls can walk and run, the bluebird can only leap or hop, while the auks can scarcely waddle. The legs, like the bills, show a wonderful variety of modifi- cation in the different groups of birds. A careful study of either or both these parts will enable one to place any bird into its proper family. The use of the legs as a means of classification makes this chapter an important one, and it should be thoroughly studied before any attempt is made to determine the names of birds by the aid of the Key. Parts. — The terms applied to the different parts of the legs of birds will be better understood by the student if he recalls what he learned in physiology about the bones of his own leg, and then compares the joints with those in the legs of a bird. In the sparrows and a large proportion of other birds, the space from the heel to the claws is all that shows of the leg (see cuts, pp. 15 and 22) ; these parts are called tarsus and toes. The tibia is entirely hidden by the feathers, and the thigh is so united with the skin of the body as to seem a part of it. In the grebes even the tibia is confined by the skin of the body. The joint which bends forward in the hind limbs of all ver- tebrate animals is the knee, and the joint which bends back- ward is the heel. An examination of the horse's hind leg will show that it also has its heel as near the upper as the lower end of what appears to the eye as the leg, and that the knee is fastened to the body by the skin. Covering of legs. — The thigh is feathered in all birds. The tibia is also feathered in most of the higher birds ; but among wading birds there are on the tibia all stages of covering, from a completely feathered covering in the woodcock to one almost completely scaly in the stilts. The tarsus in most birds is scaly, but the grouse have it more or less completely feathered. Most of the owls have the tarsus fully feathered, and many of them the toes also. The barnyard fowls often have curious tufts of feathers on otherwise bare sections ; some of the wild birds also have some odd tufts irregularly placed. 28 EXTERNAL PARTS The parts of legs which are bare of feathers need close observation, as the kind and arrangement of the scaly covering of these parts have much to do with the classification of birds. The commonest arrangement is to have a distinct row of squarish scales down the front of the tarsus, as in the Eng- lish sparrow. Sometimes such a row is also found down the back, as in most snipes ; occasionally there is found a row down the outside of the tarsus, as in the flycatchers. These large, squarish scales are called scutella, and the tarsus is described as scutellate in front,^ in front and behind,^ or in front and along the outer side,' as the case may be. In the bluebird and in some others these front scales are so completely grown together as to look like a continuous covering ; such a tarsus is said to be booted.* In many cases a portion of the tarsus, and in the geese the whole, is covered with small scales not very regularly arranged. These seem to form a fine network, and portions having such scales are said to be reticulate.^ The scutellate portions are different from the reticulate in another way. Scutella show as somewhat overlapping scales, and the whole forms a solid covering, but the small scales which form the reticulation are rather imbedded plates not touching at their edges, and the covering is apt to be more or less loose and pliable ; rarely, these plates are elevated at their centers, and thus form tubercles, as in the fish hawk; such a leg is said to be granulated.''' Sometimes a row of plates of any kind will be so roughened, in a regular way, as to be properly called serrated.^ The toes are almost invariably scutellate along the top. The tibia, when bare of feathers, has scales much like those of the tarsus, and of course the same words are used for their descrip- tion. In some cases this part is covered with loose skin with- out any scales at all. LEGS 29 Length of leg. — The proportional length of leg and body of birds is extremely variable. The leg is very short in swallows and in all true swimming birds, medium in sparrows, longer in hawks, very long in the ostrich, and exceedingly long in cranes, stilts, and wading birds generally. The tarsus varies from about one thirtieth to one third the full length of the bird. Number and arrangement of toes. — The usual number of toes is four, and among the birds of our region there are but few exceptions. The only other number represented in our fauna is three ; but the ostrich lias only two. When the toes are four in number they are arranged in three ways. The most com- mon of all is shown in the sparrow, in which there are three toes in front and one behind} In order to understand the modi- fications of this common plan, it is well to give names and numbers to the toes. The hind toe represents the great or inner toe of the human foot, and is called the hallux or first toe ; the inner front toe is the second toe ; the middle one the third toe; and the outer the fourth toe (see cut, p. 16). These, •with few exceptions, have the following number of joints : the first toe two-jointed, the second three-jointed, the third four-jointed, and the fourth five-jointed. Some of our birds have the first toe absent, as will be shown hereafter ; all the rest have joints as given, except the goatsuckers, which have but four joints to the fourth toe. The second plan for the arrangement of four toes is shown in the woodpeckers, parrots, etc. In these there are two in front and two behind.'' The first and fourth toes are behind, and the second and third in front. The third plan is represented in the owls. In these, the first toe is permanently behind, the second and third perma- nently in front, and the fourth can be used either in front or behind,* and for this reason is called a versatile toe. 4st 30 EXTERNAL PARTS AVheii there are but three toes, the usual arrangement is to have them all three in frmit} This is the same as the arrange- ment in the sparrow, except that the first or hind toe is want- ing, the three toes in front being the second, third, and fourth toes of the usual four-toed birds. Examples of this arrange- ment are found among the plovers. One of our vi^oodpeckers lacks the first toe, and the fourth toe is thrown behind. This gives the last arrangement of three-toed birds ; viz. two in front and one behind.^ It will thus be seen that the first toe is in many cases en- tirely wanting. From its absence to its reaching the length and strength of the front toes, there are all possible grades found in the feet of our birds. The kittiwake gull has the hind toe so small and wart-like (often without any claw), that it is readily overlooked by beginners in ornithology. Most of our plovers have just three toes, but the black-bellied plover shows a minute hind one. All of our barnyard fowl have a short hind toe, and in them, as in other birds with the first toe short, it is elevated ' above the level of the front toes. Appendages of toes. — Tlie toes of birds have claw-like nails ; these are called claws (or usually nails in this book), and vary much in strength, length, and curvature. They are so strong on birds of prey that they have the special name talons.* The hind claw is very long and almost straight ' in the horned larks. In the grebes, the claws are much flattened* and resemble human nails. The herons and a few other birds have a curi- ous saw-like ridge along the inner side of the middle claw ; in these cases the claw is said to be pectinate.'' In many birds, the basal portions of some of the toes are more or less grown together. This growing together reaches the maximum in the kingfisher, where the outer and middle toes are united for half their length.' THE TAIL 31 The principal union of toes is through their connection by a thin, movable membrane; this, whether small or large, is called webbing. In many families of birds, the three front toes have a distinct webbing at base only ; if this webbing does not reach more than half way, the feet are semipalmate.'^ In the ducks, terns, etc., the front toes are webbed to the claws. This plan, which is so common, is called palmate}'^ A few of our birds have all four toes joined by a full webbing, and for this arrangement the word totipalmate " is used. Some birds with more or less webbing at the base of the toes have, in addition, a stiff, spreading membrane along the sides, sometimes lobed, sometimes plain ; this plan is called lobate}^ In the sea ducks, the front toes are palmate and the hind toes lobate ; ^^ in the grebes, the front toes are lobate. Many of the snipes have a narrow border along the edges of the toes, but not wide enough to be called lobate ; these are said to be margined}'^ CHAPTER VI THE TAIL Use. — The general office of the tail is to guide the bird in flight, but it is also used for other purposes. The wood- pecker climbs trees, and the chimney swift climbs and rests on the sides of chimneys by its aid. Kinds of feathers. — The feathers of the tail, like those of the wings, are of two sorts : quilUih? feathers and coverts. The true tail feathers, or rectrices, are stiff, pennaceous, well-devel- oped feathers having a strong quill and a broad, spreading vane, with rarely any plain aftershaft, or downy portion. The inner side of the vane is wider than the outer. The number 32 EXTERNAL PARTS of tail feathers is almost always even, and varies from none to upwards of thirty. This statement seems to indicate great variation among birds with reference to the rectrices ; in reality there is but little variation, as a very large proportion of birds have twelve, and the numbers eight, ten, twelve, and fourteen, will include all except a few odd forms, most of which are not found in the region covered by this book. The rectrices have their bases covered, both above and below, by short feathers called upper tail coverts and lower tail coverts. Arrangement of rectrices. — The central pair of tail feathers is above all the others, and each successive pair outward lies under all the preceding ones. Forms of rectrices. — A tail feather of the English sparrow illustrates the usual form. It can be seen to widen gradually toward the tip. The more important variations from this type are the lanceolate,^ where the vane is widest near the base, and gradually narrows toward the tip ; the linear,^ where the vane is narrow throughout; and the filamentous,^ where it is very narrow, as in the outer tail feathers of the barn swallow. Varieties of tip and texture. — The usual tip is rounded;'' if very abruptly and squarely tipped, it is said to be truncate; if obliquely and concavely cut off, incised; if regularly sharp- pointed, acute; if abruptly sharpened, acuminate.^ Most acu- minate feathers are apt to be stiff and are used as an aid in climbing ; such feathers are said to be rigid. Some feathers, while having the vane rounded, have the rhachis extending as a hard point beyond it ; in this case the feather is spinous '^ or mucronate. If the vane, instead of having its margin straight, has its edge in rounded curves, it is said to be cremdate. Some- times the rhachis curves upward at the center ; in this case the feather is said to be vaulted or arched. If the bending is side- THE TAIL 33 wise, it is described as curved outward or inward, according to the side which sliows the bulging outline. Shape of the tail as a whole. — The usual shape of the tail is like that of a fan, but there are many and very important modifi- cations of this form. Some of these are characteristic of certain groups and are much used in classification; thus most terns can be separated from the gulls by this feature alone. If the tail feathers are even in length, the tail is said to be even, square, or truncate.'' If the central pair is the longest, and each successive outer pair is shorter, the tail is graduated.^ If each pair is shorter by a constant amount, the tail forms a regular angle, and might, if at all common, be called an angu- lated^ tail. A much commoner variety is said to have each successive pair shorter by an increasing amount ; this forms the rounded tail ; ^ sometimes each successive pair is shorter by a decreasing amount, and this forms a wedge-shaped or cuneate tail. If the central pair is excessively long, the tail is said to be exserted;^ when not so excessively elongated, it \s pointed. The opposite of graduation is very common among birds ; that is, each successive outer pair is longer than the preceding pair. If this is true merely to an inappreciable extent, as in the English sparrow, the tail is emarginate ; ^'' but when the difference is great enough to make a very distinct angle, as in the chipping sparrow, the tail \s forked; " and the prefixing of the word slightly or deeply tells how great the forking is. In deeply forked tails, like those of the barn swallow, the outer rectrices are narrowed so as to be filamentous. Such tails are said to be forficate.^ Sometimes there is a combination of the two plans above given. If the middle pair is short, and about three pairs out- ward are successively longer, and the last two successively shorter, the outer and middle pairs having about equal lengths, a doubly rounded^'' tail is formed. If the middle pair is long APGAR'S BIRDS. 34 EXTERNAL PARTS and the next two or three pairs successively shorter and the rest successively longer, a doubly forked tail is the result. This variety, though common among sandpipers, is so slight a forking that doubly emargiiiate'^ would be a better term. In examining a tail to discover to which type it belongs, the student should be careful to spread the feathers but little. An emarginate tail might readily be made to appear square or even rounded by widely spreading it, and a truncate tail would always be changed to a rounded one. The upper and lower tail coverts consist of numerous short feathers, and are never wanting, though the upper ones are often very short, as in the ruddy duck, and sometimes very long, as in the peacock, where the upper coverts, and not the rectrices, form the gorgeous tail of the male bird. In some of the storks the under coverts form the elegant plumes. The under tail coverts form the crissum of a bird. CHAPTER VII VOICE, MOVEMENT, AND MIGRATION The sounds made by birds are so peculiar, and so different from those that can be represented by letters, that any attempt to form such sounds into words is sure to prove more or less of a failure. The only successful way to learn a bird by its notes, is to see the bird while hearing it. Afterwards the sounds will reveal the bird. Beginners can hardly appre- ciate the variety of notes a single bird can make. Some have thought the only noises a catbird makes are those made when disturbed. The fine songs of birds are always made when undisturbed. Birds sing different c'Ongs at different seasons, but the finest of all are those made during the nest- ing time. A number of birds that seem to have no vocal powers during the greater part the year, sing sweetly in the VOICE, MOVEMENT, AND MIGRATION 35 spring. A still greater number, which merely chirp at other times, trill a long series of notes during mating time. It is practically only the male that sings ; the female chirps. Nothing adds more to the enjoyment of nature than a knowl- edge of the notes, songs, and warblings of the birds. No teacher or book can give you more than a start toward the attainment of this knowledge. Two rules only can be given : (1) Learn to know birds. (2) Carefully observe them and listen to their songs. As soon as you have learned to know birds, you will find among them many differences besides those of voice, form, and color. The places they frequent, — pond, marsh, meadow, up- land, shrubbery, or forest, — in the water, on the ground, among the rocks, on the trunks of trees, or in the tree tops, — are as varied as their notes. Their habits of sitting, their course in flight, their method of starting, their ways of coming to rest, are all peculiar to each bird. Their solitary or social habits, their friendly or quarrelsome ways, are also well worthy of observation and study. The way they flit their tails, the way they nod and twitch their heads, the way they use their feet, are other peculiarities that will aid you in recognizing them. You will have to acquire this kind of knowledge out of doors. It cannot be taught in schoolrooms. It cannot be taught to any extent even by a teacher who accompanies his pupils on their trips. The teacher and books have done their work when they have given the names of the birds. The rest you must do for yourselves. Among the most interesting of all the peculiarities of birds, are the migrations of a large proportion of them. Many live and nest in the far north, hundreds of miles beyond the limits of the United States, and go south to the Gulf States, in the winter, traveling more than a thousand miles to their new abode. These, for the northern United States, are but binls of passage. Others, while nesting in Canada and Labra- 36 EXTERNAL PABTS dor, spend their winters in the middle or the western states, and form for those sections winter residents. Still others nest with us and go south in winter to the Gulf States, or even to the West Indies and South America. These are summer resi- dents. Some endure and even seemingly enjoy all the changes of climate any of our localities afford ; these stay in the same place throughout the year. They form our resident birds. Doubtless many of those species which may be found at all seasons are somewhat migratoi"y ; that is, the individuals we have in the winter come from places somewhat further north, and those that are here in the summer find warmer places further south in the winter; but some birds, like the English sparrow, never migrate. CHAPTER VIII NESTS AND EGGS There is no better or more useful work than to watch birds build their nests, hatch their eggs, and raise their young. After the student is able to recognize birds without difficulty, he is prepared to watch them and to learn all he can of their ways of living, their mating, their singing, their nesting, their eggs, their young, etc. It is not difficult to observe birds without disturbing them. An interest in living birds will soon lead the student to love them, and then he will be able to act when near them so as not to annoy or interrupt them in their work. We have all read of men who could go among the most timid animals without disturbing them, and probably some of us have envied such people. But that power does not come spontaneously ; it is gained only by careful attention to the peculiarities of the animals, the result of interest in their habits, which will lead to, if it does not begin with, an affection for them. Those who love birds find no great difficulty in NESTS AND EGGS 37 studying their habits. A good opera glass -will enable a person to see a bird as well as though it were at half the distance. When at a distance of fifty feet it can be seen as distinctly as with the naked eye at a distance of twenty-five feet. Most birds can be approached as near as fifty feet by a person who has no gun and who shows by his actions that he does not in- tend to harm them. This book is written chiefly to help you to recognize birds, not to tell you all about them. But if you are interested in the study it will be a great pleasure to you to learn all you can about the birds that frequent your locality. Through book study alone no complete knowledge can be gained of birds or indeed of any animals. On the other hand, there are facts about the life history of migratory birds as well as the distri- bution of all birds, which can be learned only from the com- bined observations of many people, in many places, and so can be acquired only by reading. After you know a bird well enough to recognize it easily, it might be well for you to read a little about it, then watch it, listen to its song, examine its nest, observe all its habits. After that you will be ready to read with advantage and appreciation anything that has been written on the subject by creditable authors. When examining birds' nests and eggs, do not handle them. It does no good, and may cause the bird to desert the nest. After the young birds have left the nest, you can without any harm secure it for your cabinet. In the chapter on preserving specimens you will find directions for cleaning eggs. Any extensive collections of eggs by students generally should not be encouraged; no eggs should ever be gathered without certain knowledge of the species of the bird. Such eggs are absolutely worthless for a collection. The variety of eggs which a single species lays is in many cases very great, and the number of species which lay similar eggs is also great, so there is no certain way of determining- eggs except by obser- vation of the birds. Your love for the birds, your feeling of horror at their useless destruction, and your desire for their 38 EXTERNAL PARTS protection and increase ought to make you slow to interfere with their nests and eggs. Single eggs of most birds can be carefully taken from nests, without special harm. More than this should never be appropriated except for the purpose of completing great collections, which can be studied by thou- sands of people. Such institutions as the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the National Museum in "Washington, and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Phila- delphia, should of course be supplied with full sets of eggs with their nests. The educational value of such collections overbalances the injury done. But the usefulness of private collections is not great enough to justify the injury to the birds. A collection for the educational uses of a school, made by taking single eggs from nests, answers all the ordinary demands. PART II KEY, CLASSIFICATION, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES METHOD OF USING THE KEY Caution. — In using the Key, never read any statements exce]Dt those to which you are directed by the letters in paren- thesis. Rule. — First read all the statements following the stars (*) at the beginning of the Key ; decide which one of these best agrees with the specimen you have. At the end of the chosen one you will find a letter in parenthesis ( ). Somewhere be- low, this letter is used two or more times. Read carefully all the statements following this letter; at the end of the one which most nearly states the facts about your specimen, you will again be directed by a letter to another part of the Key. Continue this process until instead of a letter there is a number and a name. The name is that of the Family to ^^■hich your bird belongs. Turn to the descriptive part of the book where this family number, in regular order, is found. The headlines on the right-hand pages will show you which way to turn for the family sought. Under all Families of more than three species, another Key will enable you to determine the species. The illustrations are as accurate as they could be made in black and white, but too much reliance must not be placed upon them. The student must remember that there are sea- sonal sexual, local, and even individual differences as well as 39 40 KST AND DESCRIPTION the great variations for age. The whole description should be read before deciding. The measurements of parts are very important and should always be noted. Generally these meas- urements are only average ones, and some differences may be allowed for. In order to judge of the amount to allow, notice the extent of the variation in the length of the wing as given in parenthesis. Other parts vary in about the same proportion. Dimensions are always given in inches and such fractions thereof as are found on all common rulers. The "length" of the bird is the distance from the tip of bill with the neck extended to the end of the longest tail feather. In mounted birds, allowance must be made for thS curved neck. The ''iving" is the straight distance from the bend of the wing to the tip of the longest primary. This can always be accurately determined from any specimen ; and so throughout the book, in both keys and descriptions, great use is made of this measurement. The " tail " is the length of the long- METHOD OF USING THE KEY 41 est tail feather to the flesh in which it is fastened. This cannot be accurately measured without feeling (by placing the thumb and first finger above and below the tail coverts) for the fleshy mass to which all tail feathers are attached. The ''tarsus" can be readily measured. It is the distance from the joint at the heel to the toes. The word " culmen " is almost always used in the book instead of " bill," because its measurement is more easy and certain. It is the straight dis- tance from the beginning of the bill at the forehead to the tip. The " toe " measures only the length to the base of the nail. If length to the tip of nail is intended, the expression " toe and nail " or « toe and claw " is used. The name at the beginning of each description is the common name of the bird as decided upon by the American Ornitholo- gists' Union; the names at the end in parenthesis are other names in more or less cgmmon u§e. 42 KEY AND DESCRIPTION For convenience of reference the pictures of bird parts are repeated in the Key. The map on p. 41 shows the portion of the United States covered by the birds in this book. KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS * Swimming birds : legs rather short ; three front toes either with full webbing,! or with such membranes along their sides ^ as to take the place of webbing. (All birds with the front toes webbed to about the nails will be found in this group, excepting one very long-legged bird with the tarsus 12 inches or more long. All the illustrations in this book, from p. 279 to p. 348, are of swimmers.) Key to the Families of Swimming Birds, p. 48. * Wading birds : legs in most cases much elongated ; tibia always ex- serted, and in most cases more or less naked below (see p. 248); tail relatively short ; few have the tail extending beyond the tip of the wings when closed ; toes frequently with more or less webbing at base,^ sometimes narrowly lobed along the sides. (Some species of these birds live habitually in dry localities, but their forms are very characteristic, and only a few ground birds, such as the meadow lark or quail, could possibly be placed in this group. All the illus- trations from p. 227 to p. 275 are of waders.) Key to the Families of Wading Birds, p. 46. * Birds fitted neither for swimming nor for wading. (A.) A. With only 2 toes In front, and in most species 2 behind ;* eyes on the side of the head, as is usual with birds. (Q.) A. Eyes in a facial disk, and thus directed forward instead of side- wise ; ^ outer toe can be used either before or behind — — Nail of middle toe smooth on the inner side XXVII. Horned Owls, etc. — Nail of middle toe saw-like on the inner side « XXVIII. Barn Owl. A. With 3 toes permanently in front and 1 toe (rarely absent) be- hind ; ' eyes directed sideways. (The vultures, p. 212, are excep- tions, as the outer toe can be used behind as with the owls : these are large birds, with the head and neck nearly bare of feathers.") (B.) ^-^ -^ KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 48 B. Bill hooked and with a distinct membrane (cere) at the base, extend- ing past the nostrils ^ — — Head fully feathered, or nearly so XXIX. Hawks, etc. — Head and neck naked or merely covered with hair" XXX. Vultures. B. Bill without cere, and in most cases not strongly hooked. (C.) C. Hind toe short, small, inserted above the level of the others ; ' front toes with a plain webbing at base ; ' bill generally stout, short, and horny ; i'' outer primaries of the wing curved and usually stiff ; ground-living game birds — — Wing, 4-1.5 inches long XXXIV. Grouse, etc. — Wing over 10 inches long XXXIII. Turkeys. C. Bill straight, the horny tip separated from the base by a narrow por- tion ; nostril opening beneath a soft, swollen membrane ii (hard and somewhat wrinkled in mounted birds) XXXI. Pigeons. C. Bill stout, straight, longer than the head ; i^ feet with the outer and middle toes grown together for half their length ; ^ tarsus very short XXIII. Kingfishers. C. Bill very slender and long ; " the smallest of birds ; wings not over 2; long in our species XIX. Hummingbirds. C. Bill with the top ridge or culmen very short, but the gape both wide and deep, reaching about to the eyes ; ^^ gape usually three times as long as the culmen. (0.) C. Not as above. (D.) D. Inner secondary quills lengthened, nearly as long as the primaries in the closed wing ; i^ nail of hind toe much lengthened and generally straightened ; " the ground birds called "larks." (N.) D. Inner secondaries not especially lengthened ; the first primary short,i8 never more than | as long as the longest, usually less than J as long, sometimes barely noticeable on the under edge of the wing." (J.) D. With neither the inner secondaries very much lengthened nor the first primary much shortened ; the first primary always more than I as long as the longest quill. (E.) E. Bill broad, depressed, wider than high at base, usually tapering to a point, which is often abruptly hooked. 2' (H.) ^ 44 KET AND DESCEIPTION (E. Bill slender, about as high at base as broad, and regularly curved downward from the base to the very acute tip.i The Bahama Honey Creeper (636. Ccereba bahamensis) , of the family Ccer^bidse, has been found in southern Florida.) E. Bill higher than broad at base.^ (F.) F. Bill stout at base, and with the gape so angulated as to bring the corners of the mouth downward ;2 a * s 6 lo no lobes or nicks along the cutting edge of the upper mandible. (G.) F. Bill stout, with convex outline, and with lobes or nicks near the center of the upper mandible,' but not crossed at tip ; wing, 3^ long ; tail even XII. Tanagers. F. Bill stout, compressed, notched, and abruptly hooked near the tip ; 8 plumage olivaceous ; tail without either white or yellow blotches ; wing, 3f or less long VIII. Vireos. F. Bill not as above, little, if at all, hooked ; colors in most species bright and distinctly marked ; tail feathers generally blotched with white VII. Wood Warblers. G. Upper ridge of bill extended backward so as to divide the feathers of the forehead ; ^ ^ <■ no notch at tip of bill or bristles at the rictus (if any bristles can be seen they are less than J^ of the length of the bill) ; bill not over | as high at base as long, in most species less than J as high XIV. Blackbirds, etc. 6. Ridge of bill not especially extending upward on the forehead (except in a few very stout-billed birds with the bill as high as long) ; bill usually short, stout, and conical.' ^ i" * XIII. Finches, etc. H. Rictal bristles absent ; nostrils overhung with bristles ; tail short, even, and tipped with a yellow baud ; head crested, i' . . X. Waxwings. H. Rictal bristles numerous and long.i'^ (I.) I. Tarsus with a sharp ridge behind and a distinct row of square scales (scutella) merely down the front ji" wing, 2-2| long; no crest VII. Wood Warblers (Flycatching) . I. Tarsus rounded behind and with the scutella lapping round on the outside of the tarsus about to the back portion ; i* wing, 2J-5| long ; crest small or none XVIII. Tyrant Flycatchers. J. Tarsus (booted) covered with a continuous plate along the front ; '^ ZEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 45 no distinct squarisii scales, except near the toes (a very young tird of this group will show scutella, but they are gradually fused together as the bird grows older) — — Wing, 2^ or less long II. Kinglets. — Wing, 3 or more long I. Thrushes, etc. (J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with a row of rectangular scales in front and behind ; '^ wing, 7-9 long ; tail, 9-11 long. .XXXII. Curassows.) J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with distinct rectangular scales only along the front. lii " (K.) K. Bill stout, compressed, distinctly notched and hooked at tip ; nostrils and rictus with bristles ; * '8 no crest — — Wing, 2-3| long VIII. Vireos. — Wing, 31 or more long IX. Shrikes. K. Bill, if hooked at tip, having the nostrils without bristles extending over them ; in most species the bill is not hooked. (L.) L. Tail feathers acute-pointed and somewhat stiff ; i^ bill slender and decurved ; 1 back mottled brown ; belly white IV". Creepers. L. Tail feathers rounded at tip and the outer ones white ; bill slender and somewhat notched at tip ; back bluish-gray ; belly white ; wing, 2-24- long II. Gnatcatchers. L. Not as above, but with the tail feathers rounded at tip and soft. (M.) M. Bill long and stout; nostrils covered with bristly feathers™ (ex- cepting a western, dull, blue-colored jay); large birds, 10-25 long. . XVI. Crows, etc. M. Bill rather slender ; culmen more or less curved ; nasal feathers not directed forward over the nostrils ; tail rounded ; either small birds, 4-6J long, with barred quills,^! or large birds, 8-12 long, with quills not barred V. Mocking Birds, Wrens, Thrashers, etc, M. Bill neither notched at tip nor much decurved ; nostrils concealed by dense tufts of bristly feathers ; small birds, 4-7 long III. Nuthatches, etc. M. Bill with the culmen about straight ; wings about 5 long ; tail about 2| long and square at tip XV. Starlings. N. Nostrils overhung with bristly feathers ; tarsus (scutellate) with a row of nearly square scales, behind as well as before ; ^^ nail of hind toe longer than the toe and nearly straight ; bill not very slender . . . XVir. Larks. 46 KEY AND DESCRIPTION N. Nostrils exposed ; tarsus not scutellate behind ; nail of hind toe very long but curved ; i wing, 3-3^ long VI. Pipits, etc. N. Nostrils exposed ; wing over 3J long ; breast with yellow XI\". Meadow Larks. N. Not as above ; some forms in XIII. Finches, etc. 0. Plumage mottled browns and soft ; middle toe much longer than the side ones ; its nail (pectinated) witli saw-like teeth on the inner side^ XXI. Goatsuckers, etc. 0. Plumage compact ; nail of middle toe not pectinated. (P. ) P. Tail of stiff feathers (in our common species the tail is rounded, with stiff shafts extending beyond the webs) ^ XX. Swifts. P. Tail without stiff feathers and never rounded, often forked and witli- out spinous tips ; head never crested XI. Swallows. P. Tail nearly square ; its feathers tipped with yellow, head crested*. . . X. Waxwings. Q. Bill stout and decidedly hooked, higher at base than long ; bright- colored bn'd with yellow, orange, and green feathers XXVI. Parrots. Q. Bill stout and straight ;^ tail feathers stiff and acute-pointed'' XXII. Woodpeckers. Q. Bill various, but always somewhat curved and without teeth along the cutting edge ; tail long, of round-tipped soft feathers XXV. Cuckoos, etc. Q. Bill short, broad, and decidedly toothed ; ' tail long, of 12 broad feathers XXI\'. Trogons. Key to the Families of Wading Birds * Toes in front webbed to the nails like the duck's ; ^ bill with teeth-like ridges, also like the duck's ; legs with the tarsus 12 inches or more long ; Florida XLIX. Flamingoes. * Nails of the toes excessively lengthened and nearly straight ; nail of the hind toe much longer than its toe ; ^ southern Texas XXXV. Jacanas. * Birds with neither full-webbed toes nor nails lengthened and straight- ened. (A.) KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 47 A. Head with a horny shield on the forehead ; i" in other respects fully- feathered XLII. Rails, etc. A. Head with more or less of naked tracts (free from feathers but usually with some hairs) in front of the eyes or around the eyes ; ^^ i^ gome species have the head entirely naked. (H.) A. Head fully feathered and without horny shield. (B. ) B. Bill hard throughout and not sensitive (a peculiar smoothness of bill of dried specimens will show that the bill was hard in life). (E.) B. Bill weak and soft, at least at base, often long and slender ; if short, pigeon-like ; hind toe always less than half the length of the inner one, sometimes absent ; (dried specimens usually show the surface of the bills so roughened or dull in color as to indicate their soft condi- tion when alive). (C. ) C. Toes with lobed membranes along their edges as wide as the toes, sometimes wider ; '^ tarsus much flattened sideways ; body flattened below . . . XLI. Phalaropes. C. Legs exceedingly long, the tarsus over 31 long. XL. Avocets, etc. C. Tarsus less tlian 3; long; toes with no wide membranes along their edges. (D.) D. Bill usually shorter than the head, pigeon-like, the soft base sepa- rated by a narrow portion from the hard tip ; 1* toes only three (one species has a hind toe | inch long) ; tarsus (reticulate) with rounded scales in front XXXVIIL Plovers. D. Bill slender ; nostrils narrow, exposed slits in elongated grooves ex- tending from a half to nearly the full length of the bill ; '^ tarsus (scu- tellate) with transverse and more or less square scales in front XXXIX. Snipes, etc. E. Bill, 2J-8 long. (G.) E. Bill, ^2flong. (F.) F. Tarsus, middle toe and nail, and bill each about 1 long ; the bill nearly straight ; wing about 6 long XXXVII. Turnstones. F. Not as above ; tarsus usually shorter than the middle toe and nail ; if the tarsus is about 1 long, the wings are much less than 6 long XLII. Rails, etc. G. Bill nearly straight, much flattened sideways and very blunt at tip ; 1° toes only three and webbed at base. XXXVI. Oyster-catchers. G. Bill somewhat curved downward ; tarsus, 3 J-6 long ; wing, 10-14 long XLIII. Courlans. G. Bill about straight ; tarsus, 6-12 long ; wing, 16-25 long ; young : XLIV. Cranes. O- ^ 48 KEY AND DESCRIPTION G. Bill very broad and flattened, twice as wide near tip as at the middle ; ^ young XLVIII. Spoonbills. H. Nail of middle toe (pectinated) with a flue, saw-like ridge on the inner edge ;2 bill straight, acute, and with sharp cutting edges XLV. Herons, etc. H. Nail of middle toe without saw-like teeth. (I.) I. Bill very broad and flattened, twice as wide near the tip as at the middle i XLVIII. Spoonbills. I. Bill narrow, about as wide as high, gradually and decidedly curved downward for its whole length ^ XLVII. Ibises. I. Bill either narrow, straight for half its length and then curved downward, "i or else a very large bill (over 2 high at base) with tlje end curved upward^ XL VI. Storks, etc. I. Bill higher than broad, about straight, not very acute ;S very large birds over 40 long, witli very long necks and legs. XLIV. Cranes. Key to the Families of Swimming Birds * Hind toe present and connected with the inner toe by a webbing; i.e. all four toes webbed.' (E.) * The front toes bordered by broad membranes for their whole length ^ — ' — Diving birds with legs at the end of body LXIV. Grebes. — Legs near center of body. XLI. Phalaropes, or XLIL Rails, etc. * The three front toes connected together by webbing.' (A.) A. Bill with teeth or ridges along the edges, easily seen from the lower side 1° L. Ducks, etc. A. Bill with the cutting edges even. (B.) B. Legs inserted so far back along the body that the bird in standing has to take a vertical position (see p. 342) ; diving birds — — No hind toe LXII. Auks. — Hind toe present, short LXIII. Loons. B. Legs so inserted that the body in standing takes nearly a horizontal position. (C.) C. Nostrils tubular, the tubes near together at the top of the bill ; ^^ wings less than 1-3 long LVII. Shearwaters, etc. C. Nostrils tubular, the tubes on the sides of the bill near the base ; wings, lG-30 long LVIIL Albatrosses. ^==^ OBDER I. PERCHING BIRDS 49 C. Nostrils not tubular but slit-like. (D.) D. Upper mandible decidedly hooked at tip and plainly made up of separate pieces, one forming a kind of roof to the nostrils ; i^ tail dark-colored, with the middle feathers lengthened LXI. Jaegers. D. Upper mandible not made up of separate pieces and at least as long as the lower mandible LX. Gulls, etc. D. Bill flattened sideways and knife-like ; the lower mandible' longer than the upper one i' LI X. Skimmers. E. Bill straight or slightly curved. (G.) E. Upper mandible decidedly hooked at tip, hawk-like." (F.) F. Tail, 14-20 long and forked for half its length ; space in front of eyes bare of feathers '^ LI. Man-o'-War Birds. F. Tail, 5-10 long ; bill less than 4 ; plumage dark. LIII. Cormorants. F. Tail, 5-8 long; bill 8-15 long ; plumage light LII. Pelicans. G. Bill stout at base and slightly curved near tip ; is wing, 14-22 long. LV. Gannets. G. Bill slender and nearly straight ; wing, 12-14 long ; neck very long LIV. Darters. G. Bill stout, slightly curved ; wing, 10-12 long. . .LVI. Tropic Birds. ORDER I. PERCHING BIRDS (PASSERES) This is the highest and much the largest order of birds ; it contains nearly half of our birds (those east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States) and more than half of all known birds. In it are found the finest of the songsters. The toes are four in number, three in front and one behind. The front toes are divided about to their bases and have no webbing or membrane along their sides. The hind toe is on a level with the rest and as long as the shortest front toe. The legs are slender, comparatively short, and so placed as to give the body, when at rest, a horizontal position. In size these birds range from very small to medium; from the size of a kinglet to that of a robin, or a little larger. 12 13 apgar's birds. — 4 50 KEY AND DESCRIPTION FAMILY I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. (TtJRDID^) This large family (300 species) is usually separated into sev- eral subfamilies. The Thrushes are generally large, hopping birds, noted for their song, plain colors, and usually spotted breasts. The tail is nearly square tipped, of wide, soft feathers. They are woodland birds of migratory habits; even when, as in the case of the robin, Av^e have them throughout the year, it is probably true that those with us in the winter came from places far- ther north, and those which are found here ' in the summer wintered farther south. Townsend's Solitaire The first primary is a very short one ; i bill rather long and slender ; the upper mandible usually with a slight notch near the tip. Nostrils oval, the bristly frpnt feathers nearly reaching but never concealing them ; rictus with bristles ; ^ tarsus booted.^ Key to the Species * Tail about an inch shorter than the wings. (A.) * Tail about as long as the wings and with its outer (under) feathers broadly tipped with white ; bill peculiarly broadened at base and hooked at tip. Townsend's Solitaire (754. Myadestes townsindii), which is pictured above, is sometimes found east of the Rocky Mountains, though its usual habitat is westward to the Pacific. It is a dull brownish-ash-colored bird with wings from 4 to 4 J inches long. * Tail slightly longer than the wings ; no white on the tail, but the under tail coverts chestnut. The catbird might be looked for here, as its tarsus is somewhat booted. It will be found in Family V., p. 65. FAM. I. THBUSHE8, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 51 A. Plumage more or less blue, rather brightly so on the tail 9. Bluebird. A. Head and tail quite dark colored, almost black ; outer (under) tail feathers tipped with white ; breast brownish . . 6. American Robin. A. Tail blackish, the outer feathers tipped with white ; a dark collar across the breast ; western 7. Varied Thrush. A. Outer tail feathers white at base but broadly black tipped ; upper tail coverts white 8. Wheatear. A. Tail without white or blue ; breast spotted ; general color brownish. (B.) B. Upper parts reddish on head, shading to olive on rump and tail 1. Wood Thrush. B. Upper parts olive on head, shading to reddish on rump and tail 5. Hermit Thrush. B. Upper parts from forehead to tip of tail of almost the same shade of color. (C.) C. Upper parts reddish from head to tip of tail 2. Wilson's Thrush. C. Upper parts olive throughout. (D.) D. Throat, breast, and ring around eye a rich creamy-buff 4. Olive-backed Thrush. D. No distinct buffy eye ring, and the throat and breast nearly white, with only a slight buffy tinge ; a grayish blotcli in front of the eye 3. Gray-cheeked Thrush. 1. Wood Thrush (755. Turdus mus- teUnus). — A large, common, brown- ish-backed thrush, with white, heavily spotted under parts, including the sides. The crown is a bright cinnamon-brown, and the back gradually changes in shade to an olive-brown on the tail. It is not at all confined to the woods, as its name would indicate, but is often seen on shaded lawns and in shrubbery. Its power of song is very great, com- paring well with that of any of the thrushes. Wood Thrnsh Length, 8 ; wing, 4^ (4-4|) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus. \\; culmen, |. Eastern United States; breeding from Virginia and Kansas northward, and wintering south to Central America. Wilson's Thrush 52 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 2. Wilson's Thrush (756. TArdus fuscescens). — A large thrush, with a dull cinnamon-brown back, uniform in tint from head to tail. Its throat, belly, and sides are white ; its breast buffy, delicately marked with tri- angular brownish spots. A retiring, though not par- ticularly shy bird, inhabit- ing the dense woodlands, especially low, wet ones, and usually to be found nearer the ground than the wood thrush. Its notes are among the sweetest given by any bird, but it is impossible to write them in words or music. Its peculiarly weird song must be heard to be appreciated, (Veery ; Tawny Thrush.) Length, 1\ ; wing, 4 (3}-4^) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1| ; oulmen, f. Eastern North America from Ontario southward; breeding from nortliern Ohio and New Jersey northward, and wintering mainly south of the United States. The Willow Thrush, a variety of the last (756°. T.f. salidola), is a little larger, and has the upper parts less tawny, a russet-olive color, only a slight buff tint to the throat, and very few spots on the white breast. Length, 7| ; wing, 4 ; tail, Z\ ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, |. Rocky Mountain region, occasionally east to Illinois and possibly to South Carolina. 3. Gray-cheeked Thrush (757. Turdus aUcice). — A uniformly olive-backed thrush, with the middle of throat and belly white, the sides of throat and breast faintly buffy, spotted with tri- angular marks, and a whitish eye ring. In front of the eye there is a grayish blotch. A shy bird, of which but little is known, as it has been confused with the variety, Bicknell's Thrush, next given. (Alice's Thrush.) Length, 7J ; wing, 4|- (3|-4f) ; tail, SJ ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, \. East- ern North America ; breeding mainly north of the United States, and wintering south to Central America. Bicknell's Thrush, a variety of the last (757". T. a. Ucknelli), is somewhat brighter colored and smaller. Length, 6|; wing, 3| (3|-3J) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 1^; culmen, \. Breed- FAM. I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIBDS, ETC. 53 ing in the mountains of the northeastern states and Nova Scotia ; migrat- ing south in winter. Song very much like that of Wilson's Thrush. 4. Olive-backed Thrush (758*. Turdus ustulhtus sivainsdnii). — A uniformly olive-backed thrush with the v^hole throat, breast, and eye ring a deep cream-buff, and the space in front of the eye the same color, instead of grayish as in the last species. A very shy bird, rarely seen, but often heard in notes simi- lar to the hermit thrush's, though not so sweet. Its summer home is among the firs and spruces of the north. Olive-baoked Thrush Length, 7| ; wing, 3| (3^-4J) ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, i. East- ern North America, mainly in the mountains ; breeding from northern New England northward, and migrating in winter to South America. 5. Hermit Thrush (769''. T4rdus aonaldschkm palldsii).- — A small thrush with olive-brown back changing abruptly to cin- namon-brown near the tail ; the throat and breast somewhat buffy, with dark roundish spots abun- dant on the sides of the breast ; middle of the belly white. A retiring, though not especially shy, bird, with about the sweet- est and purest notes given by any of our feathered friends. Length, 7 ; wing, 3J (3J:-3J) ; tail, 2| ; tar- sus, IJ ; culmen, |. Eastern North America ; breeding from the north- ern Alleghanies northward, and wintering from the northern states southward. Hermit Thrush 54 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 6. American Robin (761. MSrida migratdria). — A very com- moB, large, red- or brown-breasted, slate-colored bird, with white on the throat, lower belly, and tips of the outer (under) tail feathers. The ^^ head and tail are much blacker than the back. The breast is unspotted except in very young birds. The robin is a noisy bird, but with less powers of song than any other of the American Eotin thrushes. Length, 10; wing, l)\ (4J-5|) ; tail, 4[ ; tardus, If ; culmen, |. Eastern North America ; breeding from Virginia northward, and wintering irregu- larly from Canada southward. 7. Varied Thrush (763. HesperoctcJila ncl'ma). — A large slaty- backed bird with much orange-brown below and on the wings, and a dark collar across the breast. The tail is blackish, and the outer (under) feathers broadly tip- ped with white. This bird is about the size of the robin, belongs to the Pacific coast, but has been seen a few times in the Eastern States (New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, etc.). (Oregon Robin.) Varied Thrush 8. Wheatear (765. Saxkola mndnthe). — A small, northern, light-gray-backed, whitish-bellied bird, with black cheeks and wings. The fore- FAM. I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIEBS, ETC. 55 head, upper tail coverts and basal half of the tail feathers are white, the rest of the tail black. Female similar, but duller and browner. Young with much cinnamon- brown and without the cheek stripe. (Stone- chat.) Length, %\; wing, 4 (3|-4|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, -1. An Old World species breeding in Labrador and straggling southward to the United States (Maine, Long Is- land, New Orleans). Wheatear 9. Bluebird (766. Si- Mia sidlis). — A very common, small, blue-backed, chestnut-breasted, white-bellied bird. The female is more of a grayish-blue. Till the introduc- tion of the English sparrow, this bird was to be found everywhere around our homes. Its sweet, joyous singing welcomed in the spring, and its sadder notes of autumn told of the dying year. From southern New York and Illinois southward, it is to be found throughout the year. In the northern portion of its winter range a few can generally be found liv- ing near cedar groves. Length, G3; wing, 4 (3|-4;) ; tail, 2} ; culmen, J. From the Kocky Mountains eastward throughout the United States, north to Ontario. The Mountain Bluebird (768. Sialia Arctica), a large bird without chest- nut on the breast, and with a more ^^ greenish-blue on the back, has been occasionally seen east of the Eocky Momitains. 56 KEY AND DESCRIPTION FAMILY II. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, WARBLEHS (SYLVIIDjE) This family includes a large subfamily (100 species) of Old World Warblers not represented in America, and two small subfamilies rep- resented in our fauna. The Kinglets are very small, musical, tree- loving, active, oliva- ceous birds, with, in ,;\>^^hj»| the adult, some bright yellow or red on the crown, and a short, even or notched tail. „ ,, , „. , The Gnatcatchers are Golden-orowned Kmglet ■ i i very small, sprightly, ashy-colored, woodland birds, with long, graduated tails. Our species build very beautiful nests among the high branches of the trees. Key to the Species * Outer (under) tail feathers shortest i and white ; tarsus soutellate ; ^ colors gray 3. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. * Outer (under) tail feathers about the longest and without white; tarsus booted ; ^ colors, olive-green with usually a yellow, orange, or ruby-colored spot on the crown. (A.) A. Crown patch bright-colored, bordered with black 1. Golden-crowned Kinglet. A. Crown patch, if present, ruby-colored, but without black 2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 1. Golden-crowned Kinglet (748. Rdgulus satrapa). — Avery small, olive-green-backed, whitish-bellied bird, with a bright crown patch of gold or orange color, margined with black. The FAM. II. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHEBS, ETC. 57 male has orange and yellow; the female, only yellow. The kinglet is a fearless, nervous, quick-moving bird, found abun- dantly flitting among the most slender twigs of the trees at the proper season. The voice of the kinglet is marvelously rich and the singing unusually continuous for so small a bird. Length, 4 ; wing, 2i (2-2 1') ; tail, 1} ; tarsus, | ; culmen, J. North America in general; breeding from the northern states northward (in the mountains as far south as North Carolina), and wintering throughout most of the states, south to the Gulf or even into Central America. 2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (749. Regains caMndula). — This bird is like the last, ex- cepting that there is no black on the head ; the fe- male even lacks the bright crown patch of color, and the male is apt to keep his bright red feathers hidden. The female and young ap- pear just like warblers (the American warblers belong to Family VII.), but are de- cidedly smaller than any of the olive-green-backed species, excepting those which have bright yellow below or conspicu- ous white blotches on the tail feathers, seen when the bird is in flight. Length, 4} ; wing, 2|: (2-2|) ; tail, 1 } ; tarsus, J ; culmen, J. North Amer- ica in general ; breed- ing mainly north of the United States (in the Rocky Mountains farther soutli ) , and wintering from the Carolinas south to Central America. 3. Blue -gray Gnat- catcher (751. PolidptUa cmrUea). — A very small, bluish-gray bird, Kuty-orowned KiBglet Bine-gray Gna-toatclier 58 KEY AND DESCBIPTION with blackish, wings and tail ; the outer (under) tail feathers are white, the forehead marked with a black border, and the under parts lighter and duller than the back. The female is without the black on the forehead. This is a bird usually- found among the upper branches of forest trees, and though his song is sweet and varied, it can be heard but a little dis- tance. His call note, a sharp tmg, is readily heard. Length, 4; ; wing, 2J (2-2}) ; tail, 2J ; tarsus, J ; oulmen, f. Middle and southern sections of the eastern United States ; breeding from Illinois and New Jersey southward, and wintering from Florida to Central America. It is rarely, though sometimes, found as far north as Maine and Minnesota. FAMILY III. NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES (PARIDiE) A family (100 species) of small birds, forming two widely separated subfamilies. The Nuthatches are small, active, rest- less, creej)ing, short-tailed, long-winged birds, marked with white, black, and brown colors. These noisy, but not musical, sharp-billed birds are among the most nimble of creepers, scrambling about in every direction, with the head downward as often as in any other position. They derive their name from the habit of wedging nuts into crevices of the bark, and then hacking or hammering away with the bill till the shell is broken. These nuts form only a small portion of their food ; generally they are insect eaters. The Chickadees are all small, active, short-billed, long-tailed birds. Our species are plain birds of white, black, and ashy colors. The titmice, which are included in the subfamily, are conspicuously crested, while the chickadees proper are without crest. The latter are so called from the notes they utter, chicJc-d-dee. Key to the Species * Tail about as long as the wing and graduated ; i bill less than a half inch long, and stout for its length. (B.) * Tail about half the length of the wing and square ; bill a half inch or more, long and slender. (A.) A. White below with rusty brown only on the under tail l coverts X. White-breasted Nuthatch. FAM. in. NUTBATCHES AND CBICKADEES 59 A. Under parts generally with much rusty brown ; crown black (male), or bluish-gray {female) ; a white stripe over eye 2. Red-breasted Nuthatch. A. -Crown and sides of head brown, without stripes 3. Brown-headed Nuthatch. B. Head conspicuously crested ;2 throat and under parts nearly white, with rusty-brown sides i. Tufted Titmouse. ^^^ B. Head without crest ; throat black or dusky. (C.) /^ '\ C. Top of head brown ; sides of body chestnut ^^ \ 7. Hudsonian Chickadee. 2 C. Top of head black. (D.) D. Greater wing coverts with whitish edges 5. Chickadee. D. Greater wing coverts without whitish edges. .6. Carolina Chickadee. 1. White-breasted Nuthatch (727. Sltta caroUnensis). — A short-tailed, tree-creeping, bluish-backed, black-crowned, white- bellied bird, with brown blotches on the under tail coverts. The sides of the head are ■white like the throat and -*«^fc» ^^ breast, and the back neck black like the crown. The female has the black not so intense. The nuthatches are peculiar in their ability to run along tree trunks in all directions, with the head downward as often as upward. They are not Whita-breasted Nuthatch singers, but have a call note of quanJc qnnnk, which they repeat with no reference to the position of their body. Length, 6 ; wing, 3^ (3.V-3|) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, % ; culmen, J. Eastern United States from Georgia to the Dominion o£ Canada; generally resident throughout. The Florida White-breasted Nuthatch (727''. S. c. dtkinsi) is somewhat smaller and has the wing coverts and the quills very slightly, if at all, tipped with whitish. Wing less than 3J ; tail, 1|. It is found from South Carolina to Florida. 2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (728. Sitta canaih'nsiii). — A short- tailed, tree-creeping, bluish-backed, brownish-red-breasted bird, with the black of the top and sides of the head separated by a 60 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Red-breasted JNuthatoh broad distinct white line over the eye. This is a more northern species than the last, and can easily be distinguished by the black line on the sides of the head and neck, and the generally brown un- der parts. Length, 4|; wing, 2 J (2J-2i); tail, IJ; cul- J. Nortli Amer- breeding from men, ica ; northern Kew York, northern Michigan northward (farther south in the Allegha- nies and Rocky Moun- tains) , and wintering soutliwards to the Gulf. 3. Brown-headed Nuthatch (729. Sltta pusllla). — A small, brown-crowned, bluish-backed, whitish-bellied nuthatch, with no white line over the eye, but with a whitish patch on the back neck. This is the nuthatch of the southern pine woods, where it is found associ- ated with woodpeckers, but unlike them in their tree-top living habits, it scrambles up and down the trunks from the bot- tom to the top. All the nuthatches are much alike in habits, and are wonderfully nimble in their movements. Most creepers use the tail as an aid in supporting the body on perpendicular surfaces ; but these birds make no such use of their short, square tails. The woodpecker's feet are strengthened by having Brown-headed Nutliatoli FAM. III. NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES 61 the outer toe turned backward; but the nuthatch's feet have only a slight enlargement of the nails. Length, 4J; wing, 2J; tail, 1}; tarsus, |j ; culmen, J. South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to Maryland ; accidentally to New York, Missouri, etc. 4. Tufted Titmouse (731. Pdmis blcolor). — A loud-voiced, conspicuously crested, gray bird of the woods, with some black on the forehead and brown o loudest notes are a constant 2Kto peto, sometimes changec de-de in somewhat less rinc tones, producing a slight imi- tation of the notes of the chickadee. It is not at all shy, and so may be readily approached. (Crested Tit.) Length, 6 ; wing, 3J Tufted Titmouse (3-3J) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, | ; cnlmen, |. Eastern United States north to northern New Jersey and southern Iowa ; casual in southern New England ; resident throughout. The Black-crested Titmouse (732. Parus atricristaCus) differs from the last species in having the whole crest, instead of only the forehead black. It is a somewhat smaller bird. Length, 5J ; wing, 2J ; tail, 2}. Southeastern Texas and eastern Mexico. 5. Chickadee (735. P^ims atri- caxMlus). — A small, black-capped, black-throated, ashy-backed bird, with the rest of the head and breast white ; under parts buffy. This and the next species are much alike, but this has the greater wing coverts margined with white. Its common name expresses as closely as possible its whistled notes, chick-Ordee. If its notes are well imitated. h Chiokadee 62 KEY AND DESCRIPTION the bird will approach closely, or even alight on a person. (Black-capped Chickadee.) Length, 5l ; wing, 2J- (2|-2|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, | ; culmea, f . Eastern North America north of the Potomac and Ohio valleys to Labrador ; it migrates a little beyond its breeding range. 6. Carolina Chickadee similar to the last, but (736. Pclnis carolinhisis). — A bird smaller, and with the greater wing coverts not margined with white. Though the notes of this species are somewhat different from those of the last, this difference is not so uniform as to render the printed form of much use to the beginner. It also calls ! i itself a chickadee, though not so plainly. (Southern Carolina Chickadee Chickadee.) Length, il ; wing, 'J.\ (2^-2|) ; tail, 2} ; tarsus, | ; culmen, -/j. South- eastern States north to New Jersey and Illinois, and west to Missouri and Texas ; practically breed- ing throughout. 7. Hudsonian Chick- adee (740. Pd,rus hucl- sdnicus). — A small, brownish-ashy-backed bird, with grayish crown, wings, and tail, a distinct black throat patch, and brownish sides. The rest of the bird is white. This northern chickadee has also peculiar notes, which need to be heard to be understood. Hndsonian Chickadee FAM. IV. CREEPERS 63 Length, 5\ ; wing, 2^ (2f-2|) ; tail, 2J- ; tarsus, | ; oulmen, |. North- ern North America from northern New England and northern Michigan northward ; rarely south to Massachusetts. FAMILY IV. CREEPERS (CERTHflD^) A very small family (10 species) of Old World birds, repre sented in this country by the following : 1. Brown Creeper (72C. Cer- thia famiHAris americclna). — A small, tree-creeping bird, with mottled-brown back, white un- der parts, a slender decurved bill, and long, acute-pointed tail feathers. The tail is used as a partial support, as in the case of the woodpeckers ; a common upward-creeping bird, with lit- tle fear of human observers. When the top is reached it sud- denly drops to the bottom, and again begins its search for food. Browa Creeper Length, 5| ; wing, 2| (2^-2J) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, J. Eastern North America ; breeding from Maine and Minnesota northward, and wintering as far south as the Gulf States. FAMILY V. MOCKING BIRDS, WRENS, ETC. (TROGLODYTIDiE) This family (150 species) of mainly American birds consists of two "widely differing subfamilies. The Mocking Birds form a group of 40 species of American singing birds, of large size and plain colors, inhabiting mainly the bushy borders of the woods and other shrubbery. The tail in all cases is as long as the wings, and in one of our common species much longer. The bill is nearly as long as the head. The Wrens form a larger group (100 species) of small, mainly American, 64 KEY AND DESCRIPTION sprightly, fearless, excitable, plain-colored birds, with the plumage more or less extensively barred with narrow darker bands. The habit of holding the tail erect is very general. If these birds did not mingle so many of their characteristic scolding notes with their song, they would be considered very musical. Key to the Species * Birds under 6| long, with wings under 3 long (Wrens). (B.) * Birds over 8 long, with wings over 8 long (Mockers). (A.) A. Whole upper parts a rich reddish-brown ; tail an inch longer than the wings ; bill about an inch long 3. Brown Thrasher. A. Slate-colored bird, with chestnut on the under tail coverts 2. Catbird. A. Wings blackish, with white bases to the primaries ; outer tail feathers also white ; bill, | or less long 1. Mocking Bird. A. Back ashy-gray ; wings and tail darker and more brownish; bill, IJ or more long and decurved.i The Curve-billed Thrasher (707. Harporijnclius curvirds- tris) of Mexico and New Mexico has been found in Texas. B. Back with black, white, and brownish streaks, extending length- wise. (E.) B. Back without streaks extending lengthwise, or bars extending cross- wise ; a distinct white or whitish line over the eye. (D.) B. Back without streaks, but with some cross bars ; no very distinct whitish line over the eye. (C.) C. Under parts whitish ; tail about as long as the wings 6. House Wren. C. Under parts brownish, barred with black ; tail a half inch shorter than the wings 7. Winter Wren. D. Tail like the back in color, reddish brown ; under parts buffy 4. Carolina Wren. D. Tail feathers, except the barred middle pair, blackish, tipped with grayish ; under parts whitish 5. Bewick's Wren. E. Crown as well as back streaked with white ; bill under J long 8. Short-billed Marsh Wren. E. Crown without white streaks, but a white line over eye ; bill J or more long 9. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 1. Mocking Bird (703. M)mus polygldttos). — A large, ashy- colored, long-tailed bird, with much white on the center of wing and outer tail feathers. This is the most noted song- FAM. r. MOCKING BIRDS, WRENS, ETC. 65 bird of America, and as a mocker the most wonderful in the ■world. He is to be found in woods, gardens, parks, and even in the streets of towns, always fear- less and alert, and with the power to mimic almost any sound in nature. Mr. L. M. Lumis re- ports having heard one imitate thirty- two different species of birds in less than a quarter of an hour. Mocking Bird Length, W\ ; wing, 4J (4-5) ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, J. United States to Mexico ; rare north of Maryland, though found in southern Ohio and Massacliusetts ; winters from Florida southward. 2. Catbird (704. Galeoscoptes carolininsis). — A large, very common, slate-colored bird, with a chestnut-colored patch under the tail and almost black crown and tail. This gro- tesquely active bird can be found every- where around our orchards and shrub- bery. It is a very charming, but not loud, singer, and a good mimic; most people know it only by its cries when dis- ;^1j;-^ — ■ turbed. Length, 8| ; wing, 3| Catbird (3f-3|) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, \\ ; eulmen, |. North America, though common only east of the Rocky Mountains ; breeding from the Gulf States northward, and wintering in the Southern States. apgak's birds. — -5 66 KEY AND BESCRIPTION Brown Thrasher, 3. Brown Thrasher (706. Harporhynchus riifus). — A common, large, long-tailed, brown-backed bird, with the white under parts heavily spotted or streaked with dark-brown, except on the throat and middle of the belly. The wings, tail, and crown have the same rufous color as the back. It is an inhabit- ant of the ground or the lower growths along fences and the borders of the woods. It is a rich, sweet singer of its own notes, but not a mocker of the notes of other birds. When singing it usually perches on a twig in a prominent position as though it wished all to know how melodious a vocalist it is. (Brown Thrush.) Length, llj; wing, 4^ (4-4J) ; tail, 5[; tarsus, If ; culmen, 1. East- ern United States, west to the Rooky Mountains, north to Ontario; breeding throughout and wintering north as far as Virginia. Besides this species and the Curve-bill Thrasher given in the Key, there can be found in Texas Sennett's Thrasher (706. Harpo- rhynchus longirdstris sen- netti), a bird much like the brown thrasher, but with a darker -brown ^'^i^^^^^BS^KK^ Z back, blacker spots on the lower parts, and a longer (1J-1|^) and some- what decurved bill. 4. Carolina Wren (718. Tfirydthorus Iti- dovicicinus). — A ner- vous, scolding wren, distinctly barred, Carolina Wren rich-brown, with long curved bill, a very distinct whitish line over the eye, and a tail the color of the back. It inhabits undergrowths in wet places, and has the ability to disappear FAM. r. MOCKING BIRDS, WRENS, ETC. 67 from sight and appear again with surprising quickness. Its fear and its curiosity alternate in power over its actions. It has been called mocking wren from the variety of its vocal notes, some of which are so loud and ringing as to be com- parable with those of the tufted titmouse. It is probably resi- dent wherever found. (Mocking Wren.) Length, 51 ; wing, 2| (2|-2^) ; tail, 2}; tarsus, | ; culmen, |. East- ern United States, west to tlie Plains, and north to southern New York and southern Michigan ; resident or nearly so throughout. 6. Bewick's Wren (719. Thrydthorus be- wicMi). — This is a slightly smaller, less distinctly barred wren than the last, with a tail qitite a little darker than the back, and without bars on the primaries ; the outer tail feathers are black, tipped with grayish. This species is a sweet singer of clear, ringing notes, and very fearless. It is found around outhouses, fences, etc., and is in every way more deliberate in its movements than either the house or Carolina wrens. Its long tail frequently leans toward the head. Bewick's 'Wien Length, 5|- ; wing, 2^ (2-2|-) ; tail, i\ ; tarsus, | ; culmen, \. Eastern United States, west to Nebraska ; common in the Mississippi Valley ; rare and local east of the Alleghanies and north of central New Jersey ; mi- gratory along the northern border of its range. Baird's Wren, a form of this species (719''. T. b. leiicogdster), is found in Texas, Kansas, and west- ward to southern California. It is a more ashy-hrown bird, with pure white on the middle of the belly, and white specks on the sides of the head. 68 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Honse Wren 6. House "Wren (721. Troglddytes aedon). — A dark-brown wren, with the tail decidedly more reddish than the back. The wings, tail, sides, and flanks are fully cross-barred with darker lines, and the under parts are whitish. As its name indicates, it likes to live near human habita- tions, returning to the same place year after year, and building its nest in the same hole in a log, bird box, or chink in an outhouse. It is active, irritable, noisy, and coura- geous. It is resident in the Southern States, and is there so numerous in winter as to overflow the settled regions, and so is found in the forests miles from any house. Length, 5; wing, 2 (1J-2|); tail, IJ; tarsus, f ; culmen, ^. Eastern United States north to southern Ontario, and west to Indiana and Loui.s- iana. It winters from South Carolina southward. The Western House Wren (721'>. T. a. dzte- cus) is a variety of this species with less of red on the upper parts, and the hack and rump are very distinctly barred with blackish. As a whole, it is a lighter colored bird. Interior United States from near tlie Pacific, eastward to Illinois. 7. Winter Wren (722. Troglddytes hir emMis). — A small, very short - tailed, cinnamon- brown wren, with more brownish under parts than any other species of ours. In its breeding range of the north, it is a very sweet singer ; in other Winter Wren FAM. V. MOCKING BIRDS, WRENS, ETC. 69 Short-billed Marsh Wren localities, it merely gives its hearty quip-quap call notes. It lives in the woods, and can be found among the lower growths, and on and under old logs and stumps. Its quiet ways and dark colors render it difficult to be seen. Length, 4 ; wing, IJ (l|-2) ; tail, IJ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Eastern North America; breeding from the northern United States northward (in the Alleghanies from North Carolina), and wintering from New York and Illinois south- ward. 8. Short-billed Marsh "Wren (724. Cistothdrus stelld,ris). — A small, short - billed, marsh and meadow-living wren, with its whole back, including the crown, very distinctly streaked length- wise with dark and light shades. The under parts are white, with buffy sides and breast. This, like many of the wrens, is so shy that it is much more frequently heard than seen. Length, i\; wing. If (15-1|) ; tail, 1| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. The United States from the Plains east- ward, and north to southern Michigan and southern On- tario. It winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 9. Long -billed Marsh Wren (725. Cistothdrus imlustris). — A 1 o n g- billed, white - bellied wren, with a black back, LoDg-billed Marsh Wren striped lengthwise with white. The crown is unstreaked, and the wings, tail, and sides 70 KEY AND DESCRIPTION are brown. This bird is common in reedy marshes, but because of its shy, suspicious habits, needs careful, quiet searching. Its grumbling notes can readily be heard, and if it were not for its inquisitive nature, which leads it to expose itself for a second or two to see its visitor, it would be impossible to observe it. Length, 5|; wing, 2 (1|-2J-); tail, 1|; tarsus, |; culmen, \. Eastern United States north to Ontario; breeding throughout, and wintering (lo- cally) from southern New England southward. Worthington's Marsh Wren (725''. C. p. griseus), found along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia, is a lighter colored, more grayish and more faintly barred and striped bird. Wing, If; tail, 1|; bill, J. Marian's Marsh Wren (726-1. Cistothorus marianae) of western Florida is a darker bird than the long- billed marsh wren, and has the sides and flanks of the same brown as the rump. The under tail coverts and sometimes the breast are spotted with black. Wing, If ; tail, If; bill, \. FA.MILY VI. WAGTAILS, PIPITS (MOTAClLLIDiE) A family (80 species) of mainly Old World, ground-living, tail-wagging, walking or rimning birds, represented in our re- gion by two species a little larger than the English sparrow. They are usually to be found in open pastures, meadows, and recently plowed fields. The tail is very long, usually as long as the wings, and is moved in a peculiar see-saw way, as though to enable the bird to balance itself. This habit is also common among snipe, though they have short tails. The bill is slender, acute, shorter than the head, and notched at tip. The inner secondaries are lengthened, about as long as the primaries in the closed wing ; feet large, and the hind nail long and nearly straight. 1. American Pipit (697. Anthus pensilvdnicus). — A common, dark-olive-brown-backed, tail-twitching bird, with buffy under parts marked on the breast with brownish dots like the thrushes. This is a walking bird of the open fields, and in its vacillating flight the white outer tail feathers can be seen. The pipits are social birds seen in numbers (5-20), more or less together while feeding, but usually flying in larger flocks when startled. (Titlark; Wagtail.) FAM. ri. WAGTAILS, PIPITS 71 Length, 6^; wing, 3f (3J-3i); tail, 2| ; tarsus, |; culmen, J. Nortli America; breeding in tlie subarctic regions and liiglier mountains and wintering in the Gulf States to Central Amer- ica. 2. Sprague's Pipit (700. Anthus sprfX- gueii). — A bird in appearance very much like the last, but with the colors brighter and the markings more dis- tinct. This species has the tarsus American Fipit shorter than the hind toe and claw, while the preceding has it as long, sometimes longer. This has a tail always less than 2|, the other greater, sometimes 3 long. While the two are so simi- lar in form, size, and colors, they are wonderfully different in power of song. This is a sky-singing bird, like the skylark of Europe. Dr. Coues says : " No other bird music heard in our land compares with the wonderful strains of this songster ; there is something not of earth in the melody, coming from above, yet from no visible source ; . . . the whole air seems filled with the tender strains." (Missouri Skylark.) Length, 6^ ; wing, SJ (3-3s); tail, 2|; tarsus, J; culmen, J. Interior plains of North America. Once recorded east of the Mississippi (in South Carolina) . FAMILY VII. WOOD WAEBLERS (MNIOTfLTID^) A family (100 species) of exclusively American brightly colored, small birds of woodlands and thickets. Their habits in gathering their insect prey vary greatly ; some, like the vireos, search carefully for hidden insects, resting or crawling on leaf, on bark, or in flower ; others flit from twig to twig, gathering the exposed insects, while still others are like the flycatchers, capturing most of their prey while on the wing. 72 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Most warblers are tree living ; some are only to be found in the tops of tall trees, but many live in low bushes, while a few are terrestrial. As a whole, the warblers do not deserve their name, as their vocal powers are inferior, though a few species are remarkable singers. But few species are as large as the English sparrow, and only one, the chat, is larger. Numbers 1 and 11 are creepers.; Nos. 2-10 are wor7n eaters; these are usually creepers along the smaller twigs ; Nos. 12-28 are the usual or typical warblers; Nos. 29-35 are ground war- blers; Nos. 37-40 are flycatching warblers; while No. 36 is a large, heavy-billed, aberrant form placed in this family only because it belongs nowhere else. Key to the Species * Large, over 6J long ; bill rather stout and compressed; i under parts bright yellow, abruptly changing to white at about the middle of the length from chin to tail 36. Yellow-breasted Chat. * Bill depressed, broader than high at base, notched and slightly hooked at tip ; rictal bristles nearly or quite half the length of the bill.2 (R.) * Bill slender and not depressed ; rictal bristles small '' or none.' (A.) A. No bright yellow or orange anywhere, at most a slightly yellowish tinge. (L. ) A. Yellow nearly everywhere ; inner web of under tail feathers yellow, outer web dusky ; no white blotches on under tail feathers 13. Yellow Warbler. A. Whole head and neck bright yellow ; wings ashy, with neither white nor yellow wing bars ; inner web of under tail feathers mostly white. .2. Prothonotaria Warbler. A. Whole head and neck not bright yellow ; under tail feathers blotched with wliite. (E.) A. Under tail feathers with no white blotches, but of about the same color on both webs ; no distinct win^- bars. (B.) B. Tail and wings of about equal length, each about 2 inches (l|-2}) ; back, wings, and tail olive-green 35. Maryland Yellow-throat. B. Tail about J inch (|-|) shorter than the wing. (D.) B. Tail over J inch (J-l) shorter than the wing. (C.) C. Head, neck, and breast bluish-gray (or in the female and young, grayish-brown) ; other upper parts olive-green ; belly yellow ; a well-marked white line around the eye. .33. Connecticut Warbler. FAM. ril. WOOD WARBLERS 73 C. A clear yellow line extending from the bill over the eye and curv- ing round back of the eye ; under parts bright yellow 32. Kentucky Warbler. C. On account of the very short tail and the yellowish tint to the olive of the head, see 10. Tennessee Warbler. D. Head, neck, and throat bluish-gray {male) ; head and neck grayish (female) ; no white ring around eye ; belly yellow 34. Mourning Warbler. D. Top and sides of head bluish-gray, changing to olive-green on the back (or in the female only sides of head brownish -gray) ; breast yel- low changing to nearly white on the lower belly 8. Nashville Warbler. D. A large black breast patch surrounded by yellow {male) ; bend of wing yellow {female) ; crown black {male) ; grayish {female) ; Gulf States, accidental in Virginia 5. Bachman's Warbler. E. Bluish-gray above with a golden-green patch in the middle of the back ; two white wing bars ■• 11. Parula Warbler. E. Rictus without evident bristles (less than j'^ long if any) ; bill very acute.' (K.) E. Rictus with evident bristles ; bill usually not very acute and usually with a slight notch near tip.^ (F.) F. Wing bars or wing patch white. (H.) F. Wing bars if present not white (sometimes in the young y ello wish- white) . (G.) G. Wing bars yellowish and belly yellow (young have the wing bars very indistinct) ; back usually spotted with chestnut ; wing, 2\ or less 28. Prairie Warbler. G. Wing bars yellow (yellowish-white in young) ; belly pure white ; sides usually with more or less chestnut 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler. G. Wing bars brownish and inconspicuous ; white blotches square and on the tips of the under tail feathers ; crown more or less dis- tinctly marked with chestnut 27. Palm Warbler. G. Wing bars inconspicuous ; whole under parts pale yellow ; back ashy without any tint of green or olive ; wing, 2J or more 25. Kirtland's Warbler. H. Rump and crown patch yellow (crown patch somewhat obscure in winter) ; sides of breast also generally yellow ; throat white 15. Myrtle Warbler ; throat yellow 16. Audubon's Warbler. H. Rump and belly yellow ; white blotches on the middle of nearly all the tail feathers ; crown not yellow, usually clear ash 17. Magnolia Warbler. H. Rump and sides of neck usually yellow ; bill very acute and dis- tinctly decurved near the tip 12. Cape May Warbler, H. Rump not yellow ; bill not very acute. (I.) 74 SET AND DESCBIPTION I. Throat yellow or orange ; crown with a small or large yellow or orange spot ; under tail feathers with outer edge white edged as well as white blotches on the inner web 22. Blackburnian Warbler. I. Sides of head bright yellow ; inner web of under tail feathers en- tirely white ; outer web white at base 24. Black-throated Green Warbler. I. Upper parts, chin, throat, breast, bill, and feet black ; sides of head yellow. In southern Texas the Golden-cheeked Warbler (666. Dendroica chri/sopdria) can be found. Its habitat extends to Cen- tral America. (See p. 87.) I. Not as above ; throat more or less yellow. (J. ) J. White tail blotches large and oblique near the end of two or three under tail feathers ; no sharp markings anywhere . . 26. Pine Warbler. J. Throat definitely yellow ; belly white ; back not greenish 2.3. Yellow-throated Warbler. K. Wings with white xoing bars;'^ back bright olive- green ; eye with a black line extending across it 6. Blue-winged Warbler. K. Wing coverts yellow, forming a yellow wing patch 7. Golden-winged Warbler. K. A black throat patch surrounded by yellow (male) ; bend of wing yellow (female) ; a yellow wing bar formed only of the lesser cov- erts 5. Bachman's Warbler. K. The supposed hybrids, Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers might be looked for here. They seem in markings and habits interme- diate between 6 and 7. Brewster's has the throat and breast white, and Lawrence's has a large black patch on the breast. About a dozen specimens of Lawrence's have been found, chiefly in New Jersey and southern Connecticut, and many of Brewster's from southern New England to Michigan. (See p. 79.) No. 10 (Ten- nessee Warbler) might also be looked for here, as its tail feathers are sometimes marked with white. L. Under tail feathers without white blotches ; wings without wing bars. (N.) L. Under tail feathers blotched with white. (M.) M. Body nearly everywhere streaked with black and white, including. the crown, which has a middle streak of white 1. Black and White Warbler. M. Crown black ; all other parts much streaked with black and white ; back with some ashy 21. Black-poll Warbler (ma?e). M. Upper parts olive-green more or less streaked with black ; under parts more or less yellowish and somewhat streaked on breast and sides 21. Black-poll Warbler (female). M. Under parts, especially the crissum, buffy ; crown and throat usually chestnut 20. Bay-breasted Warbler. FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 75 M. Two white wing bars ; ^ entire upper parts sky-blue {male) or dull greenish, brightest on the head (female'), under parts white (tinged with pale yellow in the female) 18. Cerulean Warbler. M. Slightly yellowish-white wing bars ; sides with some chestnut mark- ings 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler. M. No wing bars but a white blotch on the primaries near the base (very small in female and young) ; upper parts grayish-blue (male) or olive-green (female) 14. Black-throated Blue Warbler. N. Crown with two black stripes separated by a broader one of buff ; two other black stripes back of the eyes ; under parts buffy, un- spotted 4. Worm-eating Warbler. N. Head brown, a whitish line over eye ; under parts white, grayer on sides and not definitely spotted 3. Swainson's Warbler. N. Not as above, and the tail f inch or more shorter than the wing. (P.) N. Tail not over J inch shorter than the wing. (0.) 0. Upper parts somewhat ashy with more or less of an orange-brown patch on the crown (except in the young) ; under parts dull, some- times with dusky streaks on the breast ; a yellowish or white ring around the eye 9. Orange-crowned Warbler. 0. A small white patch on the base of the primaries, near and partly hidden by the coverts ; upper parts olive-green, with a brownish tinge on the tail 14. Black-throated Blue Warbler. P. Upper parts yellowish-olive; under parts dull white more or less tinged with yellowish but without definite spots ; a whitish line over the eye and white under tail coverts 10. Tennessee Warbler. P. Conspicuously spotted or streaked below, thrush-like; back brown, brownish-olive, or dusky ; head striped, at least a distinct line over the eye. (Q.) Q. Crown with an orange-brown stripe bordered with black lines 29. Oven-bird. Q. No central stripe on crown, but a whitish to buffy line over the eye ; under parts, including the throat, tinged with yellow and very fully streaked with black 30. Water Thrush. Q. Line over the eye conspicuously white ; under parts slightly buffy tinted, and the black streaks do not extend over the throat or mid- dle of the belly 31. Louisiana Water Thrush. R. Without bright yellow, but with more or less of flame color or dull yellow on wings and tail 40. American Redstart. R. Breast bright yellow. (S.) S. Under tail feathers with white blotches 37. Hooded Warbler. S. Under tail feathers without white blotches on the inner webs ; no wing bars. (T.) T. Above bright olive-green ; crown black without streaks (black cap sometimes lacking in female and young) 38. Wilson's Warbler. T. Above bluish-ash ; a necklace of black (male) or dusky (female) spots across breast 39. Canadian Warbler. 76 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Black and White Waililer 1. Black and White "Warbler (636. Mniotilta vciria). — A black and white streaked warbler, with, a broad white stripe on the top of the head and no yellow any- where. Female with some brownish on the sides and fewer black stripes on the lower parts. This is a silent bird, common in woodlands, creep- ing over twigs and branches, often hanging from the lower surfaces, hunting in- dustriously for insect food. (Black and White Creeper.) Length, 5\ ; wing, 2J (2|-2|) ; tail, 2} ; tarsus, | ; culmen, J. Eastern North America. Breeds from Virginia north to Hudson Bay, and winters from the Gulf States south to northern South America. 2. Prothonotary Warbler (637. Protonothria dtrea). — A very pretty warbler, with the whole head, neck, upper back, and under parts a rich orange. The rest of the upper parts gradu- ally change through greenish to bluish to ashy, and the lower parts to almost white on the crissum, and large white blotches on the under tail feath- ers. The female has the yellow paler. It is found most fre- quently in the low growths near and over Prothonotary Warbler the water, where it is more like a creeper in its habits than like a flycatcher. Its usual notes are clear, penetrating peet, tweet, tweet, tweet, given without change of pitch. (Golden- headed Warbler.) FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 77 Swakson's Warbler Length, 5^ ; wing, 2f (2|-3) ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, J. Eastern United States, north to Virginia and southern Michigan ; south in winter to northern South America ; breed- ing throughout its United States range. 3. Swainson's Warbler (638. Helinhia swainsdnii). — A brownish warbler, with whitish under parts, inclined to yellow on the middle, and grayish on the sides. This ground warbler of the Southern States is a beautiful singer of loud, rich, yet tender notes of most pene- trating quality. Length, 6 ; wing, 2| ; tail, If ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. Southeastern United States, north to southern Virginia and southeastern Missouri, and south in winter to central Mexico. 4. "Worm-eating Warbler (639. Helmitherus vermivorus). — An olive-green-backed and creamy-bellied warbler, with a buffy head, distinctly marked with four black lines, two on the crown and two through the eyes ; no white on back, wings, or tail, all being of about the same shade of olive-green. A rare, shy bird, found usually H ..: in the dense undergrowth of wooded hills and ravines. Length, 5i; wing, 2| (2|-2|) ; Eastern United States north to southern New England ; west to Nebraska and Texas ; in winter south to northern South America. t Worm-eating Warbler tail, 2^ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. 6. Bachman's Warbler (640. Helmintlwpliila hachmdnii). — A rare, southern warbler, having forehead, throat, and belly yel- low, with a large conspicuous patch of black on the breast ; the rest of the bird bright olive-green, shading to grayish on the wings, and with a white-blotched tail. Female with the yellow 78 KET AND DESCRIPTION Bachman's "Warbler of the forehead and the black of the breast not so distinct, but with the bend of the wing yellow ; breeding range and habits unknown. Length, 4^ ; wing, 2f ; tail, 1 J ; culmen, J nearly. South Atlantic States from southern Virginia to Florida and Louisiana ; Cuba in winter. 6. Blue- winged Warbler (641. HelininthdpMla plnus). — A yellow warbler, with slaty-blue wings and tail; the yellow of the upper parts changes to olive- green on the rump. There is a black line through the eye, and the wing bars are yellowish. Female with less yellow. This is a common, creeper-like warbler, found mainly in the under- growth of woods. In its creeping movements it is slow and delib- erate, and may occa- sionally be seen hang- ing head downwards. This is more of a singer than most of the warblers. Length, 4| ; wing, 2| ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, | ; cul- men, j-'s- Eastern United States from southern New England and south- ern Minnesota south- ward ; west to Nebraska and Texas ; in winter south to Central America. _ _ . Bine-winged Warbler 7. Golden-winged Warbler (042. HelmintMphila chrysdptera). — A warbler with a yellow crown, yellow wing coverts, a black patch around and FAM. ril. WOOD WARBLERS 79 below the eye, and another on the breast, with two conspic- uous white stripes, a narrow one above the eye patch and a wider one between the eye and breast patches. Upper parts grayish, below white. The under tail feath- ers blotched with white. Female with the head less dis- tinctly marked, and with grayish instead r. 1 1 -, A • j_ Golden-winged Warbler of black. An insect- eating creeper in the lower growths at the borders of woods. Length, 5 ; wing, 2J ; tall, 2 ; culmen, |. Eastern United States north to southern JTew England and southern Minnesota; breeding from its northern limit south to New Jersey and Indiana, and in the mountains to South Carolina. In winter south to northern South America. The last two species are supposed to interbreed and form two named hybrids, Brewster's Warbler (H. leucobronchialis) and Lawrence's Warbler (JJ. lawrencei). The former has broad yellow wing bars and white breast, the latter white bars and a black throat patch. Different specimens show great variety of plumage, but all are intermediate between Nos. 6 and 7. The Key, page 74, gives other facts about these puzzling birds. 8. Nashville Warbler (645. Helminthdphila ruhricapiUa). — An olive-green-backed warbler, with all the lower parts bright yellow, lighter on the belly. The top and sides of the head are gray, with a more or less concealed chestnut patch on the crown. No white bars on wing or white blotches on tail. The young are duller and have brownish washings on head, back, and sides. An inhabitant of open woods and fields. H H NasliTille Warbler Length, 4i ; wing, 2| (2^-2^) ; tail, 1| ; culmen, f. From the Plains eastward and northward to the fur coun- tries • breeding from the northern United States northward, and wintering as far south as Central America. Egfeowlory of OmltWogif Mta e.nciu-kar Wosds Road 80 EET AND DESCRIPTION Tennessee "Warbler 9. Orange-crowned "Warbler (646. HelmintMphila celMa). — A rare warbler, with the whole upper parts nearly uniform olive-green except the more or less concealed orange-brown crown patch. The lower parts greenish-yellow, with slight dusky streaks on the breast. Young lack the crown patch, and are in all respects duller birds, but with a white ring around the eye. Length, 5 ; wing, 21 (2|— 2^) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, |. Eastern North America from Maclienzie River south through the Rocky Mountains ; wintering in the South Atlantic and Gulf States and Mexico. Rare north o£ Virginia in the Eastern States. 10. Tennessee War- bler (647. HelminM- phila peregrlna). — A rare warbler, with the lower parts white, more or less tinged with yellow, and the upper parts bright-olive-green, chang- ing abruptly to bluish-gray on the head. No white wing bars, but the inner web of the under tail feathers generally white at tip. Female has the crown tinged with greenish and the under parts more dis- / j tinctly yellowish. The breast of this species is pale greenish yellow with no streaks, and the under tail coverts white. Length, 4| ; wing, 2| ; tail, 1| ; culmen, |. East- ern North America ; breed- ing from northern New York to Hudson Bay, and wintering from Mexico to northern South America. 11. Parula Warbler (648. Compsdthlypis americiXna). — A greenish-yellow-backed, yellow-breasted, grayish-blue warbler, Farnla Warbler FAM. Vn. WOOD WARBLERS 81 with -white wing bars and belly. This bird generally has a darkish, more or less reddish band across the breast. The greenish-yellow of the back forms a central patch. The female sometimes lacks the dark-reddish breast band. (Blue Yellow- backed Warbler.) Length, 4| ; wing (2}-2|) ; tail, 1|; culraen, |. United States from tlie Plains eastward, north to Canada ; breeding throughout, and wintering from 6ul£ States south to eastern Mexico and West Indies. Sennett's Warbler (649. Compsdthlypis nigrilbra), o£ western Texas, southward, is a similar bird, but the parula has a white spot on each eyelid, which is lacking in Sennett's warbler ; and in front of the eyes (lores) of the parula there is a dusky spot. In Sennett's warbler this spot is intensely black, and this black crosses the front of the head just above the bill. 12. Cape May Warbler (660. Dendroica tigrlna). — ■ This is a rare but beautiful warbler, with black-streaked, olive-green back, chestnut cheeks, black crown, and yellow rump; the under parts are yellow, heavily streaked with black, but changing to white on the crissum. The wing coverts form a large white patch, and the under tail feathers have white patches near the tips on the inner webs. The female lacks the white wing patch, but has a narrow, white wing bar ; the back is somewhat grayish, the rump less yellow, but there is a yellow line over the eye. The young female has almost no yellow below. This is a warbler of the tree tops. Length, 6^ ; wing, 2} (2|-2J) ; tail, 2; culmen, f. North America from the Plains eastward, north to Hudson Bay Territory; breeding from northern New England northward, and wintering in the West Indies. apgar's bikds. — 6 Cape May Warbler 82 SEY AND DESCRIPTION Yellow Wai'blei' 13. Yellow "Warbler (652. Dendrolca (Estiva). — This is the yellow warbler in fact as well as name, having some shade of yellow throughout, and forming our only canary-colored wild bird. The un- der parts are some- what streaked with reddish, and the un- der tail feathers are yellow on the in- ner webs and dusky on the outer. The female is less bright- ly yellow, and the under parts are less streaked. This is a common inhabitant of our gardens and orchards, and is often thought to be an escaped canary ; its slender bill shows that it is a different species. (Summer Yellow-bird ; Golden Warbler.) Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2f-2|) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, |. North America throughout, except the southwest ; breeding in nearly its whole range, and wintering south to northern South America. 14. Black -throated Blue Warbler (654. Dendrolca ccendh- cens). — A common, grayish-blue- backed, white-bellied warbler, with black sides of head and throat, and irregular patches of black along the sides of the body. The bases of the primaries form a white patch on the wings. The female has the upper parts olive-green and the lower parts Black-throated Blue Warbler FAM. ril. WOOD WARBLERS 83 yellowish, and in the main lacks the black throat, while the white wing patch is much reduced. Length, b\ ; wing, 2| ; tail, '2\ ; oulmen, f^. North America from the Plains eastward ; breeding from northern New York northward (in the AUeghanies south to Georgia), and wintering in the tropics. 15. Myrtle Warbler (656. Dendroica corondta). — A com- mon, large, streaked, bluish- and black-backed warbler, with distinct patches of yellow on crown, rumjj, and sides of breast, and a white throat and lower belly. There are two white wing bars, white blotches on the under tail feathers, and heavy black marks on the breast. The female has browner upper parts, and fewer black marks on the Myrtle Warbler breast. The yellow on the crown and sides of the breast are much reduced in young and winter birds. (Yellow-rumped Warbler.) Length, 5| ; wing, 21 (2|-3) ; tail, 2| ; culmen, f. North America, but rare west of the Rocky Mountains ; breeding from northern United States northward, and wintering from southern New England and the Ohio Valley, southward to Central America. 16. Audubon's Warbler (656. Dendroica aiiduhoni). — A west- ern warbler similar to the last, but with yellow on the throat instead of the white of that species. The wing bars blend together into a wing patch. Length, 5| ; wing, 3 (2|-3|) ; tail, 2\ ; culmen, |. Western United States eastward to the western borders of the Plains ; accidental in Penn- sylvania and Massachusetts. 17. Magnolia Warbler (657. Dendroica maculbsa). — A gray- crowned, black-backed, yellow-rumped warbler, with the breast and throat yellow; heavily streaked on the breast and sides with black. The wing coverts form a large white patch ; the middle of the under tail feathers is white, and the end third 84 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Magnolia Wartler black. Female similar, but duller. Both the female and young have the white tail blotches on the middle of the feathers. (Black and Yellow Warbler.) Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2^-2^) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, I. North America from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding from northern New York northward (southward in the mountains to Penn- sylvania), and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 18. Cerulean Warbler (658. Deudrolca cmrulea). — A warbler with bright blue upper parts, white lower parts, and many- black streaks on the sides ; wing bars and much of the under tail feathers white. Female with greenish tint to the back and yellowish tint to the belly. It lives in the tops of the forest trees. Its song is very much like that of the parula warbler. Length, 4^ ; wing, 2V (2|-2|) ; tail, IJ; culmen, ». Eastern United States and southern Ontario west to the Plains ; rare east of the Alle- ghanies ; in winter, south to northern South America. 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler (659. Dendrol- ca. pensylvdnica^. — A chestnut-sided, yellow- crowned warbler, with mottled black and olive back and white under parts ; wing bars yel- lowish and cheeks white, outlined with black. Female similar, but duller ; the young has the back somewhat streaked with black on a ground that is yellowish- Cerulean Wartler FAM. VII. WOOD WAESLERS 86 ChestEnt-sided Wartler olive, and the under parts silky -white ; the sides are sometimes blotched with chestnut ; an inhabitant of bushy borders. Length, 5 ; wing, 2J (2|-2f ) ; tail, 2 ; oul- men, f . Eastern United States from the Plains, including southern Onta- rio ; breeding from north- ern New Jersey and cen- tral Illinois northward (southward to Georgia in the mountains), and win- tering in the tropics. 20. Bay-breasted Warbler (660. Den- drdica casthnea). — A brownis'h-ashy-backed warbler, with chestnut crown and brown- ish breast and sides ; forehead and cheeks black ; wing bars and belly white; the under tail feathers have the white patches at their tips. Female with the crown somewhat olive, the under parts not so white, and less rufous on the breast and sides. This is a beautiful warbler, living in its summer home, among the tree tops. (Autumn Warbler.) Length, 5J ; wing, 2} (2|-3) ; tail, 2| ; culmen, ^. Eastern North America from Hudson Bay southward ; breeding from northern New England and northern Michigan northward, and wintering in Mexico and Central America. 21. Black-poll War- bler (661. Dendroica striclta). — A common, very much streaked, mainly black and white warbler, with distinct black cap and white cheeks. The male has grayish and the female olive-green tints on the back, including the crown, thus obliterating the black cap. The female is less distinctly Bay-treasted Warbler 86 KEY AND DESCRIPTION streaked. The young is even less streaked than the female, has gi'eenish-yellow tinting on the under parts, and almost no markings. It is found in orchards, gardens, and open, especially evergreen woods. Length, 5J ; wing, 2J ; tail, 2| ; culmen, |. North America from the Rocky Mountains eastward; breeding from northern New England northward, and wintering soutli to northern South America. Black-poll Warbler Blaokburnian Warbler 22. Blackburnian Warbler (662. Dendrolca hldckhwrnkii). — A warbler, with orange-col- ored throat, breast, and center of crown, black upper parts mottled with lighter, and white belly ; wing coverts and un- der tail feathers with much white. The back of the female is brownish - olive, streaked with black ; the orange of the male is replaced by yellow, and the white of the wing coverts forms two wing bars. The young has the crown patch nearly absent. It lives mainly in the upper branches of evergreens. (Orange- throated Warbler ; Hemlock Warbler.) Length, b\; wing, 2| (2t-2|) ; tail, 2; culmen, |. North America from eastern Kansas eastward ; breeding from Massachusetts and Michi- gan northward (farther south in the mountains), and wintering south to Peru. 23. Yellow-throated Warbler (663. Dendrdl- ca dominica). — A yellow-throated, gray- backed, white-bellied warbler, with black Tellow-throated Warbler cheeks; white wing FAM. VII. WOOD WABBLEBS 87 bars distinct, and white blotches near the tips of the under tail feathers. A southern warbler, with some of the habits of a " creeper " among the tree tops. Length, 5^; wing, 2| (2^-2J) ; tail, 2J- ; culmen, ^. Southern United States ; breeding from Virginia southward, and wintering from Florida southward ; accidental in New York and Massachusetts. The Sycamore Warbler (063". D. d. albilora) is a variety very much like the yellow- throated, but that species has a yellow line in front of the eye and a white line over it, while the sycamore has the line in front of the eye white. 24. Black-throated Green Warbler (667. Dendrdica virens). — A common, olive-green-backed, black-breasted warbler, with whitish belly and yellow sides of head. Two white wing bars and the under tail feathers with much white, including the base of the outer web ; black streaks on the sides. Female with much less of black on throat and breast, and some yellowish. The young may entirely lack black on the throat. During the breeding season, its home is in the tops of coniferous trees ; when migrating it can be found in the growths anywhere. Length, 5; wing, 2} (21-21); tail, 2; culmen, §. Ea.stern North America from the Plains ; breeding from Connecticut and Illinois north to Hudson Bay (in the mountains south to South Carolina), and winter- ing south to Central America. The Golden-cheeked Warbler (666. Den- droica chrysopmia), a species found in southern Texas, has black upper parts, yellow sides of the head and neck, yellowish-white belly, black chin, throat, and breast, and black streaking on the side of the body. There are two white wing bars and a black stripe through the eye and extending some distance back of it. The tail has large white patches. This bird is much like No. 24, and probably the female varies as in that species. 25. Kirtland's War- Kirtland'. Warbler bier (670. Dendrolca Urtlandi). — An extensively black-spotted warbler with brown- ish-ashy back, bluish-gray head, and light yellow under parts. KEY AND DESCRIPTION The sides, breast, and back are the most fully spotted ; the space in front of the eye and the sides of the throat are almost wholly black. There are no white wing bars, but the under tail feathers have white blotches near their tips. This is one of the rarest of the warblers. Length, 5| ; wing, 2J (2f-2|) ; tail, 2\; culmen, %. Breeding home unlfnown ; migrates through the Mississippi Valley and the southeastern United States. 26. Pine Warbler (671. Dendrdica vigdrsii). ^ A. bright olive- green-backed warbler, with the under parts bright yellow except near the tail, where the yellow is gradually changed to white. Sometimes there is a touch of ashy color both on the back and on the belly. The wing bars are whitish, the under tail feathers have white blotches near their tips, and the sides are some- times streaked with black. Female similar but less bright, the upper parts somewhat brownish, and the lower parts yellow only on the breast. As its name indicates, it is nearly always to be found among the pines ; in summer up in the trees ; in winter mainly on the ground. Length, 5| (5-53) I wing, 2J (2J-3) ; tail, 2} ; culmen, |. United States from the Plains eastward, north to New Brunswick ; wintering in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 27. Palm Warbler (672. Dendrdica palmd,rum). — A warbler, with the upper parts grayish-brown, the lower parts yellow, Pine Warbler FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLEBS 89 Palm Warljler The sides are streaked with chestnut, and the crown has a chestnut patch, very distinct in the breeding season. In winter the crown patch is rendered more or less in- distinct by brownish tips to the feathers. In summer there is a yellow line over the eye ; in winter this is v.-hite, and a ring around the eye is also white. The under parts in winter are rather yel- lowish than yellow. This is the Palm War- bler of the Mississippi Valley ; in winter in the South Atlantic and Gulf States; occasionally seen in other localities (Ked-poll Warbler). Yellow Palm "Warbler (672". D. p. hypochrysea). — A warbler, with the upper parts dark olive-green, the lower parts entirely bright yellow, the crown chestnut, and the sides streaked with chestnut ; over and around the eye there is a yellow line. There are no white wing bars, but the under tail feathers have white blotches near their tips. In winter the chestnut crown is partly concealed by brownish. The yellow of the under parts of this variety is much the brighter and more uniform. (The Palm Warbler always shows whitish on the belly.) This is an active warbler of the open field rather than of the woods, and in winter in the south it is a common town and village bird. It has a tail-wagging habit which is very characteristic. (Yellow Red-poll.) Length, b\ ; wing, 2| (2,i-2|) ; tail, 2; ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. Atlan- tic States ; breeding from eastern Maine to Hudson Bay, and wintering in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. (The Palm Warbler is found north to Great Slave Lake, and winters south to Mexico.) 28. Prairie Warbler (673. Dendroica discolor). — A small olive-green-backed warbler with the under parts bright yellow, streaked with black on the sides. The center of the back is marked in the adult with a brownish patch, and the under tail 90 KEY AND DESCRIPTION feathers have large white patches at their tips, even the outer webs having white at their bases. There is a yellow line over the eye, and a black crescent-shaped mark under the eye. The female sometimes lacks the Ijrown patch of the back, and the young usually has the whole upper parts ashy in shade. A shy inhabitant of bushy fields and pastures. Length, 4| ; wing, 2> ; tail, 2 ; ulmen, a. United States from the Plains eastward ; breeding from Florida north to Michigan and southern New England, and wintering from Flor- ida to the West Indies. Prairie Wartler 29. Oven-bird (674. Seiiirus anrocapilhis). — A rather small, thrush-like, olive-greeu- backed bird, with white under parts, spotted with black on the breast and sides ; the crown is marked with brownish-orange, bordered with black stripes ; wings and tail unmarked. This is a walking, tail-wagging bird, found jnainly in wooded ground, except in early spring, when it may often be seen in the shrubbery and gardens loudly singing its notes, which seem to say teacher, teacher, TEACHER. (Golden-crowned "Thrush.") Length, 6}; wing, 3 (2;-3i-); tail, 2^ ; tarsus, J ; culmen, J. Eastern North America ; breeding from Kansas and Virginia north- ward, and wintering from Florida south to Central America. ^>- OTeu-bird 30. Water-Thrush (675. Seiurus noveboracinsis). — A small, olive-backed, thrush-like bird, with the under parts yellowish, FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLEUS 91 Water-Thrnsh streaked everywhere with black. Over the eye there is a dis- tinct buffy line. This is a walking, tail-wagging bird, like the last, but as its name indicates, it prefers localities near the water, though it is sometimes found in dry places. It is not a shy bird. (Water Wagtail.) Length, Sf ; wing, 3 (2|-3J-); tail, 2^; tarsus, |; culmen, |. Illinois and eastward ; breeding from nortliern Illinois and northern New England northward, and wintering from the Gulf States to northern South America. Grinnell's Water-Thrush (675". S. n. notdbilis) is very much like the last, but larger, on the average, and with the upper parts darker and the under parts whiter. This is the western variety, and is found from Illinois to California north into Brit- ish America, and winter- ing from the Gulf States to South America. During migrations it has been found in Virginia and even in New Jersey. 31. Louisiana Water-Thrush (676. Seiurus motacilld). — This bird is much like No. 30, but the streakings on the lower parts do not include the throat and middle of belly, the line over the eye is white and conspicuous, and the under parts are tinged with buff color rather than yellow. This is a much shyer bird, more fond of the water, and a noted songster, sometimes sing- ing while on the wing. (Larger-billed Water-Thrush.) Length, 6J; wing, 3|- (3-3J); tail, 2^; tarsus, nearly 1; culmen, |-|-. United States from the Plains eastward, north to central New England ; wintering south of the United States to Central America. 32. Kentucky Warbler (677. Gedthlypis formdsa). — An olive- green-backed warbler, with all the lower parts and a line over the eye bright yellow. The crown, and a blotch under the eye, extending along the side of the throat, are black. There are no wing bars or tail patches. The female has the dark sections more grayish. It is an inhabitant of dense, especially wet, 92 KET AND DBSORIPTIOM Kentucky Warbler woods, and may be found on tlie lower growths or walking on the ground. It is a loud, clear singer. Length, SJ; wing, 2| (2^-3); tail, 2; tarsus, }; oulmen, f. United States, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to south- ern Michigan, and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 33. Connecticut Warbler (678. Gedthlypis dgilis). — An olive- green-backed, yellow-bellied war- bler, with much bluish-gray on the head, neck, and breast. The wings and tail are almost the exact tint of the back, and have no bars or blotches, but there is a white ring round the eye. The female has the crown the same as the back, and the throat and breast grayish-brown. This active, sprightly bird is a migrant over most of the eastern United States, and is usually found near the ground in low shrubbery. Length, .5? ; wing, 2| (2|-3); tail, 2; tarsus, J; culmen, |. Eastern North America ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering south of it to northern South America. 34. Mourning Warbler (679. Gedtlilypis Philadelphia). — A warbler, with bluish-gray head, olive-green upper parts, and yellow belly. The bluish - gray changes to black on the breast, and the wings and tail are unmarked. The female has a head only slightly grayer than the back, and the breast is also only grayish. This shy Mourning Warbler bird lives mainly in the low bushes, and receives its com- mon name from the appearance of crape on the head. It FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 93 frequently perches on low limbs and sings its clear, whist- ling notes. Length, 5| ; wing, 2^ (2|-2i); tail, 2 ; tarsus, J ; oulmen, |. Nortli America, from tlie Plains eastward ; breeding from tiie mountains of Penn- sylvania and noijhern Michigan northward, and wintering south of the United States to northern South America. 35. Maryland Yellow-throat (681. Oedthlypis trichas). — A bright, yellow-breasted, olive-green-backed warbler, with a peculiar, distinctly out- lined, black mask across the forehead and over the cheeks ; wings and tail short and unmarked. Female with less distinct mask, and sometimes none. This is a com- m o n, b u s h - 1 i V i n g, sprightly bird, which chirps and sings through- out the summer. Length, 5 ; wing, 2J (1|- 2 J) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; cul- men, f. Eastern United States ; breeding from Geor- gia to southern Labrador, and wintering in the South Atlantic States to Central America (even as far north as Massachusetts). The Florida Yellow-throat (681''. G. t. igndta) has the under parts a deeper yellow, the upper parts browner, and the black mask larger. Florida and Georgia. The Western Yellow-throat (681". (?. t. occidentalis) is a larger and brighter colored bird, the bright yellow of the breast extending almost to the anal regions, and the black mask bordered behind by a grayish white band. The wings and tail are each about 2^ long. From the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific coast. 36. Yellow-breasted Chat (683. Ict&ria vlrens). — ^A large, bright-yellow-breasted, white-bellied, olive-green-backed bird, with a white line over the eye, no wing bars, and a stout bill. This is a bright-colored, noisy dweller of bushy thickets, much more readily heard than seen. Its notes are indescrib- Maryland Yellow-throat 94 KEY AND DESCRIPTION able in their taunting, mocking, and ventriloquistic qualities. When disturbed in its medley, it merely repeats the complain- ing call notes of cJiut chut. i; wing, 3 (2i- •3i : culm en, i. Tellow-treasted Chat Length, 3i); tail, _. United States from the Plains eastward ; breeding north to Ontario, and wintering south to Central America. 37. Hooded Warbler (684. Sylvdbnia mitrdbta). — A beautiful, black-hooded, olive - green - backed, yel- low-bellied, flycatching warbler with yellow fore- head and cheeks, and al- most completely white under tail feathers. The hood is made up of a crown piece connected on the sides of the neck with a large throat patch. The female has a less distinctly outlined hood. This is a restless bird, gen- erally found among the lower trees or higher shrubs of dense wet woods. It is a sweet singer. Length, 5J ; wing, 2f (2^2f); tail, 2\ ; cul- men, |-. United States from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf of Mexico northward to southern New England and southern Michigan, and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 38. Wilson's Warbler (685. Sylvhnia pusilla). — A yellow- faced, bright olive-green-backed, yellow-bellied, flycatching war- Hooded Warbler FAM. VII. WOOD WABBLEBS 95 Wilson's Warbler bier with a distinct black cap, but no wing bars or tail blotches. Female similar, but usually lacks the black cap. It is gener- ally to be found among low bushes near the water, and s^^ acts much like the true fly- catchers in its habit of dart- ing in and out by short flights, in search of its insect prey. The flycatchers proper almost invariably return to the same twigs from which they darted ; the warbling flycatchers do not. (Green Black-capped Warbler.) Length, 4J ; wing, 2^ (2-2|); tail, 2 ; culmen, J -f . North America from the Eoclsiy Mountains eastward ; breeding mainly north of the United States, and wintering south to Central America. 39. Canadian Warbler (686. Sylvilnia canadhisii). — A gray- backed, flycatching warbler with all the lower parts yellow, except a necklace of black spots across the breast, and white under tail coverts. It is without either wing bars or tail blotches, but has spots of black on the crown, black sides of neck, and a yellow spot in front of the eye. Female lacks the black of the head, and the necklace is made up of dusky spots. It is generally to be found in the same localities as No. 38 and has about the same habits. It is a loud but sweet singer. Length, 5J ; wing, 2J ; tail, 2J ; culmen, |. North America, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from northern New York northward (far- ther south in the mountains), and wintering south of the United States to northern South America. Canadian Warbler 96 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 40. American Redstart (687. Setdphaga ruticilla). — A small, very lively, dark-colored, brilliantly-marked, flycatching war- bler, with bright or- ange or flame color at base of tail, middle of wings, and under the wings. The belly is nearly white, the bill is very broad, and the ric- tal bristles fully half as long as the bill. The female is a brownish- gray bird with dull- yellow markings re- placing the orange of the male. This is one of the most beautiful and active of the warblers, and is to be found abundantly in most woodlands and shrubberies. Length, 5^ (4|-5}); wing, 2^ (2|-2f); tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. North America, west casually to California ; breeding from North Carolina and Kansas north to Labrador, and wintering south of the United States to South America. Ameiicaa Redstart FAMILY Vin. VIREOS (VIRE6NID^) A family (50 species) of exclusively American, small, olive- backed birds of woods and thickets, with narrow, stout, notched and hooked bills. ^ Our largest species is about the size of the English sparrow. The vireos are insect-eating birds, but un- like many warblers and all the true flycatchers, they gather their prey while perching. With rather slow movements they patiently search over and under leaves, on twigs and bark, for spiders, beetles, caterpillars, etc. All our species are good singers, and some are noted for their vocal powers. Dr. Coues thus speaks of them : " Xext after the warblers, the greenlets [vireos] are the most delightful of our forest birds, though their charms address the ear and not the eye. ... In the FAM. VIII. riREOS 97 quaint and curious ditty of the white-eye, in the earnest, vol- uble strains of the red-eye, in the tender secret that the war- bling vireo confides in whispers to the passing breeze — he is insensible who does not hear the echo of thoughts he never clothes in words." They build beautiful basket-like nests, which are suspended from forked twigs, sometimes near the ground and sometimes from the highest parts of forest trees. The vireos are usually to be found on trees or bushes, very rarely on the ground. Any of the common names given can end in Greenlet as well as Vireo. Key to the Species * Rather stout species with distinct white or whitish wing bars.^ (C.) * Rather slender species with no distinct wing bars. (A.) A. The first primary less than one inch long ; ^ under parts white with yellowish on the sides (if there is almost no yellowish on sides, look for 2. Red-eyed Vireo, as it has been found with a short first primary) 5. Warbling Vireo. A. The first primary much over one inch long. (B. ) B. Under parts yellowish, brightest on the breast ; crown ashy, without a bordering black line over the whitish eye line. 4. Philadelphia Vireo. B. Under parts mainly white with almost no yellowish ; crown ashy- gray margined with blackish just above the white line over the eye. 2. Red-eyed Vireo. (or 1. Black-whiskered Vireo, if in Florida, and if there is a dusky streak on the side of the throat. ) B. Sides bright olive-yellow, and the under tail coverts clear sulphur- yellow (Texas) 3. Yellow-green Vireo. C. First primary nearly as long as the second ; breast bright yellow 6. Yellow-throated Vireo. C. First primary less than one inch long.^ (D.) D. Top and sides of head grayish-blue, with a distinct white line around the eye 7. Blue-headed Vireo. D. Crown olive, much like the back ; a distinct yellow line over the eye. 9. White-eyed Vireo. D. Crown ashy ; a distinct white line around the eye (Western) 10. Bell's Vireo. D. Crown and sides of head black (Kansas to Texas) 8. Black-capped Vireo. 1 apgar's bikds. — 7 98 KEY AND DESCBIPTION 1. Black-whiskered Vireo (623. Vireo calldris barbdtulus). — A species found in southern Florida, West Indies, and south, in winter to Central America. It is very much like the next species, but has a narrow dusky streak extending from the bill, below the eyes, along the side of the throat. Length, 5| ; wing, 3| (-3-31) ; tail, 2^ ; culaien, f. J 2. Red-eyed Vireo (624. Vireo olivd,ceus). — A very common, small, olive-green-backed, white-bellied vireo, with a black-mar- gined slaty-gray crown, white line over the eye, and no wing bars. The dark border to the crown gives emphasis to the white line over its red eye. This com- mon inhabitant of trees has been called the preacher, because of its tireless singing. In the words of Wil- son Flagg, "We might suppose him to be re- peating moderately, with a pause between each sentence, ' You see it — you know it — do you hear me ? — do you believe it ? ' All these strains are delivered with the rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if wait- ing for an answer." Length, 61 ; wing, 3J- (3-3|) ; tail, 2} ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . North America, from Utah eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to Hudson Bay, and wintering from Florida to South America. 3. Yellow-green Vireo (625. Vireo flavoviridis). — A vireo of western Texas and southward to Peru ; very mvich like the last species, but with the under parts, especially the sides, flanks, and under tail coverts, much more brightly yellow. Length, 6J ; wing, 3 (2|-3^) ; tail, 2J; culmen, |. 4. Philadelphia Vireo (626. Vireo philadilpMcus). — A small, light, olive-green-backed, grayish-crowned vireo with all under Ked-eyed Vireo FAM. nil. riREOS 99 parts light greenish-yellow and a whitish line over the eye. There are no wing bars. This is a smaller and rarer bird than No. 2, but with similar habits and song. Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2|-2|) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, | ; culmen, |. Eastern North America ; breeding from New Hampshire north to Hudson Bay, and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 5. Warbling Vireo (627. Vireo gilvus). — An olive-green- baeked, white- or whitish-bellied vireo, without wing bars and with some yellowish on the sides. This, as its name indicates, is a good, continuous " warbler " of rich notes. It lives mainly among the tops of tall trees, so that it can be heard more easily than seen. Length, 5|; wing, 2 J (2|-.3) ; tail, 2^; tarsus, f; culmen, |. North America in general ; breeding nearly throughout, and wintering in eastern Mexico. 6. Yellow-throated Vireo (628. Vireo Jldbvifrons). — An olive- green-backed, bright-yellow-breasted, white-bellied vireo, with two distinct white wing bars. It is an inhabi- tant of the tree tops. ^ Its notes are deep, rich, and varied, and occa- sionally it shows a power of song which is surprising in its fine and intricate qual- ity. The bird looks in Tellow-throated Tireo color much like the yellow-lDreasted chat, though decidedly smaller. Length, 5|; wing, 3| (3-3|^); tail, 2|; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. Eastern United States ; breeding from Florida north to Ontario, and wintering from Mexico to Central America. 7. Blue-headed Vireo (629. Vireo soUtcirius). — An olive-green- backed, bluish-headed vireo, with the lower parts, ring around eye, and two wing bars white. It is, like the vireos in general, an inhabitant of the woods and a fine singer. (Solitary Vireo.) 100 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Elne-headed Vireo Length, 5| ; whig, 2f (2^-3); tail, 2J ; tarsus, |; culmen, |. North America, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from New England to Hud- son Bay, and wintering in Mexico to Central America. The Mountain Solitary Vireo (629=. V. s. altlcola), of the higher southern AUeghanies, is a similar bird but larger, and with the en- tire upper parts a nearly uniform dark lead-color with almost no tinge of green. Wing, 3^ (3-3|) ; tail, 21. 8. Black-capped Vi- reo (630. Vireo atri- capillus). — A small, rare, Texan, black-headed, olive-green-backed, white-bellied vireo, with olive-shaded sides. Length, 4| ; wing, 2^ ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, | ; culmen, ^. Central and western Texas, north to southwestern Kansas. \j 9. White-eyed Vireo (631. Vireo noveboracinsis). — A small, olive-green-backed, vs^hite-bellied vireo, with much yellowish on wings, tail, and sides of head, including two distinct wing bars. A ring around the eye, and line from eye to bill yellow. This is a saucy inhabitant of underbrush, with mocking bird powers, which it uses in in- tricate " medleys " of bird notes. White-eyed Vireo Length, 5; wing, 2|; tail, 2; tarsus, f; culmen, J. United States from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding north to southern New England and Minnesota, and wintering from Florida as far south as Central America. FAM. IX. SHRIKES 101 10. Bell's Vireo (633. F^reo 6^ZZm).— A stout, western, thicket- living, olive-green-backed, yellow-sided vireo, with the ring around the eye, and line from eye to bill white or nearly so. The belly is white, and the crown ashy-gray, gradually changing to a bright olive-green on the rump. This is a smaller bird than the last. Length, 4|; wing, 2} (2-2 1-) ; tail, 1|; tarsus, | ; culmen, |. Great Plains, to the upper Mississippi Valley, eastward to western Indiana, and southwestward to Mexico. FAMILY IX. SHRIKES (LANllD^) A family (200 species) of mainly Old World birds, repre- sented in America by two species of large-headed, strong- bodied gray birds, with black wings and tail, and white belly. Their size is not much less than that of our robin. The hawk-like bill' enables them to capture their (^^^^ prey, which consists of mice, small birds, insects, ^^ etc. Their greatest peculiarity is the habit of ' impaling their food upon thorns, the barbs of wire fences, etc. In watching for their prey, the shrikes almost always occupy the outside twigs of bushes or trees or other exposed situations. When an insect, a small bird, a mammal, or a reptile is seen, they will dart through a distance of many feet and secure it. Key to the Species * Breast generally with distinct wavy cross lines; black on the sides of the head not connected by a black line on the forehead 1. Northern Shrike. * Breast usually with no distinct wavy cross lines ; black on the sides of the head connected by a black line across the forehead 2. Loggerhead Shrike. 1. Northern Shrike (621. Ld.nius horeddis). — A gray-backed, white-bellied bird, with black wings and tail. There are black blotches on the side of the head, which are not joined together by a black line across the forehead, and narrow wavy bars across the breast. It is a low-flying bird, with a peculiarly straight course till it is ready to alight, when it makes a short 102 KEY AND DESCRIPTION upward turn and perches on the outside twigs of the tree or bush. It may be distinguished by the terror it causes among the small birds in its vicinity. (Butcher-bird.) Length, 10; wing, i] (4|-4|); tail, 4| ; tarsus, 1; culiuun, :;. Northern North America ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering in the Middle States. 2. Loggerhead Shrike (622. Ldmius lu- (loriri())tiis). — A bird similar to the last, but with more black on the sides of the head, connected across the forehead by a narrow black stripe. There are fewer wavy lines, or almost none, across the breast. Both these species are noted for the habit of impaling their prey — grasshopper, lizard, snake, or bird — on thorns. Both of these birds sing in the springtime. The notes of northern shrike are very musical, and resemble some- what those of the cat- bird, but those of the loggerhead are too harsh to be pleasant. Noitliem Shrike Length, 9 ; wing, 3y (3|-4); tail, 4; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, ^. United States, from the Plains eastward, and north to northern New England ; breeding from the Gulf States north to southern Loggeriiead Suiike New Jersey and the Great Lakes. The White-rumped Shrike (022". /.. I. exnibitorides), a variety found from the Plains to the Pacific, has, as its name indicates, the upper tail coverts more or less distinctly whitish. FAM. X. WAX WINGS. 103.. FAMILY X. WAXWINGS (AMP^LID^) This very small family of birds includes two of our crested, smooth-plumaged, rich grayish-brown species, with short, square, yellow-tipped tails and long wings. The waxwings practically have no song, and their notes are so quietly uttered as to be by many unnoticed. The name " waxwing " is derived from the fact that the secondary wing quills, and sometimes the tail feathers, are tipped with horny appendages resembling red sealing wax. Key to the Species * Under tail coverts chestnut ; wing bar white. .1. Bohemian Waxwing. * Under tail coverts white ; no wing "bar 2. Cedar Waxwing. 1. Bohemian Waxwing (618. Ampelis gdrrulus). — A rare, distinctly crested, rich brown-backed, grayish-bellied bird, with the under tail coverts chestnut and the tail feathers tipped with yellow; having a white wing bar, white tips to the secondary quills, and a brown- ish breast. The fore- head, chin, and line through the eye are black. (Northern Waxwing.) Length, 8 ; wing, 4| (4|-4|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, -| ; culmen, y'j. North- ern parts of the northern hemisphere ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering rarely south to Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Kansas. 2. Cedar Waxwing (619. Ampelis cedrdruvi). — A common, distinctly crested, rich brown-backed, yellowish-bellied wax- wing, with the under tail coverts white, and all the tail feathers tipped with yellow. There is no wing bar. The breast is like the back and the forehead ; the chin and the line over the eye are black. These smooth-plumaged birds move, excepting in the Bohemian Waxwing 104 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Cedar Waxwing breeding season (May to August), in small flocks, and when on the wing fly close together in a straight line on about a level with the tree tops. They are chatterers rather than singers. (Cedar-bird ; Cher- ry-bird.) Length, 7| ; wing, 3| (3|-3|); tail, 21; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. North A merica ; breed- ing from Virginia and Kansas northward (farther south in the moun- tains), and wintering throughout the United States south to Central America. FAMILY XL SWALLOWS (HIRUNDINID^) This family comprises eighty species of long-winged, small birds. They spend most of the time in the air in pursuit of their food, which consists almost entirely of insects. Many have forked tails ; few have colors other than black and white ; many have glossy, and some, iridescent plu- mage. On account of their weak, small feet, they usually perch on very slender twigs, or by prefer- ence on telegraph wires. The top of the bill is very short, but the moitth is both wide and deep, reaching about to the eyes."^ Key to the Species Purple Martin, or 2. Cuban Martin. * Wing over 5 long 1. * Wing, 5 or less long. (A.) A. Tail, 3 or more long, the notch more than an inch deep ; the under tail feathers with white blotches ; throat chestnut ; back lustrous steel-blue 4. Barn Swallow. A. Tail, 2] or less long; back with metallic luster. (C.) A. Tail, 2| or less long ; back brownish, without luster. (B). B. Breast brownish ; belly and throat white 6. Bank Swallow. FAM. XI. SWALLOWS 105 B. Throat and breast brownish ; belly white. 7. Rough-winged Swallow. B. All under parts white 5. Tree Swallow. C. Throat chestnut or black ; upper tail coverts reddish. 3. Cliff Swallow. C. All under parts white 5. Tree Swallow. 1. Purple Martin (611. Prdgne subis). — A large, sliming, blue-black swallow, with a notclied tail. The female is not so glossy on the back ; and her throat, breast, and sides are brownish-gray, and her belly white. It nests in boxes, gourds, etc., near human habitations, and is very common throughout the Southern States. Length, 8; wing, 5} (5J-6|) ; tail, 3'; forked, |; culmen, J. North America from ^K^.'* ^ Mexico to Ontario, wintering from Mexico to -^ .^^ South America. 2. Cuban Martin (611. 1. Prdgne crypto- leuca). — A Florida and Cuban species, »x» very much like the last in habits and appearance, but if the belly feathers are opened, there will be found a broad, white spot on each. The female has the neck, chest, and sides a sooty- Purple Martin brown, changing abruptly to the white of the belly and under tail coverts. Length, 1\ ; wing, 5^ (5|-5|); tail.'sj. South- ern Florida and Cuba. 3. Cliff Swallow (612. Pelroclielidon lu- nifrons). — A steel- \''.''^^W^ ■'.'■'''' J"V| \ blue-backed swallow, - i-iii-— ■■» 1 1 ^1 It— i«!i«*ff^ with a white fore-' head, much chestnut on the neck, pale Cliff Swallow brownish above the 106 KEY AND DESCRIPTION tail, and a white belly. Tail very slightly notched. This bird builds gourd-shaped mud nests under the eaves of buildings and on rocks. (Eave Swal- low.) Length, 51 ; wing, i\ (4-4^) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, \. North America ; breeding from the Potomac and Texas northward into the Arctic regions, and wintering in Central and South America. 4. Barn Swallow (613. CU- lidon erytlirogdstra). — A com- mon, chestnut-bellied, steel- blue-backed swallow, with a ' deeply forked tail. The breast is dark chestnut, but the other under parts are lighter ; the under tail feathers are white blotched. It nests in barns, using mud and grass for build- ing. In flying, it keeps nearer the ground than most swallows. Length, 7; wing, 4J (41-5); tail, 3-5; culmen, \. North America; breeding from Mexico to the Arctic regions, and wintering in Central and South America. 5. Tree Swallow (614. Tachychieta bi- color). — A steel- blue - backed swal- low, with all the under parts pure white. The back sometimes has a tinge of green, and the wings and tail are blackish. The young has brownish-gray upper parts. The tail is very slightly forked. The nests are found mainly in Barn Swallow Tree Swallow FAM. XI. SWALLOWS 107 Bank Swallow hollows in trees, but some are built in boxes, like the mar- tins. (White - bellied Swallow.) Length, 5| ; wing, 4| (41-5); tail, 2| ; culmen, ]. North America ; breeding from the Ohio Valley north- ward, and wintering from the GuU States to Central America. 6. Bank Swallow (616. Clivicolariphria). — A small, common, dull, brownish-backed swallow, with white throat and belly, and a broad band of grayish-brown on the breast. The tail is slightly notched. There is a curious tuft of feathers above the hind toe. This bird breeds in great colonies in appropriate sandy banks, and if the locality is suitable, is very abundant. (Sand Martin.) Length, 5 ; wing, 4 (.3|-4l-) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, a little over \. Northern hemisphere; breeding from the Gulf States ''ji: ^~^-. ...ii^® ~~'^~' northward, and winter- " ' -' --^Wf ing from Central to South America. 7. Rough-winged Swallow (617. Stelyi- ddpteryx serriphinis). — A dull, brownish- gray swallow, with white only on the The adult has recurved Eongh-winged Swallow lower belly; tail slightly notched. booklets on the outer edge of the first primary. The young lack these, and have the breast somewhat tinged with chestnut. 108 KEY AND DESCRIPTION In general appearance mucli like the last, but slower in its flight. It nests in sand banks or among the timbers of bridges. Length, 5|; -wing, 4| (4-4|); tail, 2|-; culmen, -J. Southern Ontario and Connecticut southward ; breeding throughout. FAMILY XII. TANAGBRS (TANAGEIDiE) This is a large family (300 species) of tropical, tree-living birds, with brilliant colors and generally weak voices. Our -^ three species are stout-billed,^ migratory birds. The males are mainly bright red, and without the crest which is so conspicuous on the cardinal grosbeak. Key to the Species * Male, red, with black wings and tail, wings without wing bars ; female, olive, with most under parts greenish-yellow. . . .2. Scarlet Tanager. * Male red throughout ; female, yellowish-olive, with the under parts buffy-yellow 3. Summer Tanager. * With yellow or yellowish wing bars 1. Louisiana Tanager. 1. Louisiana Tanager (607. Pirdnga ludovicihna). — An ex- treme western species which has been recorded from a few of the Eastern States. It is a crimson-headed, yellow-bodied tana- ger, with the back, wings, and tail black ; wing with two yellow bars. Female, much like the female of No. 3, but with two light-colored wing bars. Size like that of the other tana- gers. Western United States, from the Plains to the Pacific. 2. Scarlet Tanager (608. Pirdnga eryth- romelas). — A com- mon, summer, red- Scarlet Tanager , , . , , . , . , , bodied bird, with black wings and tail, and no wing bars. Female, olive-green above, greenish-yellow below; blackish wings and tail. This FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 109 brilliantly colored bird is found in dense woods, singing its robin-like carol in the tree tops. Length, 7; wing, 3| (.3|-3i); tail, 3; culmen, f. Tlie United States, from tlie Plains eastward; breeding from Virginia to New Brunswick, and wintering from Mexico to South America. 3. Summer Tanager (610. Pirdnga riibra). — A common, sum- mer, red bird of the south, without either crest on head or black on wings or tail. Female, brownish-olive above and buffy-yellow below. This is a sweet singer in open woods, with notes which resemble those of the last species. Its call notes are very peculiar, and have been written chicky- tucky-tuck. (Summer Red Bird.) Length, 1\; wing, 3 1 (3J-4); tail, 3; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. Eastern United States ; breeding from Florida to New Jersey, wandering to Nova Scotia, and wintering in Mexico to South America. Summer Tanager FAMILY XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, AND GROSBEAKS (FRINGILLID^) This is the largest of the families of birds (650 species), and comprises medium to small forms to be found everywhere (ex- cept in Australia) at all seasons of the year. The family has never been successfully divided into groups, and the student, in working with these forms, will have greater difficulty in de- termining species than anywhere else among birds. All have somewhat short, conical bills, with the corners of the mouth abruptly bent downward.' ^ ^ ^ * Most of our small species have plain colors arranged more or less in a streaky manner ; these 110 KEY AND DESCRIPTION are popularly called sparrows. About a dozen of the large species have very heavy, stout bills, and are called grosbeaks.^ ' Some are bright colored, others have bright markings of red or yellow ; these often have names to indicate their colors. Some have the nail of the hind toe peculiarly elongated and straight- ened;* these constitute the longspurs. Others, the cross- bills, have the bill remarkably curved and crossed at tip.^ Others, as the j uncos and towhees, have the plumage un- streaked, but with masses of different colors on different portions of the body. None of our species equal the robin in size, though a few come near it. The English sparrow is about the average, there being about twenty species smaller, twenty larger, and about twenty like it in size. The painted bunting, the smallest species (except Sharp's seed-eater of Texas), is about the size of the kinglets. The singing power varies wonderfully ; some hardly sing at all, while others are noted songsters. Some of our favorite cage birds — the canary for example — belong to this family. Nearly all are seed-eaters, and for this reason are not so migratory as the insect-eaters of other families ; the migration of birds being more due to lack of food than to inability to stand the cold. The streaked species are mainly inhabitants of the ground, while the brighter col- ored ones are more generally to be found among the trees. Key to the Species * Mandibles long and much curved, their points crossed at tip.^ — Without wing bars 4. American Crossbill. — With white wing bars 5. White-winged Crossbill. * Bill very stout, as high at base as the culm en is long ; top and bottom of bill usually much curved.^ ^ (X.) * Bill neither very stout (at least not so high at base as long) nor the points crossed at tip. (A.) A. Rather evenly colored birds ; there may be large patches of dif- ferent colors, but they are not sharply spotted or streaked either above or below ; some are somewhat mottled, but not in any very_ definite manner. (T.) A. Decidedly spotted or streaked either above or below. (B.) B. Upper (middle) tail feathers especially narrow and sharp-pointed, much more so than the under ones.* (Q.) FAM. Xm. FINCHES, SPARUOWS, ETC. Ill B. All tail feathers rather narrow and acutely pointed, and in many cases stiff. s (L.) ^ ±- . 3 B. Tail feathers neither especially narrow nor especially sharp-pointed, and m no cases stiff. (Nos. 36-37 have narrow but not acute tail feathers. ) (C.) C. Wing, 4 or more long ; under parts white, sometimes with brownish markings 12. Snowflake. C. Wing, 3-4 long; no yellow anywhere. (K.) C. Wing, 3-4 long ; some distinct yellow on bend of wing and head. — Some yellow on breast also 52. Dickcissel. — No yellow on breast 30. White-throated Sparrow. And under that species Golden-crowned Sparrow. C. Wing, 3 or less long. (D.) D. With a spot of bright red on the crown 6 and 7. Redpolls. D. With some distinct yellow somewhere. (I.) D. With neither distinct red nor yellow anywhere. (E.) E. Tail rounded ; breast without distinct streaks ; crown dark chest- nut or streaked ; no whitish wing-bars 40. Swamp Sparrow. E. Tail rounded ; breast sharply streaked. (H.) E. Plumage not streaked below ; tail somewhat notched. (F.) F. Crown slate-color, ashy-brown, or liver-brown ; a distinct white or huffy wing bar. .11. European House Sparrow and E. Tree Sparrow. F. Crown grayish with a light central stripe ; a white line over the eye. — Rump brownish 33. Clay-colored Sparrow. — Rump slate-gray 32. Chipping Sparrow. F. Crown chestnut. (G.) G. Crown bright chestnut ; a narrow black line back of the eye and some black on the forehead 32. Chipping Sparrow. G. Crown bright chestnut ; a reddish-brown line back of the eye and a black or blackish spot on the breast 31. Tree Sparrow. G. Crown dull chestnut ; no black on the forehead ; a whitish eye ring .34. Field Sparrow. H. Back, sides, breast, and tail coverts much streaked ; crown with a faint, pale, medium line 38. Song Sparrow. H. Everywhere sharply streaked ; crown not chestnut ; a buffy band across breast 39. Lincoln's Sparrow. I. Wing quills and under tail feathers yellow at base ; tail notched ; under parts white, heavily streaked with black. . . .9. Pine Siskin. I. Breast at least with some yellow ; tail notched and the under tail feathers white blotched 8. American Goldfinch. 112 KEY AND DESCRIPTION I. Breast with yellow ; tail slightly douhle-rounded and the under feathers not white blotched 52. Dickcissel. I. Tail somewhat longer than the wings ; bend of wing yellow. (J.) J. Head striped and two of the stripes white with yellow in front ; a white throat patch 30. White-throated Sparrow. J. No yellow on head ; upper tail feathers not barred 36. Bachman's Sparrow. J. No yellow on head ; upper tail feathers barred ^ 37. Cassin's Sparrow. K. liump, tail, and wings with much rusty-red ; large arrow-shaped spots on the white breast 41. Fox Sparrow. K. Male with much red ; female olive-brown ; tail an inch shorter than the wings and notched at tip ^ 3. Purple Finch. K. Under parts pure white, except black spots on the breast; tail rounded,^ and the under feathers black, with white tips 27. Lark Sparrow. K. Wing with a uonspiouous, light-oolored (white or whitish) patch ; tail about square * 53. Lark Bunting. K. Tail rounded ; wing, 3\ or less long ; crown pure white or pale brownish, margined with darker 29. White-crowned Sparrow. K. Tail rounded ; wing, 31-3|; center of crown more or less black. . . 28. Harris's Sparrow. L. Breast with yellow ; throat with more or less black ; bend of wing yellow 52. Dickcissel. L. Tail double-rounded ;5 middle and under pair of feathers about equal in length, the others gradually longer. (P.) L. Tail rounded ; <> the middle pair of feathers about the longest ; the under feathers gradually shorter. (M.) M. Culmen, J or more long ; bend of wing yellow. (0.) M. Culmen, less than J long. (N.) N. Tall and wings almost exactly equal in length ; back feathers black, bordered by bufiy ; no yellow in front of eye or on bend of wing. . . . 23. Leconte's Sparrow. N. Tail measurably shorter than wing ; back brown streaked with black ; bend of wing pale yellow 22. Henslow's Sparrow. 0. Back almost without streaks ; breast slightly streaked with dusky; yellow in front of eye 25. Seaside Sparrow. 0. Back somewhat streaked ; breast broadly streaked with black ; yellow in front of eye 26. Dusky Seaside Sparrow. 0. Center of crown with a distinct stripe of ashy ; breast and sides distinctly streaked with blackish 24. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SP ARROWS, ETC. 113 P. Wing, 2 '-S'f ; back ashy, somewhat streaked with brownish ; a white streak over the eye .18. Ipswich Sparrow. P. Wing, 25-2^ ; pale yellow in front of eye and on bend of wing ; back sharply streaked with black 19. Savanna Sparrow. P. Wing, 2|-2| ; bend of wing yellow ; spot in front of eye orange . . 21. Grasshopper Sparrow. P. Wing, 25-.3 ; western species with very narrow and acute tail feath- ers ; head buffy on crown and white on chin and throat 20. Baird's Sparrow. Q. Hind toe nail but little longer than tliat of middle toe ; bend of wing chestnut ; breast without yellow but streaked \vith black ; under tail feathers almost entirely white ; tail double-rounded". . . 17. Vesper Sparrow. Q. Hind toe nail but little longer than that of the middle toe ; breast with more or less of yellow ; under tail feathers not white 52. Dickcissel. Q. Hind toe nail about as long as the hind toe and nearly twice as long as that of the middle toe and but little curved.* (R.) R. Bill stout, nearly as high at base as the culmon is long ; under tail feathers almost entirely white ; others, except the middle pair, tipped with black ; bend of wing chestnut (western) 16. McCown's Longspur. R. Bill much more slender.^ (S.) S. Two under tail feathers mostly white ; under parts buffy 14. Smith's Longspur. S. Second under tail feather but little white ; breast with much black ; belly whitish ; legs and feet black ].!. Lapland Longspur. S. Under tail feathers mostly or entirely white ; all others with much white at base ; legs pale 15. Chestnut-collared Longspur. T. Tail as long as or longer than the wings. (W.) T. Tail shorter than the wings ; wing, 3 or more long. (V.) T. Tail shorter than the wings ; wing, 2-3 long. (U.) U. Body yellow, with wings and tail black (male), or back brown, with more or less yellow below (female) ; bill very sharp and small. . . 8. American Goldfinch. U. Plumage blue (male) or grayish-brown, with some tinge of blue on the outer web of the quills (femule) ; the under side of the bill with a blackish stripe 49. Indigo Bunting. U. Head blup ; back golden green ; rump and under parts red (male), or above olive-green ; below greenish-yellow (female) 50. Painted Bunting. 6 7 apgar's niKDS. — 8 114 KET AND DESCRIPTIOif U. Head blue and red, belly reddish-purple (male), or brownish with whitish lower parts and no wing bars (female) 50. Varied Bunting. U. Because of lack of distinct streaks, one of the small sparrows with narrow, acute-pointed tail feathers might be sought for here 25. Seaside Sparrow. V. Blue, with chestnut on wings (male), or plain brown (female) ; tail even, i 48. Blue Grosbeak. V. Bird with crimson, black, yellow, and white in its plumage 10. European Goldfinch. V. Brownish above and below, with rosy edgings to the quills ; black or clear ash on head ; tail slightly notched. The Gray-crowned Leucos- ticte (524. Leucostlcte tephroc6tis) of the Rocky Mountain region might be found east of those mountains. V. Because of their finch-like bills, the bobolink and cowbird (Nos. 1 and 2 of the next family, page 144) might be looked for here. W. Under parts pure white or somewhat irregularly variegated with rusty ; nail of hind toe twice as long as that of the middle toe and much curved ; ^ wing, 4 or more long 12. Snowflake. W. Belly white ; sides chestnut-brown ; under tail feathers tipped with white ; back black (male), or grayish-brown (female) 4o. Towhee. W. Upper parts, head, and breast slate-color ; belly and outer tail feathers white 35. The Juncos. W. Upper parts olive-green ; under parts white, with pure white on the middle of the belly ; head somewhat striped ; edge of wings and under coverts of wings bright yellow 42. Texas Sparrow. X. Conspicuously crested,' with more or less of distinct red in the plu- mage 44. Cardinal and 45. Texas Pyrrhuloxia. X. No crest ; small, southwestern birds, with wings less than 2 J long. . . 51. Sharp's Seed-eater and Grassquit (51) . X. No crest ; large birds, with wings, 3| or more long. (Z.) X. No distinct crest ; smaller; wings, 2|-3| long. (Y.) Y. Plumage with much red (male) or streaky olive-brown (female) ; no wing bars ; crown with erectile feathers, slightly imitating a crest .. 3. Purple Finch and in the Rocky Mountains House Finch (3) . Y. Streaky sparrow without yellow ; wings, 3 or less long and with white or buffy wing bar* 11. European House Sparrow. Y. Wing with a large, conspicuous white or whitish patch ; general color black (male), or brown streaked (female) 53. Lark Bunting. FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 115 Y. Plumage blue (male) or brownish or tawny (female) ; wing bars oliestnut or buSy ; tail, ^ inch shorter than the wings 48. Blue Grosbeak. Y. On account of the stout bill, 16. McCown's Longspur might be looked for here. It has the nail of the hind toe very long and nearly straight. Z. General colors rosy-red (male), or ashy-gray, with brownish-yellow on head and rump ( female) ' 2. Pine Grosbeak. Z. General colors black and white, with rich red on breast and under wing coverts (male), or brownish streaked, witli the under wing cov- erts rosy or orange (female and young) ; tail with white blotches. . . 46. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Z. General colors black and white, with neck and under parts orange or yellow (male), or brownish streaked, with the under wing coverts sulphur-yellow (female) 47. Black-headed Grosbeak. Z. Upper tail coverts yellow ; inner secondaries and wing coverts white ; bill greenish- yellow ; wing over an inch longer than the tail 1. Evening Grosbeak. 1. Evening Grosbeak (514. Coccothra'&stes (thraws) vesper- tlnus). — A heavy-billed, olive-brown bird, with black and white wings, black crown and tail, and ^.r-''''^ ~ ""SIHB'' yellow forehead and ^ ' .^««^ •• ■Wi^_ rump. The female ..^i^^^^^^^KKF' M lacks the black crown ^^jj^b— -~-««^., and yellow forehead "'" and rump, and has both wings and tail blotched black and white. A grosbeak Evening Grosteak of western North America, which, rather irregularly in flocks, has been found as far east as Massachusetts. Length, 8; wing, 4| (4-4J); tail, 3; culmen, |. Western British Provinces east to Lake Superior, and casually to the New England States. 2. Pine Grosbeak (515. Pinlcola enudeiXtor) . — A large, win- ter, uncrested grosbeak, with a rosy tint over most of the body, but brightest on the head, breast, and rump, and black- est on the wings and tail. Female slate-gray, with much 116 KEY AND DESCRIPTION olive-yellow on head, breast, and upper tail coverts. On its somewhat rare winter visits to the northern United States, it comes iu flocks, and can usually be found on the sumachs and mountain ashes, eating the berries. Length, 8^ ; wing, 4^ (4J-5); tail, 3| ; tarsus, -| ; culmen, y'g- Nortliem parts of tlie nortliern hemispliere ; breeding from northern New England northward, and wintering irregularly south- ward into the northeastern states. 3. Purple Finch (517. Carpddaciis ^nirj'yu reus). — A common, small, rosy- red -bodied bird, with brownish wings and tail, and whitish belly. The rosy red is brighter on the head, breast, and rump. The female is very much like a streaky, grayish-brown sparrow, having white under parts marked with many spots and streaks of dark brown. Tlie female is some- what difficult to determine, but the forked tail an inch shorter than the wings, and the tufts of feathers over the nostrils of the stout bill, distinguish it from all other birds. Length, 6 ; wing, 3J (3-3f) , tail, 2J ; culmen, f. North America from, the Plains eastward ; breeding from New England northward (farther south in the mountains), and wintering in the Middle and Southern States. The House Finch ("519. Curpddariis mexicamis frontalis) of Colorado, western Texas to California, is similar in size and coloring to the purple finch but the tail is about square at tip. Both of these are excellent. siiigLTs. The house finch is as common in the southern towns west of the Rocky Mountains as the English sparrow is in the towns east of them. 4. American Crossbill (521. Ldxia cnrvirdstra mlvor). — A climbing, dall-red-bodied, small bird with blackish wings and Pine Grosbeak FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 117 American Crosstill tail, and no white on the wings. The back is brownish, the rump bright red, and the tail short and deeply notched. The female has the red replaced by olive- green, with the rump yellowish. These birds are very irregu- lar in their appear- ance at any locality, but always come in flocks and are usu- ally found among the cone-bearing trees, ex- tracting the seeds by their peculiar bills, the lower mandible of which curves up- wards, its point crossing that of the uj)per one. In climbing about the trees, they act much like parrots. They fly in close ranks in a peculiarly undulating manner. (Red Crossbill.) Length, 6; wing, 3| (3J-3|) ; tail, 2}; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. North- ern North America ; breeding in northern United States (south in the mountains to Georgia), and winteringirregularly south to Louisiana. 5. White-winged Crossbill (522. Ldxia leucdinera). — A bird similar to the last in action and coloring, but the pinkish red of the body is much brighter, and the wings and tail black- er, and it has large white blotches on the wings. The female has a dull olive-green body, yellow rump, and white-blotched black wings. This bird is rare, but can White-winged Crossbill be easily recognized by the white of the wing coverts and the greater noise it makes while feeding. 118 KEY AND DESCRIPTION Length, 6; wing, o\ ; tail, 2\ ; culmen, |. Northern North America; breeding from northern New England northward, and wintering south in the United States to Pennsylvania. 6. Hoary Redpoll (527°. Acdnthis lionieindnnii exilipes). — A bird similar to the next, but differing in having the rump nearly white (pinkish white in the male), without streaks, the feathers of back and wings with whitish edges, and the belly white without streaks. Length, 5 ; wing, 3 (2J-3i) ; tail, 2; ; tarsus, | ; culmen, J^. Arctic America and northern Asia ; rarely wintering as far south as the northern United States. 7. Redpoll (528. Acdnthis lindria). — A small, winter, red- capped, black-chinned, streaky, brownish spar- row with (in the male) pink washings on the rump and breast. The ">>