Frank M. Chapman

“ The Belted Kingfisher is a watchman of the waterways who sounds his loud rattle when we trespass on his territory, a gallant fisherman, who, like a Falcon 'waits on' with fluttering wing, and the moment his aim is taken plunges headlong with a splash on some fish that has ventured too near the surface. ”

“ While it is true that there is a general resemblance in form, in details of color and markings, the two birds are quite unlike, while so far as notes and habits are concerned, few members of the same family differ more. The Whip-poor-will haunts the shadows of the woods and rarely flies far above the ground, the Nighthawk, like a Swift, courses high in the open, even over city house-tops, where anyone who looks may see him. ”

“ When migrating, the Northern Water-Thrush often seeks refuge beneath the shrubbery of our lawns, but when nesting it frequents the borders of streams in deep woods, building its home on the ground or in the roots of an upturned tree. Its call-note is a sharp chink; its song a hurried rush of loud musical notes, closing abruptly. The 4-5 eggs, laid in the latter half of May or early June, are white with numerous brown markings chiefly about the larger end. ”

“ They are as sociable as "Love Birds," traveling in small flocks which, like one bird, dive into a tree and perch so close together that often several will be almost touching, and with common accord they take wing. ”

“ Both sexes have a flaming red crest (reaching the forehead in the male) the remainder of the plumage being black, with the throat, a stripe from the bill down the sides of the neck, and the basal half of the wing-feathers white; bill horn-color.
Range. Southeastern and Gulf States, north to North Carolina. The Northern Pileated Woodpecker (P. p. abieticola) is found thence northward into Canada and west to the Pacific. It is a larger bird, with the white areas larger.
In the south the Pileated is by no means rare and seems not averse to the presence of man ”

“ The former we treat as an enemy and the latter as a friend, and one therefore is as wild as the other is tame. Whether the Crow deserves to be outlawed has not as yet been decided. But we should not condemn him out of court and let us remember that as an intelligent, self-respecting citizen, who animates wintry wastes with his shining sable form and clarion call, he has other than economic claims to our consideration. ”

“ The Hairy is not so common as his small cousin the Downy, and does not so readily make friends. He prefers the woods to our orchards and is for these reasons less often seen at our feeding-stands. The Hairy's notes are noticeably louder than the Downy's. The nest-hole is usually in a dead tree. The 2-4 white eggs are laid the last half of April.
DOWNY WOODPECKER
Dryobates pubescens medianus. Case 2, Figs. 26, 27
The Downy differs from the Hairy Woodpecker in color by having the outer tail-feathers with black bars, but it is the bird's obviously smaller size that will serve to distinguish it. ”

“ The Transient Visitors will have gone to their more northern homes and our bird population will then consist only of the ever present Permanent Residents and the Summer Residents which the great northward march of the birds has brought us from the South.
Although June may be called the Month of Nests, nest-building begins long before the migration ends. Some Owls and Hawks lay in March, and the Bluebird, White-breasted Nuthatch and Robin have eggs by April 20, while most of our birds go to housekeeping during the latter half of May. ”

“ A flight is ended by an upward swing to the chosen perch which may be a tree-top, a telegraph wire, or lightning-rod tip. From such a lookout he keeps a sharp watch for his prey, which he detects at surprisingly long distances; meanwhile uttering the gurgles, squeaks and pipes which constitute his song. The nest is built in hedges or low trees in early March. The 3-5 eggs are dull white thickly marked with brown and lavender.
The Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) is a northern race of the Loggerhead from which it differs only in being somewhat paler above and grayer below. ”

“ The 'Turkey Buzzard' has a wider wing-stretch and is a better aviator than the Black Vulture. It is more a bird of the country than the last-named species which is the common Vulture of the streets in many southern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in April in Virginia. [7]
BLACK VULTURE
Catharista urubu urubu. Case 3, Fig. 10
Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of the Turkey Vulture. ”

“ An abundant Sparrow known only to bird students. It prefers fields to door-yards; lives much on the ground, and its darting flight, followed by a sudden dive to cover, and insignificant song all combine to make it rather difficult of identification. It nests in May, laying 4-5 white, speckled eggs in a nest on the ground. ”

“ The Grosbeak's call-note is a clear whistle of three or four notes which may be easily imitated; its song is said to be prolonged and melodious.
The Pine and Evening Grosbeaks would be notable figures in any gathering of birds, but coming at the most barren time of the year when our bird population is at the minimum and the trees are leafless, they are as welcome as they are conspicuous. ”

“ A winter visitor from the far North whose coming never can be foretold. Years may pass without seeing them, then late some fall, they may appear in numbers. They are usually in flocks and feed upon seeds as well as birch and alder catkins. In notes and general habits the Redpoll resembles the Goldfinch.
Holbœll's Redpoll (A. holbœlli) is a slightly larger race, with a longer, more slender bill. It is a more northern form than the preceding, and rarely visits the United States. The Greater Redpoll (A. l. rostrata ) is also larger than the common Redpoll, but has a shorter, stouter bill. ”

“ I make it a rule to see the singer always with the hope that he may prove to be the rare Brewster's Warbler, which usually sings like the Blue-wing, but in color is nearer the Golden-wing, being, in fact, like the Golden-wing but with the underparts and cheeks white unmarked with black. ”

“ Their plumage lacks the bright colors, white wing-bars and tail-patches possessed by most Warblers, and, instead of hopping and flitting from twig to twig, they spend their time chiefly walking on the ground, where they find their food. ”

“ The Wild Turkey was formerly found as far north as Maine and Ontario but it is unknown now north of central Pennsylvania. South of Maryland it is not uncommon locally.
Range. Kansas and central Pennsylvania to the Gulf coast, and northern Florida. Non-migratory.
Washington, rare P.R.
Our domestic Turkey is descended from the Mexican Wild Turkey and like that race has the upper tail-coverts and tail tipped with whitish, whereas in our eastern Wild Turkey these tips are chestnut. ”

“ The Sycamore Warbler (D. d. albilora, Case 5, Fig. 19) is a nearly related race of the Yellow-throat which inhabits the Mississippi Valley nesting as far north as southern Michigan and wintering in the tropics. It differs from the Atlantic coast form in having a smaller bill and no yellow in front of the eye. As its name implies, it favors sycamore trees. [106]
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
Dendroica virens virens. Case 6, Fig. 62
The female has a yellow throat and a band of black spots on the breast, but both sexes may be known by the yellow cheeks and the large amount of white in the tail. ”

“ One's presence seems to excite both his curiosity and his disapproval, for he looks one over from this side and that all the while giving expression to remarks which sound far from complimentary. The nest is hung from a crotch, rarely more than 6 feet from the ground. The eggs laid in April, in the South, in May in the North, are white with a few blackish spots.
The Key West Vireo (V. g. maynardi) has a longer bill and is somewhat paler below than the White-eye. It is resident in southern Florida and the Keys. [92]
BELL'S VIREO
Vireo belli belli. Case 6, Fig. 65
Smallest of our Vireos ”

“ The call of the male is a human-like, loud, clear cac-cac-cac; that of the female is said to be more harsh and often broken. Eagles nest in tall trees and on cliffs, and lay two or three dull white eggs, in Florida, in November and December; in Maine, in April.
FALCONS, CARACARAS, ETC. FAMILY FALCONIDÆ
GYRFALCON
Falco rusticolus gyrfalco
A large Hawk with long, pointed wings, the upper parts brown with numerous narrow, buffy bars or margins, the tail evenly barred with grayish and blackish, the underparts white lightly streaked with black. ”

“ The adult has the tail bright reddish brown with a narrow black band near the tip. The immature bird has the tail rather inconspicuously barred with blackish, and a broken band of blackish spots across the underparts. L. male, 20; female, 23.
Range. Eastern North America, migrating only at the northern limit of its range. There are several races, Krider's Red-tail, a paler form inhabiting the great Plains, and Harlan's Hawk, a darker form with a mottled tail, the lower Mississippi Valley.
Washington, common W.V., rare S.R. Ossining, common P.R., less common in winter. ”

“ A slaty-blue bird with black tail and wings and red eyes. L. 14.
Range. Southern United States, north to South Carolina, and southern Indiana; winters chiefly south of the United States and returns in April.
A low-flying hunter of insects, snakes and frogs. It migrates in loose flocks sometimes near the earth, at others far above it. The nest is placed in tall trees. The eggs are laid in May; they number 1-3, and are dull white, occasionally with a bluish tinge.
EVERGLADE KITE
Rostrhamus sociabilis
A dark slate-colored bird with a white rump and a rather slender hooked bill. ”

“ It feeds chiefly on the ground and is frequently seen upon our lawns when it may be known by its rather waddling, walking gait, and its long tail. Its notes are harsh, cracked and discordant, but when heard in chorus make a pleasing medley. The nest is sometimes placed in pines about 30 feet up, but also in bushes and even in holes in trees. The 3-7 eggs are usually pale bluish, heavily blotched and scrawled with brown and black.
BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE
Megaquiscalus major major
The male is a long-tailed, glossy blue-black bird. ”

“ Range. Introduced from Europe into Central Park, New York City, in 1890, now more or less numerous from Virginia to Maine; occasional west of the Alleghanies. It is a quick, active bird, probing the ground now this side, now that, as it walks rapidly over our lawns. The short tail and long wings are most noticeable in the air and distinguish the Starling from our other black birds.
A long-drawn whistle, such as one calls to a dog, is the Starling's most common note, but it has many others. ”

“ Range. Central Plains region from Texas to Manitoba, east to Indiana. Migratory at its northern limits.
Glen Ellyn, P.R. local, S.E. Minn., P.R. much decreased in numbers.
The Ruffed Grouse sounds his rolling, muffled drum-call in the seclusion of the forest, but the Prairie Hen beats his loud boom-ah-boom in the open freedom of the plains. Hardy and strong of wing, he can cope with winter storms and natural enemies, but against the combined assault of man, dog, and gun, he cannot successfully contend.
About a dozen buff-olive eggs are laid on the ground in April or early May. ”

“ The Osprey, or Fish Hawk, feeds on fish and nothing but fish. He is, therefore, never found far from his fishing grounds, where no one who has seen him plunge for his prey and rise with it from the water will doubt his ability to supply his wants. ”

“ While the birds in the cases are small, they are drawn and reproduced with such accuracy that no essential detail of color or form is lost. Above all, they have the rare merit of being all drawn to nearly the same scale. One will soon learn therefore to measure the proportions of unknown birds by comparison with those with which one is familiar, and since relative size is the most obvious character in naming birds in nature, this is a feature of the first importance. ”

“ The adult male will be recognized at sight, but the female and young must be looked at sharply. The whitish or yellowish line over the eye, in connection with the white wing-bars make a fair field-mark. L. 41⁄2.
Range. Nests from Texas and Alabama to Minnesota and western New York; locally from North Carolina to Delaware.
Washington, several records in May, one in fall. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 20. Glen Ellyn, not common, local S.R., May 8-Aug. 19. SE. Minn., rare S.R.
A tree-top Warbler of deciduous forests, nesting from 25 to 60 feet above the ground. ”

“ The adult male is dull rose rather than purple, the female is sparrow-like in appearance but may be known by a whitish line over the eye and the company she keeps. Young males resemble their mother their first winter. ”

“ The White-eyed Towhee (P. e. alleni) of Florida and the coast region north to Charleston, South Carolina, has the eye yellowish instead of red and the white markings are more restricted. Its call is higher than that of the northern bird and its song shorter.
CARDINAL
Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Case 4, Figs. 34, 35.
The male, with his conspicuous crest and bright colors, can be confused with no other species; the female is much duller and the crest is less prominent but still evident. L. 81⁄4.
Range. Resident from the Gulf States to southern New York and northern Ohio ”

“ He is to the South what the Robin is to the North—and more, for he is present throughout the year while the Robin is with us only during the nesting season.
The Mocker builds in bushes, orange-trees or other dense vegetation, from late March, in southern Florida, to early May in Virginia. The 4-6 eggs are blue heavily marked with brown.
CATBIRD
Dumatella carolinensis. Case 4, Fig. 81; Case 6, Fig. 71
Both sexes of the Catbird wear the same costume at all seasons and all ages. ”

“ Sparrows' nests are made of almost anything the birds can carry and built in any place that will hold them. The 4-7 finely speckled eggs are laid as early as March, and several broods are raised.
AMERICAN CROSSBILL
Loxia curvirostra minor. Case 2 Figs. 49, 50
Crossbills have the mandibles crossed; the absence of wing-bars distinguishes this species from the usually less common White-winged Crossbill. L. 61⁄4.
Range. Nests from northern New England to Canada and southward in the Alleghanies to northern Georgia. Winters irregularly southward, rarely as far as Florida and Louisiana. ”