PUFFIN; SEA PARROT
13. Fratercula arctica. 13 inches.
Puffins are grotesque birds, with short legs, stout bodies and very
large, thin bills, that of the common Puffin being 2 in. in length and
about the same in height; the bill is highly colored with red and
yellow, and the feet are red; eyes, white. It will be noticed that the
blackish band across the throat does not touch the chin, this
distinguishing it from the Horned Puffin of the Pacific coast. Adults in
winter shed the greater portion of their bill, lose the little horns
that project over the eye, and the face is blackish; they then resemble
young birds. They live on rocky shores, the more precipitous the better.
They stand erect upon their feet and walk with ease.
Notes.—A low croak.
Nest.—They breed in large colonies on rocky cliffs, laying their single
white eggs (2.50 × 1.75) in crevices.
Range.—Breeds from Matinicus Rock, Me., northward; winters south
casually to Cape Cod. Large-billed Puffin (F. a. naumanni) is found in
the Arctic Ocean.
[Illustration: ]
BLACK GUILLEMOT; SEA PIGEON
27. Cepphus grylle. 13 inches.
These birds are very abundant about the rocky islands from Maine
northward. They may be seen sitting in rows on the edges of the rocks,
or pattering along the water as they rise in flight, from its surface,
at a boat’s approach. In summer the plumage is entirely black, except
the large white patches on the wings; legs red; eyes brown. This species
has the bases of the greater coverts black, while they are white in
Mandt Guillemot (C. mandtii—No. 28), which is found from Labrador
northward. In winter, these birds are mottled gray and white above, and
white below, but the patches still show.
Notes.—A shrill, piercing, squealing whistle.
Nest.—Guillemots lay two eggs upon the bare rock or gravel in crevices
or under piles of boulders where they are difficult to get at. They are
grayish or greenish-white, beautifully and heavily blotched with black
and brownish (2.40 × 1.60).
Range.—Breeds on coasts of North Atlantic from Maine northward; winters
south to Long Island.
[Illustration: ]
MURRE
30. Uria troille. 16 inches.
In summer the throat is brownish black, but in winter the throat and
sides of head are white; feet blackish bill, long and stout, 1.7 in.
long, while that of Brunnich Murre (Uria lomvia—No. 31), is shorter
(1.25 in.) and more swollen. The ranges and habits of the two species
are the same. Murres are very gregarious, nesting in large colonies on
northern cliffs. In summer every ledge available at their nesting resort
is lined with these birds, sitting upright on their single eggs.
Notes.—A hoarse imitation of their name “murre.”
Nest.—Their single eggs are laid upon the bare ledges of cliffs. They
are pear-shaped to prevent their rolling off when the bird leaves;
greenish, gray or white in color, handsomely blotched or lined with
blackish (3.40 × 2.00). Their eggs present a greater diversity of
coloration and marking than those of any other bird.
Range.—Breeds from the Magdalen Is. northward; winters south to Long
Island.
[Illustration: ]
RAZOR-BILLED AUK
32. Alca torda. 16.5 inches.
Similar in size and form to the murre, but with a short, deep, thin
black bill, crossed by a white line. In summer, with a white line from
the eye to top of bill, and with a brownish black throat; in winter,
without the white line and with the throat and sides of head white. They
nest and live in large colonies, usually in company with murres. Their
food, like that of the murres, puffins and guillemots is of fish and
shell fish, or marine worms. They get these from the rockweed along the
shores or by diving; they are good swimmers, using both their feet and
wings to propel them through the water, the same as do the grebes and
loons.
Notes.—A hoarse grunt or groan (Chapman).
Nest.—Their single eggs are laid on ledges of cliffs; they are not
nearly as pointed at the smaller end, as murre eggs, and are always
grayish white in color, marked with blackish blotches (3.1 × 2.00).
Range.—Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward; winters south to Long
Island.
[Illustration: ]
GREAT AUK
33. Plautus impennis. 29 inches.
This largest of the auks lived, as far as we have authentic record,
until 1844, when it became extinct, largely through the agency of man.
Although nearly twice as long a bird as the Razor-billed Auk, their
wings were shorter than those of that bird, being only a trifle longer
than those of the little Dovekie; they were flightless, but the wings
were used to good advantage in swimming. Being in the direct line of
travel between the old world and the new, sailors, on passing vessels,
killed countless numbers of them for food, and in some cases merely for
the love of slaughter. They lived on coasts and islands of the Atlantic
from Mass., northwards. There are about seventy mounted birds preserved,
of which five or six, as well as some skeletons, are in this country.
Their eggs resemble those of the Razor-bill but, of course, are much
larger (5.00 × 3.00). About 70 of these are in existence, six being in
this country (Washington, Phila., and four recently purchased by John E.
Thayer, of Lancaster, Mass.).
[Illustration: ]
DOVEKIE; SEA DOVE
34. Alle alle. 8 inches.
These little auks, called “ice birds” by the fishermen, are very
abundant in the far north. In summer, they have a blackish brown throat
and breast, but they are never seen in the United States or southern
parts of the British possessions in that plumage. In winter, their
throats and sides of the head are white as well as the rest of their
upper parts. At all seasons the edges of the scapulars and tips of the
secondaries are white, as are usually spots on each eyelid. Even in
winter, they are only casually found on our coast, for they keep well
out at sea. Occasionally they are blown inland by storms and found with
their feet frozen fast in the ice of some of our ponds or lakes.
Nest.—They lay single pale greenish blue eggs, placing them in crevices
of sea cliffs; size 1.80 × 1.25.
Range.—Breeds on islands in the Arctic Ocean and on the coasts of
Northern Greenland; winters south to Long Island and casually farther.
[Illustration: ]
LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS—Order Longipennes
SKUAS AND JÆGERS—Family Stercorariidæ
SKUA
35. Megalestris skua. 22 inches.
These large birds are the most powerful and audacious pirates among the
sea fowl of northern waters. Their whole form is indicative of strength;
form robust, feet strong, and bill large, powerful and hooked. Their
plumage is of a nearly uniform blackish-brown, with white shafts to the
wing feathers and a white patch at the base of the primaries.
Nest.—They do not nest in large colonies, only a single or a few pairs
breeding in the same locality. Their nests are hollows in the ground, a
short distance back from the rocky shores. The two eggs that they lay
are olive brown, spotted with blackish (2.75 × 1.90).
Range.—North Atlantic coasts, chiefly on the Old World side, breeding
from the Shetland Islands and possibly Greenland, northwards. They are
only rarely found on our coasts even in winter, but have been taken as
far south as New York.
[Illustration: ]
POMARINE JAEGER
36. Stercorarius pomarinus. 21 inches.
Jaegers are more slender in form than the Skuas, but like them are
piratical in their habits, preying chiefly upon terns. Off Chatham,
Mass., I have often watched them in pursuit of the graceful terns, but,
excellent fliers as the latter birds are, they were always overtaken and
forced to drop the fish that they carried, and the jaeger would rarely
miss catching it as it fell. This species has two color phases
independent of sex or age. In the light plumage the top of the head is
black; rest of the upper parts and the under tail coverts brownish
black; underparts and bases of primaries, white. Dark phase,—Entirely
blackish brown except the white shafts to wing feathers and bases Of
primaries. In any plumage they can be distinguished from the other
species by the rounded, lengthened central tail feathers.
Nest.—A hollow in the ground in marshy places. The two eggs are olive
brown spotted with black.
Range.—Northern hemisphere, breeding north of the Arctic Circle; winter
from Mass. southward.
[Illustration: ]
PARASITIC JAEGER
37. Stercorarius parasiticus. 17 in.
Two phases of color, both similar to those of the last, but the central
pair of tail feathers are pointed and project about 4 in. beyond the
others; bill 1.4 in. long, with the nostril nearest the end. All jaegers
have grayish blue legs with black feet, and brown eyes. They are called
“Jiddy hawks” by fishermen, who often feed them fish liver. Their flight
is like that of a hawk. The nesting habits and range are the same as the
next.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER
38. Stercorarius longicaudus. 21 in.
Like the last species, but with the pointed central tail feathers
projecting 8 or 10 in. and with a shorter bill (1.15 in.) and the
nostril about midway of its length. It is less often found in the dark
phase.
Notes.—Shrill wailing whistles.
Nest.—Nest and eggs like those of the Pomarine Jaeger.
Range.—Arctic regions, wintering south to Florida.
[Illustration: ]