wings and tail, which are black; the wings are crossed by two white
bars. These handsome birds are the most abundant of the Orioles on the
Lower Rio Grande, where their pure mellow whistle is heard at frequent
intervals throughout the day. They generally build their nests in
hanging moss from mesquite trees, turning up at the ends and lining the
pocket with moss, or else make a shallow hanging nest of fibres and
suspend it from yuccas. During May or June they lay from three to five
eggs of a white color, spotted (rarely lined) with purplish brown and
gray. Size .85 × .60.
505a. ARIZONA HOODED ORIOLE. _Icterus cucullatus nelsoni._
Range.--Western Mexico; in summer north to southern Arizona, New Mexico
and California.
This variety is like the last but more yellowish. Their nests are made
of a wiry grass compactly woven together and partially suspended to
mistletoe twigs growing from cottonwood trees; nests of this type are
perfectly distinct from those of the preceding, but when they are made
of fibre and attached to yuccas, they cannot be distinguished from nests
of the former variety. Their eggs are similar to those of the Hooded
Oriole, but generally more strongly marked and usually with some zigzag
lines. Size .85 × .60.
[Illustration 322: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Hooded Oriole.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 321
506. ORCHARD ORIOLE. _Icterus spurius._
Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to
southern New England, and Canada in the interior. Winters beyond our
borders.
The adult male of this species is a rich chocolate brown and black, it
requiring three years to attain this plumage. They nest commonly about
habitations in their range, usually preferring orchard trees for sites.
Their nests are skillfully woven baskets of fresh grasses, about as high
as wide; they are generally placed in upright forks and well concealed
by drooping leaves. They lay from four to six bluish white eggs, spotted
and blotched with brown and lavender. Size .80 × .55. Data.--Avery's
Island, La., May 10, 1896. Nest of grass, lined with thistledown;
semi-pensile in drooping twigs of a willow. Collector, F. A. McIlhenny.
507. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. _Icterus galbula._
Range.--North America, east of the Rockies, breeding from southern
United States north to New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.
This beautiful and well known eastern Oriole can readily be identified
by its orange flame color and entirely black head. Even better known
than the birds, are the pensile nests which retain their positions on
the swaying drooping branches all through the winter. Although they
build in many other trees, elms seem to be their favorites. Their nests
are made of plant fibres and frequently string, and often reach a length
of about 10 inches and about half that in diameter; they are usually
attached to drooping branches by the rim so that they rock to and fro,
but are sometimes held more firmly in position by having their side
bound to a branch. Their eggs, which are laid in May and June, are
white, streaked and lined with blackish brown and grayish. Size .90 ×
.60.
[Illustration: Arizona Hooded Oriole. Orchard Oriole.]
[Illustration 323: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Baltimore Oriole.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 322
508. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. _Icterus bullocki._
Range.--North America, west of the Plains and from British Columbia
southward, wintering in Mexico.
This handsome species is as abundant in the west as the Baltimore Oriole
is in the east, and breeds throughout its United States range. Their
nests are similarly made and in similar locations, and the eggs are
hardly distinguishable from those of the preceding, but the ground color
is generally of a pale bluish white tint and the markings are usually
finer, the lines running around the eggs and often making a very
handsome wreath about the large end. Size of eggs, .94 × .62.
509. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. _Euphagus carolinus._
Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from northern New
England and the Adirondacks northward; winters in southern United
States.
But few of these birds breed within our borders, the majority of them
passing on to the interior of Canada. They generally nest in pairs, or
at the most three or four pairs in a locality, building their large
substantial nests of moss, twigs and grass, lined with fine green grass;
this structure is situated in bushes or low trees in swampy places and
at from 3 to 20 feet from the ground. The eggs are laid in May or June;
they vary from three to five in number, of a pale bluish green color,
spotted, blotched and clouded with shades of brown and gray. Size .96 ×
.71.
510. BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. _Euphagus cyanocephalus._
Range.--North America west of the Plains, and from British Columbia and
Saskatchewan southward.
This western representative of the preceding is of about the same size
(10 inches long), but differs in having a purplish head and greenish
black body. They nest abundantly throughout their range either in bushes
or trees at low elevations or upon the ground; the nests are made of
sticks, rootlets and grasses, lined with finer grass and moss, and the
eggs, which are very variable, are dull whitish, clouded and blotched
with brownish and streaked with blackish. Size 1.00 × .75.
[Illustration 324: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Rusty Blackbird. Brewster's Blackbird.]
[Illustration: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: Dull white.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 323
511. PURPLE GRACKLE. _Quiscalus quiscula quiscula._
Range.--Eastern United States from the Gulf to Massachusetts; winters
along the Gulf.
This species, which is commonly known as Crow Blackbird, nests in trees
or bushes anywhere in its range, and on the coast frequently constructs
its nests among the large sticks of Ospery nests. Large pines appear to
be favorite sites for them to locate their large nests of twigs, weeds,
grass and trash. They are placed at any elevation from nearly on the
ground to 50 feet above it. The eggs range from three to five and are
greenish white, splashed, spotted and scrawled with various shades of
brown and gray, and with streaks of black. Size 1.10 × .80. The nesting
habits and eggs of the sub-species of this Grackle do not differ in any
particular. Like those of this variety the eggs show an endless number
of patterns of markings.
511a. FLORIDA GRACKLE. _Quiscalus quiscula aglæus._
Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States.
A smaller variety of the preceding; length about 11 inches. Eggs
indistinguishable.
511b. BRONZED GRACKLE. _Quiscalus quiscula æneus._
Range.--North America east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to
Hudson Bay and Labrador. Winters in the southern parts of the United
States. This is the most common and widely distributed of the Crow
Blackbirds and is distinguished by the brassy color of the upper parts.
513. BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE. _Megaquiscalus major major._
Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Virginia.
This handsome bird measures about 16 inches in length, is iridescent
with purplish and greenish, and has a very long, graduated and hollowed
tail. These Grackles are very abundant residents along the Gulf,
breeding in large colonies in swamps, placing their nests of weeds,
moss, grasses, etc., in bushes, trees, canes or rushes, but a few inches
above the water, while those in trees are sometimes 50 feet above the
ground. The eggs are laid in March, April or May, are from three to five
in number, and are a dull bluish or grayish white, streaked, lined,
clouded and blotched with brown, black and gray; size 1.25 × .95.
[Illustration 325: Dull greenish white.]
[Illustration: Purple Grackle. Bronzed Grackle.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration right hand margin.]
Page 324
513a. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. _Megaquiscalus major macrourus._
Range.--Mexico to southern and eastern Texas.
This variety is larger than the last (length 18 inches) and the tail is
very broad and flat. Like the former, they nest in bushes, rushes or
trees at any elevation from the ground. The nests are built of the same
materials and the eggs are similar to those of the Boat-tailed Grackle,
but larger; size 1.28 × .88.
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Family FRINGILLDÆ
514. EVENING GROSBEAK. _Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina._
Range.--Western United States in the Rocky Mountain region; north to
Saskatchewan; south in winter to Mississippi Valley and casually east to
New England and the intermediate states.
These are dull and yellowish birds, shading to brownish on the head;
with a bright yellow forehead and susperciliary line, black wings and
tail, and white inner secondaries and greater coverts. They breed in the
mountainous portions of their range, placing their flat nests of sticks
and rootlets in low trees or bushes. The eggs are laid in May or June
and are greenish white spotted and blotched with brown; size .90 × .65.
514a. WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK. _Hesperiphona vespertina montana._
Range.--Western United States, breeding in the mountains from New Mexico
to British Columbia.
The nesting habits and eggs of this variety are the same as those of the
preceding, and the birds can rarely be separated.
515. PINE GROSBEAK. _Pinicola enucleator leucura._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from northern New England
northward, and wintering to southern New England and Ohio and casually
farther. They build in conifers
[Illustration 326: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Evening Grosbeak.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Pine Grosbeak.]
[Illustration left hand margin.]
Page 325
making their nests of small twigs and rootlets, lined with fine grasses
and lichens. During the latter part of May or June they lay three or
four eggs, which have a ground color of light greenish blue, spotted and
splashed with dark brown, and with fainter markings of lilac. Size 1.00
× .70. Pine Grosbeaks have been separated into the following
sub-species, the chief distinction between them being in their ranges.
The nesting habits and eggs of all are alike.
515a. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PINE GROSBEAK. _Pinicola enucleator montana._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region from New Mexico to Montana.
515b. CALIFORNIA PINE GROSBEAK. _Pinicola enucleator californica._
Range.--Higher parts of the Sierra Nevadas in California.
515c. ALASKA PINE GROSBEAK. _Pinicola enucleator alascensis._
Range.--Interior of Northwest America from Alaska south to British
Columbia.
515d. KADIAK PINE GROSBEAK. _Pinicola enucleator flammula._
Range.--Kadiak Island and the southern coast of Alaska.
516. CASSIN'S BULLFINCH. _Pyrrhula cassini._
Range.--Northern Asia; accidental in Alaska.
517. PURPLE FINCH. _Carpodacus purpureus purpureus._
Range.--North America east of the plains, breeding from the Middle
States north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters in the United States.
These sweet songsters are quite abundant in New England in the summer,
but more so north of our borders. While they breed sometimes in trees,
in orchards, I have nearly always found their nests in evergreens,
usually about three-fourths of the way up. The nests are made of fine
weeds and grasses and lined with horse hair. The eggs, which are usually
laid in June, are greenish blue, spotted with dark brownish; size .85 ×
.65.
517a. CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH. _Carpodacus purpureus californicus._
Range.--Pacific coast, breeding from central California to British
Columbia and wintering throughout California.
The nesting habits and eggs of this darker colored variety are just like
those of the last.
[Illustration 327: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Purple Finch.]
[Illustration: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 515b--517a.]
[Illustration right hand margin.]
Page 326
518. CASSIN'S PURPLE FINCH. _Carpodacus cassini._
Range.--North America west of the Rockies, breeding from British
Columbia south to New Mexico.
This species is similar to the last but the back, wings and tail are
darker and the purplish color of the preceding species is replaced by a
more pinkish shade. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of
the eastern Purple Finch; size of eggs .85 × .60. Data.--Willis, New
Mexico, June 23, 1901. Nest made of twigs and rootlets and lined with
horse hair. Collector, F. J. Birtwell.
519. HOUSE FINCH. _Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis._
Range.--United States west of the Plains and from Oregon and Wyoming to
Mexico.
This is one of the best known of western birds, and nests commonly in
all situations from trees and bushes to vines growing on porches. Their
nests are made of rootlets and grasses and are lined with horse hair.
Their nesting season includes all the summer months, they raising two
and sometimes three broods a season. The three to five eggs are pale
greenish blue with a few sharp blackish brown specks about the large
end. Size .80 × .55.
519b. SAN LUCAS HOUSE FINCH. _Carpodacus mexicanus ruberrimus._
Range.--Southern Lower California. A slightly smaller variety of the
preceding.
519c. SAN CLEMENTE HOUSE FINCH. _Carpodacus mexicanus clematis._
Range.--San Clemente and Santa Barbara Islands. Somewhat darker than the
last.
520. GUADALUPE FINCH. _Carpodacus amplus._
Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.
Similar to the House Finch, but deeper red and slightly larger. Their
nesting habits and eggs are precisely like those of the House Finch but
the eggs average larger; size .85 × .60.
520.1. MCGREGOR'S HOUSE FINCH. _Carpodacus mcgregori._
Range.--San Benito Island, Lower California.
A newly made species, hardly to be distinguished from the last. Eggs
probably the same.
[Illustration 328: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 518--519.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 327
521. CROSSBILL. _Loxia curvirostra minor._
Range.--Northern North America, breeding in the Alleghanies and from
northern New England northward; winters south to the middle portions of
the United States and casually farther.
The birds are very curious both in appearance and actions, being very
"flighty" and restless, and apt to remain to breed on any of the
mountains. They build during March or April, making their nests of
twigs, rootlets, moss, feathers, etc., and placing them in forks or on
branches of trees (usually conifers) at any height from the ground. The
eggs are greenish white, spotted with brown and with lavender shell
markings; size .75 × .55.
521a. MEXICAN CROSSBILL. _Loxia curvirostra stricklandi._
Range.--Mountain ranges from central Mexico north to Wyoming.
A larger variety of the preceding. The eggs will not differ except
perhaps a trifle in size.
522. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. _Loxia leucoptera._
Range.--Northern North America, breeding in the Alleghanies and from
northern Maine northward; winters to middle portions of the United
States.
This species is rosy red with two white wing bars. Like the last, they
are of a roving disposition and are apt to be found in any unexpected
locality. Their nesting habits are the same as those of the American
Crossbill, but the eggs average larger and the markings are more
blotchy; size .80 × .55.
523. ALEUTIAN ROSY FINCH. _Leucosticte griseonucha._
Range.--Aleutian and Pribilof Islands; south to Kadiak.
This is the largest of the genus, and can be distinguished from the
others by its very dark chestnut coloration and the gray hindneck and
cheeks. Like the other Leucostictes, they are found in flocks and
frequent rocky or mountainous country, where they are nearly always
found on the ground. They build in crevices among the rocks or under
ledges or embankments, making the nest of weeds and grasses. Their four
or five pure white eggs are laid during June. Size .97 × .67.
Data.--St. George Islands of the
[Illustration 329: Crossbill.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: White-winged Crossbill.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 328
524. GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH. _Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region from Saskatchewan south to northern United
States and also breeding in the Sierra Nevadas; winters on the lowlands
of northwestern United States and east to Manitoba.
The habits and breeding habits of this species are like those of the
last. The bird is paler colored and the gray is restricted to the hind
part of the head. They nest on the ground in June, laying four or five
white eggs.
524a. HEPBURN ROSY FINCH. _Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis._
Range.--Higher ranges from Washington and British Columbia to Alaska.
This variety is like the Aleutian Leucosticte but the brown is a great
deal paler. The nesting habits and eggs are, in all probability, like
those of the last.
525. BLACK ROSY FINCH. _Leucosticte atrata._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region of northern United States; known to breed
in Idaho.
This species is black in place of the brown of the others; the gray is
restricted to the hind part of the head and the rosy is rather more
extensive on the wings. Their eggs probably cannot be distinguished from
those of the Gray-crowned variety.
526. BROWN-CAPPED ROSY FINCH. _Leucosticte australis_.
Range.--Breeds at high altitudes in the Rockies in Colorado; south to
New Mexico in winter.
A similar bird to the Gray-crowned Leucosticte but with no gray on the
head. They nest on the ground above timber line on the higher ranges of
the Rockies.
527. GREENLAND REDPOLL. _Acanthis hornemanni hornemanni._
Range.--Greenland and northern Europe; south in winter to Labrador.
This large Redpoll nests at low elevations in trees and bushes, its
habits and eggs being similar to the more common American species.
527a. HOARY REDPOLL. _Acanthis hornemanni exilipes._
Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions and winters south to the northern
parts of the United States.
This variety is smaller than the last and is considerably darker but
still retains the white rump of the Greenland Redpoll. Its nesting
habits are the same as those of the next.
[Illustration 330: White.]
[Illustration: 523--524--524a.]
[Illustration: 525--526.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 329
528. REDPOLL. _Acanthis linaria linaria._
Range.--Breeds within the Arctic Circle; winters south to New York,
Kansas and northern California and casually farther.
This species is similar to the last but much darker, and the rump is
also streaked with blackish. These handsome birds are often met with in
winter, feeding on seeds of the weed stems that project above the snow.
Their flight and song is similar to that of the Goldfinch or Pine
Siskin. They nest at low elevations, either in trees or bushes. The eggs
number from three to six and are pale bluish, sparingly specked with
reddish brown. Size .65 × .50. Data.--Mouth of Great Whale River, Hudson
Bay, May 16, 1899. Nest in a willow 4 feet from the ground; made of fine
rootlets and grass, lined with feathers. Collector, A. P. Lowe.
528a. HOLBOLL'S REDPOLL. _Acanthis linaria holbœlli._
Range.--Arctic regions; south casually to the border of the United
States.
A slightly larger variety of the common Redpoll. Eggs probably not
distinguished.
528b. GREATER REDPOLL. _Acanthis linaria rostrata._
Range.--Breeds in southern Greenland; in winter south through Labrador
to the northern border of the United States.
This variety is larger and darker than the common Redpoll. It has been
found breeding abundantly in southern Greenland, where its nesting
habits are the same as those of the Redpoll and the eggs similar but
averaging a trifle larger.
529. GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus tristis tristis_.
Range.--North America east of the Rockies, and from Labrador and
Manitoba southward.
These beautiful birds are among our sweetest songsters from May until
September. They are resident throughout their United States range, where
they breed in August or early in September, being one of the latest
nesting birds that we have. Their nests are located in bushes, at a
height of generally below fifteen feet above the ground, being placed in
upright forks, and made of plant fibres and thistle down, firmly woven
together. They lay from three to six plain bluish white eggs. Size .65 ×
.50. The majority of nests that I have found have been in alders over
small streams.
[Illustration 331: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: Redpoll.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Goldfinch.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 330
[Illustration 332: AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.]
Page 331
529a. PALE GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus tristis pallidus._
Range.--Rocky Mountains from Mexico to British Columbia.
This variety is slightly larger and (in winter) paler than the last.
529b. WILLOW GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus tristis salicamans._
Range.--Pacific coast from Washington to Lower California.
Similar to the eastern Goldfinch but back said to be slightly greenish
yellow.
530. ARKANSAS GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus psaltria psaltria._
Range.--United States, west of the Plains and from Oregon to Mexico.
This species has greenish upper parts and yellow below; the crown, wings
and tail are black, the bases of the lateral tail feathers and primaries
being whitish. They are common in portions of their range, nesting in
similar locations to those chosen by the common Goldfinch and laying
from three to five eggs which are similar but slightly smaller. Size .60
× .45. Data.--Riverside, California, May 20, 1891. 5 eggs. Nest made of
fine grasses lined with cotton; 5 feet from the ground in a small tree.
530a. GREEN-BACKED GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus hesperophilus._
Range.--Mexico north to the Lower Rio Grande in southern Texas.
A similar bird to the last but with the entire upper parts and cheeks,
black. The habits, nests and eggs are identical with those of the
Arkansas Goldfinch.
531. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. _Astragalinus lawrencei._
Range.--Pacific coast of California, wintering along the Mexican border.
This grayish colored Goldfinch has a black face and yellow breast, rump,
wing coverts and edges of the primaries. They are quite common in their
restricted range, nesting either in upright crotches or in the forks of
horizontal limbs. The four or five eggs which they lay are pure white;
size .60 × .45. Data.--Santa Monica Canyon, Cal., April 26, 1903. Nest
in a cypress tree 12 feet up; composed of grasses, feathers, etc.
Collector, W. Lee Chambers.
532. BLACK-HEADED GOLDFINCH. _Spinus notatus._
Range.--Mountainous regions of Central America and southern Mexico;
accidental in the United States.
[Illustration 333: 529a--529b--530.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 332
533. PINE SISKIN. _Spinus pinus._
Range.--Breeds from northern United States northward, in the Alleghanies
and in the Rockies south to New Mexico. Winters throughout the United
States.
Siskins are of the size of the Goldfinch (5 inches long), and their
calls, songs and habits are similar to those of this bird. Their plumage
is grayish brown, streaked with dusky and the bases of the wings and
tail feathers are yellow. Like the Crossbills, they frequently feed
along our northern borders, but very sporadically. Their nests are built
on horizontal branches of pines or cedars at any elevation from the
ground, being made of grasses and rootlets lined with hair or pine
needles, and of rather frail and flat construction. Their eggs are laid
during May or June and are greenish white, specked with reddish brown;
size .68 × .48. Data.--Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, June 17, 1898. Nest on
branch of a spruce, 10 feet from the ground; made of grass, lined with
moss and feathers. Collector, L. Dicks.
534. Snow Bunting. _Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis._
Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions, and winters irregularly in large
flocks through the United States to Oregon, Kansas and Georgia.
These birds are only seen in the United States in large roving flocks,
during the winter when they feed on weed seeds on side hills. Their
nests are built on the ground, being sunk into the sphagnum moss, and
made of grasses lined with feathers. Their four or five eggs are a light
greenish white, spotted and splashed with yellowish brown and lilac.
Size .90 × .65.
534a. PRIBILOF SNOW BUNTING. _Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi._