of twigs, rootlets and weeds; they are often found in pine trees, but
apparently just as frequently in other kinds. Their eggs are greenish
blue, specked and spotted with various shades of brown. Size .95 × .65.
Data.--Holden, Mass., May 31, 1898. Nest on low limb of an oak, 4 feet
above ground; of weeds and rootlets and very frail.
609. HEPATIC TANAGER. _Piranga hepatica._
Range.--Western Mexico, north to New Mexico and Arizona in summer.
This species is similar to the next but is darker red on the upper parts
and bright vermilion below. They nest on the lower horizontal branches
of trees, usually live oaks, making the nests of rootlets and weeds; the
eggs are bluish green, like those of the next, but the markings appear
to average more blotchy and brighter. Size .92 × .64.
610. SUMMER TANAGER. _Piranga rubra rubra._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to New York and
Kansas, and casually farther; west to Texas; winters south of our
borders.
This bird is of the size of the Scarlet Tanager, but is of a uniform
rosy red color, darker on the back. They are very common in the South
Atlantic and Gulf States. Their nests are located at low elevations on
horizontal branches of trees in open woods, edges of clearings, or along
the roadside; the nests are made of strips of bark, weed stems, leaves,
etc., and are frail like those of the other Tanagers. Their eggs are
light bluish green, speckled and spotted with reddish brown, and not
distinguishable with certainty from those of the Scarlet Tanager. Size
.92 × .64.
610a. COOPER'S TANAGER. _Piranga rubra cooperi._
Range.--Western United States, breeding from the Mexican border and
Texas north to central California and Nevada.
Similar to but slightly larger than the last. There are no differences
between the nesting of this form and the last and the eggs are not in
any way different.
[Illustration 372: Scarlet Tanager.]
[Illustration: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: Light bluish green.]
[Illustration: Summer Tanager.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 371
[Illustration 373: SCARLET TANAGER.]
Page 372
SWALLOWS. Family HIRUNDINIDÆ
611. PURPLE MARTIN. _Progne subis subis._
Range.--Breeds throughout the United States and temperate British
America; winters in South America.
These large, lustrous, steely-blue Swallows readily adapt themselves to
civilization and, throughout the east, may be found nesting in bird
houses, provided by appreciative land owners or tenants; some of these
houses are beautiful structures modeled after modern residences and
tenanted by twenty or thirty pairs of Martins; others are plain,
unpainted soap boxes or the like, but the birds seem to take to one as
kindly as the other, making nests in their compartments of weeds, grass,
mud, feathers, etc. They also, and most commonly in the west, nest in
cavities of trees making nests of any available material. During June or
July, they lay from four to six white eggs; size .95 × .65.
Data.--Leicester, Mass., June 16, 1903. 5 eggs in Martin house; nest of
grasses.
611a. WESTERN MARTIN. _Progne subis hesperia._
Range.--Pacific coast from Washington south.
The nesting habits, eggs, and birds of this form are identical with
those found in the east.
611.1. CUBAN MARTIN. _Progne cryptoleuca_.
Range.--Cuba and southern Florida (in summer).
Slightly smaller than the Purple Martin and the eggs average a trifle
smaller.
612. CLIFF SWALLOW. _Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons._
Range.--Whole of North America, breeding north from the south Atlantic
and Gulf States.
These birds can easily be recognized by their brownish throat and
breast, whitish forehead and buffy rump. They build one of the most
peculiar of nests, the highest type being a flask shaped structure of
mud securely cemented to the face of a cliff or under the eaves of a
building, the entrance being drawn out and small, while the outside of
the nest proper is large and rounded; they vary from
[Illustration 374: White.]
[Illustration: Purple Martin.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Cliff Swallow.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 373
this typical nest down to plain mud platforms, but are all warmly lined
with grass and feathers. In some localities, cliffs resemble bee hives,
they having thousands of these nests side by side and in tiers. Their
eggs are creamy white spotted with reddish brown; size .80 × .55 with
great variations. Data.--Rockford, Minn., June 12, 1890. Nest made of
mud, lined with feathers; placed under the eaves of a freight house.
612.1. CUBAN CLIFF SWALLOW. _Petrochelidon fulva._
Range.--West Indies and Central America; accidental on Florida Keys.
613. BARN SWALLOW. _Hirundo erythrogastra._
Range.--Whole of North America; winters south to South America.
This Swallow is the most beautiful and graceful of the family, and is a
familiar sight to everyone, skimming over the meadows and ponds in long
graceful sweeps, curves and turns, its lengthened outer tail feathers
streaming behind. Throughout their range, they nest in barns, sheds or
any building where they will not be often disturbed, making their nests
of mud and attaching them to the rafters; they are warmly lined with
feathers and the outside is rough, caused by the pellets which they
place on the exterior. Before the advent of civilized man, they attached
their nests to the sides of caves, in crevices among rocks and in hollow
trees, as they do now in some localities. Their eggs cannot be
distinguished from those of the Cliff Swallow. Data.--Penikese Is.,
Mass., July 2, 1900. Nest on beam in sheep shed; made of pellets of mud,
lined with feathers.
614. TREE SWALLOW; White-bellied Swallow. _Iridoprocne bicolor._
Range.--Whole of temperate North America, breeding from middle United
States northward; winters in the Gulf States and along the Mexican
border and southward.
This vivacious and active species is as well known as the last, and
nests about habitations on the outskirts of cities and in the country.
[Illustration 375: Barn Swallow.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Tree Swallow.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 374
They naturally nest in holes in trees or stumps, preferable in the
vicinity of water, but large numbers now take up their abode in houses
provided for them by man, providing that English Sparrows are kept away.
They make their nests of straws and grasses, lined with feathers, and
lay four to six plain white eggs; size .75 × .50. Data.--Portage, Mich.,
May 26, 1897. Nest in a gate post; hole about 6 inches deep, lined with
feathers.
615. NORTHERN VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. _Tachycineta thalassina lepida._
Range.--United States in the Rocky Mountains and west to the Pacific
coast, breeding from Mexico to British Columbia; winters south of our
borders.
This very beautiful species is smaller than the last, but, like it, is
white below, but the upper parts are blue, green and purple without
gloss. They are common in their range and nest, usually in holes in
trees, less often in banks and under eaves; the nests are made of grass
and feathers, and the eggs are pure white, four or five in number; size
.72 × .50.
615a. SAN LUCAS SWALLOW. _Tachycineta thalassina brachyptera._
Range.--Southern Lower California. Practically the same bird as the last
but with the wing very slightly shorter. Nesting habits or eggs will not
differ.
615.1. BAHAMAN SWALLOW. _Callichelidon cyaneoviridis._
Range.--Bahamas; casual at Dry Tortugas, Florida.
This very beautiful species is similar to the western Violet-green
Swallow, as are also its eggs.
616. BANK SWALLOW. _Riparia riparia._
Range.--Whole of North America, north to the limit of trees, breeding
from the middle portions of the United States northward; winters south
of our borders.
This dull-colored Swallow is grayish above and white below, with a gray
band across the breast, they breed in holes in embankments, digging
small tunnels from one to three feet in length, enlarged and lined at
the end with grass and feathers. During May, June or July, according to
latitude, they lay from four to six pure white eggs; size .70 × .50.
617. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. _Stelgidopteryx serripennis._
Range.--United States, breeding from Mexico north to southern New
England, Manitoba and British Columbia; winters south of our borders.
This species is slightly larger than the last and similar but with the
throat and breast grayish and with the outer web of the outer primary
provided with recurved hooks. They nest in holes in embankments, in
crevices in cliffs or among stones of bridges or buildings. Their eggs
are like those of the Bank Swallow but average a trifle larger; size .75
× .52.
[Illustration 376: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: 615--616.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 375
WAXWINGS. Family AMPELIDÆ
618. BOHEMIAN WAXWING. _Bombycilla garrulus_.
Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions except in the Rockies where it
nearly reaches the United States; winters south to the northern tier of
states.
This handsome crested, grayish brown Waxwing resembles the common Cedar
Waxwing but is larger (length 8 inches), has a black throat, much white
and yellow on the wing and a yellow tip to tail. Their nests are made of
rootlets, grass and moss, and situated in trees usually at a low
elevation. The eggs resemble those of the Cedar-bird, but are larger and
the marking more blotchy with indistinct edges; dull bluish blotched
with blackish brown; size .95 × .70. Data.--Great Slave Lake, June 23,
1884. Nest in a willow 8 feet from the ground. Collected for Josiah
Hooper. (Crandall collection).
619. CEDAR WAXWING. _Bombycilla cedrorum._
Range.--Whole of temperate North America, breeding in the northern half
of the United States and northward.
These birds are very gregarious and go in large flocks during the
greater part of the year, splitting up into smaller companies during the
breeding season and nesting in orchards or groves and in any kind of
tree either in an upright crotch or on a horizontal bough; the nests are
made of grasses, strips of bark, moss, string, etc., and are often quite
bulky. Their eggs are of a dull grayish blue color sharply speckled with
blackish brown; size .85 × .60. Data.--Old Saybrook, Conn., June 22,
1900. Nest composed of cinquefoil vines, grasses, wool and cottony
substances; situated on an apple tree branch about 10 feet from the
ground. Collector, John N. Clark. This species has a special fondness
for cherries, both wild and cultivated, and they are often known as
Cherry-birds. They also feed upon various berries, and frequently catch
insects in the air after the manner of Flycatchers. Their only notes are
a strange lisping sound often barely audible.
[Illustration 377: Dull bluish.]
[Illustration: Bohemian Waxwing.]
[Illustration: Dull bluish.]
[Illustration: Cedar Waxwing.]
Page 376
620. PHAINOPEPLA. _Phainopepla nitens_.
Range.--Southwestern United States and Mexico; north to southern Utah
and Colorado.
This peculiar crested species is wholly shining blue black except for a
patch of white on the inner webs of the primaries. Their habits are
somewhat like those of the Cedar-bird, they being restless, and feeding
upon berries or insects, catching the latter in the air. They make
loosely constructed nests of twigs, mosses, plant fibres, etc., placed
on branches of trees, usually below 20 feet from the ground, in thickets
or open woods near water; the eggs are two or three in number, light
gray, spotted sharply with black; size .88 × .65. Data.--Pasadena, Cal.,
July 15, 1894. Nest in an oak 10 feet up; composed of weeds and string.
Collector, Horace Gaylord.
SHRIKES. Family LANIIDÆ
621. NORTHERN SHRIKE. _Lanius borealis._
Range.--North America, breeding north of our borders; winters in
northern half of the United States and casually farther south.
All Shrikes are similar in nature and plumage, being grayish above and
white below, with black wings, tail and ear patches, and with white
outer tail feathers and bases of primaries; the present species may be
known by its larger size (length over 10 inches) and wavy dusky lines on
the breast. They are bold and cruel birds, feeding upon insects, small
rodents and small birds, in the capture of which they display great
cunning and courage; as they have weak feet, in order to tear their prey
to pieces with their hooked bill, they impale it upon thorns. They nest
in thickets and tangled underbrush, making their nests of vines,
grasses, catkins, etc., matted together into a rude structure. During
April or May they lay from four to six grayish white eggs, spotted and
blotched with yellowish brown and umber; size 1.05 × .75.
622. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus ludovicianus._
Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to New England
and Illinois; winters in Southern States.
Like the last but smaller (length 9 inches), not marked below and with
the ear patches sharply defined. They nest in hedges or thickly tangled
brush, showing a predilection for dense thorn bushes, where they place
their piles of weeds, grasses, feathers and rubbish; the four or five
eggs are laid in April or May; they are like those of the last, but
smaller, averaging .96 × .72.
[Illustration 378: 619--620.]
[Illustration: Light gray.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Northern Shrike.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 377
[Illustration 379: I. E. Hess.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE AND NEST.]
Page 378
622a. WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides._
Range.--North America, west of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba
and the Saskatchewan; winters south to Mexico.
Like the last but paler and the rump white. Their nesting habits and
eggs are in every respect like those of the Loggerhead Shrike.
622b. CALIFORNIA SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus gambeli._
Range.--Pacific coast north to British Columbia.
Similar to the eastern form but with the breast washed with brownish and
with indistinct wavy bars. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those
of the others.
622c. ISLAND SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi._
Range.--Santa Barbara Islands, California. Like the last but smaller and
darker. Eggs not distinguishable.
VIREOS. Family VIREONDIDÆ
623. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. _Vireosylva calidris barbatula._
Range.--A Central American species, breeding in Cuba, Bahamas and
southern Florida.
Like the Red-eyed Vireo but with a dusky streak on either side of the
chin. They build pensile nests of strips of bark and fibres, swung from
the forks of branches. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of
the next species, being white, more or less specked about the large end
with reddish brown and umber. Size .78 × .55.
[Illustration 380: Loggerhead Shrike.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: 622a--622b.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 379
[Illustration 381: YOUNG SHRIKES (All ready for flight).]
Page 380
624. RED-EYED VIREO. _Vireosylva olivacea_.
Range.--United States, east of the Rockies, breeding north to Labrador,
Manitoba and British Columbia.
This is the most common of the Vireos in the greater part of its range
and is a most persistent songster, frequenting groves, open woods or
roadsides. Their eyes are brown, scarcely if any more red than those of
any other species and I have yet to see one with red eyes outside of
mounted museum specimens. They swing their nests from the forks of trees
at any elevation from the ground but usually below ten feet, and I have
found them where the bottom rested on the ground; they are made of
strips of bark, fibre, etc., and often have pieces of string or paper
woven into the sides; they are one of the most beautiful of bird homes
and are woven so strongly that old nests hang to the branches for
several seasons. Their three or four eggs, often accompanied by one of
the Cowbirds, are laid in May or June; they are white, sparingly specked
with blackish brown. Size .85 × .55.
625. YELLOW-GREEN VIREO. _Vireosylva flavoviridis._
Range.--Southern Texas and southward to South America.
Similar to the Red-eye but greener above and more yellowish on the
sides. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs indistinguishable
from those of that species.
626. PHILADELPHIA VIREO. _Vireosylva philadelphica_.
Range.--Eastern United States breeding from northern New England and
Manitoba northward.
This species is much smaller than the Red-eye (length 5 in.) and is
yellowish below, and without black edges to the gray crown. Their eggs
do not differ from those of the Red-eyed Vireo except in size, averaging
.70 × .50.
627. WARBLING VIREO. _Vireosylva gilva gilva._
Range.--North America east to the Plains, breeding north to Labrador.
This Vireo is nearly as abundant as the Red-eye but is not generally as
well known, probably because it is usually higher in the trees and more
concealed from view. Their nests are like those of the Red-eye, but
smaller and usually placed higher in the trees. The birds are even more
persistent singers, than are the latter but the song is more musical and
delivered in a more even manner, as they creep about among the foliage,
peering under every leaf for lurking insects. The eggs are pure white,
spotted with brown or reddish brown. Size .72 × .52.
[Illustration 382: Red-eyed Vireo.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: 626-627.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 381
[Illustration 383: C. A. Reed.
RED-EYED VIREO ON NEST.]
Page 382
627a. WESTERN WARBLING VIREO. _Vireosylva gilva swainsoni._
Range.--Western United States, breeding from Mexico to British Columbia.
This species is like the last but said to be a trifle smaller and paler
color. Its nesting habits and eggs are precisely like those of the
eastern form.
628. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. _Lanivireo flavifrons._
Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to
Manitoba and New Brunswick.
This handsome bird is wholly unlike any others of the Vireos, having a
bright yellow throat and breast; the upper parts are greenish and the
wings and tail gray, the latter with two white bars. They are fairly
common breeding birds in northern United States, placing their handsome
basket-like structures in forks of branches and at any elevation from
the ground; the nests are like those of the preceding Vireos but are
frequently adorned on the outside with lichens, thereby adding
materially to their natural beauty. The four or five eggs are pinkish or
creamy white, speckled about the large end with reddish brown. Size .80
× .60.
629. BLUE-HEADED VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius solitarius._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from southern New England and
the northern states north to Hudson Bay; winters in the Gulf States and
southward.
A beautiful Vireo with a slaty blue crown and nape, greenish back, white
wing bars and underparts, the flanks being washed with greenish yellow;
a conspicuous mark is the white eye ring and loral spot. They build
firm, pensile, basket-like nests of strips of birch and grapevine bark,
lined with fine grasses and hair, suspended from forks, usually at low
elevation and often in pine or fir trees (of some twenty nests that I
have found in New England all have been in low branches of conifers).
Their three or four white eggs are specked with reddish brown. Size .80
× .60.
629a. CASSIN'S VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius cassini._
Range.--United States west of the Rockies; north to British Columbia.
Similar to the last but with the back grayish.
629b. PLUMBEOUS VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus._
Range.--Rocky Mountain region, breeding from Mexico to Dakota and
Wyoming.
Like the Blue-headed Vireo but with the yellowish wholly replaced by
leaden gray.
[Illustration: Yellow-throated Vireo.]
[Illustration 384: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Blue-headed Vireo.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 383
629c. MOUNTAIN VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius alticola._
Range.--Mountains of Carolina and Georgia; winters in Florida.
Said to be larger and darker than _solitarius_ proper. From all
accounts, the habits, nests or eggs of this species differ in no wise
from many of those of the northern Solitary Vireo, whose nests show
great variations in size and material.
629d. SAN LUCAS VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius lucasanus._
Range.--Southern Lower California.
Similar to cassini but with the flanks more yellow. Their nesting habits
or eggs will not differ from the others.
630. BLACK-CAPPED VIREO. _Vireo atricapillus._
Range.--Central Texas north to Kansas; winters in Mexico.
This peculiar Vireo has a black crown and sides of head, broken by a
white eye ring and loral stripe; upper parts greenish, below white. They
appear to be fairly common in certain localities of their restricted
range, and nest at low elevations in mesquites or oaks, placing the
nests in forks the same as other Vireos; they are of the ordinary Vireo
architecture, lined with grasses. The three or four eggs are pure white,
unmarked. Size .70 × .50. Data.--Comal Co., Texas, May 21, 1888, 4 eggs.
Nest located in a scrub Spanish oak, 5 feet from the ground.
631. WHITE-EYED VIREO. _Vireo griseus griseus._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to northern United
States.
This Vireo has white eyes, as implied by its name, is yellowish green on
the sides and with two prominent bars. They have no song, like the other
Vireos, but a strange medley of notes resembling those of the Chat or
Shrike. They nest near the ground in tangled thickets, making large
nests for the size of the birds and not always suspended; they are made
of weeds, leaves, grass, bark or any trash. Their three or four eggs are
laid late in May or early in June; they are white, sparingly speckled
with brown; size .75 × .55.
631a. KEY WEST VIREO. _Vireo griseus maynardi._
Range.--Southern Florida.
This grayer and paler variety nests in the same manner and the eggs are
not distinct from those of the last form.
[Illustration 385: Black-capped Vireo.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White-eyed Vireo.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 384
631b. BERMUDA VIREO. _Vireo griseus bermudianus._
Range.--Bermudas.
This variety is said to be slightly smaller and to have no yellow on the
sides. Its eggs are probably the same as those of the others.
631c. SMALL WHITE-EYED VIREO. _Vireo griseus micrus._
Range.--Eastern Mexico north to southern Texas.
Said to be slightly smaller and grayer than the common White-eyed Vireo.
Its eggs will not differ.
632. HUTTON'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni huttoni._
Range.--Resident on the California coast; chiefly in the southern parts.
A similar species to _noveboracensis_ but with the under parts tinged
with yellow. These birds are quite common but shy, nesting at any height
from the ground in open woods or groves; the nests are made of grasses
and moss and swung from forked limbs; the three or four eggs are pure
white, finely specked with reddish brown. Size .70 × .50.
632a. STEPHEN'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni stephensi._
Range.--Northwestern Mexico and the boundary of the United States.
This variety, which is more yellowish than the last, appears to be
rather uncommon but as far as I can learn its habits and nesting do not
differ from those of the other Vireos; the eggs are white, specked with
brown. Size .70 × .50.
632c. ANTHONY'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni obscurus._
Range.--Pacific coast from Oregon (and Cal. in winter) to British
Columbia.
The nesting habits and eggs of this darker and smaller variety are the
same in all respects as those of the Hutton's Vireo.
633. BELL'S VIREO. _Vireo belli belli._
Range.--Interior of the United States, breeding from Texas to Minnesota
and Dakota.