the white stripe down the center of the crown and the white line over
the eye. Their habits and songs are different.
Due to its feeding habits, the Black and White Warbler does not depend
on extensive foliage to furnish a supply of caterpillars, and migrates
earlier than many of this colorful family. Fall migration may find him
lingering well into October, before departing for his winter home.
He’s black and white,
As you can see
When he climbs ’round
That rough-barked tree.
Yellow Warbler
_Dendroica petechia_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
The Yellow Warbler, commonly called “Wild Canary,” is the best-known
member of the warbler family. Its breeding range extends from the
northern part of Alaska, thru Canada, United States and into Mexico, and
from coast to coast. It winters as far south as Peru. Unlike most
warblers, this friendly little bird seems to enjoy being near people and
may nest in some shrub or bush near your home.
You will recognize him instantly for he is the yellowest of all our
warblers, even in confusing fall plumage. The male shows pale, chestnut
streaks on the throat, breast and sides. The female may show a few
obscure markings, but not the distinct pattern worn by her mate.
Yellow Warblers build a compact little nest using grasses, plant down,
wool, cotton, hair or feathers, depending on available materials. Nests
range from 3 to 60 feet above ground, with a tendency to build them low
when suitable sites are found. Cowbirds are this bird’s worst enemy for
one or more Cowbird eggs can be found in most Yellow Warbler nests. They
have learned to combat this menace by adding another story to their
structure, thereby covering unwanted eggs with a new layer of nesting
material. In some instances as many as 6 stories have been added.
A sunbeam marked
With heavier ray
Flits ’cross the yard
Each summer day.
Northern Water-thrush
_Seiurus noveboracensis_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
It is easy to see why these warblers are called water-thrushes. They
resemble thrushes and usually are found near water. When you see him
walking down a half-submerged log or wading along the edges of a pool,
you will find he teeters like a Spotted Sandpiper. You also will notice
the dark, olive-brown back, yellowish stripe over the eye, the throat
and under parts buffy-yellow streaked with dark olive. The slightly
larger Louisiana Water-thrush shows a white line over the eye, white or
buffy-white under parts, unmarked white throat with duller streaks under
the body. The Ovenbird, a near relative, shows an eye ring,
reddish-orange crown and lacks the line over the eye. Western observers
will find that Grinnell’s Water-thrush is slightly larger with lighter
eye lines and under parts.
During migration, the Northern Water-thrush might appear in your yard or
garden, but edges of swamps, ponds or streams appeal to him most. To see
him at his best it is necessary to invade secluded areas around cool
bogs, mountain streams or northern lakes. There you will hear the loud
song, a series of clear but emphatic notes. His well-hidden nest may be
found by stumps or roots or moss-covered logs.
This funny little warbler
Likes water on his feet,
And when it comes to singing
He’s really hard to beat.
Yellow-breasted Chat
_Icteria virens_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
The Yellow-breasted Chat is not only the largest, but the most
unwarbler-like of this colorful family. If you live near thickets of
dense shrubbery, where brier tangles and brushy, low bushes grow in
profusion, there you will find this bird. He prefers low, damp ground
but does not overlook similar habitat on dry hillsides. His loud and
varied song will let you know when he arrives. Each series of notes is
followed by a long pause, and then another series, but on an entirely
different pitch; clear-whistled notes, low grating tones, caws or
reed-like tones all find a place in this bird’s song.
When you invade his territory, you will find he is elusive, but a little
patient waiting on your part will bring him out. Then you can check the
olive-brown back and rich, lemon-yellow breast fading to white beneath
the tail. The white line just above the eye combines with an eye ring,
as if he were wearing spectacles. You might even see the short, stout
bill or the rounded wings. Its long tail gives this bird a length of 7½
inches. He might entertain you with his clown-like antics by fluttering
into the air with his head down and feet dangling, but accompanied by
some of his sweetest music.
A clown at heart,
He lets you know
That he is pleased
To steal the show.
Wilson’s Warbler
_Wilsonia pusilla_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
When you make this bird’s acquaintance, you will wonder why he was not
called a “Black-capped Warbler,” for no name would be more fitting. In
fact, many ornithologists now refer to him by that name. Those who do
their birding in the Western United States might feel the same about the
Pileolated Warbler, which is similar. Both birds show olive-green above
and yellow below, with no wing marks or other distinguishing features,
except the black cap worn by the males. Some females carry this mark
faintly outlined, but it is lacking on the young. The western bird is
slightly larger.
During migration this warbler seems to prefer low bushes and shrubs to
the higher trees and is found around parks or bushes bordering streams.
They seem friendly but move so rapidly that you may miss the black cap.
They combine the usual warbler antics with those of small flycatchers by
capturing many flying insects; however, they are not inclined to return
to the same perch, but hurry on their way.
The song is a rapid series of notes with little variation except the
last tones, which are slightly lower in pitch. They nest on the ground
near water or swampy areas such as sphagnum bogs of the north or alder
and willow valleys of the west.
That little cap
Upon your head
Gives us the clue,
Or so we’ve read.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
_Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Eastern birders are unfortunate for only on rare occasions do they have
a chance to see and study this handsome bird. He is larger than the
Red-winged Blackbird, with which he often is associated, but smaller
than the Grackles. During migration, they join other members of their
family in feed lots, pastures or fields and any mixed flock is worth
inspecting. They are identified easily for no other bird has the black
body, white wing patch and yellow head and breast. The female lacks wing
markings and shows dusky, grayish-brown coloring with a yellowish tinge
on lighter head markings. They walk with almost a strut, as if they were
proud of their brilliant plumage.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest in colonies and affix their bulky nests to
tules and other vegetation which grow in the center of marshes and
swamps in western areas. There seems to be a tendency to move eastward,
for a few are nesting in the marshes of the upper Mississippi valley.
Their song is distinctive and consists of a series of chuckles, squeaks
and grating notes, all produced by what seems to be a great physical
effort. The results hardly justify such a strain.
Your favorite call,
So loud and harsh,
Would scare the frogs
In any marsh.
Baltimore Oriole
_Icterus galbula_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Most people are attracted to birds by one of 3 things—their brilliant
plumage, a beautiful song or the way they build their nests. The
Baltimore Oriole scores in every department. Few birds are more colorful
than an adult male, perched on the top of some tall tree, in full
sunlight. The rich-orange body glows like a living ember. When you add
the black of the head, back, wings and central tail feathers, the white
wing bar and feather edging on the wings and the orange outer feathers,
near the end of the tail, the contrasting pattern is unique. The female
and young are less colorful with dull black and yellowish-orange
markings and 2 distinct wing bars.
The Baltimore Oriole’s song is a rich melodious whistle which varies
slightly when given by different birds, but retains the oriole quality.
It could be confused with songs of some of the grosbeaks, but the latter
use more “chip” notes with their whistles. Western birders will find a
similar quality in the songs of Bullock’s and Scott’s Orioles.
For nesting sites, they choose a spot near the end of some drooping
branch, where they construct a deep, well-woven, gourd-shaped structure
which swings in the breeze. Grasses and string furnish building
material.
A lot of grass
And bits of string,
Will make their home
A wondrous thing.
Bronzed Grackle
_Quiscalus quiscula_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Almost everyone who lives or has traveled any place east of the Rocky
Mountains has seen this bird. The chances are they call it a blackbird,
for most people do. From his appearance, they are right. Since there are
a number of different species of blackbirds, this one should be examined
more closely. When you see him walking around your yard, you will notice
he is larger than a Robin, has a wedge-shaped tail and yellow eyes. The
male often shows a keel-shaped tail, when flying. The plumage is
iridescent and may show green, blue or purple. Those who live along the
Atlantic coast refer to these birds as Purple Grackles, a name which is
becoming popular for both the eastern and western types.
Grackles gather in huge flocks and can do much damage to unharvested
crops. In mixed flocks, grackles show a more even flight pattern than
most blackbirds.
Other birds are not happy when grackles nest in their area for these
birds are inclined to add both eggs and young of smaller birds to their
diet. Credit must be given the grackle, however, for he mixes numerous
insects with his diet of fruit and grain.
We watch you dunking
Crusts so thick,
And wonder where
You learned the trick.
Blue Grosbeak
_Guiraca caerulea_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Many birders seem to have trouble in listing the Blue Grosbeak. One
reason is the size, for they are smaller than most members of this
family. Another reason is that light conditions often make them appear
black. A third reason might be their choice of habitat. They prefer
brushy areas near some stream, but may be found along woodland borders
or hedges, where ample brush is found. They usually nest in low trees or
shrubs. There you probably will find the male as he sings from the top
of some bush or even utility wire which crosses his territory. You can
see he is a deep, but rather dull blue, with 2 chestnut wing bars. The
female is brown and shows 2 buffy wing bars. Both show a heavy beak
which gives them their name.
Blue Grosbeaks nest from Maryland to California but shun the northern
states. They winter as far south as Honduras and are fonder of warm
weather than most members of their family.
The Blue Grosbeak has a beautiful finch-like song, using a short series
of notes which rise and fall into a sweet warble. It is slower than the
song of the Purple Finch and does not carry like the usual grosbeak
song. Their food consists of insects and small seeds or grain.
The male is blue,
His mate is brown.
But neither likes
To live in town.
Pine Siskin
_Spinus pinus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Pine Siskins are unpredictable. Some years they are numerous, while
others produce few, if any, in the same area. Food supply is not
necessarily the answer, for they are erratic wanderers. These small
finches seem to prefer conifers for nesting. They build a neat
structure, using grass, bark or moss with a lining of finer materials.
Their home is well hidden by the heavy foliage near the end of a limb.
The eggs are a pale bluish-green, dotted with brown or black markings,
more colorful than the pale blue eggs of the American Goldfinch.
Siskins resemble goldfinches in their notes, flocking habits and size,
but can be identified by the uniform, striped appearance. They have
semi-concealed yellow patches near the body on both wings and tail.
Goldfinches show clear breasts in any plumage. Birders have found the
best clue to the identity of this bird is the long buzzy note which
forms a part of his song. His notes are husky in quality.
In winter siskins mingle with other finches in harvesting weed seeds.
Other food consists of seeds of various trees such as ash, birch or
elms, together with leaf buds. Most of their summer is spent in
evergreens which offer not only the nesting sites but food necessary for
growing families.
That buzzy note
Makes it a cinch
To know you’re not
Another finch.
Red-eyed Towhee
_Pipilo erythrophthalmus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Towhees inhabit thickets, bushes and brushy areas, and spend most of
their time scratching thru litter which covers the ground in such
locations. When disturbed, they usually utter the call note which gave
them their name. Opinions differ as to sounds made, so these birds are
referred to as “Towhees,” “Jorees” or “Chewinks.” Some call them “Ground
Robins,” since they feed on the ground and a part of their plumage
resembles that of our Robins.
Towhees are smaller than Robins. The male shows 3 distinct colors; the
head, throat, back, wings and tail are black; sides are rusty, and the
belly, outer tips of the tail and wing spots are white. The female is
browner but easily identified by the color pattern. Western birds are
called Spotted Towhees, since their wings and backs show more white
feathers. Both have red eyes. Those who do their birding along the coast
from South Carolina to Florida will find birds with lighter irises and
referred to as White-eyed Towhees.
These birds nest on the ground but do most of their singing from tops of
trees. Songs vary and may include a series of notes or 1 or 2 notes
followed by a trill.
When he’s near you will hear
A loud rustling sound,
For he rakes as he takes
Choice food from the ground.
Vesper Sparrow
_Pooecetes gramineus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Several kinds of sparrows can be found in open fields, along roadside
fences and hedgerows, but the Vesper Sparrow is easiest to identify. If
you should miss the chestnut patch on the bend of the wing or the white
belly, bordered by fine lines, you still will notice the white
outer-tail feathers. The back is a light grayish-brown with dark
stripes.
Juncos and pipits also have white outer-tail feathers, but adult juncos
show no stripes and pipits walk instead of hop. Western Vesper Sparrows
show less brown in their plumage, some being almost a light gray, but
still show darker lines on their backs, sides and breasts.
These birds use grass and small roots in building their nests, which
usually are in or near a clump of grass. Their eggs are grayish white,
heavily marked with brown.
Vesper Sparrows are good singers. Their best efforts seem to be late in
the evening, when dusk replaces the fleeting shadows; their musical
notes add a fitting benediction to the dying day. This chorus accounts
for the name. Songs vary, but usually start with 2 pairs of long
melodious notes, the second pair higher in pitch, then a series of rapid
notes beginning still higher, then coming down the scale to end in a
soft warble.
You might have been a junco
From markings on your tail,
But you prefer the prairies
Where breezes never fail.
Lark Sparrow
_Chondestes grammacus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
These large sparrows are easily identified. No other sparrow has a white
border around the tail or the distinctive chestnut and white head
pattern. Another mark is a distinct, dark spot on the breast.
Clay-colored Sparrows show a similar head pattern but lighter parts are
grayer and the cheek patch is duller, more brown than chestnut. The
latter-named bird has no spot on the breast.
Lark Sparrows prefer open areas along country roads, old orchards or
pastures with scattered trees or bushy hedges. Such habitat furnishes
nesting sites and a plentiful supply of insects, small seeds and grit
for their use. Altho usually a common species within its range, these
birds are inclined to be erratic and might be scarce one season and
abundant the next, with no apparent reason.
They nest on or near the ground but like to sing from a more elevated
perch such as a fence, bush or tree. Some sing while hovering in the
air. They cover a wide range but populations vary from year to year.
Their song is a series of melodious notes, varying in pitch but seeming
to include a few “churrs” which are quite distinctive. Songs vary
between birds, each bird giving a wide variety of notes in a short
period of time.
You like the pastures
With scattered trees,
Where you can live
A life of ease.
Chipping Sparrow
_Spizella passerina_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Chipping Sparrows are not only the friendliest, but one of the
best-known American sparrows. The reason is apparent, for yards, gardens
and parks furnish ideal habitat for these birds. They often nest in
vines or bushes just outside your window. Nesting materials include
grasses, rootlets and hairs, horsehair being used extensively, when
available. Their fondness for a horsehair lining in the nest sometimes
leads to casualties when either parents or young become entangled.
Chippies derive their name from their songs, a series of chip notes
which they utter. This is a rapid, unmusical series of notes, all on the
same pitch. They frequently join the Robins to start the day with song.
Juncos and some of the warblers also use a series of chip notes in their
songs, but with more variations and more musical in quality.
They feed heavily on insects and larvae, including various caterpillars,
beetles, ants and plant lice. Vegetable food amounts to a little more
than half their diet and includes seeds from grasses and weeds. Crab
grass seeds seem to be a favorite.
Western Chipping Sparrows are slightly larger and paler but show the
rusty cap, black beak and other markings which are distinctive.
That chestnut cap,
White line below,
Black thru the eye,
That’s you, we know.
White-crowned Sparrow
_Zonotrichia leucophrys_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
White-crowned Sparrows are known only as migrants or winter residents to
birders living east of the Great Plains. Westerners are more fortunate
for White-crowns and the similar Gambel’s and Nuttall’s Sparrows nest in
much of their area. When flushed from their feeding grounds, these birds
will impress you by their alert appearance. The habit of erecting the
crown feathers makes the head appear round and puffy, and brings out the
beauty of the broad black and white stripes which surround the white
crown.
These birds have a gray throat and breast, 2 wing bars, grayish-brown
backs with darker stripes. The feet and bill are pinkish. A white line
over the eye of the White-crowned Sparrow does not extend to the beak,
as it does on Gambel’s and Nuttall’s. Nuttall’s Sparrow has a yellow
bill.
White-throated Sparrows often are found in mixed flocks with
White-crowns, but the former show a distinct white throat patch, have
flatter heads, and a yellow spot between the bill and eye. The beak is
dark.
White-crowned Sparrows are good singers. Their songs vary but usually
start with a clear but plaintive whistle. Western varieties sing
differently but have a similar quality.
When winter takes
An angry mood,
You visit us
In search of food.
Song Sparrow
_Melospiza melodia_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Song Sparrows literally sang themselves into a name, for few birds sing
so persistently. To Thoreau these birds seemed to say: “Maids! maids!
maids! hang up your teakettle-ettle-ettle.” To you it may sound
differently, but you still will hear the sharp notes with which he
starts his song. These are on the same pitch with a slight pause between
each note. From there, the song is variable and may contain trills or
assorted notes on various pitches. One bird may produce several
different songs.
These birds prefer brushy or weedy areas near water but may nest near
your home if a bird bath is handy. No other bird seems to take as much
pleasure from bathing.
There are numerous geographic forms of this bird, which accounts for
wide variation in colors and sizes. The Desert Song Sparrow is light
while others are almost as rusty as Fox Sparrows. All Song Sparrows are
heavily striped, and show a distinct spot in the center of the breast,
and a dark line on each side of the throat. There is a gray stripe thru
the crown and a broader line over the eyes.
They usually migrate in March and October but wintering birds often are
found in the nesting range.
It’s plain to see
Why you’re so clean.
You take a bath
In every stream!
Lapland Longspur
_Calcarius lapponicus_
[Illustration: {uncaptioned}]
Lapland Longspurs are birds of the far north, nesting as they do in the
arctic and sub-arctic regions of both eastern and western hemispheres.
They visit us only in the winter when deep snow and bitter cold drive
them from their homes. Flocks of these sparrow-sized birds may be found
in open fields, prairies and pastures, feeding on whatever seed or small
grain is available. They run rapidly, ever on the search for more food,
and may be joined by Horned Larks at good feeding spots.
They seem nervous and take wing frequently, circle here and there and
often return to the same location. They have a rolling, erratic flight
which reminds one of blowing leaves.
In breeding plumage these birds display a lot of color. The male has a
black head and chest, rufous nape, back and sides heavily striped and a
white belly. A buffy stripe behind the eye drops down the neck and
backward along the sides of the chest. In winter you will see a brownish
bird with blackish streaks and white under parts.
In their eagerness to return to their northern homes, Lapland Longspurs
often suffer heavy losses because of wet spring snows. Their song is
varied and sweet.
Like blowing leaves,
You come and go
Across the prairies
Flecked with snow.
INDEX PAGE WHEN THE BIRDS MAY BE SEEN
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.