_Zamelodia ludoviciana. Case 7, Figs. 25, 26_
The male needs no introduction; the streaked
plumage of the female betrays her Sparrow
ancestry; the white stripe over her eye is a
conspicuous mark. Young males in the fall resemble
the female, but have a rose-tinted breast. L. 8.
_Range._ Nests from central Kansas and central New
Jersey north to Canada, and, in the mountains,
south to northern Georgia; winters in the tropics.
Washington, rather common T.V., May 1-30; Aug.
29-Oct. 6. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May
3-Oct. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., May
10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept.
15. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., common T.V.,
Apl. 27-Sept. 28. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl.
27-Sept. 23.
Distinguished alike by plumage and song, the Rose-breast is one of our
most notable bird citizens. His song resembles in form that of the
Robin, but has a more lyrical, flowing, joyous quality, and, unlike the
Robin, he often sings while flying. The call-note of both sexes is a
sharp _peek_ which, like the Cardinal's _cheep_, seems too small for the
bird.
The Rose-breast lives and nests in woodland, particularly
second-growths, building a frail nest ten to twenty feet from the
ground. The 4-5 blue, brown-marked eggs are laid the latter half of May.