1906 and it is a pity that there should have been any need of reopening
it. Fortunately the merits of this and similar cases do not rest upon
individual bias, but they are determined by the A. O. U. Committee
which, as far as North American birds are concerned, acts somewhat as
a supreme court rendering verdicts according to evidence presented.
Let us hope they will give us “safe and sane” subspecies rather than
the shadowy indefinite groups of averages that too often are named
as geographical races. It should be remembered that while a name is
a handle to a fact, too many handles would make a door or a basket
perfectly useless. Ornithology will become a wilderness of handles if
every difference is named at sight,—a wilderness of subspecies founded
more on hasty opinions than on digested facts. A step farther and we
shall have the psychological subspecies in which the expectant mental
attitude of the subspecialist (if I may be pardoned the word) will play
the most important rôle. In our gropings after the truth it is wasteful
of too much time to spend so much of it stumbling over names of groups
so poorly defined that they convey only a vague meaning to a few
specialists and none at all to everybody else. Decking the subspecies
in all the glittering panoply of diagnosis, dimension, and distribution
makes of it an impressive spectacle, but this does not necessarily make
of it a good subspecies.
THE BIRDS OF THE RED DEER RIVER, ALBERTA.
BY P. A. TAVERNER.[24]
(_Continued from p. 21._)
Since the first part of this paper went to press, I am in receipt of a
series of notes from F. L. Farley, now of Camrose but formerly of Red
Deer. His observations extend from 1892 to 1906 at the former locality
and from then to date at the latter. They consist chiefly of lists
of spring arrivals but have been supplemented by further details in
correspondence. I have also received some comments upon the list as
published from J. H. Fleming. The pertinent new information is embodied
in the following continuation and the Addenda at the end.
80. =Ceryle alcyon.= BELTED KINGFISHER.—We found the species
rather scarce on the river. This is probably accounted for by
the cloudiness of the water which hides the fish. One bird was
seen near Camp 4 near Nevis and Young recorded two at Camp 11
at Little Sandhill Creek. We have three birds taken by Geo.
Sternberg at Morrin, August and September, 1915. Horsbrough
records the Kingfisher nesting at Red Deer and Farley notes it
occasionally at Camrose.
81. =Dryobates villosus.= HAIRY WOODPECKER.—Not very common
anywhere but more seen in the upper parts of the river in
the wooded sections than lower down. Singles or pairs seen
at camps 1, 4, 6 and 8½. Specimen from Camp 1 also one from
Rumsey, September 24, 1915, taken by Geo. Sternberg and
another from Buffalo Lake, November 9, 1914, by Horsbrough who
reports nest at Sylvan Lake. I ascribe them all by their large
size to _leucomelas_. One specimen in Fleming’s collection
lately examined by me overmeasures any _D. v. leucomelas_ I
have previously seen, having a wing 140 mm. Our next largest
specimen is but 132.
[Illustration]
82. =Dryobates pubescens.= DOWNY WOODPECKER.—Not seen by us
but both Horsbrough and Farley report it as a common resident
and a breeder. The former refers the local form to _D. p.
nelsoni_, probably on geographical grounds for we have an
Edmonton specimen, August 13, 1886, that has been identified
by Oberholser as _homorus_. A female, Red Deer, April 19,
1916 in Fleming’s collection agrees so closely with larger
specimens from New Brunswick and eastern Ontario that I see no
grounds for separating it from them and following Oberholser’s
determination of a Banff bird August 13, 1891, ascribe it to
_D. p. medianus_.
83. =Picoides arcticus.= ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.—Under
the subspecific designation, _P. a. arcticus_, Bangs lists five
specimens, without date (collections of Wm. Brewster, and E. A.
and O. Bangs) from Red Deer, Auk, XVII, 1900, —139.
84. =Picoides americanus.= AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.—Mr.
Farley reports taking a specimen in winter at Red Deer. He
makes no subspecific determination. Geographically _P. a.
fasciatus_ is the probability.
85.★ =Sphyrapicus varius.= YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.—Quite
common on the upper parts of the river but as the country grew
more arid it became scarcer and none were seen below Camp
5. One specimen, a female with black cap, Camp 1, June 30.
Horsbrough records it breeding.
86. =Phlœotomus pileatus.= PILEATED WOODPECKER.—Farley says he
knows of a few having been killed at Red Deer in winter.
87.★ =Colaptes auratus.= FLICKER.—Common throughout the river
as far as we travelled. Of the four birds taken by us and by
Geo. Sternberg at Morrin but one is a pure _auratus_, the
remaining specimens all having slight to strong traces of
_cafer_ blood indicated by the color of the large shafts, the
graying of the throat or red in the black moustache. Near
Camp 1, Young saw what he thought to be a red-shafted Flicker
and doubtless birds that are more strongly _cafer_ exist in
the region, though _auratus_ seems to be the predominating
influence. Two birds, May 2 and July 17 Red Deer in Fleming’s
collection are pure _auratus_. Farley says he has seen nothing
at either Red Deer or Camrose that he can ascribe to _cafer_.
It would seem that the _cafer_ influence is farther reaching on
the lower than the upper parts of the river. Horsbrough on a
guarded suggestion from Fleming refers his specimens to _C. a.
borealis_.
88.★ =Chordeiles virginianus.= NIGHTHAWK.—Though rather rare
at Camp 1, the Nighthawk became more abundant as we descended
the river. None could be collected however, until Camp 11 was
reached, where breeding birds were also noted. Our single bird,
July 30, is considerably lighter even than several _hesperis_
as identified by Dr. Oberholser. I therefore tentatively refer
it to _sennetti_. I suspect that this is the form of the arid
southern sections, as a Red Deer Bird collected by Sternberg,
June 4, 1915, is evidently _virginianus_, as is another from
Banff determined by Oberholser.
89. =Archilochus= or =Selasphorus=. HUMMINGBIRD.—Mr. Farley
reports having seen one Hummingbird at Red Deer the summer
of 1892. He thought it a Ruby-throat at the time, but this
requires confirmation by specimens for confident acceptance.
90.★ =Tyrannus tyrannus.= KINGBIRD.—Rather scarce on the upper
parts of the river. At Camp 1, we noted but a single bird, and
until Camp 4 but occasional individuals were glimpsed in the
distance. Below Camp 4, near Nevis, however, Kingbirds became
common. The last one seen was September 7. Two specimens, Camps
4½ and 11.
91.★ =Tyrannus verticalis.= ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.—Only seen
at Camp 11 after I left. Young says “Not as common as the
Kingbird.” Three taken July 31. Not listed by either Horsbrough
or Farley. Probably an inhabitant of the more southern sections
of the river.
92.★ =Sayornis phœbe.= PHŒBE.—Not uncommon as far down the
river as Camp 6, Tolman’s Ferry, but not noted below. One
specimen, Camp 2.
93.★ =Sayornis sayus.= SAY’S PHŒBE.—One pair were nesting
near the top of a cliff near Camp 2, and seen again the next
day while en route. At Camp 6, Tolman’s Ferry, Young found it
nesting in the adjoining hills and took a specimen. From then
on they were seen almost daily and at Camp 11, Little Sandhill
Creek, they were quite common. It nests on small ledges on the
cliff faces and seems rather more common in the arid than the
humid country. Specimens from Camps 6, 8 and 11, the last being
September 14. Not mentioned by either Farley or Horsbrough.
94. =Nuttallornis borealis.= OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.—Farley
reports this species at Red Deer, May 22, 1905.
95.★ =Myochanes richardsoni.= WESTERN WOOD PEWEE.—Wood
Pewee-like notes were heard constantly about Camp 1, but the
birds were so shy that one was collected with difficulty.
The notes were much like those of our eastern Wood Pewee but
different enough in quality to be distinctive. They were not
noted often thereafter but from August 6 to 25, Young took
several at Camp 11, on Little Sandhill Creek.
96.★ =Empidonax trailli.= TRAILL’S FLYCATCHER.—On the uplands
about Camp 1, in the thickets adjoining sloughs, this species
was recognized a number of times. Thereafter we were seldom in
proper country for it. At Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek,
Young collected specimens, August 9 and 11, probably early
migrants. Both are referable to _E. t. alnorum_. Farley lists
it at Red Deer and Camrose.
97.★ =Empidonax minimus.= LEAST FLYCATCHER.—Common all along
the river. Specimens taken at Camps 3, 3½, 5 and 11.
98.★ =Otocoris alpestris.= HORNED LARK.—We saw no Horned Larks
until Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek was reached, where
Young reports that he found them common on the flats of the
north side of the river feeding on wild buckwheat. Fourteen
specimens were taken between July 26 and September 20. These
are all _leucolœma_ as recognized by the A. O. U. or _enthemia_
according to Oberholser and Ridgway.
99.★ =Pica pica.= MAGPIE.—One of the pleasures of the trip
was acquaintanceship with this bird. We heard of occasional
Magpies being seen about Camp 1, but did not meet with them
personally until between Camp 5 and 6 when we found a family
party of partially fledged birds discussing the world and
things in general in the Saskatoon bushes. “Chattering like a
Magpie” hardly gives a clear idea of the performances. They
keep it up continually in season and out, but the talk is
deliberate rather than “chattering.” They are never still for
a minute and their curiosity is insatiable. Every morning our
camp was the center of interest and conversation to a group of
these long-tailed clowns, uniting the gravity of judges with
the talkativeness of a debating society. At Camp 11 a nearby
creek bed cut down some twelve feet below the general level
and dry and parched in the sun was the repository of our empty
cans and table scraps. Magpies were always in attendance and
no sooner had the falling can ceased its noisy rattling and
come to rest than a “Pie” was on hand to glean what it might
from its depths. They seemed to go in small companies, probably
original families though perhaps in some cases more than one
brood had joined together and haunted the brush in the wooded
river edges or the low dense tangle on hill tops sailing from
clump to clump and furtively following one another from cover
to cover. Their nests were conspicuous objects in the heavier
bush. Great oval masses of sticks four or five feet high and
two or three feet through with the nest in the center reached
by openings in opposite sides for ingress and egress. The fact
that we invariably found them in the neighborhood or not more
than a hundred yards or so from nests of Red-tail or Swainson’s
Hawks may or may not have a meaning; nor is it clear, if it is
more than accidental, which—the “Pie” or the hawk—was first to
choose the locality. Specimens were obtained at Camps 5½ and 11
while we have others from Rumsey and Morrin collected by Geo.
Sternberg.
Farley, Horsbrough and Dr. George of Red Deer, all declare that
this species is increasing. Farley writes,—“No one knew this
bird ten years ago and for the past few years a month does not
pass that some one does not ask about it. I think this about
its limit line as I never saw or heard of one farther north
than ten miles from Camrose.”
100.★ =Cyanocitta cristata.= BLUE JAY.—Fairly common on the
upper parts of the river but not seen below Camp 4, near Nevis.
One specimen, Camp 1. Reported nesting by Horsbrough.
101. =Perisoreus canadensis.= CANADA JAY.—Spreadborough’s
hypothetical record of this species at Red Deer is
substantiated by Farley who says he found two nests of the
Canada Jay ten miles east of Red Deer, the eggs from which
he sent to W. E. Saunders of London, Ont. According to
Oberholser’s determinations these birds should probably be
referred to _P. c. canadensis_.
102. =Corvus corax.= RAVEN.—Farley says,—“The Raven is seen
nearly every November at Red Deer. I have never seen them
brought in except in early winter.”
103.★ =Corvus brachyrhynchos.= AMERICAN CROW.—Only fairly
common in the narrow parts of the valley where the river is
in closer proximity to cultivation. Below, where the valley is
wide, and more arid conditions prevail, it was but occasionally
seen. Young reports, at Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek
after the middle of September, that they appeared in large
flocks. The farmers about Camp 1 did not regard the crow as
dangerous to crops but complained of the number of small
chickens they kill and the duck nests they rob. Specimens from
Camp 8½ and 11, also Morrin, October, 1916, Geo. Sternberg
and Alix, April 24, 1914, Horsbrough. Amongst our prairie
province specimens I can find little to substantiate the
Western Crow, _hesperis_. The birds of smallest measurement
in our collections come from Ottawa and Point Pelee, Ontario;
Red Deer, Alberta; and Lillooet, British Columbia, whilst
our largest specimens are from Ottawa and Indian Head,
Saskatchewan. Even the averages from eastern and western
Canadian specimens are too similar for the recognition of any
subspecies. I therefore prefer to class these birds with the
type form _brachyrhynchos_.
104.★ =Molothrus ater.= COWBIRD.—Rather scarce. We saw but
two at Camp 1. Young took a specimen at Camp 11 on the Little
Sandhill Creek, August 2. We also have one bird from Morrin,
July 1916, taken by Geo. Sternberg. The bird from Camp 11 is a
juvenile but extraordinarily heavily striped below, almost as
conspicuously so as a juvenile Red-wing. Above, every feather
is bordered with sharp buffy edges. The Morrin bird is similar
but does not depart from normal in so marked a degree. As these
are both juveniles their measurements are not satisfactory for
subspecific comparison. Examining our series of western Cowbird
specimens I can only see that they average slightly larger
than eastern ones. The bills are comparatively a little longer
but the concave character shown by Grinnell as characteristic
of _artemisiæ_ is not recognizable even though the sage brush
_Artemisia tridentata_ with which its range is supposed to
coincide extends far north of here to the Peace River Valley.
Without further data I can only regard these Red River birds as
abnormal _ater_.
105. =Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.= YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD.—Not seen by us owing probably to the absence of
extensive marshes in the localities visited. Geo. Sternberg
reports having seen one at Camp 11 before our arrival. Mr.
Farley lists it at Red Deer and Camrose.
106.★ =Agelaius phœniceus.= RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.—Not very
common but occurring in most of the suitable localities visited
by us. More common on the prairie level where sloughs are more
numerous than in the valley. Specimens from Camp 1 and 4. After
comparing these and other prairie specimens with eastern birds
I can only say that there is a larger percentage of oversized
birds amongst them than in the East. I can see no constant
difference in the bills and hence am not justified in referring
them to anything but _phœniceus_. Horsbrough refers his,
probably on geographical considerations to _P. a. fortis_.
107.★ =Sturnella neglecta.= WESTERN MEADOW LARK.—We did not
find this bird very common in the river valley and not overly
numerous upon the prairie levels when they were visited. Later
in the season, Young reports that they were common at Camp 11
in early morning when they came down from the Prairie level
to drink at the river. Specimens from Camp 1 and 11, also two
Morrin birds, August and July, Geo. Sternberg.
108. =Icterus galbula.= BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Horsbrough records
the nesting of the Baltimore Oriole at Red Deer and Farley
pronounces it common. Neither seem to be acquainted with
Bullock’s. In our collections are specimens of _galbula_ from
Edmonton and _bullocki_ from Medicine Hat where, however,
Spreadborough also noted the former. Possibly the division
between the two occurs somewhere between the two cities and the
Baltimore is the form at Red Deer.
109.★ =Icterus bullocki.= BULLOCK’S ORIOLE.—Only two orioles
seen and those two of this species. Taken at Camp 11, Little
Sandhill Creek, August 29.
110.★ =Euphagus carolinus.= RUSTY BLACKBIRD.—One specimen,
Alix, Alberta, April 22, 1914, by Horsbrough who infers in his
annotations that it is only a migrant at Red Deer though Farley
reports it as with Brewer’s,—“a very common spring and fall
migrant and quite plentiful breeding along the streams in the
willows.” I was hardly prepared to regard this as a breeder in
this locality.
111.★ =Euphagus cyanocephalus.= BREWER’S BLACKBIRD.—Generally
distributed throughout the river valley but nowhere exceedingly
common. Young noted a large migrant flock at Camp 11, Little
Sandhill Creek, the middle of September. Specimens, Camp 1 and
11. Farley reports it breeding along the streams in the willows.
112.★ =Quiscalus quiscula.= CROW BLACKBIRD.—Only a few seen at
Camp 1, about Brock’s Lake where they were nesting in Flicker
holes. One specimen, Camp 1, another Buffalo Lake, August,
1915.—Horsbrough. Regarded as common by all correspondents.
113. =Hesperiphona vespertina.= EVENING GROSBEAK.—Farley
says,—“The Evening Grosbeak is not regular in winter. It comes
for about a month about every other winter, always feeding on
the seeds of the Manitoba Maple.” Red Deer Specimens, May 6, in
Fleming’s collection.
114. =Pinicola enucleator.= PINE GROSBEAK.—Farley says,—“Pine
Grosbeaks are fairly common all winter especially along
the rivers in the spruce,—never saw them after May 1.”
Horsbrough lists them under _P. e. leucura_ on J. H. Fleming’s
determination based upon a bird with an imperfect bill. I
have examined this bird but the subspecific characters are so
faintly indicated in our comparative series that I prefer to
withhold judgment upon the determination.
115.★ =Carpodacus purpureus.= PURPLE FINCH.—Not seen on the
upper river at all and at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, only
after I left. Young reports that beginning August 18, he noted
one to five daily to September 7. He observes that they were
feeding on the seeds of the black birch. One specimen, Camp
11, August 18. Listed by Farley as common at Red Deer though
Horsbrough gives only individual records.
116.★ =Loxia curvirostra.= AMERICAN CROSSBILL.—One specimen
taken at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, July 21. It is a
juvenile with clear skull but with the red beginning to replace
the yellow plumage. About the face and throat is a powder
deposit similar to that on a Jasper Park bird that was feeding
upon woolly aphides suggesting that this bird was subsisting
upon a similar diet. Farley regards it as common all winter,
and I infer regular, but “never noted after May.”
117. =Leucosticte tephrocotis.= ROSY FINCH.—Farley says,—“I
have seen the Leucosticte in November around the coal mines in
the Red Deer valley where you go under the C. P. R. bridge.
They were the tamest birds I ever saw and I suppose had just
blown down from the tops of the mountains.” He later informed
me that he sent a specimen to W. E. Saunders, London, Ont., who
pronounced it Gray-crowned _L. t. tephrocotis_.
118. =Acanthis linaria.= REDPOLL.—Both Horsbrough and Farley
report Redpolls in winter. The former identifies them as _A. l.
linaria_ and the latter says he “cannot say that he has been
sure of more than one kind,” he thinks, “the smaller one.”
119.★ =Astragalinus tristis.= AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.—Seen in
limited numbers all along the river. At Camp 11, Little
Sandhill Creek, Young reports large flocks feeding on the
seeds of the wild sunflower _Helianthis petiolaris_ in early
September. One specimen from Camp 1 and four from Camp 11. All
these birds are of a slightly deeper and richer yellow than
eastern ones. The difference, however, is very little and only
appreciable when numbers are massed together. I do not think
that individual specimens can be recognized. In size there
are more large birds in the western series, but the extremes
in size, east and west, exhibit little, if any, difference.
Under such circumstances I cannot see that it is worth while
recognizing the Pale Goldfinch, _pallidus_ in these specimens.
Horsbrough refers his specimen to “_A. t. tristis_. Pale
Goldfinch” (sic). With this conflict between scientific and
vernacular terminology, it is left to surmise which he intends.
120.★ =Spinus pinus.= PINE SISKIN.—A small flock seen at Camp
3. One at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, August 15 and 22.
Specimens, Camp 3 and 11. Given as winter visitor by both
Horsbrough and Farley.
121.★ =Calcarius lapponicus.= LAPLAND LONGSPUR.—Seen at
Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, between September 10 and 15.
Specimens, September, 13 and 15. Farley gives many April dates
for both Red Deer and Camrose.
122.★ =Calcarius ornatus.= CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR.—One
seen, July 26 at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, becoming
fairly common September 10 to 13 then no more until the 20th
when two were noted. Specimens Camp 11, July 26 and September
13. Farley reports them very common in May and in autumn but
does not remember them in summer.
123.★ =Poœcetes gramineus.= VESPER SPARROW.—Rare along the
river valley but common whenever we visited the upper levels.
Young reports it common up on the prairie and along the creek
beds at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek. Nine specimens from
Camps 1, 6, 8 and 11. They are obviously referable to _P. g.
confinis_.
124.★ =Passerculus sandwichensis.= SAVANNAH SPARROW.—Quite
common in the more cultivated sections but scarce or absent
over much of the river valley. At Camp 11, Little Sandhill
Creek, very scarce at first, only two seen in August, but began
to be numerous late in September. 13 specimens, Camps 1 and
11. Two types of coloration are exhibited in these specimens.
Those from Camp 1 are all yellow eyebrowed birds, while amongst
those from Camp 11 occur yellow and white eyebrows. Until a
detailed study is made of Canadian Savannah Sparrows I do not
care to make subspecific determination. _P. s. alaudinus_ is
the generally accepted form in Canada west of Ontario.
125.★ =Passerherbulus lecontei.= LECONTE’S SPARROW.—But one
recognized near Camp 1, in a dry slough. Young found occasional
scattered individuals at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, two
of which were in marshes on the upper levels, the remainder
being in the desert lowlands. It is evident from the specimens
obtained that the species has a distinct juvenile plumage
composed of soft golden stripings quite different from the
first winter plumage which is similar to that of the adult
spring coloration. Specimens from Camp 1 and 11. Farley knows
the species and does not regard it as rare.
126. =Passerherbulus nelsoni.= NELSON’S SHARP-TAIL.—Farley
reports shooting this species for identification and finding it
quite common in the open country around large flat sloughs.
127.★ =Chondestes grammacus.= LARK SPARROW.—Fairly common
at Camp 11, Little Sandhill Creek, not seen elsewhere or
after August 17. Specimens from Camp 11. I am not prepared
with eastern specimens to differentiate between the two races
_grammacus_ and _strigatus_. Neither Farley nor Horsbrough
mentions this species at Red Deer and it probably does not
occur there regularly.
128.★ =Zonotrichia leucophrys.= WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.—Not
noted until September 3, Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek.
Young reports them quite common then along the river feeding
on dogwood seeds and Buffalo berries. Four specimens Camp 11,
September 3 to 12. Only one of these is in high plumage. It is
obviously _Z. l. gambeli_ and all are inferentially included
under the same subspecies. Listed as a common migrant by Farley.
129.★ =Zonotrichia albicollis.= WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.—Quite
common and evidently breeding on the upper part of the river,
but not noted below Camp 4 near Nevis, until they put in an
appearance at Camp 11, on the Little Sandhill Creek, August 22,
when Young met limited numbers with fair regularity. Specimens
from Camp 1 and 11.