Two illustrations will most briefly indicate the easiest method of using
the key--
_Observation:_ A dull-colored bird of medium size, nearer six inches than
ten, much streaked all over, showing nothing distinctive unless a kind of
spot on the breast. Turning to the key, pass by "_Bright Colors_,"
"_Iridescent_" and "_Dull Colors_," choosing "_Streaked, Barred or
Spotted._" Not being sure of the size, it may be necessary to try all the
birds between "6 and 10 inches," as well as those "less than 6 inches."
Before going to so much trouble, however, pass on to "_Under Parts_" and
see whether an easier approach can be made there. The sub-heading "Spot
or patch on throat, sides, breast or sides of neck" looks comprehensive
enough to apply, while in this case it contains fewer examples. Comparing
the numbers there given with those under the first heading selected, it
is found that only 10 and 23 appear in both places. On looking up 10 and
23 it is found that they refer to the _Song Sparrow_ and _Sapsucker_, two
species so widely different in coloration, habits and movements that it
ought not to be necessary to study the key further in order to be sure of
the bird in question--namely, the _Song Sparrow_.
_Observation:_ A bird in flight, pure white below, without doubt over 10
inches on account of its long tail. Not having seen the general color
with any certainty, but being fairly sure of the white breast and long
tail, try "Under Parts" first. Only two birds over 10 inches are given
under the sub-heading "Pure white or ashy," and these are 103 and 109.
Turning to "Tail," both numbers appear under "very long, sometimes keeled
or forked," but only 103, the _Yellow-billed Cuckoo_, comes under "Outer
tail-feathers conspicuously white or spotted." _If conspicuous tail spots
had been seen_ the key would have helped to identify the bird, but the
key alone cannot make up for lack of observations.
The second illustration may give force to the suggestion that certain
birds can be satisfactorily identified only after very careful
observation and some further study.
BRIGHT COLORS
Streaked Barred Spotted
A1 Showing Blue, blue-gray or bluish-ash
A2 Showing Red, chestnut, light or reddish-brown
A3 Showing Yellow, orange or buff
A4 Showing conspicuous Black markings
_NEVER_ Streaked Barred Spotted
A5 Showing Blue, blue-gray or bluish-ash
A6 Showing Red, chestnut, light or reddish-brown
A7 Showing Yellow, orange or buff
A8 Showing much Black
IRIDESCENT
B1 Showing iridescent black, blue, green or brownish
DULL COLORS
Few Markings
C1 Sharply defined
C2 Obscure
D1 NO MARKINGS
STREAKED BARRED OR SPOTTED ON BREAST BACK OR BOTH
E1 Above and Below, rarely bright colors
Plain Above
E2 Heavily streaked or spotted below
E3 Lightly streaked or spotted below
E4 Plain Below, rarely with one conspicuous spot on breast
E5 Highly Variegated
F1 HOOD
UNDER PARTS
No Markings
G1 Pure white or ashy
G2 Dull colors, indistinctly shaded
Few, if any, Markings
G3 Distinctive red, yellow or brown Breast
G4 Belly white or yellow, sharply contrasting with breast
Distinctive Markings
G5 A line of streaks down sides or across breast
G6 Spotted, finely streaked, or throat and middle of belly plain
G7 Bib, collar, or band across breast
G8 Spot or patch on throat, sides, breast, or sides of neck
G9 Noticeably tinged with red, yellow, buff or brownish
BILL
H1 Hooked, or noticeably long and sometimes curved
H2 Large and stout, or noticeably short and thick
H3 Used for hammering
HEAD
Top
I1 Crested, or red crown-patch displayed at will
I2 Crown conspicuously Striped
I3 Distinct Cap, no line over eye
I4 Distinct Cap or crown-patch, with line over, through or back of eye
I5 Forehead showing black, sometimes with bar through eye
Sides
I6 Conspicuous line over or through eye
I7 Inconspicuous but distinctive line over eye
I8 Conspicuous eye-ring, or black or yellow mask
I9 Distinctively marked or colored on cheeks or sides of head
WINGS
J1 Long and pointed
J2 One or two conspicuous WING-BARS, white or yellowish
J3 Spots, patches or bright markings
BACK
Streaked
K1 Entirely streaked or mottled, no distinct cap
K2 Rump plain, cap or striped crown
K3 Gray or ashy about head or neck
Barred and Spotted
K4 Barred, including wings
K5 Black and white, wings barred or spotted
K6 No Markings, back and wings alike
Distinctive Markings or Colors
K7 Rump patch, white, yellow or brown
K8 On back of neck, between shoulders, or middle of back
TAIL
Color
L1 Outer feathers conspicuously white or spotted
L2 Reddish-brown, or tipped with white or yellow
L3 Markings: Barred or banded with black or white
Size
L4 Very long, sometimes keeled or forked
L5 Very short
L6 Narrow and pointed
L7 Movements: Used for bracing, or, jerking or tilting motions.
10 Inches or more Between 6 and 10 Inches Less than 6 Inches
BRIGHT COLORS
A1 1, 22. ... 38, 66, 100, 104.
A2 3, 43, 45. 13, 40, 80. 76, 89, 98.
A3 5. 112. 49, 56, 66, 68, 73, 77, 104.
A4 1, 5, 43. 112. 38, 56, 66, 73, 76, 77, 89, 98, 104.
A5 ... 7, 44. 21, 47, 54, 83, 84, 86, 90, 93, 94,
95, 97, 113.
A6 3. 7, 15, 27, 31, 41, 57, 71, 78, 87. ...
A7 111. 27, 41, 61, 70, 82, 92. 53, 65, 67, 79, 84, 90, 93, 95, 97,
101, 105, 113.
A8 111. 15, 27, 57, 70, 78, 87, 92. 67, 83, 101.
IRIDESCENT
B1 9, 35. 11, 24, 30, 44, 81. 107.
DULL COLORS
C1 35, 58. 2, 4, 52, 69, *87. 17, 20, 28, 72, 83.
C2 103, 109, *111. *11, 14, *24, *31, 75, *78, *81, 91. 28, 59, 63, *67, 85, *94, 96
NO MARKINGS
D1 6. *11, 14, *24, *71, 81. 59, *65, 85, *94.
STREAKED BARRED OR SPOTTED ON BREAST BACK OR BOTH
E1 18, *33, 43. 10, 13, 23, *27, 37, *40,
*80, *92, 99, 108. 8, 36, 46, 50, 55, 77, 102, 106.
E2 *43, 45. 13, 26, 60, 62, 64, 74, 110. 51, 104.
E3 33. 42, *81. 49, 68, *104.
E4 5. 12, 16, 29, 32, 48, 112, 114. 19, 25, 34, 39, 88.
E5 ... 80. 38, 56, 66, 73, 76, 77, 89, 98, 100.
HOOD
F1 111. 11, 57, 70, 87. 95, 101.
UNDER PARTS
G1 103, 109. 16, 29, 30, 48, 69, 75. 19, 21, 34, 85.
G2 1, 58. 2, 14, *24, *70, *87, 91. 17, 20, 25, 28, 39, 47, 63, 88, 96.
G3 3, 5. 7, 44, 82, 112. 53, 65, 79, 84, 95, 101, 105.
G4 ... 4, 15, 61, 82. 79, 83, 97, 113.
G5 ... 23. 38, 66, 73, 98, 100, 102, 104.
G6 43. 62, 64. 50.
G7 22. 4, 15, 99, 108. 56, 83, 89, 90, 100, 101, 106.
G8 5, 18. 10, 12, 23, 32, 80, 112. 76, 93, 97, 107.
G9 ... 23, 40, 60, 114. 25, 36, 49, *53, 54, 72, 86, 106.
BILL
H1 33, 43, 45, 103, 109. 2. 19, 88, 107
H2 ... 11, 31, 40, 80. 67.
H3 18. 16, 23, 29, *57, 114. ...
HEAD
I1 1, 22. 31, 41, 61, 69. 28.
I2 ... 32, 48, 74. 17, 55.
I3 ... 52, 114. 20, 21, 67, 89, 102, 105.
I4 ... 12. 25, 34, 38, 49, 54, 93, 98.
I5 ... 31, 41. 39, 47, 65, 89.
I6 5. 2, 16, 29, 32, 62, 82, 112. 47, 51, 53, 56, 66, *77, 79, 88.
I7 *111. 24, 75. 8, 96, *100.
I8 ... 60. 20, 65, 72, 79, 84, 86, 101, 113.
I9 35, 43. 110, 114. 20, 49, 50, 73, 77, 89, 93, 100, 102.
WINGS
J1 ... 30, 44, 81, 99, 108. 59.
J2 45. 12, 48, 70, *87, 91. 19, 28, 53, 56, 63, 67, 72, 79, 86,
89, 90, 98, 100, 102.
J3 58, 111. 2, 15, 27, 57, 80, 108. 66, 76, 83, 93.
BACK
K1 *5. 10, 37, *40, *80, *92, 99, 108. 8, 50, 55, 106.
K2 ... 32. 19, 54, 58, 73, 77, 102.
K3 ... 12, 48, 112. 25, 39.
K4 18, *43. 114. 36, 46.
K5 ... 16, 23, 29. ...
K6 3, 6, 9, 35, 109. 4, 7, 11, 14, 26, 42, 60, 62, 20, 51, 54, 59, 65, 84, 85, 96, 97,
64, 74, 75, 81, 82, 110. 101, 104, 105, 113.
K7 18, 33. 80. 38, 66, 77, 88.
K8 18. 16, 23, 29, 114. 50, 88, 90.
TAIL
L1 3, 5, 22, 58, 103. 2, 4, 15, 29, 37. 38, 47, 49, 53, 56, 76, 89, 100.
L2 1, 35. 13, 26, 41, 61, 69. ...
L3 1, 33, 43. 16, 23, 114. 36, 46, 66, 88.
L4 9, 35, 45, 103, 109. 44. 19, 47.
L5 ... ... 21, 36, 54, 59, 107.
L6 35. ... 8, 50.
L7 18. 16, 23, 29, 57, 62, 74, 114. 19, 49, 51.
Glossary.
*Barred--Marked with transverse lines.
*Bib--Whole throat, with upper breast of same color, sharply defined.
*Cap--Entire top of head defined by an oval patch of distinct and
contrasting color.
*Crest--A tuft of feathers carried erect on top or back of head.
*Crown-patch--Smaller and less sharply defined than cap.
*Hood--Whole head and neck all around of same color.
*Mask--Forehead, together with broad stripe through eye, of same color.
*Mottled--Colors and markings blended in no distinct patterns.
*Patch--An oddly-shaped and conspicuous mark, never round.
*Rump--The extreme lower portion of the back next the tail (easily seen
in flight).
*Spotted--Marked with nearly round spots or one irregular spot.
*Streaked--Marked with _longitudinal_ lines or streaks.
*Variegated--Showing a variety of colors and markings.
*Wing-Bar--A line, usually white, running obliquely across wing.
Supplementary List.
Note.--Owing to the impossibility of determining what additional species
are most likely to stray into a city park, the following list has been
made to include certain species known to occur in Cook County, Illinois,
some of which are of common occurrence in the vicinity of Chicago but
have not yet been seen in Lincoln Park by the authors:
Red-throated Loon (Gavin lumme. 11.)
Glaucous Gull. (Larus glaucus. 42.)
Franklin Gull. (Larus franklinii. 59.)
Forster Tern. (Sterna forsteri. 69.)
Black Tern. (Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. 77.)
Shoveller. (Spatula clypeata. 142.)
American Scaup Duck. (Aythya marila. 148.)
Ring-necked Duck. (Aythya collaris. 150.)
Great Blue Heron. (Ardea herodias. 194.)
Black-crowned Night Heron. (Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. 202.)
King Rail (Rallus elegans. 208.)
Virginia Rail. (Rallus virginianus. 212.)
Wilson Snipe. (Gallinago delicata. 230.)
Pectoral Sandpiper. (Actrodramas maculata. 239.)
Least Sandpiper. (Actrodramas minutilla. 242.)
Greater Yellow-legs. (Totanus melanoleucus. 254.)
Yellow-legs. (Totanus flavipes. 255.)
Bartramian Sandpiper. (Bartramia longicauda. 261.)
Black-bellied Plover. (Squatarola squatarola. 270.)
American Golden Plover. (Charadrius dominicus. 272.)
Sharp-shinned Hawk. (Accipiter velox. 332.)
Cooper Hawk. (Accipiter cooperi. 333.)
Red-tailed Hawk. (Buteo borealis. 337.)
Red-shouldered Hawk. (Buteo lineatus. 339.)
Broad-winged Hawk. (Buteo platypterus. 343.)
American Rough-legged Hawk. (Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. 347a.)
Pigeon Hawk. (Falco columbarius. 357.)
Short-eared Owl. (Asio accipitrinus. 367.)
Barred Owl. (Syrnium varium. 368.)
Saw-whet Owl. (Nyctala acadia. 372.)
Screech Owl. (Megascops asio. 373.)
Acadian Flycatcher. (Empidonax virescens. 465.)
Traill Flycatcher. (Empidonax traillii. 466.)
Prairie Horned Lark. (Otocoris alpestris praticola. 474b.)
Evening Grosbeak. (Hesperiphona vespertina. 514.)
Redpoll. (Acanthis linaria. 528.)
Snowflake. (Passerina nivalis. 534.)
Lapland Longspur. (Calcarius lapponicus. 536.)
Grasshopper Sparrow. (Coturniculus savannarum passerinus. 546.)
Eave Swallow. (Petrochelidon lunifrons. 612.)
Bank Swallow. (Riparia riparia. 616.)
Northern Shrike. (Lanius borealis. 621.)
White-rumped Shrike. (Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. 622a.)
Philadelphia Vireo. (Vireo philadelphicus. 626.)
White-eyed Vireo. (Vireo noveboracensis. 631.)
Blue-winged Warbler. (Helminthophila pinus. 641.)
Orange-crowned Warbler. (Helminthophila celata. 646.)
Water-Thrush. (Seiurus noveboracensis. 675.)
American Pipit. (Anthus pensilvanicus. 697.)
Short-billed Marsh Wren. (Cistothorus stellaris. 724.)
Tufted Titmouse. (Baeolophus bicolor. 731.)
Index of Common Names.
Page
Bittern, American, 50
Least, 50
Blackbird, Red-winged, 16
Rusty, 15
Yellow-headed, 31
Bluebird, 12
Bobolink, 27
Buffle-head, 49
Bunting, Indigo, 28
Cardinal, 16
Catbird, 20
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 26
Chickadee, 14
Coot, American, 51
Cowbird, 13
Creeper, Black and White, 21
Brown, 14
Crow, 12
Cuckoo, Black-billed, 30
Yellow-billed, 29
Dickcissel, 31
Dove, Mourning, 17
Duck, Lesser Scaup, 49
Wood, 48
Finch, Purple, 18
Flicker, 14
Flycatcher, Great-crested, 22
Least, 22
Yellow-bellied, 24
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, 19
Golden-eye, American, 49
Goldfinch, American, 23
Goose, Canada, 50
Grackle, Bronzed, 12
Grebe, Horned, 44
Pied-billed, 44
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, 25
Gull, American Herring, 45
Bonaparte, 45
Ring-billed, 45
Hawk, American Sparrow, 18
Marsh, 17
Heron, Green, 50
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, 30
Jay, Blue, 11
Junco, 12
Killdeer, 52
Kingbird, 23
Kingfisher, Belted, 15
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 14
Ruby-crowned, 16
Loon, 44
Mallard, 47
Martin, Purple, 25
Meadowlark, 12
Merganser, American, 46
Hooded, 46
Red-breasted, 46
Mockingbird, 21
Nighthawk, 30
Nuthatch, Red-breasted, 20
White-breasted, 15
Old-squaw, 49
Oriole, Baltimore, 23
Orchard, 27
Ovenbird, 24
Pewee, Wood, 27
Phoebe, 13
Pintail, 48
Redhead, 48
Redstart, American, 24
Robin, 11
Sandpiper, Semi-palmated, 51
Solitary, 52
Spotted, 52
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied, 15
Shrike, Loggerhead, 11
Sora, 51
Sparrow, Chipping, 17
Field, 15
Fox, 13
Henslow, 20
Lincoln, 30
Savanna, 12
Song, 13
Swamp, 18
Tree, 13
Vesper, 17
White-crowned, 19
White-throated, 16
Swallow, Barn, 18
Tree, 16
Swift, Chimney, 21
Tanager, Scarlet, 25
Summer, 23
Teal, Blue-winged, 47
Green-winged, 47
Tern, Common, 45
Thrasher, Brown, 19
Thrush, Gray-cheeked, 31
Hermit, 15
Olive-backed, 21
Wilson, 18
Wood, 22
Towhee, 13
Vireo, Blue-headed, 26
Red-eyed, 24
Warbling, 26
Yellow-throated, 25
Warbler, Bay-breasted, 27
Blackburnian, 24
Black-poll, 29
Black-throated Blue, 26
Black-throated Green, 21
Blue Golden-winged, 28
Canadian, 30
Cape May, 25
Cerulean, 29
Chestnut-sided, 28
Connecticut, 31
Hooded, 29
Magnolia, 23
Mourning, 28
Myrtle, 17
Nashville, 26
Palm, 19
Parula, 27
Pine, 20
Prothonotary, 28
Tennessee, 28
Wilson Black-cap, 30
Yellow, 23
Water-Thrush, Grinnell, 20
Louisiana, 22
Waxwing, Cedar, 18
Whip-poor-will, 29
Woodcock, American, 51
Woodpecker, Downy, 14
Hairy, 16
Red-bellied, 31
Red-headed, 21
Wren, House, 19
Long-billed Marsh, 27
Winter, 17
Yellow-throat, Western, 22
Colored plates, 7-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches in size, of all the birds
mentioned in this little book, except numbers 50, 53, 61, 63, 105, 106,
113, 115, 122, 142 and 143, will be sent by the publishers at 2 cents
each, or a portfolio of 134 pictures for $2.00. Both book and pictures,
if ordered together, $2.25.
A. W. Mumford & Company, Publishers
378 Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Ill.