FOOTNOTE:
[A] Winter Visitant only in the more southern States; a Permanent Resident in North Carolina and Virginia.
CASE NO. 5 FIGS. 1-38
EARLY SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
The birds are arranged in the order of their arrival from the South in the vicinity of New York City. Nos. 1-19, 22-24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 36-38 winter in the Southern (chiefly Gulf) States. The remainder winter in the tropics and reach the Southern States a month or more before they arrive at New York. Compared with the dates here given for New York City, Washington dates are from ten to fifteen days earlier; Boston, about a week later; northern Ohio, eight to twelve days earlier; northern Illinois, six to ten days earlier; southeastern Minnesota, about the same as those for New York.
| 1 | Purple Grackle, male, p. 53 |
| 2 | Bronzed Grackle, male, p. 53 |
| 3 | Rusty Blackbird, female, p. 52 |
| 4 | Rusty Blackbird, male, p. 52 |
| 5 | Red-winged Blackbird, female, p. 49 |
| 6 | Red-winged Blackbird, male, p. 49 |
| 7 | Fox Sparrow, p. 76 |
| 8 | Cowbird, male, p. 48 |
| 9 | Cowbird, female, p. 48 |
| 10 | Kingfisher, male, p. 26 |
| 11 | Mourning Dove, p. 5 |
| 12 | Robin, p. 133 |
| 13 | Bluebird, male, p. 134 |
| 14 | Field Sparrow, p. 72 |
| 15 | Phœbe, p. 38 |
| 16 | Vesper Sparrow, p. 63 |
| 17 | American Pipit, p. 116 |
| 18 | Yellow-throated Warbler, p. 105 (Southern States) |
| 19 | Sycamore Warbler, p 105. (lower Mississippi Valley) |
| 20 | Bachman's Warbler, female, p. 94 (Southern States) |
| 21 | Bachman's Warbler, male, p. 94 (Southern States) |
| 22 | Swamp Sparrow, p. 75 |
| 23 | Savannah Sparrow, p. 64 |
| 24 | Tree Swallow, p. 83 |
| 25 | Purple Martin, male, p. 82 |
| 26 | Hermit Thrush, p. 132 |
| 27 | Myrtle Warbler, p. 100 |
| 28 | Swainson's Warbler, p. 93 (Southern States) |
| 29 | Prothonotary Warbler, male, p. 93 (Southern States and Mississippi Valley) |
| 30 | Sapsucker, male, p. 30 |
| 31 | Chipping Sparrow, p. 71 |
| 32 | Barn Swallow, p. 83 |
| 33 | Summer Tanager, male, p. 81 (Southern States) |
| 34 | Summer Tanager, female, p. 81 (Southern States) |
| 35 | Louisiana Water-Thrush, p. 110 |
| 36 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet, male, p. 128 |
| 37 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet, female, p. 128 |
| 38 | Yellow Palm Warbler, p. 108 |
CASE NO. 6 FIGS. 39-74
EARLY SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
The birds are arranged in the order of their arrival from the South in the vicinity of New York City. Nos. 43, 46, 47, 51, 57, 60-64, 67, 68, 70-72 winter in the Southern (chiefly Gulf) States. The remainder winter in the tropics and reach the Southern States a month or more before they arrive at New York. Compared with the dates here given for New York City, Washington dates are from ten to fifteen days earlier; Boston, about a week later; northern Ohio, eight to twelve days earlier; northern Illinois, six to ten days earlier; southeastern Minnesota, about the same as those for New York.
| 39 Nighthawk, male, p. 34 |
| 40 Chuckwill's Widow (Southern States), p. 33 |
| 41 Whip-poor-will, male, p. 34 |
| 42 Chimney Swift, p. 35 |
| 43 Red-headed Woodpecker, p. 31 |
| 44 Least Flycatcher, p. 42 |
| 45 Yellow-headed Blackbird, male, p. 49 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 46 Seaside Sparrow, p. 67 |
| 47 Sharp-tailed Sparrow, p. 66 |
| 48 Clay-colored Sparrow, p. 72 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 49 Painted Bunting, female, p. 79 (Southern States) |
| 50 Painted Bunting, male, p. 79 (Southern States) |
| 51 Towhee, male, p. 76 |
| 52 Blue Grosbeak, male, p. 78 (Southern States) |
| 53 Blue Grosbeak, female, p. 78 (Southern States) |
| 54 Bank Swallow, p. 84 |
| 55 Cliff Swallow, p. 82 |
| 56 Rough-winged Swallow, p. 84 |
| 57 Black and White Warbler, p. 92 |
| 58 Black-throated Blue Warbler, male, p. 99 |
| 59 Black-throated Blue Warbler, female, p. 99 |
| 60 Pine Warbler, p. 107 |
| 61 Palm Warbler, p. 108 |
| 62 Black-throated Green Warbler, p. 106 |
| 63 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, p. 129 (Southern States) |
| 64 Oven-bird, p. 109 |
| 65 Bell's Vireo, p. 92 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 66 Red-eyed Vireo, p. 88 |
| 67 White-eyed Vireo, p. 91 |
| 68 Blue-headed Vireo, p. 90 |
| 69 Yellow-throated Vireo, p. 90 |
| 70 House Wren, p. 120 |
| 71 Catbird, p. 117 |
| 72 Brown Thrasher, p. 118 |
| 73 Veery, p. 130 |
| 74 Wood Thrush, p. 129 |
CASE NO. 7 FIGS. 1-39
LATE SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
For times of arrival at other localities see remarks under Case No. 6
| 1 | Yellow-billed Cuckoo, p. 25 |
| 2 | Black-billed Cuckoo, p. 25 |
| 3 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird, female, p. 36 |
| 4 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male, p. 36 |
| 5 | Crested Flycatcher, p. 38 |
| 6 | Kingbird, p. 37 |
| 7 | Gray Kingbird, p. 37 (Southern States) |
| 8 | Baltimore Oriole, male, p. 52 |
| 9 | Baltimore Oriole, female, p. 52 |
| 10 | Orchard Oriole, adult male, p. 51 |
| 11 | Orchard Oriole, female, p. 51 |
| 12 | Orchard Oriole, young male, p. 51 |
| 13 | Bobolink, female, p. 48 |
| 14 | Bobolink, male, p. 48 |
| 15 | Lincoln's Sparrow, p. 75 |
| 16 | Grasshopper Sparrow, p. 64 |
| 17 | Henslow's Sparrow, p. 65 |
| 18 | Leconte's Sparrow, p. 65 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 19 | Lark Sparrow, p. 68 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 20 | Dickcissel, p. 80 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 21 | Harris's Sparrow, p. 69 (Mississippi Valley) |
| 22 | White-crowned Sparrow, p. 69 |
| 23 | Indigo Bunting, male, p. 79 |
| 24 | Indigo Bunting, female, p. 79 |
| 25 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female, p. 78 |
| 26 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male, p. 78 |
| 27 | Scarlet Tanager, male, p. 80 |
| 28 | Scarlet Tanager, p. 80 |
| 29 | Warbling Vireo, p. 89 |
| 30 | Philadelphia Vireo, p. 89 |
| 31 | Worm-eating Warbler, p. 93 |
| 32 | Orange-crowned Warbler, p. 96 |
| 33 | Nashville Warbler, p. 96 |
| 34 | Golden-winged Warbler, male, p. 95 |
| 35 | Blue-winged Warbler, p. 94 |
| 36 | Golden-winged Warbler, female, p. 95 |
| 37 | Lawrence's Warbler, p. 95 |
| 38 | Brewster's Warbler, p. 95 |
| 39 | Parula Warbler, p. 97 |
CASE NO. 8. FIGS. 40-82
LATE SPRING MIGRANT LAND BIRDS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES
For times of arrival at other localities see remarks under Case No. 6.
| 40 Yellow Warbler, female, p. 99 |
| 41 Yellow Warbler, male, p. 99 |
| 42 Magnolia Warbler, p. 101 |
| 43 Chestnut-sided Warbler, male, p. 102 |
| 44 Chestnut-sided Warbler, female, p. 102 |
| 45 Kirtland's Warbler, p. 106 |
| 46 Cerulean Warbler, female, p. 102 |
| 47 Cerulean Warbler, male, p. 102 |
| 48 Prairie Warbler, p. 108 |
| 49 Chat, p. 113 |
| 50 Maryland Yellow-throat, male, p. 113 |
| 51 Maryland Yellow-throat, female, p. 113 |
| 52 Kentucky Warbler, p. 111 |
| 53 Canadian Warbler, p. 115 |
| 54 Hooded Warbler, male, p. 114 |
| 55 Hooded Warbler, female, p. 114 |
| 56 Northern Water-Thrush, p. 110 |
| 57 Redstart, female, p. 115 |
| 58 Redstart, male, p. 115 |
| 59 Olive-sided Flycatcher, p. 39 |
| 60 Acadian Flycatcher, p. 41 |
| 61 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, p. 40 |
| 62 Alder Flycatcher, p. 41 |
| 63 Wood Pewee, p. 40 |
| 64 Tennessee Warbler, p. 97 |
| 65 Cape May Warbler, male, p. 98 |
| 66 Cape May Warbler, female, p. 98 |
| 67 Blackburnian Warbler, male, p. 104 |
| 68 Blackburnian Warbler, female, p. 104 |
| 69 Bay-breasted Warbler, male, p. 103 |
| 70 Bay-breasted Warbler, female, p. 103 |
| 71 Blackpoll Warbler, male, p. 103 |
| 72 Blackpoll Warbler, female, p. 103 |
| 71 Wilson's Warbler, female, p. 114 |
| 74 Wilson's Warbler, male, p. 114 |
| 75 Mourning Warbler, male, p. 112 |
| 76 Mourning Warbler, female, p. 112 |
| 77 Connecticut Warbler, male, p. 111 |
| 78 Connecticut Warbler, female, p. 111 |
| 79 Long-billed Marsh Wren, p. 122 |
| 80 Short-billed Marsh Wren, p. 121 |
| 81 Olive-backed Thrush, p. 131 |
| 82 Gray-cheeked Thrush, p. 130 |
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
| A.V. | Accidental Visitant. A bird found beyond the limits of its usual range. |
| L. | Length of a bird from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. Remember that living birds look shorter than the measurements of specimens given beyond. |
| P.R. | Permanent Resident. A species which is found in the same locality throughout the year. The Bob-white, Ruffed Grouse, most Owls, and Hawks, the Crow, Jays, Black-capped Chickadee and the White-breasted Nuthatch are Permanent Residents. |
| S.R. | Summer Resident. A species which comes from the South in the spring and, after nesting, returns to its winter quarters. |
| T.V. | Transient Visitant. A species which visits us in the spring while en route to its more northern nesting grounds, and in the fall when returning to its winter home in the South. Most Transient Visitants are found both in the spring and fall, but some, like the Connecticut Warbler, are found in the North Atlantic States only in the fall. |
| W.V. | Winter Visitant. A species which comes from the North to remain with us all, or part of the winter and then return to the North. Winter Visitants may arrive in September and remain until April, or they may come later and only for a brief stay. |
Note. Measurements are in inches.
Land Birds of the Eastern United States
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. ORDER GALLINÆ
AMERICAN QUAIL. FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDÆ
Colinus virginianus virginianus. Case 1. Figs. 1, 2
The black and white markings of the male are respectively buff and brown in the female. In flight the Bob-white, or Quail, suggests a Meadowlark, but the tail is without white feathers. L. 10.
Range. Eastern United States north to Minnesota and Maine south to the Gulf. A Permanent Resident. Severe winters and much shooting have made it rare in the more northern parts of its range.
Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, P.R. N. Ohio, not common P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare P.R. SE. Minn., common P.R.
Except when nesting Bob-whites live in flocks or "coveys" usually composed of the members of one family. Their song, heard in spring and summer, is the clear, ringing two- or three-noted whistle which gives them their common name. Their fall and winter notes, which sportsmen term "scatter calls" are signals by which the members of a flock keep within speaking distance of one another. "Where are you?" "Where are you?" they seem to say. As with other protectively colored, ground-inhabiting birds, Bob-whites do not take wing until one almost steps upon them. Then, like a bursting bomb, the covey seems to explode, its brown pieces flying in every direction. The nest is on the ground and the 10-18 white, pear-shaped eggs are laid in May or June.
The Florida Bob-white (C. v. floridanus, Case 3, Figs. 1, 2), a smaller darker race is resident in Florida, except in the northern part of the state. It begins to nest in April.
GROUSE. FAMILY TETRAONIDÆ
CANADA SPRUCE PARTRIDGE
Canachites canadensis canace
The male is a grayish bird with a jet black throat and breast, the former bordered with white; the skin above the eye is red. The female is barred with black and reddish brown with a black mottled tail tipped with brown. L. 15.
Range. Northern parts of United States from New Brunswick to Manitoba. Other races are found throughout the wooded parts of Canada and Alaska.
An unsuspicious inhabitant of swampy coniferous forests. Now rare in the United States. It nests on the ground in June, laying 9-16 eggs, buff, lightly speckled with brown.
The female resembles the male in color but has the black neck-tufts smaller. The tail-feathers vary from gray to bright rusty. L. 17.
Range. Eastern United States south in the Alleghanies to Georgia. In the southern states the Grouse is often called 'Pheasant.' A Permanent Resident.
Washington, not common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, P.R., formerly very common. N. Ohio, rare P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare and local P.R.
On our western plains and prairies there is a Grouse which we call Prairie Hen and we might well apply the name Wood Hen to this Grouse of our forests. To flush a Grouse in the quiet of the woods always makes the "heart jump." His whirring wings not only produce the roar which accompanies his flight, but they are also responsible for the "drumming" which constitutes the Grouse's song as sitting upright on some favorite log, he rapidly beats the air with his wings.
The horny fringes which in winter border the toes of the Grouse, or Partridge, as he is also called, form in effect snow-shoes which help to support the bird on soft snow. At this season they also feed in trees on buds and catkins, and they may roost in trees or seek a bed by plunging into a snow-bank.
The nest, lined with leaves, is placed at the base of a tree or stump; the 8-14 buffy eggs are laid in May.
The Canada Ruffed Grouse (B. u. togata), of northern New England and northwards is grayer above and more distinctly barred below.
PRAIRIE CHICKEN
Tympanuchus americanus
The Prairie Hen has a rounded or nearly square tail and a barred breast; in the Sharp-tailed Grouse the tail is pointed, the breast with V-shaped markings. L. 18.
Range. Central Plains region from Texas to Manitoba, east to Indiana. Migratory at its northern limits.
Glen Ellyn, P.R. local, S.E. Minn., P.R. much decreased in numbers.
The Ruffed Grouse sounds his rolling, muffled drum-call in the seclusion of the forest, but the Prairie Hen beats his loud boom-ah-boom in the open freedom of the plains. Hardy and strong of wing, he can cope with winter storms and natural enemies, but against the combined assault of man, dog, and gun, he cannot successfully contend.
About a dozen buff-olive eggs are laid on the ground in April or early May.
HEATH HEN
Tympanuchus cupido
This is a close relative of the Prairie Hen, having the black neck-tuft of less than ten feathers with pointed, not rounded, ends. It is now found only on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, but formerly inhabited plains or barrens, locally, from New Jersey to Massachusetts. It nests in June.
TURKEYS. FAMILY MELEAGRIDÆ
WILD TURKEY
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
The Wild Turkey was formerly found as far north as Maine and Ontario but it is unknown now north of central Pennsylvania. South of Maryland it is not uncommon locally.
Range. Kansas and central Pennsylvania to the Gulf coast, and northern Florida. Non-migratory.
Washington, rare P.R.
Our domestic Turkey is descended from the Mexican Wild Turkey and like that race has the upper tail-coverts and tail tipped with whitish, whereas in our eastern Wild Turkey these tips are chestnut. The nest is on the ground and 10-14 eggs, pale cream-color finely speckled with brownish, are laid in April.
The Florida Wild Turkey (M. g. osceola), of southern Florida, is smaller and the white bars on the primaries are narrower and more broken.
PIGEONS AND DOVES. ORDER COLUMBÆ
PIGEONS AND DOVES. FAMILY COLUMBIDÆ
Except the southern little Ground Dove, this is our only Dove. Its long, pointed tail and the swift, darting flight are its field characters. It is often mistaken for the Wild or Passenger Pigeon, now extinct. The two birds differ in size and in color, but size is a matter of distance, and color, of comparison, so it seems probable that as long as there is a possibility of seeing a Passenger Pigeon, Mourning Doves will be mistaken for them. L. 11¾. The Wild Pigeon is about five inches longer.
Range. North America. In a railway journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific one may expect to see the Dove daily. Winters from Virginia southward, migrating northward in March.
Washington, P.R., common, except in midwinter. Ossining, common S.R., Mch. 3-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, rather rare T.V., Apl. 8-June 18; Sept. 18-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Mch. 20-Oct. 25; rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common S.R., formerly common, Mch. 12-Oct. 21. S.E. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 15-Dec. 25.
Doves are particularly common in the southern states where, ranked as game-birds, they are shot in large numbers. The Wild Pigeon's note was an explosive squawk; the Dove's is a soft, mournful coo-oo-ah, coo-o-o-coo-o-o-coo-o-o-. During the winter, Doves are usually found in small flocks but, unlike the Wild Pigeon, they nest in scattered pairs. The nest is in a tree or on the ground. Two white eggs are laid in April.
The female is duller than the male. L. 6¾.
Range. Tropical and subtemperate parts of the Western Hemisphere. Our form is found in Florida and on the coast region from North Carolina to Texas.
Washington, accidental; two records, Sept., Oct.
This dainty, miniature Pigeon is common in southern gardens and old fields. It runs gracefully before one, and when flushed rises with a whirring flight but soon alights, usually on the ground. Its call is a crooning coo. The nest is placed on the ground and in low trees and bushes. Two white eggs are laid in March.
BIRDS OF PREY. ORDER RAPTORES
AMERICAN VULTURES. FAMILY CATHARTIDÆ
Head red, plumage with a brownish cast. Young birds have the head covered with brownish down. L. 30.
Range. Most of the Western Hemisphere in several subspecies; in the eastern states north to northern New Jersey and, locally, southern New York. Migrating south from the northern part of its range.
Washington, abundant P.R. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, casual, two records. N. Ohio, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 5-Oct. 30. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27.
The 'Turkey Buzzard' has a wider wing-stretch and is a better aviator than the Black Vulture. It is more a bird of the country than the last-named species which is the common Vulture of the streets in many southern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in April in Virginia.