Chapter I: Part 1

A MANUAL OF BIRD STUDY

A Description of
Twenty-five Local Birds with Study Outlines

WILLIAM H. CARR
_Assistant Curator, Department of Education_

School Service Series--Number One
Third Edition, March, 1934

Department of Education
American Museum of Natural History
77th Street and Central Park West
New York City

CIRCULATING NATURE COLLECTIONS OF BIRDS IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF
NATURAL HISTORY

This Bird Study Manual is intended especially for the use of teachers and pupils in the New York City Schools. It is written primarily to describe the birds contained in the circulating nature study collections which the American Museum of Natural History loans to public schools. However it may be used as a general guide to bird study as well. The various study outlines tell the story of different projects that may be developed in connection with birds. Typical birds are illustrated. As much as is possible in the life history of each bird is given. The bird poems may be used in connection with the study of English. The study of birds may very well be correlated with the studies of many other subjects such as Civics, Geography and other topics.

The purpose of the loan collections of birds and other animals in the American Museum of Natural History is to place in the hands of teachers good material for classroom instruction, At the same time authoritative data is given with each collection. These loan collections are available for any teacher in any school in Greater New York.

The method of obtaining these collections has been made the simplest possible as far as the teachers are concerned. At least once a year (in September), and sometimes twice a year, a return postal card is mailed to every school principal in the City system, All that the principal has to do to obtain the collections is to indicate by numerals the sequence in which he wants the collections delivered, signing his name and school number. The Museum messengers will then deliver the collections, and call for them, without any more effort on the part of the schools. The entire cost of this service is borne by the Museum.

Teachers are urged, whenever possible, to bring their classes to the American Museum of Natural History, at 77th Street and Central Park West, to take advantage of the opportunities for further study that are offered. In the many halls of birds and animals, the home life and the general habitat of the creatures are given in detail. There is a free guide service for teachers and pupils. Also there are classes for school children held in the new School Service Building. In fact, the wealth of natural history study material is always there, available in many ways for the use of all who desire to further their knowledge of the animals of the out-of-doors.

Applications for these collections and for further information should be addressed to The American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and Central Park West, New York City. George H. Sherwood, _Curator-in-Chief_ _Department of Public Education_

The American Museum of Natural History has five collections of birds to lend to Public Schools. These five are:

The Bluebird Set

Bluebird--Phoebe--Barn Swallow--House Wren--Chimney Swift.

The Owl Set

Chickadee--Nuthatch--Song Sparrow--Screech Owl--Kinglet.

The Robin Set

Robin--Red-winged Blackbird--Baltimore Oriole--Chipping Sparrow--Meadowlark.

The Blue Jay Set

Blue Jay--Downy Woodpeckcr--Starling--Junco--English Sparrow--Crossbill.

The Scarlet Tanager Set

Scarlet Tanager--Red-eyed Vireo--Goldfinch--Hummingbird--Pigeon.

Other Types of Loan Collections That May be Secured Are:

Insects--Sponges and Corals--Crustaceans--Minerals and Rocks--Native Woods--Starfishes and Worms--Mollusks.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

It is sometimes helpful to study birds by the "Question and Answer" method. The following questions are written to suggest others of a similar nature.

What is a Bird? A bird is an animal that has feathers. No other animal
has feathers.

Some of the brightest spots in childhood are connected with a vague
realization of the beauty and mystery of the world.]

Requisitioning the service has been simplified to the nth degree.
All that a principal needs to do to obtain the collections is to
indicate by numerals the sequence in which he wants them delivered.]

What are Feathers Used For? Feathers help to keep the bird warm. With
the aid of feathers the bird flies.

What Other Creature is Able to Fly Without the Aid of Feathers? The bat
can fly upon wings of thin skin.

What are the Names of Some Birds that are Noted for Their Ability to
Swim, Fly, Creep, and Walk? The Bald Eagle and the Condor are both
birds that are very strong fliers. Can you name any others? The
ducks are at home in the water. Can you name any other birds that
are able to swim with ease? The little Brown Creeper and many
other birds are very happy in their ability to creep up and to
climb trees. The Chicken and the Partridge are both excellent
walkers. Name some other birds that walk.

What Birds Help the Trees to Live by Killing Harmful Insects? The
Woodpeckers help the trees in this way. Name some other birds that
find food upon the trunks of trees.

What May we Attempt to do to Protect Birds? We may help birds to live by
giving them drinking places and bird baths in the Summer, and food
tables in the Winter. We can help by not going near birds' nests
and by not harming birds in any manner.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS AND PUPILS
ADDITIONAL STUDY TOPICS

Birds are to be found in almost "every corner of the earth." Their study has a world wide interest and appeal. The following list is intended to serve as an aid in bringing to mind subjects that may be developed out-of-doors, or studied in the class room.

Vision of Birds: The keen power of sight of Hawks and Eagles; the Owl's
eye at night.

Variation in Structure of Bill: Adaptations of the sharp pointed, curved
beak of the flesh-eating Hawks; the small, pointed bill of the
insect-eating Warbler.

Variation in Structure of Feet: The strong grasping talons of
flesh-eaters; the powerful "walking feet" of the Chicken; the
perching feet of the Chickadee,

Habits of Cleanliness in Birds: Cleaning nests, bathing in water and
dust.

The specimens are delivered to the school in a wooden carrying case
about the size of an ordinary suitcase. The birds are mounted on
individual pedestals and can easily be removed from the case. Thus
the specimens may be used singly or collectively. They can be
handled and seen from all sides.]

The Flight of Birds: Powerful, sustained flight of the Condor; darting
flight of flycatchers; suspension in air, or hovering flight of
the Hummingbird and Sparrow Hawk.

Migration of Birds: Travels from one continent to another, often over
wide expanse of water; journey of the Golden Plover.

Training of Young Birds by Their Parents: Young Barn Swallows forced
into the air; Robins offering food to young and thus enticing them
to leave the nest.

The Songs of Birds: The Parrots, Thrushes, Sparrows. Songs of male birds
during breeding season, imitation and mimicry--Catbird; warning
cries, call notes.

Care and Feeding of Young: Different methods employed by parents. The
Pelican, the Robin, the Swallows, the Flicker.

Types of Nests: Construction, materials used, building location; nest of
Bank Swallow, hanging nest of Baltimore Oriole, Crow's nest.

Weapons of Fighting: Spurs, wings, bills, talons.

Protective Coloration: Similarity of plumage, color and markings to
habitat.--the Wood Thrush, the Partridge.

Bird Houses: Different types, how made, how placed, how used.

Bird Conservation: Methods of preservation in various states. Laws for
protection.

Relation of Birds to Agriculture: Insect eaters, seed eaters, rodent
destroyers.

The Bird's Feather: Feathers for study will be given to teachers upon
request.

(Note). These are but a few of the subjects that might very well be considered.

OUTLINE FOR BIRD STUDY
(Suggestions to Teachers and Pupils)

In observing birds out-of-doors or in the class room, with an idea of studying or identifying them, there are certain definite things to know and to remember. The following outline makes some suggestions of what to look for when a bird is seen for the first time, or when you are studying a mounted specimen or colored picture.

Movements: See whether the flyer hops or walks when it is on the ground.
Does it hang upside down, move slowly or quickly, swim or creep?
Remember that the same bird may have a different appearance at
various times.

Disposition: Did you ever think of a bird in connection with its having
a disposition? Notice whether it is unsuspicious, wary, social,
solitary, etc.

Flight: Does the bird that flies over your head travel rapidly or
slowly? Does it flap along or does it sail and soar? Maybe it
undulates (flies up and then down in half-moon curves) as the
Goldfinch does.

Song: There are many times when you may hear a bird but not see it. Thus
you should listen for songs very carefully. Notice whether the
song is continuous, short, loud, low, pleasing, unattractive, and
whether it comes from the ground, from a higher perch, or from the
air.

Call Notes: Nearly all birds have a Call Note that is different from the
regular song. These notes may be of various sorts such as
scolding, warning, alarm, signalling, as well as a number of
others.

Size: In the field, you cannot run up to a wild bird and measure it with
a ruler, but what you can do is to compare it in size with some
other bird that you do know. Compare the unknown bird with an
English Sparrow which is about 6 inches long, a Robin about 10 and
a Crow 19 inches long. Remember, 6, 10 and 19.

Form: Note the shape of the bill, length of the tail, shape of wings.

One of the new "Habitat Group" circulating nature-study collections.
The label-holders are hinged to the back of the case and close over
the ends, protecting the glass during transportation. The label at
the left is general and gives reasons why birds are our friends.
That on the right deals with the habits and use of the specific
birds in the case, each being identified by a simple drawing instead
of by title or number.]

Markings and Color: See just where the markings are. Remember that if a
bird were seen without feathers, it would look quite a bit like
any other animal. The next time you have a chicken after the
feathers have been removed, look at it closely. The wings look
like arms, and as a matter of fact, they have three "fingers,"
which may be easily seen. The bird has a crown on its head; he has
"cheeks," a breast, a throat, a belly, and a rump as well as other
external or outside parts. Do not say that you saw a bird that was
"black and white and brown all over." No one could tell you what
sort of a bird that was. _See_--just what you are looking at. As
with the Markings, you should know something of the parts of a
bird before you are able to tell just where the colors occur. How
many colors are there on the under side of the Robin?

Appearance: The bird may be alert, wide awake or pensive as though it
had just lost a friend. Its tail may be drooped, its crest erected
or its feathers ruffled.

Haunts: Where did you see the bird? Was it near the seashore, beside the
river, in the woods, the fields, a place where the land was low
and swampy or high and rocky, or was it down near the side of the
lake?

Season: The time of year that the bird is seen is a very important thing
to notice and to take into consideration. Look for the times when
birds first arrive and when they leave. Did you see them in the
winter, spring, summer, or fall? Are they permanent residents?

Food: When you walked through the pasture or through the park and saw a
bird eating something, did you stop and try to discover what that
food was? Was the bird eating berries, insects, seeds? How was
this food secured?

Mating: Every bird has certain courtship habits. Note these antics.

Nesting: Observe the choice of nesting site, the materials used in the
nests, such as mud, grass, leaves, and so on. Notice the
construction, the number and the color of the eggs; and the
incubation period, or the length of time the eggs take to hatch;
and above all things, _do not in any way disturb any bird's nest_.

The Young: Watch and learn what food the young ones are given by the
parents; how they are cared for; the time they remain in the nest;
their cries, actions, first flights, and so on.

How to Find Birds:

(a)--_When_--The best times of day are early morning and late
afternoon. Why is this true?

(b)--_Where_--A watered meadow with trees here and there attract
birds. Learn this from observation.

(c)--_How_--Use common sense as to dress and general actions. Sit down
and let the birds come to you.

Based on Dr. Frank M. Chapman's "A Bird's Biography," p. 73--Bird Life, published by D. Appleton & Co., New York.

THE BLUEBIRD

In this locality some of the Bluebirds are with us all the year through. However, they are not so often seen in winter as in warmer summer months. The Starlings and the English Sparrows have driven them from many former nesting sites.

Food: The Bluebird eats many insects, including beetles, grasshoppers
and different kinds of caterpillars. He also often feeds upon such
fruits as cedar berries, wild cherries and those of other wild
plants.

Bill: The bill of this bird is much like that of the Robin and the
Thrushes. These birds are very closely related.

Feet: Being a typical perching bird, the Bluebird has very well
developed feet. The hind toe is larger than any of the front ones
and is of great value in grasping a twig or larger branch.

Nest: When the Bluebird has found his mate, the pair begin their search
for a home. It may be in a hollow tree, fence post, or in a box
built by some friendly hand. Within the nesting hole a bed of
dried grass is made. Five or six pale blue eggs are laid and then
the new family is well on its way.

Song: The song of the Bluebird, while not very lengthy, is very soft and
sweet. It has a musical tone and is one of the most beautiful of
the early Spring bird voices. The notes are somewhat unsteady and
have a tender, plaintive quality.

John Burroughs has said of the Bluebird:--

"And yonder Bluebird, with the earth tinge on his breast and the sky
tinge on his back, did he come down out of heaven on that bright March
morning when he told us so softly and plaintively that, if we pleased,
Spring had come?"

William Cullen Bryant has written:--

"When beechen buds begin to swell,
And woods the Bluebird's warble know,
The yellow violet's modest bell
Peeps from last year's leaves below."

And Lowell:--

"Shifting his light load of song,
From post to post along the cheerless fence."

THE PHOEBE

Toward the end of March, the peaceful, confiding Phoebe ventures northward. Sometimes ice and snow greet the little bird, but on he goes to take the weather as it comes. The return journey to the far south does not begin until the first frosty nights of September tell the story of approaching winter.

Food: At the time of the Phoebe's arrival, some of the first flying
insects are trying their wings. As the Phoebe is a flycatcher, he
may be seen, darting and wheeling about, in pursuit of his food.
The snap of his beak may be heard as some small creature is
overtaken and swallowed. Beetles, weevils, flies, grasshoppers and
other insects help to feed this bird.

Bill: The bill of the Phoebe is admirably adapted to its feeding habits.
This Quill is quite broad and strong. Upon each side are small
"bristles" which help the bird to feed while flying. How do these
"bristles" help?

Wings and Tail: The Phoebe is an expert in the air. His wings and tail
are comparatively long and powerful. Compare them with those of
the Wren. Which one of the two is the best flier? Why?

Song: While resting and while watching for insects, the Phoebe often
perches upon the end of a branch or fence post and
sings--"_pewit-phoebe-phoebe-phoebe_." At the same time, he moves
his tail with a sideway sweep, in a jerky little way. He is not
much of a singer, but when the sound, "_phoebe-phoebe_" comes to
us in March or early April, we know that Spring will soon be here.

Nest: The nest of the Phoebe is well built of mud, moss and other
materials. It is sometimes lined with wool and feathers. The
structure is placed on some flat surface, such as upon a rafter
beneath a bridge or in a barn. Occasionally the nest is built
under some sheltering bank or cliff. The eggs are usually white.

Of the Phoebe, Lowell has written:

"Phoebe is all it has to say,
In plaintive cadence o'er and o'er
Like children that have lost their way
And know their names, but nothing more."

THE BARN SWALLOW

The Barn Swallows arrive in the North toward the end of April and leave early in September. They are sociable birds and travel in huge flocks.

Food: Insects, caught upon the wing, form the diet of those Swallows.
They dart here and there, over field and water, catching their
prey in swift, graceful flight.

Feet: Often, in the season of migration, thousands of Swallows perch
upon telephone wires, sometimes in such large numbers that the
wires are broken. Their small feet are well suited for this, but
not for walking upon the ground.

Tail: The tail of the Barn Swallow is deeply forked. When perched, these
long protruding outer tail feathers serve to distinguish the Barn
Swallow from all other native Swallows.

Song: The gentle twitter of the Barn Swallow is a familiar sound about
many a farm where an old barn or other outbuilding may provide a
nesting site. It is a musical sound that changes to a
"_kit-tic--kit-tic_" when the bird becomes excited.

Nest: The cup-shaped nest of the Barn Swallow is made of mud and is
lined with grass and feathers. It is stuck to the side of a rafter
or beam or against the inside of the weather-boarding of an old
barn where a broken window pane or other hole admits the bird from
the out-of-doors. The eggs are white, speckled with brown and
lavender.

Tree Swallows nest both in hollow trees and in nesting boxes that
man has erected for their use. The upper parts of this bird are of a
blue-green color while the under parts are of a pure white. When
going to the south they collect in huge flocks and, after having
flown high into the air, they begin their journey in the daytime. At
Long Beach, Long Island, thousands of them have been observed
feeding upon the bayberry bushes just before they started south.]

THE HOUSE WREN

Some day, late in April, the House Wren will appear to add to the growing bird population. Not until the middle of August or the end of September will he depart. He is the most common of our Wrens.

Food: Ninety-eight percent of the food of this small bird is made up of
insects.

Actions: These little birds are very restless. They seem never to be
still. From dawn to dark they are bobbing, hopping, and bowing
about with tireless energy. The stiff tail, constantly jerked, is
usually in an upright perky position, and is a true mark of the
Wren's personality.

Song: The House Wren is more noted for the quantity of his song than for
the quality. Although parts of his singing are soft and musical,
there are other times when scolding, grating notes mar the
performance. Constantly singing, the Wren goes about his work.
Even when flying or perching with a worm in his beak, he will sing
away as though the thoughts of mere food were far indeed from his
mind. The true song is a spontaneous and rollicking outburst, and
is sung with real abandon that fairly makes the small feathered
body tremble with the force of its effort.

Nest: The nest of the House Wren is made within some cavity, either
natural or man-made. If no hollow tree is about, an eave spout
will do, provided that an English Sparrow has not found it first.
Wrens have even been known to build their nests in old shoes! The
material used consists of grass and short twigs, feathers and like
material. The eggs, sometimes as many as eight in number, are
thickly speckled with pinkish brown.

Flight: The flight of the Wren is very erratic. It darts here and there
with much speed. Although not a very strong flier, the bird
travels in many places that larger birds could never manage.

THE CHIMNEY SWIFT

The Chimney Swift, which is in no way related to the Swallows, is seen in the North toward the end of April or early in May. From the last weeks of August until late in September, southward bound flocks may be seen, and then the bird has left us until Spring comes again.

Food: The Swifts feed entirely while flying. They eat small flying
insects of many kinds, catching them chiefly in the early morning
and late afternoon.

Feet: Seldom does the Swift alight upon any flat-topped object. Its
characteristic perching place is upon some rough-surfaced tree or
chimney where the small, weak feet cling to the wall and hold the
bird in an upright position.

Tail: The tail of the Chimney Swift is used as a prop to aid the bird in
holding fast to vertical surfaces. The feathers of this fan-shaped
prop are spine-tipped.

Wings and Body: The body of the Swift is "cigar shaped." The wings are
slender though powerful and have long outer feathers that help him
to fly for hours at a time.

Song: The Chimney Swift has no true song. His singing efforts result in
a "_chip-chip-chip_" repeated over and over again, with a
twitter-like rhythm, sometimes sounding
"_chippy-chippy-chippy-chip_."

Nest: The nest of this bird is an unusual structure made of twigs that
are glued together with its glutinous saliva. It forms a shallow,
saucer-shaped platform in which the small white eggs are laid.
Before man-made chimneys offered nesting sites, the Swifts built
in hollow trees.

THE CHICKADEE

The friendly, sometimes inquisitive Chickadees, are with us all through the year. Ever active, they fly here and there searching for food, and giving their cheerful calls.

Bill: The tweezer-like bill of this little bird is very well adapted to
the catching and eating of small insects and their eggs.

Habits: The Chickadees are never strangers to one who walks within sight
or hearing of them. They fly very near and have even been known to
perch upon the hand of different bird watchers who have
sufficiently gained their confidence. The gray and black colors of
these small balls of feathers match the tree trunks and branches
upon which the Chickadees climb and hang in search of food.

Song: The Chickadee tells his own name when he sings. Ella G. Ives has
said:

"I know a little minister who has a big degree;
Just like a long-tailed kite, he flies his D. D. D. D."

"Chickadee-dee-dee!" is the music that comes from this small gymnast
of the branches. Sometimes a "Phoebe" call note is also given. It is
quite simple to imitate this note by whistling. If you do it correctly
the Chickadee may answer.

Nest: An old, hollow stump or fence post is often chosen by the
Chickadee for a home. The nest within is built of moss, plant
fibers, grasses, and feathers. From five to nine eggs are laid.
They are of a white color spotted with a ruddy brown.

Ralph Waldo Emerson admired the Chickadee who braved the winter's cold, and seemed so happy in the very coldest of weather. He wrote this about the little bird:

"This scrap of valor just for play
Fronts the north wind in waistcoat gray,
As if to shame my weak behavior."

THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

The Nuthatch is one of the tree trunk birds that, in the wintertime, is a close friend of the Chickadees and the Downy Woodpeckers. He is with us all the year around. Some people have called him the "Upside down bird" due to the fact that he is able to run up and down the trunks of trees in almost every conceivable position.

Food: The food of the Nuthatch consists of the small insects that live
under and upon the bark of trees. The small, sharp pointed beak is
well adapted to pry off sections of loose bark that may house some
eggs, larvae or pupae of insects that are hidden for the cold
months.

Habits: Edith M. Thomas has written a little poem about the Nuthatch. It
is a good description of the acrobatic powers of these little gray
birds of the woods.

"Shrewd little haunter of woods all gray,
Whom I met on my walk of a winter day--
You're busy inspecting each cranny and hole
In the ragged bark of a hickory bole;
You intent on your task, and I on the law
Of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw!"

"The Woodpecker may well despair of this feat--
Only the fly with you can compete!
So much is clear; but I fain would know
How you can so reckless and fearless go,
Head upward, head downward, all one to you,
Zenith and nadir, the same in your view."

Nest: The nest of the Nuthatch is located in a hole in a tree or stump.
It is lined with feathers, leaves and other similar materials. The
white eggs are thickly speckled with a rufous and lavender color.
From five to eight eggs are laid.

Song: Some one has described the song of this bird as being like the
laugh of a very old man. As the Nuthatch pauses from his work to
inspect you, he may suddenly decide that you are no longer worthy
of his attention. With a harsh little "yank-yank," he will then
continue his insect hunting and leave you to marvel at his
actions.

THE SONG SPARROW

The Song Sparrow is a member of a very large family. His near relations are found in many regions of the earth. In winter, fall and spring, he is with us to represent his kind, and a fine representative he is, with his good spirits and ever-ready song.

Field Marks: The red-brown line behind the Song Sparrow's eye, combined
with the tiny splash of black and brown which streaks his breast
are two marks by which the bird may be identified. The larger
blotch of color upon the breast is in the center of the "splash."

Song: This Sparrow is a musician of fine ability. The call note is but a
metallic "_chip_." The homing song is worthy of the attention of
any one who likes to hear good music in the out-of-doors. There is
no one song but rather a combination of songs which are varied
from time to time. The beginning of the song is usually of three
sustained introductory notes. The following notes rise in rapid
succession and are of a pure musical quality. The strain is a
cheerful, simple melody.

Nest: The nest of the Song Sparrow is built either upon the ground or in
bushes. It is made of coarse grasses, rootlets, dead leaves,
strips of bark and similar materials. The eggs, four or five in
number, are of a bluish white with brownish markings which are
often so numerous that they conceal the underlying color.

Food: The diet of the Song Sparrow consists largely of the seeds of
harmful weeds. It also feeds upon insects such as ants, beetles,
and weevils. The beak of this Sparrow is comparatively large and
strong. It is well adapted to open large seed pods in order to
reach and eat the kernel within.

Henry Van Dyke has written a little poem about the Song Sparrow. The first stanza of the poem, from "Builders and Other Poems" is given here:

There is a bird I know so well,
It seems as if he must have sung
Beside my crib when I was young;
Before I knew the way to spell
The name of even the smallest bird,
His gentle, joyful song I heard.
Now see if you can tell, my dear,
What bird it is that every year,
Sings, "Sweet-sweet-sweet, very merry cheer."

SCREECH OWL

This little permanent resident is quite common in the outlying sections of the cities. He seems to care for the society of man. Very often, he is to be found near human dwellings rather than far out in the woods. Just why we should call this bird the "Screech Owl" is somewhat of a mystery. The Owl has a tremulous, quavering voice that in no way suggests a "screech." Perhaps it is that the name has come to us from Europe. At any event, it is not appropriate to our small Owl.

Food: Sometimes in walks out-of-doors we may come upon small, gray
colored pellets made of hair and tiny bones. Very often, these
have been ejected by the Screech Owl, who is able to digest the
flesh of his prey but not the skeleton and the outer covering.
This beneficial night flier feeds upon mice and other creatures.
His sharp, hooked beak is adapted to tearing food and his rather
long and pointed little talons are of great use in grasping it.

Color: There are two color phases of the Screech Owl. One is a mixture
of mottled reddish brown, and the other a brownish gray shade
tinged with black. These two phases have nothing to do either with
sex, age, or season.

"Ears:" The two small tufts, one on either side of the head, are not
ears at all. They are merely feathers. They may well serve to
distinguish this bird from the Acadian or Saw-whet Owl which is
not at all common.

Nest: The nest of the Screech Owl is often placed in a hole in a hollow
tree. The pure white eggs, some five or six in number, are laid in
April.

When night time comes, the Whip-poor-will sings,
The Owl sails off on noiseless wings
To search for mice and other things;
And I go home to bed.

THE KINGLETS

There are two varieties of Kinglets in this section of the country, the Golden-crowned and the Ruby-crowned. Both members of the family are beautiful little birds that visit us in autumn and depart in the spring. They are not with us during the warmer months. In the coldest time of the year these little, restless wanderers among the trees may be seen and heard. Except for the Humming-bird and the Winter Wren, the Kinglets are the smallest birds that we have.

The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

The male bird may be identified by the partly concealed tiny crest of red which the bird often raises.

The Golden-Crowned Kinglet

A crest of gold marks this cousin of the Ruby-crowned. Often no color is visible upon the head except the uniform olive or greenish tinge. However, when the bird is excited, the crest is raised and it is then that the color of the crown may be very well seen.

Habits: The Kinglets are friendly birds that often come very near. They
seem to be much more tame than the warblers.

Food: A constant search for tiny insects occupies the time of the
Kinglets.

Song: The Ruby-crown is the superior singer of the two. His song
consists of a loud, clear warble, interrupted here and there with
a wren-like chatter. The Golden-crown's song may be expressed as
"tzze, tzze, tzze, tzze, ti, ti, tir, t-t-t-." The call note is an
extremely high-pitched "ti-ti."

Nest: The roundish nests of the Kinglets are made of moss, thin strips
of inner bark, feathers and other like materials. These nests are
made in evergreen trees and are sometimes placed as high as sixty
feet above the ground.

ROBIN

Our native Robin is not closely related to the bird that the English call "Robin Redbreast." He is rather a relative of the Bluebird and the Thrush. Before the young of the Robin leave the nest, their breasts are speckled as are the breasts of the Thrushes. After the first moult, this marking disappears. Some of the Robins are with us all through the year. However, only the hardiest of them stay during the Winter. The majority travel to the warmer climates. Those who come to us from the South arrive about the first of March and depart toward the end of October.

Song:
"In the sunshine and the rain
I hear the robin in the lane
Singing. 'Cheerily,
Cheer up, cheer up;
Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheer up'."

A writer in "A Masque of Poets" has described the cheer in the Robin's song very well. Robin music has real melody and expression. Indeed, there are very few of our birds that have what might be called as great a vocabulary, or as many expressive notes, as has this familiar bird.

Nest: The nest of the Robin is built of grasses, rootlets and leaves.
The interior is well lined or plastered with a layer of mud.
Another layer of fine grass forms the bed upon which the greenish
blue eggs are laid. These eggs are from three to five in number.
Robins often raise two families each year. The young of the first
brood leave the nest toward the first of July.

Food: In June and July, Robins feed to some extent upon berries and
similar fruits. However, what little harm they may do in this way
is vastly offset by the good that is done during the rest of the
year. The Robins are gleaners of insects. They eat great
quantities of beetles and their grubs, grasshoppers, crickets,
ants and other plant pests. One of the most comical sights of bird
feeding is to see a large, round, healthy Robin struggle to pull a
resisting, equally healthy, earthworm from its hole in the ground.
Often, the worm breaks in two and the Robin, suddenly and most
unexpectedly, tumbles over backward. The Robin seems to "Listen"
for the worm as he walks and hops over the lawn in the early
morning.

THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

Early in March, the male Redwing arrives. It is not until two or three weeks later that the female comes from the south to join his company and to sail about over the cat-tails of the marsh. When August has gone by, the adult Blackbirds are seldom seen. It is in July that the young and old birds congregate in large flocks to prepare themselves for the journey southward. Red-winged Blackbirds from farther north may be seen as late as October.

Markings: The male Red-winged Blackbird is of a faultless glossy black
with shoulder patches, or epaulets, of a bright scarlet, edged
with gold. His mate is of a more sober appearance--streaked with
modest brown.

Song: Henry D. Thoreau described the Red-winged Blackbird's song
as--"_Chonk-a-ree_." These free, truly bubbling notes are given
again and again as the birds go about their everyday tasks in the
Spring. The arrival of the females, however, is perhaps the signal
for the greatest singing effort on the part of the males. It is at
this time, especially, that the marshland is fairly alive with the
rich reed-like song that
repeats--"_Conk-a-ree_"--"_Conk-a-ree_"--"_Conk-a-ree_"!

Nest: The nest of this bird is woven of grasses, weed-stalks and
rootlets. Sometimes it is built in a friendly, compact mass of
cat-tail, and other nests may be seen in low bushes or tussocks.
These Redwings do not welcome visitors to their nesting sites.
They raise very strenuous objections, and, in their attempt to
drive away the intruder, bird, beast or man, they will fly very
near, scolding in harsh tones the meanwhile.

Eggs: The eggs of the Red-winged Blackbirds are truly unusual in their
markings. They are of a pale blue ground, or base color, and are
often scrawled over with a dark purple or black. They appear to
have been stepped upon by a bird that has first dipped its toes in
a bottle of ink. These eggs are from three to five in number.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

"How comes it, Oriole, thou hast come to fly
In tropic splendor through our northern sky?"

Edgar Fawcett asks this question in his poem. Who is there that may answer him? The Baltimore Oriole comes to us in early May and stays until about the first of September. This bird, sometimes called the Golden Robin, is a namesake of George Calvert, or Lord Baltimore, who was the first proprietor of Maryland. Indeed, he does seem "golden" as he flashes about among green leaves. However, he is a relation of the blackbirds, rather than of the robins.

Colors: The brilliant orange and black feathers of the Oriole are the
marks by which the bird may be identified. The head, shoulders and
neck, and the upper section of the back are of a gleaming black.
The breast is of a bright orange, sometimes almost golden in its
color.

Song: A loud, sometimes bold, whistle from the top of a sweeping elm
tree often announces the presence of the Baltimore Oriole. He is a
fine songster of considerable ability. His song is characterized
by a richness that gives a truly musical quality to his efforts.

The same poet asks further:

"At some glad moment was it Nature's choice and charm
To dower a scrap of sunset with a voice?"

Nest: The beautiful hanging nest of the Baltimore Oriole is often
suspended from the end of the branch of some shade tree, where it
sways with every passing breeze. It is composed of hair, strings,
grasses, bark lining and other similar materials all closely
interwoven with the greatest of skill. The eggs, four to six in
number, are of a white color marked with wavy blackish lines and
spots. This bird has been known to make very good use of yarn,
string, and even strips of cloth, placed where they might easily
be found and woven into the nest. Some nests built almost entirely
of string have been found.

CHIPPING SPARROW

The sociable personality of the Chipping Sparrow enables the bird student to make his close acquaintance. He is a little bird of modest habits, who shows his trust in the human race by living very near to the homes of man. In early April "Chippy" arrives. He leaves for the South about the first of November.

Song: "_Chippy--Chippy--Chippy_" is all this small Sparrow has to say.
Certainly, this is not an especially attractive song, and yet it
is very much in keeping with the unassuming disposition of the
bird. It could scarcely be called a song. It is an extremely high
pitched note with very little musical quality. Nevertheless,
somewhat monotonous though the songs may be, they seem to have a
peculiarly friendly air, that, at times, is very welcome.

Food: Injurious insects are eaten in large quantities by the Chipping
Sparrows. Beetles, grasshoppers and other similar insects are the
prey of this bird. Many different types of seeds constitute the
rest of the diet. "Chippy" will readily accept human hospitality
whenever crumbs are scattered, provided, of course, that the
English Sparrow does not arrive at the feeding station first.

Nest: The nest of the Chipping Sparrow is built in bushes, shrubs,
trees, or in the old vines that grow about country houses. The
nest is lined with long hairs. One often wonders where the bird
finds so many of them. Grass and fine twigs are used for the main
construction of the home.

Remarks: The little chestnut cap of the Chipping Sparrow is perhaps his
most noticeable marking. By this, and by his small size, he may be
readily identified. He is sometimes called the "Least" Sparrow.
Like some other members of the Sparrow family, he sometimes awakes
in the middle of the night and bursts into song.

THE MEADOWLARK

This bird of the fields may be seen during every month of the year. After walking among the grasses, it may suddenly fly up and may be identified by the conspicuous white outer tail feathers which flash in the sunlight.

Field Marks: The black crescent upon the yellow breast of the Meadowlark
is a fine field mark. In the early morning, when a rising sun
shines upon the open meadows, this bright yellow patch seems to
be, in itself, a reflected spot of golden light. In winter, a
brownish tone, more like the dried swamp grasses, covers the
plumage.

Food: Insects form the major portion of food for this guardian of the
hay fields. Sow-bugs, weevils, grasshoppers, ticks, plant-lice and
other enemies of the farmer all fall prey to the pointed,
searching beak.

Nest: The beautiful little nest, sometimes arched over, is built of dry
grass. It lies hidden upon the ground, often defying the keenest
of eyes of hawk and man alike. The eggs are white, speckled with a
reddish brown color. They may number from four to six.

Song: The music of this ground bird is somewhat sad. A slurred whistle,
rising from the grass in spring and early summer, tells of the
hiding place of the Meadowlark, singing in a plaintive minor key.
Sometimes this song comes from the air. Its clear notes may be
heard all through the year.

_Spring o' the Year_
The Meadowlark's song is "Spring o' the year,"
As he flies o'er fields of hay;
He sings of his toil and not of the cheer
That lies in a land far away.

Remarks: The protective coloration of the Meadowlark is of great help to
the bird. The soft brown and ground colors aid it in escaping such
enemies as Hawks and other preying creatures. To a soaring bird of
prey, the Meadowlark must seem to be only a section of the ground
upon which it walks.

THE BLUE JAY

The Blue Jay is closely related to the Crow. He shows this relationship in a number of ways. He is very intelligent, has a keen sense of humor and is an observer of birds and men. All the year long he makes himself known to us by his striking plumage, loud voice, and active body. During the nesting season, however, he is comparatively quiet and we see little of him.

Food: During eight or nine months of the year the Blue Jay earns an
honest living. He eats many harmful insects, frogs, snails, and
even small fish and mice. In the breeding season, however, the Jay
sometimes turns robber and has been known to steal the young of
other birds. Nevertheless the Jay is a likable creature, and
probably before human beings came to disturb him he was not quite
so much of a nuisance to other birds as he is now.

Song: The clearly whistled note of this bird proclaims the name
_Jay!--Jay!--Jay!_ in loud, harsh, ringing notes. Sometimes the
song is quite pleasing with a bell-like quality. Some think that
when the Jay calls he says _Thief! Thief! Thief!_

Nest: The Blue Jay often constructs his nest in a convenient crotch of a
tree. It is built of twigs quite strongly interwoven. The lining
is of leaflets. The inside of the nest is not by any means soft.
The pale olive brown or green eggs sprinkled with brownish are
from four to six in number.

Remarks: It is in the winter time that we really know the Jay in motion.
When the snow is on the ground and the woods and fields are quiet
it seems a fine thing to see dashing through the branches, calling
again and again, a bright bluish bird who gives an entirely
different atmosphere to the outdoors. Being something of a mimic,
he sometimes takes delight in imitating the songs of such birds as
the Red-shouldered Hawk and other songs that have a similar ring.
He has been called a reprobate, but, despite his bad habits, who
is there that does not appreciate his vivacity and ever-active
personality?

DOWNY WOODPECKER

This little member of the Woodpecker family is a permanent resident with us. All the year through he is to be seen busily engaged in his life work, which is a constant search for food. The Downy Woodpecker may be distinguished from the Hairy Woodpecker mainly by its smaller size and by its outer tail feathers which are barred with black.

Food: The food of nearly all Woodpeckers consists of insect material
that is found on or within the bark of trees. Thus when the Downy
Woodpecker is searching for food, he may be seen upon the tree
trunks or even hanging beneath branches pecking away, excavating
and digging. To name the injurious insects that form this
Woodpecker's diet would take a long list. "Every stroke with which
he knocks at the door of an insect's retreat sounds the crack of
doom. He pierces the bark with his beak, then with his barbed
tongue drags forth an insect, and moves on to tap a last summons
on the door of the next in line."

Nest: The Downy Woodpecker makes his own home. He uses his beak for a
chisel and for a pick, and digs away at some hollow tree stump
making a neat little round hole that leads to a cavity wherein the
white eggs are laid. By way of a bed for these eggs the Woodpecker
uses a few soft chips. These same holes are often used the next
season by some little Chickadee who is only too glad to take
advantage of his opportunity.

Song: In addition to tapping or drumming upon a hollow stump, thus
making a noise like a tiny drummer, the Downy Woodpecker also has
a sort of song. The notes are rather business-like and come
through the woods industriously,--in rapid
succession--_peek-peek-peek!_ Sometimes, especially when
interrupted, the notes may sound like _chink-chink-chink!_

Remarks: In the winter time the Downy Woodpecker leads a rather solitary
life flying about in the woods, searching here and there, calling
now and then, and patiently waiting for the return of Spring. In
the Spring, however, when the mating season comes again, the Downy
takes a new interest in life, becomes more active and generally
shows himself to be very well aware of the fact that soon he must
expect to work upon his new home. It is at this time that the call
note _peek-peek-peek!_ comes more sharply than ever.

THE STARLING

Like the English Sparrow, the Common Starling has become a Naturalized American Citizen. He was introduced from Europe in 1890, when sixty of his kind were released in Central Park, New York City. He is a very permanent resident wherever he has spread, and, because of the fact that he often ousts local or native birds, he is somewhat objectionable.

Song: The song of the Starling has many attractive notes. The whistles
are especially appreciated by city dwellers who seldom hear the
songs of more gifted birds. An indescribable jumble of notes
characterizes the remainder of the Starling's musical efforts.
William H. Hudson has written a very good description of this
bird's song--"His merit lies less in the quality of the sounds he
utters than in their endless variety. In a leisurely way he will
sometimes ramble on for an hour, whistling and warbling very
agreeably, mingling his finer notes with chatterings, squealings
and sounds as of snapping the fingers."

Nest: The Starling will build in crevices of buildings, in hollow trees
or in bird houses erected for the use of other birds. The nesting
material consists of grasses, straw, twigs and other available
material. The eggs, four to six in number, are of a pale bluish
color.

Food: The Starling eats a great number of insects. Cultivated cherries,
unfortunately, also, are very well liked by the bird who feeds
upon them quite often during the breeding season.

Remarks: The plumage of the male Starling is quite beautiful. It is of
an irridescent, metallic color in the spring and summer. In the
winter, a brownish gray obscures the more brilliant colors. The
bill of the bird is yellow in summer, but dark horn-color in
winter.

JUNCO

The slate-colored Junco comes down from the North to spend the winter in a more moderate climate. He may be first seen toward the last of September. The departure for the North is made about the first of May. They are certainly welcome visitors, coming as they do when most of our smaller birds have gone on further South. In small flocks, these plump little birds hop and fly, here and there, over the snow, searching for weed seeds and other food.

Song: The notes that are more frequently heard are sharp little
"_tsips_" given rather as a call note than as a song. The true
music or regular song of the Junco is a decidedly musical trill.
Sometimes, when disturbed, the birds will utter a short "_smack!_"
and fly to some other place where they may be uninterrupted in
their hunting.

Markings: The Junco is a very trim little bird, with a somewhat stylish
appearance. He is quite plump and has a covering of neat slate
color above and upon the throat in a "bib" formation. The belly is
white. Two very conspicuous white outer tail feathers are the most
striking identification marks.

Bill: This bird is a member of the Sparrow family. He has a thick,
pointed little bill that is of great service in crushing seeds.
When the sun shines directly through this bill, a flesh-colored
pink is shown.

Nest: The Junco nests from northern New York and New England, northward.
The nest is made of fine rootlets, grasses, and moss, interwoven
and built upon the ground or just above in small bushes, and lined
with hairs.

Remarks: The sociability of the Junco is mainly responsible for his
traveling in small flocks during the winter time. Crumbs and
similar foods are greatly welcomed by this bird, who will often
come quite near to human homes if sufficiently invited. The flash
of white and gray is a welcome sight as a small band of these
birds comes flying into the garden when the clouds above are heavy
and gray with oncoming snow. It is at this time that we most
appreciate their company.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW

The English Sparrow is most often referred to as a pest. It is a permanent resident in more senses than one. It was in 1851 and 1852 at Brooklyn, New York, that the small bird was first introduced. During the first 20 years or so it was mostly confined to the larger cities in the east. However, due to the bird's rapid increase it has spread throughout every State in the Union and has proved itself to be truly a great nuisance. Native birds have been driven from their homes and have been robbed of much of their food and many of their nesting sites.

Song: The English Sparrow has no true song, but rather is content to
call _Chirp--Chirp--Chirp--Chirp!_ over and over again. Sometimes,
in the larger cities such as New York, far from the parks where no
other birds would probably be, the hardy little Sparrow is
welcomed by the children to whom, without him, bird life would be
entirely a closed book. Thus it is that the _chirp-chirp-chirp!_
is not unwelcome everywhere.

Nest: Dr. Frank M. Chapman has said that the English Sparrow builds its
nest of any available material, in any available place. Behind
window shutters, in upturned eave spouts and gutters, beneath
roofs, in holes in trees and in almost every conceivable place,
this bird makes its home. The eggs, four to seven in number, vary
greatly in coloration. Sometimes they are plain white, sometimes
almost completely colored with olive brown. They are often marked
with olive.

Remarks: Even though this little bird is truly a pest it seems a shame
to criticize him in too harsh terms. After all, it is not his
fault that he was brought to a country whose climate and general
living conditions proved to be exactly what he wanted. He has
thrived because his adopted habitat has proved to be ideal. Let us
not confuse this bird in any way with our truly native sparrows
whose habits are so entirely different from this little English
Colonist. The names of some of our North American birds of the
same family are the field sparrow, the song sparrow, the vesper
sparrow and many others whose lives, unfortunately, are not nearly
so well known.

SCARLET TANAGER

The Tanagers do not winter north of the Mexican border. In the summer there are four species that occur in the United States, only two of which inhabit this section of the country. The Scarlet Tanager is one of the most common of these. He arrives early in May and departs early in October. These beautiful birds are not often seen unless we look up into the trees. The male bird, with his truly startling colors, is a sight to remember. The wings and tail are a jet black and the rest of the body is a remarkable scarlet. The female is more modestly marked with olive.