What Bird is That? Part 25

13-Sept. 19. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 18-Oct.

1. Cambridge, formerly common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept.

1; common T.V. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 6-Sept.

20. Glen Ellyn, fairly common T.V.; a few S.R., Apl. 22-Sept. 3. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl.

10-Sept. 25.

The Bank Swallow is a bird of the air who tunnels the earth for a nesting-place. Where river or road has left a bank, its face may be dotted with the entrances to the Bank Swallow's dwellings. At the end of two or three feet the nest of gra.s.s and feathers is placed, fit receptacle for the pearl-white eggs, which are usually laid the latter half of May.

During the migrations the Bank Swallow travels with other members of its family, sharing their roost in the marshes by night and their wayside perch by day.

ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW

_Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Case 6, Fig. 56_

With the general appearance of the Bank Swallow, but slightly larger, grayer below, and with no breast-band. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from the Gulf States north to Ma.s.sachusetts and Minnesota: winters in the tropics.

Was.h.i.+ngton, common S.R., Apl. 2-Sept. 3. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 17-Aug. 12. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 15-Sept. 20. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 14-Aug. 26.

Least common of our Swallows. It nests in small colonies of about half a dozen pairs, sometimes in holes, at others under bridges, crevices in cliffs and similar situations. In the fall, it flocks with other species of its family. Its 4-8 white eggs are laid the latter half of May.

WAXWINGS. FAMILY BOMBYCILLIDae

BOHEMIAN WAXWING

_Bombycilla garrula_

Similar to the Cedar Waxwing, but larger, the primary coverts and secondaries tipped with white, the primaries tipped with white or yellow, the under tail-coverts chestnut. L. 8.

_Range._ Western Canada; in winter east to Minnesota and rarely as far as Connecticut.

Glen Ellyn, one record, Jan. 22, 1908. SE. Minn., irregular W.V., until Apl. 1.

There are comparatively few authentic records of this beautiful bird east of the Alleghanies. Enthusiastic bird-students are, I fear, apt to give Waxwings, seen in winter, the benefit of the doubt and call them 'Bohemians.' Look especially for the white marks on the Bohemian's wings. Its large size might not be apparent unless the two species were seen together.

CEDAR WAXWING

_Bombycilla cedrorum. Case 2, Fig. 40; Case 4, Fig. 54_

Crest usually conspicuous; tail tipped with yellow; a black 'bridle.'

_Range._ Nests from North Carolina and Kansas to Canada; winters irregularly throughout the United States.

Was.h.i.+ngton, very common P.R., less so in winter.

Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, not common P.R., common S.R., abundant T.V. in spring, Feb. 1-Apl.

25. N. Ohio, irregularly common in summer. Glen Ellyn. S.R., Jan. 21-Sept. 24; occasional W.V. SE.

Minn., common S.R., Feb. 25-Sept. 28.

A Waxwing's crest is as expressive as a horse's ears. One moment it points skyward the next it flattens and disappears. They are as sociable as "Love Birds," traveling in small flocks which, like one bird, dive into a tree and perch so close together that often several will be almost touching, and with common accord they take wing. They feed mainly on small fruit both wild and cultivated but are also expert flycatchers.

They nest in June, usually in shade or fruit trees, building a well-made nest for the beautiful, clay-colored, black-spotted eggs.

SHRIKES. FAMILY LANIIDae

NORTHERN SHRIKE

_Lanius borealis. Case 2, Fig. 56_

Larger than the Migrant and Loggerhead Shrikes with a grayish, not black, forehead and a lightly barred, not plain white breast. L. 10.

_Range._ Nests in Canada, winters south to Texas and Virginia.

Was.h.i.+ngton, rare and irregular W.V., Oct.-Feb.

Ossining, tolerably common W.V., Oct. 26-Apl. 17.

Cambridge, common W.V., Nov. 1-Apl. 1. N. Ohio, not common W.V., Nov. 6-Apl. 3. Glen Ellyn, not common W.V., Oct. 24-June 5. SE. Minn., common W.V., Oct. 17-Mch. 28.

A grim, gray bird that comes out of the far North in the fall. His mission is death to birds and mice and he makes no attempt to disguise it but boldly advertises his presence by perching where he may be seen as well as see. Mice he can plunge on, but Sparrows, Siskins or Redpolls he may have to pursue on the wing, following every twist and turn until he reaches striking distance. Slowly he bears his victim, in his feet, to some tree there to hang it on thorn or in crotch from which it may be devoured at leisure. An executioner by birth, the Shrike or "Butcher Bird" evidently pursues his calling with no regrets and when spring time approaches adds his voice to the chorus of bird song.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE

_Lanius ludovicia.n.u.s ludovicia.n.u.s. Case 4, Fig. 55_

A gray bird with black wings and tail marked with white which shows in flight; smaller than the Northern Shrike with a black forehead and unmarked breast. L. 9.

_Range._ Florida north to North Carolina, west to Louisiana.

The Loggerhead has the general habits of his larger northern cousin the "Butcher-bird," but he feeds, as a rule, on smaller game. Gra.s.shoppers and lizards form the larger part of his fare and the barbed wire fences not infrequently are his shambles. A flight is ended by an upward swing to the chosen perch which may be a tree-top, a telegraph wire, or lightning-rod tip. From such a lookout he keeps a sharp watch for his prey, which he detects at surprisingly long distances; meanwhile uttering the gurgles, squeaks and pipes which const.i.tute his song. The nest is built in hedges or low trees in early March. The 3-5 eggs are dull white thickly marked with brown and lavender.

The Migrant Shrike (_Lanius ludovicia.n.u.s migrans_) is a northern race of the Loggerhead from which it differs only in being somewhat paler above and grayer below. It is a Summer Resident from Kansas and western North Carolina to Minnesota and Maine and winters from the Middle States southward.

Generally speaking, it may be said that any Shrike found north of Maryland in the winter is a Northern Shrike; that any Shrike found north of Virginia in the summer is a Migrant Shrike, and that any Shrike found south of that state in the summer is a Loggerhead.

VIREOS. FAMILY VIREONIDae

BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO