UN HtLU GUIUI^

FOR YOUNG NPTURRLISTS

*>

16

1
o
*t

--

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$15.00

Roger Tory Peterson was the inventor

of the modern
father of

been

who

field guide.

Known

modern bird watching, he

as the

has

called "the greatest conservationist

ever walked this planet.''

More than

anyone

else in the twentieth century, his

work

an

as

artist,

editor, educator,

photographer, writer,

and conservationist has

increased environmental awareness and

helped millions. to understand and enjoy

their natural world. For his work, Dr.

Peterson received every major award in the

field

of conservation; twenty-three hon-

orary degrees from major universities; and

the United States' highest civilian award,
the Presidential

Medal of Freedom.

04-OO

wm

Peterson Field Guides For Young Naturalists

Songbirds

Jonathan

P.

Latimer

Karen Stray Nolting

Illustrations

by Roger Tory Peterson

Foreword by Virginia Marie Peterson

^
Houghton

Mifflin

Boston 2000

Company

FOREWORD
My

husband, Roger Tory Peterson, traced his interest in nature

back to an encounter he had with an exhausted

only

II

When he found what he

years old.

in a bundle of brown feathers, he touched

ly

exploded into

showing

life,

Roger on

when he was

it

and the bird sudden-

golden feathers. Roger said

That experience was "the

"like resurrection."

that started

its

flicker

thought was a dead bird

crucial

a lifelong journey with nature.

an

his passion for nature with his talent as

it

was

moment"

He combined

artist to create a series

of field guides and paintings that changed the way people experience the natural world. Roger often spoke of an even larger goal,
however.

He

believed that an understanding of the natural world

would lead people

especially young people to a recognition of

"the interconnnectedness of things

all

The

over the world."

son Field Guides for Young Naturalists are

Peter-

continuation of

Roger's interest in educating and inspiring young people to see

that "life itself

is

important

not just ourselves, but all life."

Virginia Marie Peterson

2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company

1999 by Virginia Marie Peterson
All illustrations from A Field Guide to the Birds copyright 1980 by Roger Tory Peterson
to Western Birds copyright 1990 by Roger Tory Peterson
Copyright

Foreword copyright

and A Field

Guide

from this book, write

Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, New York IOOO3.
registered trademark of Houghton Mifflin Company.

All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections

to Permissions,

Houghton

Mifflin

PETERSON FIELD GUIDES

The

authors would

like to

is

thank Richard K. Walton, who reviewed and critiqued the manuscript,

for his invaluable suggestions.

Thanks

also to Paul E.

Nolting for his continued support and

encouragement.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in- Publication Data

Latimer, Jonathan

P. /

Songbirds /Jonathan

P.

Latimer, Karen Stray Nolting; illustrations by

Roger Tory Peterson; foreword by Virginia Marie Peterson,

young

naturalists)

Summary: Describes

p.

cm.

(Peterson field guides for

and
"Complex Songs,"

the physical characteristics, habitats, feeding habits,

voices of a variety of songbirds, arranged

under the

categories "Simple Songs."

"Whisding Songs," "Warbling Songs," "Trilling Songs," "Name-sayers," and "Mimics."

ISBN O-395-97941-2
I.

Songbirds Juvenile

son, Roger Tory,

(hardcover).

literature,

1908-

ill.

[i.

III.

ISBN O-395-97946-3
Songbirds.

Tide.

2. Birdsongs.]

(pbk.)
I.

Nolting,

2000

QL696.P2L38

Karen

598.8dc2I

Stray.

II.

Peter-

9-38293 CIP

Photo Credits

All photos courtesy of the Cornell

row: Lang Elliott; Song Sparrow.-

Robin: Leslie

McKim;

Lab of Ornithology. Cedar Waxwing: Isidor Jeklin; House SparStarling: Bob Schmitz; American

Johann Schumacher; European

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Mike Hopiak; Northern Cardinal: J. R. WoodW. A. Paff; Common Yell owthroat:

ward; Northern Oriole: Mike Hopiak; Eastern Meadowlark:

Isidor Jeklin;
Cottrille;

House Finch: Ted

Tauceglia; Purple Finch:

W.

A. Paff; Warbling Vireo: Betty Darling

Yellow Warbler: L. Page Brown; Chipping Sparrow: Mike Hopiak; Dark-eyed Junco:

Woodward; Whip-poor-will: BUI Dyer; Black-capped Chickadee:

ingbird: James McCullough; Gray Catbird: Mike Hopiak
R.

Book design by

Lisa Diercks. Typeset in

Manufactured in the United

woz

10

Mrs Eaves and Base 9 from Emigre.

States of America

987654321

Isidor Jeklin:

J.

Northern Mock-

CONTENTS
Foreword
Virginia

Marie Peterson

How

to Find
Songbirds 4

Simple Songs
Cedar Waxwing 8
House Sparrow lO

Complex Songs
Song Sparrow

12

Starling 14

Robin

16

Whistling Songs
Grosbeaks

Cardinal 20
Orioles 22
Meadowlarks 24

Warbling Songs

Common Yellowthroat

26

House Finch 28
Purple Finch 30
Warbling Vireo 32
Yellow Warbler 34
Trilling

Songs

Chipping Sparrow 36
Dark- eyed Junco 38

Name-Sayers
Whip-poor-will and Poorwill 40
Black-capped Chickadee 42

Mimics
Mockingbird 44Gray Catbird 46

Index

Life List

48

HOW TO FIND SONGBIRDS

Songbirds

are birds that

communicate by

found some of these songs

the years, people

nicknamed

that certain birds were

however, songbirds are part of a

"perching birds."

singing.

The

feet

songbirds.

much

Over

so pleasing

For

larger

scientists,

group of

of these birds have three toes

pointing forward and one back, which helps them grip a

branch or twig when they perch.

passerines. It

includes

more than

Scientists call this

half of

all

group

the birds in the

world. Songbirds such as finches, sparrows, thrushes, and

warblers are passerines. Ducks, hawks, herons, and

wood-

peckers are not.

This book will help you recognize some of the songbirds

you

are likely to hear

illustrations

cation,

by the

and

see

where you

man who

Roger Tory Peterson.

call

The book uses

revolutionized bird identifi-

He

of drawings and pointers (now

System") that

live.

invented a simple system

known

as the

"Peterson

attention to the unique marks

on each

kind of bird. This book introduces the Peterson System to

beginners and young birders.

It

can help you answer the

most important question of all: What kind ofsongbird is that?

What
Many

Kind of Songbird Is That?

songbirds are easier to hear than they are to

see,

but

sometimes you can follow their sound to find them. Also,

you can learn

to

identify

many

birds just by hearing their song

or

call,

even though they

may

be hidden from view. To

make
ier,

book

identification eas-

the
are

birds

in

this

grouped by the

type of song they sing.

The

songs and

calls

of each bird are described in words, but

those descriptions are only rough imitations.

You can

learn to identify songbirds best by listening carefully to the

real

sounds made by the birds around you. Once you see

bird, ask yourself the following questions to identify

What

Color Is the Bird?

Color

is

things

one of the

Singing by female birds

you notice when you

birds are the

same

less

is

color, or

you

nals are even

tell

These are

Bia Is

the Bird?

tifying a bird. Is

pigeon? The

it

size

similar birds apart. In this book,

on each

Size

is

of the bird

will

Is it

smaller than a

help you exclude some

others.

What Sound Does the

kinds of vocal noises

illustration.

another quick clue to iden-

larger than a sparrow?

and focus on

called field marks.

a bird's head, wings, body, or

useful field marks are pointed out

and

known to

birds have spots or stripes

identify them.

marks can be found on

choices

ori-

sing duets.

They can help you

How

other

males do. Pairs of cardi-

see.

that will help

tail.

North

oles can sing as well as

Does It Have Any Field

lFn?^3 The feathers of many
Field

in

is

parts of the world, but

which makes the color

hard to

in

female cardinals and

you may spot them in poor

light,

common

America than

Many

not always enough.

it.

Female Singers

first

see a bird. But color alone

Bird

Make?

Songbirds make two

songs and calls. They sound different

are used for different purposes.

A song

is

often long and complex.

It is

usually

produced

by males during the nesting season, but some females also

sing.

song announces that

male has staked out his

territory

and

warns other males to

it

females that he

stay away. It also tells

available as a mate.

is

song

is

often

repeated over and over. After the spring nesting season,

most males sing

Many

their

much

song

less

frequently.

birds can vary their song, often by

changes in a basic pattern.

variations

is

known

making small

group of

several songs or

A male

cardinal has 8 to

as a repertoire.

12 songs in his repertoire.

A call

any of several shorter, simpler noises made by

is

both males and females throughout the

year. Calls are

used for many things, including sounding alarms or keeping a flock together. Most young birds have special begging
calls to tell

their parents

Does Each

when

Bird Sina Its

they are hungry.

Own Sona?

Individual birds

of the same species sing the same song, and each species

seems to have

own

its

song. Even closely related species

sing differently. For example, a

nearly

variations of

Chipping Sparrow,

sings

its

Song Sparrow can

song.

Its

sing

close relative, the

one song over and

over.

A few

birds, such as mockingbirds, can imitate the songs of other

species.

They

When Do

are

known

Birds Sina?

often in the early

as

mimics.

You can

morning and

songbirds sing

more

than during the

rest

hear birds singing most

the late afternoon. All

often in the spring nesting season

of the year.

A few even sing in winter.

Where Do

Many

Birds Sina?

highest perch they can find.

songbirds sing from the

On

open

no high perches, birds such

there are

as

grasslands where

meadowlarks often

sing while they hover high above their nesting

sites.

These

songs are called flight songs.

How Do

Birds Learn

Sonas?

inherit their songs directly

from

Some

birds

seem

their parents, with

to

little

learning involved. Other birds learn their songs by listening to their parents. These

meaningless notes,

young birds begin by warbling

like the

babbling of

human

baby.

Gradually they combine these sounds into fragments of

song. After

much

songs of

species properly.

its

How Do

practice, a

Birds Sina?

bottom of

their

young bird

Birds have an unusual box

windpipe called

trolled by muscles.

learns to sing the

syrinx.

This box

at

is

the

con-

A bird pushes air through the syrinx

and the muscles make

it

vibrate.

This vibration

produces sound.

Keeping Track
Many people keep
seen. This

the

list

is

of

all

the birds they have ever

called a Life List. You can begin yours with

on page 48.

this book.

list

It includes

all

the birds described

in

CEDPR
WflXWING
You

seldom

see just

one

Cedar Waxwing. They

usually travel in flocks that

suddenly appear on a tree

or hedge and feed on
berries.

They

its

are sociable

birds that signal each other

with a buzzy
like

ieee.

sit

side by side

branch and pass

up and down

until

one of them swallows

They can be

too, eating so

many

berries

fly.

Cedar Waxwings have

way of feeding their young. The parent swallows

as

many as 30

berries,

called a crop.

berries to

the line

gluttons

that they can barely

Did

its

holding them in a pouch in

When

returns to the nest,

it

young one

at a

it

its

throat,

feeds these

time.

You Know?

Cedar Waxwings get their name from the fact that they

love cedar berries

and because the feathers of their

wings produce a bright red waxy substance.

During nest-building

Cedar Waxwings may take yarn or

string from a person's hand.

berry

it.

special

sounds

Cedar Waxwings

sometimes

on

call that

WRXWING

CEDAR

Pointed crest

on head
Black
face

Brown

mask

streaks

Grayer
than adult
(Adult)

Yellow on belly

Red waxy patches on wings

\*j

Yellow

jj^

band on
tip

of

gray tail

Males and females look

alike.

Cedar Waxwings are almost

l!Hu?n Cedar Waxwings

are

always seen in groups.

found around

trees

and

shrubs that contain berries, especially along the edges of

forests

and streams. They may

also

be seen in parks or in

suburban gardens.

A high,
5J

thin, buzzy

Cedar Waxwings

juniper, dogwood,

and

zeee, zeee.

eat all kinds

cedar. In

insects that they catch in midair.

feeders for raisins or currants.

of berries, including

summer they also eat

They may come to

--

HOUSE SPARROW
Even

though they are considered songbirds, House

Sparrows don't sing very

well.

Their song

is

a series

of

unmusical chirps, but House Sparrows have a large vocabulary of

ter,

but

calls.

To

us, their call

sounds

at least II different types

Each

Did

like a

scolding chat-

have been identified.

call

seems to have

distinct purpose.

You Know?

Some

warnings, with separate

are

calls

House Sparrows are not

native to North America.

for different dangers. Others

Around 1850 a small num-

are used to keep the flock

ber were released

together or to signal

Brooklyn,

New

in

York. This

flock spread quickly and

by 1900 House Sparrows

could be found through-

they have

when

found food.

House Sparrows can be

seen in most cities. They
seem

fearless

when

they

out the United States

and southern Canada.

The House Sparrow

also
lish

is

known as the EngSparrow.

approach people for food

scraps.

Sometimes they

hard to identify because they

are coated with soot, which

hides their true colors.

10

are

HOUSE SPARROW

Gray

stripe

on head

Light cheeks

Black throat

(Female)

Buff color
line over

each eye

No

Habitat House Sparrows have been

living with people.

are rarely

on

chest

very successful in

They find themselves

and on farms, but they

streaks

at

home

in

cities

found in woods or

other undeveloped areas.

The most common sound made by

Sparrow

House

is cheep, cheep.

House Sparrows
warmer months they

eat

eat

mainly seeds, but in the

many

kinds of bugs. They have

known to eat insects off the grilles of parked

House Sparrows also eat scraps and crumbs left by

even been
cars.

people and

will visit

bird feeders.

11

SONG SPARROW
hese

little

brown

birds are found throughout

North

America, but they look different in different places.

In the North they are darker and larger. In the deserts
of the Southwest they are smaller and paler.
is

certain

identify

you

One

thing

can always

Song Sparrows by

their bright, cheery songs.

Young Song Sparrows

learn their songs by listen-

ing to other Song Sparrows

sing.

But how well they

learn these songs seems to

depend on timing. Young

Song Sparrows must hear

the

songs

time

from

at

particular

about IO days

after hatching to

days after. If a

about 50

young Song

Sparrow does not hear the

songs of
that time,

its

species during

it is

never able to

learn them.

Did

You Know?

Song Sparrows are one of the most common native

birds.

They can be found as far north as Rlaska and as far

south as Mexico.
Each

Song Sparrow has three or four songs

ularly,

but most start with three or four sharp notes.

During

one 24-hour period

it

sings reg-

Song Sparrow spent

9 hours

singing, 9 hours sleeping, and 6 hours eating or on other

activities.

12

SONG SPARROW

Brown

streaked back

Long rounded

Streaks

on

tail

chest

Males and females

look alike.

Song Sparrows pump their

Habitat In most

places

tails as

they

fly.

Song Sparrows

are

found in

brush or thickets near water and in gardens with heavy

bushes or shrubs. Along the coast they are found near the
edges of

salt

marshes.

The song of the Song Sparrow can

musical and buzzy notes.
notes that sound like

by various notes and

tles,

It

often

starts

sweet, sweet, sweet.

contain both

with 3 or 4 pip

mg

These are followed

trills.

Song sparrows

eat seeds

and many kinds of bee-

grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, wasps, and spiders,

13

STPRLING
starling

is

loud black bird

with a long

and

bill

harsh, grating

tail. Its

a short

tseeeer

sound

or whistling whooee are hard to

miss. Starlings

make many other

sounds

including whistles

and

as well,

clicks.

other bird

They

calls

imitate

also

and even barking

dogs or mewing

cats,

though not

nearly as well as mockingbirds.

Starlings live almost everywhere

people do. Tough and aggressive,

they are chunky birds that look
like

In
lings

black triangles

fall

and winter,

can be seen wheeling through the

sky.

when

they

flocks

of

They

twist

fly.

star-

and

turn in perfect precision although there does not seem to

be any leader. Sometimes hordes of starlings cause serious

damage

to fruit crops.

These

flocks break

up when nesting

season begins.

Did
It

You Know?
is

estimated that there are as many as 200

starlings

in

million

the United States and Canada.

Winter flocks of starlings and other birds have been

estimated to be as large as 10

million birds.

They are

noisy and messy and nearly impossible to drive away.

Attempts to disperse them with chemicals, loud speakers,

gun shots,

or by destroying their habitat

have been

mostly unsuccessful.

14

The starling's

official

name

is

European Starling.

STARLING

Shimmering
Dark

bill

feathers

Heavily speckled

Yellow
bill

Short
square

tail

Males and females

look alike.

Habitat

Starlings can be

and towns. They

Starlings

grating

tseeeer

also live in parks

and on open

make many sounds, including

hunt for

and on the ground. In

and other birds

fall

cities

fields.

a harsh,

sound. They also imitate other bird

Starlings

weevils,

found on farms and in

calls.

wide variety of insects in grass

and winter,

eat large quantities

flocks

of starlings

of insect pests such

as

cutworms, grasshoppers, and Japanese beetles.

15

ROBIN
he song of the robin
that rise

heard

at

and

is

a series

of clear caroling notes

in pitch. This song can often be

fall

dawn or dusk and can

long time. Robins

last a

also call with a short tyeep or a

tut-tut

Robins hunt by
spring and

sight.

In

summer you can

them running or
hopping on lawns. They often
often see

stop

and stand upright, look-

ing

for

worms

A
twigs
like a

and earth-

insects

in the grass.

robin's nest

and

made of

is

mud and

is

shaped

cup. Both parents feed

their chicks

and

will

defend

their nest vigorously.

baby robins can

takes

over

fly,

their

When

the male

care.

The

female then begins a second

nest.

Did

You Know?

Robins build their nests wherever there are trees or

shrubs for support and mud for nesting material.

Some robins spend winter

woods where they can

The robin's

official

in

the North. They stay

in

find food.

name

is

Rmerican Robin.

It

is

the

state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

16

ROBIN

Colors

Dark gray back

slightly

Speckled

paler than

breast with

male's

Yellow

rusty- colored

background

bill

Red

breast

the color of

bricks

HHHiTTl Robins live in cities, towns, and forests. They

hunt for food on lawns, farmland, and open meadows.
Robins sing in the

and summer. Their song

sounds

>I*II

like

cheerily,

early

is

a series

of caroling notes that

cheer-up, cheerily.

In spring and

summer

and earthworms, which they

and winter they

morning during spring

robins eat mostly insects

also feed their

eat mostly fruits

and

young. In

fall

berries.

17

<M

'Wit*
It 1

-4j

GROSBEAKS
The songs of grosbeaks are among the most beautiful of
any bird song. Both males and females sing a rising

and

falling

"as if a

song that was described by Roger Tory Peterson

robin has taken voice lessons." Male grosbeaks sing

to attract a

mate in spring, but they sing throughout the

year as well. Males

and females share the

caring for their young, and

heard singing while

sitting

Grosbeaks are about the

name from

on

some males have even been

their nest.

size

of

starlings.

their large, strong bills,

open nuts and

seeds.

responsibility for

They

which they use

get their
to crack

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak

is

found mainly in the East and the Black-headed Grosbeak

in the West, but their territories overlap in the Midwest.

Did

You Know?

Grosbeaks help farmers by eating pests that attack

their crops, such as potato beetles.

Grosbeaks eat

all

kinds of seeds and berries. They even

eat the berries from poison oak. If you touched those

berries, you might get an itchy rash.

I
18

GROSBEAKS
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black and white pattern
on back and wings

Large rose- red

triangle

on

chest
(Female)

Striped head

Streaks

on

(Male)

chest

Rust color on neck and chest

(Female)

Black and
on wings

Light stripes

white

on head
Yell ow

on

^^

^m

(Male)

Black-headed Grosbeak
Habitat Grosbeaks
especially in

open

are usually

found in oak

forests,

areas such as the edges of fields or

along streams. They migrate to the tropics in winter.

The

songs of both grosbeaks are similar to the

robin' s, only mellower

and more

whistling songs that can

last a

flowing.

They

long time. Both also

with a sharp, metallic note that sounds like

>I*II

In summer, grosbeaks hunt

many

including beetles, caterpillars, bees, and

eat

many

are rich,

kik

or

call

eek.

kinds of insects,

flies.

They

also

kinds of seeds and berries throughout the year.

Grosbeaks

will

come

to bird feeders for seed.

19

CARDINAL
You may hear a cardinal long before you see the brilliant
scarlet
chip

red feathers of a male. Listen for a short, thin

seems to come out of the undergrowth. That

that

the call of a
songs,

Northern Cardinal. They

which are longer. Like many

dinals can vary their song, often by

is

also have several

birds,

Northern Car-

making small changes

in a basic pattern.

The male Northern Cardinal is the only red bird with a

crest of feathers on its head found in North America.
Female Northern Cardinals

but they are a

also sing,

little

harder to spot than the males. Females are brown or olive

gray,

and

their wings

and

edged in red. Both

crests are

males and females have thick red

bills.

male Northern Cardinal can sing 8 to 12 songs.

fl

When

cardinal chicks leave the nest, the male takes care

of the first brood while the female lays another set of

eggs. She may lay as many as 4 broods

The

cardinal's official

name

is

in

a single season.

Northern Cardinal. It

the state bird of more states than any other

bird.

is

They

are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia,

20

and West

Virginia.

CARDINAL
Bright red
pointed crest

Thick

Black face

triangular

P atch

red bill

Like female
but with
black bill

Red edge
on crest

(Young)

Red

bill

(Male)

IIFmiTTI Cardinals

year-round in dense under-

live

brush along the edges of

During winter you may

as

many

as

60 or 70

The
like

it is

pret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty.

sounds

or woods, or in parks.

see flocks of cardinals

song

cheer,

is

what

They

a whistle that often

cheer,

also

or

make

sounds

wheat, wheat, wheat,

or

a short, sharp call that

like chip.

You can

see cardinals

hopping around on the

ground or moving through shrubs or

food.

numbering

birds.

cardinal's

saying what

fields

They

eat a

lars, beetles,

eat fruits

trees

looking for

wide variety of bugs, including caterpil-

grasshoppers,

and wild

seeds.

and even

At

slugs.

Cardinals also

a bird feeder they will eat

sunflower seeds and cracked corn.

21

ORIOLES
Orioles

are

among

the most beautiful songbirds of

North America, and they build one of the most

cate nests. It

branch.

is

intri-

deep pouch that hangs from a drooping

woven by the female, with occasional help

It is

from the male, out of plant

fibers, hair, yarn,

Then

it

is

or string.

lined with grass

or other soft materials.

The

orioles

enter

their

nest

through

a small

opening

at

the top. Although they are

similar, the nest

more Oriole

is

of a Balti-

often deeper

than the nest of a Bullock's

Oriole.

People once thought that

the Baltimore Oriole

and

Bullock's Oriole were really

one

species.

However, they

have different patterns of

feathers

and

and they
places.

different songs,

live

in different

Today they are con-

sidered two separate species.

Did

You Know?

The Baltimore Oriole was named

Calvert,
in

known as

1632. It

is

Lord Baltimore,

traveler

from Mexico

22

honor of Cecilius

who founded Maryland

the state bird of Maryland.

was named after William Bullock, an Eng

who brought the first specimens to London

Bullock's Oriole
lish

in

in

1823.

ORIOLES

Baltimore Oriole
All-black head
<Male)

One white

__

bar on wing

Two white bars on

Flame orange
underside

YMqw underside

Large white patches on wings

wi ^S

(Jrange cheeks

\
(Female)

V*

White underside

Bullock's Oriole
IIHijiTTl Baltimore Orioles are found in the East and
Midwest. Bullock's Orioles are found mainly in the West.

Both orioles are found in open woods and groves of

shade

trees.

They seem

to favor

elm

trees.

They spend

winter in the tropics.

The song of the Baltimore Oriole

whistle that

sounds

like a flute. It also calls

whistle that

sounds

like hew-li. Bullock's

series

of double notes with

with a sharp

skip

is

a clear, rich

with a low

Oriole sings a

or 2 piping notes.

It calls

or sometimes a chatter.

In summer, orioles eat mostly insects, including

caterpillars, beetles,

berries, fruit,

and grasshoppers. They

and the nectar from

flowers.

also eat

They will

sometimes take sugar water from hummingbird feeders

or can be attracted with orange halves.

23

MERDOWLRRKS
Eastern and Western Meadowlarks are both chunky birds
that have a black V on their bright yellow chests. In
fact,

they look so

best way to

tell

ly different.

much

them

apart.

A Western Meadowlark sings

jair.

Their

is

calls

is

often the

Their beautiful songs are

notes that sound like a flute.

Meadowlark

hearing them

alike that

7 to IO gurgling

The song of an

a clear whistle that

sounds

Eastern

like tee-yah, tee-

are also different.

Meadowlarks sing throughout the

year, even in winter

and during migration. Males often perch atop fence

open

in

fields

owlark takes
side of

Did

its

total-

or along roads and sing.

off,

short,

it

flashes a patch

wide

When

posts

mead-

of white feathers on each

tail.

You Know?

Female meadowlarks build their nests by weaving dried

grasses and plant stems together. The nest

a

dome and has

The Western Meadowlark

a small entrance on
is

one

is

shaped

like

side.

the state bird of Kansas,

Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming.

24

MFADOWLARKS

Bright \cllow chest

I

OTkft

pointed

bill

with black

Eastern

Meadowlark

White

tail

feathers

Yellow on
throat

and

cheek

Wy

1 \
^^^"^3^

Lighter colors

than Eastern

Males and females

look alike.

Western Meodowlork

Habitat Meadowlarks can be found

meadows, and

The
song.

prairies.

a rasping or buzzy

Meadowlark has a
flute. Its call is

*]-

to iO-note

dzjrt.

The Western

song that sounds

like chupp.

eat

many

kinds of insects, particu-

grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles.

seeds

like a

lower than the Eastern Meadowlark' s and

Meadowlarks
larly

year in fields,

Eastern Meadowlark has a musical 2 -note

Its call is

sounds

all

and

They

also eat

grain.

25

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
These

brightly colored

little

warblers can be found

near almost any marsh or stand of

spring and summer.

The

Common

cattails

during

Yellowthroat

is

the

only warbler in North America that nests in these wet

Their cheerful song

areas.

is

but they are

unmistakable,

usually scarce where the land

dry.

is

The

Common

nest of the

Yellowthroat
small bird.

is

It

large for such a

is

a bulky

made of grass anchored

vegetation

around

tunately, this nest

cup

to the

it.

Unfor-

is

very at-

tractive to cowbirds.

Cowbirds

are parasites that lay their eggs

in

other

birds'

original nest-builders

losing their

The
end up

nests.

young and taking

care of the baby cowbird.

mon

Com-

Yellowthroats are one of

the most frequent victims of

cowbirds.

Did

You Know?

The Common Yellowthroats

behavior of darting from

place to place reminds many people of wrens.

Common Yellowthroats migrate mostly at night. They

spend winter in swampy areas as far south as Panama.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

Black mask

Olive-brown back

(Female)

Bright
yellow

throat

Whitish underside

Females and young look

IIH.fliPn

Common

in marshes

and other swampy

also nest in

Yellowthroats are found most often

bright, rapid chant that

raspy

areas with thick brush.

They

moist thickets and tangles of weeds near water.

The song of the

witchity -witch

alike.

or

Common Yellowthroat

sounds

is

like a rolling witchity-witchity-

witchy-witchy-witchy -which. It also calls

with a

tchep.

Common Yellowthroats hunt many kinds

insects

and bugs, including grasshoppers,

beetles, grubs, caterpillars,

spiders

and occasionally

moths, and

of

dragonflies,

ants.

They

also eat

seeds.

27

HOUSE FINCH
Listen for the bright warbling song of these lively red and
brown birds in your backyard. Their song often ends in
a

harsh nasal wheer or

visitors to

House Finches

bird feeders and seem to have

Some

adapting to humans.

on

che-urr.

are frequent
little

trouble

finches even build their nests

the high ledges of buildings or in holes in telephone

poles.

Male House Finches may sing

at

any time of year. They

sometimes perch on high places and sing for long periods.

Females sing during spring. House Finches are social birds

and often appear in small groups, although they sometimes gather in large flocks.

same nest year

Did

They tend

to return to the

after year.

You Know?

House Finches are very adaptable. They are native to

the western United States, but

released

in

Long Island,

New

in

the 1940s some were

York. Since then they have

expanded across the entire United States.

House Finches

will

hang on a hummingbird feeder and

drink the sugar water.

28

HOUSE FINCH
Red head and

chest

Some males appear

more orange.

Plain brown face

Individuals

sometimes

fight

(Female)

Dark stripes
on sides and
belly

Female

brown-

is

striped all over.

(Male)

Habitat House Finches have adapted

environments. They
cities.

They

live

on farms and

are familiar backyard birds

to a

wide range of

in towns

and

and

easily adjust

to the presence of people.

House Finches have

The song ends

Their

call is a

in a harsh

sweet

cheep,

a long,

high-pitched warble.

and slurred
similar to a

wheer or che-urr.

House Sparrow's

but more musical.

House Finches seem

to

be able to

eat

almost any-

thing. In the country they eat primarily seeds, but in

cities

they will search the streets for

scraps.

House Finches

a variety

crumbs and food

flock to bird feeders.

of seed, including sunflower and

They will

eat

thistle seeds.

29

PURPLE FINCH
Rlthough

it is

called "purple," a

really a rich rose color,

male Purple Finch

on

especially

its

is

head and

rump. Roger Tory Peterson

described the male Purple

Finch

as

looking

sparrow dipped

"like

in

rasp-

can be mis-

berry juice."

It

taken for a

House Finch,

but

fast,

its

helps

tell

lively

them

warble

apart.

The

Did

You Know?

they

fls

fly,

Purple

Finches sometimes make

a call that

sounds

like

tick or tuck.

The Purple Finch

is

the

state bird of New Hampshire.

song of the Purple Finch

clearer

is

and does not end in

the harsh wheer or che-urr like

that of a

In the

Purple Finches migrate

in

flocks. They travel

mostly during the day.

House Finch.
past,

Purple Finches

were one of the most

common birds found at bird feeders.

Today, however, they are seen

less often,

probably because

of the competition from House Sparrows and House

Finches.

You may see

Purple Finches

ing for food high in trees.

30

at a

feeder or search-

PURPLE FINCH
No

stripes

Rose red color

on head

on

brightest

chest or belly

White line
behind eye

Dark ear patch

(Female and xoun^)

Broad, dark
on jaw

stripe

More

Deep notch
on tail

heavily striped

than a sparrow

Habitat Purple Finches

are

most often found along the

edges of woods or groves of trees, but they can also be

seen deep in the woods. In winter they can be seen in

almost any

wooded

area.

The song of the Purple Finch

sometimes ends abruptly. Their
sounds

like

is

a fast warble that

dull, metallic call

note

tick.

The main food of Purple Finches is seed, includ

ing seed from trees such as ash or elm. They also eat
berries and the buds from plants in spring. In summer
they eat some insects and caterpillars. At a bird feeder
>II>I

they will eat sunflower seeds.

31

WPRBLING VIREO
During
Vireo

summer the song of the Warbling

heard in wooded gardens or parks.

spring and
often

is

Like other vireos, a Warbling Vireo repeats

and

over.

It

sings

its

song over

throughout the day, even in the heat of

midday when most other birds

are quiet.

This

plain

bird

little

can often be seen searching

for

bugs

or

insects

along branches of trees or

shrubs.

and

It

hops along

twigs

among

the

pokes

leaves with
also

its bill.

may

It

hover and pick insects

off the bottoms of leaves.

Warbling
their

nests

Vireos

hide

high in

trees.

The cup -shaped

by

its

nest hangs

rim from

a forked

twig.

You may not

nest,

but you might hear a

see

male Warbling Vireo singing while he

Did

sits

on

it.

You Know?

Vireos are

found only

in

the Americas.

Warbling Vireos are usually

seen alone or

in pairs.

They

rarely form flocks.

Warbling Vireos migrate as far

each year.

32

south as Central America

WARBLING VIREO
Olive-green back and
wings often look gray

White eyebrow

stripe

Bill slightly

hooked

White chest
Vireos look like
warblers but are
less active.

Males and females

look alike.

Habitat Warbling Vireos

especially in shade trees

streams.

They

are often

are

found in wooded

areas,

near the edges of woods or along

found around elms or aspens,

but they usually avoid deep woods.

The song of the Warbling Vireo

uous warble.

and

slower.

It

It

sounds

like a

sometimes

is

call

sounds

Warbling Vireos
tles,

ants, flies,

and

eat

many

long contin-

Purple Finch but

the

is

less lively

last

like

notes rising in pitch.

like twee.

eat mostly insects, including

dragonflies.

and some spiders and

described as sounding

brig-adier, brig-adier, brigate with,

Their wheezy

is

snails.

In

They
late

kinds of small berries and

bee-

also eat caterpillars

summer and
fruits,

fall

they

including

sumac, elderberry, and poison oak.

33

YELLOW WRRBLER
The Yellow Warbler
in
looks

summer.
all

It is

is

one of the

easiest warblers to spot

the only bird in

North America

that

yellow at a distance.

Yellow Warblers are often victims of cowbirds. Cowbirds are parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other

and

birds

let

them

raise the

young cowbirds. But when

female Yellow Warbler notices a cowbirds egg

own, she quickly buries

her

nest.

must

lay

new

buried

laying a sixth

eggs,

among her

new bottom for

her own eggs and

One Yellow Warbler's

ones.

This Yellow Warbler

by creating

Unfortunately she also buries

to have 5 layers of

Did

it

nest was

found

each with a cowbird egg.

finally beat the cowbird,

however, by

group of eggs and raising her own young.

You Know?

Mole Yellow Warblers usually hunt insects higher up

in

trees than females.

Yellow Warblers in different

areas specialize

different insects. Yellow Warblers

grasshoppers. Those

in

in

in

hunting

Nebraska eat lots of

Massachusetts eat gypsy moths.

I
34

YELLOW WARBLER

Sharp, pointed bill

Yellow stripes

on

tail

Yellow stripes

Yellow
all over

on

tail

(Female)

Rust-colored
streaks

on

chest

Yellow Warblers are smaller

than House Sparrows.

HflHlPH
woods or

Yellow Warblers are most often found in

thickets

near water. They can be seen along the

edges of streams and lakes and in swamps and marshes.

The song of the Yellow Warbler

bright

loud

sweet, sweet, sweet,

cheep

or a buzzy

Insects
blers,

and

more

sweet.

They

a cheerful,

also call with a

ieet

make up most of the

including

beetles.

little

is

flies,

diet for

Yellow War-

moths, mosquitoes, grasshoppers,

Yellow Warblers also

eat

some

berries.

35

CHIPPING SPARROW
These

little

name from the bright

song. You will often hear a

sparrows get their

chipping sound of their

Chipping Sparrow singing before you

much

see

it.

They spend

of their time on the ground looking for food in

grass or in the litter

beneath

trees.

Chipping Sparrows can

be found in gardens and yards throughout North America.

Chipping Sparrows were once known

as the

"hairbird"

because they plucked hairs from horses to line the inside

of their

had

nests.

As

cars replaced horses,

to find other materials.

Chipping Sparrows

Today they

with grass, but they will use hair

if

line their nests

they can find

it.

They

have even been seen plucking hairs from sleeping dogs.

Did

You Know?

Male Chipping

Although

it

Sparrows sometimes sing at night.

was one of the most common

towns during the nineteenth century,

in

birds

found

many places

has been replaced by the House Sparrow, which was

duced from Europe

in

in

it

intro-

the 1850s.

wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
36

CHIPPING SPARROW

Cap and eyebrow duller

Bright rustcolored cap

Light stripe

on crown
Browner and
less gray

White

in

than

summer

eyebrow

Black line

running
through eye

Unmarked

Gray

gray chest

at base

Males and females look

Habitat Chipping Sparrows once

forests,

alike.

city parks,

and on golf courses and farmland.

The song of the Chipping Sparrow sounds

rattle. Its call is a

dry

seeds, especially those

like a

chip.

During most of the year Chipping Sparrows

mer

tail

lived mostly in pine

but today they are found in gardens,

orchards,

of

from

grass or weeds.

they eat mostly insects, caterpillars,

eat

During sum-

and grasshoppers.

37

DARK-EYED JUNCO
uncos are known

as

"snowbirds" because they appear in

J most places when the weather turns

nest in the northern parts of the

or

There are

several different juncos

but those with dark eyes are

ica,

United

high in the mountains, where

stay

all

it

Oregon Juncos, and

and Canada

States

remains cool.

found in North Amerconsidered one species.

In different places Dark- eyed Juncos are

Juncos,

cold. In spring they

known as Northern

Slate -colored Juncos.

Except during nesting season, juncos gather in small

flocks.

that

These

flocks have a "pecking order."

some birds in

junco

flocks, the

This means

the flock rank higher than others. In

pecking order determines where a bird

can look for food. If you see juncos fighting, the contest

is

usually about rank.

Did

You Know?

The same flocks of juncos return to an area year after

year.

Juncos find seeds on the ground by scratching

snow

38

or leaves.

in

the

-J

DARK-EYED JUNCO
Slate-colored Junco
Browner than male
Slate gray back

and

sides

Streaks

on

White

chest

Qoung)
bill

White underneath
(Male)

White feathers on

Gray head

Like Slate-colored
Junco, but with
red-brown back

White

tail

bill

(Female)

Rust-colored sides

Oregon Junco
Habitat Juncos

live at

the edges of forests near

ows or other open spaces. They can

also

patches of brush and along roads. In

in parks

and

iTT

they

call that

Juncos

may

be found in

some

places they live

yards.

Juncos have
scolding

mead-

a sweet, musical

sounds

eat seed

They

also use a

like smack.

and

also eat insects.

trill.

grain.

During nesting season

They will come

to a bird feeder,

but they usually eat the seed scattered by other birds on

the

ground below the

feeder.

39

0-"";/Jfe

WHIP-POOR-WILL
and POORWILL
dusk on a summer night you may hear
Rtpoor-will
repeat
name over and over. In

you may hear but never

during the night, catching

Whip-

fact, this is

its

a bird

see. It

hunts in the forest

insects, especially

moths, in

its

mouth and swallowing them whole. During the day

sleeps on the forest floor where its brown feathers blend

gaping
it

with the color of fallen leaves.

Whip-poor-wills are found primarily in the eastern

North America. In the West you

half of

hear the poorwill, which also

name

that the

says its

"poorwill" comes

and means "the sleeping one."

more

name.

It is

likely to

thought

from the Hopi language

A poorwill

deep sleep for days or even weeks

Did

are

at a

can

stay in a

time.

You Know?

Someone once counted as one Whip-poor-will repeated

its call

more than 1,000 times.

Poorwills

hibernate during cold weather. Whip-poor-wills

migrate south for winter.

40

The

official

name of the

poorwill

is

Common

Poorwill.

WHIP-POOR-WILL
Whip-poor-will

White patches on

Rounded

tail

wi ngs

in

male, buff color on female

White

Common

patch on

Poorwill

throat

White corners on

tail

White patch on throat

Smaller than a
Whip-poor-will

Stiff whiskers

may be used

to detect insects in dark.

Males and females look

alike.

Habitat Whip-poor-wills

Common

Poorwills are

are

found in dry

found in dry

hills

forests.

or open brush

with scattered shrubs.

The Whip-poor-will
once

The

second with

Common

a definite

repeats

its

name about

rhythm whip-poor-will

Poorwill repeats a loud, whistled poor-will

or poor -jill-ip.

Both Whip-poor-wills and

eat
air.

moths and other

They

insects,

Common

Poorwills

which they often catch in the

also eat beetles, grasshoppers,

and mosquitoes.

41

BLflCK-CRPPED CHICKRDEE
Chickadees
call

Their clear

practically identify themselves.

of chick- a- dee- dee- dee rings through woods or

Sometimes they cut

their call

which may sound angry or

hear an answering

call

down

like a

thickets.

to a sharp dee-dee-dee,

warning. Often you

will

from another chickadee nearby.

Occasionally they mix high-pitched notes or sputters with

their calls. If a female Black- capped Chickadee

dis-

is

turbed on her nest,

may

she

hiss like

snake.

Chickadees can be
seen
often

call

bird

at

zooming

feeders,
to

They

year.

all

up

pick

and then

seed,

flying away.

Sometimes they

-ji

also store seeds in cracks in tree

are often

will

perch on a branch to

__

eat the seed,

woods chickadees

bark for

but they

later.

In the

found with other small seed

eaters such as finches or sparrows.

Did

You Know?

Chickadees

spend almost as much time hanging upside

down on branches and

ft

or in an old

together.

woodpecker

The Black-capped Chickadee

and Massachusetts.

42

feeders as they do right-side up.

male and female make their nest

wood

bird

in

in

a hole

in

rotten

hole. The pair digs the hole

is

the state bird of Maine

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

Black cap

White
cheeks

Black bib

Chickadees
act like acrobats

when

feeding.

Males and females

look alike.

Habitat Look
trees

for chickadees in

wooded

areas or in

and shrubs near houses.

Chickadees get their

name from

make. Listen for their cheery-sounding

throughout the year. Their song

sounds

>T*TI

like fee -bee- ee

chick- a -dee -dee -dee

a clear whistle that

or fee-bee.

Chickadees eat mostly

At bird feeders they

is

the call they

insects, seeds,

and

especially like sunflower seeds

berries.

and

suet.

43

MOCKINGBIRD
Mockingbirds
America.

are

One

the best bird mimics in

was heard imitating the

calls

North
of 32

different birds in just IO

minutes. They are so good

that they can even fool the

birds

How

they are

imitating.

Northern Mocking-

birds learn another bird's

song

a mystery, but

is

it is

known that they can learn

new sounds throughout
their lives.

Mockingbirds

are

mimics more

just

not
than

80 percent of

their songs

are

Some

have

to sing

more

original.

been known

than 150 different songs.

male mockingbird may

on

sit

sing

high perch and

all

day or

especially

in

all

night,

moonlight.

They often repeat the same song over and over, sometimes making small changes in it as they sing.

Did

It

You Know?

The mockingbird's
is

official

name

is

Northern Mockingbird.

the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Ten-

nessee, and Texas.

fl

Northern Mockingbird

will

repeat

its

song over and over.

MOCKINGBIRD

Longer

tail

White patches

than a robin's

on wings

White patches

on

tail

Males and females look

alike.

IIH!jl<n Mockingbirds
are

are usually

around

all

year.

They

found in towns, on farms, and along roadsides.

Mockingbirds make

wide variety of sounds, even

copying croaking frogs, barking dogs, or the sound of a

squeaky wheelbarrow. Their

call is a

harsh

tchack

or

choir.

During spring and summer Northern Mockingbirds

hunt for

ground. In
other

fall

insects while walking or

and winter they

running on the

eat mostly berries

and

fruit.

45

20
*&

GRAY CATBIRD
ike

mockingbirds, Gray Catbirds are also excellent imi-

L tators. In

fact,

their

name comes from

^^mm
HHmimmmm
Did You Know?

You can attract Gray

their

mewing

like a cat

mewing.

Catbirds can imitate

jays,

hawks, chickens, and even

They

call.

which

call,

tree frogs.

Catbirds by imitating

will

sounds

their

come to investigate,

often unexpectedly popping out of a shrub or

Catbirds spend

much

their time looking for

on

ground,

the

through dead

of

food

stirring

leaves

with

hedge.
Gray Catbirds are rarely

seen

in

flocks. They live

alone or

in

pairs during

their

They often make

bill.

quite a bit of noise,

may hear

a catbird rustling

nesting season.

leaves

Gray Catbirds will

Although

its

very plain,

it

come to feeders for an

and you

before you

see

feathers

it.

are

can be identi-

unusual variety of foods,

including peanuts,

crackers, doughnuts,

and even corn flakes.

fied by the
as

it

way

it

flips its tail

moves around.

Gray Catbirds are very

inquisitive

and can become

quite tame. In the

they will stay throughout winter if there

In the South they

46

stay

year-round.

is

a supply

North

of food.

GRAY CATBIRD
Gray body and wings

Chestnut spot

under

tail

Males and females

look alike.

Catbirds flip their

tails

Habitat Gray Catbirds

are usually

when

found

sitting.

in dense

undergrowth, particularly in thickets along the edges of

woods or streams. They

also

can be found in hedges in

gardens and overgrown brushy

The mewing

call that

fields.

sounds

like a cat

is

easy to

recognize, but catbirds also imitate the songs of other

birds. Unlike mockingbirds, catbirds usually

repeat a song over

call that

sounds

and

over. Catbirds also

do not

make

a grating

like tcheck-tcheck.

summer Gray Catbirds hunt

undergrowth for many kinds of insects,

In spring and

through the

especially beetles, grasshoppers,

caterpillars, spiders,

and

crickets, as well as

and millipedes. They

also eat

many

kinds of berries.

47

INDEX G LIFE LIST

Black-capped Chickadee, 42
Cardinal, 20

Cedar Waxwing, 8
Chipping Sparrow, 36

Common Yellowthroat,

26

Dark- eyed Junco, 38

Gray Catbird, 46
Grosbeaks

Black-headed
Grosbeak,

Rose -breasted
Grosbeak, 18

House Finch, 28
House Sparrow, IO
Meadowlarks
Eastern Meadowlark, 24

Western Meadowlark, 24
Mockingbird, 44
Orioles

Baltimore Oriole, 22
Bullock's Oriole, 22

40

Poorwill,

Purple Finch, 30
Robin, 16

Song Sparrow,
Starling,

12

Warbling Vireo, 32
Whip-poor-will, 40
Yellow Warbler, 34

48

When

Where

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

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material

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Boston, Massachusetts 02Il6

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