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Go den Guides and Golden Field Guides!
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GOLDEN GUIDES
BIRDS BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS FISHES
FISHING FLOWERS FOSSILS GEOLOGY
INSECT PESTS INSECTS MAMMALS

MUSHROOMS POND LIFE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

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GOLDEN FIELD GUIDES

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA
REPTILES OF NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS AND MINERALS
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WILDFLOWERS OF NORTH AMERICA
FAMILIES OF BIRDS
Golden, A Golden Guide, and Golden Press
are trademrks of Western Publishing Company, Inc.

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129 BIRDS IN FULL COLOR

BIRDS

A GUIDE TO FAMILIAR AMERICAN BIRDS

by
HERBERT S. ZIM, PH.D.
and
IRAN. GABRIELSON, LL.D., D. Sc.
Revised and Updated by
CHAN DLE RS. ROBBINS
Illustrated by
JAMESGORDON IRVING

.,

GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK

Western Publishing Company, Inc.

Racine, Wisconsin

FOREWORD

This book pictures in full color 129 of the most familiar

American birds. Using these birds as keys, the text
describes additional related and similar species, helping
the reader to identify more than 250 birds in all.
The selection of the most common birds of America
and the assembling of concise information about them
were achieved through long, detailed study of volumi
nous data on our bird life. This might have been an
impossible task were it not for the wholehearted coop
eration and assistance of ornithologists and other natu
ralists. John Aldrich, C. A. Cottam, Allen Duvall, D. F.
Hoffmeister, A. C. Martin, Ernst Mayr, A. l. Nelson, A.
Sprunt IV, R. E. Stewart, H. l. Webster, and Alex Wet
more gave helpful comments and suggestions. Special
thanks are due to Chandler S. Robbins of the Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center, who compiled the basic data
for the range maps, and checked migration dates, tab
ular data, and other factual information. James Gordon
Irving has contributed his knowledge of birds as well as
his unusual artistic talent.
This Revised Edition, prepared by Chandler S. Rob
bins, includes the latest information about birds, as well
as recent changes in scientific and common names, bird
classification, and geographical distributions.

Revised Edition. 1987

H.S.Z.
I.N.G.

Copyright 1987, 1956, 1949 by Western Publishing Company, Inc. All rig hts
reserved. including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means.
including the making of copies by any photo process. or by any electronic or
mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or visual
reproduction or for use in any knowledge retrieval system or device. unless
permission in writing is obtained from the copyright proprietor. Produced in the
U.S.A. Published by Golden Press. New York, N.Y. Library of Congress Catalog
Card Number: 61-8323. ISBN 0-307-24053-3

3
HOW TO USE THIS B OOK

This is a field book made to fi t you r pocket when you

go looking for birds. C heck each range m a p (exam p l e
below) for b i r d s t h a t occur i n you r reg i o n . Concentrate
on these birds . Areas where birds live in summer a re
shown in red ; wi nter areas are in b l u e . Purple shows
areas where the bird is a permanent resident.
Migrating b i rds pass over parts of the white a reas in
spring and fa l l . C heck the i r "ti meta ble" a s g iven on pp.
1 32- 1 5 3 , where you will a l so fi nd information on nests,
eggs, and food . Ma rk each b i rd you are l i kely to see,
and when you have seen it, record the date and place .
Thumb through this book a n d become fa m i l ia r with the
bird s . Then, when you see them , you ' l l recogn i ze some
at first sight. Also use the i nformation o n pp. 1 54- 1 55
concerning books, museu m s , and places to see b i rd s .
The more you look a t t h i s book, t h e m o r e facts you ' l l
fi nd . T h e color p lates show spring p l u mage of adul t m a l e
birds, and usua l l y fema les or young if they a re very
different. The text emphasizes size, fie l d marks, i m por
tant facts, differences between males a n d fema les, and
related b i rds that are s i m i l a r. The birds have been se
lected so that knowing one b i rd will help you to know
others l ike it.
The b i rds i l l ustrated are among the most common and
the ones you have the best cha nce of seeing . N o rare
birds a re pictured . I n a l most every
part of the U nited States and south
ern Canada you can see many of
the b i rds in this book-plus other
common loca l b i rds you w i l l soon
learn to know.

TOIDENTIFYBii
Most birds can be identified at a g l a nce by experts
because they know exactly what to look for. With prac
tice you too can become an expert.
Whereas some wildflower g u ides a re arra nged by
color, bird guides are genera lly organized so that closely
related species-those of s i m i l a r shape and behavior
are together. Water birds a ppear first, fo l lowed by the
more primitive land birds; the true song b i rds a re last.
One q u ickly learns to sort unknown birds i nto the
major categories cal led orders, such as herons, ducks,
hawks, ki ngfishers, wood peckers, and perching b i rds
(see pages 9- 1 1 ) . For water b i rds, note whether they
wade, swi m , or d ive; for aer i a l feeders whether they
consta ntly flap, soa r, or hover. For a l l birds, l ook closely
at the size and shape of the bill (pages 1 4-15) and the
shape and length of the tai l . Compare the tota l length
with that of some fam i l iar species. Is i t the s i ze of a
kinglet, a warbler, a sparrow, an oriole, a robi n , a
flicker, or a crow? These cha racters w i l l help place b i rds
in the correct family.
The next step is to determine the species by looking
for the presence or absence of wing bars, ta i l patterns,
eye rings or eye stripes, and co lor patterns o n the head
and elsewhere . I s the back plain or streaked? Do the
underparts have horizonta l bars or longitud i n a l streaks?
Eye color i s i m portant for owls and some vi reos .
Behavior can a l so provide va luable c l ues. Does the
bird wa lk or hop o r run? Does it wag its ta i l ? Does it
catch insects on the wing and eat i n flight l i ke a swift or
swa l low? Or does it repeated l y return to a n exposed

5
perch to eat insect prey l i ke a flycatcher or waxwing?
Does it climb u p a tree trunk l i ke a woodpecker or a
Brown C reeper, or work head-down l i ke a nuthatch?
Does it eat berries l i ke a thrush or a n oriole, or probe i n
the g round for worms a n d grubs l i ke a robi n , blackbird ,
or sta r l i ng? See pages 1 32- 1 53 for the pri ncipa l foods
of each species.
EQU I PM E N T The only essenti a l equ i pment for seeing
birds is a pa i r of eyes . Good ears are a help, too . But
there are ways of i ncreasing you r enjoyment, none of
which i nvolves much expense . This book i s one, for a
guide book is i m portant. As you acq u i re experience, you
will want more advanced books (see page 1 54 ) . You r
own records, if kept systematica l l y, a re a n i m portant
pa rt of your equ i pment . A pocket notebook to record
deta i l ed i nformation is worth carrying . Rugged c l oth
ing, waterproof boots, and a bottle of mosquito repel
lent a re p a r t o f an experienced b irder's equi pmen t .
Field g lasses or bi nocu l a rs a r e t h e m o s t i m portant a n d
most expensive item o f equipment . There's no denying
thei r va lue i n bringing tree-top birds down to you . Like
a good camera , a good pair of binoculars i s a precision
tool and should be selected with care . The best g lasses
are made with prisms to reduce the i r size. The power of
the g lass tel l s how much closer it makes a b i rd a ppea r.
Throug h 6x (6-power) g lasses a bird looks six times a s
close. Glasses o f 6 x t o 8 x are best . Remember, the
higher the power, the more l i m ited you r fiel d of vision .
Glasses that admit the most light are the best. This
depends o n the width of the front lens (usua l l y measured
i n m i l l i meters) . A 6 x 35 lens admits twice a s much l i g h t
as a 6 x 24 . T h e l a rge 7 x 5 0 bi nocu l a rs a re exce l lent f o r
bird s . Those t h a t adjust by a single center focusing screw
are most convenient.

6
W H E R E TO LOOK Birds are everywhere, but to see
the most birds try looking in the best places: in moist
wood lands or perhaps at the edge of a wooded swa m p .
Young scrubby woods a r e l i kely t o have m o r e b i r d s than
mature forests . Wood marg ins are genera l l y good , es
pecia l ly d u r i ng m i g ration . But no single p lace is best .
Sa l twater marshes and shores wi l l yield birds that one
wi l l never fi nd i n pine woods. Other species prefer open
fields, or western deserts . A wooded park i n the m idst
of a city i s one of the very best places to look for b i rds
during m ig ration s . If you explore your own reg ion, you
wi l l d i scover certa i n spots a re favored-perhaps a sma l l
g len with a brook, a wooded point on a lake, a marsh,
or cottonwoods a long a r iver. On page 1 55 i s a l ist of
some famous places to see birds. Make l oca l inqui ries.
See a l so the books and museums l i sted on page 1 54 .
HOW T O LOOK Experienced watchers go out early
i n the morning when birds a re most active, a nd will often
sit qu ietly i n a l i kely spot and let the bi rds come to them .
Keen-eyed birds are easi l y frightened by movement.
Don't make yourself conspicuous agai nst the open sky.
Move slowly. Try to cover severa l distinct habitats, if
possible-a wood land, marsh, fiel d , river ba n k , shore,
or whatever your l oca lity affords . Eventua l l y you wi l l
work out a route that wi l l g ive you the greatest variety
of birds per time spent. Experience i n you r own reg ion
will be you r best help. Make bird watching a year-round
activity, for each season has its own specia l surprises
and delig hts to offer the carefu l observer.
WHY LOOK? B i rd i ng is enjoyed by m i l l ions of N orth
Americans of all ages, and by m i l l i ons of others all over
the wor l d . It is a hobby that can give pleasure at any
place and at a ny time. Some prefer to do their observing

7
by themselves, others prefer the sociabil ity of birding a s
a sma l l group. There are more t h a n 700 bird clubs i n the
United States and wel l over 1 00 i n Canada .
B i rd s a re by fa r the most popu l a r of w i l d l ife because
they a re easy to see, easy to identify, g reat i n numbers
and va riety, beautifu l to observe, attractive to hea r,
and ever changing in occurrence and numbers . Even the
experts get many thri l l s from fi nding unusua l or unex
pected species. Many species migrate long d i stances ,
and at ti mes large numbers of birds a re blown off course
and a re d i scovered hundreds of m i les from their usua l
homes . A few western bi rds even occur on the Atlantic
coast and vice versa .
Many bi rders enjoy competition, such as beating the
previous yea r's b i rd l ist, fi nding more species than a
friend , or being the first to spot a returning migrant .
Thousa nds of people take bird tours to exotic places .
Ma ny others keep impressive l i sts of the species they
have d i scovered right at home . Bird feeders and bird
baths a l so bring much pleasure to shut- i n s .
A n i nterest i n birds often expa nds i nto a greater
appreciation for a l l w i l d l ife, and for the habitats that
are essentia l to the i r surviva l . Many birders develop into
wi l d l ife photog raphers or leaders of scouting or other
youth groups . I n any case, on e acq u i res a n a bsorbing
hobby that can be enjoyed throughout life .

8
PARTS

OF

A BIRD

Names are too l s . B i rd experts have dozens of techni

ca l names for the va rious parts of b i rd s . U s i ng these
terms, they can describe a bird with g reat accuracy. The
beg inner does not have the experience to use these
terms, so only the essential technical terms a re used in
this book. When you see a bird you cannot identify and
wa nt help from an expert, try to observe the b i rd so wel l
that you can describe its size, habits, a n d the color and
form of the parts i l l u strated a bove . Put your i nformation
down on pa per (don't trust your memory ) . By keeping
these few parts i n m i nd you will systematize you r obser
vations and record the deta i l s needed to get you r bird
identified .

9
BIRD CLASSIFICATION

Birds are grouped into orders, families, and genera

according to similarities of bills, feet, and internal tlnat
omy. If you know these groups, the relationship and
classification of birds will be clearer. Here is a simplified
list of the main bird groups in this book; a family tree
{pages 12-13) shows their relationships. On pages 156157 are listed the scientific names of all the birds illus
trated. These names and the English names used are
those adopted by the A.O. U. (American Ornithologists'
Union) Committee on Classification and Nomenclature.
LOONS: Large swi m m i ng and d iving birds;
tails short; legs set far bac k . Four toes : 3
front ones fully webbed . Bill sharply pointed ,
higher than wide.
page 21
GREBES: Smaller swimmers and d ivers . Ta i l
lacking; legs f a r bac k . Four toes w i t h thin
skin flaps (lobes) and with flattened nails.
Bill slender, poi nted; higher than wide.

page 22
HERONS and BITTERNS: Long-legged
wading birds . In flight, feet extend beyond
tail but neck i s pulled i n . Bill straight and
sharp; skin between eye and b i l l bare . Four
toes, scarcely webbed or not webbed at a l l .
Middle toenail h a s comb l i ke marg i n .

pages 23-2S
DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS:

Swim m i ng
birds with d i st i nct ta i l s . Legs centered . Birds
walk wel l compared to grebes and loon s .
Four toes, front 3 webbed . Bill broad and
flat, often with "teeth" along edge . Upper
bill ending in short, flat hook or "na i l . "
pages 26-33

10
CRANES, RAILS, and COOTS: Marsh
birds flying with neck extended and feet
dangling (ra i l s) ; wings rounded. Four toes,
unwebbed (except for coot, which has lobes) .
Middle toenail without comblike margin
(see Herons). Feathered between eye and
bil l .
page 34
PLOVERS, SANDPIPERS, and SNIPES:

Long-legged shorebirds, mostly sma l l . Bill

usually conica l , long and soft; nostrils open
ing through slits in b i l l . Genera lly 4 toes:
hind toe raised and short. Sanderli ngs and
most plovers have only 3 toes.
pages 35-39
GULLS and TERNS:

Mostly lig ht-colored

m a r i n e b i r d s . W i n g s l o n g , n a rrow a n d
pointed. Bill hooked (gulls) o r pointed (terns)
with nostrils opening into slits that go through
bill. Four toes: hind toe small and not webbed.
pages 40-41
H A WKS, EA G LES, a n d V U LTURES:

Large birds. Bill strongly hooked; feet pow

erful, claws long and curved . Vultures differ
in having a bare head with nostrils connected
pages 42-47
by hole through b i l l .
GROUSE, QUAIL, and TURKEY:

Land
bi rds that scratch for food. Bills short and
stout . Feet heavy, strong; h i nd toe short and
raised. Wings short and rounded.
pages 48-50

PIGEONS and DOVES:

S m a l l - headed
bi rds with s lender bills, grooved at base;
and with nostrils opening through a bare
fleshy a rea at base of b i l l . Legs short. Four
toes, all on same leve l . Hind toe as long as
shortest front one .
pages 51 -52

11
Long , slim birds with slightly
curved bil l . Tail long, feathers not stiff or
poi nted ; central ta il feathers longest. Four
toes : 2 i n front; 2 beh ind.
page 53
CUCKOOS:

Bills strongly hooked . Toes with large

curved claws; entire leg feathered . Eyes large
and i mmovable in puffy, feathered "face."
pages 54-56

OWLS:

Small swa l l owlike birds; bill small

with no bristles at base. Mouth wide. Wings
slender and very long , reaching beyond ta i l ;
t a i l with 1 0 feathers .
page 57
SWIFTS:

Birds with large heads ,

small bi lls, a n d w i d e mouths . Bill usually
with bristles at base. Feet small; middle toe
long with comblike claw. Feathers soft, dull
colored .
pages 58-59
GOATSUCKERS:

HUMMINGBIRDS: T i ny birds with bill

s lender and needlel i ke-longer than head .
Feet sma l l , weak . Feathers on bock usually
shiny green .
page 60

Head large and crested .

Bill long , strong , poi nted . Feet small ond
weak. Four toes: 2 of the 3 forward toes
joi ned for half their length .
page 61

KINGFISHERS:

WOO D P ECKERS: C l i m b i n g b i r d s . B i l l
strong, pointed, with bristles o t nostril . Tail
feathers stiff ond poi nted . Toes : 2 i n front, 2
in back; or (rarely) 2 in front ond 1 in back.
pages 62-65

T he largest bird group.

Lond birds, mostly smol l , with 4 toes-oil on
the same leve l , never webbed . Hind toe a s
long os m i d d l e front toe-on adaptation for
perch ing . Ta il with 1 2 feathers.

PERCHING BIRDS:

j!ages 66-1 27

Vultures

Petrels
and Kin

Storks

cormorants

lrch
troplcb

!:
;,

..

Plovers

Waterfowl

A FAMILY TRE E OF BIRDS

The 860 species of birds in North America north of Mex ico a re classified into 70
fami lies . The major famil ies and their ap
proximate re lationsh i ps are shown here.
Famil ies with the most species north of Mex ico
a re represented by the thickest branches .

Old World
Finches

i;ts LC!,
-.ro..o-
... ...
rlfrnlc
e
e
King

Wrens
and Creepers

,.,
Dippers

Hawks
and
Eagles

iii

Crows and Jays

Hummingbirds

Owls

Tern

AD APTATIONS

Loon

Heron

OF BIRD S

Birds show unusual adaptations to their way

of l ife . The most i m portant and obvious is a
covering of feathers . These have developed from
the sca ly covering of reptiles. Each feather has
rows of branched barbs that hook together. On
the long flight feathers, the ba rbs mesh tightly
to form a fi rm structure . Contour feathers and
an undercoat of finer down cover the bird's
body. Form and structure of feathers va ry with
different birds.
Interna l ada ptations of birds incl ude a i r sacs
and light, hollow bones; a very rapid hea rt;
temperature severa l degrees higher than ours,
and other structures favoring a very active ex
istence . The animal food of birds incl udes i n
sects, worms, mol l usks, fi sh, and sma l l m a m
ma l s . Plant foods i nclude seeds , b u d s , l eaves ,
and fru its . B i l l s have obvious adaptations re
lated to d iet. Above are four birds, each from
a different fam i ly, with s i m i l a r b i l l s adapted for
eating fi s h .
Barbs and
barbules enlarged

vane

Kingfisher

A DAPTATIONS

Robin
perching

Pheasant
-walking

Shrike

Cardinal

Wood Thrush

Crossbill

Yellowthroat

OF FEET

grasping

Woodpecker
-climbing

Yellowlegs
-wading

Above are five birds a l l belonging to the

same order, perching birds. Each of these spe
cies has developed a very different type of b i l l
suited for eating particu l a r foods . These a re
d ivergent devel opments from a common fa m i l y
ancestor. This type o f devel opment i s a l so
common .
Other adaptations a re shown i n the legs and
feet of birds . The bi rd's three o r fou r toes have
been modified for cl imbing, scratc h i n g , g rasp
ing and tearing , and swi m m i ng . Long toes d i s
tri bute the wei g ht of b i rds that wa l k on mud
and sand . Extra feathering protects the feet of
ptarmigans and a rctic owls . The long legs of
waders, the webbed feet of swim mers, a nd other
adaptations indicate specia l i zed uses of var
ious kinds.
Most i nteresting of all adaptations a re those
of behavior. Ma ny spec ies have developed d is
ti nct patterns of l iving . Careful observations
will disclose the "persona lities" of different birds
and their soc i a l ada ptations .
Body
feather
with
after
shaft

16
AMATEUR
ACTIVITIES
Eve ryone sta r t s watc h i n g
b i rds with the same ideas i n
mind: t o learn the i r names, to
identify as many as possible,
Lewi s' Woodpecker
a t feed i ng stat i o n
and to see what kind of "records" his watching w i l l yiel d . Some people a re content
doing these things and never venture beyond this stage.
Others find many more ways to broaden their know l
edge. Time, p l a c e , a n d experience w i l l determ ine how
fa r you want to g o . Here a re some suggestions:
ATTRACTING BI RDS BY FEEDING
B i rds were here long before people fed
them-and they w i l l continue to feed
and care for themselve s . But if severe
co ld or ice cuts off the food supply of
wi nter birds, cooperative effor ts a re
someti mes essentia l to save them . If
you want to attract birds to you r yard
or window, then feeding them will hel p.
Place feed on a platform or wi ndow
shelf to retard spo i l ing and to provide
some protection from predators . F i nd
out how to bu i l d feed ing stations. Set
them near shrubbery to g ive the bi rds
shelter. P lace l um ps of suet i n wire
conta i ners for creepers, chickadees,
nuthatches, and wood peckers. Sma l l
grain (sunflower seeds , hemp, m i l let,
and canary seed) will attract seed
eaters. At a w i ndow station you can
watch birds feed .

Siskins a n d other
finches enjoy su nflower a n d thistle seeds

ATTRACTI N G B I RDS BY WAT E R

I N G B i rds need drinking and bath ing
water just as much as they need food .
A watering place will attract birds dur
i ng warm months when wild food is
available. B i rds l i ke movi n g , sha l l ow
water. A dripping hose or a trickle of
water running i nto a one-inch pan with
gravel on the bottom i s excellent. An
old bucket with a triang u l a r piece of
cloth pul led through a d r i p hole and
hung over an o l d baking pan will do as
wel l as any elaborate cement poo l .
ATTRACTI NG BI RDS WITH COV ER
AND SH ELTER B i rds need cover for
protection agai nst wind , cold, and
enemies. The best kind of cover for
birds is shrubs and vi nes that provide
food as wel l as a place to h ide . Pla nt
that look attractive to us are not nec
essarily attractive to bi.rd s . N ative
pla nts that reta i n their fru it in wi nter
are best . Nesting boxes are seldom
satisfactory u n less they a re built with
a specific b i rd i n mind . A box for a
wren must be very different from one
for a flicker. Get complete instructions .

Drip-bucket
provides water

Martin box

Wren house

1 Weed n .... &r a.. .......

18

Build a box that can be eas i l y clea ned and used yea r
after year. Don't place boxes too close; three or fou r
nesting boxes t o a n acre a re usua l l y enoug h . Most b i rds
set u p their own "territory" and wi l l keep other bi rds out.
CREATING A LOCAL REFUGE A group of people may
fi nd a way to create a loca l bird refuge to help b i rds
care for themselves . Most commun ities have swam p or
wasteland which can easily be developed i nto a bird
refuge. Parks, golf courses, and cemeteries have been
successfu l . Ample water supply is needed . Sma l l dams
across a brook wi l l create shal low ponds that attract
many birds. Swamp plants and g rasses should be en
couraged as seed producers . Evergreens may be pla nted
for shelter.
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY H u nting with a gun is g iving
way to hunting with a camera . Only a few species of
game birds may be shot, but you may photog raph any
bird . B i rd photography offers thri l l s and hard wor k . It
calls for patience and ski l l , but one fi ne shot makes it a l l
worthwh i l e . Use a camera with a foca l plane shutter and
a fast lens. A flash bulb is usua l l y necessary for c l ose
photos even in daylight, because many bi rds prefer to
feed i n the shade .
Steller's Jay (11 ln.), only crested lay of the western conife rs

B I R D BAN D I NG Thin a l um i n u m bands a re put

around b i rds' legs to help i n scientific studies .
From the 43 m i l lion birds banded we have lea rned
much a bout m i g rations, fl yways, l ife spa ns, pop
ulation changes, and annual returns to the same
nesting or wi ntering a rea s .
Cooperation o f thousa nds o f a mateurs has
greatly assisted scientific study of bird s . If you find
a banded b i rd sick or dead (except a pigeon), look
for a ser i a l number, l i ke " 1 240-2440 1 " o r "5093009 1 . " An address either outside or inside the
band may read "Avise B i rd Band Write Wash DC
USA" . Write the number on a postcard , stating
when, where, how, and by whom the b i rd was
found . Send the card to the Bird Ba nding Laboretory, Patuxent W i l d l ife Resea rch Center, Laure l ,
Md . 20708 . They w i l l send you the bi rd's h istory,
and your report wi l l help their stud ies.
Permits to band b i rds a re i ssued to q u a l ified
persons i nvolved i n spec i a l stud ies. An a p p l i cant
must be at l east 1 8 years old, must descr i be the
proposed resea rch i n deta i l , and must g ive names
of three experts who w i l l vouch for his or her
qual ifications.
Color bands

IJ

Official bird bands

20
B I RD C O U NTS A N D C E N S U S E S After you learn
the common birds, you wi l l beg i n to keep l i sts of the
species you se . This is the beg i n n i ng of an absorbing
hobby. Soon you r l ists may i n c l ude est i mates of the
number of birds seen as wel l as the species . N ext you
may do a complete census of a specific a rea that will
show the density of the bird popu lation there . Many b i rd
cl ubs a l l over North America make one-day C h ristmas
B i rd Counts during C h ristmas season . To partici pate,
contact a loca l bird club or write to American Birds,
National Audubon Society, 950 Third Avenue, New York,
N . Y. 1 0022. Counts made during the breed ing season
revea l from 2 to 20 adult birds per acre, depending on
the type of vegetation (habitat) and the l oca l ity. C a re
fu lly made counts, especially those repeated yea r after
year such as on a Breed ing Bird Survey route, a re of rea l
scientific va l u e . Specia l counts made d u r i ng m i g rations,
or counts of b i rd colon ies or bird roosts, help u s under
sta nd more about certa i n unusual species .
B R E E D I NG B I RD ATLAS E S In many states and prov
inces, i ntensive mapping projects are i n progress to show
the nesting range of every bird species. Each state is
d ivided into squa res of about 1 0 square m i les each, and
vo l unteers compile nesting season l i sts of bi rds found in
each square . Evidence of nesting, such as a d u l ts carry
ing nesting mater i a l or food for young ma kes the records
especially va l ua b le . These Atl a s projects usua l l y take
five years to complete . Then they a re repeated after a
period of yea rs to find out what changes i n bird d i stri
bution have occurred . To fi nd out whether a n Atlas proj
ect is in progress i n your a rea , contact the Laboratory
of Ornithology, Cornell University, 1 59 Sapsucker Woods
Road , Ithaca , N . Y. 1 4850 .

21

COMMON LOON Spot loons by their l a rge size,

long body, short neck, poi nted bil l , and l o u d , yod e l - l i ke
ca l l . loons a re expert d ivers, but kick a l ong the water
before taking flight. I n winter, Common loon (24 i n . ) i s
gray a bove a n d white beneath . The ------_,.
slender-bil led Red-throated loon
( 1 7 i n . ) and Pacific loon ( 1 8 i n . )
are recogn i zed i n summer b y red or
black throat patch contrasting with
gray head .

P I E D- B I L L E D G R E B E Grebes a re expert d ivers and

swi mmers . Sma l ler than most ducks, they float lower in
the water, and are rarely seen i n flig h t . The Pied-bil led
Grebe (9 i n . ) has a more rounded b i l l than other grebes .
The throat patch i s lacking in wi nter. The H orned G rebe
(9V2 i n.) i s told i n summer by black
head with b r i g h t c h e s t n u t ear
patches . Red-necked Grebe ( 1 3 i n . )
i s grayer, with conspicuous white
cheek patches and a long, poi n ted,
yel l owish b i l l .

23

GREAT B L U E H E RO N, our largest dark-colored wader,

flies with a sl ow, reg u l a r wing beat . It usua l l y nests i n
colonies . I t g ives a series o f low-pitched croaks when
fl ushed . Tol d from other herons by its size (38 in . ) . The
slender-billed Tricolored Heron (2 i n . ) of southern
coasta l ma rshes has a sharply
contrasting white bel l y. The me
d i um-sized adu l t Black-crowned
Night- Heron (2 1 i n . ) is black a bove ,
a l l -white beneath; young a re heav
ily streaked brown and white.

24

GR E E N - BAC KE D H E R ON This small solitary heron

(14 in.) is scarcely larger than a crow. It has a typical
heron flight, with slow, deep wing strokes. Like other
herons it eats aquatic animals. At a distance it may be
confused with the larger American Bittern (23 in.) or an
immature night-heron (21 in.), but its body is unstreaked
and its yellow-orange legs are dis
tinctive. When alarmed it raises its
crest. Adult Little Blue Heron (22
in.) is more slender, uniformly dark
all over, and with a pale base to its
bill (see page 130).

25

CATT LE E GR ET This exotic bird (17 in. ), a native of

Africa, recently colonized North America. It is still
spreading into new areas. It usually feeds with cattle,
but it nests in colonies with other herons. Young birds
are all white. Other white herons are the Snowy Egret
{20 in. ) with its slender black bill and legs and yellow
feet, the immature little Blue Heron
(22 in. ) with greenish legs and feet
and a pale base to the bill, and the
Great Egret (32 in. ) with yellow bill,
black legs and feet {page 130).

26

TU N D RA (W H I ST L I N G) SWAN This very l a rge (36

i n . ) a l l -white bird migrates i n -formation from its a rctic
nesting ground to its wi nter quarters i n coasta l U n ited
States . In flight it is recogn i zed by its muffled cal l . It
feeds from the surface, using its long neck to reach
aquatic vegetation . The i ntroduced
{; Mute
Swan (40 i n . ) , found spar
ingly i n the Great lakes, i n coasta l
'(S
waters, and some city pa rks, is told
by its ora nge b i l l and g racefu lly
cu rved nec k .

\::J
- --/'{
__

27

CANADA GOO S E, a wel l -known and widely d i strib

uted bird , is recog n i zed by its large size ( 1 6-25 i n . ) ,
long black neck , a n d white cheeks. Geese swi m with
their necks stra ight up a n d fl y i n -formation, with
necks extended . They feed i n ponds and estuaries, but
also g raze on g rass and sprouting
gra i n . The sma l l , dark, a rctic-nest
ing Brant ( 1 7 i n . ) , which wi nters i n
flocks i n coasta l bays, h a s a sma l l
white neck stripe instead o f white
cheeks .

MA LLARD This large ( 16 in. ), common duck of ponds

and sloughs has two white bars bordering its blue wing
patch that identify both the colorful male and the mot
tled brown female. The green head and white neck ring
are also good field marks of the male. Mallards, like
other surface-feeding ducks, take
off in a vertical leap. They feed by
tipping in shallow water. Mallards
have been domesticated and often
produce hybrids with other duck
species.

29

AM E R ICAN BLAC K D UC K This common marsh land

duck ( 1 6 i n . ) resembles the female Ma l l a r d , but i s da rker
and has whiter wing l i n i n g s . Ma les have bright red legs
and yel l owish bills; females a re d u l ler. Black Ducks prefer
brackish water, especially i n wi nter. The s i m i l a r Mottled
Duck ( 1 5 i n . ) is restricted to F l o ida
and the Gulf Coast . The wadespread Gadwa l l ( 1 4V2 in . ) is sl ightly
sma l ler with a white bel l y and a
sma l l rectangular white patch on
the black tra i l i n g edge of the wing .

- ........ .

-------

30

WOOD D U C K (l3 V2 i n . ) is tol d in flight by the wh i te

tra i l ing edge of the wing , the long ta i l , short neck, and
the b i l l held at a d i stinct downward angle. Note the
large white eye ring of the female and young .
Wood Ducks fl y low, dodg ing around trees, where they
roost . The fl y i ng America n Wigeon
(14 i n . ) shows a large wh ite patch
on the forwa rd edge of the win g ,
a n d t h e male h a s a white crown and
a broad green band through the
eye .

NORT H E R N P I N TAIL Spot the s l i m pinta i l (l8V2 i n . )

by the male's slender white neck and long, pointed ta i l .
In a l l p l u mages fl ying birds show a white stripe on the
tra i l ing edge of the wing , which is the best field mark of
the fema l e . This common surface-feed ing duck prefers
fresh water. The tiny G reen-wi nged -------9
Tea l (lOV2 i n . ) has a broad g reen
stripe across the face, contrasting
with the plain brown hea d , and it
has wh ite borders before and be
hind the green wing patch .

32

CAN VASBACK This diving duck (15 in.) swims low,

often in large flocks. The long bill and sloping forehead
are distinctive. In flight note the large size, and the wings
set far back on the white body. It often flies in clusters of
6 V's. Female has olive hed and neck.

Smaller Redhead (14V2 m. ) has gray

,!'
body, more rounded forehead.
ts'fl
Closely related lesser Scaup (12
in.) has violet head, white stripe
..,
down the extended wing.

'?J

33

COMMON M E RGAN S E R Mergansers a re loon l i ke

diving d ucks with narrow, cyl i ndrical "toothed" b i l l s .
They fl y l ow and prefer open water. White wing patches
are visible i n flight. The Common Merga nser ( 1 8 i n . ) is
strikingly white beneath . N ote the sharply defined white
throat of the female. The Red
breasted Merganser ( 16 i n . ) has a
reddish breast and a l a rger crest
and prefers sa l t water i n winter. The
sma l ler Hooded Merganser ( 1 3 i n . )
has a fa n-shaped white crest .

34

AM E R ICAN COOT ( 1 2 i n . ) nests in marsh vege

tation, but often wi nters i n open water. It i s the only
ducklike bird with a cha l ky white bi l l . When d i sturbed
it ei ther d ives or skits over the water with feet and
wings. The closely related Common
Moorhen (or F lorida Ga l l i nule,
lOV2 in . ) has a red b i l l and fore
head and a white str i pe under the
wing . Both pump the neck when
swi mming .

35

KILLDE E R (8 i n . ) , a large upland plover, is told by its

double breast band and (in flight) by its orange-brown
rump and ta i l . It frequents open meadows and p l owed
fields, where its loud " k i l l deer" ca l l reso u n d s . It bobs its
head as it wa lks. The young , which have o n l y one breast
band, leave the nest a l most as soon
as hatched . The much smaller Sem i
pa l mated P l over (53/.o i n . ) i s s i m i l a r
b u t l a c k s t h e b r i g h t rump. It too h a s
only o n e breast band; it prefers mud
flats and beaches .

C OMM ON S N I P E This shy bird (9 i n . ) of meadows

and open fresh-water swamps rises h i g h i n the spring a i r
a t d u s k a n d circles with an u nforgettable "wi nnowing"
sound; otherwise it stays close to vegetatio n . Field marks
are very long bi l l , rather short legs, pointed wings, and
zigzag flight. The plump American Woodcock ( 8 V.o i n.)
of moist woods and fields, a c l ose
relative, has rounded wings and a
richer brown color. Dowitchers ( 1 0
i n . ) , of mud flats and beaches, have
a conspicuous white rump, and i n
spring a re reddish-brown beneath .

37

LE S S E R Y E LLOW LEGS This gray-and-white sandpip

er (8% in.) is one of our common shorebirds. In flight
note its size, the white rump and tail, the slender, dark
bill, and long, bright yellow legs. The Greater Yellow
legs (ll in.) is very similar but with a longer, slightly
upturned bill. Willets (l3V2 in.) are still larger and
plumper, with dark legs and with bold
black-and-white wing markings in

rr
flight. Still larger are the Whimbrel
(14 in.)with its long down-curved bill
and the Marbled Godwit(l6 in.)with
its up-curved bill.
_

;:t
w

- - --- -- -----

- __ ,

38

SPOT T E D SAN D P I P E R (6V.o i n . ) This is our only sand

piper with a strongly spotted breast. I n many i n land
loca lities this is the most common shorebird and the only
breed ing sandpiper. The spots a re present only i n the
breed ing season, but the teetering wa lk and the narrow
wing beats and l ow flight are
disti nctive . The Solitary Sandpiper
(7 i n . ), seen during migration,
has a white eye ring, a n d barred
white feathers on the sides of the
ta i l .

39

L EAST SAN D P I P E R Best known a n d sma l l est o f the

sma l l sandpipers, this bird prefers mud flats and sa l t
marshes. N ote i t s sma l l size (43/4 i n . ) , rich brown back,
breast band , yel l owish legs, and slender, stra ight bi l l .
The Sem ipalmated ( 5 i n . ) and Western (51/4 i n . ) Sand
pipers, often found with the least, have g rayer backs,
stouter bills, and black legs; the
..._
Western has a longer, heavier b i l l
and tends t o feed i n deeper water.
The larger White-rumped Sandpi
per (6V4 i n . ) has a distinct white
rump.

40

H E RR I N G GULL (20 i n . ) is abundant a long the Atlantic

Coast and parts of the interior. It is a great scavenger.
Black wing tips of adu lts contrast with g ray wings and
back . Legs a re flesh-colored . Immature birds a re d u l l
gray-brown , becoming whiter with maturity. C a l ifornia
and Ring-bi l l ed G u l l s ( 1 7 i n . ) are sma l ler with d u l l yel
lowish o r g reenish legs; Ring-bil led
has a black ring on the bi l l . Laugh
ing Gull ( 1 3 i n . ) on the East Coast
and Fra nkl i n's Gull (1 1 i n . ) i n the
West have darker backs and black
head s .

41

COMMON T E R N Terns are sma l l er, s l immer, and

more g racefu l than gulls; wings a re slender and ta i l s
often deeply forked . They dive head long i nto s e a or
lakes after fish . C ommon Tern (14 i n . ) i s tol d by its black
tipped redd ish bil l , dusky wing tips, and deeply forked
white ta i l . Forster's Tern (14 i n . ) i s very simi l a r but with
orange b i l l , pa ler wing tips, and
grayer ta i l . The tiny least Tern
(8V2 i n . ) has a yel l ow bill and white
forehea d , the l a rge Caspian Tern
(20 i n . ) a heavy b lood-red b i l l , and
sl ightly forked ta i l .

T U R K EY and BLAC K V U LT U R E S, va luable scaven

gers, soar high i n the sky. Turkey Vu ltures (25 i n . )
soar with their long wings s l i g htly a bove the hori
zonta l ; the na ked red head completes identification
of the adult. The sma l ler B lack Vu l ture (at right, 2 2 i n . )
of the Southeast has round white patches on the under
side of its wing tips, and it flaps
more than does the Turkey Vu lture.
It has a dark head , a s do young
Turkey Vu ltures, and a very short
square ta i l ; it soa rs on hori
zonta l wings .

43

OSPREY The Osprey or Fish Hawk (22 i n . ) occurs around

the world. It is sma l ler and sl immer than the eag les, a nd
has a large black spot under the "elbow" of the wing . N o
other large hawk h a s as much white below. It flies with a
characteristic backward bend at the "el bow. " Its huge nest
may be placed on an isolated tree, a
tower, a channel marker, or a duck
blind . The birds wheel and soar over
lakes, bays, and oceans, plunging
feet foremost after fish . Young are
simi lar to adults.

BALD EAGLE Eagles are large, long-winged hawks that

soar on horizonta l wings. The white head and tai l mark the
adult Bald Eagle (32 i n . ) . Younger birds are dark brown
all over; it takes them severa l years to acquire adult
plumage . Bald Eagles, our nationa l emblem, are usually
found near water, as fish is their fa
vorite food . The Golden Eagle (32
i n . ) of the West is all dark i n a l l
plumages except for the white base
of its tail and a flash of white under
each wing .

45

COO P E R'S H AWK ( 1 5V2 i n . ) is typica l l y a wood

land bird , rarely soaring i n the open except when
migrati ng . Its short, rounded wings and l o n g , rounded
ta i l identify it i n flight. The little Sharp-sh i n ned H awk
(1 OV2 i n . ) looks simi lar, but has a square-ti pped ta i l and
sma l ler hea d . The large N orthern
Goshawk ( 1 9 i n . ) has a light gray
breast, dark g ray back , and white
l i ne over the eye . Fema les of all a re
much larger than ma les; breasts of
young are streaked lengthwise.

RE D-TAILED HAWK The Red-ta il i s a l a rge ( 1 8 i n . )

soaring hawk . Its wings are broad a nd its ta i l i s fa n
shaped and chestnut-red above . Underparts are light
except for a band of streaks across the bel ly. Young have
a fi nely ba rred ta i l . Red-shouldered Hawk ( 1 6 i n . ) , of
wooded stream va lleys, is rusty below with a d i st i nctly
banded ta i l . Other soaring hawks
include the Broad-winged Hawk ( 1 3
i n . ) of northeastern woods with its
promi n e n t l y b a r red ta i l , a n d
Swa i nson's H awk ( 1 8 i n . ) o f the
West, with its broa d , dark chest
band .

47

AM E R ICAN KESTR E L This is the sma l l est (8V2 i n . )

U . S . fa lcon-a hawk with long, poi nted wings. I t rarely
soars. Note the rich reddish-brown back, tai l , and crown.
The fema le i s told by narrow black bars on the ta i l .
The s l ightly larger Merl i n ( 1 2 i n . ) i s un iformly dark
above, heavi ly streaked bel ow, and has broad black ta i l
bars . The Peregrine Fa lcon ( 1 5 i n . ) ,
which nests o n c l iffs a n d a few ta l l
buiJd i ngs, i s a rare b u t wide-rang
ing species with heavy black mus
tache marks and a b l ue or brown
back.

RI NG-N EC K E D PH EASANT This unmistakable Asiatic

bird (27 i n . ) has been successfully i ntroduced over much of
the U nited States. It is a favorite game bird of farmlands,
where it feeds on waste grain, occasionally causing loca l
crop damage. The handsome male is unrivaled i n its splen
did coloring. The female is smal ler, brown all over, but
with a short pointed tail that
distinguishes it from the Ruffed
Grouse and Prairie-Chickens (see
next page) . Pheasants and their rel
atives on the next two pages do not
migrate.

RU F F E D G RO U S E This is an attractive chicken l i ke bird

( 1 4 in . ) of the deep woods. It suddenly springs i nto the a i r
with a loud whirring o f wings. T h e drumming o f t h e ma le i s
part o f t h e spring courtship. The fan-shaped t a i l w i t h its
broad , dark terminal band is the best field mark. The
Prairie-Chickens ( 1 4 i n . ) of the midwest prairies are finely
barred all over with brown and white
and have a black, rounded tai l ; they
and the plain brown, narrow-tai led
Sharp-tailed Grouse ( 1 5 i n . ) are re
stricted to open country.

NORT H E RN BOBWH ITE Everyone knows the bob

white's cal l, but these small quail (8 i n . ) are hard to see in
ta l l grass and weeds . Their sma l l size, rich brown color,
and stubby appearance make them easy to identify.
Scaled , Gambel's, California, and Mounta in Quails, all
8-9 in. , have populations centered in
New Mexico, Arizona, Cal ifornia,
and Oregon, respectively; they are
plain olive or gray on the back and
have long head plumes. Fema les are
dul ler than males .

51

ROC K DOVE (DOM ESTIC P I G EON) is descended from

the wild Rock Dove of European coasta l cliffs . This chubby
bird ( 1 1 i n . ) has a broad , fa n ned ta i l . C o l ors va ry from
slate-blue to brown to white . Their nesting habits make
them unpopular tenants i n cities. The large western Band
ta i led P igeon ( 1 3V2 i n . ) has yel l ow legs and a pale tail
ba nd . The White-crowned Pigeon
( 1 1 i n . ) of the F l orida keys i s a l l
dark with a wh ite crown . The tiny
Common Ground- Dove (5V2 i n . ) of
the far South has a short black ta i l
a n d chestnut wings.

MOU R N I N G DOV E Browner and s l i mmer than the

Rock Dove and with a long, pointed ta i l , the Mourning
Dove (lOV2 i n . ) nests in every state and provi nce . It i s
named from its melancholy ca l l : "Coo-a h , coo, coo,
coo." The white ta i l border is conspicuous i n flight. F l ight
is rapid , and this dove is pri zed as a favorite game
species i n many states. The White
winged Dove ( 1 0 i n . ) of the South
west is simi lar, but a large white wing
patch is conspicuous i n flight . The
southwestern Inca Dove (6V2 i n . ) is
l i ke a m i niature Mourning Dove .

53

Y E L LOW- B I L L E D C U C KOO The s l i m , brown-and

white cuckoos are dovelike i n a ppearance, but u n l i ke
doves they rarely perch in the open . They a re among the
few birds that eat hairy caterpillars. The Yel low-bil led
Cuckoo ( 1 1 i n . ) has a yel low l ower bi l l , bright chestnut
brown wing patches , and l a rge
white ta i l spots . The more northern
Black-bi l l ed C uckoo ( 1 1 i n . ) has a
black b i l l , p l a i n brown wings, and
indisti nct ta i l spots . Young a re sim
ilar to adults.

54

COMMON BARN-OWL This long-legged b i rd ( 1 4

i n . ) i s u nique among American owls, belong i ng to a
separate family. The white, heart-shaped face and dark
eyes identify it. The l ight buff pl umage i s conspicuous,
but this owl i s rarely seen by day, and the hissing ca l l
that it g ives at night is n o t often
heard . It nests i n barns, belfries,
and hollow trees, and is important
i n control l ing rodents injurious to
o r c h a r d s a n d g a rd e n c r o p s . I t s
range is worldwide .

55

GREAT H O R N E D OWL (20 in . ) , aggressive and

powerfu l , resembles a huge g ray screech-owl . Its ca l l i s
a series of five to seven deep hoots , a l l on t h e same
pitch . The sma l l er, slender long-eared Owl ( 1 3 i n . ) of
the upper Midwest has s i m i l a r ea r tufts; it tends to give
single hoots, wa i l s , or screa m s . The
eastern Barred Owl ( 1 7 i n . ) and
western Spotted Owl ( 1 6 i n . ) have
dark eyes, no ear tufts. The Barred
Owl typica lly g ives eight hoots, the
Spotted Owl three or four.

EAST E R N and W E S T E R N S C R E E C H -OWLS Re

cently separated i nto two species, these c l osely related
nocturna l birds a re told from other common owl s by
thei r sma l l size (8 i n . ) a nd presence of ear tufts . P l umage
of these two i s a l most identica l , but g ray and brown
color phases occur. Both species whistle rather than
screech . Keen eyesight and noise
less fli g ht enable them to prey on
field rodents . The terrestri a l Bur
rowing Owl (8 i n . ) of the prai ries
and the N orthern Saw-whet Owl (7
in.) of the North woods lack ear
tufts .

57

C H I M N EY S W I F T Swifts are a l most a lways in the

a i r, fl ying with a batlike flight . Distinctive, stream l i ned
birds, they usua l l y fl y i n groups and m i g rate i n l a rge
flocks . The short spiny ta i l s of Chimney Swifts (5 i n . )
prop them against inside wa l l s o f c h i mneys when resting .
There a re t h ree weste r n sw i f t s :
Vaux's Swift (4V2 i n . ) , s i m i l a r to the
Chimney; White-throated Swift (6V2
i n . ) , of steep canyons; and the rare
Black Swift (7 i n . )-the last two
colored as thei r names imply.

58

WH I P-POOR-W I L L When resting o n dead l eaves

the nocturnal Whip-poor-wi l l (9 i n . ) is a l most i nvisi ble-
more often heard than seen . It rarely flies by day. A
rounded tai l , buffy-tipped i n the female, and a bsence
of white i n the wing distinguish it from the n i g hthawks.
The s o u t h e a s t e r n C h u c k-wi l l 's

widow ( 1 1 in . ) h a s buff on the throat

and under the ta i l . The sma l l west
ern Common Poor-wi l l (7 i n . ) has
only tiny square white patches at
the corners of the ta i l .
._

59

COMMON N IGHTHAWK (9 i n . ) , a c l ose relative of

the Whip-poor-w i l l , has slender, poi nted wings and a
long ta i l with slightly notched tip. I n flight note its d i sti n
guishing white w i n g patc h . N i ghthawks a re constantly i n
t h e a i r at night, fl ying i n a z i g z a g p a t h , circling, diving,
and ba nking a s they catch fl ying
i n sect s . T h e l ower-fl y i n g lesser
N ighthawk (8 i n . ) of the Southwest
has the white band nearer the tip of
a more rounded wing . Young are
similar to adults.

60

RU BY-TH ROAT E D H U MM I N G B I R D These eastern

hummingbirds (3 i n . ) are gems of beauty and marvel s i n
flight. They hover motionless, ca n fl y backward, and
may come to brightly colored tubes of sugar water. The
female and young are white-throated . Western hum
mingbirds include the very s i m i l a r Broad-tai l ed (33f,. i n . )
of the southern Rockies; Anna's (3V2
i n . ), with crown and throat meta l l i c
red; Black-chinned (3 i n . ) through
out the western mounta i n s ; and the
brown-backed Rufous (3V2 i n . ) of
the Northwest.

61

B E LT E D K I NG F I S H E R ( 1 2 i n . ) Where there a re fish

there are kingfishers, beating the air with irregular flaps,
d iving into water head first, and emerg i n g with fish in
their long beaks. N ote the ragged crest and harsh rat
tling ca l l . I l lustration i s of a female;
the male lacks the chestnut on sides
and breast. The tiny Green K i ng
fisher (?V2 i n . ) of southern Texas
has a dark green back and a l most
no crest .

R E D-H EAD E D WOO D P E C K E R Look for woodpeck

ers on tree tronks, using their strong b i l l s to dig out
wood-boring insects . The Red-headed (?V2 i n . ) i s the
only eastern woodpecker with a tota l l y red hea d . The
solid black back and large white wing patches a re good
field marks . Young have brown head s . Ma le Red-bel l ied
Woodpecker (8V2 i n . ) of the South
east has enti re crown and back of
neck red , and black-and-white bar
ring on the back. The western Acorn
Woodpecker (8 i n . ) has black back,
chin, and breast band .

NORT H E R N F L I C K E R ( 1 OV2 i n . ) , large and broytn , i s

identified b y its bobbing flight, white rump, b l a c k breast
band, and golden or sa l mon wing and ta i l l i n ings. Like a l l
wood peckers it nests i n a tree cavity, but this species often
goes to the g round to eat ants. The eastern race (a bove)
has yel l ow wing a nd ta i l shafts . The
western Red-shafted and Gi lded
races have red mustache marks at
the base of the bi l l . Young of a l l
races are s i m i l a r t o adult males, but
adult females lack the mustache.

Y E L LOW- B E L L I E D SAP S U C K E R (7:Y.o i n . ) Sapsuckers

feed on the soft i nner bark and sap of trees . They dig
rows of sma l l holes that leave scars on trunks and
branches . N ote the vertical white patch on the black
wing . The Red-breasted Sapsucker (7V.o i n . ) of the
western mounta i n states is s i m i l a r but with head and
breast solid red . W i l l i a m son's Sap
sucker (8V.o i n . ) of the N o rthwest i s
mostly b l a c k w i t h a white r u m p ,
large white wing stripe, and yellow
bel ly. Fema le sapsuckers lack red
on throat.

D OW N Y W OOD P E C KE R The Downy (53/4 i n . ) and

H a i ry (?V2 i n . ) Wood peckers are common and wide
spread and have similar plumage. The white stri pe d own
the back is a good field mark for both . O n l y the males
have the red spot on the back of the hea d . Young are
l i ke adults. The H a i r y has a much heavier b i l l than the
Downy Wood pecker, and its outer
ta i l feathers a re entirely white. The
Downy feeds with chickadees, tit
mice, and nuthatches, and often
visits feed ing stations i n wi nter for
suet and seed s .

EAST E R N K I N G B I RD (6 3/4 i n . ) darts from its perch on

a branch or fence i n true flycatcher fash ion . The white
tip on the ta i l marks the Eastern species . The Gray
Kingbird (7V2 i n . ) of the Southeast has an oversi zed b i l l
a n d a tota l ly g ray notched ta i l . T h e Western Ki ngbird (7
in . ) is gray with a yel l ow belly and
wh ite outer ta i l feathers . The s i m i
lar Cassin's K i ngbird ( 7 i n . ) o f the
western mounta ins has only a nar
row grayish tip to its ta i l . Young a re
similar to adults.

G R EAT C R E S T E D F LYCATC H E R is the o n l y la rge (7

i n . ) eastern fl ycatcher with a rusty ta i l . The yel l ow belly
and wing bars a re good field marks. It is a n orchard and
forest bird . It typica lly uses shed snake skins i n its nest,
which i s placed i n a tree cavity or nest box . This fl y
catcher is told from the Western
K i n g b i rd by i t s ta i l c o l o r . T h e
sma l ler, p a l e r Ash-throated F ly
catcher (6V2 i n . ) replaces the Great
Crested F lycatcher in the West.
Young a re l i ke adults.

68

EASTE R N P H O E B E (53f4 in . ) If the persistent "fee-be"

ca l l doesn't identify this bird, its equa l l y persistent tail
bobbing wil l . It is an active flycatcher, with no wing
bars or eye ring . It nests in the shelter of a porc h ,
out-build ing , or bridge. Say's P hoebe (6V4 in . ) i s a
western bird with rusty breast and
belly. Eastern and Western Wood
Pewees (5V4 in . ) look l ike sma l l
Eastern Phoebes b u t have two dis
tinct wing bars and do not bob their
ta il s .

L EAST F LYCATC H E R is the sma l l est (4Y2 i n.) eastern

flycatcher. Its many c l ose relatives share the eye ring
and two whitish wing bars; they a re best tol d apart by
habitat and voice. Acadian F l ycatcher nests i n south
eastern forests, Alder i n northern a lder swamps, W i l l ow
on brushy h i l l sides, Yel l ow-bel l ied i n northeastern coni
fers. I n the West the yel low-be l lied
Western F lycatcher i s eas i l y identi
fied; but the drab Hammond's, Gray,
and Dusky are best l u m ped under
the group's generic name, Empi
donax. Young are similar to adults.

HORN E D LARK F l ocks of Horned Larks (6V2 i n . ) feed

in bare fields and a long shores , wa lking as they feed .
Note the black breast band, yel l ow throat, black ta i l ,
and, a t close range, the "horns . " Young birds a re
streaked . This and the E urasian Skylark are true larks.
Meadowlarks belong to the blackbird subfa m i l y. The
Water P i pit (SV2 i n . ) , unrelated to
the Horned Lark, is someti mes taken
for i t . The Water Pi pit a l so wa lks,
but has a lightly spotted buffy breast
and a long bobbing ta i l with white
outer feathers.

71

P U R P L E MART I N Ma rtins a re the la rgest ( 7 i n . ) a n d

most conspicuous o f t h e swa l l ows, strea m l i ned bi rds that
do all of their feed ing on the wing . I n fl ight their wings
are more triangular than other swa l lows' . Ma rtins nest
in colonies, most often i n multi-celled martin box-es. The
uniform dark color of the male identifies it. Fema les a n d
young have grayish breast and white
belly. The N o r thern Roug h-wi nged
Swa l low (43/.o i n . ) , which nests s i n
gly i n drain pipes or h o l e s i n gravel
ba nks, has a p l a i n brown back and
chest, no violet .

72

T R E E SWALLOW U nbroken b l ue-black a bove and

white bel ow makes the Tree Swa l l ow (5 i n.) easy to pick
out from a mixed flock of migrating swa l l ows . Fema l e is
dul ler. Young birds are brown-backed . I n cold weather
this swa l low can substitute bayberries for i n sects, so it
can winter farther north than other
swa l l ows. The western Violet-green
Swa l low (43/.o i n . ) i s s i m i l a r with a
large white patch on each side of its
rump. Swa l l ows are usua lly found
near water.

73

BARN SWALLOW (6 i n . ) This is the one swa l low with a

deeply forked "swa l l ow ta i l . " N ote the chestnut fore
head and throat, and the buff underparts. Fema le and
young are d u l ler with shorter ta i l s . N ests i n barns and
under bridges . The C liff Swa l l ow (5 i n . ) i s s i m i l a r, but
with short, square ta i l , buff rump,
a n d w h i te forehea d . T h e B a n k
Swal l ow (43/4 i n . ), which nests i n
stream banks a n d gravel pits, is
brown-backed with a brown band
across its white breast.

74

B L AC K- B I L L E D MAG P I E No other birds resemble

the large black-and-white magpies with their sweeping
ta i l s . The two species, Black-bi l l ed ( 1 8 i n . ) and Yel l ow
billed ( 1 6 i n . ) Magpies, are d i stinguished by b i l l color
and geography. The Ye l l ow-bil led Magpie l ives only i n
the central Ca l ifornia va lleys . Magpies fl y and feed i n
flocks. Thei r mixed d i e t incl udes
fru i t s , m e l o n s , a n d o t h e r c r o p
p l a n t s . They often l i ve a ro u n d
r a n c h e s , a n d occa s i o n a l l y these
relatives of the crows become ser i
o u s loca l pests .

75

AM E R I CAN C ROW People often confuse two re

lated birds with the fam i l i a r a l l-black American Crow
( 1 7 i n . ) . The coasta l Fish Crow ( 1 5 i n . ) is s i m i l a r except
for its short nasal ca l l : "ca r, car. "
The large Com mon Raven (2 1 i n . ) ,
rare i n m u c h of t h e E a s t , has rough
throat feathers and a croaking ca l l .
I t soars i n flight, showing the wedge
shaped ta i l tip.

76

BLU E JAY No other eastern b i rd is l i ke the noisy blue,

black, and white B l ue Jay ( 1 0 i n . ) . Of the western jays,
Stel ler's ( 1 1 i n . ) has a black head, throat, and breast, and
long black crest ( page 1 8) . The short-ta iled, crestless
Pinyon Jay (9 i n . ) i s d u l l blue with a darker crow n . The
Scrub Jay (1 0 i n . ), found commonly
west of the Rockies and i n central
F lorida, has a blue cap, wings, and
ta i l , and a dull blue necklace across
the whitish u nderparts. Young of a l l
jays a re s i m i lar t o thei r parents .

WH ITE- B R EAST E D N UTHATC H N uthatches creep

down tree trunks head first, and often visit feed i ng sta
tions. The White-breasted N uthatch (5 i n . ), with its
white breast, throat, and face i s common i n deciduous
woods . Other n uthatches prefer conifers . The northern
Red-breasted N uthatch (4 i n . ) has orange-brown under
parts a nd a dark line through the
eye . The Brown-headed N uthatch
(4 i n . ) of southeast pine woods has
a chocolate cap. The gray cap of
the tiny western Pygmy N uthatch
(3V2 i n . ) comes down to its eye .

78

B LACK-CAP P E D C H I C KA D E E (4V2 i n . ) The ca l l of

this plump b i rd is its name. C h ickadees, constant visitors
to feed ing stations, often feed upside down . The smaller
(4V4 i n . ) Caro l i na C h ickadee of the Southeast has less
buff on the sides, less white in the wing, and four or five
notes in its whistled song i nstead of two or three . The
brown -capped Borea l C h i ckadee
(4V4 i n . ) is a wi nter visitor a long the
C a n a d i a n border. T h e weste r n
Chestnut-capped C h ickadee (4V4
i n . ) has a d u l l brown cap and a
bright chestnut back .

79

T U F T E D TIT MO U S E The poi nted crest a n d the per

sistent whistled "peter, peter" call d isti nguish the Tufted
Titmouse (SV2 i n . ) . It is to ld from chickadees by lack of
the black bib, and from nuthatches by the stubby b i l l and
perching habit. The cap a nd crest of Texas birds are
black . The P l a i n Titmouse (5 i n . ) of
the West lacks the rusty fla n k s . The
slender, long-tai led Bushtit (JV2 i n . )
of the arid West i s plain gray-brown
above, with no crest; crown is brown
or gray. Young are similar to adults.

80

B ROW N C R E E P E R This is the only sma l l (4% i n . )

brown tree-creeping bird . Its underpa rts are white, its
ta i l stiff. It works up the tree i n a spira l , searching for
i nsects and insect eggs that it digs out with its curved
bi l l . Then it flies to the base of a nea rby tree and climbs
up aga i n . As their ca l l s are high-pitched and their colors
blend wel l with bark, these b i rds may be hard to detect .
They prefer open mature wood s,
nesting under loose bark . They feed
in sma l l flocks of chi ckadees, king
lets, and woodpeckers . In wi nter
they l i ke suet feeders placed on tree
trunks . Young are l i ke adults.

81

H O U S E W R E N Wrens are sma l l , brown birds that

usua l l y carry their ta i l s upright. The we l l - known House
Wren (4V4 i n . ) is a garden b i rd that lacks d i sti nct head
markings . The tiny northern Winter Wren ( 3 V4 i n . ) has a
dark bel l y and shorter tai l . Caro l i na Wren (4% i n . ) of
the Southeast has a large white eye stri pe and a ruddy
back . Western wrens i n c l ude Bewick's Wren (4V2 i n . )
with a white eye stri pe and a long ta i l with narrow white
border, Ca nyon Wren (4V2 i n . ) with
white breast and contrasting dark
belly, Rock Wren (4% i n . ) with fa int
breast streaks and buff-fri nged ta i l ,
a n d t h e h u g e Cactus Wren (6V2 i n . )
of the deserts .

RU BY-C ROW N E D K I NGLET Kinglets are among our

smal lest birds (3% i n . ) and a re doubly attractive be
cause they a re primarily winter visitors . The i r sma l l ,
chunky bod ies, stubby ta i l s , a nd d u l l , ol ive color are
disti nctive . The frequent flicking of wings is cha racteris
tic of kinglets. The red crown of the Ruby-crowned K i n g
l e t is often h i d d e n , b u t t h e l a rge eye ring w i l l d i stinguish
this species when its ruby crown does
not show. Fema le lacks the ruby
crown . King lets breed i n northern
spruce-fir forests . I n wi nter they a re
often seen in shrubbery around
buildings.

GO L D E N - C ROW N E D K I N G L E T (JV2 i n . ) is the more

showy of our two American species . The female has a
golden crown bordered with black and white. The male
has a n additional orange stripe through the center of
the golden crown . These king lets are often seen feed i n g
o n t h e branches o f firs, spruce, and other con ifers, b u t
in wi nter they a l so u s e deciduous woods . They e a t i n
sects, so a re n o t attracted t o feed
ing stations, a lthough they are often
found with chickadees , nuthatches,
creepers, and woodpeckers i n win
ter. Common ca l l is three to five
very high notes on the same pitch .

BLU E-GRAY GNATCATC H E R (4 i n . ) With its long,

white-bordered ta i l , gnatcatchers look l i ke m i n iature
mockingbirds . Common in the South , but seldom seen
because of its preference for treetops i n moist woods .
T h e b l u e back and the white eye r i n g aid identification;
so does its habit of jerking its ta i l . Female and young
lack black stripe over eye . The B lack
ta i l ed Gnatcatcher (4 i n . ) of south
western deserts has a black cap
(male); the tail of both sexes is black
beneath instead of mostly white .

85

EASTE R N B LU E B I R D (5V2 i n . ) is an early spring m i

grant i n t h e North . It i s a thrush, as t h e spotted breast
of the young testifies. N o other blue b i rd i n the East has
chestnut-brown breast. The Western B l uebird (5V2 i n . )
has chestnut o n the back a s wel l . The a d u l t m a l e Moun
ta in B luebird (6 i n . ) o f the Rockies h a s a l i ghter sky-b l u e
back, pa le b l ue breast, and white
bel ly. B l uebird s may be attracted
to nesting boxes with 1 V2 i n . holes.
Female and young b luebirds a re
much d u l l er.

WOO D T H R U S H The spotted thrushes a re typica l ly

wood land bird s . Wood Thrushes (7 i n . ) are common i n
deciduous wood s . They a r e recog n i zed b y the i r chest
n u t - b rown b a c k s , b r i g h ter h ea d s , h e av i l y s potted
breasts, and clear, fl ute l i ke song s . The Veery (6 i n . ) ,
which req u i res moist woods , a l so has a bright unmarked
red-brown back, but with head and
ta i l the same color as the back; it
has only fa int spotting on its breast.
T h e l o n g - ta i l ed Brown T h r a s h e r
(page 9 1 ) h a s a streaked breast,
but its eye is yel l ow.

87

H E RM I T T H R U S H Famous songster of the mounta i n s

a n d t h e North woods, t h e Hermit Thrush (7 i n . ) reverses
the Wood Thrush pattern . Its ta i l , which i t s l owly raises
and lowers, is much brighter than its bac k . The breast is
less spotted than the Wood Thrush's, but more so than
the Veery's . Other thrushes have d u l l , o l ive - brown backs
and ta i l s . Swa i nson's Thrush (6V4
i n . ) has a buff eye ring and buff
cheeks . The northern Gray-cheeked
Thrush (6V4 i n . ) , an eastern m i
grant, has g r a y cheeks and no eye
ring . Young of a l l a re l i ke adults.

88

AM E R I CAN RO B I N One of the most common native

birds of towns and villages, the robin (8V2 i n . ) nests i n
every state except Hawa i i a n d i n every Canadian
provi nce . It is the largest of the thrushes, and young
robi ns have the heavi ly spotted breasts that a re charac
teristic of thrushes. Females a re s i m i l a r but d u l ler. Col
onists named the robi n after a sma l l
E u ropean thrush with a much red
der breast. The Va ried Thrush (8
i n . ) of the Pacific states is s i m i l a r to
our robin but has a black breast
band (page 1 30).

GRAY CAT B I R D

Not q u i te as handsome as the mock

ingbird, the Gray Catbird { 7-lf_. i n . ) sings a l most a s wel l ,

but i s a poor i m i tator. Its name comes from its mewing
ca l l . It feeds and nests l ow i n shrubs a n d vi nes, often
near houses or i n m o i st thickets . Catb i rds a re s laty-gray
except for the black cap and a
chestnut patch under the base of the
ta i l .

The s l ender b i l l

and

long,

rounded ta i l w i l l separate the catbird from other dark birds its size.
Young are l i ke adults.

-...._,

90

NORT H E R N MOC K I N G B I R D "listen to the mock

i ngbird . . . " goes the song , and the mockingbird (9 i n . )
i s , indeed , worth hearing. I t s song i m i tates other bi rds'
songs perfectly, with original phrases added . Moc k i ng
bi rds nest around homes, perch on chimneys a nd
television a nten nas. Wh ite patches
wings and ta i l a re conspicuous
in flight. The loggerhead S h r i ke (7
i n . , page 93), wh ich a l so perches
on wi res and fences, i s chunkier,
with a thick b i l l and black mask.

B ROWN T H RAS H E R Related to the mockingbirds,

thrashers have the same long rounded ta i l s ; most have
down-curved b i l l s . They feed and nest near the ground .
The widespread Brown Thrasher ( 1 0 i n . ) is the ri chest
chestnut a bove a nd streaked with brown below. The only
western thrasher with heavy streaks, Sage Thrasher (7
i n . ) , has white tips on its outer ta i l feathers . le C onte's
Thrasher (9V4 i n . ) is an ashy-gray
desert b i rd with a plain breast. The
Cal ifornia Thrasher ( 1 0 i n . ) is dark
brown and unstreaked with a long
down-curved bi l l ; no wing bar s .

92

C E DAR WAXWI N G (53/.o i n . )

These warm-brown ,

crested bi rds cannot be mistaken , espec i a l l y when a

whole fl ock is feed ing on cherries or m u l berries. Watch
for the wide yel l ow ta i l band . Young a re fa intly streaked
below and have less crest. The g rayer Bohem ian Wax
wing (6V.o i n . ) of the Northwest has bright c i nnamon
i n stead of white under the base of
its ta i l . Bohem ian Waxwi ngs nest in
western Canada, but occasio na l l y
wi nter i n the north central state s .
The i r i rreg u l a r appearance makes
them mystery birds.

LOGG E R H EAD S H R I KE (7 i n . ) Shri kes feed on i n sects,

rodents, and sma l l birds. They often hang their prey on
thorns or barbed-wi re fences . Rese m b l i ng mocking
birds, the s h r i kes are chunk ier, have a bl ack eye mask,
and a heavy hooked bi l l . Thei r rapid wing beats and
bounding flight a re d i sti nctive . The Northern S hrike is a
larger species (8 i n . ) with a fa intly
barred breast that is seen only i n
winter i n t h e northern states . Its
black mask i s d ivided by the b i l l ,
which is light below. Young a re
browner than adults.

94

E U RO P E A N STA R L I N G (6 i n . ) Introduced into N ew

York in 1 890, sta r l i ngs have been sprea d i ng ever since.
I n some places they a re a nuisa nce and even a pest . But
they a re handsome birds, g iven to musical song and
m i m icry. Sunl ight on their pl umage makes a ra i n bow of
colors. N ote the short ta i l , p l u m p
body, and ( i n s p r i n g and summer)
the yel l ow b i l l . Young birds are u n i
form brown w i t h dark b i l l s , a n d
adults i n wi nter a re speckled with
white.

WARBLERS

The wood-wa rblers a re a strictly American subfa m i l y

o f t h e large b i rd fam i l y known as t h e E m beri zids, which
also incl udes the tanagers, g rosbeaks, spa rrows , black
birds, and orioles. F ifty-eight of the 1 09 species of
wood-warblers occur i n the U n ited States and include
some of our most beautifu l b i rd s . To many, wa rblers are
the most exciting birds to watch because of their many
species, bright colors, d i stinctive songs, and m i g ratory
habits . Most wi nter i n the tropics and m i g rate north to
their breed ing grounds i n April and May; as many as 25
species may be found on a warm May morn i n g . Lea rning
the songs from records or ta pes will help beg i n ners fi nd
add itional species.
Warblers are sma l l , active wood land bi rds with slen
der, stra ight bills for catching crawling or fl ying i n sects .
Ma les m igrate a few days a head of the d u l l er-colored
fema les. The best time to see them is before the trees a re
in fu l l leaf. Young birds and autumn a d ults of many
species are more drab and less easy to identify. By
November most wa rblers have left for their wi nter homes
in the tropics, but the Yel l ow-rumped Warbler (page
1 00) can be found all wi nter i n southern and coasta l
states.

96
Y E L LOW WAR B L E R This i s the only wa rbler with
yel l ow spots on the tai l . The male has d i sti nctive chestnut
streaks on his breast . The Yellow Warbler (4 i n . ) prefers
shrubs or low trees, so is easily seen.
The Orange-crowned Warbler (4V4
i n . ) of the West is d u l l yel l ow-green
all over, with a sma l l orange crown
patch and no wing bars or tai l spots.

BLAC K-AN D-W H I T E WARBL E R Only two eastern

warblers a re striped black and white: the common B lack
and-white Warbler (4V2 i n . ) and the Blackpo l l (4V2 i n . ) ,
which has a solid black crown and i s seen only d u r i ng
m i g r a t i o n . The B l a c k - a n d - w h i te
feeds a long tree trunks and l a rge
bra nches. Female and young lack
the black throat . The western Black
throated G ray Wa rbler has a p l a i n ,
a l most unstreaked back.

BLAC K-T H ROATE D B LU E WAR B L E R This warbler

(4V2 i n . ) is rea l l y wel l named . N o other North American
bird has a b l ue back and black throat. The only d i stin
guishing mark of the p l a i n o live female i s the sma l l white
w i n g s p o t . T h e B l a c k - t h r o a ted
Green Warbler (4V4 i n . ) of the East
has a yellow-green back and golden
face. The Cerulean Warbler (4 i n . )
of the Midwest i s blue a bove, white
below with a narrow black necklace.

-\--

. . . . . . . . . ...

97

98
COMMON Y E L L OWTH ROAT (4V.o i n . ) This is a
warbler of marshes and moist wayside shrubbery. The
black mask and yel l ow throat mark the m a l e . The female
has the yel l ow throat but no mask. Its whitish bel l y and
absence of wing bars a i d identifi
cati o n . The Kentucky Warbler (4V2
i n . ) of southeastern wood lands has
a large yel low eye ring, black crown
and sideburns, and entirely yel l ow
underpa rts.

OVE N B I RD This is another grou nd- l oving warbler

often seen wa lking i n the leaves, its ta i l bobbi ng . The
Ovenbird (5 i n . ) resemb les a sma l l thru s h : plain ol ive
brown a bove with a streaked breast. The ora nge crown
with black borders and a narrow
eye ring make identification posi
tive . Its "teacher, teacher, teacher"
song is easy to remember. Watch
for i t i n eastern dec i d uous forests .
Young lack the orange crown .

NORT H E R N WAT E RTH R U S H These p l u m p warblers

stay near the ground i n swamps and brooks . The N orth
ern Waterthrush (5 i n . ) has a d i sti nct yel l owish cast to
the heavily streaked underparts, and usua l l y a buffy eye
line. The more southern louisiana
Waterthrush (5V.o i n . ) is whiter be
low, except for the buffy l ower
flanks; its throat is unstrea ked , the
eye line wh ite and broader. Both
species teeter l i ke sandpipers .

99

1 00
Y E L LOW- R U M P E D WAR B L E R The yel l ow rump,
crown, and side patches mark this warbler (4% i n . ) .
Female, young, and wi nter birds o re browner. Western
birds hove yel l ow throats. This species migrates ea rlier
i n the spring and later i n the fa l l than other common
wa rblers . It i s often found i n Iorge
flocks. The yel l ow-rumped Magno
lia Wa rbler (4V4 i n . ) of the East has
a b l o c k - streaked ye l l ow breast ,
much more white in wings and to i l .
Fema le, young ore browner.

AM E R I CAN R E DSTART The orange and block mole

(4V2 i n . ) i s a striking bird of moist deciduous forests .
The fema l e i s yel l ow and ol ive-gray, but with the some
pattern . Redstorts conti n u a l l y flit
about and catch i n sects flycatcher
fashion . The Pointed Redsta r t (4V2
i n . ) of evergreen forests i n Arizona
and New Mexico has a red breast,
flashy white wing and to i l patches .

WILSON'S WAR BL E R A sma l l (4V4 i n . ), very active

warbler, unbroken yel l ow below, p l a i n o l ive-yellow
above . There ore no wing bars or to i l spots . The fema le
locks the block cop . I t prefers moist thickets a n d swamps
and i s especially fond of wi l l ows .
Hooded Warbler (4V2 i n . ) of south
eastern forests is similar except mole
has a block head and throat with
yel l ow face; both sexes hove white
to i l spots .

101

RED-EY E D V I R E O Vi reos are larger and less active

than wa rblers . The Red-eyed (5 i n . ) , common i n decid
uous forests, has a gray crown bordered with black, a
broad white l i ne above the red eye, and no wing bar s .
The dark-eyed Warbling Vi reo (43f.o i n . ) l a c k s dark head
marks . A pa le yel l ow eye ring and two wing ba rs help
identify the White-eyed Vireo (4V2
i n . ) . The Yel l ow-throated Vi reo (5
i n . ) of the East and the b l u i sh
headed Solitary Vireo (43/.o i n . ) have
broad wing ba rs and eye rings. A l l
young have brown eyes.

SCARLET TANAG E R (6V4 i n . ) The male is our only red

b i rd with black wings. The fema le is u niform yel l ow
g reen with d usky wings. The male Summer Tanager (6V2
i n . ) of the South is entirely red , its mate orange-yellow.
It prefers p i ne woods, while the Scarlet uses mixed or
deciduous . The Western Ta nager
(6V4 i n . ) is bright ye l l ow, with red
only on the head ; this is our only
tanager with wing ba rs . Ta nagers
are t o l d from o r i o l es by t h e i r
shorter, heavier b i l l s .

N ORT H E R N CARD I N A L The card i n a l (73/4 i n . ) is

the o n l y eastern red bird with a crest . The h eavy red
bil l , with black at the base, is a good fie l d mark . The
l ight brown female has the crest and red b i l l , but l i t t l e
red on the body. Young have d u s k y b i l l s . Card i na l s are
common i n shrubbery, hedgerows, and wood marg i n s .
I n recent years t h e card i n a l has
gradua l l y spread northward . The
crested Pyrrhu loxia (?V2 i n . ) of the
Southwest is mostly g ray with red
face , crest, breast, and ta i l , and
the genera l card i na l shape .

ROS E - B R EAST E D GROSB EAK The male (7V4 i n . ) ,

nearly a l l black and white, flashes a deep rose patch
on its breast. The female is streaked ye l l ow-brown
and white l i ke a n overgrown spa rrow. like a l l gros
bea ks they have heavy conical b i l l s . The closely related
B lack-headed Grosbeak (7V4 i n . ) of the west a l so has
the black head and back, but its
enti re underparts are orange-brown .
The Evening Grosbeak (7V4 i n . )
of the North and the western
mountains is a bri l l iant yel l ow with
black-and-white wings and ta i l .

1 06

I N DIGO B U NT I N G This i s our only sma l l bird (4V2

i n . ) that is entirely blue. Fema le and young are un iform
g ray-brown . They l ive in hedgerows and wood marg i n s .
T h e southern Blue Grosbeak (6V-4 i n . ) i s much l a rger with
chestnut wing bars and a much heavier bi l l . Other bunt
i ngs a re a lso splashes of bri l l iant color. The Laz u l i Bunt
i ng (SV2 i n . ) of the West i s similar to the Indigo, but has
white wing bars, chestnut breast,
and white be lly. The male Pai nted
Bunting (4V2 i n . ) of the South is a
showy combination of red below and
blue and green a bove; but the fe
male is p l a in yel l ow-gree n .

R U F O U S-S I D E D TOW H E E This towhee (7V4 i n . ) may

be told by its "chewink" ca l l and by its plumage. The
black back a nd ta i l (wh ite tip), white bel l y, a nd chestnut
side patches are good field marks . Eyes of the a d ul t are
bright red (wh i te in southea stern birds) . The female is
brown instead of black. This species nests i n thickets
within both coniferous and decid
uous woods . A western form has
many sma l l white spots on the wings
and back . All towhees a re ground
feeders that scratch vigorously i n
dead leaves f o r insects and seeds .

B ROWN TOWH E E This western towhee (7V4 i n . ) i s

pla i n brown above, gray below, w i t h a chestnut cap
and with orange-brown on the throat and under the
tai l . Favored habitats a re suburban shru bbery, chap
arra l , and stream borders. The shy Abert's Towhee (73/4
i n . ) of Southwest deserts is chest
nut-brown a l l over, with a black
face . The Green-tailed Towhee (6V4
i n . ) of western mounta ins has a
green back, reddish crown , white
throat, and gray sides .

l --

SPA R R OW S
Worldwide there are nearly 300 species of sparrows,
of wh ich 52 have been recorded i n North America north
of Mexico. Towhees, juncos, and some less wel l -known
birds such as grassquits and longspurs a re i ncl uded i n
these tota l s . The o n l y ones d i scussed here a re birds that
occur over much of the continent and are l i kely to be
found by beg i nners.
Sparrows a re sma l l to med ium-sized b i rds with stout
con ical b i l l s adapted for crushing seeds , which a re their
main d iet. Seed-eaters have a better chance for wi nter
surviva l i n the North than d o i nsect-eaters, so spa rrows
are conspicuous wi nter residents i n areas where daytime
wi nter temperatures a re l i kely to remain below freezing
for severa l consecutive days .
Most sparrows have streaked backs. Head and breast
patterns can be used to identify most species . Each
species has its own particu l a r nest i ng habitat i n summer,
but during migration and in wi nter several species often
flock together. Sparrows a re short-distance m i g rants,
wintering largely with i n the U n i ted States and southern
Canad a . They arrive on the i r breed ing grounds early in
spring . Most species prefer fields rather than woodlands.

1 10
F I E L D S PARROW This common sparrow (5 i n . ) of
brushy fields d i splays a redd ish-brown c rown ; its p l a i n
breast, p i n k bill a n d legs, a n d broad
gray eye ring c l i nch its i dentifica
tion . Its song is a n accelerating se
ries of s l urred whistles. Compare
the Field Sparrow with the Ameri
c a n Tree, C h i p p i n g , and Swam p
Sparrows, w h i c h have t h e same
reddish cap.

AMERICAN TREE S PARROW The bright reddish cap

together with the single dark breast spot identifies the
American Tree Sparrow (5V4 i n . ) . N ote a l so that the b i l l
is d a r k a bove, yel l owish below. T h e sweet song is rarely
heard i n its wi nter range . This b i rd i s not related to the
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (5 i n . ), which
has been i ntroduced i nto southern
I l l inois a nd which looks l i ke a House
Sparrow with a sma l l black cheek
patch and brown crow n .

V E S P E R S PARROW White outer ta i l feathers d isti n

guish the Vesper Spa rrow (5 V2 i n . ) , a bird of l a rge open
fields. Otherwise, except for the sma l l chestnut wing
patch, this b i rd resembles the Song Sparrow (page 1 1 4) .
Other sma l l birds with white outer ta i l feathers are the
slender-bil led long-tailed pipits and
the D a r k - eyed J u n c o . The L a r k
Sparrow (53/4 i n . ) o f t h e West h a s a
broad white fringe around the ta i l ,
a large chestnut ear patch , a n d a
centra l breast spot.

111

1 12
C H I P P I N G S PARROW This sma l l sparrow (4V2 i n . )
is told by its reddish crown , clear white underparts,
white l i ne over the eye , black l i ne through the eye , and
black bi l l . Young have streaked crowns with little or no
red . The song is a ra pid series of unmusica l "ch i ps" on
the same pitch . The C h i pping Spar
row prefers lawns, golf courses, and
other short-grass habitats.

W H I T E - C R O W N E D S PA R R OW The b l a c k - a n d
white crown, erect posture, plain gray breast a n d throat,
and pink or ye l l owish b i l l identify this sparrow (5% i n . ) .
Young have brown and buff head stripes. Western birds
use suburban habitats , but eastern birds prefer hedge
rows bordered by large fiel ds. The
Golden-crowned Spa rrow (6V4 i n . ),
which winters i n the Pacific states,
differs by havi ng a dull yel low crown
bordered with black.

WH ITE-TH ROAT E D S PARROW This bird (53/4 i n . )

i s told from the preced ing by a disti nct white throat and
a sma l l spot of yel l ow before the eye . I t lacks the erect
posture and g ray hind neck of the White-crowned Spar
row. Its whistled "Old Sam Peabody Peabody Pea body"
song is fa m i l i a r in the North woods
in summer, and can a l so be heard
on wa rm wi nter mornings. I n wi nter
it prefers wood margins and thick
ets, and i s never found far from
cover.

1 13

1 14
SONG S PARROW A large brown center spot on a
boldly streaked breast, and a rather long, rounded ta i l
that i t pumps a s i t flies, a re the field marks of the Song
Sparrow (5V2 i n . ) . Its melodious, var ied song , one of
the first signs of spring, is easy to recogn i z e . At a l l
seasons Song Sparrows a re found i n hedgerows, shrubbery, and weedy fields. The smal ler
Lincol n's Sparrow (43/4 i n . ) , most
common in the West, i s s i m i l a r but
with a buff breast band crossed by
fi ne dark streaks.

SWAMP S PARROW (5 i n . ) N ote the Swa mp Spar

row's white throat, red-brown crown , plain gray breast,
and rounded ta i l . The rusty wings, dark b i l l , and the
broad gray stri pe over the eye
(buffy in young b i rds) w i l l confirm
the identification . It p refers moist
brushy habitats at all seasons . Its
song i s a s l ow musical tri l l .

F O X SPA RROW O u r largest true sparrow (6V4 i n . ) ,

this b i rd i s recog ni zed b y its bright red-brown ta i l and
its heavi ly streaked breast. Though a l ittle l i ke the Her
mit Thrush (page 87) i n size and markings, the Fox
Sparrow has a heavier b i l l and
larger, more conspicuous breast
strea ks. It frequents woods and
thickets, and it scratches in dry
l eaves with both feet at once l i ke a
towhee .

1 15

DAR K- E Y E D J U NCO This even gray b i rd (5V4 i n . )

with clear wh ite outer ta i l feathers and a whitish b i l l i s
usua l l y seen o n o r nea r the ground , feed ing o n seeds .
The female is browner, especially on the back and sides.
Juncos are common nesting b i rds i n the N orth woods,
preferring con ifers . They a re attracted to feeders i n
winter. Western races tend t o have
b l a c k e r h e a d s a n d m o r e r u st y
backs. A large race (6 i n . ) i n the
Black H i l l s of South Dakota has
white wing ba rs. Adu l t Yel low-eyed
J u ncos of Arizona have yel l ow eyes.

1 17

EAST E R N M EADOW L A R K This bird (8V2 i n . ) pre

fers pastures, meadows , and gra i n fie l d s . The very s i m
ilar Western Meadowlark (8V2 i n . ) is s l i g htly pa ler o n
t h e back, and t h e yel l ow of t h e throat g o e s h i g her on t h e
cheek . T h e only other large songb i rds with white outer
ta i l feathers a re the mocki ngbird and the shrikes. N ote
the black "V" on the yel l ow breast
of the meadowlarks. Young of both
spec ies are l i ke the adults. The
We s t e r n M e a d ow l a rk's s o n g i s
louder a n d more fl ute l i ke than the
simple whistle of the Eastern bird.

1 18

BOBO L I N K The male (6 i n . ) , the only N orth Ameri

can songbird that i s light a bove, a l l -black below, i s easy
to identify. H owever, the female and the m a l e in fa l l are
sparrowlike, with buff breasts and black-and-buff stripes
on the crown . I n summer it eats i n sects in hayfields, but
. in fa l l it may damage rice crops .
The other gra ins it eats a re of no
c o m m e rc i a l va l ue . The B o bo l i n k
winters i n South America . Its song
i s one of the most bea utiful of b i rd
song s .

RE D-WI N G E D B L AC K B I R D The m a l e (7V4 i n . ) i s

unique with i t s red shoulders, margi ned with buff. The
female is dusky brown a bove with a heavily streaked
breast and genera l l y with no h i nt of the red shou lder.
The Tricolored Blackbird (lV2 i n . ) of C a l i fornia's centra l
va lleys has deeper red shoulders
with a white marg i n . Both species
are abundant marsh and field birds,
nest i n g in reed s , c a t ta i l s , a n d
shrubs . They form large flocks dur
ing fa l l , wi nter, a nd spring .

1 20

B R E W E R'S B L AC K B I R D (8 i n . ) This is the blackbird of

western ranches and corra l s . The yel l ow eye of the male
and the purplish ti nge to its head feathers a re field
marks . It wa lks with its wings s l ightly d rooping . The
female i s pla i n brown ish g ray with brown eyes. The Rusty
Blackbird (8 i n . ) of the East i s s i m i
lar, b u t w i t h white eyes and rusty
tips to its feathers . The Rusty Black
bird seldom flocks with other black
birds; it is usua l l y found in swa mp
forests instead of i n fiel d s .

121

COMMON G RAC K L E Grackles are abundant, l a rge

blackbirds with long wedge-shaped ta i l s . The Common
Grackle ( 1 0- 1 2 i n . ) i s a fa m i l i a r suburban and fa rmland
bird that nests i n colonies i n evergreen trees . N ote the
iridescent p l u mage of the m a l e . The Boat-ta i l ed Grackle
( 1 2- 1 6 i n . ) is found a long the coast
from Delaware to Texas, and the
Great-ta i l ed Grackle ( 1 2 - 1 6 i n . ) is
becom ing abundant i n the southern
Great P l a i n s . Female grackles a re
much sma ller than males.

1 22

BROWN-H EAD E D C OWB I RD (6V2 i n . ) has the u nfor

tunate habit of a lways laying its eggs i n nests of other
bird s . Its eggs hatch sooner than those of its host; only
the fast-growing cowbirds su rvive . The cowbird i s our
smal lest blackbird, and the only one with a brown head .
It gets its name from its habit of
feed i n g w i t h c a t t l e . L i ke o t h e r
blackbirds, they wa lk, but they hold
their ta i l s hig her when wa lking than
do their relatives . The fema l e i s u n i
form mouse-gray.

1 23

N O RT H E R N O R I O L E The bri l l iant male (7 i n . ) is a

showy bird . The female is o l ive a bove , d u l l orange
yel l ow below, with two pa le wing bars; she selects a ta l l
shade tree for h e r hanging nest . Western males have
orange on the sides of the head and over the eye . The
Orchard Oriole (6 i n . ) , east of the
Rockies, is simi lar, but is brick red ,
not orange; the female Orchard
Oriole is greenish-yel l ow. Young
orioles are similar to fema les . Other
orioles are in the Southwest .

1 24

PU RPLE F I NC H

The male Purple F i nch {5V2 i n . ) i s

old-rose i n color, not purple. Females a r e sparrow l i ke ,

streaked brown a n d white w i t h a d i sti nctive dark strea k
at the side of the throat. Both sexes have the heavy seed
crush i ng b i l l , pale l i ne over the eye , and notched ta i l .
Feeders with sunflower seeds attract fl ocks o f Purple
F i nches i n wi nter. I n the West, the s i m i l a r Cassi n's F i nch
{6 i n . ) i s recog n i zed by the contrast
between its bri l l iant red crown and
the browner hind neck and bac k .
Both species nest i n conifers b u t a re
often found in deciduous trees and
shrubs i n wi nter.

1 25

HOUSE FINCH

This abundant suburba n b i rd (5V"'

i n . ) is ea sily attracted to feed i n g station s .

the West,

a flock was released on

native of

Long I s l a n d i n

the 1 950's, and t h e descendents a r e n o w sprea d i n g

rapidly i n the East. T h e male has more brown on
the wings, bac k , and breast than the Purple F i nch . The
fema le

is

nondescript,

more fa intly

the female P u rple F i nch, and with

out the promi nent l i ne over the eye
and

the

dark streak bes ide the

throat. The b i l l i s nearly as l a rge

as the Purple F i nch's, the ta i l less
notched .

streaked

than

1 26

AME R I CAN G O L D F I N C H The ye l l ow body, black

cap and wings mark the American Goldfi nch (4V4 i n . ) .
I n flight i t is recogn ized b y its ro l ler-coaster flight and
its clear song . It i s a bird of weedy fields and meadows,
feed ing near the ground, and nesting i n young trees .
Fema le, young, and wi nter males are d u l l yel l ow-brown ,
with wing bars but no black on the head . The western
Lesser Goldfinch (3% i n . ) i s s i m i lar,
with black crown , but dark (green
or b l ack) back and d u l ler yel l ow
breast. Sunfl ower or thistle seeds
wi l l attract goldfinches to feed ing
stations.

H O U S E S PA RROW This b i rd (5V4 i n . ) , m i snamed

English Sparrow, i s a native of E u rope belonging to the
Old World Sparrow fam i ly. I mported from E n g l a nd in
1 850, it became establ ished , spread rapid ly, and i s now
widespread . The g ray crown and black throat of the
male a re cha racteristic, a s a re the unstreaked brown
crown and broad buff l i ne over the
eye of the fema l e . U n l i ke our native
sparrows, the House Sparrow nests
i n cavities a nd bird boxes . It i s an
aggressive species, driving native
bi rds from feeders and nest boxes.

MIG R ATI ONS

OF B IRD S
Most sw i m m i n g b i rd s
that depend o n fl ying or
crawl ing i n sects can not
Arctic Tern ( 1 3 in.): grayish; red
winter in cold climates.
bill; black cap.
Some seed -eaters a l so m i
grate. Some birds m i g rate b y day, others b y n i g h t . N o
one knows j u st h o w b i r d s fi nd their w a y from their sum
mer to their w i nter homes.
Migrations north and south o re best know n . Some
birds move only a few hundred m i les from their bree d i ng
to their w i nter range; others cover severa l thousa n d .
Sca r l et Ta nagers travel from Peru t o northern U . S .

Townsend's Warbler (4V. in . ) flies

from Alaska and Yukon to Central
America.

Dickcissel (53/, in.) migrates in

enormous numbers from our grass
lands to South America.

1 29
and back. Some warblers, vireos, and flycatchers
travel even farther. The champion migrant is the Arc
tic Tern; some breed in the Arctic and winter in the Antarctic,
1 1 , 000 miles away. They fly over 25, 000 miles a year and
cross the Atlantic in their migration.
Four North American flyways form connecting paths
between northern breeding grounds and wintering
areas in the southern United States, Mexico, Cuba ,
and South America . Their use by waterfowl i s best
known, though most migrating birds use them . Fly
ways overlap in the breeding grounds, though each
tends to have its own population.
The periods of spring and fall migrations are the times
you will see the most birds. See pages 1 3 1 - 1 53 for
when to look for migrants.

MISSISSIPPI
F LYWAY
Upland Sandpiper ( 1 0 in.) mi
grates from the Arctic and the prai
ries to central South America.

ATLANTIC
F LYWAY
Red Knot (8V2 i n . ) concentrates on
the Atlantic coast enroute from the
Arctic to Chile.

(8 in.): Robin-like,
black bar on orange breast.

Varied Thrush

Even ing Grosbeak (7V. in.): larger

than goldfinch; huge beak.

Besides north and south m igrations, vertica l move

ments occur in high mounta i n s . Sum mer resi dents nest
h i g h among spruce and fir i n summer, later moving
down to footh i l l s and va l leys for more dependable
wi nter food .
Many spec ies norm a l l y m igrating fa rther north breed
at h i g h elevations in the mounta i n s . Another pattern i s
that shown b y young her
ons and eag l e s . Soon after
they leave the nest, they
wa n d e r n o r t h w a r d . By
late summer or ea rly fa l l
many are hundreds of m i les
n o r t h of t h e i r n e st i n g
g r o u n d s . Before w i nter
they go south aga i n .
Left: Great Egret (32 i n . ), a
large heron, all white; black legs,
yellow bill. Right: Little Blue
Heron (22 in.), smaller than
Great B l ue (p. 23). Legs green
ish. Young wh ite; blue tint on
wings.

TH E BIRDS AT A GLAN C E

The ta bles on pages 1 32- 1 53 g ive conc isely, for each

bird i l l ustrated , a wea lth of facts on m i g ration, nests
and eggs , and feed ing habits .
The i nformation on m i g ration is g iven by key cities:
DC-Washington, D . C . ; NY-New York; B-Boston; StL
St . Louis; SF-San Francisco; P-Portland, Oreg . You can
estimate the a rriva l of birds i n your reg ion from dates
for the nearest key city. There is about a week's d i ffer
ence between DC and NY and between N Y and B for
most migrating birds.
Birds found i n a n area the yea r round are l i sted a s
"permanent residents . " F o r "summer residents" ( S R ) ,
which come n o r t h i n t h e s p r i n g , stay a l l sum mer, and
depa rt i n the fa l l , the ta ble gives the average dates of
arriva l and departure . Average dates for "winter resi
dents" (WR) a re similarly g iven . F i n a l ly, some birds
come north i n the spring and, after staying a wh i l e ,
conti nue nor thward . These c a n b e seen f o r only a few
weeks in spring and fa l l . These birds are "tra nsients"
(Tr) . Approxi mate dates for all birds a re g iven in abbre
viated form: E , M, and L stand for "early, " "m idd le, "
and "late . " " E -Apr" mea n s ea rly April a n d "M-Oct"
sta nds for middle October.
Loca l weather, food supply, and other factors i nfl u
ence arriva l and departure of bird s . After several yea rs,
your own personal records may prove a better loca l
guide than the abbreviated data g iven here, espec i a l l y
if you compare dates w i t h those recorded b y other o b
servers i n you r county.
B i rd s and their nests and eggs are protected by federa l
and state laws . We do not encourage visiting nests, but
if a nest i s fou n d , the i nformation on pages 1 32- 1 53 w i l l
h e l p t o identify t h e owner.

131

1 32
Pa g e

Migration

Name

Arrive

fflfls

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

21

Common Loon

DC
B
StL
SF

M-May
L-May
L-Nov
E-May

3.5 X 2 . 2
2
Variable; greenish or dull
brown with faint black
spots.

22

Pied-billed Grebe

DC M-Mar
SR L-Oct
E-Apr
SR M-Oct
B
S t L M-Mar
SR L-Nov
p
Perma nent Resident

1 .7 X 1 . 1
4-8
Ve r l i g h t b l u e - g r e e n ,
dar er or b u f f ; u n marked.

23

Great Blue Heron

NY
B
StL
SF

S R L-Nov
E-Apr
E-Apr
SR M-Nov
S R L-Nov
E-Mar
Permanent Resident

3-4
2.4 X 1 .8
Pa l e bluish
een to dull
blue; unmar ed.

24

Green-backed
Heron

DC
B
StL
SF

M-Apr
L-Apr
M-Apr
M-Mar

l .S X 1 . 1
3-6
Pa l e greenish or greenish
blue; unmarked.

25

Cattle Egret

DC M-Apr
NY L-Apr
StL E-May

Tr M-Oct
SR E-Oct
SR L-Aug

1 .8 X 1 .3
Very pale green .

26

Tundra Swan

DC M-Nov
StL M-Oct
SF E-Oct

WR M-Apr
WR L-Apr
WR E-Apr

4.3 X 2 . 8
2-6
White or pale yellow.

27

Canada Goose

DC L-Sept
B L-Sept
StL E-Oct
p
M-Sept

WR
Tr
WR
WR

M-Apr
L-Apr
M-Apr
M-May

3.4 X 2 . 3
4- 1 0
Cream to d u l l
reenish
white. Later bu fy and
mottled .

28

Mallard

DC Perma nent Resident

N Y E-Oct
WR M-Apr
StL E-Sept
WR E-May
p
Perma nent Resident

2.3 X 1 .6
6- 1 2
Pa l e greenish to grayish
buff.

29

American Black
Duck

DC
NY
B
StL

2.3 X 1 . 7
6- 1 2
Gra ish white to g reenish uff. S i m i l a r to Ma llard.

30

Wood Duck

DC L-Feb
S R M-Nov
NY M-Mar
S R E-Nov
StL M-Feb
S R L-Nov
p
Permanent Resident

E-Oct
L-Sept
E-Apr
E-Oct

WR
WR
Tr
WR

SR
SR
SR
SR

E-Oct
M-Sept
L-Sept
L-Oct

Perma nent Resident

Perma nent Resident
Perma nent Resident
L-Oct
WR E-Apr

3-9

2.0 X 1 .6
Du l l crea m to buff.

8- 1 5

1 33
Nests
Materials

location

Vegetable debris.

On g round on small is
land or near shore of lake
or pond.

Ma i n l y fish; crabs, some

i n se c t s a n d m a r i n e a l
gae.

Decaying vegetation.

In shallow water. Float

ing among rushes in lakes
and ponds.

C r a yfi s h , c r u s t a c e a n s ,
small fish, and insects.

Sticks.

High up in tree or cliff near

water.

Ma i n l y fish; also crustaceans, frogs, and m ice.

Sticks and twigs.

In trees, but near water;

occasionally on ground.

Ma i n l y fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans.

Sticks and twigs.

In trees or shrubs, 5 - 1 2 ft.

up.

Insects, es ecia lly grasshoppers ; rog s, s p i d ers.

Also ticks.

Grasses, sedges, and

mosses.

6 ft. diameter mound i n

m a rs h e s o r w e t g ra s s y
meadows.

Stems, seeds, and roots of

aquatic plants.

Twigs, weeds, grasses,

lined with down.

On dry ground near water,

often on small island.

Pondweeds,
grasses;
seeds of wheat, barley,
sedges.

On ground among hi h
grass or reeds; u s u a y
near water.

Pondweeds,
wild
rice
and other seeds; aquatic
insects.

Reeds and
li ned with

3 rasses,
own.

r,

Grasses, weeds,
l e a v e s ; fe a t h e r l i n in g .

Usually on round in grass

or brush. ometimes far
from water.

Same as Mallard .

Grasses, twigs,
leaves; down - l i ned.

Up to 60 ft. above ground;

i n a hole i n tree or stump.

W i l d rice,
ondweeds,
acorns, s e e s, and fru its;
some insects.

/.

1 34
Pa g e

Migration

Name

Arrive

'"'

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

31

Northern Pinta i l

NY M-Sept WR M-Apr
Tr L-Apr
StL L-Sept
WR L-Apr
SF E-Sept
p
Permanent Resident

32

Ca nvasback

DC
NY
StL
SF

E-Apr
M-Apr
L-Apr
L-Apr

2.5 X 1 .6
6- 1 0
Olive gray or d u l l green.

33

Common
Merganser

DC M-Nov
WR E-Apr
8
M-Oct
WR L-Apr
StL M-Nov
WR M-Apr
p
Perma nent Resident

2.5 X 1 . 7
6- 1 7
Pale buff; unmarked .

34

American Coot

DC
NY
StL
SF

M-Oct
WR E-May
E-Oct
Tr L-Nov
S R M-Nov
M-Feb
Permanent Resident

1 .9 X 1 . 3
8- 1 2
Light buff, speckled with
dark brown or black.

35

Kil ldeer

NY E-Mar
SR E-Nov
8
L-Mar
S R L-Oct
StL L-Feb
S R L-Nov
SF Perma nent Resident

1 .5 X 1 . 1
4
Buff or darker; heavily
spotted or mott led.

36

Common S n i pe

DC M-Sept Tr E-May
Tr L-Nov
StL L-Feb
WR E-May
SF E-Sept
p
Permanent Resident

4
1 .6 X 1 . 2
Pa l e o l i v e t o brown;
darker spots and specks.

37

Lesser
Yel lowlegs

DC
NY
StL
SF

38

Spotted
Sandpi per

39

40

E-Nov
M-Oct
L-Oct
M-Oct

WR
WR
WR
WR

2.2 X l . S
Similar to Mallard .

S-1 2

Tr
Tr
Tr
Tr

M-Oct
E-Oct
E-Oct
E-May

1 .6 X 1 . 1
3-5
Buff with bold blotches
of c ocolate and blackish.

DC M-Apr
8
E-May
StL M-Apr
p
L-Apr

SR
SR
SR
SR

L-Sept
M-Sept
E-Oct
M-Oct

4
1 .3 X 0.9
White to cream; heavily
ma rked with dark brown
and black.

Least Sandpiper

DC L-Apr
StL E-Apr
SF E-July
p
E-May

Tr
Tr
WR
Tr

L-Sept
L-Oct
M-May
L-Sept

3-4
1 . 2 x o. a
Pa l e brown or gray;
marked with brown, gray,
or black.

Herring Gull

DC
NY
StL
SF

WR
WR
WR
WR

M-May
L-May
L-Apr
M-Apr

2.9 X 1 .9
3-4
Variable. Whitish to gray
or brown; brown spots and
blotches.

E-Apr
E-Apr
E-Apr
E-Aug

M-Sept
L-Aug
M-Oct
L-Oct

1 35
Nests

Food

Materials

Location

Straw, grass, rushes;

lined with down .

On dry g r o u n d in t h e
open.

Rushes, pondweeds, seeds

of aquatic plants; mol
l u scs and insects.

Reeds, l i ned with

down.

On ground i n reeds or
rushes, near water.

Wild celery, pondweeds

and other a quatic pla nts;
mo ll uscs,
some
and
aquatic insects.

Leaves, grasses, moss;

lined with down.

On g ro u n d ; b e n e a t h
bushes a n d between
boulders; or in a h o l e in a
tree.

Fish, crayfish, frogs, oc

casional aquatic insects.

Heaps
of
reed s ,
r u s h e s , a n d c o a rse
grass.

On ground near water;

sometimes half afloat.

Duckweeds and other

aquatic plants. Moll uscs,
crustacea ns, and aquatic
insects.

Slight depression
l i n e d w i t h p e b b l es ,
grasses, o r debris.

A hollow i n g round, in
pastures or fie lds.

Mainly insects and earth

w o r m s ; sma I I c r u s t a
ceans.

Slight de p ression
lined wit h grass.

On ground or on slight el
evation in meadows, open
marshes, or bogs.

I n se c t s ,
crustaceans,
worms, seeds of swamp
and aquatic plants.

Sli g ht depression with

littl e or no lining.

On 9 round a long shores

and 1n manhes, often un
der sma l l bush.

Small fish, snails, worms,

crustacea ns, a n d some
insects.

Slight de p ression
lined wit h grasses.

On ground or cavity i n
rocks, on sandy or rocky
shores. Banks of streams
and open upland fields.

M a i n l y i n se c t s ; w o r m s ,
spiders, and small crus
taceans.

S l i g h t d e p res s i o n ,
spari ngly lined with
grass.

O n g ro u n d o r rock in
g ra s s y l o w l a n d s n e a r
w a t e r. S o m e t i m e s o n
moist upland.

Aquatic insects, worms,

and small crustacea ns.

Seaweeds;
m a rs h
plants, chi ps, feath
ers, s h e l l s . S o m e
times no nest.

On ground. Birds nest i n

colonies. Often on is
lands; sometimes under
heavy vegetation.

Small fish, molluscs, crus

t a c e a n s , i n se c t s , gar ..
bage, blueberries.

1 36
Pave

,,,.

Mleration

Name

Arrive
M-Apr
L-Apr
E-May
L-Apr

Depart
E-Oct
M-Oct
E-Oct
E-Nov

Size (in.)

No.

2-3
1 .6 X 1 . 2
Va r i a b l e . D u l l greenish
wh ite to brown; darker
spots.

41

Common Tern

DC
NY
B
SF

42

Turkey Vulture

DC Perma nent Resident

S R M-Nov
NY L-Mar
S R M-Nov
SF E-Mar
p
S R L-Sept
M-Ma r

43

Osprey

DC
B
Stl
SF

44

Bald Eagle

DC Perma nent Resident

45

Cooper's Hawk

NY
B
Stl
SF

46

Red-tai led Hawk

Permanent Resident
throughout its range,
except in north central
states

2-4
2.6 X 1 . 8
D u l l or creamy white;
spotted brown or purple;
ra rel y unmarked .

47

American Kestrel

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge,
except in north central
states and Canada

4-7
1 .3 X 1 . 2
White or ti nted with buff;
spotted or speckled with
brown.

48

R ing-necked
Pheasant

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

6- 1 6
1 . 8 X 1 .4
Buff to dark olive; occasionally greenish.

49

Ruffed Grouse

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

8- 1 4
1 .5 X 1 . 1
Pa le buff but varying in
color; unmarked .

50

Northern
Bobwhite

Permanent Resident
throughout its range

1 0-24
1 .2 X 1 .0
White; unmarked .

L-Mar
L-Apr
E-Apr
M-Ma r

SR
SR
SR
Tr

SR
SR
Tr
SR

M-Oct
E-Oct
L-Oct
M-Oct

Tr E-Oct
E-Apr
S R E-Oct
M-Apr
S R L-Oct
M-Ma r
Permanent Resident

2.8 X 1 .9
1 -3
Dull white or buff; irregular brown spots.

2-4
2.S X 1 .8
Va riable. D u l l white t o
buff or light brown with
brown blotches.
3.5 X 2 . 9
White; unmarked .

1 -4

3-6
1 .9 X 1 .6
Blu ish or greenish white;
u n m a rk e d t o h e a v i l y
spotted with brown .

1 37
food

N.. ts
Location

Materials
H o l l o w, l i n e d w i t h
s h e l l s , to w e l l - b u i l t
mound o f grass and
seaweed.

On sand or bare rock,

someti mes among
grasses. Usua lly on is
lands.

feeds a l most wholly on

small fish, but also some
insects.

None.

On grau nd, rock ledge, or

h o l low l o g i n sec l u d e d
places, near water or in
waods.

Ca rrion.

Platform of sticks; add i t i o n s m a d e from

year to year.

In trees: 1 5-50 ft. up or

on roc k s . O s p r e y s n e s t
a l o n g coasts.

Al most entirely fish.

La e nest of branches
an sticks. Additions
and repairs a re made
yearly.

In treetops or cl iffs; 30-90

ft.
in forested or
woo e d reg i o n s , n e a r
streams, la kes, or ocean .

Mostly fish; some rodents

and a few birds.

Branches and twigs;

often l ined with bark.

referred,

U s u a l l y i n trees: p i n e s
25-65 ft. up.
a r e l y on grou nd.

Ma i n l y w i l d b i rd s a n d
poultry; some mammals;
other vertebrates and
insects.

Branches and twigs;

l i n e d w i t h rasses,
weeds, dead eaves.

In tall trees, 20-80 ft. up;

in forest areas or i n small
groves.

Ma i n l y ro d e n t s ; s o m e
reptiles and poultry.

No nest material, unless some was left by

previous occupant.

I n cavity of tree, cl iff emba nkment, 7-80 ft. up;

often in f a r m s or orchords.

La rgely insects, some radents, l izards, and small

birds.

Dead l e a v e s , g r a s s ,
straw.

On graund i n bushy pastures, moorlands, grass,

and gra i n fields.

Corn, wheat, barley, wild

fru its, and i nsects.

S h a l l o w d e p ress i o n ,
l ined w i t h leaves.

On graund, at base of tree

in w o o d e d u p l a n d s o r
dense th icket; under logs.

Leaves, buds, and fruits

of forest p l a n t s . O c c a
sional i n sects.

Grass, stems, strips of

bark.

On g round in rass tangles, open fiel s, hedgerows.

Corn a n d
ra i n . R a g
weed, le e e z a , acorns,
and wee seeds.

:a'

':f.'

:l

1 38
Page

Mig r atio n

Name

A rrive

Eggs

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

51

Rock Dove

Permanent Resident
throughout its range

1 .5 X 1 . 1
White; unmarked.

2-3

52

Mourning Dove

DC Permanent Resident
NY M-Mar
S R M-Nov
8
SR L-Oct
L-Mar
SR M-Nov
SF L-Mar

1 . 1 x o.s
White; unmarked.

53

Yellow-billed
Cuckoo

DC
NY
StL
SF

54

Common
Bam-Owl

Permanent Resident
except at northern
edge of its range

1 .6 X 1 . 2
White; u n marked.

55

Great Homed
Owl

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

2.3 X 1 .9
2-3
Rough wh ite; u n marked.

56

Eastern and
Western
Screech-Owls

Perma nent Residents

t h roughout their range

1 .4 X 1 . 3
White; u n m a rked.

3-5

57

Chimney Swift

DC M-Apr
B L-Apr
StL E-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR E-Sept
SR E-Oct

0.8 X 0.5
White; unmarked.

4-5

58

Whip-poor-will

DC L-Apr
B
E-May
StL M-Apr

SR M-Sept
SR M-Sept
SR M-Oct

2
1 .2 X 0.8
Crea m y w h i t e ; spotted
with brown.

59

Common
N ighthawk

DC E-May
B M-May
StL L-Apr
p
E-June

SR
SR
SR
SR

1 .2 X 0.9
2
Du l l white; spotted with
gray and brown.

60

Ruby-throated
Hummingbird

DC L-Apr
NY M-May
StL L-Apr

SR L-Sept
SR M-Sept
SR E-Oct

E-May
E-May
L-Apr
L-May

SR
SR
SR
SR

L-Sept
L-Sept
L-Sept
L-Sept

L-Sept
M-Sept
E-Oct
L-Sept

2-4
1 . 2 X 0.9
Light blu ish g reen; unmarked;
occa s i o n a l l y
mottled.

0.5 X 0.4
White; unmarked.

5-1 1

1 39
Nests
Materials

Location

Sticks, straw, and

debris.

Building (30 ft. and

h i g h e r } , o n s h e l tered
eaves or ledge.

Corn, oats, weed seeds,

farm gleanings.

Stems, straws, some

limes leaves and
moss.

In trees (pines preferred)

2-45 ft. above ground; in
upland, sometimes in wet
lowlands.

Wheat, corn, grass, and

weed seeds.

Sticks, rootlets,
straws, pine needles,
lichens.

In trees or thickets, 3-20

ft. up. Prefers margins of
woods, orchards, or thick
ets.

Insects, mostly caterpil

lars, including hairy spe
cies.

Sometimes ru bbish or
debris. Usually no
nest.

Tree c a v i t i e s ; stee p l e s ,
barns. Sometimes under
ground i n burrows or holes
in emban kments.

Mice, rats, gophers, and

some birds.

Sometimes uses old

hawk nests; some
times none.

I n large trees (preferably

p i n e s ) I 0-90 f t . u p .
Sometimes in tree hollow
or even on ground.

Ra bbits, s q u i rre ls, rats,

wild birds and poultry.

No nest; or uses any

available materi a l .

Hol low of tree (5-50 ft.

u p } , c r a n n y, nook of
building.

R o d e n t s , s m a l l b i rd s ,
frogs, fish, a n d i n sects.

Coarse twigs, h e l d to
gether by saliva of
bird.

Usually near lop of chim

neys or rarely in barns or
sheds; sometimes inside
wells.

F l i es, mosqu itoes, a nd

other small insects,
caught in flight.

No nest construction.
Uses s l i g h t d e p res
sion i n leaves.

O n g ro u n d , u s u a l l y i n
brushy wood margins, on
well-dra i n ed land.

Moths, flying ants, and

other insects caught in
flight.

None. Eggs laid on

bare surface.

On ground, rock, or on flat

roofs of building; in open
fields, pastu res, or city
lots.

Similar to Whip-poor-wi ll.

Plant-down, bits of li
chen outside; bound
by threads of saliva
and spider web.

Placed or "saddled" on
branch of tree-3-50 ft.
above g round.

N e c t a r of fl o w e rs a n d
small insects.

1 40
Page

Nome

Migration
A rrive

Eggs

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

61

Belted Kingfisher

DC Permanent Resident
8
E-A
SR L-Oct
StL L-Fe
S R L-Nov
SF Permanent Resident

62

Red-headed
Woodpecker

DC Perma nent Resident

NY E-May
Tr L-Sept
StL Permanent Resident

63

Northern
Flicker

DC Permanent Resident
SR L-Oct
NY M-Mar
8
M-Apr
SR M-Oct
SF Perma nent Resident

5-9
1 . 1 X 0. 9
Glossy wh ite; unmarked.

64

Yel low-bellied
Sapsucker

DC L-Sept
M-Apr
8
StL E-Mar
SF E-Oct

S-7
0.9 X 0. 7
Glossy wh ite; unmarked.

65

Downy
Woodpecker

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

66

Eastern Kingbird

DC Lr
NY E- ay
StL L-Apr
M-May
p

SR
SR
SR
SR

M-Sept
E-Sept
L-Sept
M-Sept

3-4
1 .0 X 0. 7
C r e a m y w h i t e , spotted
with brown.

67

Great Crested
Flycatcher

DC E-May
8
M-May
S t L L-Apr

SR M-Sept
SR E-Sept
SR M-Sept

3-6
0.9 X 0. 7
C r e a m y, s t r e a k e d w i t h
brown.

68

Eastern Phoebe

DC M-Mar
NY M-Mar
StL M-Mar

SR L-Oct
SR M-Oct
SR L-Oct

4-5
0.8 X 0.6
White; occasionally spotted with brown.

69

Least Flycatcher

DC E-May
8
E-May
StL E-May

Tr L-Sept
SR E-Sept
Tr E-Oct

0.6 X 0. 5
White; unmarked.

70

Homed Lark

Permanent Resident
in the Un ited States

!r.

WR
Tr
Tr
WR

E-May
L-Oct
M-Nov
L-Apr

5-8
1 .3 X 1 .0
Glossy white; unmarked.

1 .0 x o. a
White; unmarked.

0.8 X 0.6
White; unmarked.

4-6

4-6

3-4

3-5
0.8 X 0.6
Dull white; speckled with
brown or purple.

141
Food

Nests
Materials

Location

Nest l ined with fish

bones and scales,
leaves, g rass.

At end of burrow in bank

or bluff. Usually not more
than I 0 ft. up. Usually
near water.

Ma i n l y fish; some crusta

ceans and frogs.

A gourd-shaped hole,
padded with c h i ps.

E x c a v a t i o n s in t r e e s ,
posts, poles: 5-80 ft. u p .

Beetles, ants, other i n

sects. Acorns, other wild
fruits and seeds.

Hole, p a d d e d w i t h
chips.

Cavity 1 0-24 in. d e e p i n

trees, snags, poles: 6 i n . 6 0 f t . up.

Ants, beetles, and other

insects. Wild fru its and
seeds.

Hole, lined with chi ps.

Cavity in dead or live tree

8-40 ft. up; in woods or
orchards.

Ants, beetles, other in

sects and their eggs. Wood
and sap; wild fru its.

Gourd-shaped exca
vation: 6- 1 0 in. deep.

In dead limb 5-50 ft. up;

wood lands, orchards.

Ants and boring insects,

spiders, snails. Some fruits
and seeds.

Rootlets, grass, twine,

hair, wool. Lined with
fine grass, moss.

On horizontal limb of tree;

bushes, eaves, fence rails,
bridges: 2-60 ft. up.

Bees, ants, g rasshoppen,

beetles, etc. Also some
wild fru its.

Twigs, grass, leaves,

moss, feathers, and
usua lly a cast-aff
snakeskin.

Cavity i n dead l i m b or
post . S o m e t i m e s b u i l d
ings; 3-70 ft. up.

Moths,

Of mud, covered with

moss
and
dead
leaves, l i ned w i t h
grass rootlets, moss,
feathers.

I n s h e l t e r of u n d e rc u t
b a n k s , t ree roots, c u l
verts, eaves, or inside
farm buildings; 1 -20 ft up.

Flying i nsects: beetles,

fl i e s , m o t h s , e t c . S o m e
w i l d fru it; few seeds.

Grasses, ba rk fibers,
l i ned w i t h f e a t h e rs
and other soft mate
rials.

Fork of tree or upright

twigs: 2-60 ft. up. Usu
ally along wood margins.

Small i nsects: flies, mos

quitoes, moths, beetles.

Depre s s i o n , l o o s e l y
filled w i t h grass, fi
bers, feathers.

On ground, in cultivated
fields, sand dunes, or ba r
ren islands; in cover of
grass and moss.

Mixed d iet of i nsects and

(in winter) seeds of weeds
and grasses.

g ra s s h o p p e r s ,
Oc-

sects.
!i:n : r; .!

1 42
Page

Migration

Name

lflfll

Arrive

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

71

Purple Martin

DC L-Mar
NY M-Apr
Stl L-Mar

SR E-Sept
Tr L-Aug
SR M-Sept

1 .0 X 0 . 7
White; unmarked.

4-5

72

Tree Swa llow

DC
B
Stl
SF

L-Ma r
M-Apr
M-Mar
E-Mar

Tr
SR
SR
SR

M-Oct
M-Sept
L-Oct
L-Oct

0.7 X 0 .6
White; unmarked.

4-7

73

Barn Swa llow

NY E-Apr
Stl E-Apr
SF L-Mar
p
M-Apr

SR
SR
SR
SR

L-Sept
L-Oct
M-Oct
M-Sept

0.8 X 0.5
White, spotted
brown.

3-6
with

74

Black-bi l l ed
Magpie

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

4-8
1 . 3 X 0.9
Grayish, heavily marked
with brown.

75

American Crow

Permanent Resident
except in Canada

3-5
1 .6 X 1 . 2
Va riable. Pale greenish or
bluish,
otted
or
blotched wit brown.

76

Blue Jay

Permanent Resident
throughout its range
but irregular in winter
in t h e north

4-6
1 . 1 X 0.9
Greenish to olive, spotted
with brown .

77

White-breasted
Nuthatch

Perma nent Resident

throughout its ra nge

5-8
0.8 X 0.6
W h i te, rarely p i n k ish;
speckled o r spotted with
brown.

78

Black-capped
Chickadee

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

5-8
0.6 X 0.5
White, finely spotted with
brown.

79

Tufted Titmouse

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

5-8
0.7 X 0.6
White to buff; speckled
with grayish brown .

80

Brown Creeper

DC
NY
Stl
SF

WR L-Apr
E-Oct
WR E-May
L-Sept
L-Sept
WR L-Apr
Perma nent Resident

0.6 X 0.5
White, speckled
brown.

5-8
with

1 43
Food

Nesta
Materials

location

Leaves, grass, straw,

twigs.

I n cavities of trees, holes

in cl iffs: 3-30 ft. high .
Freq u e n t l y u s e s m u lt i
celled bird houses.

Flying i n sects: flies, bees,

b e e t l e s , fl y i n g a n t s ,
moths.

Gross, lining of
feathers.

Hol lows and cavities in

trees, woodpecker holes,
crevices i n buildings; also
birdhouses; 2-50 ft. up.

Flies, moths, bees, bee

tles and other fl y i ng in
sects. Uses bayberries os
o wi nter food .

Mud reinforced with

plant materi a l . Lined
with feathers.

Commonly i n barns, out

buildings, porches; 5-20
ft. up. Nest adheres to on
upright su rface.

E n t i re l y fl y i n g i n s e c t s :
fl i e s , bees, a n t s , beetles.

Lorge nest of sticks

and mud; l i n i n g of
rootlets or horsehair.

In bushes and trees: 8-30

ft. up.

Grasshoppers; other in
sects, carrion, s m a l l
mammals; wild a n d cul
tivated fruits.

Twigs and sticks,

l ined with rootl ets,
vines, grass.

In trees (preferably pine

woods), height 1 0-70 ft.

Corn and other gra i ns,

weed seeds, wild fruits;
grasshoppers and other
insects.

Twigs and rootlets,

lined with g ro ss,
feathers.

In o fork of tree: 5-50 ft.

up. Prefers evergreen for
ests. But often in suburbs,
forms, and villages.

Acorns, beechnuts, corn

and other g ra i n . Some in
sects, eggs, and young
birds.

Grass, plant fibers,

twigs, hair, and
feathers.

A c a v i t y or d e s e r t e d
woodpecker hole: 5-60 ft.
up. Ma t u re trees p r e
ferred.

Beetles, ants, other in

sects and their eggs. Also
seeds in w i nter. Prefers
sunflower seeds.

Moss, hair, feathers,

grass; lined with
plant down .

Cavity i n rotted stump or

limb, or deserted wood
pecker hole; 1 -50 ft. up.

I nsects and their eggs,

weed and tree seeds; wild
fru its.

Leaves, moss, bark;

li ned with feathers.

D e s e r t e d wood p e c k e rs'
holes or stumps: 2-85 ft.
up.

Ants, bugs, and other in

sects; some seeds a n d
fruits.

Twigs, plant fibers;

sometimes lined with
spider web, feathers,
or hair.

I n trees, behind or be
tween loose bark: 5 - 1 5 ft.
up. U s u a l l y in d e e p
woods.

Ma i n l y i n sects: beetles,
bugs, caterpillars, ants,
i nsect eggs.

1 44
Migration

Name

Arrive

Egg

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

81

House Wren

DC
NY
StL
SF

M-Apr
L-Apr
M-Apr
E-Mar

SR
SR
SR
SR

M-Oct
E-Oct
M-Oct
L-Oct

0.7 X 0.5
5-10
Dull white, densely spotted with brown.

82

Ruby-crowned
King let

NY E-Apr
B M-Apr
StL E-Oct
p
M-Apr

Tr
Tr
Tr
SR

L-Oct
M-Oct
L-A r
M- ct

4-9
0.5 X 0.4
White to crea m . S i m i lar
to Golden-crowned Kinglet.

83

Golden-crowned
Kinglet

DC
NY
StL
SF

WR M-Apr
E-Oct
L-Sept
WR M-Apr
L-Sept
WR L-Apr
Perma nent Resident

0.6 X 0.4
5- 1 0
White t o crea m; spotted
with pale brown .

84

Blue-gra
Gnatcatc er

DC
NY
StL
SF

SR M-Sept
M-Apr
L-Apr
SR E-Sept
SR L-Sept
L-Mar
Permanent Resident

4-5
0.6 X 0.5
W h i t e o r b l u i s h w h i te;
speckled with brown .

85

Eastern Bluebird

DC Permanent Resident
NY M-Mar
SR M-Nov
SR L-Nov
StL L-Feb
p
Permanent Resident

0.9 X 0. 7
4-6
Pale blue; ra rely white;
unma rked.

86

Wood Thrush

DC
NY
B
StL

L-Apr
E-May
M-May
L-Apr

M-Oct
E-Oct
M-Sept
E-Oct

3-5
1 . 1 X 0.8
B r i g h t reenish b l u e ; u n marke .

87

Hermit Thrush

DC
NY
B
SF

M-Oct
WR E-May
E-Apr
SR M-Nov
M-Apr
SR E-Nov
Permanent Resident

0.9 X 0. 7
G re e n i s h
marked.

88

American Robin

DC
NY
StL
SF

Permanent Resident
E-Mar
SR M-Nov
Permanent Resident
Permanent Resident

1 .2 X 0.8
G re e n i s h b l u e ;
spotted.

89

Gray Catbird

DC L-Apr
NY E-May
StL L-Apr

90

Northam
Mockingbird

DC Permanent Resident
StL Permanent Resident
SF Permanent Resident

SR
SR
SR
SR

&

SR L-Oct
SR E-Oct
SR M-Oct

blue;

3-4
un-

3-5
rarely

4-6
0.9 X 0. 7
Deep g re e n i s h b l u e or
bluish green; unmarked.
3-6
1 .0 X 0 . 8
Greenish t o b l u e ; spotted
brown, mostly at large
end.

1 45
food

Neab
Materials

location

Twigs, stems, grasses,

li ned with feathers,
hair.

A cavity in hollow tree:

5-60 ft. up. Woodlands,
farmyards, and in cities.
B i rd boxes c o m m o n l y
used .

Small insects: bugs, bee

tles, caterpillars, etc.

Plant down, covered

by mosses a n d l i
chens. B o u n d w i t h
plant fibers.

In conifers, often saddled

on a limb; 5-50 ft. up.

Ants, plant lice, sca le in

s e c t s , a n d i n s e c t e g 11 s .
O c ca s i o n a l u s e of w o l d
fruits.

Green mosses, l i ned

with fine inner bark,
b l a c k root l e t s , a n d
feathers.

In coniferous trees, p artly

suspended from twogs: 460 ft. up.

I n s e c t s : fl i e s , b e e t l e s ,
p l a n t lice; insect eggs.

Te n d r i l s , fi n e b a r k ,
a n d g ra s s e s . F i r m l y
woven a n d covered
with lichens.

On a branch or in a crotch
in tree near water; 1 0-70
ft. up.

Ma i n l y s m a l l i n s e c t s :
beetles, flies, caterpillars,
moths.

Grasses, rootlets, hair,

and some feathers.

In hollow trees, deserted

woo d p e c k e r h o l e s , a n d
birdhouses; 3-30 ft. up.

Man
insects, including
beet es, weevils,
and
g rasshoppers. Also holly,
dogwood, and other wild
fru its.

Leaves, rootlets, fi ne
twigs. Firmly woven,
with i n n e r w a l l of
mud.

U s u a l l y in s a p l i n g s in
woods; 3-40 ft. up.

B e e t l e s , a n t s , c a t e rp i l
lars, and other i nsects.
Some wild fruits and weed
seeds.

Moss, grasses, leaves.

L i n e d w i t h roo t l e t s
a n d p i n e need les.

On or near ground in pine

or hemlock woods.

Food similar
Thrush.

Mud w a l l and b o t
t o m , reinforced with
grass, twine, twigs.
Lined with grass.

In tree crotch or among

branches, 5-70 ft. up. I n
woods o r open country. O n
build ings, in rural areas.

Garden and field in sects,

w o r m s ; c u l t i va t e d a n d
w i l d fru its. Some seeds.

Twigs and leaves.

Lined with bark
shreds, rootlets.

I n shrubbery, thicket; 1 1 0 ft. and rarely 2 5 ft.

up. Prefers d e n s e l o w
lands.

Food similar to Mocking

bird.

Bulky nest of coarse

t w i g s , weed s t e m s ,
shreds, stri ng, rags.

In shru bs, thickets, vines;

near houses; 1 - 1 5 ft. up,
rarely h i g her.

B e e t l e s , g r a s s h o p p e rs ,
a n d other i nsects; some
wild fruit in season-grape
and holly preferred.

r,

to

Wood

1 46

......

Migration

Name

A rrive

En

Depart

Size (in.)

No.

91

Brown Thrasher

DC
NY
B
Stl

M-Oct
M-Oct
M-Sept
M-Nov

3 -6
1 . 1 x o. s
Grayish or greenish white;
t h i c k l y spotted with
brown.

92

Cedar Waxwing

WR E-June
DC E-Sept
SR M-Nov
NY M-May
Stl L-Sept
WR M-June
Permanent Resident
p

3-5
0.9 X 0.6
Grayish blue; speckled
brown or black, mostly a t
large end.

93

Lag e rhead
Shri e

94

Euro ean
Star ing

Perma nent Resident

throughout its ra nge,
exce t in extreme
Nor!

96

Yel low Warbler

DC
NY
Stl
SF

96

Black-and-white
Warbler

96

!f.

NY
B
Stl
SF

E-Apr
L-Apr
L-Apr
M-Mar

SR
SR
SR
SR

Tr L-Oct
E-Aug
Tr L-Oct
M-Ma r
Permanent Resident
Perma nent Resident

3-S
1 .0 X 0.8
Dull white; spotted and
light
blotched
with
brown.
4-6
1 .2 X 0.9
Whitish or pale blue; unmarked.

M-Sept
L-Aug
M-Sept
L-Sept

4-5
0.7 X O.S
Pale bluish white; brown
s p o t s form i n g ring a t
larger end.

DC M-Apr
NY L-Apr
Stl M-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR L-Sept

4-5
0.7 X 0.5
Greenish white to buff;
spotted and blotched with
brown.

Black-throated
Blue Warbler

DC
NY
B
Stl

E-May
E-May
M-May
E-May

Tr
Tr
Tr
Tr

3-5
0. 7 X 0.5
Crea my white; speckled
with brown and Iavender, mostly at larger end.

98

Common
Yel lowthraat

DC
NY
Stl
SF

SR M-Oct
L-Apr
SR M-Oct
E-May
E-Apr
SR E-Oct
Perma nent Resident

98

Ovenbird

DC L-Apr
NY E-May
Stl L-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR E-Oct

4-6
0.8 X 0.6
W h i t e , spotted w i t h
brown, espec i a l l y at
larger end.

98

Northern
Waterthrush

DC L-Apr
B M-May
Stl L-Apr

Tr
Tr
Tr

4-5
0.8 X 0.6
White to cream ; spotted
with brown an gray.

L-Apr
E-May
L-Apr
M-Apr

SR
SR
SR
SR

E-Oct
L-Sept
M-Sept
M-Sept

L-Sept
E-Sept
L-Sept

3-5
0.7 X 0.5
Crea my wh ite; speckled
with brown and black;
chiefly at large end.

1 47
Materials

Location

Bulky nest of coane

t w i g s , weed s t a l k s ,
leaves. Lined with
rootlets, grass.

In bushes, vines, brush,

and low trees; 0- 1 2 ft. up.

B e e t l e s , g r a s s h o p pe r s ,
caterpillan, etc. Also some
acorns and wild fru it.

Bulky nest of bark,

leaves, grasses, root
lets, moss, and some
times mud.

Often in fruit and shade

trees; 5-50 ft. up.

Wild and cultivated fruits:

g rapes, dogwood, haw
thorn, cherries; some in
sects.

Strips of bark, small

twigs, and vegetable
fi bers; l i n e d w i t h
grasses.

In thorny hedges or low

trees; 5-20 ft. up.

I n s e c t s ; g r a s s h o p p e rs ,
beetles; some small ro
dents and birds.

Large, p o o r l y b u i l t
nest o f grasses and
twigs.

In hollow of tree or crev

ice of building; 3-40 ft.
up. Uses bird boxes.

B e e t l e s , g r a s s h o p p e rs ,
and other insects; wild
and cultivated fruits and
g ra i n .

Fine grasses and fi.

bers; lined with plant
down, fi n e g ra s s ,
some hair.

In shrubs and trees; 3-8

ft. up. Rarely 40 ft. Fields
and orchards, near water.

Caterpillan, weevils, and

other sma ll insects. S l ight
amount of plant food.

S t r i p s of fi n e b a r k ,
g rasses; l i n ed w i t h
rootlets or hoin.

On ground, at base of
trees, logs, or rocks.

P l a n t l i c e , c a t e r p i l l a rs ,
beetles, sca le a n d othe
i n sects.

B a r k , fi n e g r a s s e s ,
p i n e ne6d les. Lining
of black rootlets.

I n heavy undergrowth of
dense woods; 1 - 1 0 ft. up.

Mainly i n sects: caterpil

lan, sma l l beetles, plant
l ice, etc.

Bark, coarse grasses,

dead leaves. Lined
with fine grass ten
drils.

On or near ground. Usu

ally in d u m p of grass, in
moist location.

I n s e c t s : c a n k e rw o r m s ,
weev i l s , l eafhop pers,
caterpillars, etc.

Bulky, covered nest.

Entrance at one side.
Of l e a v e s , c o a r s e
grasses, and rootlets.

On leaf-covered ground in
open woods.

B e e t l e s , g r a s s h o p pe r s ,
and other ground in sects.
Worms and spiden.

Moss, li ned with ten

drils and fine rootlets.

On ground in a mossy
bank or under roots of
fa llen tree.

I nsects: beetles, bugs,

caterpillan, leafhoppen,
and spiders.

1 48
P age

Migration

Name

A r rive

Eggs

Depar t

No.

M-May
E-May
M-May
L-Apr

0.7 X 0 . 5
4-5
White, speckled with
brown; often fonning ring
at larger end.

DC L-Apr
B
E-May
StL M-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR L-Sept

0 . 7 X 0.5
4-5
Bluish white; brown spots
occasionally ringing large
end.

Wilson's
Warbler

DC
NY
StL
SF

E-May
M-May
E-May
L-Ma r

Tr
Tr
Tr
SR

L-Sept
M-Sept
M-Sept
L-Sept

0 . 7 X 0.5
4-5
White or pinkish; brown
spots f o r m i n g r i n g at
larger end.

1 02

Red-eyed Vi reo

DC E-May
B M-May
StL M-Apr
p
E-May

SR
SR
SR
SR

E-Oct
M-Sept
E-Oct
L-Sept

3-4
0.9 X 0.6
White, sparsel speckled
with brown or lack.

1 03

Scarlet Tanager

DC L-Apr
B M-May
StL L-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR E-Oct

0.9 X 0. 7
3-4
Pale reenish or bluish;
speck ed brown at larger
end.

1 04

Northam
Cardinal

Perma nent Resident

1 05

Rose-breasted
Grosbeak

DC E-May
NY M-May
StL L-Apr

Tr E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR E-Oct

0.9 X 0. 7
4-5
Pale blue; spotted with
brown.

1 06

Indigo Bunting

DC L-Apr
B M-May
S t L L-Apr

SR E-Oct
SR M-Sept
SR L-Oct

0.7 X 0.6
3-4
Pale b l u i s h wh ite; unmarked.

1 07

Rufous-sided
Towhee

NY M-Apr
B L-Apr
StL E-Mar

SR E-Oct
SR E-Oct
SR L-Nov

1 .0 X 0 . 7
4-5
White or inkish; brown
specks at a rge end.

1 08

Brown Towhee

Permanent Resident

1 00

Yel low-rumped
Warbler

DC
NY
StL
SF

1 00

American
Redstart

1 00

L-Sept
L-Sept
M-Sept
L-Sept

WR
WR
WR
WR

Size (in.J

r,

I .O X 0 . 7
3-4
Pale bluish white; final
s p o t t e d w i t h red d i s
brown.

r.

1 .0 X 0 . 7
3-4
Va riable; b l u i s h marked
with purple and black.

1 49
Food

Nests
Materials

Location

Plant fibers; l i n i ng of
grasses.

Con iferous trees in heavy

woods; 5-40 ft. up.

Mainly common insects,

but takes poison ivy, ba y
berry, and other fru its on
winter.

Bark, leafstalks, plant

down. Firmly woven
and li ned with root
lets.

Usually in the crotch of a

sa pling; 3-30 ft. a bove
ground, ra rely higher.

Small insects: flies, bee

tles, moths, leafhoppers,
etc.

Ball of grass and moss

wrapped in l e a v e s .
lined w i t h fi ne root
lets.

On ground among bushes

in swampy land.

Small insects, similar to

other warblers. Makes
slight u s e o f p l a n t food .

Strips of bark, paper,

plant down. Firmly
and smoothly woven.
lined with bark and
tendrils.

Suspended from a forked

branch; 3-75 ft. up.

Caterpillars, moths, bugs,

beetles, and other i n
sects; sma l l a m o u n t o f
wild fru it.

Fine twigs and weeds.

lined with vine ten
drils and stems.

On horizontal limb, often

near its end; I 0-70 ft. up.

Mainly insects: ants, bee

tles, moths, caterpillars.
Dogwood, blackberry, and
other wild fru its.

Twigs, rootlets, strips

of bark. lined with
grasses and rootlets.

I n thick bushes or vines;

2- 1 0 ft. up. Rarely up to
30 ft.

Gra e, holly, blackberry;

wil
seeds and a good
many kinds of i nsects.

loose nest of fi n e
t w i g s , w e e d s , root
lets.

In trees or bushes; 5-20

ft. up.

I n se c t s , i n c l u d i n g b e e
t l e s , c a t e i l l a rs , a n t s ,
bees. W i l
fruits when
ava i lable.

Grasses, bits of dead

leaves, bark; l i ned
w i t h fine grass, root
lets, hairs.

I n crotch of bush or sap

ling; 1 - 1 0 ft. up. Rare ly
as high as 20 ft.

Diet m i xed: caterpillars

and other insects; some
wild fru its, weed seeds.

Dead leaves and bark;

fi n e
with
l i ned
grasses.

Usuall y on ground, some

times o n bushes or sap
lings; 0- 1 0 ft. up.

W i l d fru i t s a n d weed
seeds. Insects, worms, and
spiders.

Grasses, weeds, and

twigs. lined with
rootlets.

O n g ro u n d o r in l o w
bushes. Less t h a n I 0 ft.
up.

Oats and barley; weed

s e e d s , c a t e rp i l l a rs a n d
other insects.

'/

1 50
Page

Mlf""""'

Name

....

Arrive

Depart

NY M-Apr
B M-Apr
StL E-Mar

SR L-Oct
SR M-Oct
SR L-Nov

3-5
0.7 X 0.5
W h i t e t o p a l e b l u e or
ree n ; s p e c k l e d w i t h
rown.

American Tree
Sparrow

NY M-Nov
B L-Oct
StL M-Nov
L-Oct
p

WR
WR
WR
WR

L-Mar
E-Apr
L-Mar
M-Mar

4-5
0.8 X 0.6
Pale green ish or b l u ish
reen; speckled with light
rown.

110

Vesper Sparrow

DC E-Apr
B M-Apr
StL M-Ma r
p
E-Apr

SR
SR
Tr
SR

L-Oct
M-Oct
E-Nov
M-Sept

4-5
0.9 X 0.6
Dull white; thickly spotted with brown.

1 12

Chipping
S parrow

DC
B
StL
SF

L-Mar
M-Apr
L-Mar
M-Apr

SR
SR
SR
SR

E-Nov
M-Oct
L-Oct
M-Oct

4-5
0.7 X 0.5
Greenish blue; speckled
w i t h b r o w n , m o s t l y at
larger end.

112

White-crowned
Sparrow

DC
NY
StL
SF

Tr M-Nov
E-May
Tr L-Oct
M-May
M-Apr
Tr L-Nov
Permanent Resident

1 12

White-throated
Sparrow

DC L-Sept
NY L-Sept
StL E-Oct

1 14

Song Sparrow

Permanent Resident
over much of its range

1 10

110

Field Sparrow

WR M-May
Tr M-May
Tr M-May

Size (in.)

No.

g
g

4-5
0.9 X 0. 6
Bluish and greenish
wh ite, spotted with
brown.
4-5
0.8 X 0.6
White to bluish; speckled
and blotched with reddish brown.
4-5
0.8 X 0.6
Va riable. White or greenish; s otted and speckled
with rown.

114

Swam p Sparrow

DC E-Oct
B M-Apr
StL E-Oct

WR E-May
S R M-Oct
WR L-Apr

4-5
0 . 8 X 0.6
Bluish white; spotted or
blotched with brown.

1 14

Fox Sparrow

DC
NY
StL
SF

L-Oct
M-Oct
E-Oct
E-Oct

Tr
Tr
Tr
WR

E-Apr
M-Apr
M-Apr
L-Apr

4-5
0 . 8 X 0.6
Greenish white; spotted
with d u l l brown.

1 16

Dark-eyed
J unco

DC E-Oct
NY L-Sept
StL E-Oct
E-Oct
p

WR
WR
WR
WR

E-May
E-May
L-Apr
M-Mar

4-5
0.8 X 0.6
Pa le blu ish wh ite; brown
spots ma form ring at
larger en .

1 51
NHfS

Materials

Location

Coarse grasses,
weeds, rootlets.
Lined with fine grass
and hairs.

On ground or low bushes

( 1 0 ft. or less) in fields,
overgrown pastures.

S i m i l a r to American Tree
s a rrw, with some use
o gra o n .

Grasses, rootlets, and

hair.

On ground or in stunted
conifers near timberline;
near water.

L a rg e l y w e e d s e e d s ;
crabgrass,
p i gweed,
sedge, etc. S o m e i nsects
eaten .

Coa rse g r a s s . L i n e d
w i t h fi n e r g ra s s e s ,
rootlets, hairs.

On ground in dry upland

fi e l d s ; a l o n g d r y road
sides.

Weed s e e d s of m a n y
kinds; some gra i n , and
various insects.

Grasses, fi ne twigs,
rootlets. Thickly l i ned
with hair.

In trees or b u s h e s ; i n
shrubbery near houses; 335 ft. u p . R a re l y on
ground.

Weed s e e d s , o a t s , a n d
timothy; leafhoppers and
other common i n sects.

Grasses, m o s s , a n d
roo t l e t s . L i n e d w i t h
hair.

Usually on ground or i n
c l u m p o f grass in woods
or thickets.

Ragweed, pigweed, knot

weed, and other weed
seeds; some g ra i n and a
number of kinds of in
sects.

Grasses,
ro o t l e t s ,
moss, strips of bark.
Lined
with
fi n e r
grasses.

U s u a l l y on ground i n
h e d g e ro w s a n d w o o d
land undergrowth.

Food very similar to that

of White-crowned Spar
row.

Nest of grasses and

roo t l e t s . L i n e d w i t h
fine grasses a n d hair.

On g ro u n d o r in l o w
bushes; in grass thickets
or sapli ngs. U p to 8 ft.;
ra rely 1 5 ft.

Food similar to that of

Swa m p Sparrow.

Coarse grasses, root

lets,
dead
leaves.
Lined
with
fi n e r
g rasses a n d s o m e
times hair.

On or close to grou nd; in

grasses in wet meadows,
marshes or swa mps.

S e e d s of w e e d s a n d
grasses. Beetles, caterpil
lars, and other i nsects.

Coarse grasses. Lined

w i t h fi n e r g ra s s e s ,
hair, mosses, feath
ers.

O n g ro u n d o r in low
bushes; coniferous forests
or a l d e r t h i c k ets p r e
ferred.

Weed seeds, wild fruits,

some grain, m i l l i pedes,
and various insects.

Grasses, m o s s , a n d
roo t l e t s . L i n e d w i t h
fi ne grass a n d hair.

On or very near ground in

fa l l e n tree, l og s , u p
turned roots; under over
hanging banks, a long
wood roads.

Ragweed, crabgrass, and

other weed seeds. Some
caterpillars and other i n
sects.

1 52
Pa t

Name

Mit ration
Arrive

117

Eastern
Mea!lowlarlc

DC
NY
B
Stl

11B

Bobolink

DC E-May
B M-May
Stl E-May
p
L-May

1 19

Red-wi
Blackbi

DC
NY
Stl
SF

1 20

Ett

Depart

Permanent Resident
M-Ma r
SR L-Oct
L-Mar
S R L-Oct
Permanent Resident
Tr
SR
Tr
SR

Size (in .)

No.

1 . 1 x o.B
3-7
Wh ite; completely spotted a n d s p e c k l e d w i t h
brown .

L-Sept
M-Sept
L-May
M-Sept

4-7
0.9 X 0.6
Dull white; spotted and
blotched with brown and
gray.

SR M-Nov
M-Feb
M-Ma r
S R L-Oct
E-Mar
S R E-Nov
Permanent Resident

3-5
1 .0 X 0.7
B l u i s h w h i te ; i rre u l a r
spots a n d streaks o purpie and black.

Brewer's
Blackbird

Stl M-Ma r
Tr E-Apr
SF Permanent Resident
p
Permanent Resident

4-7
1 .0 X O .B
Dull w h i t e ; a l m o s t entirel spotted with brown
and lack.

121

Common
Grackle

DC M-Feb
S R L-Nov
NY E-Mar
S R E-Nov
Stl Permanent Resident

1 . 2 X 0.8
3-7
B l u i s h white; s eckled
and spotted dar brown
to black.

1 22

Brown-headed
Cowbird

DC E-Mar
NY M-Ma r
Stl E-Mar
p
E-May

SR
SR
SR
SR

E-Nov
M-Oct
L-Nov
L-Sept

0.9 X 0.7
4-5
White or blu ish; heavily
s p e c k l e d w i t h g ray o r
brown.

1 23

Northern
Oriole

DC L-Apr
NY M-May
Stl M-Apr

Tr L-Sept
SR E-Sept
SR E-Sept

0.9 X 0.6
4-6
White; i rregular streaks
and blotches of brown and
black.

1 24

Purple Finch

DC
NY
Stl
SF

E-Oct
WR E-May
L-Mar
Tr E-Nov
E-Oct
WR L-Apr
Permanent Resident

4-6
O.B X 0.6
Blue; s o tted and speckled wit brown at larger
end.

1 25

House Finch

Permanent Resident

3-5
O.B X 0.6
Pale blue, nearly white;
t h i n l y speckled with
black.

1 26

American
Goldfinch

Permanent Resident

3-6
0.7 X 0.5
P a l e b l u i s h w h i te ; u n marked .

1 27

House Sparrow

Permanent Resident
throughout its ra nge

4-7
0.9 X 0.6
W h i t e to d u l l b r o w n ;
speckled w i t h brown.

':l ed

'i,

1 53

N..ts

Food

M a te ria ls

Location

Grasses and weeds;

often arched over.

U s u a l ly on g r o u n d i n
grassy fields or meadows.

G ra i n a n d w i l d g r a s s
seeds, wild fruits, grass
h o p pe r s , a n d o t h e r i n
sects.

Nest of grasses, weed

stems, and rootlets.

O n g ro u n d i n t h e t a l l
meadow g rasses.

W i l d rice, c u l t ivated
grains, weed seeds, cat
e rp i l l a rs a n d o t h e r i n
sects.

C o a rse g r a s s e s a n d
weeds. Lined w i t h
finer grass a n d root
lets.

Attached to low bushes,

reeds; usually in swamps.
Usually less than 1 5 ft.
up.

Weed and marsh plant

seeds; g ra i n ; some fru it
and insects i n season.

Tw i g s a n d coa rse
grass. Lined with finer
grass.

On ground or in shrubs or
coniferous trees; 0- 1 0 ft.
up.

O a t s and other g ra i n ,
weed seeds, s o m e i n
sects.

Bul ky, but compact.

Of mud and coarse
g ra s s e s ; l i n e d w i t h
finer grasses.

Nests i n colonies, most

often i n coniferous trees;
sometimes in bushes; 580 ft. up.

Gra i n and weed seeds.

Some wild fru it; beetles,
g r a s s h o p p e rs , c r i c k e t s ,
etc .

None added.

Eggs laid in nests of other

birds. Usually 1 or 2 in
any one nest.

Gra i n and weed seeds.

Grasshoppers and other
insects.

Grasses, plant fibers,

hair, string, etc. Firmly
interwoven.

H a n g i n g from e n d of
branches in shade or fruit
trees; 1 0-90 ft. up.

Caterpillars, beetles, and

other insects; wild and
some cultivated fruits.

Tw i g s , g r a s s e s , a n d
rootlets. Thickly lined
with hairs.

Woods, in pine and spruce

trees; 5-60 ft. up.

Tree seeds and wild fruits.

Some insects.

Rootlets and grasses.

Lined with horsehair.

Trees, bushes, and vines;

5-20 ft. above ground.
Often on or near build
ings.

Weed seeds, tree seeds,

plant lice and other in
sects.

F i n e g ra s s e s , b a r k ,
moss; thickly l i ned
w i t h thistledown.

I n trees or bushes; 5-35

ft. up.

Mainly weed seeds, grain,

and w i l d fru i t . O c c a
s i o n a l p l a n t l i c e and cat
erpillars.

Of any available ma
teri a l : stri ng, straw,
twigs, paper, etc.

In any available place: in

b u i l d i n g s , s t r u c t u re s ,
eaves; over 5 f t . u p .

Corn, oats, wheat, and

other gra i n ; weed seeds;
some insects during spring
and summer.

1 54
BIRD I NG AI DS

PUBLICATIONS Here a re a few of the best publ ications

to sta r t you on more adva nced bird study:
Robbi ns, C . S . , B . Bruun, and H . S . Z i m , B i rd s of North A m e r i c a , A
Guide to Field Identification, Golden Press, N . Y. , rev. ed . , 1 98 3 .
Peterson, R . T. , A F i e l d G u i d e t o t h e B i rd s o f E a ste r n a n d C e n t r a l
North A m e r i c a , 4th ed. , 1 980; A F i e l d G u i d e t o We stern B i rd s ,
1 96 1 . B o t h Houghton Mifflin, Bosto n .
Petting i l l , 0 . S . , J r. , A G u i d e t o B i rd F i n d i n g E a s t o f t h e M i s s i s
s i p p i , 2nd ed . , 1 977. A G u i d e t o B i rd F i n d i n g We st o f the
M i s s i s s i pp i , rev. ed . , 1 98 1 . Both Oxford U n iv. Press, N . Y.
Pasquier, R. F. , Watc h i ng B i rd s - An Introduction to Ornithol ogy,
Houghton Miffl i n , Boston, 1 977.
Rickert, J. E . , A Guide to No rth American B i rd C l u b s , Avian
Publications, P. O . Box 3 1 0, E l i zabethtown, Ky. 4270 1 .
Dennis, J . W. , A C o m p l ete G u i d e to B i rd Feed i n g , Knopf, N . Y. ,
1 975 .
Martin, A. C . , H . S. Z i m , and A. L. Nelson, A m e r i c a n W i l d l i fe a n d
P l a nt s ; Dover, N . Y. , 1 96 1 .
A m e r i c a n B i rd s magazine, published by the National Audubon So
ciety, 950 Third Ave . , New York, N . Y. 1 0022 .

M U S E U M S A N D ZOOS are good places to supple

ment you r fie l d study.
Albany: New York State Museum
Atlanta : Georg ia State Museum
Cambridge, Mass . : Museum of Comparative Zoology, H arvard U n iv.
Chicago: Field Museum of Natural H i story; Brookfield Zoo
Denver: Denver Museum of Natural H i story
Gainesville, F la . : Florida State Museum
los Angeles: los Angeles County Museum; Griffi th Park (Zoo)
N ew Orleans: louisiana State Museum ; Audubon Park (Zoo)
New York: American Museum of Natural H i story; N . Y. Zoolog ical Park
Philadelphia : P h i ladelphia Academy of Natural Sciences; Phi ladelphia
Zoological Gardens
San Francisco: Cal ifornia Academy of Sciences; San Fra nci sco Zoolog
ical Gardens
Seattle: Was h i ngton State Museum
Washington, D . C . : National Museum of Natural H i story; National
Zoological Park

PLAC E S F OR
STU D Y I N G
BI RDS

These National Wild

l ife Refuges (NWR),
National Parks ( N P),
and other areas are
fa mous for number
and va riety of birds .

Great er Road r u n n e r (22 i n . ) , a

long-toiled desert bird, rarely flies .

U N I T E D STAT E S
A l a b a m a : D a u p h i n I s l a n d . A r i z o n a : Huachuca Mts . , Tom bstone . Ar
kansas: White R iver N W R , St. Charles. C a l i forn i a : Tu le-Kiamath Basin,
Tu l e l a ke; Sacramento NWR, W i l lows; Yosemite N P. C o l o ra d o : Rocky Mt.
N P. C o n n e c t i c u t : A u d u bon Nature Center, Greenw i c h . De l a w a r e :
B o m b a y H o o k N W R , S myrna . F l o r i d a : Everg lades N P. , H omestead ; S t .
M a r k s N W R , S t . Ma r k s . Georg i a : Okefenokee N W R , F o l kston . I l l i n o i s :
Chautauqua N W R , Hava n a . K a n sa s : Cheyenne Botto m s , Great B e n d .
Lou i s i a n a : S a b i ne N W R , H a ckberry. Ma r y l a n d : Ocean C i t y ; P o c o
moke R i v e r Swa m p , Powe l l sv i l l e . M as sa c h u s e tts : P o r k e r R iver N W R ,
Newburyport; M o n o m o y N W R , S o u t h Chath a m . M i c h i g a n : S e n e y N W R ,
Seney. M i n n esota : I t a s c a S t a t e P k . M i s s i s s i p p i : N o x u bee N W R ,
Brooksvi l l e . M o n ta n a : Red Rock L a k e s N W R , L i m o . N e b r a s k a : Va l e n
tine N W R , Va l e n t i n e . N e w H a m p s h i re : Connecticut L a k e s , P i ttsburg .

New J e r s e y : C o pe May P o i n t , Cope May; B r i g a n t i n e N W R , Oceanvi l l e .

N e w Mex i c o : Bosque d e l Apache N W R , Socorro . N e w Yo r k : Montauk
P t . State P k . , Monta u k . N o r t h C a ro l i n a : Mattamu skeet NWR, Swan
Quarter; Greenfi e l d P k . , W i l m i ngton . North Da kota : Des Lacs N W R ,
Kenmare. O h i o : Buc keye Lake, Hebro n . O k l a h o m a : W i c h i ta Mts . N W R ,
I n d i a homa . O reg o n : Ma lheur N W R , Pri nceton; Netarts Bay, Neta r t s .
P e n n s y l va n i a : H a w k Mt. , K e m p t o n . R h o d e I s l a n d : Sakonnet P t . ,
L i t t l e Compton . South C a ro l i n a : Cape R o m a i n N W R , Awendaw. S o u t h
Dakota: S a n d L a k e N W R , C o l u m b i a ; B l o c k H i l l s . Te n n e s s e e : Great
Smoky Mts . N P, Gat l i n b u r g ; Reelfoot NWR, U n i o n C i t y. Tex a s : Santa
Ana NWR, A l a m o ; Laguna Atascosa N W R , R i o Hondo; Rockport; Guada
l u pe Mts . Ve r m o n t : M i s s i sq u o i NWR, Swanton . V i rg i n i a : Back Bay
N W R , V i rg i n i a Beach; C h i ncoteague N W R , C h i ncotea g u e ; Dismal Swa m p
N W R , Suffo l k . Wa s h i n g t o n : W i l lapa B a y a r e a , Westport; O l y m p i c N P ;
Mt. R a i n i e r N P. W i sco n s i n : Horicon N W R , Mayv i l l e . Wyom i n g : Ye l l ow
stone N P.

C A N A DA
Al berta : Banff N P. M a n itoba : C h u rch i l l ; R i d i ng Mt. N P. O n t a r i o :
A l g o n q u i n P r ov i n c i a l P k . ; P t . P e l e e N P. Q u e b e c : Bonaventure I s .

1 56
SCIENTI F I C

NAM E S

Fol lowing a r e t h e scientific n a m e s o f species i l lustrated

in th i s boo k . The genus name is first; the species name
fo l l ows . The numbers i n heavy type ind icate the pages
where species a re i l l ustrated .
1 6 lewis' Woodpecker: Mela-

18
19
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

nerpes lewis
P i ne Siskin: Carduelis pinus
Cyanocitta stelleri
Icteric virens
Gavia i m mer
Podilymbus pod iceps
Ardea herod ias
Butorides striatus
Bubulcus ibis
Cygnus columbianus
Bra nta canadensis
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas rubripes
Aix sponsa
Anas acuta
Aythya va lisi neria
Mergus merganser
Fulica americana
Charadrius vociferus
Ga l l i nago g a l l i nago
Tri nga flavipes
Actitis macularia
Calidris minutilla
larus argentatus
Sterna h i rundo
Turkey: Cathartes aura
Black: Coragyps atratus
Pandion hal iaetus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Acc i piter cooperii
Buteo jamaicensis
Falco sparver ius
Phasianus colchicus
Bonasa umbellus
Colinus virginianus

51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84

Col umba Iivia

Zen a ida macroura
Coccyzus americanus
Tyto alba
Bubo virginianus
Eastern : Otus asio
Western : Otus kennicot t i i
Chaetura pelagica
Caprimulgus vociferus
Chordeiles minor
Archilochus colubris
Ceryle alcyon
Me lanerpes
erythrocepha l u s
Colaptes auratus
Sphyrapicus varius
Picoides pubescens
Tyrannus tyra nnus
My iarchus crin itus
Sayorn i s phoebe
Empidonax m i n imus
Eremoph ila a l pestris
Progne subis
Tachycineta bicolor
H i rundo rustica
Pica pica
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Cyanocitta cri stata
Sitta caro l i nensis
Porus atricapi l l u s
Porus bicolor
Certhia americana
Troglodytes aedon
Regulus calendula
Regulus satrapa
Polioptila caeru lea

1 57
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
97

99

101

1 02
1 03
1 04
1 05
1 06
1 07
1 08
1 09
1 1 1

Sialia sialis
Hylacichla muste l i na
Catharus guttatus
Turdus migratorius
Dumetella carol i nensis
Mimus polyglottos
Toxostoma rufum
Bombyc i l l a cedrorum
Lanius ludovicianus
Sturnus vulgaris
Dendroica petechia
Yel low: Dendroica petechia
Black-and-white: Mniotilta
varia
B lack-throated Blue:
Dendroica caerulescens
Yel l owthroat: Geoth lypis
trichas
Ovenbird: Seiurus
auroca p i l l u s
Northern Waterthrush:
Seiurus noveboracensis
Yel l ow-rumped: Dendroica
coronata
American Redstart:
Setophaga ruticilla
Wilson's: Wilsonia pusilla
Vireo o l ivaceus
P i ranga o l ivacea
Card i n a l i s card ina l i s
Pheucticus l udovicianus
Passerine cyanea
Pipilo erythrophtha lmus
Pipilo fuscus
Spizella passerina
F i e l d : Spizella pusilla
Tree : Spizella arborea
Vesper: Pooecetes
gramineus

1 1 3 Chipping: Spizella

115

116
117
118
119
1 20
1 21
1 22
1 23
1 24
1 25
1 26
1 27
1 28

1 29

1 30

1 55

passeri ne
White-crowned :
Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated :
Zonotrichia albicollis
Song: Melospiza melodia
Swamp: Melospiza
georg iana
Fox : Passerella i l iaca
J unco hyemalis
Sturnella magna
Dali chonyx oryzivorus
Agelaius phoeniceus
E uphagus cyanocephalus
Quisca lus quiscula
Molothrus ater
Icterus galbula
Carpodacus purpureus
Carpodacus mexicanus
Cardue l i s tristis
Passer domesticus
Arctic Ter n : Sterna
parad i saea
Townsend's Wa rbler:
Dendroica townsendi
Dickcisse l : Spiza
americana
Upland Sandpiper:
Bartram i a longicauda
Red Knot: Calidris canutus
Thrush: lxoreus naevi u s
Grosbeak : Coccothraustes
vesperti n u s
Great Egret: Casmerod ius
a l bus
Heron: Egretta caerulea
Roadrunner: Geococcyx
californianus

--1.----

1 58

INDEX
Asteri sks ( * ) denote pages o n which birds are i l l ustrated .

A r c t i c Te r n , * 1 2 8

"'
"'
,.... w
...
w

o()
w

"'
<.:)

z
02
:::>
"'

....
:1:

Band i n g , * 1 9
B a rn- Ow l , C o m m o n ,
*54, 1 38 - 1 39
Bills, * 1 4- * 1 5
B i rd houses, * 1 7
B i rd "
adaptat i o n s , 1 4 - 1 5
attracti n g , 1 6 - 1 7
c l a ss i f i c a t i o n of, 913
counts, 2 0
fa m i l y t r e e of, * 1 2 *13
fee d i n g , 1 6- 1 7
l i f e h i st o r i e s , 2 0
parts of, 8, 1 4 - 1 5
B i rd watch i n g , 4 - 7 ,
1 55
B i t t e r n , A m e r i ca n , 24
B l a c k b i r d , B rewer's ,
* 1 20 , 1 5 2 - 1 5 3
Red-winged, * 1 1 9,
1 52- 1 53
R u s t y, 1 2 0
Tr i c o l o r e d , 1 1 9
B l u e b i r d s , * 8 5 , 1 4 41 45
B l u e J ay, * 1 8 , * 76 ,
1 42- 1 43
Bobo l i n k , * 1 1 8 ,
1 52 - 1 53
Bobwhite, N o r t h e r n ,
* 5 0 , 1 3 6- 1 3 7
Books, reference, 1 54
B r a n t , 27
B u n t i n g s , * 1 06 ,
1 48 - 1 49
B u s h t i t , 79
Canada Goose, * 2 7 ,
1 32- 1 33
Canva s b a c k , * 3 2 ,
1 34 - 1 3 5
C a rd i n a l , N o r t h e r n ,
* 1 04 , 1 4 8 - 1 4 9
C a t b i r d , G ray, * 89 ,
1 44 - 1 45

C a t t l e Egret. * 2 5 ,
1 3 2- 1 33
C h a t , Ye l l owbrea sted , * 1 9
C h ickadees, * 78 ,
1 42 - 1 43
C h u c k - w i l l 's-wi dow,
58
Coot, A m e r i c a n , * 3 4 ,
1 3 4 - 1 35
Cowb i r d , Brownheaded , * 1 2 2 ,
1 52- 1 53
Creeper, Brown, * 8 0 ,
1 42 - 1 43
Crows, * 7 5 ,
1 42- 1 43
Cuckoos, * 5 3 ,
1 3 8 - 1 39
D i c k c i ssel , * 1 2 8
Dove, Common
G ro u n d- , 5 1
Inca, 52
Mourn i n g , * 5 2 ,
1 3 8 - 1 39
Rock, * 5 1 , 1 3 8- 1 39
White-winged, 52
Dowitcher, 3 6
D u c k , American B l a c k ,
*29, 1 32- 1 33
lesser Sca u p , 32
Ma l l a r d , * 2 8 , 1 3 2 1 33
Mot t l e d , 2 9
Northern P i n ta i l ,
* 3 1 , 1 34 - 1 35
Woo d , * 3 0 , 1 3 2 1 33
E a g l e s , * 44, 1 36- 1 3 7
Egret, Cattle, *25,
1 32 - 1 33
Great, 2 5 , * 1 30
Snowy, 2 5
E m p i donax F l ycatc h e r s , 69
Evening Grosbeak,
* 1 30

F a l c o n , Pereg r i n e , 4 7
Feathers, * 1 4 - * 1 5
Feed i n g s t a t i o n s , * 1 6*17
Feet, * 1 4 - * 1 5
f i n c h , C a s s i n's, 1 24
House, * 1 25 ,
1 52- 1 53
P u r p l e , * 1 24 , 1 25 ,
1 52- 1 53
fish Hawk. See
Osprey
f l i cker, N or t h e r n ,
* 6 3 , 1 40 - 1 4 1
f l ycatcher, Aca d i a n ,
69
A l d e r, 69
Ash-throated, 6 7
D u sky, 6 9
Gray, 69
Great C rested ,
* 6 7 , 1 40 - 1 4 1
H a m mond's, 69
least, * 6 9 , 1 40141
Wester n , 69
W i l l ow, 69
Ye l l ow- b e l l i e d , 69
F lywa ys, * 1 2 8 - * 1 2 9
Gadwa l l , 2 9
Gallinule, Florida.
See Moorhe n ,
Common
Gnatcatchers, * 8 4 ,
1 44 - 1 45
Godw i t , M a r b l e d , 3 7
Goldfinch, American,
* 1 26 , 1 52 - 1 53
lesser, 1 2 6
Goose, C a n a d a , * 2 7 ,
1 32- 1 33
Goshawk, N o r t h e r n ,
45
Grackles, * 1 2 1 , 1 521 53
Great Blue H e r o n ,
* 2 3 , 1 32- 1 33
Grebes, * 2 2 , 1 3 2 - 1 3 3

1 59
Grosbe a k , B l a c k headed, 1 05
Even i n g , 1 05 , * 1 3 0
Rose-breasted ,
* 1 05 , 1 4 8 - 1 49
Gro u n d - D ove , 5 1
Grouse, Ruffe d , * 49,
1 3 6- 1 3 7
Sharp-ta i l e d , 49
Gulls, *40, 1 34 - 1 35
Hawk, B r o a d - w i n g e d ,
46
Cooper's, * 4 5 ,
1 36- 1 37
F i s h . See Osprey
Red - s h o u l d e r e d , 4 6
Red-ta i l e d , * 4 6 ,
1 36- 1 37
S ha r p- s h i n n e d , 45
Swa i n son's, 46
Heron , B la c k - c r owned
N ight-, 23
Great Blue, * 2 3 ,
1 32- 1 33
Green - b a c k e d ,
* 24 , 1 3 2 - 1 3 3
little Blue, 24, 25,
* 1 30
Tr i c o l o r e d , 1 3
Hummingbirds, *60,
1 38- 1 39
I n d i g o B u n t i n g , * 1 06 ,
1 4 8 - 1 49
Jay, B l u e , * 1 B. * 7 6 ,
1 42 - 1 43
P i nyon , 76
Scrub , 76
Steller's, * 1 8 , 76
J u n c o , D a r k - eyed ,
1 1 0, * 1 1 6,
1 5 0- 1 5 1
Ye l l ow-eyed , 1 1 6
Kestre l , A m e r i c a n ,
* 4 7 , 1 36- 1 37
K i l ldeer, * 3 5 , 1 341 35
K i n g b i r d s , * 66 , 6 7 ,
1 40- 1 4 1
K in g fi s he r s , * 6 1 , 1 40141

Kinglet, Goldencrowned, * 8 3 ,
1 44- 1 45
R u by-crowned,
* 8 2 , 1 44 - 1 4 5
l a r k , H a r n e d , * 70 ,
1 40- 1 4 1
loons, * 2 1 , 1 3 2 - 1 3 3
Mag p i e s , * 74 , 1 4 2 1 43
Mallard, * 2 8 , 1 321 33
Martin, Purple, * 7 1 ,
1 42- 1 43
Meadow l a r k s , 70,
* 1 1 7 , 1 52 - 1 53
Mergansers, * 3 3 ,
1 34 - 1 3 5
Merl i n , 4 7
Migration, 1 28 - 1 30
Mock i n g b i r d , N o r t h e r n , * 90, 1 44 1 45
Moorhen, C o m m o n ,
34
N a t i o n a l p a r k s , 1 55
N i g hthawk s , 5 8 , * 5 9 ,
1 3 8- 1 3 9
N ight-Heron, Blackcrowned, 2 3
N uthatch, Brownheaded, 77
Pygmy, 77
Red - breasted , 77
W h i t e - breasted,
* 7 7 , 1 42 - 1 4 3
O r i o l e , B a l t i m o r e . See
O r i o l e , N o rt h ern
Northern, * 1 23 ,
1 52 - 1 53
Orchard, 1 23
Osprey, * 4 3 , 1 3 6 - 1 3 7
Oven b i r d , 98- * 9 9 ,
1 46- 1 4 7
Ow l , B a r n - , * 5 4 , 1 3 8 1 39
Barred, 5 5
Burrowi n g , 5 6
Great H o r ned , * 5 5 ,
1 38- 1 39

Owl (cont . ) ,
long-ea red , 5 5
Saw-whet, 5 6
Screec h - , *56, 1 3 8 1 39
Spotted , 5 5
Pewee s , Wood - , 6 8
Ph easan t , R i n g necked , * 4 8 ,
1 36- 1 37
Phoebes , * 6 8 , 1 40 141
Pigeons, * 5 1 , 1 381 39
P i n ta i l , N o r t h e r n ,
* 3 1 , 1 34- 1 35
P i p i t , Water, 70
P l over, S e m i pa l mated ,
35
Poor-wi l l , C o m m o n ,
58
Prairie-Chickens, 48,
49
Pyrr h u l o x i a , 1 04
Qu a i l s , * 5 0 , 1 3 6- 1 3 7
Raven, C o m m o n , 75
Redhead , 3 2
Red K n o t , * 1 2 9
R e d s t a r t s , 1 00 - * 1 0 1 ,
1 48 - 1 49
Red-winged B l a c k b i r d ,
* 1 1 9 , 1 5 2- 1 53
Refuges, 1 B
notional w i l d l ife,
1 55
R o a d r u n ner, Greater,
* 1 55
Robin, American, * 8 8 ,
1 44 - 1 45
Rock Dove, * 5 1 ,
1 38- 1 39
S a n d p i per, least,
* 3 9 , 1 34 - 1 3 5
S e m i p a l m a te d , 3 9
S o l i ta r y, 3 8
Spotted , * 3 8 , 1 34 1 35
U p land, * 1 29
Weste r n , 3 9
White-rumped, 39

1 60

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Sapsuckers, 64, 1 40 141

Scaup, lesser, 3 2
Scientific n a m e s , 1 5 61 57
Scree c h - O w l s , 56,
1 38- 1 39
S h r i k e , loggerhead,
90, *93, 1 461 47
N o r t h e r n , 93
S i s k i n , Pine, * 1 6
Skylark, E u r a s i a n , 70
Snipe, Common, *36,
1 34 - 1 35
Spar row, A m e r i c a n
Tree , 1 1 0- * 1 1 1 ,
1 50- 1 5 1
C h i p p i n g , * 1 09 ,
1 1 2 - * 1 1 3 , 1 50151
English, * 1 27, 1 521 53
E u r a s i a n Tree, 1 1 0
F i e l d , 1 1 0- * 1 1 1 ,
1 50- 1 5 1
Fox, 1 1 4 - * 1 1 5 ,
1 50- 1 5 1
G o l d e n - c rowned,
1 12
House, * 1 27 , 1 521 53
l a rk, 1 1 0
Song , 1 1 0 , 1 1 4* 1 1 5 , 1 5 0- 1 5 1
Swa m p , 1 1 4- * 1 1 5 ,
1 50- 1 5 1
Tre e . See Sparrow,
A m e r i c a n Tree
Ves per, 1 1 0 - * 1 1 1 ,
1 50- 1 5 1
W h i te - c rowned ,
1 1 2 - * 1 1 3 , 1 50151
W h i te - t h roated,
1 1 2 - * 1 1 3 , 1 50151
Sta r l i n g , E u ropean,
* 94 , 1 46 - 1 4 7
Swa l l ow, B a n k , 73
Barn, * 7 3 , 1 4 2 - 1 43
C l i ff , 7 3
Tree , * 7 2 , 1 4 2 - 1 4 3
V i o le t- gr een , 7 2

Swa n , Mute, 2 6
Tu n d r a , * 2 6 , 1 3 2 1 33
W h i s t l i n g . See
Swa n , Tu ndra
Swifts, 5 7 , 1 3 8- 1 3 9
Ta nagers, *1 0 3 , 1 4 8 1 49
Tea l , Green-wi nged ,
31
Te r n , Arct i c , * 1 2 8
Caspian, 4 1
C o m m o n , 4 1 , 1 3 61 37
Forster's, 4 1
least, 4 1
T h ra s her, Brown, 8 6 ,
* 9 1 , 1 46 - 1 4 7
C a l iforn i a , 9 1
le Conte's, 9 1
Sage, 9 1
T h r u s h , Graycheeked , 8 7
Hermit, *87, 1 1 4 ,
1 44 - 1 45
Swa i n son's, 8 7
Va ried , 8 8 , * 1 30
Wood , *86, 87,
1 44 - 1 45
T i t m o u s e , Tufted, * 79 ,
1 42- 1 43
Towhee, Abert's, 1 08
Brown, * 1 0 8 , 1 4 8 1 49
Green-ta i l e d , 1 08
Rufou s - s i d e d , * 1 07 ,
1 48- 1 49
Tu rkey Vu lt u re, * 4 2 ,
1 36- 1 37
Veery, 8 6 , 87
Vi reos, * 1 0 2 , 1 4 81 49
Vultures, *42, 1 3 61 37
Wa r bl er, Black-andwhite, 96- * 9 7 ,
1 46 - 1 4 7
B l a c k po l l , 96
B l a c k -throated
B l u e , 96- * 9 7 ,
1 46 - 1 4 7

Wa r b l e r {c o nt . ) ,
B l a c k - t h roated
Gray, 96
B l a c k - t h roated
Green, 96
C e r u l e a n , 96
Ho oded , 1 00
Kentucky, 98
Magno l i a , 1 00
Myr t l e . See Wa rbier, Ye l l owrumped
Ora nge-crowned ,
96
Townsend's, * 1 2 8
W i lson's , 1 00 * 1 0 1 , 1 4 8 - 1 49
Ye l l ow, * 95 , 9 6 * 9 7 , 1 46 - 1 4 7
Ye l l ow - r u m p e d , 9 5 ,
1 00 - * 1 0 1 , 1 48 1 49
Ye l l owthroat. See
Ye l l owthroa t ,
Common
Wate r t h r u s h e s , 9 8 * 99 , 1 46 - 1 4 7
Waxw i n g , Bohem i a n ,
92
C e d a r, * 92, 1 46 1 47
Whimbrel, 37
W h i p - poor -w i l l , * 5 8 ,
1 38- 1 39
W i g e o n , A m e r i c a n , 30
Wil let, 37
Woodcoc k , A m e r i c a n ,
36
Wood pecker, A c o r n , 6 2
Downy, * 1 6 , * 65 ,
1 40- 1 4 1
H a i ry, 6 5
lew i s ' , * 1 6
Red - be l l i e d , 6 2
Red-headed, * 6 2 ,
1 40- 1 4 1
Wood - Pewees , 68
Wren s , * 8 1 , 1 44 - 1 45
Ye l l o w l e g s , lesser,
* 3 7 , 1 34 - 1 3 5
Ye l l owt h ro at , C o m m o n , 9 8 - * 99 ,
1 46- 1 4 7
A B C D E F

BIRDS
A GOLDEN GUIDE
HERBERT S. ZIM, Ph . D. , Sc . D. , an originator and

former editor of the Golden Guide Series , w a s also an

author for many yea r s . Author of some ninety books
and editor of about as many, he is now Adjunct Pro
fessor a t the University of Miami and Educational
Consultant to the American Friends Service Commit
tee and other organizatio n s . He works on educa
tiona l , popula tion and environmental problem s .
The l a t e I R A N. GAB RIELSON, LL . D. , D. S c . , was
President of the Wildlife Management Institute. A
former director of the U . S . Fish a nd Wildlife Service,
he was also known for his books on birds of Alaska
and Oregon .
CHANDLER S. ROBBINS, wildlife research biologist
for the U.S. Fish a nd Wildlife Service, h a s h a d broad
field experience in a l l 50 state s . An internationally
known expert on identification, he h a s banded over
1 20, 000 birds, a nd has identified more than 600 spe
cies in North America a lone. Mr. Robbins is senior
au thor of the popular Golden Field Guide Birds of

North A m erica .

JAMES GORDON IRV ING has exhibited paintings

a t the American Museum of Natural History and the
Nationa l Aud ubon Society. In the Golden Guide Se
ries he h a s illustrated Mammals, B irds , Insects, Rept iles
and Amph ibia n s , Stars, Fishes, a nd Ga m ebirds .

GOLDEN PRESS

NEW YORK

24 05 3

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A GOLDEN GUIDE

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