TOWHEEPipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus(Linnæus)

Fox Sparrow

Its rich red-brown rump and tail are sufficient to distinguish this bird from the other sparrows, but not always from the Hermit Thrush, a bird with a surprisingly similar color-pattern when seen from the rear or in flight. The thrush has a slenderer bill, of course, and has the habit of elevating the tail when it alights. Usually, the Fox Sparrow occurs in flocks; in spring it indulges itself in song—a rich, ringing melody, among the most impressive of our sparrow songs. The call-note is a heavytschŭp, somewhat like the alarm-cry of the Brown Thrasher. Look for the Fox Sparrow in thick woodlands, among grapevines and similar tangles. This species responds readily to squeaking.

Other Names.—Chewink; Ground Robin; Swamp Robin; Joree; Guffee (local).Description.—A little smaller than a Robin, with long tail and comparatively short wings.Male: Head, neck, upper breast, and upperparts black, the base and part of the outer web of the primaries, and spots on the tertials, white; three outer tail-feathers with white tips, the outer web of the outer feather entirely white; sides and under tail-coverts rich reddish brown, bordered irregularly with black spots along sides of belly; belly white; eyes bright red; bill black.Female: Similar in pattern, but black of male replaced throughout by rich, grayish brown, quite bright in some individuals; eyes bright reddish brown.Length: 8½ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident in all woodlands, usually from early or mid-April to late October or later. Occasionally it is found in the dead of winter, even when the snow is deep.Nest.—A cup of grasses and slender weed-stalks, generally placed on the ground, rarely in a low bush, lined with finer materials, and usually located in the woodlands at the base of a small tree, under a May-apple plant, or in a bank.Eggs: 3 to 5, white, thickly, evenly, and finely spotted, and sometimes blotched with reddish brown, grayish, and black.

Other Names.—Chewink; Ground Robin; Swamp Robin; Joree; Guffee (local).

Description.—A little smaller than a Robin, with long tail and comparatively short wings.Male: Head, neck, upper breast, and upperparts black, the base and part of the outer web of the primaries, and spots on the tertials, white; three outer tail-feathers with white tips, the outer web of the outer feather entirely white; sides and under tail-coverts rich reddish brown, bordered irregularly with black spots along sides of belly; belly white; eyes bright red; bill black.Female: Similar in pattern, but black of male replaced throughout by rich, grayish brown, quite bright in some individuals; eyes bright reddish brown.Length: 8½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident in all woodlands, usually from early or mid-April to late October or later. Occasionally it is found in the dead of winter, even when the snow is deep.

Nest.—A cup of grasses and slender weed-stalks, generally placed on the ground, rarely in a low bush, lined with finer materials, and usually located in the woodlands at the base of a small tree, under a May-apple plant, or in a bank.Eggs: 3 to 5, white, thickly, evenly, and finely spotted, and sometimes blotched with reddish brown, grayish, and black.

Towhee, Male

The Towhee’s interesting habit of scratching among the leaves is characteristic and rather amusing. Like a little hen, the bird bustles about on the ground, jumping back and forth as the leaf-mold flies and as the small terrestrial insects and fallen weed-seeds are exposed. A Towhee thus hunting for food may make a laughably big noise.

Its flight is jerky, not usually rapid, and the tail pumps and flashes considerably, showing the white tips of the outer feathers plainly. None of our woodland birds more clearly displays white inthe tail than does this ground-inhabiting species, unless it is the smaller Junco.

Listen for the often-repeated, rather loud call-note of this bird,too-whee, as he elevates his crest and flicks his tail. The song is rather musical and resembles somewhat the following syllabizationprit-tel-lee, lee, lee, lee, lee, the last part being run together so rapidly as to be scarcely pronounceable. The Towhee sings from the top of a bush or low tree and, while performing, lets his tail hang limp and lifts and throws back his head.

Young Towhees, carefully guarded by their voluble and agitated parents, are hard to find in their leafy home. They have heavily streaked underparts, and therefore look a good deal more like the race of sparrows, to which they belong, than do their parents.

Other Names.—Redbird; Virginia Cardinal or Redbird; Cardinal Grosbeak.Description.—Smaller than Robin; both sexes with high crests and huge, pink bills.Adult male: Bright, deep rose-red, richest on breast; back, wing and tail-feathers edged with grayish; region in front of eye and on throat black; bill orange-pink; eyes brown.Female: Grayish brown above, buffy white and grayish below, the crest, wings, and tail tinged with red, noticeable especially in flight.Young male: Like the adult female, but the under-wing linings are pink and the breast is blotched with red.Length: 8 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant permanent resident in southern and western Pennsylvania, and locally in the mountains. It is extending its range northward along the river valleys.Nest.—A neat but rather thin cup of weed-stalks and grasses, scantily lined with rootlets and other fine materials.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, spotted and speckled with lilac and grayish.

Other Names.—Redbird; Virginia Cardinal or Redbird; Cardinal Grosbeak.

Description.—Smaller than Robin; both sexes with high crests and huge, pink bills.Adult male: Bright, deep rose-red, richest on breast; back, wing and tail-feathers edged with grayish; region in front of eye and on throat black; bill orange-pink; eyes brown.Female: Grayish brown above, buffy white and grayish below, the crest, wings, and tail tinged with red, noticeable especially in flight.Young male: Like the adult female, but the under-wing linings are pink and the breast is blotched with red.Length: 8 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant permanent resident in southern and western Pennsylvania, and locally in the mountains. It is extending its range northward along the river valleys.

Nest.—A neat but rather thin cup of weed-stalks and grasses, scantily lined with rootlets and other fine materials.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, spotted and speckled with lilac and grayish.

Cardinal, Male

Both the male and female Cardinal sing a loud, whistling song which may be variously written aspoo-ree, poo-ree,reap-er, reap-er,whit you, whit you, orwhat cheer, what cheer, many times repeated. The call-note is a metallic chirp. Cardinals are sometimes familiar door-yard birds. Since they stay the year around, a special effort should be made to feed them corn, suet, nuts, sunflower seeds, and grit during the snowy spells.

Cardinals like to nest in shadowy places, and will sometimes rear their young in shrubbery or vines which grow about our porches.

Description.—Smaller than Robin, with very large beak.Adult male: Head, neck, and upperparts black, the wings, tail, and upper tail-coverts marked with white; triangular breast-patch and under-wing linings light rose-red; rest of underparts white, streaked on sides with black; bill white or pinkish white; eyes dark brown.Adult female: Sparrow-like in appearance, being dull brown, streaked with black above, the wings marked with two whitish wing-bars, the underparts buffy, streaked with brown on breast and sides.Young males: Like the females but with rosy under-wing linings.Adult male in winter: Like adult female, but the wings and tail more or less as in the spring plumage and rosy breast-patch showing to an extent.Length: 8 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A somewhat local and irregular migrant throughout, and a summer resident chiefly in the central and northern counties from late April to mid-September.Nest.—A cup made of vegetable fibers and rootlets, often so thin that the eggs show through, placed in a thick tree, in a low, damp situation, 8 to 25 feet from ground.Eggs: 3 to 6, pale blue-green, spotted with brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A somewhat local and irregular migrant throughout, and a summer resident chiefly in the central and northern counties from late April to mid-September.

Nest.—A cup made of vegetable fibers and rootlets, often so thin that the eggs show through, placed in a thick tree, in a low, damp situation, 8 to 25 feet from ground.Eggs: 3 to 6, pale blue-green, spotted with brown.

Rose-breasted GrosbeakMaleFemale

The song of this bird is a bright, musical warble, resembling the carol of a Robin. Both sexes incubate the eggs, and the male may sometimes be heard singing softly or in a full-throated manner while at his domestic duties. These birds eat many destructive insect pests, including the much-dreaded Colorado potato beetle. The call-note may be writteneek.

Indigo BuntingFemaleMale

Description.—Adult male in spring: Bright, glossy green-blue all over, purplish on head, somewhat dusky on wings and tail, and the belly sometimes marked with a few whitish feathers; bill and eyes black.Adult female: Grayish brown, lighter below, the lesser coverts and edge of wing and tail-feathers bluish; two obscure grayish wing-bars.Young birds: Like the females.Adult males in winter: Similar to those in spring but all feathers tipped widely with brown, giving an effect much as in the female.Length: 5½ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident from late April or early May to mid-September; sometimes very abundant in favorable localities.Nest.—A rather firm, deep cup made of weed-stalks and plant fibers, placed a few feet from the ground in a raspberry or other low bush, usually at the edge of a woodland or in an open space among the trees.Eggs: 3 to 5, very pale blue or bluish white.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident from late April or early May to mid-September; sometimes very abundant in favorable localities.

Nest.—A rather firm, deep cup made of weed-stalks and plant fibers, placed a few feet from the ground in a raspberry or other low bush, usually at the edge of a woodland or in an open space among the trees.Eggs: 3 to 5, very pale blue or bluish white.

In the very top of a tree, along the hot midsummer roadside, sings the brilliant male during the lazy noon hours, his bright, rich music an accompaniment to the damp warmth which rises from the fields or to the dust that settles on the leaves near the road. Approach the singer carefully or he will fly before you get a good glimpse of him. The female is not easy to recognize unless she happens to be with or near her mate. She is very dull in color and is not often seen. Raspberry and blackberry thickets are the favorite haunt of this bird.

The largerBlue Grosbeak(Guiraca cærulea cærulea) should be looked for in southern counties. Records for this rare species are very desirable.

TheDickcisselorBlack-throated Bunting(Spiza americana) is a very local summer resident which should be looked for in open fields. It is English Sparrow-like in appearance, but has a yellow breast. Its song may be writtenDick, dick, chic, chic, chic.

Description.—Larger than the English Sparrow, with bill which is heavy like a sparrow’s but longer and not so conical.Adult male in summer: Bright scarlet, our brightest red bird, with black wings and tail, pale olive-green bill, and dark brown eyes.Adult female: Olive-green above, dull yellow below.Male in winter: olive-green, like the female, but with black wings and tail. Male birds in changing plumage, such as is found in late summer, are much blotched in appearance.Length: A little over 7 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident of the woodlands from late April and early May to mid-September.Nest.—A rather shallow, thinly constructed cup made of rootlets and weed-stalks, placed from 20 to 40 feet from the ground, usually in a deciduous tree.Eggs: 3 to 6, pale blue-green, speckled with reddish brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident of the woodlands from late April and early May to mid-September.

Nest.—A rather shallow, thinly constructed cup made of rootlets and weed-stalks, placed from 20 to 40 feet from the ground, usually in a deciduous tree.Eggs: 3 to 6, pale blue-green, speckled with reddish brown.

Scarlet Tanager, Male

The slow, crawling movements and lazy, rather harsh, warbling song of this bird strongly suggest the tropics, its ancestral home.Its song is much like a Robin’s, but it is more alto and is harsher and lazier, and its call-note is a plainly givenchi-perr, which is often more frequently heard in the damp woodlands than any other bird-note of midsummer. The intensity of the male Scarlet Tanager’s full plumage fairly takes the breath. At a distance, the dull female may suggest a vireo or a large warbler, but her movements are always characteristic of this family.

Description.—Larger than English Sparrow; wings long and pointed; tail moderately long and noticeably forked.Adult male: Rich purplish and bluish black, the lores velvety black; feet and bill black; eyes dark brown.Adult female: Blackish glossed with blue above; forehead, underparts, and imperfect collar around neck, gray; belly whitish.Immature birds: Like the adult female.Length: 8 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common but extremely local migrant and summer resident from early or mid-April to mid-August and occasionally later.Nest.—Made of leaves and grasses in a cavity in a tree, crevice in a building, or in a bird-house, from 12 to 40 feet from the ground.Eggs: 3 to 7, white.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common but extremely local migrant and summer resident from early or mid-April to mid-August and occasionally later.

Nest.—Made of leaves and grasses in a cavity in a tree, crevice in a building, or in a bird-house, from 12 to 40 feet from the ground.Eggs: 3 to 7, white.

Purple Martin; Barn, Rough-winged, Bank, Cliff, and Tree Swallows

Spluttering notes, some of which resemble an old-fashioned music-box, announce the return of the Martins to their accustomed nesting quarters. Gracefully, the glossy birds sail about, calling to each other, capturing insects, and perching near or upon their nest. They have almost altogether given up nesting in hollow trees and prefer to use bird-boxes, it appears, though in such towns as Waynesburg, Ligonier, and Coudersport they nest in any cranny among the buildings which they can find. Martins are very fond of dragonflies; they have the interesting habit of bringing green leaves into the nest during summer, either as new lining for the nests, to make the young birds cooler, or for some other reason. In late summer they band together, sometimes in tremendous flocks, depart for some congregating point along the New Jersey or Delaware coast, or elsewhere, and prepare for the journey to their South American winter home. Purple Martins are temperamental in choosing their nesting quarters. Certain towns do not please them, and they will not, apparently, nest; in other towns they nest anywhere.

Description.—About the size of an English Sparrow, but with long wings; tail of moderate length, not noticeably forked; sexes similar.Adults: Forehead buffy white; crown and back glossy steel-blue, the latter obscurely streaked with white; cheeks, ear-patches, chin, and throat rich reddish brown; back of neck, narrow collar, and underparts grayish; belly white; wings and tail blackish, glossed with blue;rump pale reddish or orange-brown, very noticeable in flight.Young: Dull grayish brown, the rump noticeably rusty though not as plainly so as in adult.Length: 6 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant throughout and extremely local summer resident, chiefly in the northern counties, from early or mid-April to early or mid-September.Nest.—A bottle-shaped structure of mud, lined with grasses and feathers, the funnel-shaped entrance to the nest pointed outward and downward. It is built under the eaves of a barn or other building,always on the outside, or on a cliff or bridge abutment. Usually many nests are found together.Eggs: 4 to 7, white, or creamy white, speckled with reddish brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant throughout and extremely local summer resident, chiefly in the northern counties, from early or mid-April to early or mid-September.

Nest.—A bottle-shaped structure of mud, lined with grasses and feathers, the funnel-shaped entrance to the nest pointed outward and downward. It is built under the eaves of a barn or other building,always on the outside, or on a cliff or bridge abutment. Usually many nests are found together.Eggs: 4 to 7, white, or creamy white, speckled with reddish brown.

Look for the buffy rump-patch of this slow-flying, graceful swallow, which gathers mud for its nest without alighting on the ground and whose conversational twitterings sound like the squeaks produced by rubbing a piece of wet rubber with the finger. In early spring and during later summer, several kinds of swallows will be found together in the migratory flocks. Cliff Swallows are easily driven from their nests by English Sparrows or Starlings; they will not use bird-boxes put out for them.

Description.—Smaller and slenderer, but longer than an English Sparrow, with long, pointed wings and very long, deeply forked tail which is noticeable in flight or while the bird is perched on a wire.Adult male: Forehead, chin, and throat rich reddish brown; line through eye and band across breast blackish; upperparts blackish, highly glossed with steel-blue, the inner margins of the tail-feathers marked with white spots; rest of underparts and wing-linings pale reddish brown.Adult female: Similar, but duller.Young birds: Almost white below and with only moderately long, though noticeably forked tails.Length: 7 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from mid-April to late August or early September.Nest.—A cup of mud, lined with feathers and a few grasses, built upon a rafteron the inside of a barnor other building, usually in a more or less inaccessible spot.Eggs: 3 to 7, white, spotted with brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from mid-April to late August or early September.

Nest.—A cup of mud, lined with feathers and a few grasses, built upon a rafteron the inside of a barnor other building, usually in a more or less inaccessible spot.Eggs: 3 to 7, white, spotted with brown.

Every farmer boy loves the cheerful swallows which twitter so amiably and circle so tirelessly about the barn, capturing insects above nearby pools and darting through the doors, or sometimes through mere cracks in the boards, so unerringly. These birds have good reason to be popular, for they are not only beautiful andcompanionable neighbors, but they are distinctly beneficial because of their capturing of myriads of flying insects which they eat or feed to their ravenous young. I once saw a blacksnake at the nest of a Barn Swallow, high on an upper rafter in a barn-loft, and it had eaten two of the young before I interrupted its meal.

Description.—Smaller than an English Sparrow; tail of moderate length and not deeply forked.Adult male: Upperparts glossy blue-green, brightest on crown and back, less colorful on wings and tail;entire underparts pure white.Female: Similar, but duller.Young birds: Like the female.Length: 6 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant throughout, but a rather rare and local summer resident in northern counties and at high altitudes, from early April to late August. As a nesting bird, it is almost always found near a body of water.Nest.—Of grasses and other vegetable matter, lined with feathers, placed in a cavity, an old woodpecker nest, or in a bird-box, usually from 15 to 60 feet from the ground, in a tree at the edge of a lake or in the water.Eggs: 3 to 7, white.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant throughout, but a rather rare and local summer resident in northern counties and at high altitudes, from early April to late August. As a nesting bird, it is almost always found near a body of water.

Nest.—Of grasses and other vegetable matter, lined with feathers, placed in a cavity, an old woodpecker nest, or in a bird-box, usually from 15 to 60 feet from the ground, in a tree at the edge of a lake or in the water.Eggs: 3 to 7, white.

The swallows are easily distinguished once their outstanding characters are firmly fixed in the mind. This bird has white,absolutely unmarkedunderparts—the Bank Swallow’s white breast is crossed with a brownish band; the Rough-wing’s throat and breast are gray. I have seen Tree Swallows nesting at Conneaut Lake, Crawford County, and at several of the lakes in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Other Name.—Sand Martin.Description.—Smallest of the swallow family, considerably lighter and slenderer than an English Sparrow; sexes similar.Adults: Grayish brown above; wings and tail noticeably darker than back in flight; underparts white; breast crossed by a narrow, dull brown band, distinctly noticeable when the bird is at rest; tail not deeply forked.Length: About 5¼ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—Formerly found at several points during summer where it does not nest now, due to pollution of the streams. It is a fairly common migrant and local summer resident from mid-April to early or mid-September.Nest.—Of grasses and rootlets, lined with feathers, placed at the end of a long burrow which is usually several feet above high-water-mark and sometimes 5 to 6 feet long.Eggs: 3 to 6, white or creamy white.

Other Name.—Sand Martin.

Description.—Smallest of the swallow family, considerably lighter and slenderer than an English Sparrow; sexes similar.Adults: Grayish brown above; wings and tail noticeably darker than back in flight; underparts white; breast crossed by a narrow, dull brown band, distinctly noticeable when the bird is at rest; tail not deeply forked.Length: About 5¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Formerly found at several points during summer where it does not nest now, due to pollution of the streams. It is a fairly common migrant and local summer resident from mid-April to early or mid-September.

Nest.—Of grasses and rootlets, lined with feathers, placed at the end of a long burrow which is usually several feet above high-water-mark and sometimes 5 to 6 feet long.Eggs: 3 to 6, white or creamy white.

This little swallow usually nests in large colonies. It has a graceful, fluttering flight, much less direct and rapid than that of the somewhat larger, though amazingly similar, Rough-winged Swallow,which occurs in many parts of Pennsylvania where the Bank Swallow does not nest. In identifying this species, take care to observe closely the brown band across the breast and the light brown back which contrasts with the blacker wings and tail.

Description.—About the size of a Barn Swallow; outer web of outer primary with tiny recurved hooks along the entire edge, noticeable when the thumb or finger-nail is drawn along it; these hooklets are sometimes absent in the female; the purpose they serve is not known.Adults: Above brownish gray, quite dark on wings and tail; throat and breast pale brownish gray; belly white.Immature: Similar, but the outer web of the outer primary has no hooklets and the gray of the throat and breast is sometimes washed with reddish brown.Length: 5¾inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare, somewhat local, and never abundant summer resident from April 15 to September 1, found almost altogether in the more southern and less mountainous counties.Nest.—Of grasses and weed-stalks, lined with finer materials,but not with feathers, placed at the end of a burrow in a bank, as is the Bank Swallow’s, or in crevices in rocks along a stream, in abutments of bridges, or sometimes in pipes about dwellings which stand near streams.Eggs: 3 to 6, white.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare, somewhat local, and never abundant summer resident from April 15 to September 1, found almost altogether in the more southern and less mountainous counties.

Nest.—Of grasses and weed-stalks, lined with finer materials,but not with feathers, placed at the end of a burrow in a bank, as is the Bank Swallow’s, or in crevices in rocks along a stream, in abutments of bridges, or sometimes in pipes about dwellings which stand near streams.Eggs: 3 to 6, white.

The Rough-wing’s graceful, sweeping flight is less fluttering than that of the Bank Swallow. All of the swallows usually allow fairly close approach and therefore should not be difficult to identify.

Cedar Waxwing

Other Names.—Cherry Bird; Cedar Bird.Description.—Plumage soft and silken; feet rather short and small; head with high crest; bill small.Adult male: Head, neck, breast, and back, glossy olive-brown; forehead and line through eye, chin, and throat, black; a white line extending backward from lower mandible to beneath eye; black forehead bordered behind with white; wings, rump, and tail, blue-gray; secondaries tipped with small waxen appendages;tail prominently tipped with pale yellow; sides and belly sulphur-yellow; under tail-coverts whitish; bill, feet, and eyes, black.Female: Similar, but usually lacks the waxen appendages on the secondaries.Young birds: Similar, but with only a small crest and noticeably streaked. Waxen appendages sometimes occur on the secondaries of the female as well as on the tips of the tail-feathers in both sexes.Length: A little over 7 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—An erratic and irregular permanent resident, being sometimes abundant, sometimes absent for several seasons; usually seen in flocks.Nest.—Neatly built of weed-stems, twigs, and fibers, lined with softer materials, placed in a tree, usually from 12 to 20 feet from the ground, and toward the end of the branch. Nesting often takes place rather late in summer. I have seen a female sitting upon her eggs as late as September 11.Eggs: 3 to 6, blue-gray, spotted with black.

Other Names.—Cherry Bird; Cedar Bird.

Description.—Plumage soft and silken; feet rather short and small; head with high crest; bill small.Adult male: Head, neck, breast, and back, glossy olive-brown; forehead and line through eye, chin, and throat, black; a white line extending backward from lower mandible to beneath eye; black forehead bordered behind with white; wings, rump, and tail, blue-gray; secondaries tipped with small waxen appendages;tail prominently tipped with pale yellow; sides and belly sulphur-yellow; under tail-coverts whitish; bill, feet, and eyes, black.Female: Similar, but usually lacks the waxen appendages on the secondaries.Young birds: Similar, but with only a small crest and noticeably streaked. Waxen appendages sometimes occur on the secondaries of the female as well as on the tips of the tail-feathers in both sexes.Length: A little over 7 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An erratic and irregular permanent resident, being sometimes abundant, sometimes absent for several seasons; usually seen in flocks.

Nest.—Neatly built of weed-stems, twigs, and fibers, lined with softer materials, placed in a tree, usually from 12 to 20 feet from the ground, and toward the end of the branch. Nesting often takes place rather late in summer. I have seen a female sitting upon her eggs as late as September 11.Eggs: 3 to 6, blue-gray, spotted with black.

The Cedar Waxwing’s trim form and sleek plumage make him an outstandingly handsome bird. He has no song, however, giving forth only a fine, shrilleeeeeeee, which is scarcely audible to some observers. A flock of these plump-bodied birds sometimes sit in a tree-top, their feathers fluffed out. They catch insects like flycatchers. Sometimes they indulge in a queer little dance. In a cherry tree which is full of fruit, they sometimes pass tid-bits between them in a strangely deliberate, polite fashion. They are very fond of cedar berries, poke berries, and the fruits of the Virginia creeper, but the name “Cherry Bird” is well earned. Remember the crest, the upright carriage, the flocking tendency, and theyellow-tipped tailof this species. The waxwings are the only birds which have their tails tipped with yellow.

TheNorthernorBohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrula) is to be found rarely in winter. Records of this species in Pennsylvania are very desirable. It is like the Cedar Waxwing in color, but is larger; the under tail-coverts are rich reddish brown, and the wings are marked with a white patch on the primary coverts, white tips on the secondaries, and white and yellow edgings on the primaries. When Bohemian Waxwings appear they are likely to be docile and unsuspicious, and will therefore give the observer an excellent opportunity to identify them satisfactorily.

Northern Shrike

Other Name.—Butcher Bird.Description.—Size of Robin, but with larger head and large, strongly hooked bill; sexes similar.Adults: Top of head, hind neck, and back, light gray, lightest along outer edges of scapulars and fading into white on rump and upper tail-coverts; line above eye, white; broad line through eye to ear-coverts, wings and tail, black; tips of the secondaries, base of the primaries, and tips of outer tail-feathers, white; underpartsfinely barred with light gray; bill, feet, and eyes, black.Young birds: Brownish gray, with dark brown wings and tail which are marked with white much as in the adults. The underparts are finely barred with brownish.Length: 10½ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—Rather rare winter visitant from late October or November to March. It is found chiefly in the northern counties in more or less open regions.

Other Name.—Butcher Bird.

Description.—Size of Robin, but with larger head and large, strongly hooked bill; sexes similar.Adults: Top of head, hind neck, and back, light gray, lightest along outer edges of scapulars and fading into white on rump and upper tail-coverts; line above eye, white; broad line through eye to ear-coverts, wings and tail, black; tips of the secondaries, base of the primaries, and tips of outer tail-feathers, white; underpartsfinely barred with light gray; bill, feet, and eyes, black.Young birds: Brownish gray, with dark brown wings and tail which are marked with white much as in the adults. The underparts are finely barred with brownish.Length: 10½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Rather rare winter visitant from late October or November to March. It is found chiefly in the northern counties in more or less open regions.

The shrike’s striking black and white plumage will suggest a Mockingbird. Its harsh cries have a sinister quality, however, suggesting a bird of prey. The heavy, hooked bill and strong feet assist it in capturing the mice, small birds, and insects which are its food, and which it impales on thorns or on barbed wire. Records of this species are desirable.

Other Name.—Butcher Bird.Description.—Smaller than Robin, with proportionally large head and strongly hooked bill; sexes similar. Top of head, hind neck, and back, clear gray, shading into whitish at outer edges of scapulars and on rump and upper tail-coverts; wings and tail black; tips of secondaries, base of primaries, and tips of outer tail-feathers, white; broad band through eye back to ear-coverts, black; underparts white, grayer on breast and belly,which are not barred.Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and local migrant and summer resident from early March to November, nesting chiefly in the Lake Erie coastal region and elsewhere in flat, open country.Nest.—A bulky affair made of twigs, lined with feathers, placed in a thorn tree not far from the ground.Eggs: 3 to 6, white, spotted with gray or olive-gray.

Other Name.—Butcher Bird.

Description.—Smaller than Robin, with proportionally large head and strongly hooked bill; sexes similar. Top of head, hind neck, and back, clear gray, shading into whitish at outer edges of scapulars and on rump and upper tail-coverts; wings and tail black; tips of secondaries, base of primaries, and tips of outer tail-feathers, white; broad band through eye back to ear-coverts, black; underparts white, grayer on breast and belly,which are not barred.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and local migrant and summer resident from early March to November, nesting chiefly in the Lake Erie coastal region and elsewhere in flat, open country.

Nest.—A bulky affair made of twigs, lined with feathers, placed in a thorn tree not far from the ground.Eggs: 3 to 6, white, spotted with gray or olive-gray.

Migrant Shrike

When a Shrike moves from one perch to another, it drops to within a few inches of the ground and moves along with characteristic buzzing flight, at which times its gray, black, and white plumage is conspicuous. In the field its head appears large, and it is given to perching in prominent barren places, on the top of a tree or on a wire.

The Vireos are a difficult group for the beginner. They are dull in color, they come at a time when other birds are abundant, and they do not, for the most part, have particularly noticeable songs. In identifying the Vireos it is well to remember thatall of them move deliberately, turning the head from side to side pensively, and crawling about the branches in a very characteristic fashion. No Vireo has any white in the tail, as have many of the otherwise similarly colored warblers. Note that the first three species have no wing-bars; the other three have two wing-bars.

Other Name.—Preacher Bird.Description.—Size of English Sparrow.Adults: Top of head blue-gray; line above eye white, bordered above with a blackish line; line through eye blackish; rest of upperparts olive-green; underparts whitish, washed with olive-green and pale yellowish on sides; eyes reddish or red-brown.Young: Similar, but duller.Length: 6¼ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from late April or early May to late September and October.Nest.—A pensile cup made of vegetable fibers, cobwebs, and so forth,lined with grape-vine bark, placed on a branch of a low sapling, usually from 5 to 10 feet from the ground.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

Other Name.—Preacher Bird.

Description.—Size of English Sparrow.Adults: Top of head blue-gray; line above eye white, bordered above with a blackish line; line through eye blackish; rest of upperparts olive-green; underparts whitish, washed with olive-green and pale yellowish on sides; eyes reddish or red-brown.Young: Similar, but duller.Length: 6¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from late April or early May to late September and October.

Nest.—A pensile cup made of vegetable fibers, cobwebs, and so forth,lined with grape-vine bark, placed on a branch of a low sapling, usually from 5 to 10 feet from the ground.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

Warbling VireoRed-eyed Vireo

The oft-repeated song of this bird, which is delivered all during the warm hours of the summer days, has been responsible for the name “Preacher Bird.” This song, given while the bird searches for food among the leaves, is repeated at intervals of a few seconds, sometimes apparently for hours at a stretch. Look for the Red-eye in shady woodlands where there are deciduous trees. The harsh note of alarm is not unlike the well-known cry of the Catbird.

Description.—Like the Red-eyed Vireo, but smaller, with slightly shorter bill, greener upperparts, and rather decidedly yellower underparts.Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and little-known migrant in late April and early May and in September, found usually in alder thickets in the company of various species of the warbler family.

Description.—Like the Red-eyed Vireo, but smaller, with slightly shorter bill, greener upperparts, and rather decidedly yellower underparts.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and little-known migrant in late April and early May and in September, found usually in alder thickets in the company of various species of the warbler family.

This species is not easy to identify in the field. Its song, which is like the Red-eye’s, but more rapidly delivered, may be heard in the spring; but in the fall, the chances are the bird will pass unnoticed since neither its song nor its color in any way attracts attention. All records are desirable.

Description.—Like the Red-eye, but smaller, less strikingly marked, the top of head being almost the same color as the back, the sides less tinged with yellow.Length: 5¾ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A common summer resident from late April to late September; usually found in or near towns.Nest.—A pensile cup, made much like the Red-eye’s, but found high in shade trees, in towns, or along country roadsides.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small spots.

Description.—Like the Red-eye, but smaller, less strikingly marked, the top of head being almost the same color as the back, the sides less tinged with yellow.Length: 5¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common summer resident from late April to late September; usually found in or near towns.

Nest.—A pensile cup, made much like the Red-eye’s, but found high in shade trees, in towns, or along country roadsides.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small spots.

Dull, plain in appearance, this is one of our most perfectly named birds, for its song is awarble—a somewhat unmusical, wheezy, lisping warble, usually delivered from the shade of a big tree.

Description.—About the size of the Red-eye, but with line in front of and around the eye, and chin, throat, and breast, clear light yellow;two prominent white wing-bars, and the blackish tertials strongly edged with white. The sexes are similar.Length: 6 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common but somewhat irregular summer resident from late April and May to September.Nest.—A deep, pensile cup, swung from a branch high in a large deciduous tree standing at the edge of a woodland or in an open field.Eggs: 3 or 4, buffy white, with a few red-brown spots.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common but somewhat irregular summer resident from late April and May to September.

Nest.—A deep, pensile cup, swung from a branch high in a large deciduous tree standing at the edge of a woodland or in an open field.Eggs: 3 or 4, buffy white, with a few red-brown spots.

The song of this species, which is deliberate, and alto in quality, has been writtenMary, Mary, come ’ere, the’erewith a downward inflection.

Yellow-throated VireoBlue-headed Vireo

Description.—Smaller than the Red-eye and with a more sprightly manner. Line above and around eyeyellow; wing with two yellowish or white bars; sides yellowish; breast and belly grayish; chin and throat white;eyes white, rather noticeable in the field.Length: 5¼ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—An extremely rare migrant in the western part; east of the mountains somewhat commoner, particularly along the Susquehanna and Delaware drainage, where it sometimes nests.Nest.—A neat, pensile cup, placed in a low bush or tree, usually not far from the ground.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An extremely rare migrant in the western part; east of the mountains somewhat commoner, particularly along the Susquehanna and Delaware drainage, where it sometimes nests.

Nest.—A neat, pensile cup, placed in a low bush or tree, usually not far from the ground.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

The song which may be writtenpit, pit-a-ta-chee-whēēr, does not suggest a vireo at all. Remember that this bird will be found among low, thick bushes.

Description.—Size of the Red-eye, but upper part of head rich blue-gray, with aprominent line in front of and around eye, white;wings with two noticeable bars; sides yellow, irregularly washed with olive-green; chin, throat, breast, and belly, white.Length: A little over 5½ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant and summer resident. It is the first of the vireos to arrive in spring, appearing in mid- or latter April and remaining until October. It nests only at high altitudes in the mountains or in the northern counties.Nest.—A neat and beautifully built pensile cup, swung on a horizontal hemlock, witch hazel, or alder bough, usually deep in the woodlands.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small black spots.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant and summer resident. It is the first of the vireos to arrive in spring, appearing in mid- or latter April and remaining until October. It nests only at high altitudes in the mountains or in the northern counties.

Nest.—A neat and beautifully built pensile cup, swung on a horizontal hemlock, witch hazel, or alder bough, usually deep in the woodlands.Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small black spots.

The song of this handsome vireo is rich and beautiful—easily the most musical of all our vireo songs. It is to be heard chiefly in the depths of the coniferous woodlands. Unusually elaborate and prolonged songs are sometimes given in the spring. Remember the prominentwhite eye-ringof this species.

Other Names.—Black and White Creeper; Black and White Creeping Warbler.Description.—Black and white all over, the colors about evenly balanced, giving the bird in the field a streaked appearance, noticeable particularly in the male. Since no other warbler is thus streaked with black and whiteall over, it is thought that this description is sufficient.Females and young: Duller, the young with buffy washings on sides.Length: 5⅓ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident from late April and early May to September. It is rather local as a summer resident though it may occur in any suitable woodland.Nest.—A cup of rootlets and fine grasses placed on the ground at the base of a sapling or a fallen bough or log, usually in rather open woodland.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, with a neat wreath of fine red-brown spots about the larger end.

Other Names.—Black and White Creeper; Black and White Creeping Warbler.

Description.—Black and white all over, the colors about evenly balanced, giving the bird in the field a streaked appearance, noticeable particularly in the male. Since no other warbler is thus streaked with black and whiteall over, it is thought that this description is sufficient.Females and young: Duller, the young with buffy washings on sides.Length: 5⅓ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident from late April and early May to September. It is rather local as a summer resident though it may occur in any suitable woodland.

Nest.—A cup of rootlets and fine grasses placed on the ground at the base of a sapling or a fallen bough or log, usually in rather open woodland.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, with a neat wreath of fine red-brown spots about the larger end.

Black and White Warbler

This bird is nearly always seen creeping about the trunks and larger branches of trees, and its boldly streaked plumage is unmistakable. Its song, which has been writtenwee-see, wee-see, wee-see, wee-see, is wiry and unmusical, and the untrained ear will probably not catch it. Look for this bird in any woodland, particularly where there are deciduous trees.

The southernProthonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) is rarely recorded in the southern counties. This species has blue-gray wings and tail,no wing-bars, and the head and breast are rich orange-yellow. Records are desirable.

TheYellow-throated Warbler(Dendroica dominica dominica) is a long-billed species which looks a good deal like a Black and White Warbler with a yellow throat; it occurs in the southernmost counties. It may be found as a nesting bird.

Description.—Crown and superciliary buffy brown; prominent black streak at either side of crown; black streak through the eye; underparts buffy, the centers of the under tail-coverts darker; upperparts olive-green, much as in a vireo.Female and young: Similar but duller.Length: 5½ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—In southern and particularly southwestern Pennsylvania this species is a fairly common summer resident from early May to mid-September. It is found chiefly in deciduous woodlands along streams. It is rare in central and northern counties.Nest.—A neatly built cup of rootlets, hair, and vegetable fiber, placed on the ground, usually at the base of a sapling.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, finely speckled with reddish brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—In southern and particularly southwestern Pennsylvania this species is a fairly common summer resident from early May to mid-September. It is found chiefly in deciduous woodlands along streams. It is rare in central and northern counties.

Nest.—A neatly built cup of rootlets, hair, and vegetable fiber, placed on the ground, usually at the base of a sapling.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, finely speckled with reddish brown.

Worm-eating Warbler

The song of this comparatively little-known species is very much like that of a Chipping Sparrow. If you hear a Chipping Sparrow in the woods, you had better look for the bird; you may make a startling discovery, since Chipping Sparrows are rarely found away from human dwellings in Pennsylvania.

The Worm-eating Warbler is nearly always found near the ground, and it is usually necessary to keep quiet so as to let the bird approach if you wish to have a good look at it.

Other Name.—Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.Description.—Adult male: Front of head, breast, and belly bright, clear yellow; sharp black line through eye; back of head and back olive-green; wings and tail blue-gray, the wingswith two noticeable white bands; the tail with white spots at tips of inner webs of outer feathers.Female: Much duller, the whole top of the head being greenish, as a rule.Length: 4¾ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—Adecidedly localsummer resident from early May until mid-September, to be found in all but the mountainous counties.Nest.—A cup made of leaves, lined with fine grasses, placed at the base of a weed or a little bush, usually in a low meadow or at the edge of an alder swamp.Eggs: 3 to 5, white, spotted with reddish brown, chiefly at the larger end.

Other Name.—Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.

Description.—Adult male: Front of head, breast, and belly bright, clear yellow; sharp black line through eye; back of head and back olive-green; wings and tail blue-gray, the wingswith two noticeable white bands; the tail with white spots at tips of inner webs of outer feathers.Female: Much duller, the whole top of the head being greenish, as a rule.Length: 4¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Adecidedly localsummer resident from early May until mid-September, to be found in all but the mountainous counties.

Nest.—A cup made of leaves, lined with fine grasses, placed at the base of a weed or a little bush, usually in a low meadow or at the edge of an alder swamp.Eggs: 3 to 5, white, spotted with reddish brown, chiefly at the larger end.

Blue-winged WarblerGolden-winged Warbler

The characteristic song of this bird may be writtenzwee-chee, the former syllable with an inhalant, the latter an exhalant quality. Later in the summer other songs are given which combine this song withmanychips. Look for the Blue-wing near the ground in a swampy situation, among alders, or willows. In the fall it sometimes occurs in the higher woodlands along with other migrating species.

Description.—Male: Top of head yellow; line through eye, and chin and throat, black; an area from lower mandible back to neck, white; back of head, neck, wings, and tail, gray; wing, with lesser and most of greater coverts, pale yellow; outer feathers of tail with white spots on inner webs; breast and belly white, the sides washed with grayish.Female: Similar, but duller, the black of the head being replaced with gray.Length: 5 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather uncommon and local summer resident from early May to September, found in low meadows or in bushy edges of woodlands.Nest.—Of leaves, lined with finer materials and often somewhat arched over with leaves, placed at the base of a bush.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather uncommon and local summer resident from early May to September, found in low meadows or in bushy edges of woodlands.

Nest.—Of leaves, lined with finer materials and often somewhat arched over with leaves, placed at the base of a bush.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown.

The song may be writtensee, zee, zee, zee.

TheBrewster’sandLawrence’s Warblers, hybrid forms which result from the interbreeding of the Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers, sometimes occur in Pennsylvania. The typical Brewster’s Warbler has the white underparts and yellow-marked wings of the Golden-wing. The breast and belly of Lawrence’s Warblers are yellow, and there are two prominent white wing-bars as in the Blue-wing.

Description.—Adult male: Upper part of head blue-gray, with a partly concealed rufous crown-patchand noticeable white eye-ring; chin, throat, breast, and belly clear, strong yellow; upperparts olive-green, without markings in wings or tail.Female: Duller.Immature: Almost unmarked, the eye-ring being buffy and not noticeable, the sides being washed with buffy.Length: 4¾ inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular and often abundant migrant in May and September; rare and very local as a summer resident in northern counties and at high altitudes.Nest.—On the ground, near a log or at the base of a sapling.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with red-brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular and often abundant migrant in May and September; rare and very local as a summer resident in northern counties and at high altitudes.

Nest.—On the ground, near a log or at the base of a sapling.Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with red-brown.

Nashville WarblerOrange-crowned Warbler

The song is a series ofchips, introduced by the syllableswee-see, wee-see, wee-see.

Description.—Olive-green above; crown with more or less concealed dull orange patch, not easily seen in the field; underparts and obscure ring about eye dull yellow; sides irregularly streaked with olive-green; sexes similar.Young birds: Duller.Length: 5 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—The Orange-crown is one of our little-known warblers which may be considerably commoner than we suppose. It occurs as a migrant in May and September, and is to be found chiefly in swampy situations, principally among alders.

Range in Pennsylvania.—The Orange-crown is one of our little-known warblers which may be considerably commoner than we suppose. It occurs as a migrant in May and September, and is to be found chiefly in swampy situations, principally among alders.

The song, which is not often heard in Pennsylvania, according to my experience, is considerably like that of a Nashville or Tennessee Warbler, being a series ofchips, but the tempo is different. All such songs should be thoroughly investigated to make certain some rare bird is not passed by. (See illustration,page 131.)

Description.—Adult male: Crown clear gray; prominent white superciliary; line through eye black; underparts white, washed along sides with faint yellow; upperparts olive-green; wings unmarked; outer tail-feathers marked with white along the inner margin.Female: Similar, but crown tinged with greenish.Immature: Olive-green above, brightest on rump; dull yellowish below, brightest on the under tail-coverts.Length: 5 inches.Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in May and September, apparently fairly regular and common in spring among the mountains, rare east of the mountains, but equally abundant everywhere in the fall.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in May and September, apparently fairly regular and common in spring among the mountains, rare east of the mountains, but equally abundant everywhere in the fall.

The song of this bird is a series of chips, the tempo of which changes twice, the most rapid part of the song coming at the last. This bird is like a vireo in color but not in actions. Young birds are sometimes exceedingly common in the fall.

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