(Larus argentatus smithsonianus. 51a.)
White; wings and back, pearly blue-gray; bill yellow, showing a small vermillion spot on either side; the longest wing feathers are partly black, marked andtipped with white; the closed wing therefore shows black towards the end, marked with a regular line of white spots and tipped with white at the extreme point; eyelids, bright yellow; looks large and heavy in flight.Winter Plumage:Streaked on head and neck with gray.Immature Plumage:Dark and much streaked with brownish; bill darker.Ring-billed Gull.
(Larus delawarensis. 54.)
Similar to theAmerican Herring Gull, butsmaller; bill, greenish-yellow, bright at tip,banded with black around the middle; wing tipped at extreme point with black; feet greenish-yellow; eyelids vermillion-red.American Herring Gull.
(Larus philadelphia. 60.)
Back and wings, light pearl-gray; head and throat, dark slate color; back of head, neck, underparts and square tail, white; wings tipped, andbordered narrowly on the outside edge with black; feet and legs, red; bill black.Winter Plumage:Hood, grayish white. Large flocks seen in Lincoln Park.Common Tern.
(Sterna hirundo. 70.)
Pearly gray back and wings, whiter on rump;top of head, shining black; pure white on throat; dusky-white below; tail forked,outer edge darkest; bill long and red, blackening towards tip; feet reddish.Winter Plumage:Front of head and under-parts, white; bill nearly black.Bonaparte Gull.
(Merganser americanus. 129.)
Black; rump and tail, ashy gray; head, throat and upper part of neck, greenish black; wing,largely white, edged with black and crossed by a black bar; white below, extending around the neck in a narrow collar; long red bill tipped with black; eye, red; shows salmon tinge below in flight.Female:Ashy-gray, with sharply defined brown head and neck and a pale salmon or brownish tinge across upper breast;throat,white; wings largely dark with a white patch; small crest on back of neck; feet orange; eye yellow; rare; “pursues and catches food under water.â€American Golden-eye.Red-breasted Merganser.
(Merganser serrator. 130.)
Long ragged crest; head and neck black; broad white collar; broad cinnamon band streaked with black across the breast, otherwise white below, showing salmon tinge in flight; wing largely white, edged and barred twice with black; eye and bill, red.Female:Back and wings dark gray turning to brown on head and neck; much paler on sides of neck and throat and gray across breast; crest, less prominent; white wing-patch; common.American Merganser.
(Lophodytes cucullatus. 131.)
Black, including throat and neck; large, circular crest, white, bordered with black; white below running up in front of the wings in two points; sides brownish, finely lined with black; white wing-patch, crossed by black bar; also lengthwise white streaks on end of wings;shortblack bill; eye yellow.Female:Grayish-brown; throat white; crest small; sides unmarked.Buffle-head.
(Anas boschas. 132.)
Head, throat and neck glossy green;narrowwhite collar; breast, rich brown; back, dark brownish; underparts, silver-gray; tail white, set off by black feathers which curl up from either side of the black rump; wing-patch purple, bordered on either side with a black and then a white bar.Female:Buffy-brown and black; much streaked and speckled; lighter on throat; shows wing-patch as in male; common.
(Nettion carolinensis. 139.)
Gray, finely lined on sides and shoulders with black;white bar in front of wing; head, including throat, brown with a broad green stripe from eye to back of head, ending in a small tuft; wings, gray-brown with brilliant green and black wing-patch, bordered by buffy bars; breast very pale reddish-brown, speckled with round black spots; buffy patches on sides of tail; white belly.Female:Mottled brown; top of head and back of neck dark brown; sides of head and neck buff-colored and finely streaked; throat buff, unmarked; no green on head nor white bar in front of wings; wing-patch as in male, but smaller.Blue-winged Teal.
(Querquedula discors. 140.)
Back and underparts thickly mottled brownish and black, lightest below; head slaty, showing purplish gloss; a conspicuous crescent-shaped white stripe in front of eye;shows blueon bend of wing, followed by a white bar and a bright green wing-patch; white patch on sides of tail; bill black.Female:Dusky-brown; black on top of head; streaked and whitish on neck and sides of head; throat and about base of bill,white; back and underparts, mottled and spotted; wing shows blue but no green; white bars on head are wanting.Green-winged Teal.
(Dafila acuta. 143.)
Head, including throat, brown, darkest on top; long, swan-like neck, black above, finely waved white and dusky on back and sides;long middle tail feathers, black; white below with a conspicuous curved white stripe running up sides of neck to head and ending in a point; bronzy patch on wings.Female:Tail much shorter but pointed; dusky, everywhere streaked; no white stripe on neck; whitish wing-bars; smaller than male.Old-squaw.
(Aix sponsa. 144.)
Highly variegated; long, smooth, glossy crest, showing green and purple iridescence and marked by two very narrow white parallel lines, curving from bill and behind eye almost to end of crest; throat white, extending irregularly in two stripes, one up behind eye, the other nearly around neck; breast, glossy brown, spotted with white and set off on either side by a conspicuous white stripe bordered with black; wings highly iridescent, marked by green patch bordered with white.Female:Much duller and less conspicuously marked; head brownish-gray, slightly crested showing greenish tints; throat and line extending from it around base of bill, with space about eye, white.
(Aythya americana. 146.)
Puffy head andupperpart of neck and throat, bright reddish brown; breast and upper part of back with rump,black; belly white; middle back andsidesevenly and finely waved black and white,which shows gray at a distance.Female:Grayish-brown, almost white on throat; brown on head, light brown on neck.Canvas-back.
(Aythya affinis. 149.)
Head, neck and breast black, showingpurplereflections on head; back black and white, very narrowly barred; upper parts of wings dark, finely mottled with white; lower part of wing brownish-black, showing a small white patch; lower breast and belly white; bill, bluish, tipped with black.Female:Black replaced by brown, lighter on head; region around bill white.Female Redhead, easily confused with female Lesser Scaup.
(Clangula americana. 151.)
Black, glossed with green; white below, extending around the neck in a collar; head bunchy, slightly crested and markedbelow eyeand just back of eye by a nearly ovalwhite spot; wings largely white; short bill.Female:Brown, snuff-colored on head; white collar; white wing patch; band of bluish gray across breast and down sides.American Merganser.
(Charitonetta albeola. 153.)
Head, throat and upper neck, iridescent black; conspicuous black crest broadly banded with white over head from eye to eye; back black, ashy on tail; wings black with a very large white patch;collar and entire under parts, white.Female:Smaller; brownish, lighter below with no crest and only a white patch on cheeks and a small white wing patch.Hooded Merganser.
(Harelda hiemalis. 154.)
Winter Plumage:Back, long tail-feathers and breast with conspicuouspatch on sides of neck, black; throat and upper breast, top of head, neck and belly, white; cheeks grayish-brown; wings black and gray; bill crossed by yellowish band.Female:Dark brown, lighter on head, grayish on tail; throat, breast and region about the eye, gray-white; below white, brown on lower part of throat; no long tail-feathers; smaller than male.Summer Plumage:Head and neck, dusky black; grayish-white on sides of head, and female shows more brown.Pintail.
(Branta canadensis. 172.)
Head and neck, black with white throat-patch extending up to and just behind eye; brownish-gray marked with lighter, darkest on back; rump and tail, black above and white below; fly after a leader in harrow-shaped ranks, often high up, crying, “honk, honk, honk.â€
(Botaurus lentiginosus. 190.)
Streaky tawny- and dark-brown; tawny-yellowish below, mixed with white and streaked with dark brown; conspicuous black streak on sides of neck; short brown tail; breast feathers loose and baggy; yellow eye; call, loud resounding squawk or booming notes which have given it the common name of “stake-driver.â€
(Ardetta exilis. 191.)
Crown, with back, tail and upper half of wings, shining greenish-black; rest of wing shows buff and bright chestnut; throat and baggy breast, whitish, shading into yellowish-brown on sides of neck, and chestnut on back of neck; buffy white below; tufts of dark feathers on either side of breast; yellow eye.Green Heron.
(Butorides virescens. 201.)
Wings and back dark green, latter tinged with blue-gray; crown, greenish-black; neck and breast, rich reddish brown; throat and line down middle of neck to breast whitish, ending in light streaks on breast; the smallest heron; carries neck curved in flight; squawking note, “scow.â€Least Bittern.
(Porzana carolina. 214.)
Olive-brown with lengthwise markings of black and some white; short tail turned up, showing buffy white underside; sidesbarredposteriorily with white; front of head andthroat, black; slaty line over eye; sides of neck and breast, grayish slate; billshort and yellowish; legs long.Young:No black; throat whitish and brown on breast; very stealthy; skulks and crouches in grass.
(Fulica americana. 221.)
Smooth blackish slate color, lighter below and black on head and neck; white bill showsdark marks near the tip; turned up tail; white underneath; wing edged with white; eye red; young show white below and no marks on bill; toes with scalloped edges. May be mistaken for a small duck.
(Philohela minor. 228.)
Black, mixed black and rusty slate; below reddish-brown, no markings;largehead with short neck andvery long straight bill; eye sethigh up and far back; crown barred crosswise with black and rusty; short tail; burrows in soft mud for earthworms; nocturnal.
(Ereunetes pusillus. 246.)
Grayish-brown, marked with black and buffy; rump very dark; tail tapering; underpartspure white, slightly tinged and streaked across breast; white line over eye and dusky line beneath; note, “peep-peep.â€Other Sandpipers.
(Helodromas solitarius. 256.)
Back, dusky olive-brown,finely spotted with white; crown and back of neck showing dark streaks; white below, throat unmarked; sides of head and neck with breast slightly buffy anddistinctly streaked; sides lightly barred; wings dark brown with one narrow white wing-bar; middle of tail very dark; outer featherswhite, barred with black; note, a soft whistle.Spotted Sandpiper.
(Actitis macularia. 263.)
Greenish-ash marked lightly with black;long white line over eye; pure white below everywhere with dark round spots; wings brownish, marked broadly with white bar; flies close to the water with wings full-spread, showing white wing-bar; note, penetrating “pee-weet, weet;†walks with tilting motion.Solitary Sandpiper.
(Oxyechus vociferus. 273.)
Gray-brown; rump rusty-brown; tail rather long; white below; white collar followed by a black collar, and ablack band across breast; forehead, line over eye and wing-bar, white; bill black; runs very swiftly; note, loud and persistent “kill-dee†often heard high overhead.
The “height of the migration†usually comes during the second or third week in May. This chart makes a comparison of the observations of six years graphic.
For instance, the largest number of different species seen on any one morning in 1903 was 68 (May 12), while in 1901 it was 48 (May 16).
The sudden rise or fall in the migration may also be seen at a glance. May 9, 1899, for example, only 16 different species were observed and May 10 the record was 40. Similarly, in 1901, the number of species seen May 17 dropped from 45 to 15 in three days.
A chart showing the number of different kinds of birds seen inLINCOLN PARKduring theHEIGHT OF THE MIGRATIONChart of kinds of birds in Lincoln Park during the Migration
In response to many demands, the following simple field-key has been devised, to the end that the beginner may be aided in learning to observe correctly those points about a bird that appear most conspicuous in the field or which are particularly distinctive.
Technical analyses and measurements have not been employed, but instead, the birds are roughly placed in three groups according to size, the Robin and English Sparrow marking respectively the 10-inch and 6-inch lines of division.
The first part of the key deals withgeneraldifferences in color and markings, while the second seeks to emphasize the most noteworthyspecialpoints which distinguish the different species. Incidentally a few striking peculiarities of bill, wings and tail have been included.
It will readily be seen that a key embracing so little cannot do more than reduce wild guessing to a few reasonable chances in identifying a strange bird. Some practice is of course necessary to enable the student to use the key readily. Its helpfulness will largely depend upon accuracy of observation and a careful application of the points which it suggests.
Shore and water birds have been omitted—first, in order to keep the key as simple as possible; second, because quite full descriptions of these birds are given in the “Particular Hints;†and, third, for the reason that beginners, as a rule, meet with far better success by becoming familiar with the common land birds before attempting the study of water and shore birds.
1. The heading, “Dull Colors,†includes all shades of gray or olive, very dull dark-brown and black not showing conspicuous iridescence. Birds in this group are very rarelystreaked or spotted, never barred and seldom show any trace of bright colors.
2. To make the key compact and to avoid referring to the index the birds are indicated by their respective numbers as given under “Particular Hints.â€
3. Females differing greatlyin colorationfrom the males are denoted by heavy figures. Differences in markings are taken into account only when the female is particularly obscure or liable to be mistaken for another species.
4. Every bird appears once under the first six general headings, and a few twice, some of which come under apparently contradictory headings in order to cover incomplete as well as complete observations. For example, theRobinhas a streaked throat and theFox Sparrowan indistinctly streaked back, both inconspicuous points, often overlooked in the field, yet useful if complete observations have been made. Again, theYellow-bellied Flycatcher, though brighter colored than most of its kind, would scarcely be described as having either brilliant or very dull plumage, and is therefore difficult to tabulate exclusively in one place.
Two illustrations will most briefly indicate the easiest method of using the key—
Observation:A dull-colored bird of medium size, nearer six inches than ten, much streaked all over, showing nothing distinctive unless a kind of spot on the breast. Turning to the key, pass by “Bright Colors,†“Iridescent†and “Dull Colors,†choosing “Streaked, Barred or Spotted.†Not being sure of the size, it may be necessary to try all the birds between “6 and 10 inches,†as well as those “less than 6 inches.†Before going to so much trouble, however, pass on to “Under Parts†and see whether an easier approach can be made there. The sub-heading “Spot or patch on throat, sides, breast or sides of neck†looks comprehensive enough to apply, while in this case it contains fewer examples. Comparing the numbers there given with those under the first heading selected, it is found that only10and23appear in both places. On looking up10and23it is found that they refer to theSong SparrowandSapsucker, two species so widely different in coloration, habits and movements that it ought not to be necessary to study the key further in order to be sure of the bird in question—namely, theSong Sparrow.
Observation:A bird in flight, pure white below, without doubt over 10 inches on account of its long tail. Not having seen the general color with any certainty, but being fairly sure of the white breast and long tail, try “Under Parts†first. Only two birds over 10 inches are given under the sub-heading “Pure white or ashy,†and these are103and109. Turning to “Tail,†both numbers appear under “very long, sometimes keeled or forked,†but only 103, theYellow-billed Cuckoo, comes under “Outer tail-feathers conspicuously white or spotted.â€If conspicuous tail spots had been seenthe key would have helped to identify the bird, but the key alone cannot make up for lack of observations.
The second illustration may give force to the suggestion that certain birds can be satisfactorily identified only after very careful observation and some further study.
BRIGHT COLORSStreaked Barred SpottedA1ShowingBlue, blue-gray or bluish-ashA2ShowingRed, chestnut, light or reddish-brownA3ShowingYellow, orange or buffA4Showing conspicuousBlackmarkingsNEVERStreaked Barred SpottedA5ShowingBlue, blue-gray or bluish-ashA6ShowingRed, chestnut, light or reddish-brownA7ShowingYellow, orange or buffA8Showing muchBlackIRIDESCENTB1Showing iridescent black, blue, green or brownishDULL COLORSFew MarkingsC1Sharply definedC2ObscureD1NO MARKINGSSTREAKED BARRED OR SPOTTED ON BREAST BACK OR BOTHE1Above and Below, rarely bright colorsPlain AboveE2Heavily streaked or spotted belowE3Lightly streaked or spotted belowE4Plain Below, rarely with one conspicuous spot on breastE5Highly VariegatedF1HOODUNDER PARTSNo MarkingsG1Pure white or ashyG2Dull colors, indistinctly shadedFew, if any, MarkingsG3Distinctive red, yellow or brownBreastG4Bellywhite or yellow, sharply contrasting with breastDistinctive MarkingsG5A line of streaks down sides or across breastG6Spotted, finely streaked, or throat and middle of belly plainG7Bib, collar, or band across breastG8Spot or patch on throat, sides, breast, or sides of neckG9Noticeably tinged with red, yellow, buff or brownishBILLH1Hooked, or noticeably long and sometimes curvedH2Large and stout, or noticeably short and thickH3Used for hammeringHEADTopI1Crested, or red crown-patch displayed at willI2Crown conspicuouslyStripedI3DistinctCap, no line over eyeI4DistinctCapor crown-patch, with line over, through or back of eyeI5Foreheadshowing black, sometimes with bar through eyeSidesI6Conspicuous line over or through eyeI7Inconspicuous but distinctive line over eyeI8Conspicuous eye-ring, or black or yellow maskI9Distinctively marked or colored on cheeks or sides of headWINGSJ1Long and pointedJ2One or two conspicuous WING-BARS, white or yellowishJ3Spots, patches or bright markingsBACKStreakedK1Entirely streaked or mottled, no distinct capK2Rump plain, cap or striped crownK3Gray or ashy about head or neckBarred and SpottedK4Barred, including wingsK5Black and white, wings barred or spottedK6No Markings, back and wings alikeDistinctive Markings or ColorsK7Rump patch, white, yellow or brownK8On back of neck, between shoulders, or middle of backTAILColorL1Outer feathers conspicuously white or spottedL2Reddish-brown, or tipped with white or yellowL3Markings:Barred or banded with black or whiteSizeL4Very long, sometimes keeled or forkedL5Very shortL6Narrow and pointedL7Movements:Used for bracing, or, jerking or tilting motions.
BRIGHT COLORS
Streaked Barred Spotted
ShowingBlue, blue-gray or bluish-ash
ShowingRed, chestnut, light or reddish-brown
ShowingYellow, orange or buff
Showing conspicuousBlackmarkings
NEVERStreaked Barred Spotted
ShowingBlue, blue-gray or bluish-ash
ShowingRed, chestnut, light or reddish-brown
ShowingYellow, orange or buff
Showing muchBlack
IRIDESCENT
Showing iridescent black, blue, green or brownish
DULL COLORS
Few Markings
Sharply defined
Obscure
NO MARKINGS
STREAKED BARRED OR SPOTTED ON BREAST BACK OR BOTH
Above and Below, rarely bright colors
Plain Above
Heavily streaked or spotted below
Lightly streaked or spotted below
Plain Below, rarely with one conspicuous spot on breast
Highly Variegated
HOOD
UNDER PARTS
No Markings
Pure white or ashy
Dull colors, indistinctly shaded
Few, if any, Markings
Distinctive red, yellow or brownBreast
Bellywhite or yellow, sharply contrasting with breast
Distinctive Markings
A line of streaks down sides or across breast
Spotted, finely streaked, or throat and middle of belly plain
Bib, collar, or band across breast
Spot or patch on throat, sides, breast, or sides of neck
Noticeably tinged with red, yellow, buff or brownish
BILL
Hooked, or noticeably long and sometimes curved
Large and stout, or noticeably short and thick
Used for hammering
HEAD
Top
Crested, or red crown-patch displayed at will
Crown conspicuouslyStriped
DistinctCap, no line over eye
DistinctCapor crown-patch, with line over, through or back of eye
Foreheadshowing black, sometimes with bar through eye
Sides
Conspicuous line over or through eye
Inconspicuous but distinctive line over eye
Conspicuous eye-ring, or black or yellow mask
Distinctively marked or colored on cheeks or sides of head
WINGS
Long and pointed
One or two conspicuous WING-BARS, white or yellowish
Spots, patches or bright markings
BACK
Streaked
Entirely streaked or mottled, no distinct cap
Rump plain, cap or striped crown
Gray or ashy about head or neck
Barred and Spotted
Barred, including wings
Black and white, wings barred or spotted
No Markings, back and wings alike
Distinctive Markings or Colors
Rump patch, white, yellow or brown
On back of neck, between shoulders, or middle of back
TAIL
Color
Outer feathers conspicuously white or spotted
Reddish-brown, or tipped with white or yellow
Markings:Barred or banded with black or white
Size
Very long, sometimes keeled or forked
Very short
Narrow and pointed
Movements:Used for bracing, or, jerking or tilting motions.