Part 39

The habits of this little northerner are like those of the bird that we know so well; if anything they are even more tame than our bird, especially in the vicinity of lumbermen’s camps. They are only met with along our northern border or casually farther south; I have seen one individual in company with other Chickadees in Massachusetts.

Song.—Not distinguishable from that of our Chickadee, but uttered more incessantly.

Nest.—In cavities of stumps, trees, posts or telephone poles, the cavity being lined with grass, feathers and fur; the six or seven eggs are white sprinkled with brown (.60 × .46).

Range.—Resident in Canada and the northern border of the U. S.

VERDIN; YELLOW-HEADED TIT 746. Auriparus flaviceps. 4¼ inches

Adult male with the head and throat yellow, usually with some concealed orange brown on the forehead; lesser wing-coverts reddish brown. The female is colored very similarly, but is much duller. These are among the smallest of N. A. birds; they are even smaller than their length would indicate, for their bodies are slender. The birds are usually found in high dry portions of the country where cacti and thorny bushes predominate.

Nest.—Their nests are remarkable structures for so diminutive birds; flask-shaped, the outside being a mass of thorny twigs and stems interwoven; this is lined with feathers and the entrance is a small circular hole near the top. The eggs are bluish white specked around the large end with reddish brown.

Range.—Mexican border of the United States from southern Texas to Arizona and Lower California.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 748. Regulus satrapa. 4 inches

Male with crown orange and yellow, bordered with black; female with yellow crown.

Although very small, these birds are very rugged and endure the severe storm and low temperatures of our northern states apparently with little concern, for they always seem to be happy. They are always busily engaged among the underbrush of side hills and along the banks of brooks, hunting for the scanty fare that awaits them.

Song.—A few weak chips, chirps and trills.

Nest.—A large ball of soft green mosses and feathers, suspended from the small twigs in the tops of coniferous trees; it is neatly hollowed out for the reception of the six to nine eggs that are laid; eggs creamy white, minutely but profusely specked with brown (.56 × .44).

Range.—N. A., breeding from Northern U. S. northward and farther south in mountain ranges; winters throughout the U. S.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 749. Regulus calendula. 4¼ inches

Male with a concealed patch of red on the crown; female with no red.

Like the last, these are chiefly winter visitants in the United States and they do not remain with us in the coldest weather, but pass on to the southern half of our country. They are nearly always met with in pine or other coniferous trees, being very abundant in spring in open pine woods and parks.

Song.—A clear warble, surprisingly loud and varied for so small a bird; call, a grating chatter.

Nest.—A ball of moss, grass and feathers, deeply cupped, like that of the last; partially suspended among the small twigs in the tops of coniferous trees; eggs white more sparingly marked than those of the last (.55 × .43).

Range.—N. A., breeding northward from the northern boundary of the U. S. and farther south in mountains; winters in the southern half of the U. S.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER 751. Polioptila cærulea. 4½ inches

Forehead black; tail black with white edges and tips to the outer ones.

Their food is chiefly insects, which they are very expert in catching, taking them on the wing with great celerity. Their movements are all very rapid, flitting from one part of a tree to another, but usually among the upper branches. Their nests are among the most beautiful of bird architecture, even surpassing that of the Hummingbird.

Song.—Sweet, but very faint.

Nest.—Situated on horizontal limbs of trees at medium heights; made of plant fibres, woolly substances and cobwebs, adorned with handsome lichens; the walls are very high and thick, the bird sitting so low inside that only her tail is visible; the four or five eggs are bluish white specked with reddish brown (.56 × .44).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding north to New Jersey and Illinois.

WOOD THRUSH 755. Hylocichla mustelina. 8 inches

Reddish brown above, brightest on the head; below white heavily spotted with black.