Part 40

These large Thrushes are locally abundant in swamps and moist woodland. They are one of our best songsters, their tones being very rich and flute-like, and, like most of the Thrushes, their songs are most often heard along toward night.

Song.—Very clear and flute-like, containing many notes of the scale; often two or more birds answer back and forth from different parts of the woods; calls, a sharp “quit, quit,” and a liquid “quirt.”

Nest.—Either in forks or on horizontal boughs of bushes or trees, usually not more than ten feet from the ground; made of grass, weeds, leaves and some mud; the three or four eggs are bluish green (1.02 × .75)

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from Virginia and Missouri north to Maine, Ontario and Minnesota; winters south of the U. S.

WILSON THRUSH OR VEERY 756. Hylocichla fuscescens. 7½ inches

Entire upper parts a uniform reddish brown; below soiled white with a few faint marks on the breast.

This species is more abundant than the last. It is found in swamps and also in dry open woods, they being especially numerous where ferns grow luxuriantly.

Song.—Very peculiar and not nearly as melodious as that of the Wood Thrush, but still attractive; a slightly descending “too-whe-u-whe-u-whe-u”; call, a clear “whee-you.”

Nest.—On the ground among the leaves, on hummocks, or in tangled masses of briars; made of strips of bark and leaves; eggs greenish blue, darker and smaller than those of the Wood Thrush (.88 × .65).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding in the northern half of the United States and southern Canada; winters in Central America. 756a. Willow Thrush (salicicola) is more olive above; it is found in the Rockies and eastward to the Mississippi River.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH 757. Hylocichla aliciæ. 7½ inches

Quite similar to the following but with the eye ring white and the sides of head and breast much paler.

Breeds in northern Canada and migrates through the eastern states to Central America. 757a. Bicknell Thrush (bicknelli) is similar to the Gray-cheeked but smaller. It breeds in Nova Scotia.

OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH 758a. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii. 7¼ inches

Upper parts woolly olive gray, with no brownish tinge; eye ring, sides of head and breast distinctly buff; breast spotted with blackish.

Song.—Quite similar to that of the Veery.

Nest.—Composed of leaves, grass and strips of bark, located in bushes or small trees near the ground; the four eggs are greenish blue spotted with reddish brown (.90 × .65).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from northern U. S. to New Brunswick and Manitoba.

HERMIT THRUSH 759b. Hylocichla guttata pallasii. 6¾ inches

Tail reddish brown, much brighter than the back and head; breast quite heavily spotted with black.

During its migrations it rarely sings, but in its summer home it is regarded as a remarkable musician. Its song has the sweetness and purity of tone of that of the Wood Thrush, and is, perhaps, more varied, but it is not nearly as powerful, and has a ventriloquial effect. I watched one that was perched on a dead stump, about twenty feet from me, for several minutes with a pair of glasses before I could make sure that he was the author of the song I heard, for it sounded as though coming from across the next field.

Nest.—Similar to that of the Wilson Thrush and like that, placed on the ground or very near it; the eggs are plain greenish blue (.85 × .65).

Range.—Breeds from northern U. S. northward, and farther south in mountains; winters in the Gulf States.

AMERICAN ROBIN 761. Planesticus migratorius. 10 inches

Male with a black head and bright reddish-brown breast; female with a gray head and much paler breast; young intermediate between the two and with a reddish-brown breast spotted with black.

These well-known birds are very abundant in the northern half of the United States, being found most commonly about farms and dwellings in the country, and also in cities if they are not persecuted too severely by English Sparrows.

Song.—A loud cheery carol, “cheerily-cheerup, cheerily-cheerup,” often long continued.

Nest.—A coarse but substantial structure of mud and grass, placed on horizontal boughs or in forks at any height, or in any odd place about dwellings; the four or five eggs are bluish green (1.15 × .80).