Part 25

Sturnella neglecta

Grayer than the Eastern Meadowlark, with disconnected tail-bars and yellow spreading to the sides of the throat.

Range. Western United States, rare east of the Mississippi. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct. 15.

With the general appearance and habits of the Eastern Meadowlark, but differing in its call-notes and song. Instead of the sharp dzit or yert and metallic twitter of the eastern bird, the western species calls chuck, chuck, followed by a rolling b-r-r-r-. The eastern bird plays the fife but the western uses the flute, and its bubbling grace-notes are easily distinguishable from the straight whistling of its eastern cousin.

ORCHARD ORIOLE

Icterus spurius. Case 7, Figs. 10-12

Adult males are unmistakable, but females and young males in their first fall wear a non-committal costume and must be looked at sharply. In their first nesting season, young males resemble the female but have a black throat. This is a smaller, more slender bird than the Baltimore Oriole, and the female is less orange. L. 7-1/4.

Range. Eastern United States, nesting from the Gulf States to Massachusetts and Minnesota; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 20-Aug. 22. Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Aug. 6. Cambridge, S.R., sometimes rather common, May 15-July. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept. 5. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., Apl. 38. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., May 10-Aug. 26.

In the northern part of its range, the Orchard Oriole is somewhat less common, and more local than the Baltimore Oriole, while its duller colors and more retiring habits make it more difficult to see. The voice is richer, more cultured--if one may use the term--than that of its brilliant orange-plumed cousin; indeed, in my opinion, this species deserves a place in the first rank of our songsters. The nest of finely woven grasses is not so deep as that of the Baltimore. Three to five bluish white eggs, spotted and scrawled with black, are laid the latter part of May.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

Icterus galbula. Case 7, Figs. 8, 9

The orange and black male needs no introduction; the female is tinted with orange strongly enough to show her relationship. L. 7-1/2.

Range. Eastern North America; nests from northern Georgia to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common S.R., Apl. 29-Aug. 26. Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Sept. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 8 through Aug. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 15-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Apl. 26-Sept. 4. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 1-Sept. 1.

This is the orange-and-black whistler of our fruit and shade trees, whose wife skillfully weaves a pendant cradle at the end of some drooping branch, therein to lay her white eggs curiously marked with fine lines and blotches of black. The young, after leaving the nest in June, have a loud, babyish food-call, dee-dee-dee-dee, repeated time after time until their wants are satisfied.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD

Euphagus carolinus. Case 5, Figs. 3, 4

The bird's common name is based on the fall plumage of the male, which is broadly margined with rusty. By spring these tips wear off and the bird is glossy black. Size of the Red-wing but with a whitish eye and no red; the female unstreaked.

Range. Eastern North America; nests from the northern part of the northern states to Canada; winters from New Jersey and Ohio to the Gulf States.

Washington, common W.V., Oct. 13-Apl. 30. Ossining, common T.V., Mch. 26-May 8; Sept. 28-Nov. 27. Cambridge, very common T.V., Mch. 10-May 8; Sept. 15-Oct. 31. N. Ohio, common T.V., Mch. 5-May 10; Sept. 10-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Mch. 3-May 8; Sept. 12-Nov. 15; uncommon W.V. SE. Minn., common T.V., Mch. 26-Nov. 24.

This is the least conspicuous of our Blackbirds. It nests chiefly north of the United States, migrates in small flocks, and is less noisy than the Red-wing or Grackle and not so much in evidence as the Cowbird. Dwight describes its notes as "a confused medley of whistles, sweeter and higher-pitched than those of the Red-wing." It nests in May, building in coniferous trees or near the ground, and laying 4-7 greenish eggs, heavily marked with brown and purple.

PURPLE GRACKLE

Quiscalus quiscula quiscula. Case 5, Fig. 1

Plumage varied with metallic and iridescent reflections; tail long, fan-shaped, often 'keeled' in flight; eye pale yellow. Male, L. 12-1/2. The female is smaller and duller; L. 10-1/2.

Range. Eastern North America; nests east of the Alleghanies from northern Georgia to Connecticut; winters from Maryland southward.

Washington, common T.V. and S.R., Feb. 20; a few winter. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb. 15-Nov. 8. Cambridge, rare S.R.

The Florida Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula aglæus, Case 4, Fig. 74) is smaller than the Purple Grackle and has the head and neck violet-purple, the back bottle-green. It is resident in Florida and the Gulf States north to South Carolina.