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Kitabı oku: «Western Bird Guide», sayfa 8

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ANNA HUMMINGBIRD

431. Calypte anna. 3 inches

This bird is marked much like the preceding, but varying greatly in the colors. The crown and lengthened feathers of the neck are a beautiful iridescent purplish pink. Upper parts are the usual metallic green, under parts light gray, with sides greenish. Tail is more forked and has no brown or white like the former. They are very abundant in their restricted range, and frequently raise two broods in a season.

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD

432. Selasphorus platycercus. 4 inches

The crown, back and central tail feathers are a metallic green. They do not have the elongated feathers on the throat and no ruff. Under parts dull white, shading into light green on the sides, the throat is a bright lilac. They are very abundant in Arizona and Colorado, where they nest much as does the “Ruby-Throat” in the east.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

433. Selasphorus rufus. 3½ inches

A beautiful little bird, with the back and tail reddish brown and with a throat of orange red, the feathers being lengthened into a ruff on the sides of the neck. Their nests are made of vegetable fibers covered with lichens and cobwebs, and placed near the ground on vines or low-hanging bushes. Two white eggs.

ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD

434. Selasphorus alleni. 3¼ inches

This is very much like the last, with the back more greenish and the tail being a reddish brown. They are found on the Pacific Coast from British Columbia southward, breeding most abundantly in southern California.

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD

436. Stellula calliope. 3 inches

This is the smallest of the family of North American Hummers. It is greenish on the upper parts, growing darker toward the tail, the end of which is a light brown. The throat is a rich violet, showing white at the base of the feathers. They are found from British Columbia southward and from the Rockies westward, most common during breeding in California and Oregon. They build their nests in all manner of locations, from high up in tall pines to within a foot of the ground in low bushes. They are made of plant down and shreds of bark and lichens, breeding high up on the mountains.

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD

437. Calothorax lucifer. 3½ inches

Found only on the southern borders of the United States, but is quite common in Central Mexico. Throat is a metallic purple, with feathers elongated on the sides.

RIEFFER HUMMINGBIRD

438. Amizilis tzacatl. 4 inches

Found only on the southern borders like above. Upper parts a dark bluish green, tail and rump light brown.

BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD

439. Amisilis cerviniventris chalconota. 4 inches

These birds are very similar to the last, but the under parts are of a pale brownish buff color, throat, back and tail coverts metallic green. Breeds in low bushes near the ground.

XANTUS HUMMINGBIRD

440. Basilinna xantusi. 4 inches

Found in Lower California, where it breeds and builds very much as does the preceding near the ground. (Not illustrated.)

WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD

440.1. Basilinna leucotis. 3¼ inches

These birds are of a bright metallic green above and also on the breast, the forehead, sides of head and throat are an iridescent blue, and a white line extends back from the eye. Found in the southern parts of Arizona and Texas into Central America. Nesting habits same as above.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

441. Cyanthus latirostris. 3½ inches

Markings are in every way very similar to the above, being brighter on the throat, showing a more brilliant blue. Found in the southern borders of Arizona and Texas, where it breeds in the lower lands and near the ground. Nests similar to above.

KINGBIRD. – Family Tyrannidæ

444. Tyrannus tyrannus. 8½ inches

From the time of their arrival Kingbirds are much in evidence about farmyards and orchards. They are very noisy birds, ready for a quarrel at any time and usually come off victorious in whatever they undertake. They seem to delight in driving away crows, and may frequently be seen to alight on the back of one when chasing them. These are found only on the eastern slope of the Rockies and eastward, where they are very common.

Nest.– Is placed in almost any kind of trees in open fields or woods. Nearly every orchard will have one or more pairs breeding. Their nests are made of twigs, roots, or strips of fiber from vines and lined with the down from catkins and horsehair. Three to five creamy white eggs, mottled and streaked with brown and lilac, are laid (.95 × .70).

ARKANSAS KINGBIRD

447. Tyrannus verticalis. 9 inches

A more western variety, lighter in color and with a bright yellow breast and under parts. Its habits are much the same as the above in its home building or in trying to find a neighbor to quarrel with. The eggs are the same in size and color.

CASSIN KINGBIRD

448. Tyrannus vociferans. 9 inches

These birds are very much like the last, except that the throat and breast are darker.

DERBY FLYCATCHER

449. Pitangus sulphuratus derbianus. 10½ inches

This is one of the largest and most handsome of the family. With its bright yellow crown, surrounded with a black border and this by white and another band of black, with the under parts a bright yellow makes him one of the most attractive. They are found, though, only on the southern borders of Texas into Central America. (Not illustrated.)

SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

451. Myiodynastes luteiventris. 8 inches

Unlike any of the previous, and only found breeding in the mountains of Arizona south to Panama. The back is grayish streaked with black, the tail a dull reddish brown, and the under parts yellow, streaked on the sides with dusky; a white throat patch, bordered with black; the crown with a concealed yellow spot bordered with dusky and a narrow white stripe over the eye. They place their nests in the cavity of some tree, and lay from three to five buff colored eggs spotted and blotched with brown and lavender (1.05 × .75).

CRESTED FLYCATCHER

452. Myiarchus crinitus. 9 inches

This is more an eastern bird, but is found in Texas and down through Central America. They nest in cavities of trees, it being made of twigs, weeds, grasses, and invariably a piece of snake skin. They lay from four to six eggs of a buff color scratched and spotted with rich shades of brown and lavender (.85 × .65). (Not illustrated.)

ARIZONA CRESTED FLYCATCHER

453. Myiarchus magister magister. 9½ inches

The throat and breast are lighter than the previous bird, and the under parts are paler yellow. Its nesting habits are the same as above even to including the piece of snakeskin, or in place of it part of a lizard skin will answer their purpose.

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER

454. Myiarchus cinerascens. 8½ inches

A much more quiet bird than either of the above, in looks as well as in actions. The upper parts are grayish brown, while the under parts, breast and throat are almost white. They build their nests in the giant cactus or in holes of stumps, lining the cavity with roots and grass or bits of rubbish of almost any kind, and generally include the piece of snake skin as do the ones above.

SAY PHŒBE

457. Sayornis sayus. 8 inches

The Phoebe is a bird that will select for its nesting place the heavy beam of some old bridge, or in some old mill where the timbers are falling down, and place its nest in some dark corner, building it of mud, moss and grasses lined with feathers, or in some localities the nests may be placed in the crevice of some cliff or ledge where they lay four or five white eggs, rarely dotted with brown.

It is slightly larger than the eastern variety, with the under parts showing more of a brownish color, and is found breeding from the Arctic to Lower California.

BLACK PHŒBE

458. Sayornis nigricans. 7 inches

Slightly smaller than the above, and much darker, almost black on the head and back with white under parts. Their habits are very much the same as above, frequenting old buildings in villages where a stream is near by, or in localities where insect life abounds. Their nest is made the same as above, and eggs are the same.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER

459. Nuttallornis borealis. 7½ inches

These are nowhere abundant, and in some parts of the country, especially in the central portions, they are very rare. In the western range, they may be found from Alaska to southern California; for breeding places they seem to prefer swampy land, covered with many dead coniferous trees, mixed in with the green trees; their nests are placed well up in the trees and are made of twigs, loosely put together, and lined with small roots and moss. The three or four creamy white eggs are spotted with brown and lilac, forming about the larger end (.85 × .65).

WESTERN WOOD PEWEE

462. Myiochanes richardsoni. 6½ inches

Very much like the eastern variety in looks and habits. To be found breeding from Alaska to Lower California. Their nests are placed on horizontal branches, made of plant down, grass and fibers; very compact, and much resembling a knot on the branch. Three or four white eggs with small spots about the larger end (.80 × .55).

WESTERN FLYCATCHER

464. Empidonax difficilis. 6 inches

Very much like the last, but having more of the yellow cast on the under parts; it may be found breeding from Alaska to southern California. Its favorite nesting place is along some stream, bordered with willows or alders, and the nest is placed on the lower branches near the ground; it is nicely made of fibers and plant down; three or four white eggs, spotted with brown (.80 × .55).

TRAILL FLYCATCHER

466. Empidonax trailli. 6 inches

Upper parts an olive brown, becoming darker on the head; under parts white, and also a white ring about the eye; two wing-bars a pale buff color, and the breast a light gray. They seem to prefer much the same localities for their nesting site as do the “Western.”

Nest.– Is usually built very low in willows or alders, bordering brooks or ponds, and is made of plant fibers, lined with the down, and sometimes horsehair; three or four creamy white eggs are marked with blotches of brown about the larger end (.70 × .54).

HAMMOND FLYCATCHER

468. Empidonax hammondi. 5½ inches

A western form of the “Least Flycatcher” of the east, differing but very little in appearance or habits from its eastern relative. Upper parts an olive gray color, with the breast the same, but a little lighter. Their nesting place is usually a fork of some small tree, or upon some horizontal branch at low elevation, and is a nicely woven, compact structure, made of plant fibers, strings, hair and cobwebs. Three to five pale creamy white eggs (.65 × .50).

WRIGHT FLYCATCHER

469. Empidonax wrighti. 6 inches

Similar to the last, but much lighter below. They are much more abundant than the last, and are found from Oregon to Mexico, where they breed more in open woods and thickets. Their nests and eggs are practically the same in every way.

GRAY FLYCATCHER

469.1. Empidonax griseus. 6½ inches

This slightly larger species is more grayish above, and lighter below. It is found in Arizona and Mexico, into southern California. No record of its nesting habits or eggs can be given.

BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER

470a. Empidonax fulvifrons pygmæus. 5 inches

This small variety is not at all common in any locality, but is found in Arizona, Mexico and Lower California, to southern California. It is brownish gray above and of a buff color below. The nests are placed similar to the preceding, but more in the mountain regions; eggs are the same, being a trifle larger.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER

471. Pyrocephalus rubinus mexicanus. 6 inches

This is one of the most brilliant colored of the Flycatcher family, as shown in the illustration. The female is almost of an entirely light gray color, barely tinged with pink on the under parts. They are very common in southern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

Nest.– This is one of the prettiest nests made, generally of twigs and plant fiber, lined with down, wool and feathers, and frequently covered with lichens, held in place by a winding of cobwebs; three or four buff eggs, boldly blotched with brown and lavender (.70 × .50).

BEARDLESS FLYCATCHER

472. Camptostoma imberbe. 5 inches

A light gray bird, found in Texas and south, into Central America.

PALLID HORNED LARK – Family Alaudidæ

474a. Otocoris alpestris arcticola. 8½ inches

This is the largest of the Larks. It has the throat white, with no trace of yellow; the horned tufts are black, and curve upwards. Found in Alaska, south to Oregon (not illustrated).

DESERT HORNED LARK

474c. Otocoris alpestris leucolæma. 8 inches

Found from British Columbia south, in winter to southern California, Texas and New Mexico. They are one of our handsome winter birds, with horn-like tufts of black on either side of the head; forehead, patch under the eye and band on the breast black; yellow throat, and white under parts; upper parts, a light pinkish shade of brown. Three or four eggs, white, marked with shades of brown, are placed in their nest of grasses and rootlets, on the ground, usually concealed under a tuft of grass (.92 × .65).

CALIFORNIA HORNED LARK

474e. Otocoris alpestris actia. 8 inches

Similar, but back deeper brown. Southern and Lower California.

RUDDY HORNED LARK

474f. Otocoris alpestris rubea. 8 inches

The same as above, but still more rufous. Central California.

Family CORVIDÆ – CROWS, JAYS

AMERICAN MAGPIE

475. Pica pica hudsonia. 20 inches

Like the “Blue Jays,” the Magpies are great talkers, and are usually found in colonies where they can carry on conversation in their own way with each other. They are a large handsome bird, with pure white under parts and wing coverts, and the upper parts, head, tail and breast are a bronzy black, with iridescent changes. Tail very long, and graduated. They are very bold birds, inquisitive, and great thieves. Their food consists of small rodents, a large variety of insect life, and the eggs and young of small birds.

Nest.– Is a bulky affair, placed at almost any elevation, composed of sticks and small twigs, with an opening on the side; the inside of the nest is lined with finer materials, grass and plant fiber. Four to eight grayish white eggs, spotted with brown and drab (1.25 × .90).

STELLER JAY

478. Cyanocitta stelleri. 13 inches

Range.– From Alaska south to central California. Nests are quite bulky; three to six greenish eggs, spotted with shades of brown (1.25 × .90).

WOODHOUSE JAY

480. Aphelocoma woodhousei. 12 inches

These birds are abundant in the Great Basin between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas, breeding in scrubby trees or bushes at low elevations and usually near some stream. They have the crown and forehead bluish, and the under parts are gray, streaked with a darker shade on the breast. Their food consists of acorns and a variety of insects.

Nest.– This is usually of small sticks, loosely arranged, with smaller twigs and roots for a lining. Four to six eggs, of a pale green, faintly spotted with shades of brown (1.20 × .90).

CALIFORNIA JAY

481. Aphelocoma californica. 12 inches

These are the most common of the Jays on the Pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington. They are more tame or fearless than most of the family, and frequent the trees about houses, and are given the bad name of robbing the nests of other birds of their eggs and young. In color these are just the reverse of the previous one, being brownish below, and gray above.

ARIZONA JAY

482. Aphelocoma sieberi arizonæ. 13 inches

A common bird in Arizona and south into Mexico. The upper parts are a bluish gray, shading into a brownish gray on the head; under parts are a pale gray. They are a very sociable bird during the breeding season, and often several pairs will nest in the same clump of trees, usually placing their nests at low elevations.

Nest.– Is made similar to the preceding, but the four eggs are more of a bluish color, without markings (1.20 × .85).

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY

484a. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. 12 inches

This is almost the counterpart of the Canada Jay of the east, with the exception of having more white on the head, and only a small space on the back of the neck. He is the same “old coon” as the eastern bird about camps, and is rightfully called “Camp Robber.” Their nesting habits are the same as above, but their eggs are drab, spotted and blotched with brown, of varying shades (1.15 × .80).

OREGON JAY

485. Perisoreus obscurus. 11 inches

Like the last in every way, but with a blacker head, forehead white.

AMERICAN RAVEN

486. Corvus corax sinuatus. 24 inches

This is a large edition of the Crow, and is found west of the Rockies from British Columbia southward. Their plumage is a bluish black, with lengthened and stiffened feathers on the neck. Their general habits are much the same as the Crow. Their food consists principally of carrion, fish, and eggs and young of smaller birds. They nest on the high cliffs in almost inaccessible places, building large nests of sticks, in which they deposit four eggs of a pale greenish white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and drab (1.95 × 1.25).

WHITE-NECKED RAVEN

487. Corvus cryptoleucus. 21 inches

A smaller bird than the above, and has the base of the neck feathers white. It is a more southern variety, and is found in Arizona and on the Mexican borders. They build at low elevations, making their nests of sticks and twigs. Four pale blue eggs, spotted with dark brown (1.75 × 1.20).

NORTHWESTERN CROW

489. Corvus caurinus. 17 inches

This is one of the smaller Crows, found only on the coasts of Oregon to Alaska, where it feeds almost wholly upon fish.

CLARKE NUTCRACKER,

491. Nucifraga columbiana. 12 inches

Found in the mountains of western North America, from Mexico to Alaska. In habits they much resemble the Crow or some of the Jays. Their food consisting largely of seeds from the pine cones, insects of many varieties, larvæ and berries. They seem to prefer the tops of the higher mountain ranges, coming down into the valleys for their supply of food. Their nesting sites are well up in the mountains, where they build their nests in the coniferous trees, of twigs, weeds, strips of bark and plant fibers, making a deep cup-shaped nest in which they lay from three to five greenish gray eggs, spotted over the whole surface with brown and lavender (1.30 × .90).

PINON JAY

492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. 11 inches

To be found in the pine regions of the Rockies and west, and from British Columbia to southern California. They are very sociable birds, keeping in colonies, and always have much to talk about among themselves; after the breeding season they may be seen in large flocks. Three to five bluish gray eggs, are spotted with different shades of brown (1.20 × .85).

BOBOLINK – Family Icteridæ

494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 7 inches

This bird is found over most of North America from the southern parts of Canada south, and has been gradually extending westward as far as California. During mating season it is hard to find any other bird so completely filled with music as are these birds. They are also quite sociable birds, and several pairs of them may be found nesting in the same piece of meadow land, and filling the air with their sweet, wild music. They place their nest in a shallow hollow on the ground; it is lined with grass and frequently so covered as to be almost arched over to conceal the eggs. Four or five eggs of a grayish white, thickly blotched and spotted with brown of different shades and lilac, generally covered with ground color on the larger end (.84 × .62).

COWBIRD

495. Molothrus ater. 7½ inches

It is to be found throughout the United States and the southern portion of Canada. They are the only birds which we have that neither make a nest of their own nor care for their young. They will deposit a single egg (sometimes two) in the nest of some other bird, usually of a smaller variety.