The Bird Book - free ebook by Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed

Read as playlist

The Bird Book

Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed

75 chapters

19 hour read

Read as playlist

Selected Chapters

75 chapters

CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

CHESTER A. REED, B. S.

Garden City New York DOUBLEDAY, PAGE &amp; COMPANY 1915 Page 4 Copyright, 1914, by CHARLES K. REED All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. Page 5 BARN OWL. Page 6 TOPOGRAPHY OF A BIRD. Page 7 Page 9 BALTIMORE ORIOLE....

3 minute read

Read Chapter

THE BIRD BOOK

THE BIRD BOOK

Grebes are birds having a ducklike body, but with pointed bills. Their feet, too, are unlike those of the Ducks, each toe having its separate web, and having a broad flat nail. Their wings are very small for the size of the body, making it impossible for them to rise in flight from the land. They rise from the water by running a few yards along the surface until they have secured sufficient headway to allow them to launch themselves into the air. After having risen from the water their flight is

2 hour read

Read Chapter

LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. Order II. LONGIPENNES SKUA AND JAEGERS. Family STERCORARIIDAE

LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. Order II. LONGIPENNES SKUA AND JAEGERS. Family STERCORARIIDAE

Skuas are large (22 inches in length) and very powerfully built birds, having the general form of a Gull. Olive brown. Their whole plumage is a dingy brownish black color, palest below. Breeds in Iceland and possibly on some of the islands in Hudson Strait. The nest is a hollow on the ground in the marsh grass and is lined with grass. The two eggs which they lay have an olive greenish ground, spotted with dark brown. Size 2.75 × 1.90. 36. Pomarine Jaeger. Stercorarius pomarinus. Range.--Northern

2 minute read

Read Chapter

GULLS and TERNS. Family LARIDÆ

GULLS and TERNS. Family LARIDÆ

Gulls are webbed footed birds having a slight hook to the end of the upper mandible. Their plumage is generally a silvery gray above and white below. They nest in large colonies, some on the islands of fresh water inland, but mostly on the sea coast. They procure their food from the surface of the water, it consisting mostly of dead fish and refuse matter, and crustacea which they gather from the waters edge. When tired they rest upon the surface of the water, where they ride the largest waves i

27 minute read

Read Chapter

SKIMMERS. Family RYNCHOPIDÆ

SKIMMERS. Family RYNCHOPIDÆ

Skimmers are Tern-like birds having a very strangely developed bill. The lower mandible is much longer than the upper and very thin, the upper edge being as sharp as the lower. The lower mandible is rounded at the end while the upper is more pointed. Young Skimmers are said to have both mandibles of the same length, the abnormal development not appearing until after flight. Skimmers are very graceful birds, and, as implied by their name, they skim over the surface of the water, rising and fallin

1 minute read

Read Chapter

TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. Order III. TUBINARES.

TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. Order III. TUBINARES.

Black-footed Albatross. Short-tailed Albatross. Albatrosses are the largest of the sea birds and have an enormous expanse of wing, the Wandering Albatross, the largest of the family, sometimes attaining an expanse of fourteen feet. Their nostrils consist of two slightly projecting tubes, one on each side near the base of the bill. They are unsurpassed in powers of flight, but are only fair swimmers and rarely, if ever, dive, getting their food, which consists of dead animal matter, from the surf

3 minute read

Read Chapter

FULMARS, SHEARWATERS and PETRELS

FULMARS, SHEARWATERS and PETRELS

Fulmars, Shearwaters and Petrels are Gull-like birds with two nostril tubes located side by side, in a single tube, on the top of the bill at its base. The Fulmars are mostly northern birds while the majority of the Shearwaters nest in the extreme south during our winter, and appear off our coasts during the summer. Their food consists of fish or offal which they get from the surface of the water; large flocks of them hover about fishermen, watching their chance to get any food which falls, or i

13 minute read

Read Chapter

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. Order IV. STEGANOPODES

TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. Order IV. STEGANOPODES

Tropic Birds are Tern-like birds, having all the toes connected by a web, and having the two central tail feathers very much lengthened. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. Red-billed Tropic Bird. 112. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. Phæthon americanus. Range.--Tropical regions, breeding in the Bahamas, West Indies and the Bermudas, casual in Florida and along the South Atlantic coast. Dull purplish. The Tropic Birds are the most strikingly beautiful of all the sea birds; they are about 30 inches in length, o

58 minute read

Read Chapter

GANNETS. Family SULIDAE

GANNETS. Family SULIDAE

Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid and will often remain on the nest until removed with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder. Often they lay their eggs on the bare ground, but sometimes the nest is lined with seaweed or grass. They lay either one or two eggs early in April. These eggs are of a dull white color and are heavily covered with a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 × 1.70. Data.--Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24, 1897. Nest a mere hollow in the sand near the beach. Collector, A. W.

3 minute read

Read Chapter

DARTERS. Family ANHINGIDAE

DARTERS. Family ANHINGIDAE

118. Water Turkey. Anhinga anhinga. Range.--Tropical America, north to the South Atlantic States and up the Mississippi Valley to Illinois. Chalky bluish white. Anhingas or Snake Birds are curiously formed creatures with a Heron-like head and neck, and the body of a Cormorant. They live in colonies in inaccessible swamps. Owing to their thin and light bodies, they are remarkable swimmers, and pursue and catch fish under water with ease. When alarmed they have a habit of sinking their body below

51 minute read

Read Chapter

CORMORANTS. Family PHALACROCORACIDÆ

CORMORANTS. Family PHALACROCORACIDÆ

Cormorants have a more bulky body than do the Anhingas; their tail is shorter and the bill strongly hooked at the tip. Cormorants are found in nearly all quarters of the globe. They are very gregarious and most species are maritime. They feed upon fish which they catch by pursuing under water. Most of the Cormorants have green eyes. 119. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo. Cormorant. Double-crested Cormorant. Range.--The Atlantic coast breeding from Maine to Greenland. The common Cormorant or Shag i

5 minute read

Read Chapter

PELICANS. Family PELECANIDÆ

PELICANS. Family PELECANIDÆ

Pelicans are large, short legged, web footed (all four toes joined by a web) birds, the most noticeable feature of which is the long bill with its enormous pouch suspended from lower mandible. This pouch, while normally contracted, is capable of being distended to hold several quarts. It is used as a scoop in which to catch small fish. Their skin is filled with numerous air cells, making them very light and buoyant. 125. American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. Range.--Temperate North

2 minute read

Read Chapter

MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. Family FREGATIDÆ

MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. Family FREGATIDÆ

128. Man-o'-war Bird. Fregata aquila. Man-O'-War Bird. Range.--Tropical seas, north regularly in America to the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, casually farther. Man-o'-war Birds or "Frigates," as they are often called, are remarkable birds in many respects. In comparison with their weight they have the largest expanse of wing of any known bird. Weighing only about four pounds they have an extent of from seven to eight feet, their wings being extremely long and pointed. White. The length of the

1 minute read

Read Chapter

Order V. ANSERES

Order V. ANSERES

The birds comprising this family are of greatly varying sizes, but all have webbed feet, and generally the bill is broader than high, and is serrated on the edges or provided with gutters to act as a strainer in assisting the birds to gather their food. American Merganser. Red-breasted Merganser. 129. Merganser. Mergus americanus. Range.--North America, breeding from the northern border of the United States northward. The three species of Mergansers are almost exclusively fish eating birds. Ther

30 minute read

Read Chapter

LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES. Order VI. ODONTOGLOSSÆ

LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES. Order VI. ODONTOGLOSSÆ

American Flamingo. Roseate Spoonbill. 182. Flamingo. Phœnicopterus ruber. Range.--Tropical and sub-tropical America on the Atlantic coasts, breeding in the Bahamas and West Indies; north to Florida and casually to the South Atlantic States. These remarkable and grotesque appearing birds attain a length of about 48 inches. The plumage varies from white to a deep rosy red. It requires several years for them to attain the perfect adult plumage, and unlike most birds, they are in the best of plumage

57 minute read

Read Chapter

IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII. HERODIONES

IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII. HERODIONES

The members of this order are wading birds, consequently they all have long legs and necks. They have four toes, not webbed. 183. Roseate Spoonbill. Ajaia ajaja. . Range.--Tropical America, north in summer to the Gulf States. They formerly nested in remote swamps along the whole Gulf coast, but are now confined chiefly to the Everglades in Florida. Pale greenish blue. This bird, with its broad, flat bill, bare head, and rosy plumage with carmine epaulets and tail coverts, seem more like the fanc

1 minute read

Read Chapter

IBISES. Family IBIDIDÆ

IBISES. Family IBIDIDÆ

White Ibis. Scarlet Ibis. Ibises are gracefully formed birds having a long curved bill and a bare face. 184. White Ibis. Guara alba. Range.--This is a tropical and sub-tropical species which is found along the Gulf coast, and north to South Carolina, west to Lower California. Grayish. These handsome birds are wholly white, with the exception of black primaries. The legs and the bare skin of the face is orange red. These birds are very abundant in most marshy localities along the Gulf coast, espe

56 minute read

Read Chapter

STORKS and WOOD IBISES

STORKS and WOOD IBISES

188. Wood Ibis. Mycteria americana. Range.--A sub-tropical species which is resident along the Gulf coast and which strays casually north to New England and Colorado. This peculiar member of the Stork family has the whole head and part of the neck bare and covered with numerous scales; the bill is large, long and heavy; the plumage is white, except for the black primaries and tail. It is a large bird about four feet in length. They are quite abundant in swamps along the Jabiru. Bittern. Gulf coa

49 minute read

Read Chapter

BITTERNS and HERONS

BITTERNS and HERONS

Herons and Bitterns are long-legged waders, having straight, pointed bills, and with the head feathered, except for the lores. 190. Bittern. Bautaurus lentiginosus. Range.--United States and southern British provinces, breeding in the northern half of the United States and wintering in the southern portion. Brownish drab. This species, with its mottled rusty brownish plumage, is one of the best known of the Heron family. It is known locally by a great many names, nearly all of which have referen

10 minute read

Read Chapter

CRANES, RAILS, etc. Order VIII. PALUDICOLÆ

CRANES, RAILS, etc. Order VIII. PALUDICOLÆ

Whooping Crane. Little Brown Crane. Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds, somewhat resembling Herons. Their structure and mode of living partakes more of the nature of the Rails, however. They are found upon the prairies, where besides shell fish from the ponds, they feed largely upon grasshoppers, worms, etc. 204. Whooping Crane. Grus americana. Range.--Interior of North America, breeding from about the latitude of Iowa northward to the Arctic regions; winters in the Gulf states and

2 minute read

Read Chapter

COURLANS. Family ARAMIDÆ

COURLANS. Family ARAMIDÆ

207. Limpkin. Aramus vociferus. Range.--This bird is a native of the West Indies and Central America, but occurs regularly north to the southern portions of Florida. This strange bird is the only member of its family found in the United States. It may be likened to a large Rail or a small Crane, being apparently, a connecting link between the two. It is about two feet in length, and the plumage is mottled brownish and white. It lives in the marshes, from whence, until late at night, emanate its

51 minute read

Read Chapter

RAILS, GALLINULES and COOTS. Family RALLIDÆ

RAILS, GALLINULES and COOTS. Family RALLIDÆ

Members of this family are almost exclusively frequenters of marshes, where they lead a shy, retiring life and are more often heard than seen. 208. King Rail. Rallus elegans. Range.--Fresh water marshes of eastern United States from New England and the Dakotas, southward. Very abundant on the South Atlantic coast, in the inland marshes. Cream color. This is one of the largest of the Rails, (17 inches in length) and may be known by the richness of its plumage, the breast and wing coverts being a

8 minute read

Read Chapter

SHORE BIRDS. Order IX. LIMICOLÆ

SHORE BIRDS. Order IX. LIMICOLÆ

Red Phalarope. Northern Phalarope. Phalaropes are small Plover-like birds, but with lobate webbed feet, similar to those of the Grebes and Coots. 222. Red Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius. Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in the far north, and migrating to the middle portions of the United States, chiefly on the coasts. Greenish buff. The Red Phalarope during the breeding season has the underparts wholly reddish brown; they are very rarely seen in the United States in this dress, however fo

2 minute read

Read Chapter

AVOCETS and STILTS. Family RECURVIROSTRIDÆ

AVOCETS and STILTS. Family RECURVIROSTRIDÆ

American Avocet. Black-necked Stilt. 225. Avocet . Recurvirostra americana . Range.--Western North America, breeding north to Northwest Territory. Greenish buff. The Avocet can be known from any other bird by its up-curved bill, light plumage, webbed feet and large size (length about 17 inches). These waders are quite numerous in suitable localities throughout the west, constructing their nests in the grass, bordering marshy places. The nest is simply a lining of grass in a hollow in the ground.

1 minute read

Read Chapter

SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, Family SCOLOPACIDÆ

SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, Family SCOLOPACIDÆ

Members of this family are long-legged waders, of either large or small size, and found either about streams or ponds in the interior or along the coasts. They feed upon small shell fish, or insects which they get usually by probing in the soft mud. American Woodcock. Wilson's Snipe. 227. European Woodcock . Scolopax rusticola . This European bird is similar to the American Woodcock, but is larger and is barred beneath. Their habits are the same as those of our species. 228. Woodcock . Philohela

2 hour read

Read Chapter

PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIIDÆ

PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIIDÆ

Grayish. Plovers are stouter built birds than those of the previous family, have larger head, shorter necks and but three toes, the bill also is much harder and shorter. 269. Lapwing. Vanellus vanellus. An abundant European species accidentally occurring on the Atlantic coast. It may readily be recognized by its long black crest, black chin and throat, and white under parts. It breeds throughout temperate Europe, laying its eggs in hollows on the ground. The eggs have a dark grayish buff ground

7 minute read

Read Chapter

SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. Family APHRIZIDÆ

SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. Family APHRIZIDÆ

Turnstone. 282. Surf Bird. Aphriza virgata. Creamy. This species, which is found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to Chili, seems to be the connecting link between the plovers and the Turnstones, having the habits of the latter combined with the bill of the former. Its nest and eggs are not known to have been yet discovered. 283. Turnstone. Arenaria interpres. Range.--The distribution of this species, which is grayer above than the following, is supposed to be confined, in America, to the extrem

1 minute read

Read Chapter

OYSTER-CATCHERS. Family HÆMATOPODIDÆ

OYSTER-CATCHERS. Family HÆMATOPODIDÆ

285. European Oyster-catcher. Hæmatopus frazari. This European species is very similar to the American one which follows. It casually occurs in Greenland. American Oyster-catcher. 286. Oyster-catcher. Hæmatopus palliatus. Range.--Breeds on the coast of the South Atlantic States and Lower California and winters south to Patagonia. Oyster-catchers are Buff. large, heavy-bodied birds, with stocky red legs and long, stout red bills. The present species has the whole upper parts and entire head and n

1 minute read

Read Chapter

JACANAS. Family JACANIDÆ

JACANAS. Family JACANIDÆ

Mexican Jacana. 288. Mexican Jacana. Jacana spinosa. Range.--Tropical America, north in summer to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and casually to Florida. Yellowish olive. This interesting species has most of its structural characters similar to the Plovers, but has more the appearance and habits of the Rails. They are about eight inches long, the head and neck are black, the body chestnut, and the wings largely greenish yellow. They have long legs, long toes and extremely long toe nails,

57 minute read

Read Chapter

GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. Order X. GALLINÆ

GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. Order X. GALLINÆ

The members of this family are birds of robust form, subdued (not brightly colored) plumage, comparatively short legs and necks; the tarsi and toes are feathered in the Ptarmigan, the tarsi, only, feathered in the Grouse, and the tarsi and toes bare in the Partridges and Bob-whites. They feed upon berries, buds, grain and insects. Bobwhite. Florida Bobwhite. Masked Bobwhite. 289. Bob-white. Colinus virginianus virginianus. Range.--United States east of North Dakota and Texas and from the souther

17 minute read

Read Chapter

PHEASANTS. Family PHASIANIDÆ

PHEASANTS. Family PHASIANIDÆ

* * * Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus torquatus. Greenish buff. Several species of Pheasants have been introduced into the United States, among them being the Ring-necked, English, and Green Pheasants. The Ring-necked species seems to be the only one that has obtained a really strong foothold, it being now very abundant in Oregon and Washington, and adjacent states, and also found in abundance on many game preserves in the east. The males of any of the species may at once be distinguished from a

35 minute read

Read Chapter

TURKEYS. Family MELEAGRIDÆ

TURKEYS. Family MELEAGRIDÆ

Sage Hen. Wild Turkey. 310. Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. Buff. Range.--Eastern United States from southern Middle States south to central Florida and west to the Mississippi Valley and eastern Texas. These magnificent birds, which once ranged over the whole of eastern United States, are being yearly confined to a smaller range, chiefly because of the destruction of their natural covers, and from persecution by hunters. They are generally very wary birds and either escape by runni

1 minute read

Read Chapter

CURASSOWS AND GUANS. Family CRACIDÆ

CURASSOWS AND GUANS. Family CRACIDÆ

311. Chachalaca. Ortalis vetula mccalli. Chachalaca. Range.--Eastern portions of Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Buffy white. A very peculiar grayish colored bird with a greenish gloss to the back, and a long, broad tail, quite long legs, and with the face and sides of the throat devoid of feathers. They are very abundant birds in some localities, and very noisy during the breeding season, their notes resembling a harsh trumpeting repetition of their name. They are ground

40 minute read

Read Chapter

PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XI. COLUMBÆ

PIGEONS AND DOVES. Order XI. COLUMBÆ

Pigeons and doves are distributed throughout nearly every temperate and tropical country on the globe, nearly five hundred species being known, of which twelve occur within our limits. Their plumage is generally soft and subdued colors, the head small, the wings strong and the flight rapid. 312. Band-tailed Pigeon. Columba fasciata fasciata. White. Range.--The Rocky Mountains and westward to the Pacific, from British Columbia south to Mexico. This large species may be generally recognized by the

6 minute read

Read Chapter

VULTURES, HAWKS and OWLS. Order XII. RAPTORES

VULTURES, HAWKS and OWLS. Order XII. RAPTORES

Vultures are peculiarly formed birds of prey, having a bare head and neck, a lengthened bill strongly hooked at the end for tearing flesh, and long, strong, broad wings upon which they float in the air for hours at a time without any visible flapping. They are scavengers and do great service to mankind by devouring dead animal matter, that, if allowed to remain, would soon taint the atmosphere. Their eyesight and sense of smell is very acute. They do not, except in very unusual cases, capture th

3 minute read

Read Chapter

KITES, HAWKS AND EAGLES. Family BUTEONIDÆ

KITES, HAWKS AND EAGLES. Family BUTEONIDÆ

The members of this family are chiefly diurnal; they get their living by preying upon smaller animals or birds. They have strong sharply hooked bills, powerful legs and feet armed with strong, curved and sharply pointed talons. Swallow-tailed Kite. 327. Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus. Range.--Southern United States; casually north to New York and Manitoba. White. This most beautiful Kite can never be mistaken for any other; its whole head, neck and underparts are snowy white, while th

2 hour read

Read Chapter

FALCONS AND CARACARAS

FALCONS AND CARACARAS

Gray Gyrfalcon. White Gyrfalcon. 353. White Gyrfalcon. Falco islandus. Range.--Arctic regions; south in winter casually to northern United States, chiefly on the coast. Buff. Gyrfalcons are large, strong, active and fearless birds, about 23 inches in length. Their food consists chiefly of hares, Ducks and Waders which abound in the far north. The present species is snowy white, more or less barred with blackish brown on the back and wings and with a few marks on the breast. They nest upon the le

8 minute read

Read Chapter

BARN OWLS. Family Alucondidae

BARN OWLS. Family Alucondidae

Barn Owl. 365. Barn Owl. Aluco pratincola. Range.--Chiefly in the southern parts of the United States; north casually to Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington. White. This is one of the lightest colored of the Owls; it has a long, peculiarly hooded face, from which it gets the name of "Monkey-faced Owl." Its plumage is yellowish buff, specked and barred lightly with blackish. It nests usually in hollow cavities of trees, but appears to have no objections to barns, holes in banks, or anywhere i

31 minute read

Read Chapter

HORNED OWL. Family Strigidae

HORNED OWL. Family Strigidae

Long-eared Owl. 366. Long-eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus. Range.--North America, breeding from the southern parts of British America, southward. White. This species is 15 inches in length; it can easily be separated from any other species by its long ear tufts, brownish face, and barred underparts. Their food consists almost entirely of small rodents, which they catch at night. Most of their nests are found in trees, they generally using old Crow's or Hawk's nests. They also, in some localities, ne

14 minute read

Read Chapter

PAROQUETS AND PARROTS. Order XIII. PSITTACI.

PAROQUETS AND PARROTS. Order XIII. PSITTACI.

382. Carolina Paroquet. Conuropsis carolinensis. Carolina Paroquet. Range.--Now rare in Florida and along the Gulf coast to Indian Territory. As late as 1885, the Carolina Paroquets were abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, but owing to their wanton destruction by man, they have been exterminated in the greater portion of their range, and now are rarely seen in any locality, and then only in the most unhabitable swamps and thickets. White. A reliable account of their nesting habits is

1 minute read

Read Chapter

CUCKOOS, TROGANS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. Order XIV. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. Family CUCULIDAE

CUCKOOS, TROGANS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. Order XIV. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. Family CUCULIDAE

383. Ani. Crotophaga ani. Range.--Northeastern South America and the West Indies; casual in Florida, and along the Gulf coast; accidental in Pennsylvania. This species is similar to the next, but the bill is smoother and without grooves. Its nesting habits are the same as those of the more common American species. ROADRUNNER. Groove-billed Ani. Road Runner. 384. Groove-billed Ani. Crotophaga sulcirostris. Greenish blue. Range.--Mexico and the border of the United States; common in southern Texas

4 minute read

Read Chapter

TROGONS. Family TROGONIDÆ

TROGONS. Family TROGONIDÆ

389. Coppery-tailed Trogon. Trogon ambiguus. Dull White. Range.--Southern Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande in Texas and in southern Arizona, in both of which localities they probably breed. This is the only member of this family of beautiful birds which reaches our borders. This species is 12 inches in length, and is a metallic green color on the upper parts and breast, and with coppery reflections of the middle tail feathers, the outer ones being white, very finely vermiculated with black,

40 minute read

Read Chapter

KINGFISHERS. Family ALCEDINIDÆ

KINGFISHERS. Family ALCEDINIDÆ

Belted Kingfisher. 390. Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon. Range.--Whole of North America, breeding from southern United States, northward and wintering from the southern parts of its breeding range, southward. This well known bird is abundant in all localities near water, where its rattling notes are among the most familiar of sounds. White. Their food is almost entirely of small fish, which they catch by plunging upon from their perch on an old dead limb overhanging the water, or by hovering in

56 minute read

Read Chapter

WOODPECKERS. Order XV. PICI.

WOODPECKERS. Order XV. PICI.

Woodpeckers are well known birds having sharp chisel-like bills, sharply pointed and stiffened tail feathers, and strongly clawed feet with two toes forward and two back, except in one genus. Their food is insects and grubs, which they get by boring in trees, and from under the bark, clinging to the sides of trunks or the under side of branches with their strong curved nails, aided by the tail, for a prop. They are largely resident where found. Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 392. Ivory-billed Woodpeck

19 minute read

Read Chapter

GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMINGBIRDS. Order XVI. MACROCHIRES.

GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMINGBIRDS. Order XVI. MACROCHIRES.

Goatsuckers are long winged birds, with small bills, but with an extraordinarily large mouth, the opening of which extends beneath and beyond the eyes. They are chiefly dusk or night fliers, their food consisting of insects which they catch on the wing. Their plumage is mottled black, brownish and white, resembling the ground upon which they lay their eggs. Chuck-will's-widow. 416. Chuck-will's-widow. Antrostomus carolinensis. Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, breeding north to Virginia an

6 minute read

Read Chapter

SWIFTS. Family MICROPODIDÆ

SWIFTS. Family MICROPODIDÆ

422. Black Swift. Cypseloides niger borealis. Range.--Mountain ranges from Central America north to British Columbia, locally distributed throughout its range. The plumage of this Swift is entirely sooty black, darkest above; the tail is slightly forked and is without spines; length of bird, 7 inches. Although the general habits of this species are well known, little is known of their nesting; they are seen during the breeding season about the higher ranges throughout their United States habitat

2 minute read

Read Chapter

HUMMINGBIRDS. Family TROCHILIDAE

HUMMINGBIRDS. Family TROCHILIDAE

Hummingbirds have been truly called "Winged Gems." They are the smallest of birds, the usual plumage being a metallic green with throat or crown patches of the brightest of iridescent shining red, orange, blue or violet. 427--429. Their nests are marvels of architecture being compactly and intricately made of plant fibres and downy feathers ornamented in some cases with lichens. Their flight is accompanied by a peculiar buzzing sound produced by their rapidly vibrating stiffened wing feathers. T

7 minute read

Read Chapter

PERCHING BIRDS. Order XVII. PASSERES

PERCHING BIRDS. Order XVII. PASSERES

441.1. Xantus Becard. Platypsaris aglaiæ albiventris. Range.--Mexico; north casually to the southern border of Arizona. Buffy gray. This peculiar species is grayish above and lighter gray below, has dark slaty crown, and a patch of rose color on the lower throat. This is the only representative of this tropical family that has been found as yet over the Mexican border, but its near ally, the Rose-throated Becard has been found within a very few miles and will doubtless be added to our fauna as a

47 minute read

Read Chapter

FLYCATCHERS. Family TYRANNIDÆ

FLYCATCHERS. Family TYRANNIDÆ

Flycatchers, which are found only in America and chiefly in the tropics, are insect-eating birds, generally having a grayish colored plumage, sometimes adorned with a slight crest or a coronal mark of orange, red, or yellow. Only two of the species found in North America are gaudy in plumage, the Vermilion, and the Derby Flycatchers. They all have the habit of sitting erect on a dead twig, and watching for passing insects, which they catch on the wing. 442. Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Muscivora trya

2 hour read

Read Chapter

LARKS. Family ALAUDIDÆ

LARKS. Family ALAUDIDÆ

Horned Lark. 473. Skylark. Alauda arvensis. Range.--Old World, straggling casually to Greenland and Bermuda. Grayish. This noted foreigner has been imported and liberated a number of times in this country, but apparently is not able to thrive here, a fact which will not cause much regret when we remember the experiment with the English Sparrow. They are abundant in Europe and Great Britain where they nest on the ground in cultivated fields or meadows, laying from three to five grayish eggs, mark

4 minute read

Read Chapter

CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. Family CORVIDÆ.

CROWS, JAYS, MAGPIES, ETC. Family CORVIDÆ.

Magpie. 475. Magpie. Pica pica hudsonia. Range.--Western North America from the Great Plains to the Pacific and from Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico. Grayish white. These large handsome birds have the entire head, neck and breast velvety black, abruptly defined against the white underparts. The back, wings and tail are greenish or bluish black, and the scapulars, white; length of bird 20 inches. They are well known throughout the west, where their bold and thievish habits always excite comment.

14 minute read

Read Chapter

STARLINGS. Family STURNIDÆ

STARLINGS. Family STURNIDÆ

493. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris. Bluish green. Range.--A European species which has casually been taken in Greenland. It was liberated a number of years ago in Central Park, New York City, and has now become abundant there and is spreading slowly in all directions. They build their nests in all sorts of locations such as are used by the English Sparrow, wherever they can find a sufficiently large crevice or opening; less often they build their nests in trees, making them of straw, twigs and tras

29 minute read

Read Chapter

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. Family ICTERIDÆ

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. Family ICTERIDÆ

494. Bobolink. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from New Jersey north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba, and west to Utah and Nevada; winters in South America. Grayish white. This black and white bird is well known in the east, where his sweet, wild music, often uttered on the wing, is much admired. He sings all day long during May and June to his Sparrow-like mate, who is sitting on her nest concealed in the meadow grass. They are quite sociable birds and sever

13 minute read

Read Chapter

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Family FRINGILLDÆ

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Family FRINGILLDÆ

514. Evening Grosbeak. Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina. Greenish white. Range.--Western United States in the Rocky Mountain region; north to Saskatchewan; south in winter to Mississippi Valley and casually east to New England and the intermediate states. Pine Grosbeak. These are dull and yellowish birds, shading to brownish on the head; with a bright yellow forehead and susperciliary line, black wings and tail, and white inner secondaries and greater coverts. They breed in the mountainous por

2 hour read

Read Chapter

TANAGERS. Family TANAGRIDÆ

TANAGERS. Family TANAGRIDÆ

607. Western Tanager. Piranga ludoviciana. Range.--United States, west of the Plains and north to British Columbia. Lark Bunting. Bluish green. This handsome species is black and yellow, with an orange or reddish head. They are common and breed in suitable localities through their range, nesting as do the eastern Tanagers in trees usually at a low elevation, the nests being saddled on the forks of horizontal branches; they are made of rootlets, strips of bark, and weed stalks, and are usually fr

2 minute read

Read Chapter

SWALLOWS. Family HIRUNDINIDÆ

SWALLOWS. Family HIRUNDINIDÆ

611. Purple Martin. Progne subis subis. Purple Martin. Range.--Breeds throughout the United States and temperate British America; winters in South America. White. These large, lustrous, steely-blue Swallows readily adapt themselves to civilization and, throughout the east, may be found nesting in bird houses, provided by appreciative land owners or tenants; some of these houses are beautiful structures modeled after modern residences and tenanted by twenty or thirty pairs of Martins; others are

4 minute read

Read Chapter

WAXWINGS. Family AMPELIDÆ

WAXWINGS. Family AMPELIDÆ

618. Bohemian Waxwing. Bombycilla garrulus . Bohemian Waxwing. Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions except in the Rockies where it nearly reaches the United States; winters south to the northern tier of states. Dull bluish. This handsome crested, grayish brown Waxwing resembles the common Cedar Waxwing but is larger (length 8 inches), has a black throat, much white and yellow on the wing and a yellow tip to tail. Their nests are made of rootlets, grass and moss, and situated in trees usually at

2 minute read

Read Chapter

SHRIKES. Family LANIIDÆ

SHRIKES. Family LANIIDÆ

621. Northern Shrike. Lanius borealis. Range.--North America, breeding north of our borders; winters in northern half of the United States and casually farther south. Grayish white. All Shrikes are similar in nature and plumage, being grayish above and white below, with black wings, tail and ear patches, and with white outer tail feathers and bases of primaries; the present species may be known by its larger size (length over 10 inches) and wavy dusky lines on the breast. They are bold and cruel

1 minute read

Read Chapter

VIREOS. Family VIREONDIDÆ

VIREOS. Family VIREONDIDÆ

623. Black-whiskered Vireo. Vireosylva calidris barbatula. 622a--622b. Range.--A Central American species, breeding in Cuba, Bahamas and southern Florida. White. Like the Red-eyed Vireo but with a dusky streak on either side of the chin. They build pensile nests of strips of bark and fibres, swung from the forks of branches. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the next species, being white, more or less specked about the large end with reddish brown and umber. Size .78 × .55. YOUNG SH

8 minute read

Read Chapter

HONEY CREEPERS. Family COEREBIDÆ

HONEY CREEPERS. Family COEREBIDÆ

635. Bahama Honey Creeper. Cœreba bahamensis . Range.--Bahamas, casually to southern Florida and the Keys. This peculiar curved-billed species is dark brown above, with the underparts, superciliary line and spot at base of primaries, whitish; the rump and a breast patch are yellow. They nest at low elevations in bushes or trees usually in tangled thickets, making a large dome-shaped nest of grasses, leaves and fibres and, during May or June, lay from three to five pale creamy white eggs, speckle

30 minute read

Read Chapter

WARBLERS. Family MNIOTILTIDÆ

WARBLERS. Family MNIOTILTIDÆ

Warblers as a family may be classed as the most beautiful, interesting and useful birds that we have. With few exceptions, they only return from their winter quarters as the trees shoot forth their leaves or flowers, they feed largely among the foliage upon small, and mostly injurious, insects. They are very active and always flitting from branch to branch, showing their handsome plumage to the best advantage. Their songs are simple but effectively delivered and the nests are of a high order of

2 hour read

Read Chapter

WAGTAILS. Family MOTACILLIDÆ

WAGTAILS. Family MOTACILLIDÆ

American Pipit. Sprague's Pipit. 694. White Wagtail. Motacilla alba. Range.--An Old World species; accidental in Greenland. White. These birds are abundant throughout Europe, nesting on the ground, in stone walls, or in the crevices of old buildings, etc., the nests being made of grass, rootlets, leaves, etc.; the eggs are grayish white, finely specked with blackish gray. Size .75 × .55. 695. Swinhoe's Wagtail. Motacilla ocularis. Range.--Eastern Asia; accidental in Lower California and probably

19 minute read

Read Chapter

CREEPERS. Family CERTHIIDÆ

CREEPERS. Family CERTHIIDÆ

Brown Creeper. 726. Brown Creeper. Certhia familiaris americana. Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the northern tier of states northward; winters in the United States. White. These peculiar, weak-voiced Creepers are common in northern United States during the winter, when they may be seen slowly toiling up the tree trunks, searching the crannies of the bark for larvae. They make their nests behind loose hanging bark on old tree stubs, usually at low elevations, building them of twigs,

1 minute read

Read Chapter

NUTHATCHES AND TITS. Family SITTIDÆ

NUTHATCHES AND TITS. Family SITTIDÆ

White-breasted Nuthatch. 727. White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis carolinensis. Range.--United States east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf to southern Canada; resident throughout its range. White. These birds are creepers, but unlike the last species, these run about on the trunks, either up or down; their tails are not pointed and stiffened like those of the Brown Creepers, and their plumage is gray and black above with a black crown, and white below. They nest in holes in trees,

2 hour read

Read Chapter

WARBLERS, KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS. Family SYLVIIDÆ

WARBLERS, KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS. Family SYLVIIDÆ

747. Kennicott's Willow Warbler. Acanthopneuste borealis. Range.--Asia, casually found in Alaska. White. This species breeds in the extreme northern parts of Asia, and I believe its eggs have never been found on this continent. They build their nests of moss and grasses, on the ground in open woods, concealing them under tufts of grass or tussocks of earth. The three to five eggs are white, spotted with pale reddish brown. Size .70 × .50. 748. Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa satrapa. Ran

2 hour read

Read Chapter

Birds of Eastern North America

Birds of Eastern North America

Bound in cloth, handsomely illuminated in gold; 464 pages (4½ × 6½); 408 colored illustrations; every bird described and pictured. $3.00 postpaid...

6 minute read

Read Chapter

Color Key To N. A. Birds

Color Key To N. A. Birds

This might well be called an illustrated dictionary of North American birds, the male of each species being shown in COLOR from pen and ink drawings. Uniform with Egg Book. 350 pages. $2.50 net...

14 minute read

Read Chapter

LAND BIRDS

LAND BIRDS

An illustrated, pocket text book that enables anyone to quickly identify any song or insectivorous bird found east of the Rocky Mountains. It describes their habits and peculiarities; tells you where to look for them and describes their nests, eggs and songs. EVERY BIRD IS SHOWN IN COLOR, including the females and young where the plumage differs, from watercolor drawings by the four-color process. The illustrations are the BEST, the MOST ACCURATE, and the MOST VALUABLE ever printed in a bird boo

38 minute read

Read Chapter

WATER BIRDS

WATER BIRDS

This book is uniform in size and scope with LAND BIRDS. It includes all of the Water Birds, Game Birds and Birds of Prey, east of the Rockies. Each species is ILLUSTRATED IN COLOR from oil paintings; the bird, its habits and nesting habits are described. The pictures show more than 230 birds in color, every species found in our range. They exceed in number those in any other bird book. In quality they cannot be surpassed--exquisite gems, each with an attractive background, typical of the habits

36 minute read

Read Chapter

THE TREE GUIDE

THE TREE GUIDE

Author of "The Tree Book" The Tree Guide is uniform in style and size with the well known pocket Bird Guides which have become so universally popular. It contains illustrations (32 of them colored and many in black and white) and descriptions of every tree east of the Rocky Mountains. The descriptions include the range, the classification, the distinctive features such as flowers, leaves, fruit, etc., and all other marks that lead to an easy identification of the tree. No detail that will help t

41 minute read

Read Chapter

Animal Post Cards

Animal Post Cards

We have been fortunate in securing from the well known artist, Harry F. Harvey, a number of his best paintings of our North American Wild Animals. These have been Faithfully reproduced in NATURAL COLORS, postcard size, and are by far, twenty-five of the best animal cards ever published. Ask your dealer for the "REED NATURE CARDS." 25 Animals, 25 Birds, 50 Wild Flowers. ALL IN NATURAL COLORS If your dealer is out of them we will fill your order (postpaid). 25 Animals for 50c; 25 Birds for 25c; 50

1 minute read

Read Chapter

North American Birds' Eggs

North American Birds' Eggs

This is the only book on the market that gives illustrations of the eggs of all North American birds. Each egg is shown FULL SIZE, photographed directly from an authentic and well marked specimen. There are a great many full-page plates of nests and eggs in their natural situations. The habitat and habits of each bird are given. It is finely printed on the best of paper and handsomely bound in cloth. 350 pages--6 × 9 inches. $2.50 net...

25 minute read

Read Chapter

Nature Studies--In Field and Wood

Nature Studies--In Field and Wood

This book is destined to be one of the most important that the author has written. Absorbingly interesting in itself, yet its greatest value will lie in the fact that it will lead the reader to realize how blind he has been to the many wonderful things that are happening on every hand. The brook, the pond, the field, the woods, the swamps and even the back yards yield quantities of very interesting subjects for study. This book treats entertainingly of many of these interesting creatures, but it

53 minute read

Read Chapter

Camera Studies of Wild Birds in Their Homes

Camera Studies of Wild Birds in Their Homes

"CAMERA STUDIES" affords everyone an opportunity for a very intimate study of bird life. A good photograph of an event together with an interesting description of it is the next best thing to witnessing the event itself. "CAMERA STUDIES" has 250 photographs of events right in birds' home. These pictures are selected from the author's collection of over 2000 bird photographs, this being one of the best collections of pictures of free, living wild birds in existence. Many rare and interesting pose

1 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAS. K. REED, WORCESTER, MASS.

CHAS. K. REED, WORCESTER, MASS.

or equally good for the mountains, seashore or theatre, or whenever a large, clear image of an object is desired. We carefully examined more than a hundred makes of field glasses, to select the ones best adapted for bird study. We found one make that was superior to any other of the same price and equal optically, and nearly as well made as those costing three times as much. They magnify about three diameters, and have an unusually large field of vision or angle of view, making it easy to find a

32 minute read

Read Chapter