bird neighbors-第3节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rossbill。　　　White…winged　Red　Crossbill。　　　Cardinal　Grosbeak。　　　Rose…breasted　Grosbeak。　　　Pine　Grosbeak。　　　Evening　Grosbeak。　　　Blue　Grosbeak。　　　Indigo　Bunting。　　　Junco。　　　Snowflake。　　　Chewink。

Family　Tanagridae：　TANAGERS

Distinctly　an　American　family；　remarkable　for　their　brilliant　plumage；　which；　however；　undergoes　great　changes　twice　a　year；　Females　different　from　males；　being　dull　and　inconspicuous。　Birds　of　the　tropics；　two　species　only　finding　their　way　north；　and　the　summer　tanager　rarely　found　north　of　Pennsylvania。　Shy　inhabitants　of　woods。　Though　they　may　nest　low　in　trees；　they　choose　high　perches　when　singing　or　feeding　upon　flowers；　fruits；　and　insects。　As　a　family；　the　tanagers　have　weak；　squeaky　voices；　but　both　our　species　are　good　songsters。　Suffering　the　fate　of　most　bright…plumaged　birds；　immense　numbers　have　been　shot　annually。　　　Scarlet　Tanager。　　　Summer　Tanager。

Family　Hirundinidae。　SWALLOWS

Birds　of　the　air；　that　take　their　insect　food　on　the　wing。　Migratory。　Flight　strong；　skimming；　darting；　exceedingly　graceful。　When　not　flying　they　choose　slender；　conspicuous　perches　like　telegraph　wires；　gutters；　and　eaves　of　barns。　Plumage　of　some　species　dull；　of　others　iridescent　blues　and　Greens　above；　whitish　or　ruddy　below。　Sexes　similar。　Bills　small；　mouths　large。　…　Long　and　pointed　wings；　generally　reaching　the　tip　of　the　tail　or　beyond。　Tail　more　or　less　forked。　Feet　small　and　weak　from　disuse。　Song　a　twittering　warble　without　power。　Gregarious　birds。　　　Barn　Swallow。　　　Bank　Swallow。　　　Cliff　（or　Eaves）　Swallow。　　　Tree　Swallow。　　　Rough…winged　Swallow。　　　Purple　Martin。

Family　Ampelidae：　WAXWINGS

Medium…sized　Quaker…like　birds；　with　plumage　of　soft　browns　and　grays。　Head　crested；　black　band　across　forehead　and　through　the　eye。　Bodies　plump　from　indolence。　Tail　tipped　with　yellow；　wings　with　red　tips　to　coverts；　resembling　sealing…wax。　Sexes　similar。　Silent；　gentle；　courteous；　elegant　birds。　Usually　seen　in　large　flocks　feeding　upon　berries　in　the　trees　or　perching　on　the　branches；　except　at　the　nesting　season。　Voices　resemble　a　soft；　lisping　twitter。　　　Cedar　Bird。　　　Bohemian　Waxwing。

Family　Laniidae：　SHRIKES

Medium…sized　grayish；　black…and…white　birds；　with　hooked　and　hawk…like　bill　for　tearing　the　flesh　of　smaller　birds；　field…mice；　and　large　insects　that　they　impale　on　thorns。　Handsome；　bold　birds；　the　terror　of　all　small；　feathered　neighbors；　not　excluding　the　English　sparrow。　They　choose　conspicuous　perches　when　on　the　lookout　for　prey　a　projecting　or　dead　limb　of　a　tree；　the　cupola　of　a　house；　the　ridge…pole　or　weather…vane　of　a　barn；　or　a　telegraph　wire；　from　which　to　suddenly　drop　upon　a　victim。　Eyesight　remarkable。　Call…notes　harsh　and　unmusical。　Habits　solitary　and　wandering。　The　first…named　species　is　resident　during　the　colder　months　of　the　year；　the　latter　is　a　summer　resident　only　north　of　Maryland。　　　Northern　Shrike。　　　Loggerhead　Shrike。

Family　Vireonidae：　VIREOS　OR　GREENLETS

Small　greenish…gray　or　olive　birds；　whitish　or　yellowish　underneath；　their　plumage　resembling　the　foliage　of　the　trees　they　hunt；　nest；　and　live　among。　Sexes　alike。　More　deliberate　in　habit　than　the　restless；　flitting　warblers　that　are　chiefly　seen　darting　about　the　ends　of　twigs。　Vireos　are　more　painstaking　gleaners；　they　carefully　explore　the　bark；　turn　their　heads　upward　to　investigate　the　under　side　of　leaves；　and　usually　keep　well　hidden　among　the　foliage。　Bill　hooked　at　tip　for　holding　worms　and　insects。　Gifted　songsters；　superior　to　the　warblers。　This　family　is　peculiar　to　America。　　　Red…eyed　Vireo。　　　Solitary　Vireo。　　　Warbling　Vireo。　　　White…eyed　Vireo。　　　Yellow…throated　Vireo。

Family　Mniotiltidae：　WOOD　WARBLERS

A　large　group　of　birds；　for　the　most　part　smaller　than　the　English　sparrow；　all；　except　the　ground　warblers；　of　beautiful　plumage；　in　which　yellow；　olive；　slate…blue；　black；　and　white　are　predominant　colors。　Females　generally　duller　than　males。　Exceedingly　active；　graceful；　restless　feeders　among　the　terminal　twigs　of　trees　and　shrubbery；　haunters　of　tree…tops　in　the　woods　at　nesting　time。　Abundant　birds；　especially　during　May　and　September；　when　the　majority　are　migrating　to　and　from　regions　north　of　the　United　States；　but　they　are　strangely　unknown　to　all　but　devoted　bird　lovers；　who　seek　them　out　during　these　months　that　particularly　favor　acquaintance。　Several　species　are　erratic　in　their　migrations　and　choose　a　different　course　to　return　southward　from　the　one　they　travelled　over　in　spring。　A　few　species　are　summer　residents；　and　one；　at　least；　of　this　tropical　family；　the　myrtle　warbler；　winters　at　the　north。　The　habits　of　the　family　are　not　identical　in　every　representative；　some　are　more　deliberate　and　less　nervous　than　others；　a　few；　like　the　Canadian　and　Wilson's　warblers；　are　expert　flycatchers；　taking　their　food　on　the　wing；　but　not　usually　returning　to　the　same　perch；　like　true　flycatchers；　and　a　few　of　the　warblers；　as；　for　example；　the　black…and…white；　the　pine；　and　the　worm…eating　species；　have　the　nuthatches'　habit　of　creeping　around　the　bark　of　trees。　Quite　a　number　feed　upon　the　ground。　All　are　insectivorous；　though　many　vary　their　diet　with　blossom；　fruit；　or　berries；　and　naturally　their　bills　are　slender　and　sharply　pointed；　rarely　finch…like。　The　yellow…breasted　chat　has　the　greatest　variety　of　vocal　expressions。　The　ground　warblers　are　compensated　for　their　sober；　thrush…like　plumage　by　their　exquisite　voices；　while　the　great　majority　of　the　family　that　are　gaily　dressed　have　notes　that　either　resemble　the　trill　of　mid…summer　insects　or；　by　their　limited　range　and　feeble　utterance；　sadly　belie　the　family　name。　　　Bay…breasted　Warbler。　　　Blackburnian　Warbler。　　　Blackpoll　Warbler。　　　Black…throated　Blue　Warbler。　　　Black…throated　Green　Warbler。　　　Black…and…white　Creeping　Warbler。　　　Blue…winged　Warbler。　　　Canadian　Warbler。　　　Chestnut…sided　Warbler。　　　Golden…winged　Warbler。　　　Hooded　Warbler。　　　Kentucky　Warbler。　　　Magnolia　Warbler。　　　Mourning　Warbler。　　　Myrtle　Warbler。　　　Nashville　Warbler。　　　Palm　Warbler。　　　Parula　Warbler。　　　Pine　Warbler。　　　Prairie　Warbler。　　　Redstart。　　　Wilson's　Warbler。　　　Worm…eating　Warbler。　　　Yellow　Warbler。　　　Yellow　Palm　Warbler。　　　Ovenbird。　　　Northern　Water　Thrush。　　　Louisiana　Water　Thrush。　　　Maryland　Yellowthroat。　　　Yellow…breasted　Chat。

Family　Motacillidae：　WAGTAILS　AND　PIPITS；

Only　three　birds　of　this　family　inhabit　North　America；　and　of　these　only　one　is　common　enough；　east　of　the　Mississippi；　to　be　included　in　this　book。　Terrestrial　birds　of　open　tracts　near　the　coast；　stubble…fields；　and　country　roadsides；　with　brownish　plumage　to　harmonize　with　their　surroundings。　The　American　pipit；　or　titlark；　has　a　peculiar　wavering　flight　when；　after　being　flushed；　it　reluctantly　leaves　the　ground。　Then　its　white　tail　feathers　are　conspicuous。　Its　habit　of　wagging　its　tail　when　perching　is　not　an　exclusive　family　trait；　as　the　family　name　might　imply。　　　American　Pipit；　or　Titlark

Family　Troglodytidae：　THRASHERS；　WRENS；　ETC。

Subfamily　Miminae：　THRASHERS；　MOCKING…BIRDS；　AND　CATBIRDS

Apparently　the　birds　that　comprise　this　large　general　family　are　too　unlike　to　be　related；　but　the　missing　links　or　intermediate　species　may　all　be　found　far　South。　The　first　subfamily　is　comprised　of　distinctively　American　birds。　Most　numerous　in　the　tropics。　Their　long　tails　serve　a　double　purpose…in　assisting　their　flight　and　acting　as　an　outlet　for　their　vivacity。　Usually　they　inhabit　scrubby　undergrowth　bordering　woods。　They　rank　among　our　finest　songsters；　with　ventriloquial　and　imitative　powers　added　to　sweetness　of　tone。　　　Brown　Thrasher。　　　Catbird。　　　Mocking…bird。

Subfamily　Troglodytinae：　WRENS

Small　brown　birds；　more　or　less　barred　with　darkest　brown　above；　much　lighter　below。　Usually　carry　their　short　tails　erect。　Wings　are　small；　for　short　flight。　Vivacious；　busy；　excitable；　easily　displeased；　quick　to　take　alarm。　Most　of　the　species　have　scolding　notes　in　addition　to　their　lyrical；　gushing　song；　that　seems　much　too　powerful　a　performance　for　a　diminutive　bird。　As　a　rule；　wrens　haunt　thickets　or　marshes；　but　at　least　one　species　is　thoroughly　domesticated。　All　are　insectivorous。　　　Carolina　Wren。　　　House　Wren。　　　Winter…Wren。　　　Long…billed　Marsh　Wren。　　　Short…billed　Marsh　Wren。

Family　Certhiidae：　CREEPERS

Only　one　species　of　this　Old　World　family　is　found　in　America。　It　is　a　brown；　much　mottled　bird；　that　creeps　spirally　around　and　around　the　trunks　of　trees　in　fall　and　winter；　pecking　at　the　larvae　in　the　bark　with　its　long；　sharp　bill；　and　doing　its　work　with　faithful　exactness　but　little　spirit。　It　uses　its　tail　as　a　prop　in　climbing；　like　the　woodpeckers。　　　Brown　Creeper。

Family　Paridae：　NUTHATCHES　AND　TITMICE

Two　distinct　subfamilies　are　included　under　this　general　head。　The　nuthatches　（Sittinae）　are　small；　slate…colored　birds；　seen　chiefly　in　winter　walking　up　and　down　the　barks　of　trees；　and　sometimes　running　along　the　under　side　of　branches　upside　down；　like　flies。　Plumage　compact　and　smooth。　Their　name　is　derived　from　their　habit　of　wedging　nuts　（usually　beechnuts）　in　the　bark　of　trees；　and　then　hatching　them　open　with　their　strong　straight　bills。　　　White…breasted　Nuthatch。　　　Red…breasted　Nuthatch。

The　titmice　or　chickadees　（Pa