Page:Field key to the land birds .. (IA fieldkeytolandbi00knob).pdf/58

28 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.

28

underneath, resembling

yellow

a

Vireo

in

color.

From Southern New England southward. 59. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Scolecophagus linus.

— Length,

Bluish black.

9J inches.

caro-

Female

duller below. Comes in flocks in the spring like the Red-wing, but does not stay. It breeds in high northern latitudes, and winters in the South. slate gray,

60. BIRD.

PURPLE GRACKLE. CROW BLACKQuiscalus

quiscula.

— Length,

Glossy green and purplish black.

Female

12 inches. but

similar,

These are among the first birds to arrive in the spring, coming in large, extremely noisy flocks. Later they divide into smaller flocks, and take possession of some cedar swamp as a breeding-place. They usually build their nests higher than the Redwings in pine or cedar trees, and keep somewhat in company during the breeding season. They also feed in fields and pastures at some distance from the water, These birds are Avhich the Red-wing never leaves. said to rob birds' nests.

duller.

FINCHES AND SPAlIIROV^S, — Fringillidae. /r.

— Strong and Food. — Mostly seeds, Bill.

conical. also

buds and

insects.

These are tree and ground and move mostly by hopping.

birds,

—

61. PINE GROSBEAK. Pinicola enudeator. Length, 9 inches. Slaty gray with a shade of crimson Female and young a similar gray with a dull all over. yellowish shade. This birds breeds far to the northward, and comes south in winter, feeding on the berries It of the mountain ash and the cedar. tree bird, rarely seen on the ground.

is

a dull, quiet