What Bird is That? Part 12

_Range._ Eastern North America from the Gulf States and Georgia north to Canada and Alaska.

Winters in the tropics coming north in April. The Florida Nighthawk (_C. v. chapmani_) a smaller race (L. 8) is a Summer Resident in the Gulf States.

Was.h.i.+ngton, not common S.R.; abundant T.V., Apl.

19-Oct. 8. Ossining, common S.R., May 9-Oct. 11.

Cambridge, rare S.R., common T.V., May 15-Sept.

25. N. Ohio, locally common S.R., May 1-Sept. 20.

Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., common T.V., May 1-Oct. 14. SE. Minn., common S.R.. May 4-Sept. 30.

Doubtless because we see the Nighthawk and only hear the Whip-poor-will the notes of the latter have been often attributed to the former, with the result that many people think there is but one species. While it is true that there is a general resemblance in form, in details of color and markings, the two birds are quite unlike, while so far as notes and habits are concerned, few members of the same family differ more. The Whip-poor-will haunts the shadows of the woods and rarely flies far above the ground, the Nighthawk, like a Swift, courses high in the open, even over city house-tops, where anyone who looks may see him. The Whip-poor-will's notes have made him famous, the Nighthawk calls only a nasal _peent, peent_, and, diving earthward on set wings, produces a hollow, booming sound. Both nest on the ground, but the Nighthawk lays in the fields or on pebbly roofs, and its two finely marked eggs (laid in May or June) are quite unlike those of the Whip-poor-will.

SWIFTS. FAMILY MICROPODIDae

CHIMNEY SWIFT

_Chaetura pelagica. Case 6. Fig. 42_

A near relative of the Hummingbird, not of Swallows. Note the 'spine'-tipped tail-feathers.

_Range._ Eastern North America; winters in Central America; reaches the Gulf States in March.

Was.h.i.+ngton, abundant S.R., Apl. 6-Oct. 27.

Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 19-Oct. 23. Cambridge, abundant S.R., Apl. 25-Sept. 20. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Apl. 10-Oct. 20. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Apl. 16-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl.

20-Sept. 18.

A twittering courser of evening skies who makes his home in our chimneys. Here the bracket-like nest of dead twigs is attached to the bricks by the bird's saliva, to be loosened, at times, after heavy rains and fall to the fire-place below. In the fall great flocks roost in chimneys, generally large ones, returning night after night.

The 4-6 white eggs are laid in May.

HUMMINGBIRDS. FAMILY TROCHILIDae

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

_Archilochus colubris. Case 7, Figs. 4, 3_

Females and young lack the 'ruby' throat.

_Range._ Eastern North America, nesting from Florida to Quebec; winters from central Florida to Panama.

Was.h.i.+ngton, common S.R., Apl. 23-Oct. 23.

Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 30-Oct. 3. Cambridge, very common T.V., uncommon S.R., May 10-Sept. 20.

N. Ohio, common S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, rare S.R., May 1-Sept. 22. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 19-Oct. 8.

Any Hummingbird seen east of the Mississippi may, with confidence, be called a Ruby-throat; exceptions will probably prove to be sphinx moths, which, it must be confessed, look singularly hummingbird-like as they hover before flowers. When the eggs are laid the male deserts the female, leaving to her the task of incubation and care of the young.

The nest, most exquisite of bird homes, is saddled to a limb usually 15 or more feet up. The two bean-like white eggs are laid in May.

PERCHING BIRDS. ORDER Pa.s.sERES

FLYCATCHERS. FAMILY TYRANNIDae

KINGBIRD

_Tyrannus tyrannus. Case 7, Fig. 6_

Note the white-tipped tail; young birds lack the orange crest. L. 8.

_Range._ North America; nests from northern Florida to Canada; winters in South America, reaching Florida in March.

Was.h.i.+ngton, common S.R., Apl. 18-Sept. 23.

Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 10.

Cambridge, common S.R. May 5-Sept. 1. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 20-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., Apl. 16-Sept. 6. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 26-Aug. 31.

A valiant defender of his home who, at the approach of Crow or Hawk, utters his steely, chattering, battle-cry and sallies forth to attack.

Fearlessly he plunges down on an enemy many times his size who dodging this way and that beats a hasty retreat before his active, aggressive a.s.sailant. In the fall migration Kingbirds gather in loose flocks.

The nest is placed near the end of a branch about 20 feet up; the 3-5 white eggs spotted with dark brown, are laid in May.

GRAY KINGBIRD

_Tyrannus dominicensis dominicensis. Case 7, Fig. 7_

Resembles the Kingbird but is lighter gray, and the tail lacks the conspicuous white tip.

_Range._ West Indies, nesting north through Florida to southeastern South Carolina; winters to South America; reaches Florida early in May.

A not uncommon summer resident in parts of Florida and the coastal region of Georgia and South Carolina, with the general habits and appearance of our Kingbird, but with a quite different call which suggests the words _pitirri-pitirri_. It nests in May, laying four salmon-colored eggs, marked with dark brown and lilac.

CRESTED FLYCATCHER

_Myiarchus crinitus. Case 7, Fig. 5_