bird neighbors-第21章

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！




NORTHERN　WATER　THRUSH　（Seiurus　noveboracensis）　Wood　Warbler　family

Called　also：　NEW　YORK　WATER　THRUSH；　AQUATIC　WOOD　WAGTAIL；　AQUATIC　　　THRUSH

Length　　5　to　6　inches。　A　trifle　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Uniform　olive　or　grayish　brown　above。　Pale　　　buff　line　over　the　eye。　Underneath；　white　tinged　with　sulphur　　　yellow；　and　streaked　like　a　thrush　with　very　dark　brown　arrow　　　headed　or　oblong　spots　that　are　also　seen　underneath　wings。　Range　　United　States；　westward　to　Rockies　and　northward　through　　　British　provinces。　Winters　from　Gulf　States　southward。　Migrations　　Late　April。　October。　Summer　resident。　

According　to　the　books　we　have　before　us；　a　warbler；　but　who；　to　look　at　his　speckled　throat　and　breast；　would　ever　take　him　for　anything　but　a　diminutive　thrush；　or；　studying　him　from　some　distance　through　the　opera…glasses　as　he　runs　in　and　out　of　the　little　waves　along　the　brook　or　river　shore；　would　not　name　him　a　baby　sandpiper？　The　rather　unsteady　motion　of　his　legs；　balancing　of　the　tail；　and　sudden　jerking　of　the　head　suggest　an　aquatic　bird　rather　than　a　bird　of　the　woods。　But　to　really　know　either　man　or　beast；　you　must　follow　him　to　his　home；　and　if　you　have　pluck　enough　to　brave　the　swamp　and　the　almost　impenetrable　tangle　of　undergrowth　where　the　water　thrush　chooses　to　nest；　there　〃In　the　swamp　in　secluded　recesses；　a　shy　and　hidden　bird　is　warbling　a　song；〃　and　this　warbled　song　that　Walt　Whitman　so　adored　gives　you　your　first　clue　to　the　proper　classification　of　the　bird。　It　has　nothing　in　common　with　the　serene；　hymn…like　voices　of　the　true　thrushes；　the　bird　has　no　flute…like　notes；　but　an　emphatic　smacking　or　chucking　kind　of　warble。　For　a　few　days　only　is　this　song　heard　about　the　gardens　and　roadsides　of　our　country　places。　Like　the　Louisiana　water　thrush；　this　bird　never　ventures　near　the　homes　of　men　after　the　spring　and　autumn　migrations；　but；　on　the　contrary；　goes　as　far　away　from　them　as　possible；　preferably　to　some　mountain　region；　beside　a　cool　and　dashing　brook；　where　a　party　of　adventurous　young　climbers　from　a　summer　hotel　or　the　lonely　trout　fisherman　may　startle　it　from　its　mossy　nest　on　the　ground。


FLICKER　（Colaptes　auratus）　Woodpecker　family

Called　also：　GOLDEN…WINGED　WOODPECKER；　CLAPE；　PIGEON　WOODPECKER；　　　YELLOWHAMMER；　HIGH　HOLE　OR　HIGH…HOLDER；　YARUP；　WAKE…UP；　　　YELLOW…SHAFTED　WOODPECKER

Length　　12　to　13　inches。　About　one…fourth　as　large　again　as　the　　　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Head　and　neck　bluish　gray；　with　a　red　crescent　　　across　back　of　neck　and　a　black　crescent　on　breast。　Male　has　　　black　cheek…patches；　that　are　wanting　in　female。　Golden　brown　　　shading　into　brownish…gray；　and　barred　with　black　above。　　　Underneath　whitish；　tinged　with　light　chocolate　and　thickly　　　spotted　with　black。　Wing　linings；　shafts　of　wing；　and　tail　　　quills　bright　yellow。　Above　tail　white；　conspicuous　when　the　　　bird　flies。　Range　　United　States；　east　of　Rockies；　Alaska　and　British　　　America；　south　of　Hudson　Bay。　Occasional　on　Pacific　slope。　Migrations　　Most　commonly　seen　from　April　to　October。　Usually　　　Resident。

If　we　were　to　follow　the　list　of　thirty…six　aliases　by　which　this　largest　and　commonest　of　our　woodpeckers　is　known　throughout　its　wide　range；　we　should　find　all　its　peculiarities　of　color；　flight；　noises；　and　habits　indicated　in　its　popular　names。　It　cannot　but　attract　attention　wherever　seen；　with　its　beautiful　plumage；　conspicuously　yellow　if　its　outstretched　wings　are　looked　at　from　below；　conspicuously　brown　and　white　if　seen　upon　the　ground。　At　a　distance　it　suggests　the　meadowlark。　Both　birds　wear　black；　crescent　breast　decorations；　and　the　flicker　also　has　the　habit　of　feeding　upon　the　ground；　especially　in　autumn；　a　characteristic　not　shared　by　its　relations。

Early　in　the　spring　this　bird　of　many　names　and　many　voices　makes　itself　known　by　a　long；　strong；　sonorous　call；　a　sort　of　proclamation　that　differs　from　its　song　proper；　which　Audubon。　calls　〃a　prolonged　jovial　laugh〃　（described　by　Mrs。　Wright　as　〃Wick；　wick；　wick；　wick！〃）　and　differs　also　from　its　rapidly　repeated；　mellow；　and　most　musical　cub；　cub；　cub；　cub；　cub；　uttered　during　the　nesting　season。

Its　nasal　kee…yer；　vigorously　called　out　in　the　autumn；　is　less　characteristic；　however；　than　the　sound　it　makes　while　associating　with　its　fellows　on　the　feeding　ground　　a　sound　that　Mr。　Frank　M。　Chapman　says　can　be　closely　imitated　by　the　swishing　of　a　willow　wand。

A　very　ardent　and　ridiculous…looking　lover　is　this　bird；　as；　with　tail　stiffly　spread；　he　sidles　up　to　his　desired　mate　and　bows　and　bobs　before　her；　then　retreats　and　advances；　bowing　and　bobbing　again；　very　often　with　a　rival　lover　beside　him　（whom　he　generously　tolerates）　trying　to　outdo　him　in　grace　and　general　attractiveness。　Not　the　least　of　the　bird's　qualities　that　must　commend　themselves　to　the　bride　is　his　unfailing　good　nature；　genial　alike　in　the　home　and　in　the　field。

The　〃high…holders〃　have　the　peculiar　and　silly　habit　of　boring　out　a　number　of　superfluous　holes　for　nests　high　up　in　the　trees；　in　buildings；　or　hollow　wooden　columns；　only　one　of　which　they　intend　to　use。　Six　white　eggs　is　the　proper　number　for　a　household；　but　Dr。　Coues　says　the　female　that　has　been　robbed　keeps　on　laying　three　or　even　four　sets　of　eggs　without　interruption。


MEADOWLARK　（Sturnella　magna）　Blackbird　family

Called　also：　FIELD　LARK；　OLDFIELD　LARK；　＇EASTERN　MEADOWLARK；　AOU　　　1998＇

Length　　10　to　11　inches。　A　trifle　larger　than　the　robin。　Male　　Upper　parts　brown；　varied　with　chestnut；　deep　brown；　and　　　black。　Crown　streaked　with　brown　and　black；　and　with　a　　　cream…colored　streak　through　the　centre。　Dark…brown　line　　　apparently　running　through　the　eye；　another　line　over　eye；　　　yellow。　Throat　and　chin　yellow；　a　large　conspicuous　black　　　crescent　on　breast。　Underneath　yellow；　shading　into　buffy　　　brown；　spotted　or　streaked　with　very　dark　brown；　Outer　tail　　　feathers　chiefly　white；　conspicuous　in　flight。　Long；　strong　　　legs　and　claws；　adapted　for　walking。　Less　black　in　winter　　　plumage；　which　is　more　grayish　brown。　Female　　Paler　than　male。　Range　　North　America；　from　Newfoundland　to　the　Gulf　of　Mexico；　　　and　westward　to　the　plains；　where　the　Western　meadowlark　takes　　　its　place。　Winters　from　Massachusetts　and　Illinois　southward。　Migrations　　April。　Late　October。　Usually　a　resident；　a　few　　　remaining　through　the　winter。

In　the　same　meadows　with　the　red…winged　blackbirds；　birds　of　another　feather；　but　of　the　same　family；　nevertheless；　may　be　found　flocking　together；　hunting　for　worms　and　larvae；　building　their　nests；　and　rearing　their　young　very　near　each　other　with　the　truly　social　instinct　of　all　their　kin。

The　meadowlarks；　which　are　really　not　larks　at　all；　but　the　blackbirds'　and　orioles'　cousins；　are　so　protected　by　the　coloring　of　the　feathers　on　their　backs；　like　that　of　the　grass　and　stubble　they　live　among；　that　ten　blackbirds　are　noticed　for　every　meadowlark　although　the　latter　is　very　common。　Not　until　you　flush　a　flock　of　them　as　you　walk　along　the　roadside　or　through　the　meadows　and　you　note　the　white　tail　feathers　and　the　black　crescents　on　the　yellow　breasts　of　the　large　brown　birds　that　rise　towards　the　tree…tops　with　whirring　sound　and　a　flight　suggesting　the　quail's；　do　you　suspect　there　are　any　birds　among　the　tall　grasses。

Their　clear　and　piercing　whistle；　〃Spring　o'　the　y…e…a…r；　Spring　o'　the　year！〃　rings　out　from　the　trees　with　varying　intonation　and　accent；　but　always　sweet　and　inspiriting。　To　the　bird's　high　vantage　ground　you　may　not　follow；　for　no　longer　having　the　protection　of　the　high　grass；　it　has　become　wary　and　flies　away　as　you　approach；　calling　out　peent…peent　and　nervously　flitting　its　tail　（again　showing　the　white　feather）；　when　it　rests　a　moment　on　the　pasture　fence…rail。

It　is　like　looking　for　a　needle　in　a　haystack　to　try　to　find　a　meadowlark's　nest；　an　unpretentious　structure　of　dried　grasses　partly　arched　over　and　hidden　in　a　clump　of　high　timothy；　flat　upon　the　ground。　But　what　havoc　snakes　and　field…mice　play　with　the　white…speckled　eggs　and　helpless　fledglings！　The　care　of　rearing　two　or　three　broods　in　a　season　and　the　change　of　plumage　to　duller　winter　tints　seem　to　exhaust　the　high　spirits　of　the　sweet　whistler。　For　a　time　he　is　silent；　but　partly　regains　his　vocal　powers　in　the　autumn；　when；　with　large　flocks　of　his　own　kind；　he　resorts　to　marshy　feeding　grounds。　In　the　winter　he　chooses　for　companions　the　horned　larks；　that　walk　along　the　shore；　or　the　snow　buntings　and　sparrows　of　the　inland　pastures；　and　will　even　include　the　denizens　of　the　barn…yard　when　hunger　drives　him　close　to　the　haunts　of　men。

The　Western　Meadowlark　or　Prairie　Lark　（Sturnella　magna　neglecta）；　which　many　ornithologists　consider　a　different　species　from　the　foregoing　＇as　does　AOU　1998＇；　is　distinguished　chiefly　by　its　lighter；　more　grayish…brown　plumage；　by　its　yellow　cheeks；　and　more　especially　by　its　richer；　fuller　song。　In　his　〃Birds　of　Manitoba〃　Mr。　Ernest　E。　Thompson　says　of　this　meadowlark：　〃In　richness　of　voice　and　modulation　it　equals　or　excels　both　wood　thrush　and　nightingale；　and　in　the　beauty　of　its　articulation　it　has　no　superior　in　the　whole　world　of　feathered　choristers　with　which　I　am　acquainted。〃


HORNED　LARK　（Otocoris　alpestris）　Lark　family

Called　also：　SHORE　LARK

Length　　7。5　to　8　inches。　About　one…fifth　smaller　than　the　　　robin。　Male　　Upper　parts　dull　brown；　streaked　with　lighter　on　edges　　　and　tinged　with　pink　or　vinaceous；　darkest　on　back　of　head　　　neck；　shoulders；　and　nearest　the　tail。　A　few　erectile　feathers　　　on　either　side　of　the　head　form　slight　tufts　or　horns　that　are　　　wanting　in　female。　A　black　mark　from　the　base　of　the　bill　　　passes　below　the　eye　and　ends　in　a　horn…shaped　curve　on　cheeks；　　　which　are　yellow。　Throat　clear　yellow。　Breast　has　crescent　　　shaped　black　patch。　Underneath　soiled　white；　with　dusky　spots　　　on　lower　breast。　Tail　black；　the　outer　feathers　margined　with　　　white；　noticed　in　flight。　Female　　Has　yellow　eye…stripe；　less　prominent　markings；　　　especially　on　head；　and　is　a　trifle　smaller。　Range　　Northeastern　parts　of　North　America；　and　in　winter　from　　　Ohio　and　eastern　United　States　as　far　south　as　North　Carolina。　Migrations　　October　and　November。　March。　Winter　resident

Far　away　to　the　north　in　Greenland　and　Labrador　this　true　lark；　the　most　beautiful　of　its　genus；　makes　its　summer　home。　There　it　is　a　conspicuously　handsome　bird　with　its　pinkish…gray　and　chocolate　feathers；　that　have　greatly　faded　into　dull　browns　when　we　see　them　in　the　late　autumn。　In　the　far　north　only　does　it　sing；　and；　according　to　Audubon；　the　charming　song　is　flung　to　the　breeze　while　the　bird　soars　like　a　skylark。　In　the　United　States　we　hear　only　its　call…note。

Great　flocks　come　down　the　Atlantic　coast　in　October　and　November；　and　separate　into　smaller　bands　that　take　up　their　residence　in　sandy　stretches　and　open　tracts　near　the　sea　or　wherever　the　food　supply　looks　promising；　and　there　the　larks　stay　until　all　the　seeds；　buds　of　bushes；　berries；　larvae；　and　insects　in　their　chosen　territory　are　exhausted。　They　are　ever　conspicuously　ground　birds；　walkers；　and　when　disturbed　at　their　dinner；　prefer　to　squat　on　the　earth　rather　than　expose　themselves　by　flight。　Sometimes　they　run　ni