The Bird Book Part 102

[Ill.u.s.tration 429: House Wren.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pinkish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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722a. WESTERN WINTER WREN. _Nannus hiemalis pacificus._

Range.--Western North America from the Rockies to the coast, north to Alaska.

This species is much browner both above and below and is more heavily barred than the last; its habits and eggs are like those of _hiemalis_.

722b. KADIAK WINTER WREN. _Nannus.h.i.+emalis h.e.l.leri._

Range.--Kadiak Island, Alaska.

Said to be slightly larger and paler than _pacificus_.

723. ALASKA WREN. _Nannus alascensis._

Range.--Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, Alaska.

Larger and paler than the Western Winter Wren. The habits of this species are similar to those of the eastern Winter Wren; they nest between boulders and in crevices of rocks or stumps, making their nests of moss and rootlets, lined with feathers. The eggs are like those of the Winter Wren but slightly larger; size .65 .51.

723.1. ALEUTIAN WREN. _Nannus meliger._

Range.--Western Aleutian Islands to Alaska. Very similar to the above, both in song and general habits. They nest in the crevices of rocks or between boulders, making their nests of rootlets and gra.s.s, lining it with hair and feathers. Usually six eggs are laid, white with a few specks of brown (.58 .46).

724. SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN. _Cistothorus stellaris_.

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba and Maine.

This species does not appear to be as common anywhere as is the Long-billed variety, whose habits and nests are similar. They nest in or on the borders of marshes, and nests being globular structures of gra.s.ses, lined with hair, and with the entrance on the side; they are attached above the ground or water in marsh gra.s.s or reeds. Their eggs, which number from six to eight, are pure white; size .64 .48.

[Ill.u.s.tration 430: Winter Wren.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 623--723.1--725a.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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725. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. _Telmatodytes pal.u.s.tris pal.u.s.tris._

Range.--United States east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf north to Manitoba and New England; winters in southern United States.

These birds are very abundant in suitable localities throughout their range, breeding in colonies in large marshes and in smaller numbers in small marshy places. Their nests are similar to those of the last, being globular and attached to cat-tails or reeds; the entrance is a small round hole in the side of the rush-woven structures and the interior is neatly finished with fine gra.s.s and hair. They lay from five to eight eggs of a pale chocolate color, dotted and spotted with darker shades of the same; size .64 .45. Data.--Delray, Mich., May 27, 1900. Six eggs.

Nest a ball of woven flags and gra.s.ses, lined with cat-tail down, and attached to rushes in salt marsh over two feet of water. Collector, Geo.

W. Morse.

725a. TULE WREN. _Telmatodytes pal.u.s.tris paludicola._

Range.--Western United States on the Pacific coast; north to British Columbia.

The nesting habits and eggs of these birds are in all respects like those of the last.

725b. WORTHINGTON'S MARSH WREN. _Telmatodytes pal.u.s.tris griseus._

Range.--Coast of South Carolina and Georgia.

The habits and eggs of this paler form are identical with those of _pal.u.s.tris_.

725c. WESTERN MARSH WREN. _Telmatodytes pal.u.s.tris plesius._

Range.--United States west of the Rockies, except the Pacific coast; north to British Columbia. This variety is like the Tule Wren but slightly paler; its nesting habits and eggs are the same.

725.1. MARIAN'S MARSH WREN. _Telmatodytes pal.u.s.tris marianae._

Range.--West coast of Florida.

This species is similar to the Long-billed variety but is darker and more barred above and below. Its nests and eggs will not be found to differ materially from those of the others of this genus.

[Ill.u.s.tration 431: Short-billed Marsh Wren. Long-billed Marsh Wren.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale brown.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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CREEPERS. Family CERTHIIDae

726. BROWN CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris americana._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the northern tier of states northward; winters in the United States.

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, bark, moss, etc., held together with cobwebs. The eggs, which are laid in May or June, are pure white, specked and spotted with reddish brown; they average in size .58 .48.

The nests are most often found under the loosened bark on coniferous trees.

726a. MEXICAN CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris albescens._

Range.--Western Mexico north to southern Arizona.