The Bird Book Part 86

Range.--United States, west of the Plains and north to British Columbia.

This handsome species is black and yellow, with an orange or reddish head. They are common and breed in suitable localities through their range, nesting as do the eastern Tanagers in trees usually at a low elevation, the nests being saddled on the forks of horizontal branches; they are made of rootlets, strips of bark, and weed stalks, and are usually frail like those of the Grosbeaks. Their eggs, which are laid in May or June, are bluish green, specked with brown of varying shades.

Size .95 .65.

608. SCARLET TANAGER. _Piranga erythromelas._

These beautiful scarlet and black birds frequent, chiefly, woodlands, although they are very often found breeding in orchards and small pine groves. They are quiet birds, in actions, but their loud warbling song is heard at a great distance, and is readily recognized by its peculiarity. They nest upon horizontal

[Ill.u.s.tration 371: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: d.i.c.kcissel.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish blue.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lark Bunting.]

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

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limbs or forks at elevations of four to twenty feet, making frail nests of twigs, rootlets and weeds; they are often found in pine trees, but apparently just as frequently in other kinds. Their eggs are greenish blue, specked and spotted with various shades of brown. Size .95 .65.

Data.--Holden, Ma.s.s., May 31, 1898. Nest on low limb of an oak, 4 feet above ground; of weeds and rootlets and very frail.

609. HEPATIC TANAGER. _Piranga hepatica._

Range.--Western Mexico, north to New Mexico and Arizona in summer.

This species is similar to the next but is darker red on the upper parts and bright vermilion below. They nest on the lower horizontal branches of trees, usually live oaks, making the nests of rootlets and weeds; the eggs are bluish green, like those of the next, but the markings appear to average more blotchy and brighter. Size .92 .64.

610. SUMMER TANAGER. _Piranga rubra rubra._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to New York and Kansas, and casually farther; west to Texas; winters south of our borders.

This bird is of the size of the Scarlet Tanager, but is of a uniform rosy red color, darker on the back. They are very common in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. Their nests are located at low elevations on horizontal branches of trees in open woods, edges of clearings, or along the roadside; the nests are made of strips of bark, weed stems, leaves, etc., and are frail like those of the other Tanagers. Their eggs are light bluish green, speckled and spotted with reddish brown, and not distinguishable with certainty from those of the Scarlet Tanager. Size .92 .64.

610a. COOPER'S TANAGER. _Piranga rubra cooperi._

Range.--Western United States, breeding from the Mexican border and Texas north to central California and Nevada.

Similar to but slightly larger than the last. There are no differences between the nesting of this form and the last and the eggs are not in any way different.

[Ill.u.s.tration 372: Scarlet Tanager.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Light bluish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Summer Tanager.]

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

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[Ill.u.s.tration 373: SCARLET TANAGER.]

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SWALLOWS. Family HIRUNDINIDae

611. PURPLE MARTIN. _Progne subis subis._

Range.--Breeds throughout the United States and temperate British America; winters in South America.

These large, l.u.s.trous, steely-blue Swallows readily adapt themselves to civilization and, throughout the east, may be found nesting in bird houses, provided by appreciative land owners or tenants; some of these houses are beautiful structures modeled after modern residences and tenanted by twenty or thirty pairs of Martins; others are plain, unpainted soap boxes or the like, but the birds seem to take to one as kindly as the other, making nests in their compartments of weeds, gra.s.s, mud, feathers, etc. They also, and most commonly in the west, nest in cavities of trees making nests of any available material. During June or July, they lay from four to six white eggs; size .95 .65.

Data.--Leicester, Ma.s.s., June 16, 1903. 5 eggs in Martin house; nest of gra.s.ses.

611a. WESTERN MARTIN. _Progne subis hesperia._

Range.--Pacific coast from Was.h.i.+ngton south.

The nesting habits, eggs, and birds of this form are identical with those found in the east.

611.1. CUBAN MARTIN. _Progne cryptoleuca_.

Range.--Cuba and southern Florida (in summer).

Slightly smaller than the Purple Martin and the eggs average a trifle smaller.

612. CLIFF SWALLOW. _Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding north from the south Atlantic and Gulf States.

These birds can easily be recognized by their brownish throat and breast, whitish forehead and buffy rump. They build one of the most peculiar of nests, the highest type being a flask shaped structure of mud securely cemented to the face of a cliff or under the eaves of a building, the entrance being drawn out and small, while the outside of the nest proper is large and rounded; they vary from

[Ill.u.s.tration 374: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Purple Martin.]

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

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cliff Swallow.]

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

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this typical nest down to plain mud platforms, but are all warmly lined with gra.s.s and feathers. In some localities, cliffs resemble bee hives, they having thousands of these nests side by side and in tiers. Their eggs are creamy white spotted with reddish brown; size .80 .55 with great variations. Data.--Rockford, Minn., June 12, 1890. Nest made of mud, lined with feathers; placed under the eaves of a freight house.

612.1. CUBAN CLIFF SWALLOW. _Petrochelidon fulva._

Range.--West Indies and Central America; accidental on Florida Keys.