What Bird is That? Part 3

TURKEYS. FAMILY MELEAGRIDae

WILD TURKEY

_Meleagris gallopavo silvestris_

The Wild Turkey was formerly found as far north as Maine and Ontario but it is unknown now north of central Pennsylvania. South of Maryland it is not uncommon locally.

_Range._ Kansas and central Pennsylvania to the Gulf coast, and northern Florida. Non-migratory.

Was.h.i.+ngton, rare P.R.

Our domestic Turkey is descended from the Mexican Wild Turkey and like that race has the upper tail-coverts and tail tipped with whitish, whereas in our eastern Wild Turkey these tips are chestnut. The nest is on the ground and 10-14 eggs, pale cream-color finely speckled with brownish, are laid in April.

The Florida Wild Turkey (_M. g. osceola_), of southern Florida, is smaller and the white bars on the primaries are narrower and more broken.

PIGEONS AND DOVES. ORDER COLUMBae

PIGEONS AND DOVES. FAMILY COLUMBIDae

MOURNING DOVE

_Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Case 3, Fig. 3; Case 5, Fig. 11_

Except the southern little Ground Dove, this is our only Dove. Its long, pointed tail and the swift, darting flight are its field characters. It is often mistaken for the Wild or Pa.s.senger Pigeon, now extinct. The two birds differ in size and in color, but size is a matter of distance, and color, of comparison, so it seems probable that as long as there is a possibility of seeing a Pa.s.senger Pigeon, Mourning Doves will be mistaken for them. L. 11. The Wild Pigeon is about five inches longer.

_Range._ North America. In a railway journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific one may expect to see the Dove daily. Winters from Virginia southward, migrating northward in March.

Was.h.i.+ngton, P.R., common, except in midwinter.

Ossining, common S.R., Mch. 3-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, rather rare T.V., Apl. 8-June 18; Sept. 18-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Mch.

20-Oct. 25; rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common S.R., formerly common, Mch. 12-Oct. 21. S.E.

Minn., common S.R., Mch. 15-Dec. 25.

Doves are particularly common in the southern states where, ranked as game-birds, they are shot in large numbers. The Wild Pigeon's note was an explosive squawk; the Dove's is a soft, mournful _coo-oo-ah, coo-o-o-coo-o-o-coo-o-o-_. During the winter, Doves are usually found in small flocks but, unlike the Wild Pigeon, they nest in scattered pairs.

The nest is in a tree or on the ground. Two white eggs are laid in April.

GROUND DOVE

_Chaemepelia pa.s.serina terrestris. Case 3, Fig. 4_

The female is duller than the male. L. 6.

_Range._ Tropical and subtemperate parts of the Western Hemisphere. Our form is found in Florida and on the coast region from North Carolina to Texas.

Was.h.i.+ngton, accidental; two records, Sept., Oct.

This dainty, miniature Pigeon is common in southern gardens and old fields. It runs gracefully before one, and when flushed rises with a whirring flight but soon alights, usually on the ground. Its call is a crooning _coo_. The nest is placed on the ground and in low trees and bushes. Two white eggs are laid in March.

BIRDS OF PREY. ORDER RAPTORES

AMERICAN VULTURES. FAMILY CATHARTIDae

TURKEY VULTURE

_Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Case 3, Fig. 9_

Head red, plumage with a brownish cast. Young birds have the head covered with brownish down. L.

30.

_Range._ Most of the Western Hemisphere in several subspecies; in the eastern states north to northern New Jersey and, locally, southern New York. Migrating south from the northern part of its range.

Was.h.i.+ngton, abundant P.R. Ossining, A.V.

Cambridge, casual, two records. N. Ohio, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 5-Oct. 30. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27.

The 'Turkey Buzzard' has a wider wing-stretch and is a better aviator than the Black Vulture. It is more a bird of the country than the last-named species which is the common Vulture of the streets in many southern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in April in Virginia.

BLACK VULTURE

_Catharista urubu urubu. Case 3, Fig. 10_

Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of the Turkey Vulture.

_Range._ Eastern U.S., north to Virginia; an abundant Permanent Resident. Was.h.i.+ngton, casual, Mch., July, Dec.

The Vulture of southern cities; a frequenter of slaughter houses and markets. In flight the under surfaces of the wing look silvery. It is by no means so impressive a figure in the air as the Turkey Vulture. Two pale bluish white eggs, generally with brown markings, are laid on the ground under logs, bushes, palmettoes, etc., in March and April.

HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, ETC. FAMILY BUTEONIDae