File:Bird neighbors. An introductory acquaintance with one hundred and fifty birds commonly found in the gardens, meadows, and woods about our homes (1904) (14750169274).jpg

Identifier: birdneighbors00blan (find matches)
Title: Bird neighbors. An introductory acquaintance with one hundred and fifty birds commonly found in the gardens, meadows, and woods about our homes
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje, 1865-1918
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York : Grosset & Dunlap

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bottom. Thrifty New England housekeepers claim that bedbugs,commonly found on bats, infest the bodies of swifts also, whichis one reason why wire netting is stretched across the chimneytops before the birds arrive from the South. Kingrbird (Tyrannus tyranntis) Flycatcher family Called also: TYRANT FLYCATCHER; BEE MARTIN Length—8 inches. About two inches shorter than the robin. Male—Ashy black above ; white, shaded with ash-color, beneath.A concealed crest of orange-red on crown. Tail black, ter-minating with a white band conspicuous in flight. Wingfeathers edged with white. Feet and bill black. Female—Similar to the male, but lacking the crown. Range—United States to the Rocky Mountains. British provincesto Central and South America. Migrations—May. September. Common summer resident. If the pugnacious propensity of the kingbird is the occasionof its royal name, he cannot be said to deserve it from any fineor noble qualities he possesses. He is a born fighter from the very 68
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CHIMNEY SWIFT Dusky, Gray, and Slate-colored love of it, without provocation, rhyme, or reason. One can butwatch with a degree of admiration his bold sallies on the big,black crow or the marauding hawk, but when he bullies thesmall inoffensive birds in wanton attacks for sheer amusement,the charge is less entertaining. Occasionally, when the little vic-tim shows pluck and faces his assailant, the kingbird will literallyturn tail and show the white feather. His method of attack isalways when a bird is in flight; then he swoops down from thetelegraph pole or high point of vantage, and strikes on the head orback of the neck, darting back like a flash to the exact spot fromwhich he started. By these tactics he avoids a return blow andretreats from danger. He never makes a fair hand-to-hand fight,or whatever is equivalent in bird warfare. It is a satisfaction torecord that he does not attempt to give battle to the catbird, butwhenever in view makes a grand detour to give him a wide berth.T

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