File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20480214838).jpg

Title: Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations
Identifier: commercialpoultr11 (find matches)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Warren, Benjamin Harry, 1858-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg : E. K. Meyers, State Printer
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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fs •^-H '^3 a « ^ CtJ Qi 03 <D 1^1 '♦O m f^ oo <Ni^ oq h*ri BIIWS OF PENNSYL VAN I A. 215 ^ouno male.-Jn late summer and autumn, similar to female, though somewhat larger. I haveneverseen young males in spring without6-ome black featherson throat or loral space, or some chestnut-colored feathers, and I have taken young males when just able to fly w^th a few black feathers on chin and throat. Young male iri spring.-Himi\e,r to female, but with face and throat black From this last described condition males are found in all stages until the full adult plumage IS assumed. The (chestnut and black appears in streaks and patches. A young male imve ynonths o/r/) now before me, is in full adult plumage, with the following excep- tions : Occiput and crown with a few dark yellowish feathers; feathersof lower hind neck and mter-scapular region deep black but edged with rusty ; afew yellow feath- ers mixed with the light chestnut of abdomen ; sides slightly tinged with yellowish which IS generally on tips of chestnut feathers ; edge of wing yellow and chestnut • middle coverts of one wing margined with greenish-yellow, on the other wing these feathers same as in adult; greater coverts (both wings) edged with pale chestnut l^ength about 7 inches ; extent about 10 inches : female trifle smaller, i^afti^rt^.—United States, west to the plains, south in winter in Panama. The Orchard Oriole, as its vernacular name would indicate, is a com- mon inhabitant of orchards, particulary apple orchards. Late in April or early in May, usually a few days after the shrill notes of the Baltimore Oriole have been heard, the subject of this present sketch arrives from his winter retreats in tropical America. This species appears to amve sing-ly or in pairs, the males come at least two or three days before the females. The Orchard Oriole is of a rather shy disposi- tion, and althoug-h he is a common frequenter of the fruit and shade trees both in town and country, he prefers to shelter his body in the thick- est portion of the leafy branches, from which his peculiar-somewhat harsh and rattling- thoug-h not unmusical—notes are frequently heard when the vivacious little minstrel is entirely hidden from view Some- times, however, he will, like the Indig-o-bird or Brown Thrush, perch on the topmost limbs and sing- with the g-reatest energ-y. As soon as the youngr are hatched his rapid and confused song- ceases. The firm and somewhat lon^ cup-shaped nest, constructed of fine green grass stems most beautifully interwoven and lined on the bottom with downy sub- stances, is usually placed among- the uprig-ht twig-s of an apph^ pear or maple limb. When sucli a site is selected the nest is not pensile- on two occasions, however, I have found nests which were suspended from small bifurcated branches. The nests, before the eg-^s are hatched have an odor similar to that of new hay. The egg-s, mostly five are blmsh-white, indistinctly dotted with bluish-g-ray, and conspicuously spotted (somc^times lined) with brown and black. Tliev measure about m by .58. In the late summer, preparatory to mig-ratin^ south these birds collect in flocks* of from fifteen to thirty, seldom more, and are frequently to ))e seen flitting- through the bushes and trees alon- the roadside or about the borders of woods and clearing-s.' '^ The food of this species consists (chiefly of insects. Th(\v destroy oreat quantities of caterpillars, as well as other destructive^ larvfp Iminense numl)ers of noxious beetles, numerous plant-lice, many spiders and flies •Thew. H.K^kH. I think, are compoHertPntlrely of ynutiK ..t th« first yeur. 1 COLOR PLATE

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