File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20658995662).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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CJ â¢*3 â â¦o C3 >3S â¢9 BIIiDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 211 the female, may soon be recognized by the black feathers appearing singly or in of the old female and of the adult male. Male measures about 91 inches in length and 15.25 inches in extent //a/>7Ya/._North America in general, from Great Slave Lake; soutli to Costa Rica. The Su'jimp or Re(I-winf>ed Blackbird, as this well-known species is usually desio-natcd, is a (ujuimon summer resident in Pennsylvania Arrives ni small flocks about March 20 ; males come a few days in ad vance of females; both sexes in company leave durin- the latter part of September. These birds, mainly terrestial when feedin- frequent prin- cipally meadows, fields and swamps. Nests, built early in May and also ni July (two broods bem- sometimes raised in this locality), are placed m tussocks of g-rass or in low bushes, preferably along- the borders of streams or ponds. Nest, bulky, composed chiefly of coarse grasses, lined with hner g-rass ; those built on bushes are mostly very compact others are g-enerally loose and carelessly constructed. Theeg-gs four to six, a little less than an inch long, and not quite three-fourSis of an inch broad, are light-) )luisli, spotted, blotched and lined with black and purphsh-brown. Som(>times several females, with only one male will be found breeding- in a swamp or field, at other times the male appears to devote his exclusive attention to one female. A dozen or more nests may frequently be seen in close proximity to each other, and their o^^ ners always appear on friendly terms; when these nesting-places are approached the Ked-wing-s hover over your head and utter sharp piteous cries. ^ Althoug-h Swamp Blackbirds sometimes visit cornfields durino-the planting- season, and also again when the corn is in the milky state" the amount of g-rain which they take or injure is so small that the farmer is seldom heard to utter a complaint ag-ainst them. The following- twenty odd records will suffice to show the g-encral nature of the food during- the months of March, April and May; *;'!^ ^ No. 1 2 â¢6 4 5 (! 7 8 <) 10 n 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Datk. March 8. March 18. March 18. March 18. March 18. March 18. March M, March .(1. April 12. April April April April May May May May May May May May Mav May May May 14. 14. 14. 14. â i. 20. 20. 20. 20. '20. 20. 2S. 2S. 28. 28. ;(. 1880. 1882. IH82. 1882. 1S82. 1882. 1883, 1883, 18.83. 1883, 1883. 188;^ I8,S3. 1880, 1883. I8H3. 188;^. 1883. 1883. ISM3. Ihk;^. 1883, 1883. I.S83. 1884, I Locality. ChuBU'r county. Pa. Chester county. I'a. Chester comity. I'a. Chester comity. I'a. Chester county, I'a. Chester county. I'a. Chester county. Fa. Chester county. Pa. Chester county. I'a. (Chester ce)unty. I'a. Chester county. Pa. Chester county. Pa. Chester county. Pa. Chester «rr»unty. I'a.. Chester county. I'a., Chester c(»unty. I'a., Chester county. Pa., Chester county. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Chester c(»mity. Pa.. Chester county. Pa.. Food-Matekials. Beetles. Beetles. Small seeds. ! (^ruSru";."!eT!!i'e'r""°' "' undeternuned vegetal.le IZ I Beetles and particles ot Indian corn ^mall black-colored seeds. Grass seeds. Small seeds and Insects. Small seeds and beetles. Small seeds and beetles. Beetles chleHy ; some few small seeds. f matter Beetles chiefly and small amount undetermined veietabL Insects, with apparently few blades of ^rass c '**'*'^"'"« Beetles and Krubs. Corn â â¢cutworms." Beetles and other insects. Beetle.^ and other Insects. , Beetles and ⢠c-ut worms. " Brown colored seeds. Cut worms and beetles. Black-coloN'd seeds. Beetles and few small seeds plln^ll V"* !!:*!rnis ⢠and traces of beetles. Purple-colored ties. COLOR PLATE

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