File:The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14562274219).jpg

Identifier: birdsofamericafr01audu (find matches)
Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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the whole of the UnitedStates, where it arrives, according to the different localities, between the be-ginning of March and the 1st of May. It takes its departure, on its waysouthward, late in September, and in the beginning of October. It keeps in perpetual motion, hunting along the branches sidewise, jump-ing to either side in search of insects and larvae, opening its beautiful tail atevery movement which it makes, then closing it, and flirting it from side toside, just allowing the transparent beauty of the feathers to be seen for amoment. The wings are observed gently drooping during these motions,and its pleasing notes, which resemble the sounds of Tetee-whee, Tetee-ivhee,are then emitted. Should it observe an insect on the wing, it immediatelyflies in pursuit of it, either mounts into the air in its wake, or comes towardsthe ground spirally and in many zig-zags. The insect secured, the lovelyRedstart reascends, perches, and sings a different note, equally clear, and N?14. PI 68.
Text Appearing After Image:
Drawn (root fcHure by i J^ndnbon.KH.S.FX 5. Lidi? Primed srolfbv j J.Bowen.Thilail* THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 241 which may be expressed by the syllables wizz, wizz, wizz. While follow-ing insects on the wing, it keeps its bill constantly open, snapping as if itprocured several of them on the same excursion. It is frequently observedbalancing itself in the air, opposite the extremity of a bunch of leaves, anddarting; into the midst of them after the insects there concealed. When one approaches the nest of this species, the male exhibits the great-est anxiety respecting its safety, passes and repasses, fluttering and snappingits bill within a few feet, as if determined to repel the intruder. They nowand then alight on the ground, to secure an insect, but this only for a mo-ment. They are more frequently seen climbing along the trunks and largebranches of trees for an instant, and then shifting to a branch, being, as Ihave said, in perpetual motion. It is also fond of giving chase to vario

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