File:The book of birds - common birds of town and country and American game birds (1921) (14564595960).jpg

Identifier: cu31924022557361 (find matches)
Title: The book of birds : common birds of town and country and American game birds
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: National Geographic Society (U.S.) Henshaw, Henry W. (Henry Wetherbee), 1850-1930 Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, 1874-1927 Kennard, Frederic Hedge, 1865- Cooke, Wells Woodbridge, 1858-1916 Shiras, George, 1859- National Geographic Society (U.S.) Common birds of town and country
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Washington, D. C. : National Geographic Society
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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hroughout the United Stateswest to Texas, Colorado, and Montana, and insouthern Canada; winters in the southern halfof the breeding range. Habits and economic status: This blackbirdis a beautiful species, and is well known fromits habit of congregating in city parks and nest-ing there year after year. Like other specieswhich habitually assemble in great flocks, it iscapable of inflicting much damage on any cropit attacks, and where it is harmful a judiciousreduction of numbers is probably sound policy. It shares with the crow and blue jay the evilhabit of pillaging the nests of small birds ofeggs and young. Nevertheless it does muchgood by destroying insect pests, especiallywhite grubs, weevils, grasshoppers, and cater-pillars. Among the caterpillars are armyworms and other cutworms. When blackbirdsgather in large flocks, as in the MississippiValley, they may greatly damage grain, eitherwhen first sown or when in the milk. In win-ter they subsist mostly on weed seed and wastegrain. 16
Text Appearing After Image:
Chipping SparrowWhite-crowned Sparrow English SparrowCrow Blackbird HORNED LARK (Otocoris alpestris) Length, about 7J4 inches. The black markacross the breast and the small, pointed tuftsof dark feathers above and behind the eyesdistinguish the bird. Range: Breeds throughout the United States(except the South Atlantic and Gulf States)and Canada; winters in all the United Statesexcept Florida. Habits and economic status: Horned larksfrequent the open country, especially the plainsand deserts. They associate in large flocks,are hardy, apparently delighting in exposedsituations in winter, and often nest before snowdisappears. The flight is irregular and hesi-tating, but in the breeding season the malesascend high in air, singing as they go, andpitch to the ground in one thrilling dive. Thepreference of horned larks is for vegetablefood, and about one-sixth of this is grain,chiefly waste. Some sprouting grain is pulled,but drilled grain is safe from injury. Cali-fornia horned larks take m

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