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[Illustration: Ruffed Grouse.]




                               BIRD GUIDE
               Water Birds, Game Birds and Birds of Prey


                                   BY
                            CHESTER A. REED
                               Author of
North American Birds' Eggs, and, with Frank M. Chapman, of Color Key to
North American Birds. Curator in Ornithology, Worcester Natural History
                                Society


                        GARDEN CITY    NEW YORK
                       DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
                                  1921

                           Copyrighted 1906.
                   Copyrighted, 1910, CHAS. K. REED,
                            Worcester, Mass.




                                PREFACE


While strolling through a piece of woodland, or perhaps along the marsh
or seashore, we see a bird, a strange bird--one we never saw before.
Instantly, our curiosity is aroused, and the question arises, "What is
it?" There is the bird! How can we find out what kind it is? The
Ornithologist of a few years ago had but one course open to him, that is
to shoot the bird, take it home, then pore through pages of
descriptions, until one was found to correspond with the specimen.
Obviously, such methods cannot be pursued today, both humane and
economical reasons prohibiting. We have but one alternative left us: We
must make copious notes of all the peculiarities and markings of the
bird that is before us. On our return home, we get down our bird books,
and there are many excellent ones. After carefully looking through the
whole library, we find that, although many of our books are well
illustrated, none of them has the picture of what we seek, so we adopt
the tactics of the "Old-time" Ornithologist, before mentioned, and pore
over pages of text, until finally we know what our bird was. It is for
just such emergencies as this--to identify a bird when you see it, and
where you see it, that this little pocket "Bird Guide" is prepared. May
it be the medium for saving many of today's seekers for "bird truths"
from the many trials and tribulations willingly encountered, and hard
and thorny roads gladly traveled by the author in his quest for
knowledge of bird ways.

                                                        CHESTER A. REED.

  Worcester, Mass.
    1906.




                              INTRODUCTION


The study of the birds included in this book is much more difficult than
that of the small land birds. Many of the birds are large; some are very
rare; all are usually shy and have keen eyesight, trained to see at a
distance; in fact, many of them have to depend upon their vigilance for
their very existence. Therefore, you will find that the majority of
these birds will have to be studied at long range. Sometimes, by
exercising care and forethought, you may be able to approach within a
few feet of the bird you seek, or induce him to come to you. It is this
pitting your wits against the cunning of the birds that furnishes
one-half of the interest in their study. Remember that a quick motion
will always cause a bird to fly. If you seek a flock of plover on the
shore, or a heron in the marsh, try to sneak up behind cover if
possible; if not, walk very slowly, and with as little motion as
possible, directly towards them; by so doing you often will get near,
for a bird is a poor judge of distance, while a single step sideways
would cause him to fly. Shore birds can usually be best observed from a
small "blind," near the water's edge, where they feed. Your powers of
observation will be increased about tenfold if you are equipped with a
good pair of field glasses; they are practically indispensable to the
serious student and add greatly to the pleasures of anyone. Any good
glass, that has a wide field of vision and magnifies three or four
diameters, is suitable; we can recommend the ones described in the back
of this book.

WHAT TO MAKE NOTE OF.--What is the nature of the locality where seen;
marsh, shore, woods, etc? If in trees does it sit upright or horizontal?
If on the ground, does it run or walk, easily or with difficulty? If in
the water, can it swim well, can it dive, does it swim under water, can
it fly from the water easily, or does it have to patter over the surface
before flying? What does it seem to be eating? Does it have any notes?
Does it fly rapidly; with rapid wing beats or not; in a straight line or
otherwise? Does it sail, or soar? In flocks or singly? These and
hundreds of other questions that may suggest themselves, are of great
interest and importance.

A PLEA TO SPORTSMEN.--Many of the birds shown in this book are Game
Birds, that is, birds that the law allows you to shoot at certain
seasons of the year. Some of these are still abundant and will be for
numbers of years; others are very scarce and if they are further hunted,
will become entirely exterminated in two or three years. Bob-whites are
very scarce in New England; Prairie Hens are becoming scarce in parts of
the west; the small Curlew is practically extinct, while the larger ones
are rapidly going. In behalf of all bird lovers, we ask that you refrain
from killing those species that you know are rare, and use moderation in
the taking of all others. We also ask that you use any influence that
may be yours to further laws prohibiting all traffic in birds. The man
who makes his living shooting birds will make more, live longer and die
happier tilling the soil than by killing God's creatures. We do not,
now, ask you to refrain from hunting entirely, but get your sport at
your traps. It takes more skill to break a clay pigeon than to kill a
quail.

[Illustration: TOPOGRAPHY OF A BIRD]




                           THINGS TO REMEMBER
 Characteristics of Form or Habit That Will Determine to What Order or
                          Family Birds Belong.


                   ORDER 1. DIVING BIRDS--Pygopodes.

[Illustration: ORDER 1. DIVING BIRDS--Pygopodes.]

GREBES; Colymbidae:--Form, duck-like; bill pointed and never flattened;
no tail; legs at extreme end of body; each flattened toe with an
individual web; wings small. Flies rapidly, but patters along the water
before taking wing. Expert divers, using wings as well as feet, to
propel them, under water.

LOONS. Family Gaviidae:--Larger than Grebes; bill long, heavy, and
pointed; tail very short; feet webbed like a duck's, but legs thin and
deep; form and habits, grebe-like.

AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS. Family Alcidae:--Bills very variable; tail short;
usually takes flight when alarmed, instead of diving as do grebes and
loons. With the exception of puffins, which stand on their feet, all
birds of this order sit upon their whole leg and tail. They are awkward
on land; some can hardly walk.


              ORDER 2. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.--Longipennes.

[Illustration: ORDER 2. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS.--Longipennes.]

SKUAS, JAEGERS. Family Stercorariidae:--Marine birds of prey; bill
strongly hooked, with long scaly shield, or cere, at the base; claws
strong and curved, hawk-like; flight hawk-like; plumage often entirely
sooty-black, and always so on the back.

GULLS, TERNS. Family Laridae:--Gulls have hooked bills, usually
yellowish, yellow eyes and pale, webbed feet. Heap, underparts and
square tail are white in adults; back, pearl-grey; exceptions are the
four small black-headed gulls, which also have reddish legs. Gulls fly
with the bill straight in front, and often rest on the water. Terns have
forked tails, black caps, and their slender, pointed bills and small
webbed feet are usually red. They fly with bill pointed down, and dive
upon their prey.


               ORDER 3. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.--Tubinares.

[Illustration: ORDER 3. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.--Tubinares.]

FULMARS, SHEARWATERS, PETRELS. Family Procellariidae:--Nostrils opening
in a tube on top of the hooked bill. Plumage of fulmars, gull-like;
shearwaters entirely sooty black, or white below; petrels blackish, with
white rumps,--very small birds. All seabirds.


             ORDER 4. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS.--Steganopodes.

[Illustration: ORDER 4. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS.--Steganopodes.]

All four toes joined by webs.

TROPIC BIRDS. Family Phaethontidae:--Bill and form tern-like; middle tail
feathers very long.

GANNETS. Family Sulidae:--Bill heavy and pointed; face and small throat
pouch, bare.

SKAKE-BIRDS. Family Anhingidae:--Bill slender and pointed; neck and tail
very long, the latter rounded; habits like those of the following.

CORMORANTS. Family Phalacrocoracidae:--Bill slender, but hooked at the
tip; plumage glossy black and brown; eyes green. They use their wings as
well as feet when pursuing fish under water.

PELICANS. Family Pelecanidae:--Bill very long and with a large pouch
suspended below.

MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. Family Fregatidae:--very long and strongly hooked; tail
long and forked; wholly maritime, as are all but the preceding three.


               ORDER 5. DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS. Anseres.

[Illustration: ORDER 5. DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS. Anseres.]

Mergansers, with slender, toothed bills with which to catch the fish
they pursue under water.

Other ducks have rather broad bills, more or less resembling those of
the domestic duck. Their flight is rapid and direct. River ducks have no
web, or flap, on the hind toe; they get their food without going
entirely under water, by tipping up. Sea ducks have a broad flap on the
hind toe.


                   ORDER 6. FLAMINGOES. Odontoglossae.

[Illustration: ORDER 6. FLAMINGOES. Odontoglossae.]

Family Phoenicopteridae:--Large, long-necked, pink birds with a crooked
box-like bill, long legs and webbed feet.


               ORDER 7. HERONS, IBISES, ETC. Herodiones.

[Illustration: ORDER 7. HERONS, IBISES, ETC. Herodiones.]

Long-legged, wading birds, with all four toes long, slender and without
webs. Usually found about the muddy edges of ponds, lakes or creeks, and
less often on the sea shore. Wings large and rounded.

SPOONBILL. Family Plataleidae:--Bill long, thin and much broadened at the
end; head bare.

IBISES. Family Ibididae:--Bill long, slender and curved down. Ibises and
Spoonbills fly with the neck fully extended.

STORKS. Family Ciconiidae:--Bill long, heavy, and curved near the end;
head and upper neck bare.

HERONS, BITTERNS, EGRETS. Family Ardeidae:--Bill long, straight and
pointed; head usually crested, and back often with plumes. Herons fly
with a fold in the neck, and the back of the head resting against the
shoulders.


                   ORDER 8. MARSH BIRDS. Paludicolae.

[Illustration: ORDER 8. MARSH BIRDS. Paludicolae.]

Birds of this order, vary greatly in size and appearance, but all agree
in having the hind toe elevated, whereas that of the members of the last
order leaves the foot on a level with the front toes; neck extended in
flight.

CRANES. Family Grudidae:--Very large and heron-like, but with plumage
close feathered; top of head bare; bill long, slender and obtusely
pointed.

COURLANS. Family Aramidae:--Size mid-way between the cranes and rails;
bill long and slender.

RAILS, ETC. Family Rallidae:--Bills are variable, but toes and legs long;
wings short; flight slow and wavering; marsh skulkers, hiding in rushes.
Gallinules have a frontal shield on the forehead, Coots have
lobate-webbed feet, short, whitish bills.


                    ORDER 9. SHORE BIRDS. Limicolae.

[Illustration: ORDER 9. SHORE BIRDS. Limicolae.]

Comparatively small, long legged, slender-billed birds seen running
along edges of ponds or beaches.

PHALAROPES. Phalaropodidae.--Toes with lobed webs.

AVOCETS, STILTS. Recurvirostridae:--Avocet, with slender recurved bill,
and webbed feet; stilt, with straight bill, very long legs, toes not
webbed.

SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. Family Scolopacidae:--Bills very variable but
slender, and all, except the Woodcock, with long pointed wings; flight
usually swift and erratic.

PLOVERS. Family Charadriidae:--Bill short and stout; three toes.

TURNSTONES. Family Aphrizidae:--Bill short, stout and slightly up-turned;
four toes.

OYSTER-CATCHERS. Family Haematopodidae:--Bill long, heavy and compressed;
legs and toes stout; three toes slightly webbed at base.

JACANAS. Family Jacanidae:--Bill with leaf-like shield at the base; legs
and toes extremely long and slender; sharp spur on wing.


                       ORDER 10. FOWLS. Gallinae.

[Illustration: ORDER 10. FOWLS. Gallinae.]

Ground birds of robust form; bill hen-like; wings short and rounded;
feet large and strong.

PARTRIDGES, GROUSE. Family Tetraonidae:--Legs bare in the partridges,
feathered in grouse.

TURKEYS, PHEASANTS. Family Phasianidae:--Legs often spurred, or head with
wattles, etc.

GUANS. Family Cracidae:--Represented by the Chachalaca of Texas.


                 ORDER 11. PIGEONS AND DOVES. Columbae.

[Illustration: ORDER 11. PIGEONS AND DOVES. Columbae.]

Family Columbidae:--Bill slender, hard at the tip, and with the nostrils
opening in a fleshy membrane at the base. Plumage soft grays and browns.


                   ORDER 12. BIRDS OF PREY. Raptores.

[Illustration: ORDER 12. BIRDS OF PREY. Raptores.]

VULTURES. Cathartidae:--Head bare; feet hen-like.

HAWKS, EAGLES. Falconidae:--Bill and claws strongly hooked; nostrils in a
cere at base of bill.

BARN OWLS. Aluconidae:--Black eyes in triangular facial disc; middle
toe-nail serrated.

HORNED OWLS, ETC. Bubonidae:--Facial disc round; some species with ears,
others without.




                               BIRD GUIDE


                                 PART 1

               Water Birds, Game Birds and Birds of Prey

[Illustration: ]


                     DIVING BIRDS--Order Pygopodes
                        GREBES--Family Colymbidae


                             WESTERN GREBE
         1.     AEchmophorus occidentalis.     25 to 29 inches.

All grebes have lobate-webbed feet, that is each toe has its individual
web, being joined to its fellow only for a short distance at the base.

This, the largest of our grebes, is frequently known as the "Swan Grebe"
because of its extremely long, thin neck. In summer the back of the neck
is black, but in winter it is gray like the back.

Notes.--Loud, quavering and cackling.

Nest.--A floating mass of decayed rushes, sometimes attached to upright
stalks. The 2 to 5 eggs are pale, bluish white, usually stained (2.40 x
1.55). They breed in colonies.

Range.--Western North America, from the Dakotas and Manitoba to the
Pacific, and north to southern Alaska. Winters in the Pacific coast
states and Mexico.

[Illustration: ]


                             HOLBOELL GREBE
               2.     Colymbus holboelli.     19 inches.

This is next to the Western Grebe in size, both being much larger than
any of our others. In summer, they are very handsomely marked with a
reddish brown neck, silvery white cheeks and throat, and black crown and
crest, but in winter they take on the usual grebe dress of grayish above
and glossy white below. Because of their silky appearance and firm
texture, grebe breasts of all kinds have been extensively used in the
past to adorn hats of women, who were either heedless or ignorant of the
wholesale slaughter that was carried on that they might obtain them.

Nest.--Of decayed rushes like that of the last. Not in as large
colonies; more often single pairs will be found nesting with other
varieties. Their eggs average smaller than those of the last species
(2.35 x 1.25).

Range.--North America, breeding most abundantly in the interior of
Canada, and to some extent in the Dakotas. Winters in the U. S., chiefly
on the coasts.

[Illustration: ]


                              HORNED GREBE
                3.     Colymbus auritus.     14 inches.

As is usual with grebes, summer brings a remarkable change in the dress
of these birds. The black, puffy head is adorned with a pair of buffy
white ear tufts and the foreneck is a rich chestnut color. In winter,
they are plain gray and white but the secondaries are always largely
white, as they are in the two preceding and the following species. The
grebe diet consists almost wholly of small fish, which they are very
expert at pursuing and catching under water. One that I kept in
captivity in a large tank, for a few weeks, would never miss catching
the shiners, upon which he was fed, at the first lightning-like dart of
his slender neck. They also eat quantities of shell fish, and I doubt if
they will refuse any kind of flesh, for they always have a keen
appetite.

Nest.--A slovenly built pile of vegetation floating in the "sloughs" of
western prairies. The 3 to 7 eggs are usually stained brownish yellow
(1.70 x 1.15).

Range.--Breeds from Northern Illinois and So. Dakota northward; winters
from northern U. S. to the Gulf of Mexico.

[Illustration: ]


                          AMERICAN EARED GREBE
        4.     Colymbus nigricollis californicus.     13 inches.

This is a western species rarely found east of the Mississippi. In
summer, it differs from the last in having the entire neck black; in
winter it can always be distinguished from the Horned Grebe by its
slightly upcurved bill, while the upper mandible of the last is convex.
In powers of swimming and diving, grebes are not surpassed by any of our
water birds. They dive at the flash of a gun and swim long distances
before coming to the surface; on this account they are often called
"devil divers." They fly swiftly when once a-wing, but their concave
wings are so small that they have to patter over the water with their
feet in order to rise.

Nest.--They nest in colonies, often in the same sloughs with Horned and
Western Grebes, laying their eggs early in June. The 4 to 7 eggs are
dull white, usually stained brownish, and cannot be separated from those
of the last.

Range.--Western N. A., breeding from Texas to Manitoba and British
Columbia; winters in western U. S. and Mexico.

[Illustration: ]


                       LEAST OR ST. DOMINGO GREBE
         5.     Colymbus dominions brachypterus.     10 inches.

This is much smaller than any others of our grebes; in breeding plumage
it most nearly resembles the following species, but the bill is black
and sharply pointed. It has a black patch on the throat, and the crown
and back of the head are glossy blue black; in winter, the throat and
sides of the head are white.

Nest.--Not different from those of the other grebes. Only comparatively
few of them breed in the U. S. but they are common in Mexico and Central
America. Their eggs, when first laid, are a pale, chalky, greenish
white, but they soon become discolored and stained so that they are a
deep brownish, more so than any of the others; from 3 to 6 eggs is a
full complement (1.40 x.95).

Range.--Found in the United States, only in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
in Southern Texas, and southwards to northern South America.

[Illustration: ]


                           PIED-BILLED GREBE
              6.     Podilymbus podiceps.     13.5 inches.

In any plumage this species cannot be mistaken for others, because of
its stout compressed bill and brown iris; all the others have red eyes.
In summer the bill is whitish with a black band encircling it; the
throat is black; the eye encircled by a whitish ring; the breast and
sides are brownish-gray. In winter they are brownish-black above and
dull white below, with the breast and sides washed with brown. Young
birds have more or less distinct whitish stripes on the head.

Notes.--A loud, ringing "kow-kow-kow-kow (repeated many times and ending
in) kow-uh, kow-uh."

Nest.--Of decayed rushes floating in reed-grown ponds or edges of lakes.
The pile is slightly hollowed and, in this, the 5 to 8 eggs are laid;
the bottom of the nest is always wet and the eggs are often partly in
the water; they are usually covered with a wet mass when the bird is
away. Brownish-white (1.70 x 1.15).

Range.--Whole of N. A., breeding locally and usually in pairs or small
colonies.

[Illustration: ]


                          LOONS--Family Gavidae


                       LOON; GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
                7.     Gavia immer.     31 to 35 inches.

In form, loons resemble large grebes, but their feet are full webbed
like those of a duck; they have short, stiff tails and long, heavy,
pointed bills. They have no tufts or ruffs in breeding season, but their
plumage changes greatly. The common loon is very beautifully and
strikingly marked with black and white above, and white below; the head
is black, with a crescent across the throat and a ring around the neck.
In winter, they are plain gray above and white below.

Loons are fully as expert in diving and swimming as are the grebes. They
are usually found in larger, more open bodies of water.

Notes.--A loud, quavering, drawn-out "wah-hoo-o-o."

Nest.--Sometimes built of sticks, and sometimes simply a hollow in the
sand or bank under overhanging bushes, usually on an island. The 2 eggs
are brownish with a few black specks (3.50 x 2.25).

Range.--N. A., breeding from northern U. S. northwards; winters from
northern U. S. southwards.

[Illustration: ]


                          BLACK-THROATED LOON
                  9.     Gavia arctica.     28 inches.

This loon lives in the Arctic regions and only rarely is found, in
winter, in Northern United States. In summer, it can readily be
distinguished from the common loon by the gray crown and hind-neck, as
well as by different arrangement of the black and white markings. In
winter, they are quite similar to the last species but can be recognized
by their smaller size, and can be distinguished from the winter plumaged