12 



THE BIRDS OF SHOAL LAKE, MANITOBA. 



By p. a. Taverner. 



(Continued from page 164 of The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XXXII.) 



103. *BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, Cocc^zus eryhro- 



phihalmus. 

 Job reports seeing this species on the western side 

 of the lake on June 27 to 30, 1912. We saw none 

 in 1917 though we heard rumors of cuckoos having 

 nested in the vicinity. In 1918 the Black-bill 

 appeared on June 14, after which Young noted a 

 few birds almost daily to August 1. 



104. BELTED KINGFISHER, CeT^le alcyon. 

 Strangely enough, on the borders of such a fine 



lake we saw no kingfishers in 1917, though Young 

 reports one on May 2, 1918. The Ward brothers 

 say that in previous years there were always a few 

 about, and Seton reports a specimen taken by 

 Miller Christy on May 15, 1887. The only ex- 

 planation of their present absence seems to be the 

 lack of fish caused by the extreme akalinity of the 

 lake at its present level. 



105. ^HAIRY WOODPECKER, Dryohates villosus. 

 Rather rare. Only two seen during the spring 



visit and one in September of 1917. Young noted 

 the species, in 1918, in limited numbers, from June 

 3 to Sept. 26, taking juveniles but recently from 

 nest, so it doubtless breeds in the vicinity. Five of 

 our specimens are c learly referable to D. v. 

 leucomelas though one, Sept. 22, 1917, falls slightly 

 short of leucomelas measurements. 



106. *DOWNY WOODPECKER, Dryohales pubescens. 

 Several seen during the spring of 1917, but none 



in the autumn. Observed by Young in 1918 in 

 small numbers from May 3 to Sept. 12. 



107. ^YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, Syphrapicus 



varius. 

 Next to the Flicker the commonest woodpecker. 

 Several nests were found and the species was still 

 present during the fall visit in 1917 and to the end 

 of September, 1918. 



108. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, MalanepTes 



eryihrocephalus. 

 Though we have no substantiating evidence, the 

 Ward brothers declare that they have seen one or 

 two individuals. There should be but little mis- 

 take with such a showy and strongly marked species. 



109. "^FLICKER, Colapies auratus. 



Very common and breeding. Still present in 1918 

 to date of leaving Oct. 2. Young says that through 

 September they were very busy feeding on ant hills. 



110. ^NIGHTHAWK, Chordeiles yirginianus. 

 Very common in 1917. First arrival May 18. 



One seen on Sept. 17, but none thereafter that year. 



The specimens taken seem to be virginianus. One is 

 near!y light enough to be regarded as hesperis but as 

 it can be matched by individuals from New Bruns- 

 wick and central Ontario, I hesitate to so identify 

 it. 



111. "^RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, Archi- 

 lochus colubris. 

 Quite common throughout the spring visit of 1918 

 ?nd noted bv Young occasionally in 1918 from 

 June 1 to end of August. 



1 12. """whip-poor-will, Anirosiomus vociferous. 



Heard in 1917 nearly every night during the 

 spring visit and once in the autumn, on Sept. 17. 

 Young only observed it once on June 6 in 1918, 

 but his difficulty in hearing would prevent his noting 

 it very often. 



113. ^KINGBIRD, Tyrarmus tyrannus. 



First seen in 1918 on May 18; very common by 

 the 29th. On Sept. 18 a flock of six were seen. 

 Common in 1918 from May 17 to Sept. 10. 

 1 14. ^PHOEBE, Sayornis phoebe. 



One taken by Young, on Aug. 30, 1918, is our 

 only record. 



1 1 5. ^CRESTED FLYCATCHER, MyiaTchus crinitus. 

 In 1917 only one was seen, June 1. In 1918, 



Young noted it twice in early June, three times in 

 July, and once in September. The Ward brothers 

 say that in 1916 Frank McGiifon took a set of eggs 

 locally. 



116. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, Nutallornis 



borealis. 



In 1917 one reported on June 5 and one taken on 

 ihe 14th. In 1918 Young noted several on June 4 

 to 9, and again a single bird on Aug. 17. 

 1 1 7. "^WOOD PEWEE, Myiochanes yirens. 



Our only record for this species consists of two 

 specim.ens taken by Young on June 18 and July 2, 

 1918. The former is a female and had an egg 

 ready to lay, thus verifying the species as a breeder 

 in the locality. 



118. "'"yellow-bellied FLYCATCHER, Empidonax 

 flavlventris. 

 One taken on Maple Island above the Narrows 

 on May 30, 1917. As sight records unsupported by 

 the ear are unsatisfactory in regard to the smaller 

 flycatchers, citing the specimens taken by Young 

 in 1918 is probably the better way of reporting his 

 experience. He took specimens of this species on 

 June 4 and Aug. 1 5. 



