BOBOLINK 193 



summer or early autumn the Cowbird is either absent or 

 else occurs in large flocks, which occasionally linger through 

 October. Cowbirds have several times been found in New 

 York and New England in winter. 



In spring flocks of two or three, or more, fly about in a 

 restless fashion, and attract attention by a long, high 

 whistle, followed by two shorter, lower notes. The bird's 

 flight is unsteady, and it looks distinctly smaller on the 

 wing than the Eed- winged Blackbird, with which it often 

 associates. When the flock lights on trees, the males spread 

 wings and tail, lift the latter, extend the neck, and follow 

 these absurd gestures by a feeble squeak. Both sexes have 

 a harsh chatter. They make no nest, and by laying in the 

 nest of smaller birds, force them to bring up their young. 

 The young Cowbird is brownish-gray, and generally larger, 

 by the time it leaves the nest, than the foster-parent that 

 is feeding it. 



In summer Cowbirds are often seen following cattle 

 about, walking on the ground. They can then be readily 

 distinguished from the much larger Crow Blackbirds by the 

 short, stout bill, by the reddish-brown head of the male, and 

 by the grayish-brown females in the flock. (See under Rusty 

 Blackbird, p. 187.) 



Bobolink. Dolichonyx oryzivorus 



7.25 



Ad. $ . — Nape bufpy-white ; shoulders and lower back white ; 

 otherwise black. Ad. 9- — Upper parts brown, streaked ; under 

 parts yellowish-brown, unstreaked ; line over eye and line through 

 crown huffy. $ in August and Im. — Similar to female, but yel- 

 lower. 



Nest, placed on the ground in some tuft of grass or weeds. 

 Eggs, white, blotched with brown. 



The Bobolink is a common summer resident throughout 

 New England and New York, wherever there is grass-land, 



