ond; tarsus scaled before and with an almost bare ridge 

 behind; beak narrow, slightly notched near tip; nostrils 

 exposed; head crested; tail long and fan-shaped 

 (1 genus, 1 species) 



Family LANIIDAE Shrikes 



Usually with ten primaries, the first less than two-thirds 

 the second; tarsus scaled before and with an almost bare 

 ridge behind; beak notched and hooked at tip; nostrils ab 

 most concealed by tufts of tiny, bristly feathers, which 

 project forward over them; tail feathers graduated; moder- 

 ate-sized birds; grayish, with a black band across the eyes 

 (1 genus, 2 species) 



Family STURNIDAE Starlings 



First primary very short; second primary the longest; beak 

 straight and wide at base; tail short and square; blackish, 

 often light-spotted birds, about the si2;e of a robin 

 ( 1 genus , 1 species introduced from Europe) 

 ( 1 genus, 1 species introduced from Asia) 



Family VIREONIDAE Vireos 



With or without a small first primary; if with nine pri- 

 maries, then with the first two almost equal in length; 

 tarsus scaled before and with an almost bare ridge be- 

 hind; beak slightly notched and hooked at tip; usually with 

 bristles at the base of the beak; basal segments of toes 

 usually united; inner toe usually very short; end of tail 

 square; small, greenish birds 

 (1 genus, 12 species) 



Family COMPSOTHLYPIDAE Wood Warblers 



With nine primaries, the first two almost equal in length; 

 tarsus scaled before and with an almost bare ridge behind; 

 beak usually slender, almost cylindrical, not notched or 

 hooked; end of tail usually square; small birds, usually with 

 yellow in the plumage 

 (16 genera, 53 species) 



Family PLOCEIDAE Weaver Finches (House sparrows) 



European sparrows; introduced species strongly resembling 

 the Fringillidae or native sparrows 

 (1 genus, 2 species) 



Family ICTERIDAE Blackbirds, Orioles and Meadowlarks 



With nine primaries, the first two almost equal in length; 

 tarsus scaled before and with an almost bare ridge behind; 

 beak usually about as long as the head, not notched or 



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