BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



and orchards, they are prime favorites with the majority 

 of our farming population, and they well deserve their 

 fullest protection. Few birds are more useful to the far- 

 mer; their reputation for pugnacity and reckless courage 

 is so well established that it is almost needless to dwell 

 on it, as it is well known that they will boldly attack and 

 drive off the largest of our Raptores, should one venture 

 too near to their chosen nesting-sites. 



"Where a pair or more of these birds make their home 

 in the vicinity of a farmhouse, the poultry yard is not 

 likely to suffer much through feathered marauders at least; 

 they are a perfect terror to all hawks, instantly darting at 

 them and rising above them, alighting on their shoulders 

 or necks, and picking away at them most unmercifully 

 until they are only too willing to beat a hasty retreat. 

 The male is seemingly always on the lookout from his 

 perch on the top branches of a tree or post for such enemies 

 and no matter how large they may be, a pair of Kingbirds 

 is more than a match for any of them, our larger Falcons 

 and Eagles not excepted. Crows and Blue Jays seem to 

 be especially obnoxious to them, and instances are on rec- 

 ord where they have done them material injury.'* 



Major Bendire says also that kingbirds do not "bully" 

 all birds, but "as a rule live in harmony with them, pro- 

 tecting not only their own nests but those of their small 

 neighbors as well, who frequently place their nests within 

 a few feet of the Kingbirds — the Orchard Oriole, for in- 

 stance." He tells however, of the kingbird's dislike of 

 the hummingbird — that he has twice seen the tiny "aggres- 

 sor" put the larger bird to flight.^ 



1 From "Life Histories of North American Birds," by Major Charles 

 Bendire. 



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