KNOWING THE WINTER BIRDS 135 



perching on the topmost twig of some tree In open 

 ground, this is the shrike or " butcher bird," waiting 

 for the chance to pounce upon some sparrow or 

 mouse. He is useful when he thus thins out the mice 

 and English sparrows, but unfortunately he Is just 

 as liable to attack our chickadees, tree sparrows, and 

 the rest. 



If we live from the latitude of Maine northward 

 we may add to our winter list the Canada jay, spruce 

 partridge, and three woodpeckers — the arctic and 

 the American three-toed, and the plicated. The 

 latter is a big black fellow with a red-tipped crest, 

 about the size of the crow, and Is not only a North- 

 erner but may be seen In wild wooded regions as far 

 down as Florida. 



Occasional hawks and owls make an interesting 

 variation In the regular winter " bill of fare." A 

 few Individuals of various species stay in one place 

 the year round, but most species either migrate or 

 wander to some extent. Almost as steadfast as any 

 are the great horned owl and the red-tailed hawk. 

 Now and then we see one of these big hawks perched 

 on some conspicuous tree In a field or along a road. 

 It may, though, prove to be the red-shouldered hawk, 

 a bird with a darker breast and nearly as large, or, by 

 good luck, the American rough-legged hawk or the 

 goshawk, both rather scarce winter visitors from the 

 North. 



Sometimes these are quite common in winters when 

 there Is an Influx of such birds as crossbills and red- 



