Blackbirds— Orioles WESTERN BIRDS 



FAMILY— ICTERID.E: BLACKBIRDS, 

 ORIOLES, ETC. 



This large and interesting family is made up mostly 

 of dull-plumaged birds, having, however, one group 

 which is unusually brilliant. With the exception of these 

 latter birds — the Orioles — they are gregarious after the 

 nesting season, banding together and going about in 

 large flocks. In most of their habits, however, they differ 

 greatly, living in all kinds of places; dry plains, wet 

 marshes, and wooded areas. 



Some members of the family, like the Meadowlark, 

 are exceptionally fine singers, while others have harsh 

 and unmusical voices. 



Some have short, conical bills not unlike those of the 

 Finches; while others have long, rather slender, and 

 pointed bills. They are seed, grain, fruit, and insect 

 eaters. 



GENUS DOLICHONYX: BOBOLINK. 



Bobolink: Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 



FAMILY— BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



One of the best known, though not the most widely 

 distributed, members of the family is the jovial, rollick- 

 ing Bobolink. While many of these birds breed north of 

 our country, others breed as far south as northeastern 

 Nevada, Utah, northern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, 

 central Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New 



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