Blackbird WESTERN BIRDS 



over 41 per cent. Among these were codling moth larvae. 

 The vegetable food (19 per cent) is practically all fruit 

 and in cherry season consists largely of that fruit. 

 Eating small fruit is the bird's worst trait, but it will do 

 harm in this way only when very numerous. 



GENUS EUPHAGUS : BREWER BLACK- 

 BIRD. 



Brewer Blackbird: Euphagus cyanocephalus. 



FAMILY— BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



While the east has several Blackbirds, or Crackles, 

 the Brewer Blackbird is the only one on the western 

 coast of this country. It breeds north of the United 

 States and as far south as northern Lower California, 

 New Mexico, and western Texas, and from the Pacific 

 to northwestern Minnesota, western Nebraska, and 

 Kansas; wintering from southern British Columbia and 

 Kansas, south; in migration it is casual in Wisconsin, 

 Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, and South Carolina. 



In size, shape, and square tail it resembles its eastern 

 cousin, being far more graceful than the Bronzed 

 Crackle. The bill is not so heavy and Crow-like and 

 the tail never turns up boat-like. 



The male Brewer is a beautiful glossy green black, 

 with head and upper parts, changing to purple and blue 

 tints. His eye is a light yellow (and sometimes almost 

 white), and his carriage most stately. The females are 

 a rusty black, or soft brown, with glossy blue and green 

 shadings on head, neck, and wings. The brown eye has 

 a most pleasing expression. 



In the greater part of their range they are residents. 

 They are extremely friendly birds, seeming fond of the 

 haunts of man. In the winter months they band together 

 in rather small flocks and forage about the country. 



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