LAND BIRDS. 



389 



Order XVII. PASSERES. Perching Birds. 



This, by far the largest order represented in the state, contains nineteen 

 famiUes and about one hundred and fifty species, or approximately one-half 

 the bird-species of the state. Although known collectively as Perching 

 Birds or The Perchers, they are by no means the only birds which perch, 

 and moreover many species within the order are mainly if not entirely 

 terrestrial, for example the Horned Larks, the Tit-lark, the Longspurs 

 and a few others. Eighteen of the families are grouped under the Suborder 

 Oscines, or Singing Birds, the remaining family, the Tyrannidae. alone repre- 

 senting in Michigan the Suborder Clamatores, or Songless Perchers. 



KEY TO FAMILIES. 



1. Upper mandible distinctly hooked, toothed, or notched at tip. A, AA. 



A. The tips of mandibles crossed laterally (Fig. 111). 



Crossbills. Family 56. Fringillids. 

 AA. The tips of mandibles not crossed laterally. B, BB, 

 BBB. 

 B. Bill strongly hooked and toothed, compressed 

 (higher than wide at base), with four or five 

 strong bristles on the rictus 

 (upper edge of mouth near 

 corner) (Fig. 130). Family 60. 

 Laniidse. Shrikes. 

 BB. Bill slightly hooked and toothed, 

 depressed (wider than high at 

 base) with four or five bristles 

 on the rictus (Fig. 93). Family 

 51. Tyrannidae. Flycatchers. 

 BBB. Bill slightly hooked or notched, 

 about as wide as high at base. 



S, ss. 



S. Head with a prominent crest, 



no bristles on the rictus (Fig. 129). 



Family 59. Bombycillidic. Waxwings. 

 SS. Head without crest, rictus with three 



bristles (Fig. 132.) Family 61. 



Vireonidffi. Vireos. 



2. Upper mandil)le indistinctly or not at at all hooked, 



toothed or notched at tip. C, CC. 

 C. Tips of folded wings reaching beyond tips of middle 

 tail-feathers. D, DD. 

 D. Tail more or less forked (Fig. 123), or first 

 primary longest, or botli. Family 58. 

 HirundinidiE. Swallows. 

 DD. Tail square or rounded, first primary 

 only one-third as long as longest (Fig. 

 147). Some Nuthatches. Family 69. 

 Sittidic. 



Fig. 93. 



