^ 



LAND BIRDS. 391 



KK. Bill conical, longer, its height at base 

 equal to or less than one-half the 

 ciilmen (Fig. 106). M, MM. 

 M. Birds 6 to 12 inches long, the wing 

 (except in the Orchard Oriole) 

 p. ^^g ~ always exceeding 3^ inches. 



^^' " Family 55. Icteridse. Orioles 



and Blackbirds. 

 MM. Birds 44^ to 7^ inches long, the 

 wing seldom exceeding 3 inches, 

 never more than 3^ inches. 

 Family 63. Mniotiltidse. Wood 

 ^'^- "'^- Warblers. 



FF. First primary about 

 half the length of 

 longest (Fig. 145). N, NN. 

 (See also FFF). 

 N. Tail-feathers with soft, ^'^- ^^^■ 



rounded tips. 0. 00. 

 0. Wing less than 4.75 inches. P, PP. 



P. Head crested. Tufted Titmouse. Family 70. 



Paridse. 

 PP. Head not crested. Family 67, Troglodytidae, 

 Wrens, and Family 66, Mimidie, Thrashers. 

 00. Wing 5 inches or more. Family 53. Corvidse. 

 Crows and Jays. 

 NN. Tail-feathers stiff, sharp-pointed. Family 68. 

 Certhiidae. Creepers. 

 FFF. First primary not more than one-third as long as the 

 longest (Fig. 151). Q, QQ. 

 Q. First primary about one-third as long as the longest. 

 R, RR. 

 R. Wing less than 2^ inches. Family 72. Sylviidse. 



Kinglets and Gnatcatchers. 

 RR. Wing more than 2J inches. Family 70. Paridae, 

 Chickadees, and Family 69, Sittidse, Nut- 

 hatches. 

 QQ. First primary not more than one-fourth as long as 

 the longest (Fig. 151). Family 73. Turdidffi. 

 Thrushes and Bluebirds. 



Suborder CLAMATORES. Songless Perchers. 



Family 51. TYRANNIDtE. Flycatchers. 



A large family of interesting birds, represented in Michigan by only nine 

 or ten species. All are insect eaters of the best type, and most of this food 

 is taken on the wing, the structure of the entire bird being specially adapted 

 for this work. A characteristic action is the selection of a particular 

 perch from which the flycatcher makes sudden sallies to capture pass- 

 ing insects with an audible snap of the bill, returning directly to the chosen 



