EASTERN REDWING 145 



lived for 5 years after banding, 2 for 6 years and 1 for 8 years; only 

 2 of the 5-year-old birds were banded as young birds, so that some of 

 the others may have been 2 years older than the records indicate. 



Field marks. — The male redwing, with his gaudy epaulets, is 

 unmistakable; but the female, with her brown back and streaked 

 breast, is much less conspicuous. At a distance, redwings in any 

 plumage can often be recognized by their flight and flock formations, 

 as described above and as suggested by the field marks of the yellow- 

 headed blackbird. 



Fall. — After the young of the second brood are strong on the 

 wing, sometime in July, the females and young gather in flocks and 

 feed on the uplands during the day, returning to the marshes to roost 

 at night. The adult males form separate flocks and follow the same 

 plan. But early in August, all the redwings seem to disappear, during 

 the molting period, and are not much in evidence until the middle of 

 September or later, all in fresh plumage and ready to migrate. Allen 

 (1914) explains this disappearance as follows: 



The adult males, which begin molting about two weeks earlier than the females 

 or young, are the first to go, and shortly they are followed by the females and 

 young. To the ordinary observer they have completely disappeared. No longer 

 are they seen leaving the marsh in the morning or returning at evening. Along 

 the ponds, streams, and lake shore there are none to be seen. They are appar- 

 ently gone from the neighborhood. If at this time, however, one penetrates into 

 the heart of the marsh, where the flags wave four and five feet over his head, he 

 may hear a rush of wings ahead of him as a flock of birds breaks from cover and 

 drops again into the flags a short distance beyond. He may hear this again and 

 again, and yet never see a bird, so impenetrable is the thicket of flags. A few 

 vigorous "squeaks," however, such as frequently draw birds from cover, and the 

 secret is disclosed. A flock of tailless, short-winged birds hover above his head 

 for a moment, and then is off again into the tangle. If specimens are collected, 

 the disappearance of the Red-wings is no longer mysterious. A.side from the loss 

 of the tail, which is obvious, one finds that the outer primary feathers are but just 

 breaking their sheaths. With such handicaps, it is no wonder that the long flights 

 to the uplands are not attempted, and that they seek protection in the effectual 

 shelter of the marsh. 



About the middle of September, the males appear again on the up- 

 lands, 2 weeks ahead of the females and young. Says Allen (1914): 



Well defined migration begins about the middle of October. At that time all 

 loitering ceases, and the evening and morning flights in and out of the marsh are 

 very regular, scarcely a bird lingering during the day. Beginning about three- 

 fourths of an hour before, and continuing about half an hour after the sun has dis- 

 appeared behind the hills, they can be seen in flocks of from ten to a thousand con- 

 tinually dropping into the marsh. * * * The form of the flock is rather irregular, 

 but always with the long axis at right angles to the direction of flight, thus differ- 

 ing from the characteristic form of the flocks of Grackles which sometimes extend 

 for over a mile in length, although only a few rods wide. The maximum flight 

 occurs at sundown. The morning flight is not so regular as that in the evening, 



