BREWER'S BLACKBIRD 321 



bird hops two or three feet to new vantage points. Less often a bird will walk, 

 even a distance of thirty feet, without moving the wings. The tail, as appeared 

 to be the habit in one individual especially, may be submerged and possibly 

 pressed against the underwater vegetation for support. 



The most readily visible food obtained, and certainly the major item for a 

 period of weeks in the early summer, is recently emerged damselfiies. The naiads 

 of this insect crawl to the surface of the waterweed and metamorphose on projec- 

 tions just above the water. The blackbirds have been seen repeatedly catching 

 these newly emerged and still pale and flightless adults. * * * 



Brewer Blackbirds of both sexes have been seen several times walking and 

 feeding on pad-lily (Nymphaea) leaves, even one leaf serving to hold up a bird. 

 On two occasions, once on the Truckee River and once on the Carson River, 

 Brewer Blackbirds have been seen hovering over open water and snapping food 

 from the surface. A male of this species was seen similarly to obtain a large 

 piece of bread in Manzanita Lake and carry it to shore to bo eaten. 



Both Ken Stott, Jr., and A. D. DuBois (MSS.) describe Brewer's 

 blackbirds soaking popcorn in water before eating it. I have often 

 seen them soak bread in a bird bath or, at the river-mouth colony, 

 in the water of the marsh. 



When mixed flocks of redwings and Brewer's are seen feeding on the 

 ground a difference can be noted in the angle at which the tails are 

 cocked; those of the redwing are held obviously higher. In a large 

 mixed assemblage the difference is quite noticeable. 



The movements of a foraging flock of Brewer's blackbirds has been 

 well analyzed by Mulford (1936) as a combination of the walking of 

 individuals in zigzag movement but all progressing slowly in the same 

 general direction, and the flying up and realighting in front of the 

 flock by those which had been left walking in the rear. Dawson and 

 Bowles (1909) have commented that this flying up to the front of the 

 foraging flock is sometimes a constant motion and when a large 

 assemblage is present it creates a rolling, or surging, effect, as the 

 mass of the birds moves over a large field. 



Neff and Meanley (1957) have analyzed the winter food in Arkansas. 



Behavior. — The gait of the Brewer's blackbird is usually a walk, 

 accompanied by short forward jerks of the head. When the bird 

 runs there is no jerk. Mulford (1936) outlines the process of taking 

 two walking steps as follows: "1. Head is thrust forward as one leg 

 and foot are lifted. This moves the center of balance forward. 

 2. Leg and foot are brought forward. 3. Head is pulled back as body 

 is brought forward by step and as foot is set down on ground. 4. The 

 sequence of movements is repeated with other foot. The result of 

 this is that the bird moves forward in a series of movements rather 

 than in one continuous movement. The walk is jerky." 



Mulford also comments that there is no characteristic formation to 

 the flock when in flight but it is an "amorphous mass," either compact 

 or spread out; of rounded form or with irregular margins; in one big 

 group, or more or less divided into subgroups. 



