500 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



In tlic noitlitiiisteni portion of Illinois, it is iiccordintj to Mr. 

 Nelson (Bull. E»»ex Inst. Vlll., December, 1876, p. 121), "a very 

 common summer resident. The majority arrive the last of March 

 and first of April, and depart by the middle of October. StrafTRlinp 

 parties are occasionally observed durint,' the winter. In many 

 places this species becomes semi-domesticated, breeding in the trees 

 in the yard and showing but little fear when approached." 



