KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



( >RDER 



Family i 

 e members if this group 

 irely black. 



. PASSERES. Perching Birds. 

 CorvidaE. Crows, Jays, Ravens. 



re too well known to call tor comment. 



A. Wing about 15.CO. 



B. Wing about 13.00. 



11. With much blue in the plumage. 



3. Blue Ja 



Family 2. IcTERiDAE. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Certain members of this group are among the most familiar of our birds. Our shade trees are 

 filled with Crackles and Orioles all summer long, and there is no pasture or meadow without its 



owlarks. 



lie I'.lackliird-., I',,,!,,, links, and Crackles thick together 1 

 owlarks are -ebb mi seen in large numbers together, 

 .itire under parts black, with or without metallic re- 

 flections. 



Tail distinctly rounded. 

 Tail square or only slightly rounded. 

 Entire plumage bluish-black. 

 A red and buff shoulder-patch 



huffy lips to 



ing and fall 



the Orioles and 



13. Bronzed Urackle. 



12. Rusty Blackbird. 

 7 & 8. Red=winged Blackbird and 



Thick=billed Redwing. 

 5. Cowbird. 

 4. Bobolink. 



7. Red=\vinged Blackbird. 

 4. Bobolink. 

 12. Rusty Blackbird. 



12. Rusty Blackbird. 

 5. Cowbird. 



10. Orchard Oriole. 

 4. Bobolink. 



11. Baltimore Oriole. 

 10. Orchard Oriole. 



a. Meadowlark. 



6. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



10. Orchard Oriole. 



11. Baltimore Oriole. 

 4. Bobolink. 



Family 3. FringillidaE. Sparrows, Finches, Buntings, etc. 



This is the largest and most varied family of North American Mini-. In ii are found some of 

 the plainest as well as some of the most brilliantly colored of our birds. Here are grouped those 

 with -weet and varied songs as well as those whose voices can scarcc'n be distinguished from the 

 shrilling of insects. Some are lowly in habits, nesting on the ground or even scooping oul a hollow 

 in which to nest, while some lash their cradles to the topmost twigs of tall trees. All members of 

 the family eat seeds or grains, but all of them also eat some insects. In early spring mam 

 eat the tender buds of tree Several species eat more insects than vegetable matter. None (except 

 the English Sparrow) seem to be injurious, while all ,1,, great service 1,, agriculture in destroying 

 vast quantities of weed eed 

 I. With conspicuous red in the plumage. 

 A. Mandibles crossi d 



1. With conspicuous white wing-bars. 19. White-winged Crossbill. 



2. Without white wing-bars. 18. American Crossbill. 



