THE BIRDS OF MARSHALL COUNTY, IOWA, IP 



IRA N. GABRIELSON 



17 . Coccysus anicricanus americanus. Yellow billed Cuckoo. A 

 common summer resident from May 9 to October 7. The yellow- 

 bill seemed to be much more common than the black-bill. Nests 

 were found May 30, 1914, two eggs; June 25, 1914, four eggs; 

 August 3, 1914, two eggs; June 26, 1915, three fledged young. Of 

 these the May 30 nest was in a bushy little elm which had been 

 broken off and sprouts had grown out. This nest was about six 

 inches from the ground and was later destroyed by high water. 

 The nest of June 25, 1914, was on a broken over elm about twelve 

 feet from the ground. The one found August 3, 1914, was in a 

 willow tree about ten feet from the ground, and the one on June 

 26, 1915, was in a gooseberry bush about two feet from the ground. 



78. Coccysus erythropthalmus. Black - billed Cuckoo. The 

 black-billed cuckoo was a less common summer resident than the 

 yellow-bill. My earliest record is May 22 and the latest September 

 18. On June 2, 1914, a nest of this species containing four eggs 

 was discovered by Harry Mann who guided me to the spot. It was 

 built within two feet of the ground and was destroyed by a sudden 

 freshet June 8. 



79. Ceryle alcyon. Kingfisher. A common summer resident 

 from March 28 to October 24. Fledgling young were a common 

 sight in July or August. The writer watched a pair carrying food 

 into a hole during the last week in June, 1914, but neglected to note 

 the date. These nest holes were not uncommon along Iowa river. 



80. Dryohates villosus villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. A toler- 

 ably common permanent resident most frequently recorded during 

 the winter months. The writer has two nesting records. On June 

 5, 1915, a pair were watched carrying food into a hole high in an 

 elm tree on Linn creek. The young birds could be heard calling 

 almost continuously. On June 28, 1915, one of the boys at a boy 

 scout camp cut down a willow and after the tree had fallen the 

 discovery was made that it contained a brood of three nearly fledged 

 Hairy Woodpeckers that were killed by the fall. 



81. Dryohates pubescens medianus. Downy Woodpecker. The 

 downy woodpecker was found to be a common permanent resident. 



^Continued from volume XXV of these Proceedings. 



