96 Bird - Lore 



As a nest-builder the Redwing shows much of the 

 His Nest weaver's skill of its Oriole cousins, though the material they 



works with is of coarser texture, being fastened firmly to low 

 bushes or reeds and woven of grass and the split leaves of reeds and flags, 

 all nicely lined with soft grasses and various vegetable fibers. Often, like 

 that of the Marsh Wren, the nest will be suspended between three or four 

 reeds and so firmly knit that it resembles one of the four-legged work- 

 baskets that belonged to the ' mother's room ' of our youth. The pale 

 blue eggs of the Redwing are particularly noticeable from the character of 

 the markings that thickly cover the larger end, for they seem the work of 

 a sharp scratching pen dipped in purplish black ink and held by an aimless 

 human hand, rather than the distribution of natural pigment. 



An eater of grain though the Redwing is, and a menace to 

 His Food the farmer in certain regions. Professor Beal concedes to him 



a liberal diet of weed seeds and animal food, itself injurious to 

 vegetation. Dr. B. H. Warren, who has made a wide study of the food 

 habits of this Blackbird, says: "The Redwing destroys large numbers of 

 'cutworms.' I have taken from the stomach of a single swamp Blackbird 

 as many as twenty-eight 'cutworms.' In addition to the insects, etc., men- 

 tioned above, these birds also, during their residence with us, feed on earth- 

 worms, grasshoppers, crickets, plant -lice and various larvae, so destructive 

 at times in the field and garden. During the summer season, fruits of the 

 blackberry, raspberry, wild strawberry and wild cherry are eaten to a more 

 or less extent. The young, while under parental care, are fed exclusively 

 on an insect diet." These facts should make us of the East welcome rather 

 than discourage the Redwing; for this is one of the species of familiar birds 

 that must become extinct in many localities, owing to the circumstance so 

 desirable in itself of reducing the waste marsh lands, and, though later in 

 the year other birds replace him acceptably, March and April would seem 

 lonely without the Redwing, for then, as the child said, "You've just got 

 to look at him." 



Questions for Teachers and Students 



Are there other species of Redwing than the one pictured? Trace its distribution. How 

 far north does it breed? At what season does it leave for the South in autumn? When does 

 the spring migration begin? What sort of country does the Redwing inhabit, high or low 

 ground? Does it nest immediately on its return? Where is the nest built and of what 

 materials? Do Redwings mate in pairs like Robins and Bluebirds? Are the males and 

 females feathered alike? What color are the eggs? To what family does the Redwing 

 belong? Name some of his kindred. 



