Notes on Winter Birds 



THE space required for the Bird Census prevents the publication of a 

 number of 'Notes from Field and Study,' but the timeliness of some 

 make it advisable to print in this issue of Bird-Lore certain records 

 of the occurrence of winter birds. Birds are, of course, far more likely to be 

 observed while migrating than after they have settled for the winter. Hence, 

 doubtless, the apparent scarcity of certain northern species in midwinter 

 which seemed common in the fall; though change of base incident to migra- 

 tion is of course also to be considered. 



For example, Mr. Horace W. Wright, of Boston, in sending his census, 

 writes; "in the vicinity of Boston we have had many Redpolls, a few Cross- 

 bills of each species, a Pine Grosbeak or two, and not less than 50 Acadian 

 Chickadees have been observed, but none of these enter into the park list." 



From Leominster, Mass., Mr. Edwin Russell Davis writes, under date of 

 December 26, 1913: "The Evening Grosbeaks have been with us for the last 

 two weeks, some five or six individuals, but I was unable to find them yester- 

 day." And this species, is also recorded from Washington, Conn., by Wil- 

 helmina C. Knowles, who writes that on December 13 fifteen were seen 

 "feeding on seeds of the sugar maple on the grgund." She states that the 

 birds were "extremely tame." 



Below we publish a note on the occurrence of Pine Grosbeaks at Sharon, 

 Connecticut, on November 17, and we have also a record from Mrs. J. C. 

 Anderson, of the appearance of four birds of this species at Great Barrington, 

 Mass., on November 18, and Mrs. Caroline T. Brooks reports eight or ten 

 Pine Grosbeaks at Goshen, Conn., on November 29. Other notes on winter 

 birds foUow.— F. M. C. 



Evening Grosbeaks in Michigan Here the Evening Grosbeak is observed 



to feed upon the berries of sumach, moun- 



On November, 26, 191 2, while walking tain ash, choke-cherry, wild red cherry, 



about among a grove of choke-cherries I seeds of maples and buds of forest trees, 



heard Evening Grosbeaks. I soon located particularly poplars. — Ralph Beebe, 



the flock, which consisted of about fifty Newberry, Michigan. 

 birds. Most of them were feeding upon the 



fallen cherries, large quantities of which Evening Grosbeak in Chicago 

 lay on the ground. A number posed for 



their photograph. A flock of about a We had the pleasure to see, on Nov. 9, 



dozen Redpolls accompanied the Gros- 1913, in Jackson Park, Chicago, 111., a 



beaks. Presumably they had learned that pair of Evening Grosbeaks, 



the Grosbeak is rather a slovenly feeder, We were w^atching a pair of Juncos and 



scattering generous amounts of food upon listening to a Blue Jay calling, when we 



the ground. This food is partly crushed by saw a large dull-colored bird hopping 



the heavy bills of the Grosbeaks so it is about on the ground eating seeds and 



well prepared for the more delicate Red- berries. When we approached it, it flew 



polls. up and perched on a small bush where 



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