THE OOLOGIST. 



55 



Birds Who Sing on the Wing. 

 By Dh. Morris Gibbs. 



The species of birds wliicli siug wlien 

 flying are very tew. Of course if we 

 embrace all birds wiiich utter a souud 

 oa the wing, as singing birds, we shall 

 have a large number on our list. And 

 strictly speaking, as songs are the ex- 

 pressions of the feelings, sentiments, if 

 we wish to so call them of the birds, 

 tlien the vocal efforts of all species, es- 

 pecially during spring are songs. Ad- 

 mitting this, then there are ove'^ one 

 hundred species of Michigan birds 

 whicli siug as they Hy to my knowledge. 



All of the Hawks and other rapacious 

 birds that I am familiar with utter their 

 discordant and defiant screams upon 

 the wing, the lied-shouldered, Marsh 

 and Cooper's Hawks are especially" 

 noisy in season. I have also heard the 

 Screech Owl complaining when on the 

 wing, and the Barred Owl occasionally 

 flies as it gives out its mysterious yet 

 (to ray ears) pleasing notes. All of the 

 Herons so far as I know utter their gut- 

 teral notes when on the wing, although 

 the more diilicult effort of the American 

 Bittern is not uttered flying. 



The smaller waders give utterance as 

 they fly, and most Ducks have been 

 heard, while the Geese are notorious 

 gobblei's during migrations. Sandhill 

 Cranes issue their notes as they sail, 

 sometimes out of sight. Night hawks 

 make their only eflorts while on the 

 wing, as we would exi)ect in a species 

 which earns its living while Hying. Its 

 near relative the Whip-poor-will some- 

 times flies singing through the woods in 



spring- 



The Woodpeckers are a noisy set, and 

 without an exception issue the clatter 

 which answers in the nature of a refrain 

 on the wing. All hunters have heard 

 the scape of the Wilson's Snipe, the 

 single sfMig note (jf the llyin'j Wood- 

 cock and the agreeable efforts of the 



Killdoer, Spotted Sandpiper and the Up- 

 land Plover and many others of the 

 small waders. 



In the Rasoi'cs, however, we have a 

 silent list of birds when ou the wing, 

 although the Mourning Dove and Bob- 

 white and some others are at least 

 noisy at times on the perch. 



According to classilication the true 

 singers are confined within the divis- 

 ion (Jsci>i,cs, while all others are consid- 

 ered non-musical. According to this 

 system constructed from anatomical re- 

 lations, the sweet refrain of the Wood 

 Pewee cannot be called a song, as it be- 

 longs to the screamers. 



Among the birds which are acknowl- 

 edged singers the following six musi- 

 cal species are presented as birds which 

 1 have heard sing while flying. The 

 Bobolink is tlie acknowledged leader in 

 llighl song, in fact his rollicking, jing- 

 ling medley is about equal in excel- 

 lence with any bird with which I am 

 acquainted. The common Bluebird is 

 a charming exponent of flight singing. 

 It occasionally flutters upward and 

 pours forth its soft warble in a most 

 enchanting manner just after arriving 

 from the south. 



The Warbling Vireo, rarely, in a 

 transport of bliss, during the nuxting 

 season, launches into the air while yet 

 singing, and apparently forgetful of 

 custom, strives to make us, mundane- 

 creatures, as happy as its happy self. 

 This agreeable songster is one of ray 

 favorites, and no one who is a lover of 

 bird melody can remain indifferent to 

 its ecstatic warblings. 



In May and June we sometimes hear 

 the loud gushing song of the Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak as the gaudy male 

 Hits through the foliage near his pros- 

 pective home. Even wilh this undigni- 

 fied flyer, wiio generallj' progresses by 

 undulating vigorous dashes, we can de- 

 tect a hesitating flutter when the bird 

 sings on the wing. 



Another bird that sometimes sings on 



