Winter Birds About Washington^ D. C. 183 



WINTER BIRDS ABOUT WASHINGTON, D. C, 

 1916-1917. 



By W. L. McAtee^ E. A. Preble, and 

 Alexander Wetmore. 



After having committed to the mails our 1916 Christmas 

 Bird Census of 40 species and 752 individuals (made Decem- 

 ber 27: see Bird Lore, XIX, 1917, p. 25), the writer suc- 

 ceeded in making (on December 30, 1916), a record so much 

 better — in fact, the best winter day's list for the region — that 

 it seems well to publish this also. At the same time we take 

 the opportunity to present a list of other birds that have been 

 seen near Washington this winter, with brief notes on the 

 more interesting species. 



Our trip of December 30, 1916, was from Mt. Vernon to 

 Dyke, Va., taking us along the partly frozen Potomac, over 

 wooded bluffs, and through clearing's, farm lands, pineries, 

 and river swamps. The day was partly cloudy, with a tem- 

 ature of -|-20° F. at 8 a. m. Observations were made between 

 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. 



The species seen were : Herring Gull, 3 ; Hooded Merg-an- 

 ser, 21 ; Canvas-back, 410 ; Golden-eye, 47 ; Ruddy Duck, 4 ; 

 Bob-white, 16 ; Turkey Vulture, 8 ; Marsh Hawk, 1 ; Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk, 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 ; Kingfisher, 1 ; 

 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 ; Downy Woodpecker, 4 ; Yellow-bellied 

 Sapsucker, 8 ; Red-headed Woodpecker, 6 ; Red-bellied Wood- 

 pecker, 1 ; Flicker, 3 ; Blue Jay, 12 ; Crow, 134 ; Fish Crow, 

 6 ; Starling, 9 ; Meadowlark, 4 ; Purple Finch, 5 ; Red Cross- 

 bill, 2 ; White-winged Crossbill, 2 ; English Sparrow, 20 ; 

 Goldfinch, 10 ; Savanna Sparrow, 3 ; White-throated Spar- 

 row, 51; Tree Sparrow, 76; Field Sparrow, 4; Junco, 176; 

 Song Sparrow, 7 ; Chewink, 4 ; Cardinal, 7 ; Migrant Shrike, 

 1; Myrtle Warbler, 3; Mocking Bird, 5; Carolina Wren, 7; 

 Winter Wren, 2 ; Brown Creeper, 5 ; White-breasted Nut- 

 hatch, 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Tufted Titmouse, 11; 



* Names are in alphabetical order; responsibility for the list is 

 equal. 



