BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



on the mud-flats, the curlews, the plovers cind killdeers of our 

 upland fields and shores, the surf birds, the turnstones and 

 oyster-catchers of the sea beaches, — let us hurry by all these 

 interesting groups in order to have a peep at the land birds, the 

 inhabitants of our fields and groves. 



The land birds of California may be broadly classified into 

 the following orders: — the scratching or gallinaceous birds 

 (including all the grouse, quail and fowls) ; the pigeons; the 

 birds of prey; the cuckoos (including kingfishers as well) ; the 

 woodpeckers; the order including the goatsuckers, swifts and 

 humming-birds; and finally the perching birds, in which group 

 fall all of our familiar little songsters of woodland and garden. 



Of the scratching birds, the partridges or quail (as they are 

 more popularly termed) are the most familiar and abundant. 

 Two species, the valley- and mountain-quail, are distributed 

 over the greater part of the state and may be knovm by their 

 head plumes, that of the valley-quail being an erect tuft of 

 feathers, which is thrown forward over the head when the bird 

 is excited, that of the mountain-quail being a long, slender 

 plume, held erect or trailing backward. The latter bird may 

 also be known at a glance by its larger size and its chestnut 

 flanks. Both birds are very showily ornamented, and among 

 the most characteristic species of the west. Every one knows 

 the loud, clear cu, cu\ cu of the valley-quail, but the high, 

 nervous whistle of the mountain form is less familiar, since these 

 birds frequent the more remote mountainous portion of the 

 state. The valley-quail becomes very tame when not molested, 

 and is a fascinating creature to observe, so vigorous in its step 

 cind flight, so alert and proud. 



Then there is the sooty grouse in our pine woods which, 



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