BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



I. Males with black predominating. Females sometimes partly 

 brownish or white. Page 141. 



II. Birds with some bright conspicuous color, at least in the male. 

 This color may be either blue, red, or yellow. Page 1 42. 



III. Birds without any conspicuous color, but with either a trace 

 of yellow, markings or patches of rufous, olive-green, or iridescent green. 

 Page 145. 



IV. Birds without any conspicuous color (dull browns, grays, 

 bluish grays, etc.), but with some special markings of black, dark brown 

 or white. Page 1 48. 



V. Birds without any conspicuous color and with no especially 

 pronounced markings. Page 152. 



Having determined in which of the above main divisions a given 

 bird belongs, commence with the alternatives presented under 1 , 2, 3, 

 4, etc. Then take up the subdivisions under a, b, c, d, etc., and so on 

 until the bird is found. If it does not work out correctly keep on with 

 the key, as in many instances the same bird is given two or more times 

 under different headings. The identification should always be verified 

 in the descriptive list. The number following the bird's name in the 

 key corresponds with the number of the bird in the list. In using the 

 key notice that the name of each bird follows the description. An opera- 

 glass and a large store of patience are invaluable in identifying birds in 

 the field. Even then the value of a key is only relative. It will generally 

 be found helpful with male birds and in some instances may serve in 

 identifying the female also. 



Grouse, Quail and Partridge Family. (All game birds allied to 

 the hen.) Page 156 to 158. 



Pigeons and Doves. Page 158 to 159. 



Birds of Prey, with strong hooked beaks and talons: 



Vultures and Condors (carrion feeders with featherless heads). 

 Page 1 59. 



Hawks, Eagles, etc. Page 159 to 167. 



Owls (eyes directed forward). Page 168 to 170. 



Woodpeckers (clinging to the trunks of trees and pecking the bark). 

 Page 1 70 to 1 74. 



Humming-birds (tiny birds with long slender bills, buzzing about 

 flowers). Page 1 76 to 1 77. 



All birds not included in above groups as follows: 

 A. Birds with crests. 



I. Black or brownish gray bird with white wing-patch. Length, 

 7.5 inches. 



Phainopepla 156 



[140] 



