CHART ILLUSTRATING EXHIBIT OF ILLINOIS WINTER BIRDS 



1. Hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosm) 



2. White-breasted nuthatch iSitta carolinensis) 



3. Screech owl {Otus asio) 



4. Crow {Corvus brachyrhynchos) 



5. Black-capped chickadee {Penthestes atricapiUus) 



6. Horned lark {Otocons alpestris) 



7. Snow bunting (Pleclrophenax nivalis) 



8. Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 



9. Northern shrike (Lanius borealis) 



10. Redpoll (Acanthii linaria) 



1 1 . English sparrow {Passer domesticus) 



12. House mouse (Mus musculus) 



13. Cottontail rabbit (Sylvitagus floridanus) 



Each evening the foraging flocks may be seen converging on some established wood- 

 land roost where hundreds and even thousands of individuals may pass the nights to- 

 gether. Crows are at all times great enemies of owls and never fail to chase and harry 

 one when they find it. In the exhibit a screech owl is taking refuge from piu-suing 

 crows and jax's in a hollow tree. 



One of the rarer and more interesting winter \isitants is the northern shrike. Shrikes, 

 which have powerful beaks provided with a hooked tip, feed on insects, small birds, 

 and rodents. Their prey is commonly impaled upon thorns and on the barbs of barbed 

 wire fences, where uneaten portions may often be found. Near the front of the case a 

 northern shrike is eating a slate-colored junco, while near-by there is a redpoll that 

 was previously killed. A smaller species, the migrant shrike, which has similar habits, 

 breeds in the Chicago area, liut it is not found in winter. 



23' 



