SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 129 



204 [495] Molothrus ater ater (Bodd.)- 



COWBIRD. 



Common summer resident (winter). March 22 to November 26 (December 

 20, 30. January 15). 



Eggs: May 18 to June 8. 



In the winter of 191 5-1 6 a Cowbird was seen by Messrs. G. M. Bubier and 

 A. P. Stubbs at Lynn a number of times consorting with English Sparrows. 



The courtship of the Cowbird is an interesting performance. The male puffs 

 out his feathers, spreads his wings slightly, and his tail to the full extent, and 

 bows low first raising his head. At the same time he utters a low gurgling chuck 

 rapidly repeated followed sometimes by a squeaking hiss, rarely by a rattle. The 

 gurgling chuck chuck or gluck gluck is so low that it cannot be heard fifty yards 

 away. It is a pleasing, liquid note. This is evidently the courtship song, and is 

 sometimes performed on the wing. I have seen three males chasing a female 

 uttering these notes as they flew. She took refuge in a tree and the males alight- 

 ing near, performed in turn, all puffing out their feathers and bowing low. She 

 sidled out to the end of a branch and attempted to escape their attention by 

 flight, but they were soon in hot pursuit. 



The partially whistled call-note phcc dc dc commonly emitted as the bird flies 

 bears a distinct resemblance to the song of the Meadowlark and suggests rela- 

 tionship. It may be the ancient call-note of the group from which the Meadow- 

 lark developed its song. 



♦205 [497] Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). 

 Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 Accidental visitor from the West. 



The observation of iVIr. Francis Beach White^ puts this bird on the list. " At 

 Ipswich, Mass., September 17, 1917, I had under observation for about half an 

 hour, a Yellow-headed Blackbird {Xanthocephalus xanthoccpJialus). It was in 

 the plumage of the female." 



According to Howe and Allen= there are only three other records for the 

 State. 



1 White, F. B. Auk, vol. 35, p. 224, 1918. 



2 Howe, R. H., Jr., and Allen, G. M. The Birds of Massachusetts, p. 116, 1901. 



