I30 



MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



206 [498] Agelaius phoeniceus phceniceus (Linn.). 



Red-winged Blackbird. 



Abundant summer resident (winter). March 3 to August 21, October 

 (November 28, February 14) ; average date of arrival for eight years, March 17. 



Eggs: May 23 to June 18. 



Two were seen in the Topsfield Marshes by Mr. Ralph Lawson on November 

 28, 1918. On February 14, 1912, ]\Ir. A. P. Stubbs found one in Palmer's Bog, 

 Swampscott. 



The courtship of the Red-winged Blackbird centers as distinctly about the 

 display of the scarlet epaulettes as does the courtship of the Peacock about the 

 display of his train. The adult male Red-wing when absorbed in feeding is a 

 plain blackbird with a pale yellow stripe on his shoulder or one with a narrow 

 band of red. The color may even be entirely covered up by the prevailing black- 

 ness of his costume. When, however, his love passions are excited he spreads his 

 tail, slightly opens his wings, pufifs out all his feathers, and sings his quonk-qucr-cc, 

 or his still more watery and gurgling song, appropriate to an oozing bog, his 

 ogle-oggle-yer. Now when he pufifs out his body feathers he especially pufifs out, 

 erects, and otherwise displays to their best advantage the gorgeous scarlet epau- 

 lettes. These patches become actually dazzling in their effect as he slowly flies 

 toward the object of his affections, for these beauty spots are most effective when 

 seen from in front. 



In the nesting season, if an intruder approaches the family home, he is met 

 by the male who flies about and flutters overhead uttering most piercing shrill 

 whistles that suggest the drawing in of the breath and by loud chuck, chucks. 

 The feet are drawn up in front so that they show as knobs on the breast. Occa- 

 sionally he lets them hang down, and setting his wings and extending the bastard 

 wings he slowly drops down and settles in a thicket of grass. 



The female in her protests does not include this ear-splitting whistle, but 

 chucks and rattles. The rattle takes on at times a trilling, vibrating character, 

 which is almost Veery-like. 



207 [501] Sturnella magna magna (Linn.). 



Meadowlark ; " Marsh Quail.'' 



Very common summer resident, sometimes not uncommon in winter. March 

 I to November 31 (December, January and February). 



Eggs: May 11 to June 28. 



