28 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
PROTECTIVE COLORATION 
In studying birds one must ignore the females. This 
would be a rather unsafe policy in studying human beings, 
but among birds it is necessary because the males are the 
singers and wear the bright colors, while the females do not 
“shine” either in music or dress. One learns the females easily 
because they are the companions of the males during the mat- 
ing season. But for this fact the study of female birds would 
be a very difficult task, for most of them have sober colors, 
and the females of many species resemble each other. For ex- 
ample, it is not easy to distinguish the females of several dif- 
ferent Blackbirds, or of numerous Sparrows. Of course in 
some species males and females are alike, but bright colored 
males and sober colored females is the general rule. 
The colors of male birds are-always the brightest in 
the mating season, as though for the purpose of being attrac- 
tive to the females. Some have thought that the most attrac- 
tive males won the females, and then, reproducing their kind, 
developed in the species increased attractiveness. Others have 
thought that beauty in males was connected with strength and 
virility, and that stronger males won the seu es because of their 
prowess in driving off other suitors. 
It is difficult to decide such matters, but it seems cer- 
tain that in the modest colors of females nature has made care- 
ful provision for the protection of the mother on her nest. The 
dappled brownish black of female Red-winged and Yellow- 
headed Blackbirds blends perfectly with the varying light and 
shade that play over their nests from the tops of flags and 
rushes swaying above them. 
The female Rose-breasted Grosbeak is about the color 
of the materials of which she builds her nest, and the colors 
of both herself and her nest are not unlike the color of bark. 
The male Scarlet Tanager is like a burst of flame in the forest, 
but his mate has the color of green leaves, and when on her 
nest can scarcely be seen. 
Birds of prowess, like Blue Jays, Crows and Hawks, 
shew little difference in color between males and females. 
