224 USEFUL BIRDS. 



BLACKBIRDS, GRACKLES, ORIOLES, ETC. 



Only two (Orioles) of the eight Massachusetts members 

 of this family are distinctly arboreal. Although all the 

 Blackbirds feed from trees, and Grackles nest there, they 

 ordinarily obtain most of their food from the ground, and 

 so must be considered among the birds of garden, field, or 

 swamp. While all the Blackbirds congregate in large flocks 

 in their migrations, the Orioles are never seen in such flocks. 

 The Orchard Oriole is so rare in Massachusetts as to be of 

 no economic importance. This leaves but one species to be 

 considered among the birds of woodland and orchard. 



Baltimore Oriole. Golden Robin. Fire Hang Bird. Hang Nest. 



Icterus galbnla. 



Length. — Seven and one-half to eight inches. 



Adult Male. — Head and neck all round, upper back, wings, and tail black; 

 wings marked with white ; terminal portions of three outer tail feathers 

 yellow ; all other parts yellow to mtense orange. 



Adult Female. — Much duller, the black largely replaced by brownish and the 

 orange mainly by yellowish-olive; throat sometimes marked with blackish. 



Immature Males. — Resemble the female. 



Nest. — A deep pouch (sometimes covered, with the entrance on the side), com- 

 posed of tougli fibers and long haii's interwoven ; usually hung from the 

 terminal twigs of elms, but often in fruit trees. 



Eggs. — Bluish-white, with irregular or zigzag lines of brown or black. 



Season. — May to September. 



This abundant and familiar species may be found wherever 

 tall elms rear their heads along the village street. Even in 

 the smaller cities this bird manages still to dwell, despite 

 the obtrusive Sparrow and prowling cat. Its brilliant plum- 

 age and wild, free notes have always been characteristic 

 sounds of the New England farmstead ; for, although it 

 prefers the elms, it frequents other shade and orchard trees, 

 and even goes to the woods for food, though it seldom breeds 

 there. Orioles increase in numbers with the advance of 

 settlement and civilization. 



The clear, wild calls of this bird are as well known as its 

 musical song. The song, however, varies so much in tone 

 and rhythm that no pen can ever adequately describe its many 

 variations. Nearly every male has a distinctive song of his 



