protected from cold winds." (The Auk, Vol. 

 XXXII, Oct.. 1915, page 505.) 



A slender small brownish bird with a long tail. 

 It ascends the trunks of trees always in a spiral 

 path as it pursues its industrious search for the 

 insect food hidden in the crevices of the bark. 



*9. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta 

 canadensis). A coninicn migrant .spring and fall, 

 and a few nesting in Northern Minnesota. Oc- 

 curs rather sparingly in the southeastern part of 

 the state throughout mild winters. 



It is smaller than the common Nuthatch and 

 may also be readily distinguished by its black 

 cheek band and rusty underparts. It's "trump" 

 is weaker and more nasal in quality. 



*10. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 

 (Regulus satrapa satrapa). Abundant as an early 

 and late migrant but has been recorded definitely 

 as a winter bird from only two localities. Law- 

 rence L. Lofstrom found them "quite common" 

 in pine and spruce woods just north of Cam- 

 bridge, Isanti county, throughout the winter of 

 1914-1915 (The Auk, Vol. XXXII, Oct.. 1915, 

 page 5051; and H. J. Jagi-r saw several on the 

 court house lawn at Owatonna, Steele county, on 

 Dec. 20, 1908. 



An olive-green little bird, only about four 

 inches long, the top of the head, in the male, 

 adorned with a flaming orange-red patch, bor- 

 dered with yellow and black; the orange center 

 being absent in the female. 



ACCIDENTAL SPECIES. 



Included in this list are species tliat have no 

 proper place in the winter bird-life of Minnesota 

 but of which individuals have been noted be- 

 tween Dec. 1 and Mar. 1, either as purely chance 

 wanderers or belated fall migrants, or spring ar- 

 rivals that have pushed ahead of the general 

 movement of their kind. They are never of regu- 

 lar or frequent occurrence no matter what the 

 w-eather and are always out of place as far north 

 as Minnesota in the winter season. 



1. LOON (Gavia immer). Remains rarely on 

 Lake Superior and still more infrequently lingers 

 about open places in the larger lakes and streams 

 into December. 



2. HOODED MERGANSER: SAWBILL: 

 FISH DUCK (Lophodytes cucullatus). Occa- 

 sionally found where there is open water in the 

 winter season. 



3. MALLARD: "GREEN HEAD" (Anas 

 platyrhynchos). Flocks sometimes remain about 

 open places in the southern lakes and streams 

 into December or even later. At such times they 

 usually repair to neighboring cornfields for food. 

 About four hundred stayed at Heron Lake until 

 Dec. 15, 1910, and seventy-five until Dec. 21, 1911, 

 (Abe Nelson, guide). Lanesboro, Dec. 11. 1890. 

 (Hvoslef). During the winter of 1897-1898 a 



small flock spent the entire winter in open water 

 below the dam in the Crow River near Hutchin- 

 son, feeding in neighboring cornfields. A pair 

 were shot Feb. 15, 1898 (Dr. C. T. Cooke). Min- 

 neapolis, Dec. 3. 1879 (Roberts). 



4. SHOVELLER: SPOONBILL DUCK 

 (Spatula clypeata). Stray birds occasionally re- 

 main about open spring holes. Lanesboro, Jan. 

 11. 1892, one in spring brook (Dr. Hvoslef). 



5. BUFFLEHEAD: BUTTERBALL: 

 SPIRIT DUCK (Charitonetta albeola). Occa- 

 sionally found on Lake Superior in winter. Two 

 in Storey collection taken near Duluth, Jan. 20, 

 1900. 



6. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Oidemia 

 deglandi). Not infrequently seen on Lake Supe- 

 rior and in the rapids of the larger streams dur- 

 ing winter. 



Both of the other Scoters, the American and 

 the Black, probably also occur during the win- 

 ter but thus far definite records are wanting. 



7. WHISTLING SWAN (Olor columbianus). 

 Accidental. Seven stayed at Heron Lake until 

 Dec. 15. 1910. They remained in the open places 

 in the lake where they could reach the bottom 

 to feed (Abe Nelson, guide). 



8. FLORIDA GALLINULE (Gallinula gale- 

 ata galeata). A bird of this species, apparently 

 in good condition, was taken alive at a spring 

 run in Glenwood Park, Minneapolis, on Jan. 23, 

 1915. Weather intensely cold. 



9. WILSON SNIPE: JACK SNIPE (Gallin- 

 ago delicata). Stray birds of this species may 

 rarely be flushed from spring runs throughout 

 the winter season in Southern Minnesota. Min- 

 neapolis. Dec. 15, 1875; Dec. 15, 1877; Tan. 17, 

 1879 (Roberts). 



10. MOURNING DOVE (Zenaidura macroura 

 carolinensis). Single individuals rarely brave the 

 cold season even through the entire winter in 

 Southeastern Minnesota. Lanesboro. Fillmore 

 county. Jan. 16, 1898, "one or two frequently pass 

 the winter in this vicinity" (Dr. Hvoslef). Red 

 Win.g until Jan. 5, 1905 (Miss Densmore). La 

 Crescent, "have seen them in December and Janu- 

 ary" (Harrison). Minneapolis, Dec. 1, 1879 (Wm. 

 L. Wolford). 



11. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter 

 velox). Rare. Lanesboro. Dec. 25. 1889 (Dr. 

 Hvoslef). Minneapolis, Jan. 11. 1904. oiie shot 

 (Wm. Kilgore). Parker's Prairie, Otter Tail 

 county, about Jan. 1, 1912, one shot (Barker). 



12. BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus 

 leucocephalus). Very rare in winter. Minne- 

 apolis, Jan. 1, 1879 (Roberts). 



13. PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus). 

 There is a single somewhat indefinite winter 

 record of this western species taken in a trap 

 near Benson (Cantwcll, O. & C, Vol. XVI, Oct., 

 1891, page 157). 



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