dimiinitioii of this bird in this land of protracted 

 snow, or force it to redeem itself to some extent 

 by tnrning to weed seeds as a consideral)le part 

 of its winter diet. 



*28. AMERICAN CROSSBILL (Loxia curvi- 

 rostra minor). Abundant in the northern ever- 

 green forests of the state. Occasionally wanders 

 through the southern part in little straggling 

 flocks. Its rather small size, its crossed scissor- 

 like bill, and the brick red plumage of the male 

 serve to identify it. 



*29. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (Loxia 

 leucoptera). Not so common as the last; dis- 

 tribution about the saine. Two white wing-bars 

 and the rose red plumage of tlie male distinguish 

 it. 



*30. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 

 (Sitta carolinensis carolinensis). Common every- 

 where in the city, village and woodland. Its lit- 

 tle trumpeting note may be heard throughout the 

 coldest seasons, and its constant search for insect 

 eggs and larvae, up and down the trunks and 

 limbs of trees, results in great benefit to mankind. 



*31. CHICKADEE: BLACK-CAPPED 



CHICKADEE (Penthestes atricapillus atricapil- 

 lus). Common throughout the state. Hardy, 

 cheery, familiar, and its food habits make it a 

 very valuable bird to man. 



A western sub-species with a somewhat longer 

 tail, known as the Long-tailed Chickadee, has 

 been reported along our western boundary, but 

 this matter needs further investigation. 



BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES 

 A Family of Si.x Posing for a Picture 



Photograph from life. Roberts 



32. HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE (Penthestes 



hudsonicus hudsonicus). Occurs regularly only 

 in the northern part of the state, where it is ap- 

 parently rather common, in some localities. Sev- 

 eral birds of this species were unexpectedly seen 

 by Lawrence Lofstrom as far south as Cam- 

 bridge, Isanti county, in November, 1915. Dis- 

 tinguished from the coinmon Chickadee by its 

 brownish cap and different notes. 



WINTER VISITANTS. 



Included under tliis lieaJ are birds that enter 

 the state from the north to winter here or fur- 

 ther south. Some of these appear during the 

 early fall and linger far into the spring months. 



1. RED-THROATED LOON (Gavia stel- 

 lata). OccursACommonly on Lake Superior and 

 on the large rivers when they remain unfrozea 

 Has been secured by Storey at Duluth and by 

 Whit Harrison on the Mississippi River at La 

 Crescent, Minn. 



Considerably stnaller than the common Loon, 

 but the plumage in winter differing only in the 

 feathers of the upper parts, being spotted instead 

 of margined with white. 



The Black-throated Loon is probably a very 

 rare winter visitant to the state, as it has been 

 taken several times on the Mississippi River in 

 Iowa (Anderson, Birds of -Iowa, 1907), but no 

 Minnesota specimens are known. It is a trifle 

 larger than the Red-throated Loon (27 instead 

 of 25 inches, the common Loon being 32 when 

 full-grown) and differs otherwise in the winter 

 plumage only in having the feathers of the back 

 margined with gray instead of spotted with white. 

 In full breeding plumage the Loons have plainly 

 distinctive markings, but as they occur here in 

 their winter dress they look so much alike that 

 they cannot be safely determined out of hand. 



2. OLD SQUAW: LONG-TAILED DUCK 

 (Harelda hyemalis). When Lake Superior re- 

 mains unfrozen this little duck often occurs there 

 in considerable numbers and may also be found 

 elsewhere where there is open water of any ex- 

 tent. In the w-inter of 1903-4 Lake Superior froze 

 over rather suddenly and the Old Squaws per- 

 ished in large numbers, seemingly unable to get 

 av.-ay in time (Thos. Storey, Duluth). Some of 

 them wandered inland as far as Aitkin looking 

 for open water and fell exhausted in the forest 

 (Albert Lano). 



As it occurs in winter, the plumage in the male 

 is white with dusky areas about the head and the 

 back and a broad black patch underneath. The 

 two central tail feathers are narrow and much 

 elongated. The female is duller and lacks the 

 clear black areas and the long tail feathers, 



*3. GOSHAWK (Astur atricapillus atricapil- 

 lus). The hawk most frequently seen in winter. 

 "This species is one of the most daring of the 

 Hawks, and while in pursuit of its prey is ap- 

 parently less concerned w'ith the presence of man 

 than any other. It will dart down unexpectedly 

 at the very feet of the farmer and carry off a 

 fowl" (Dr. Fisher; Hawks and Owls of the 

 L'nited Slates). It feeds largely, in winter, upon 

 rabbits and no doubt takes a considerable num- 

 ber of grouse. 



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