SYNOPSIS OF BIRD LIFE _ 9 



subspecies). Of these some 89 are Transients, while there are only 

 44 Transients for the state at large, showing that 45 species pass 

 through these counties to nest in the northern portion of the state 

 or beyond. There are 112 Summer Residents, 72 less than for the 

 whole state; 15 Permanent Residents; 20 Winter Visitants (the 

 increase over the state total is due to certain Permanent Resi- 

 dents in the north being Winter Visitants in the south); and 12 

 Accidental and Rare species. 



WINTER BIRD LIFE OF MINNESOTA 



A northern state like Minnesota, with long a'nd severe winters 

 and usually heavy and continuous snows, presents conditions 

 unfavorable for an abundant bird life. As a result the number of 

 individuals or aggregate bird population is rather scanty, especially 

 in the northern, more boreal portion. But when many observa- 

 tions from all parts of the state, made through a series of varying 

 seasons, are examined, a surprisingly large number of species will 

 be found to occur. A regular winter list thus compiled contains no 

 less than 43 species and 7 subspecies, and enough accidental and 

 rare species have been met with to bring the total to the very 

 considerable number of 89 species and 7 subspecies. 



A few species, common as summer residents or migrants, are 

 represented during the winter by only a comparatively few in- 

 dividuals, the bulk retreating beyond our southern boundary. 

 Such for example are the Junco, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted 

 Nuthatch, Tree Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Crow, and Goldfinch. 

 These are found chiefly in sheltered places in the southern part of 

 the state, most commonly during mild winters. They may be 

 considered as Half- Hardy birds. Many of them perish if the 

 weather suddenly becomes severe. 



For a fuller and more detailed account of the winter birds see 

 The Winter Bird Life of Minnesota, by T. S. Roberts, published by 

 the Zoological Division of the Geological and Natural History 

 Survey of Minnesota, February, 1916. Copies may be had by 

 apphcation to the Zoological Museum, University of Minnesota, 

 Minneapolis, Minn. 



MIGRATION OF MINNESOTA BIRDS 

 The subject of the migration of birds is full of intense interest, 

 mystery, and astonishing revelation. Of Minnesota birds no less 

 than 72 species retreat entirely beyond the southern limits of the 



