66 Birds of Oregoji and Washington 



once by the mark which its name indicates, viz.: 

 the black, velvety chin and throat, bordered by 

 a band of metallic violet. 

 Summer resident. 



THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



General Description : 



Male : All black, except shoulder-patch (which 

 is scarlet). 



Female : Streaked brownish and white. 



Length, 8.5 inches, more or less. 

 Found in nesting-time about bogs and marshes. 



The beauty of the " Red-wing " is recognized 

 by anyone who sees it ; and his musical song 

 quite naturally suggested to Emerson the line, 



'* The red-wing flutes his O-ka-lee ! " 



Yet, in spite of his beauty of color and sweet 



song, to many farmers he is a detestable enemy. 



When the farmer learns that seven-eighths of the 



Red-wing's food is made up of weed-seeds or of 



insects injurious to agriculture, he will, perhaps, 



be willing to share his crop with the birds which 



have helped him to raise it. 



Particular Description. — Male: Coal-black; 

 shoulders, scarlet, bordered with a brownish-yellow band. 



