Birds of Oregon and Washington 239 



and not in trees, — and in buildings in cities, 

 moreover, which seems quite strange to us. It 

 is, however, only a proof of what change in the 

 habits of birds is wrought by civilization. It is 

 difficult to say what our own birds may do in the 

 future, when Americans have won back the con- 

 fidence of our now truly *' wild " birds. In this 

 spring of 1 90 1 , the Starlings may be seen around 

 the top of the tower on the Perkins Hotel in 

 Portland, nesting in the gilded ornaments on 

 either end, and also about the Blagen Block, 

 First and Couch streets, nesting in perpendicu- 

 lar holes just over each of the two ornamental 

 heads on the west face of the structure. 



The careless observer would take these Star- 

 lings for *'just Blackbirds." But though Black- 

 birds in appearance, they belong to a family of 

 their own and must be recognized as such. 

 The principal distinctive mark in this Starling 

 in summer time is its yellow bill, which even the 

 indifferent will notice when once their attention 

 is called to it. 



The difference between the summer and the 

 winter plumage in the Starlings is very marked. 

 In the spring it is quite black, and in the winter 



