32 The Birds of Albany County 



occasionally breed in the higher parts of the Helderbergs. 

 There are records of its nesting in the higher Catskills, but its 

 summer home is in the Adirondacks and northern New 

 England. Gray-cheek is seen here only as a rare migrant. 

 The Bicknell bird is a smaller species, with habits and range 

 similar to the Gray-cheek. The diagnostic features of the 

 three birds are so slight that even the trained ornithologist with 

 a powerful glass often finds himself puzzled to differentiate 

 between them. If one wishes really to know these Thrushes 

 I would advise a close study of Chapman's analyses and a 

 comparison of the skins, which may be seen in any good 

 museum. 



Family Sylviidae 



Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — Regulus calendula. 4.42 



Common in Early Spring and Late Fall 



Field marks. — This, and following species, smallest birds seen 

 here, except Hummingbird and Winter Wren; upper 

 parts grayish-olive; whitish wing-bars; under parts dull 

 white; on close view the partially concealed, flaming-red 

 crest may be revealed; feeds at the ends of twigs, 

 preferring the hemlock. 



This diminutive habitant of bird-land is much more common 

 in this County than the average observer realizes. I have seen 

 a large number in Washington Park in the early Spring. 

 Under excitement the feathers of the head are erected and the 

 brilliant red spot is visible. It breeds from the northern border 

 of the State northward. 



