344 Jensen, Nesting Birds of Wahpeton, N. D. [j^Jy 



species, but since the subspecies' validity has not yet been determined 1 

 have not listed it as such. 



Regulus calendula calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. — This is 

 another species that remained exceptionally late in the spring of 1917. 

 I observed it up to May 18, securing a specimen on the last date. 



NOTES ON THE NESTING BIRDS OF WAHPETON, 

 NORTH DAKOTA. 



BY J. K. JENSEN. 



The region covered by the following notes is a small part of 

 Richland Count}', forming a quarter of a circle with a radius of 

 three miles, west and north of Wahpeton, with the Indian School 

 as a center. The ground covered takes in the North Dakota side 

 of the Red River, where a little timber is to be found. The rest 

 consists mostly of cultivated fields, some prairie and a little swampy 

 or wet ground and a few groves around the farm buildings. 



This list includes, with one or two exceptions, only birds I 

 actually found nesting in 1917, and does not profess to be 

 complete. 



Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. — Very common as a nesting bird. 

 On June 6 I found a nest in a clover-field less than a thousand feet north 

 of the Indian School. The Bittern would generally leave the nest when 

 I was about ten feet away. The nest consisted of a handful of dry grass, 

 and contained a set of four fresh eggs. 



Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. — Very com- 

 mon. Nests and eggs were found from May 1 to September 1 both in trees 

 and on the ground. Near the Indian School I found a nest, which first 

 served as home for the White-rumped Shrike, later a pair of Brown 

 Thrashers took possession and laid a set of five eggs and a Cowbird placed 

 one of her eggs in the nest. About August 1, I again found the nest 

 occupied, this time by a Mourning Dove incubating two eggs. 



Oxyechus vociferus. Ivilldeer. — The Killdeer is very common in 

 this part of North Dakota, but I only located one nest. This was placed 

 about a hundred feet west of the Indian School in a little garden plot. 

 The nest was a little hollow in the ground, lined with a few dry weedstalks, 

 and on May 11 it contained four fresh eggs. 



