396 Stansell, Birds of Central Alberta. [^ 



S9. Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. — Somewhat rare. 

 Seen only during spring or fall. 



90. Corvus brachyrhynchos. Crow. — Very common in the older and 

 more settled parts but rarely seen or heard in the deep woods. 



91. Molothrus ater. Cowbird. — Very numerous, following cattle and 

 horses, flying upon their backs and eating mosquitoes. 



92. Zanthocephalus zanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. — 

 Very rare; seen but once, which was in the spring of 1909. 



93. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis. Thick-billed Redwing. — Very num- 

 erous. Nests in same manner as the eastern form. 



94. Sturnella magna neglecta. Western Meadowlark. — The song 

 of this bird is very much. different from that of the eastern form, it having 

 more of a blackbird-like call, and is much sweeter. They are becoming 

 quite common. 



95. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. — During the summer of 

 1906 these birds were very scarce but are now becoming more numerous, 

 even penetrating the more heavily wooded sections. 



96. Euphagus carolinus. Rusty Blackbird. — Nearly everywhere 

 common but nowhere numerous. Usually nest along some slough or creek 

 where they place their nests from three to ten feet above the water. The 

 male of a pair which were nesting in a small slough near my house was 

 suddenly taken away to appease the hunger of some young Goshawks. 

 The female soon mated again, and this time they chose a birch tree in the 

 deep woods, about one hundred yards from the slough, where they raised 

 their brood undisturbed. 



97. Euphagus cyanocephalus. Brewer's Blackbird: — Somewhat 

 more numerous than the preceding. Their nests are usually placed on the 

 ground, in a brushpile or hollow tree, or at a low elevation in bushes. 



98. Quiscalus quiscula seneus. Bronzed Grackle. — Very common. 

 Many nests are placed in dead stubs, where a cavity has been made, either 

 by some woodpecker or by a fire. 



99. Hesperiphona vespertina. Evening Grosbeak. — Quite rare. I 

 located a nest in June, 1908, which contained a dead full-fledged young 

 male. The nest was up 40 feet in a white birch tree. 



100. Pinicola enucleator leucura. Pine Grosbeak. — Very common 

 here during the winter only, when they may be seen in large flocks feeding 

 on poplar buds. 



101. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. — Very common. These 

 birds do a great deal of singing while on the wing. 



102. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. — Very rare; seen 

 but once, in edge of a deep spruce swamp. 



103. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Rosy Finch. — Rare; seen only during 

 the winter, usually in company with Pine Grosbeaks. 



104. Acanthis linaria. Redpoll. — Very numerous during the late 

 fall, winter, and early spring. 



105. Astragalinus tristis. Goldfinch. — Very numerous during the 



