Bird Families 



Family Hirundinidce : SWALLOWS 



Birds of the air, that take their insect food on the wing. 

 Migratory. Flight strong, skimming, darting ; exceedingly 

 graceful. When not flying they choose slender, conspicuous 

 perches like telegraph wires, gutters, and eaves of barns. Plu- 

 mage of some species dull, of others iridescent blues and greens 

 above, whitish or ruddy below. Sexes similar. Bills small ; 

 mouths large. Long and pointed wings, generally reaching the 

 tip of 'the tail or beyond. Tail more or less forked. Feet small 

 and weak from disuse. Song a twittering warble without power. 

 Gregarious birds. 



Barn Swallow. 



Bank Swallow. 



Cliff (or Eaves) Swallow. 



Tree Swallow. 



Bough- winged Swallow. 



Purple Martin. 



Family Ampelidce : WAX WINGS 



Medium-sized Quaker-like birds, with plumage of soft 

 browns and grays. Head crested ; black band across forehead 

 and through the eye. Bodies plump from indolence. Tail tipped 

 with yellow ; wings with red tips to coverts, resembling sealing- 

 wax. Sexes similar. Silent, gentle, courteous, elegant birds. 

 Usually seen in large flocks feeding upon berries in the trees or 

 perching on the branches, except at the nesting season. Voices 

 resemble a soft, lisping twitter. 



Cedar Bird. 



Bohemian Waxwing. 



Family Laniidce : SHRIKES 



Medium-sized grayish, black-and-white birds, with hooked 

 and hawk-like bill for tearing the flesh of smaller birds, field- 

 mice, and large insects that they impale on thorns. Handsome, 

 bold birds, the terror of all small, feathered neighbors, not ex- 

 cluding the English sparrow. They choose conspicuous perches 

 when on the lookout for prey : a projecting or dead limb of a 



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