XXV. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES. 



ORDER i. PASSERES. Perching Birds. 



About three-fourths of all our Ohio birds belong to this order, in size they range from the 

 Crow and Raven to the Kinglets, which are scarcely more than four inches long. They combine 

 most of the habits met in the other orders and introduce some new ones. All colors of the spec- 

 trum are theirs. In song they excel all other birds, but some members of the Oscines, even, have 

 no song. It is impossible to characterize the group, yet it is a group the members of which are 

 readily distinguished from all others. One soon instinctively recognizes any passerine bird on first 

 acquaintance. 



I. Back of tarsus rounded like the front. 



A. Bill flattened, hooked at tip. 17. TYRANNIDAE. FLYCATCHERS. 



B. Bill rounded, not hooked. 6. ALAUDIDAE. LARKS. 



II. Back of tarsus sharp. 



A. Bill hooked at the tin. 



1. Large, over 8.50 inches long. 1-5. LANIIDAE. SHRIKES. 



2. Small, under 6.50 inches long. 16. VIREONIDAE. VIKEOS. 



3. With a distinct crest; tail tipped with yellow. 14. AMPELIDAE. WAXWINGS. 



B. Bill not hooked at tip. 



1. With only 9 primaries. 



a. Bill very short, wings long and pointed. 13. HIRUNDINIDAE. SWALLOWS. 



b. Wings moderate, bill moderate, 

 (i). Bill straight, cone-shaped. 



(a). Bill not notched, its base parting the feathers 



of the forehead. 2. ICTERIDAE. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



(b). Bill notched, not parting feathers of forehead. 



(a 1 ). Nostrils concealed by feathers. 3. FRINGILLIDAE. SPARROWS, ETC. 



(b 1 ). Nostrils exposed. 4. TANAGRIDAE. TANAGERS. 



(2). Bill slender, not cone-shaped. 



(a). Hind claw long and straightened. 7. MOTACILLIDAE. PIPITS. 



(b). Hind claw not lengthened. 5. MNIOTILTIDAE. WOOD WARBLERS. 



2. With 10 primaries. 



a. Upper part of tarsus not divided into scales. 



(i). Wing more than 3.50. 8. TURDIDAE. THRUSHES, ETC. 



(2). Wing less than 2.50. 9. SYLVIIDAE. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHER. 



b. Whole tarsus divided into scales. 



(i). Tail feathers stiff, pointed at tip. 11. CERTHIIDAE. CREEPERS. 



(2). Tail feathers normal. 



(a). Nostrils covered by stiff bristly feathers. i. CORVIDAE. CROWS, JAYS. 



(b). Nostrils without bristly tufts. 

 (a 1 ). First primary about half as long as the 



longest one. 12. TROGLODYTIDAE. WRENS, THRASHERS. 



('b 1 ). First primary about a third as long as the ETC. 



longest one. 10. PARIDAE. TITMICE, NUTHATCHES. 



ORDER 2. MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers, Swifts, Hummingbirds. 

 At a glance this is also a diverse group, but the Swifts, Nighthawks and Whippoorwills are much 

 alike in external appearances and in food habits. They have long and pointed wings, weak feet 

 and bill, and a large mouth. The Hummingbirds differ in having a long and extremely slender 

 bill and small mouth. 



I. Wing ever 6.50. 3. CAPRIMULGIDAE. WHIPPOORWILL, 



NlGHTHAWK. 



II. Wing about 5.00. 2. MICROPODIDAE. SWIFTS. 



III. Wing under 2.00. i. TROCHILIDAE. HUMMINGBIRDS. 



ORDER 3. PICI. Woodpeckers. 



The Woodpeckers all belong to one family, PICIDAE. Their chisel-like bills and stiff, pointed 

 tail feathers, and their habit of clinging in an upright position to tree trunks are characteristic. They 

 feed upon insects, ripe fruit and the sap of trees, and sometimes acorns and nuts. 



ORDER f COCCYGES. Cuckoos, Kingfisher. 



The two suborders comprising this group have few external characters in common. The Cuck- 

 oos eat caterpillars and other insects, the Kingfisher eats fish and probably other aquatic animals. 

 The Cuckoos are woods birds, the Kingfisher is found in the vicinity of water. The Cuckoos are 

 soberly colored, the Kingfisher is distinctly bluish and crested. 



