IS 



REDSTARTS are the most active of 

 the fly-catching- warblers. They are 

 not passive waiters like true flycatchers 

 but dash hither and yon, high and low, 

 snatching insects from the air, from 

 the foliage or from the ground. Their 

 nervous activity is constantly shown by 

 the opening and closing of their hand- 

 somely marked tails and the fluttering 

 of the wings. When not engaged in 

 feeding or singing, the male is often 

 to be seen chasing his mate or other 

 birds about the tree tops, not in a pug- 

 ilistic but in a playful manner. 



Redstarts arrive from the south 

 about May 4th, their coming being her- 

 alded by a flashing of orange and 

 black through the trees or by an ener- 

 getic jingling "ser-wee, swee-swee- 

 sweet." If we watch the female close- 

 ly about two weeks later we will find 

 her gathering fine strips of bark, plant 

 down, fibres and other similar material 

 and carrying it to the fork of a tree or 

 sapling where she forms a very com- 

 pact and neat nest. 



vocalists. Indeed, it is doubtful if any birds anywhere can 

 equal the repertoir of these. MOCKINGBIRDS, as mimics, 

 cannot be equaled. For hours at a time they will perch in 

 the top of a bush and sing almost steadily, making up the 

 song as they go along and taking familiar parts of the 

 songs of many other birds. Unfortunately they are south- 

 ern birds, occurring within our borders only locally and in 

 limited numbers. Their place is well filled, however, by 

 the abundant Catbirds which, although not nearly as cap- 

 able songsters as the Mocker, have few other species that 

 can compare with them. 



BROWN THRASHERS, abound in nearly all first 

 growth land and in bush-dotted fields or pastures. They 

 are not mimics like Catbirds and Mockers but have a long, 

 clear and very pleasing song of their own, easily recog- 

 nized because each phrase or group of notes is repeated 

 twice. The song is not only fuller and richer but contains 

 none of the harsh and mewing notes such as the Catbird 

 likes to insert into its lay. 



Warblers, of which we have many species, are among our 

 most active and most interesting birds. The Redstart, 

 which is shown here, belongs to a group known as Flycatch- 

 ing Warblers as they have a habit of dashing out and catch- 



