BIRDS OF NEW YORK 523 



Distribution. This subspecies breeds in the upper Canadian and 

 Hudsonian zones of Nova Scotia, northern New England and in the higher 

 portions of the Catskills and Adirondacks as well as Mt Greylock and Mt 

 Mansfield; winters in Hayti and probably South America. In New York, 

 Bicknell's thrush is found as a summer resident of the higher portions 

 of the Catskills, where it was discovered, and in the Adirondacks above 

 an altitude of 2500 to 3000 feet. Our Adirondack party in 1905 found 

 it fairly common in the vicinity of Mt Marcy, both on the Geological 

 cobble, Bartlett ridge and the slopes of Mt Marcy, Skylight, Haystack 

 and various other neighboring peaks up to the limit of tree growth. Stand- 

 ing on the top of Mt Marcy after sunset, one could hear the Bicknell 

 thrushes in the stunted spruce and balsam just below the tree line in every 

 direction, singing their evening hymn. We found them feeding their 

 young on July 12 near Skylight camp, and on July 18 took an adult male 

 in full song near Lake Colden, at an altitude of 2800 feet. 



Haunts and habits. Although the song of this thrush is so commonly 

 heard in the higher portions of the Adirondacks as well as the Catskills, 

 it escapes observation on account of its shy, secretive habits. The song 

 resembles considerably that of the Veery, having the same ringing, flutelike 

 quality, but is slightly more interrupted than the Veery's performance. 

 Howell describes the quality as of a " fine, high-pitched reed. Unlike the 

 Olive-backed thrush, it does not change its pitch perceptibly. The syllables 

 wee-a, wee-a, wee-a, chi-chi-wee, the opening notes wee-a are open and flow- 

 ing, followed by two staccato notes; the closing note resembling the open 

 one is without special emphasis. The last three notes taken together form 

 the characteristic portion of the song and are frequently given by them- 

 selves without the prelude." Besides its song, this thrush has a call, very 

 similar to the whistled phew of the Veery, and a pink resembling that of 

 the Olive-backed thrush. 



The nest is like that of the Olive-backed thrush and is placed in low 

 bushes or trees only a few feet from the ground. The eggs are greenish 

 blue, spotted and speckled with reddish brown and cinnamon brown but 



