186 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:5— May, 1917 



tail square ; wings long and pointed, 3 . 7 5 or over, third primary the 

 longest, the first very short, less than one inch in length." 



Range. — The bluebird breeds thruout eastern United States and 

 northward into Canada; the robin breeds from the central states 

 northward into Canada. The wood thrush breeds in che southern 

 and eastern states up to the northern tier of states. The Wilson's, 

 hermit, olive-backed, and Bicknell's thrushes breed in the northern 

 states and in Canada. The gray-cheeked thrush breeds in 

 northern Canada. The willow thrush is found in western North 

 America, coming eastward in migration to Indiana and Illinois, and 

 is found nesting in Minnesota. 



Nesting Habits. — The thrushes show a great variation in their 

 nesting habits. The robin, bluebird, and wood thrush have 

 adapted themselves to man's presence and nest near human 

 habitations. The bluebird nests in cavities and frequently occu- 

 pies nesting boxes provided for it, while the robin sometimes 

 occupies the open type of nesting box. 



The hermit and Wilson's thrushes nest on or near the ground; 

 the gray-cheeked and olive-backed thrushes nest in low trees or 

 bushes; the wood thrush generally places its nest in small trees 

 about 8 or 10 feet up; the robin locates its nest in a great variety 

 of situations, but chiefly in trees from 5 to 25 feet up. 



The robin and wood thrush use mud in the construction of their 

 nest. The eggs of all the thrushes are bluish. The bluebird and 

 robin generally rear two broods, while the other thrushes rear 

 only one brood. 



Songs. — The first place among bird songsters is quite universally 

 given to the thrushes. There is a ringing, resonant quality about 

 their notes that makes them the most pleasing sounds in nature. 

 Some students give first place to the wood thrush, while others give 

 it to the hermit thrush. The song of the wood thrush is more 

 widely known and appreciated because it nests near human habita- 

 tions and so is more often heard. One man records that he has 

 heard over 70 different songs of the wood thrush. It usually sings 

 near the sunset hour as well as in the morning. As the season 

 progresses the wood thrush continues to sing after most of the 

 other birds have closed their song season, thus making it one of the 

 conspicuous bird notes during the early summer. 



Economic Status. — The thrushes are a valuable insectivorous 





