PASSERES — QUISCALID^ — ICTERUS. 141 



THE RED-WINGED ORIOLE. 



Icterus phceniceus. 



PLATE XXII. FIG. 47 (Male). 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Oriolut p hceniceus, Linnasus, p. 161. Red-winged Oriole, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 225. 



Sturniu predatorius. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 30, pi. 30, fig. 1 and 2. 



Agdaius phtrniceus. Vikillot, Ency. Methodique, Vol. 2, p. 714. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 52. 



Audubon, fol. pi. 42. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 280. Nuttall, Man. Orn. 



Vol. 1, p. 1G9. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 162. Peabodt, Birds of Mass. p. 282. 



Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 4. p. 31, pi. 216. 

 Red^winged Starling, Agelaius plteniceus. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 141. 



Characteristics. Black : lesser wing-coverts red. Young and autumnal male, feathers 

 edged with ferruginous. Female, striate with brown and whitish ; lesser 

 wing-coverts blackish tipped with white, or rufous and sometimes 

 spotted with black and red. 



Description. Bill conic, straight ; the ridge of the tipper mandible flattened and obso- 

 letely rugose ; the tip depressed, rounded. Second and third quills longest, equal. Tail 

 rounded, an inch and a half longer than the tips of the closed wings. Tongue slender, lacerated 

 at the tip. 



Color. Upper feathers often edged with bay, and the under tail-coverts tipped with white. 

 Female : a line over the eye whitish or reddish brown ; chin and throat cream-color. Young : 

 sides of the head pale yellowish brown. 



Length, 7-5-9-0. Alar spread, 10-0-14-0. 



The Red-winged Blackbird is equally well known in every part of the State under the 

 names of Swamp Blackbird and Corn-thief, and is regarded by the farmer with great aver- 

 sion ; but their beneficial acts in destroying grubs and insects, compensate in a great degree 

 for their known depredations. They appear in the southern district of this State in March 

 or the beginning of April, and leave us in November. Their eggs are light bluish, with 

 scattering brownish spots and streaks especially at the larger end. It breeds from Texas to 

 the Columbia river, and throughout the United States, and is found from Mexico to the 57th 

 degree of north latitude. 



