CHAPTER VIIL 

 A FIELD KEY TO OUR COMMON LAND BIRDS. 



WHEN you have seen a bird with sufficient definite- 

 ness to describe its color, form, and actions, reference to 

 the following key will often prove a short cut to its 

 identity. This key is based only on adult males, who, 

 because of their song, often brighter colors, and greater 

 activity, are far more frequently observed than the 

 females. But, knowing the male, you will rarely, during 

 the nesting season, be at loss to recognize his mate. 



In order to simplify the key, the water birds, Hawks, 

 and Owls are omitted, in the belief that they will be 

 more readily identified by reference to the plates. 



The use of the key may be illustrated by the follow- 

 ing example: Let us imagine that you see a Chipping 

 Sparrow (Plate XLY) feeding about your doorstep. 

 You note his size, chestnut cap bordered by white, black 

 bill, brownish, streaked back, and grayish white, un- 

 marked under parts. Turning now to the key, you will 

 see that by exclusion the bird belongs in " Section Y " 

 of the " Third Group," and that it should be placed in 

 subsection " 1 " of this section, which includes birds hav- 

 ing the " under parts white or whitish, all one color, with- 

 out streaks or spots." You have now two subdivisions to 

 choose from "A. Back without streaks or spots," and 

 " B. Back brownish, streaked." Your bird falls under 

 " B," where again you have two subdivisions, " a. Crown 

 rufous or chestnut, without streaks," and " J. Crown not 

 rufous or chestnut." Your bird should be referred to 

 " &," where you will at once find it described under " a 1 " 

 as the Chipping Sparrow. 



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