THE WAY TO STUDY BIRDS 



Description: Blackish, with various iri- 

 descent hues on the breast, head and back. 



Field-marks: Long tail and iridescent re- 

 flections. 



Size and Shape: Length 13 inches. Tail 

 long. 



Call: A guttural and rasping call, besides 

 numerous squeaking notes. 



Seasonal Abundance: One of the first sum- 

 mer residents to arrive, often appearing in 

 February. Locally abundant, tho in a few 

 localities they are almost absent. Have ex- 

 tended their local range greatly within the last 

 few years. 



Remarks: Very noisy and generally seen 

 in flocks, even during the breeding season. 

 There are two species of Crackles but they are 

 similar in appearance and it requires an expert 

 to detect their differences in the field. 



6. PHCEBE 



Haunts: Near dwellings or old bridges, in 

 the beams or stones of which the nest is 

 placed. 



Description: Olive-brown above, blackish 

 on the crown; grayish-white on the under parts, 

 often with a yellowish shading. 



Field-marks : A frequent flip of the tail and 

 a blackish crown. 



Size and Shape: Length 7 inches. Bill 

 thin. 



Call: ' A thickly uttered and labial "Phe-be." 

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