66 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



once by the mark which its name indicates, viz.: 

 the black, velvety chin and throat, bordered by 

 a band of metallic violet. 

 Summer resident. 



THE RED- WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION : 



Male : All black, except shoulder-patch (which 

 is scarlet). 



Female : Streaked brownish and white. 



Length, 8.5 inches, more or less. 

 Found in nesting-time about bogs and marshes. 



The beauty of the " Red-wing " is recognized 

 by anyone who sees it ; and his musical song 

 quite naturally suggested to Emerson the line, 



"The red-wing flutes his O-ka-lee 1 " 



Yet, in spite of his beauty of color and sweet 

 song, to many farmers he is a detestable enemy. 

 When the farmer learns that seven-eighths of the 

 Red-wing's food is made up of weed-seeds or of 

 insects injurious to agriculture, he will, perhaps, 

 be willing to share his crop with the birds which 

 have helped him to raise it. 



PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. Male : Coal-black ; 

 shoulders, scarlet, bordered with a brownish-yellow band- 



