Harris Birds of the Kansas City Region. 289 



Breeding birds have been seen near Dodson, Grandview and 

 further west and south. They formerly nested in the neighbor- 

 hood of Swope Park, but none have visited that district in sev- 

 eral years with the exception of one pair that raised a brood 

 near 41st and Benton Boulevard during the summer of 1917. 



Occasionally Meadowlark songs are heard that are interme- 

 diate between the two forms. 



ICTERUS SPURIUS (Linn.). Orchard Oriole. 

 Common summer resident. 



The first Orchard Orioles may be looked for between the 25th 

 and 30th of April. They seldom fail to arrive some time during 

 these five days. The only two known earlier dates are April 22, 

 1897 (Tindall), and April 19, 1909 (Smithson). 



'Great numbers of migrants are often seen resting in the wil- 

 low thickets in the Missouri bottoms during the first eight or 

 ten days of May. They start south late in August and after 

 about ten days only stragglers are seen. 



The Orchard Oriole may be found in all parts of the county 

 and nests freely within the city in favorable districts. Its four 

 to six eggs are laid in late May or early June. 



ICTERUS GALBULA (Linn.). Baltimore Oriole. 

 Common summer resident. 



The Baltimore Oriole usually arrives a few days earlier than 

 the Orchard Oriole and is perhaps more numerous in the city, 

 at least. Its wonderful nest is suspended from the overhanging 

 extremities of the limbs of shade trees, preferably elms, in all 

 residence districts. 



It is about equally common in the outlying country and often 

 builds there in sycamore and cottonwood trees. The four or 

 five eggs are laid in May. 



During the period of moult in late July and early August 

 the Orioles are silent and secretive and are seldom seen. Prior 

 to their departure for the south they have another period of 

 song. 



EUPHAGUS CAROLINUS (Muller). Rusty Blackbird. 

 Not uncommon migrant; rare winter resident. 



The first Rusty Blackbirds arrive on their journey to the 

 northern breeding grounds sometimes as early as the third week 



