118 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



general appearance is brownish mixed with some white. She 

 may easily be taken for a large Sparrow. 



This splendid bird is now common in the southeastern 

 part of the State and rivals our best songsters in musical per- 

 formance. It is the only bird that feeds on potato bugs. A few 

 pairs of these summer residents in the garden will keep the po- 

 tato patch free from these pests. 



596. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Zamelodia melanocephala.) 



A rare summer resident in the western part of the State, 

 where it takes the place of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It pre- 

 fers the wooded creeks and ravines rather than the thick pine 

 woods. 



Head black; neck, rump and under parts light brown; 

 wings with white patches ; yellow patch on belly ; back streaked 

 with black and brown. 



597a. WESTERN BLUE GROSBEAK (Guiraca caerulea lazula.) 



Known to nest along the Missouri River as far north as 

 Pierre. The male is bright blue with wings grayish slate and 

 two chestnut bars. The female is grayish brown above and 

 lighter below. 



598. INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea.) 



This beautiful Bunting, whose every feather is indigo or 

 blackish, is about the size of a Canary. The female is brownish. 

 Like the Tanagers, they are not plentiful, but scattered sparingly 

 over their range. They love the edges of outlying groves, and 

 where available the male loves to perch on a telegraph wire 

 while singing. 



599. LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena.) 



Probably breeds in the western part of the State. A male 

 was seen along the Missouri River in July, 1915. 



About the size of the Indigo Bunting. Head, neck and 

 upper parts blue ; back mixed with black ; breast light brown ; 

 belly white; two white bars on the dull gray wings. 



604. DICKCISSEL (Spiza americana.) 



"Dickey", while suggesting a Sparrow, is marked not un- 





