KEY TO BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES 111 



treetop Orioles, or the Blackbirds that frequent 

 short-cropped pasture land or mown fields, have 

 theirs unmodified. 



The Blackbirds and Bobolinks, like the Crows, 

 Swifts, and Swallows, are eminently social birds, 

 spending most of their time in flocks. 



Key to Nesting Plumage of Adult Male Black- 

 birds and Orioles mentioned in this Book. 



1. Small (length about 7 to 7^ inches). 

 2. Plumage mainly black and white ; under parts black ; 

 back black and white, with buffy patch on nape. Found 

 in meadows p. 103. BOBOLINK. 



2'. Plumage mainly black and orange, or black and chest- 

 nut. Head and throat black. 

 3. Rest of under parts yellow or orange. 



p. 56. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



3'. Rest of under parts chestnut. 



p. 61. ORCHARD ORIOLE. 



V. Large (length 8 to 13 inches). 



4. Plumage mainly brown and yellow back brownish ; 

 under parts yellow, with black crescent on breast ; 

 outer tail feathers white. Lives in meadows. 



p. 106. MEADOWLARK. 

 4'. Plumage mainly black. 



5. Shoulders with red epaulettes ; rest of plumage black. 

 Found in swamps and marshes. 



p. 96. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



5'. Shoulders without red epaulettes. 

 6. Head and neck brown ; rest of body glossy black. 

 Found in pastures with cattle . p. 98. COWBIRD. 



