A FIELD KEY TO OUR COMMON LAND BIRDS.* 



When you have seen a bird with sufficient definite- 

 ness to describe its color, form, and actions, reference 

 to the following key will often prove a short cut to its 

 identity. This key is based only on adult males, who, 

 because of their song, often brighter colors, and 

 greater activity, are far more frequently observed than 

 the females. But, knowing the male, you will rarely, 

 during the nesting season, be at loss to recognize his 

 mate. 



The use of the key may be illustrated by the follow- 

 ing example: Let us imagine that you see a Chipping 

 Sparrow feeding about your doorstep. You note his 

 size, chestnut cap bordered by white, black bill, 

 brownish, streaked back, and grayish white, un- 

 marked under parts. Turning now to the key, you 

 will see that by exclusion the bird belongs in " Sec- 

 tion V " of the " Third Group," and that it should be 

 placed in subsection " I " of this section, which in- 

 cludes birds having the " under parts white or whitish, 

 all one color, without streaks or spots." You have 

 now two subdivisions to choose from " A. Back 



* From " Bird-life," by Frank M. Chapman. By per- 

 mission of D. Appleton & Co. 



