Our Common Birds and How to Know Them 



The largest family of North American birds is the Fringillidce, and comprises Finches, 

 Buntings, Sparrows, Linnets, Crossbills, Grosbeaks, etc. The observer will meet numbers 

 of these and will doubtless at first find it difficult to identify many of them. The next 

 largest family that he will have to examine is the Mniotiltidce or Wood-warblers, a family 

 perhaps still more difficult of identification, since they are mostly small, shy birds, im- 

 patient of close inspection and songsters of small ability. Dr. Coues calculates that these 

 two families constitute about one-fourth of the species inhabiting any one inland locality. 

 Flycatchers and Vireos are also usually abundant and are likewise not the easiest of birds 

 to identify. But, with few exceptions, and referring always to the males only, the birds 

 of the remaining families can be easily learned. They present such notable features of 

 plumage, song or habits that they need oly to be seen or heard to make identification 

 certain. 



