ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 1 



A Catalogue of the Birds of Kalama- 

 zoo County, Michigan. 



BY DK. MOliUIS GIBES. — PAHT I. 



Kalamazoo County is embraced within 42° 5' 

 and 42° 25' north latitude, and 8° 20' and 8° 45' 

 west longitude. The general aspect of the land 

 is level, although ranges of hills are found in 

 many parts. The soil within the valley of the 

 Kalamazoo river is a dark sandy loam, while 

 heavy clay and sandy regions are found at manj' 

 points. The geographical or geological features 

 are in nowise unusual. !Many small streams, 

 draining at least twenty lakes, flow into the river, 

 or south into the St. Joseph. 



The valley of the Kalamazoo river is sunk be- 

 low the general level of the country to nearly one 

 hundred feet, while some of the higher elevations 

 are quite one hundred and fifly feel above the 

 river. 



The citj' of Kalamazoo, situated nearly in the 

 center of the county, is built upon an extensive 

 Burr Oak plain, while the surrounding hills are 

 covered with Hickory, White Oak, Black Oak, 

 Beech and Maple. The river bed is covered with 

 a growth of Black and White Ash, Sycamore, 

 Basswood and Elm. Formerly Whitewood and 

 Walnut were found plentifully. Numerous Tam- 

 arack swamps are fomid in the courses of the 

 smaller streams. 



Kalamazoo is situated about midway between 

 Chicago and Detroit, and about thirty-five miles 

 from Lake Michigan. The short description 

 given here may afford some idea as to the merits 

 of the county as a collecting section, and those 

 who have studied the topography of other coun- 

 ties may readily tell what the character of our 

 avian fauna is. 



The notes presented are principally the result 

 of my own efforts during the last eighteen years. 

 I am indebted, however, to B. F. Syke and F. H. 

 Chapin for valuable notes. 



The numbers in brackets are those of the 

 Smithsonian Check List. 



1. [1.] Hylocichln mustelina (Grael.) Baird. 

 Wood Thrush. — Abundant Spring and Summer 

 resident. Arrives from April 29 to May 4. Tlie 

 eggs are laid from May 15 to June 10. 



2. [2.] Hylocichla fuaeeseens (Steph.) Baird. 

 Wilson's Thrush ; Veery.— One of the last of the 

 family to make its appearance. Arrives from 

 May 1 to 10. A few remain to breed. Occasion- 

 ally lay five eggs ; usually four. 



3. [8.] Hyhcichla alicim. Baird. Gray-cheeked 

 Thrush.— Once taken in the county by Mr. Chapin. 



4. [4c^] Hylocichla ustulata stcainsont (Caban.) 

 Ridgw. Olive-backed Thrush. — A rather com- 

 mon migrant, still the rarest member of the fami- 

 ly here. Occasionally remain to breed. One nest 

 secured. Arrives in the early part of May. A 

 retiring bird and rarely seen. 



5. [5i.] Hylocichla unahixcir pnUii.ii (Cal).) 

 Ridgw. Hermit Thrush. — A common migrant. 

 Arrives from March 20 to April 10. A great 

 loiterer. Departs as late as Nov. 1, occasionally. 

 Not known to breed. 



7. [7.] Mcrulii mvjriitorit (Linn.) S\v. iV Rich. 

 American Robin. — Our best known bird. Occa- 

 sionally found thronghout the year. 



7. [12.] Galeoscoptes Caroline nsis (Linn.) Cab. 

 C'atbird. — Abounds Spring and Summer. Breeds. 

 Arrives the last week of April or first of May. 

 Eggs laid from May 10 to 20. 



8. [13.] Harporhyuchtis rafnx (Linn.) Caban. 

 Brown Thrasher. — Arrives from April G to 20. 

 Departs about Sept. 20. Breeds abundantly. 



9. [22.] Sialia «V(fo'.f (Linn.) Haldem. Eastern 

 Bluebird.— The earliest recorded arrival is Feb. 

 8. Generally arrives from March 10 to 20. 

 Abundant Summer resident. Breeds. Departs in 

 November generally. Occasionally not till De- 

 cember. 



10. [27.] Poliaptila cwritlcfi (Linn ) Scl. Blue- 

 gray Gnatcatcher. — Earliest recorded arrival in 

 my notes is April 18. Begins building about May 

 10. Eggs usually laid about May 28 Abundant 

 in White Oak woods. 



11. [30.] liec/ulus caleiidiila (Linn.) Licht. Ru- 

 by-crowned Kinglet. — Generally arrive about 

 April 2 ; sometimes much earlier. Abundant mi- 

 grant. Depart usually in early November, but 

 occasionally in late November. 



12. [33.] Regiilus mtrapa (Licht) Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet. — Maj' remain in the county 

 during mild Winters. Frequently observed in 

 Februar}' in dense Tamarack swamps. Abundant 

 migrant. Departs in October or November. 



13. [36.] Lophnphanei bicolor (Linn.) Bp. Tuft- 

 ed Titmouse.— Observed in the count v b_v Mr. 

 Syke. 



14. [41.] Parns atricapillun (Linn.) Black- 

 capped Chickadee. — A resident. Breeds abun- 

 dantlj' from April 25 to June 15. Two broods 

 probably reared in a season. One nest found con- 

 taining eight eggs. Usual number six or seven. 



15. [51.] Sitta, cnroUnenm Gmel. White-bel- 

 lied Nuthatch. — An abundant resident, but most 

 common Spring and Fall. A few breed. Nest 

 placed often in the dead limb of a tall tree, or 

 again in a knot-hole in clapboard of house in the 

 city. 



