OUR WINTER BIRDS I55 



country are likely to be better feeding grounds for this small 



hawk. 



Screech Owl 



Otus asio 



There was a total of 14 records for the Screech Owl in eight 

 winters, and seven records for each division of four years. The 

 probability is that these figures do not show the actual distribu- 

 tion of the species; for the Screech Owl, besides being nocturnal 

 in its activities, does not often utter its note in winter. 



Cardinal 

 Cardinali s virginianus 



The Cardinal was recorded seven times in three winters, and 

 not found in five other winters. Always very locally distributed, 

 this species is more difficult to see in winter than at any other 

 season of the year; for then the bird is seldom heard to whistle, 

 and it does not venture far from its feeding grounds. 



Hairy Woodpecker 



Drypbates villosus 



The Hairy Woodpecker is one of our rarest winter species — 

 five records in eight years. Out of these eight years, the species 

 did not appear for five winters. The individuals that were seen 

 must have wandered away from their usual habitat, the deep woods. 

 The note of this species, which is louder and sharper than that of 

 the Downy Woodpecker, easily distinguishes it from the smaller 

 species. The whirring sound made by the wings is another way of 

 recognizing this woodpecker. 



Evening Grosbeak 



Hesperiphona vespertina 



This species was recorded only in one winter, 1910-11. There 

 were two records in December and one in January. A small flock 

 was seen each time, and the birds were feeding on the seeds of box- 

 elder trees. I have not heard of any one observing this Grosbeak 

 since the winter of 1910-11 in our vicinity. If any of my readers 

 should know that records have been made of the Evening Grosbeak 

 in northern Indiana, within the last seven years, I should be 

 grateful to hear about them. 



