THE BIRDS OF FLOYD COUNTY, IOWA. 235 
average number during winter, according to Webster, is about 
1000 birds, or somewhat less. 
121. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.) Bobolink. Common 
migrant and summer resident. My arrival dates range 
between April 29 and May 8, most of the birds arriving in 
mid-May. The nests are placed in grassy meadows and 
slightly used pastures; they are common in the Oak Park 
“addition” to Charles City, as may be seen by referring to 
the map of that region. Eggs are laid about the first week 
of June. Departure takes place in mid-September. 
122. Molothrus ater ater (Bodd.) Cowbird. The Cowbird 
is an abundant summer resident throughout the county, 
arriving in late March (earliest March 25, 1917) to middle 
April, and remaining until the latter part of October, with 
an occasional straggler holding over into the first week of 
November. 
The parasitic habits of this bird are notorious, and the 
slight objection of the foster parents rather remarkable. 
- I have seen young Cowbirds in the nests of Warblers, Vireos, 
and even Goldfinches. I have two nests, one that of a Yellow 
Warbler, the other that of a Goldfinch, in which intruded Cow- 
bird eggs have been covered over, and the nest literally made 
into a two-story affair. Both of these nests secured in Wild- 
wood Park in 1914. 
123. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.) Yellow- 
headed Blackbird. The Yellow-headed Blackbird occurs in 
Floyd and adjoining counties only as a straggler, and a rare 
one at that. In most cases the records are for migrating 
birds, but in the summer of 1914 one was seen at Clear Lake. 
In the spring of 1913 H. C. Brown and I saw one specimen at 
Charles City. Webster states that in the 80’s the species 
irregularly nested near Rockford and in the sloughs near 
Rudd. 
124. Angelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus (Linn.) Red- 
winged * Blackbird. This Blackbird is a common or abundant 
* Dr. Stevens Comments: 
“TY think you are correct in calling it phoeniceus, since that is the 
_only thing that has been authorized by the A. O. U. Check-list. Of 
course if you desired to recognize the more recent proposals for sub- 
