TrlE UOLOGIST. 



55 



Birds Who Sing on the Wiog- 

 By Dk. Mokris Gibbs. 



Tlie species of birds which sing when 

 dying are very few. Of course if we 

 erubrace all birds which utter a sound 

 on the wing, as singing birds, we shall 

 have a lai'ge number on our list. And 

 strictly speaking, as songs are the ex- 

 pressions of the feelings, sentiments, if 

 we wish to so call them of the birds, 

 then the vocal efforts of all species, es- 

 pecially during spring are songs. Ad- 

 mitting this, then there are ove'' one 

 hundred species of Michigan birds 

 which sing as they tly to my knowledge. 



All of the Hawks and other rapacious 

 birds that I am familiar with utter their 

 discordant and defiant screams upon 

 the wing, the Red-shouldered, Marsh 

 and Cooper's Hawks are especially 

 noisy in season. I have also heard the 

 Screech Owl complaining when on the 

 wing, and the Barred Owl occasionally 

 flies as it gives out its mysterious yet 

 (to ray ears) pleasing notes. All of the 

 Herons so far as I know utter their gut- 

 teral notes when on the wing, although 

 the more difficult effort of the American 

 Bittern is not uttered flying. 



The smaller waders give utterance as 

 they fly, and most Ducks have been 

 heard, while the Geese are notorious 

 gobblers during migrations. Sandhill 

 Cranes issue their notes as they sail, 

 sometimes out of sight. Nighthaw^ks 

 make their only efforts while on the 

 wing, as we would expect in a species 

 which eai'ns its living while flying. Its 

 near relative the Whii^-poor-will some- 

 times flies singing through the woods in 

 spring. 



The Wf)odpeckers are a noisy set, and 

 without an exception issue the clatter 

 which answers in the nature of a refrain 

 on the wing. All hunters have heard 

 the scape of the Wilson's Snipe, the 

 single song note of the flyinif Wood- 

 cock and the agreeable efforts of the 



KiUdeer, Spotted Sandpiper and the Up- 

 land Plover and many others of the 

 small waders. 



In the Rasores, however, we have a 

 silent list of birds when on the wing, 

 although the Mourning Dove and Bob- 

 white and some others are at least 

 noisy at times on the perch. 



According to classiflcatiou the true 

 siiigers are confined within the divis- 

 ion Oscines, while all others are consid- 

 ered non-musical. According to this 

 system constructed from anatomical re- 

 lations, the sweet refrain of the Wood 

 Pewee caimot be called a song, as it be- 

 longs to the screamers. 



Among the birds which are acknowl- 

 edged singers the following six musi- 

 cal species are presented as birds which 

 I have heard sing while flying. The 

 Bobolink is the acknowledged leader in 

 flight song, in fact his rollicking, jing- 

 ling medley is about equal in excel- 

 lence with any bird with which I am 

 acquainted. The common Bluebird is 

 a charming exponent of flight singing. 

 It occasionally flutters upwai'd and 

 pours forth its soft Avarble in a most 

 enchanting manner just after arriving 

 from the south. 



The Warbling Vireo, rarely, in a 

 transport of bliss, during the mating 

 season, launches into the air while yet 

 singing, and apparently forgetful of 

 custom, strives to make us, mundane 

 creatures, as happy as its happy self. 

 This agreeable songster is one of my 

 favorites, and no one who is a lover of 

 bird melody can remain indifferent to 

 its ecstatic warblings. 



In May and June we sometimes hear 

 the loud gushing song of the Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak as the gaudy male 

 flits through the foliage near his pros- 

 pective home. Even with this undigni- 

 fled flyer, who generally progresses by 

 undulating vigorous dashes, we can de- 

 tect a hesitating flutter when the bird 

 sings on the wing. 



Another bird that sometimes sings on 



