BRONZED AND PURPLE GRACKLES 



By T. GILBERT PEARSON 



Cte J^attonal ;SU£(sioctatton of ;3Dubu<)on ^octettes; 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 103 



Over large portions of the United States the 'Crow Blackbird' is well 

 known to all observers of nature. Throughout its range, with the exception 

 of small sections in the South, it is the largest of the Blackbirds, attaining a 

 length in some cases of 13^ inches. 



Crackles are usually found in companies, even in the breeding season. 

 Through the northern states they are among the earliest migrants to arrive in 

 spring, soon taking up residence in the vicinity where they expect to remain 

 until the young have been raised. They are equally at home in the rural 



BRONZED (iRACRLE 



districts, in small towns, or in cities. Their nests are generally placed in coni- 

 ferous trees, and the groves selected may be in such situations as by a pond 

 on the back of some farm, on a college campus, or in a city park. With equal 

 readiness they frequent the open fields or come to well-trimmed lawns. They 

 are common in Boston Common and on the open places of Central Park, 

 New York City. 



The nest is a bulky structure made of twigs, feathers, grass, and weeds, or 

 other material easily obtainable. It is daubed with mud and lined with fine 

 grasses. In common with most of the family to which the Crackle belongs, 



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