Red-winged Blackbird 97 



Red-winged Blackbird. — Agelaius phceniceus. 9.50 

 Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Entire bird black, save a scarlet patch, edged 

 with buff and white,' at the bend of the wing. 



The cong-a-ree of the Red-wing is heard hereabouts along 

 the middle of April, but it is not until the latter part of May, 

 or early in June, when the long lush grass and cattails have 

 grown rank in marshes and along the edges of ponds, that 

 the nests are built. These are neatly woven, deep, grassy 

 baskets, generally set in a bush low over the water, or sunk 

 in the long grass of a bog. When the first brood has taken 

 to wing a second nest is built about die first of July. 

 Red-wings are extremely sociable, and almost always live 

 together in colonies. In the Fall they gather into flocks, and, 

 after wheeling about in gay companies for a short time, depart 

 for more salubrious climes. The black plumage and bright 

 red shoulder-straps of die male, and die plain brown hues of 

 the female are familiar to every one who has frequented 

 country places. 



CoWBiRD. — Mololhrus ater. 7.92 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Entire upper parts warm, dark brown; rest of 

 plumage black, showing greenish and bluish reflections 

 in strong light. 



This is the true parasite of birdland, in that it never makes 

 a nest, the eggs being deposited in the nests of other birds. 



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