THE THICK-BILLED REDWING. 



21 



No. 8. 



THICK-BILLED REDWING. 



A. O. U. No. 498d. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis Ridgw. 



Synonym. — Northern Ri;d\ving. 



Description. — "Similar to A. p. phoeniceus (preceding species), but de- 

 cidedly larger and with the bill usually relatively much shorter and thicker" 

 (Ridgw.). Adult female averaging paler than A. phoeniceus. Adult male, 

 length, av. 8.79 (223.1) ; wing 4.96 (126.) ; tail 3.86 (98.) ; culmen .92 (23.3) ; 

 depth of bill at base .53 (13.5). Adult female, av. length 7.33 (186.2); wing 

 4-iS (105.5); tail 3.08 (78.1); culmen .75 (19.1); depth of bill at base .46 

 (11.8). 



Nest and Eggs.— Not distinguishable from those of A. phoeniceus. Does 

 not breed in Ohio. 



General Range. — "Central North America, breeding northward; in migra- 

 tions from Manitoba south to Illinois, Indian Territory, and Western Texas, 

 westward to and including the Rocky Mountains, and south to Arizona and 

 Chihuahua" (A. O. U.). Also east at least to Ohio, Kentucky (Mason county), 

 etc. 



Range in Ohio. — Probably not uncommon during migrations in early spring 

 and late fall. Sparingly resident in winter in south-middle and southern portions 

 of state. 



A singularly large and handsome male seen a few miles west of Columbus, 

 while in company with Professor Lynds Jones, on December First last, aroused 

 me to the probable presence of winter stragglers of Mr. Ridgway's newly 

 elaborated subspecies, A. p. fortis. A careful examination of several of the 

 large collections affords material which supports the conclusion indifferently 

 well ; but fuller study is necessary to prove that the larger-billed variety is hab- 

 itually present in winter, or to determine whether all the winter specimens of 

 Redwing belong to this form. It seemed to me also last spring that certain 

 differences of voice and note obtain between the local and migrant birds, — -the 

 kongkeree call of the latter being hoarser and less finished, and their clack 

 note of scolding both stronger and more husky. But one cannot afford to be 

 dogmatic on such points just at present. 



