Harris— Birds of the Kansas City Region. 283 



The Magpie has become rare of late years in its habitat in the 

 northwest, but an occasional straggler may still find its way down 

 the Missouri Valley during severe winters. 



Ctanocitta cristata ceistata (Linn.). Blue Jay. 



Very common summer resident; not uncommon winter resident. 



Flocks of migrating Jays move through this district on their 

 northward flight from the 15th of April to the 5th of May and 

 on the southward journey during the first half of October. A 

 route much used by these migrants is along the Missouri bluffs 

 and lowlands. 



During some winters Jays are to be found in numbers, even 

 in the city, but during others are very scarce. During the rather 

 severe VTinter of 1916-1917, few Jays were to be found anywhere 

 but in Sowpe Park. 



Jays nest early in May and more than one brood is raised. 



Subfamily Corvinae. Crows. 



CoEVXTS COEAX siNUATUs Wagler. Raven. 

 Former resident. 



In the late seventies the Eaven nested in the rocky bluffs over- 

 looking the Missouri River in this county. It was formerly com- 

 mon, but has become extinct in this part of the country. A few 

 are still said to breed in this state in the Ozarks. 



COEVUS BKACHTEHYNCHOS BEACHTrEHTNCHOS Brehm. CrOW. 

 Common resident and abundant migrant. 



Crows are to be found everywhere in the county, but are most 

 abundant in the Missouri Valley, where they occur in the great- 

 est numbers in winter. There is always a large winter roost 

 somewhere in the vicinity of the Big Eddy or the mouth of Sugar 

 Creek or the Blue River, usually on the Clay County side. Great 

 numbers nest in April in the bottom timber as well as in Swope 

 Park and other heavily wooded places over the entire county. 



NuciFKAGA COLUMBIANA ( Wilsou) . Clarke's Nutcracker. 

 Accidental visitant. 



On October 28, 1894, a specimen of this bird was taken near 

 the city by Bryant. The bird was far off its range and is to be 



