108 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



Meadowlark is not a "Lark," but a Starling. It was called a 

 "Lark" by the first settlers in New England because it reminded 

 them of the English Skylark. The Starlings are all weavers, 

 and while the Meadowlark builds its nest upon the ground in the 

 hay meadow, it carefully arches it over with dried grass woven 

 into a well shaped roof, and sometimes there is a runway two 

 feet long through the standing grass to the entrance. 



The general coloration of the Western Meadowlark is 

 paler than that of the Eastern, and the black crescent on its 

 breast is not so prominent. The yellow of the throat usually 

 extends up on the lower cheeks and the bars on the tail feathers 

 are more distinct. 



506. Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius.) 



In color the Orchard Oriole is chestnut where the Balti- 

 more is orange. It is slightly smaller and neither so beautiful 

 nor such a good weaver as the Baltimore. It builds a shallower 

 nest and lashes it to twigs and leaves after the fashion of Red- 

 wing's nest in the rushes. Indeed this Starling seems to stand 

 midway between Baltimore and Redwing in color, song notes, 

 and weaving ability. The female is olive yellow above and dull 

 yellow below, with black markings. The young of the first 

 year are like the female, but with a black throat. 



507. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula.) 



The Baltimore is the most expert weaver of the Starlings, 

 as well as the most beautiful in coloration and the most accom- 

 plished in song. His long pendant nest is placed in the high 

 tree top, where he is more frequently heard than seen. But with 

 his deep orange body, contrasting with his black head, wings and 

 middle tail feathers, it is more difficult for him to hide than for 

 his modest female with her dull yellow dress. The young males 

 of this Oriole resemble the female the first season. The second 

 season the yellow parts are nearly lemon color and deepen to 

 orange red with age. A summer resident east of the Missouri 

 River. 



508. Bullock's Oriole (Icterus buUocki.) 



Frequently seen nesting along the sparsely wooded creeks 

 west of the Missouri River, where it seems to take the place 



