Y6 PIKLD KEY TO COMMON BIRDS. 



It Bliould be borne in mind that living birds do not 

 look lis long as they really are. The measurement of 

 " length " is taken with the bird's neck and tail out- 

 stretched in a str'aight line. In life the tail may be raised 

 or drooped, while the neck is drawn in or curved, making 

 the bird look shorter than measurement shows it to be. 

 Eemember that the Kobin measures ten inches, the House 

 Sparrow six and one-fourth inches, and the Euby-throated 

 Humming-bird three and three-fourths inches in length, 

 and you will have a basis for comparison. 



FIRST GROUP. 



BIRDS THAT FEED ON THE WING FOR LONG INTERVALS OF TIME 

 WITHOUT PERCHING. 



{Su'allows, Swift, Niglithawk, Whip-poor-will.) 

 I. Size large, length over O'OO inches ; the spreail wings over 15'00 

 inches in extent ; generally seen only late in the afternoon or at 

 dusk. 



1. A bird of tlie air, liylng liigh, often over housetops in cities; a conspicu- 

 ous wliite spot in each win^r ; note, a loud, nasal peei)t ; Bometinies dives 

 eartliward with a booming si^und ; May to Oct. . Nigiitiiawe, page 144. 



2. Haunts, near the ground, not often observed while feeding ; call, given 

 from a rock, stump, or similar perch, wJui^-poor-will^ vigorously repeated ; 

 Apl. 25 to Oct Wnip-pooR-wiLL, page 14(3. 



II. Size smaller, length nnder O'OI) inches; the spread wings less than 

 15'OU inches in extent; may be seen at any time of the day. 



1. Plumage entirely blaclv. 



a. Length 5"50 inches; plumage sooty black; u.-ually nests in chimneys; 



Apl. 25 to Oct I'nnixKY Swift, page 146. 



h. Length S'OO inches; glossy, bluish black; nests in gourds or houses 



erected for its use ; Apl. 25 to Sept. . . . I^fRrcE ^Iartin, page 21il. 



2. Plumage not entirely bl.ick ; .\pl. to Oct. . Swalloivs, pages 214, 215. 



SECOND GROUP. 



CLIMBING AND CREEPING BIRDS. 



(yiifhafrfipx, Creeperx, Wood />er!x its.) 

 I. P)irds wilJioid stiffly pointed tail-feathers, that climb either up or 



down. 

 1. Length G'OO inches; back gray, cap black, checks anil under parts 

 white ; note, a nasal i/ank, yank\ a (Permanent resident. 



WniTK-BREASTED iSCTHATrn, page 250. 



