Cornell University Library 

 QL 691.C5M69 



Common birds of the Yangtze delta 



3 1924 008 675 070 



COMMON BIRDS OF THE 

 YANGTZE DELTA. 



Nearly four hundred species of birds have been found 

 in the lower Yangtze valley, from Hankow to Shanghai. 

 A large number of these pass only in migration and are rarely 

 seen. For the Yangtze Delta section, from Chinkiang to 

 Shanghai and the coast, the number must be further curtailed 

 to about three hundred; and of this number only those most 

 commonly met with are noted here. 



These everyday birds can be easily recognized once their 

 distinctive marks are known, and a speaking acquaintance 

 with them will help to brighten many days at home or afield. 



The crow family is the most obtrusive and one of the 

 most commonly met with. There are five species to be 

 seen. Three are solid black and two black and white. 



The largest of the solid black crows is the Indian 

 jungle crow {Corvus macrorhynchtts) or "big-bill" as his 

 scientific name means. This bird remains the whole year 

 mostly solitary or in pairs, never in large flocks. He is solid 

 purplish black with a heavily arched black bill, its base fully 

 covered with hairy feathers. The nests are built singly, 

 high up in large trees. He is the most fearless of the family 

 and will freely help himself to any tasty morsel left exposed 

 around a back porch or window. The common Chinese 

 name for the whole crow family is lao-o, but this bird is 

 sometimes distinguished as ou-o, or black crow. . 



The largest of the black and white crows is the collared 

 crow {Corvus torquatus) or parson crow, so named be- 

 cause of the white upper breast and band around the neck, 

 vfery much like the proverbial parson's collar and tie. The 

 Chinese call him bah-deu-ching lao-o The parson crow 

 remains throughout the year and differs in habits from the 

 big-bill crow chiefly in being more wary and retiring. 



The most numerous of all the crows is the Eastern 

 Rook (Corvus pastinator). The rook is also solid black, 

 but with a greenish rather than a purplish sheen as in the 

 big-billed crow. These three crows are approximately the 

 same size, the rook being if anything slightly smaller than 

 the other two. The rook is most readily distinguished by 

 his narrow straight conical bill, the base of which in mature 

 birds is bare of feathers, and covered with a white scurfy 



