UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
FARMERS’ 
BULLETIN 
Wasnineton, D. C. 755 OctoBeR 26, 1916 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw, Chief. 
COMMON BIRDS OF SOUTHEASTERN UNITED 
STATES IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. 
By F. E. L. Beau, W. L. McAres, and E. R. Katmpacy, 
Assistant Biologists. 
CONTENTS. 
Page Page 
LAI CUO. eae ae eee ies as Me birdittecoceyc eb eter cie sae ae 23 
ROUSE WOM Oe ier i. oth Menten s nen SSeet 5y|\ Carolina chickadee.:j217...---.+++---cseece03 24 
(Ciena Tah ee Tale Rutbedcbitin OUSGs er Meee eos acc oe 26 
MUO STAR TG) ogee mete ons Se We ei 9 | “Purple martin. 0 een jo. ace = ee 28 
ERO WENT GRMN na eee ese ce otect ces 11 | Scissor-tailed flycatche 29 
Cardinal... ... Se cee aoe eae 13 | Red-cockaded woodpecker 31 
CHRENY, TRO 07 2. a Lae Chuck=wills-widoweas see ccs - ccccse cco 32 
eae DUGG. 2 oe keene ce cece ee eee TS SNichittisiwikts sean keke ae eee 33 
WB IOMC TOW obs ne Sek ese oad 17 | Yellow-billed cuckoo...:....-...------------ 34 
BIOTEC e- o355 ee IBEW SB Ob =whtten ss oan eke ae hei ih cos ome 36 
ICRA OWIGRIORM ote ncecce cle ce eee ete e 19. | Swallow-tailed kite.......:......5.----ce2e005 37 
Boat-tailed grackle...............-..--.----- Qoeemiriceyibuzcardenta stn ees cts Osco: ecmesans 37 
INTRODUCTION. 
By W. L. McATEE. 
In the Southeastern States, as restricted for the purposes of this 
bulletin (fig. 1), there occur at some season of the year more than 
460 species of birds. Of these, about 280 are common, and the 
number includes some of the handsomest birds of the United States, 
as the scissor-tailed flycatcher, the painted bunting, and the cardinal; 
besides some of the most pleasing songsters, as the last-named species, 
the mockingbird, the brown thrasher, and the Carolina wren. The 
general habits, and particularly the economic value, of 23 of the best- 
known species are treated in the following pages. 
The food habits of southeastern birds are of particular interest on 
account of the prevalence in this section of the country of a number 
of the worst insect enemies of agriculture, many of which are eagerly 
1 For alist of department publications relating to the food of certain other birds inhabiting this same 
area, see last page of this bulletin. 
Norr.—The food habits and relation to agriculture of 23 species of birds common in the Southeastern 
States are described; of general interest but especially applicable to the section covered. 
§0402°—Bull. 755—16—1 
