THE BIRD BOOK 



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508. Bullock's Oriole. Icterus huUocld. 



Range. — North America, west of the Plains 

 and J;roui Britisli Columhia southward, winter- 

 ing in Mexico/ 



This liandsome species 



^ is as al)undant in tlie west 



as the Baltimore Oriole is 

 in the east, and breeds 

 throughout its United 

 States range. Tlieir nests 

 are similarly made and in 

 similar locations, and the 

 eggs are hardly distin- 

 guishable troin those ol the preceding, but the 

 ground color is generally o( a pale bluish white 

 tint and the markings are usually finer, the 

 lines running around the eggs and often mak- 

 ing a very handsome wreatli about the large 

 end. Size of eggs, .94 x .6:i. 



lUi 



-ill Militr 



.'Of). RrsTY Br.ACKiiiiii). Kiiphairiis i-arolinns. 



Range. — North America ea.st of the Plains, breeding from northern New Eng 

 land and tlie Adirondacks northward: winters in southern United States. 



But few of these birds breed within our borders, tlie ma- 

 jority of them passing on to the interior of Canada. They 

 generally nest in pairs, or at the most three or four pairs 

 in a locality, building their large substantial nests of moss, 

 twigs and grass, lined witli fine green grass; this structure 

 is situated in bushes or low trees in swampy places and at 

 from 3 to 20 feet from the ground. The eggs are laid in 

 May or June; they vary from three to five in number, of a 

 pale bluish green color, spotted, blotched and clouded with 

 shades of brown and gray. Size .96 x .71. 



Range. — North America west of the Plains, and from British Columbia and 

 Saskatcliewan southward. 



■ 10. Bunwioit's Blackbird. Ejiplitigns fi/aiioccplialiis. 



This western representative of the preceding is of about 

 the same size (10 inches long), Ijut differs in Iiiiving a 

 purplish head and greenish black body. They nest abund 

 antly throughout their range either in bushes or trees at 

 low elevations or upon the ground; the nests are made of 

 sticks, rootlets and grasses, lined with finer grass and 

 moss, and the eggs, which are very variable, are dull 

 whitisli, clouded and blotched with brownish and streak- 

 ed witli blackish. Size I.IW x .75. 



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