12 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



in this posture, the bird rotates its head so as always to face the 

 intruder and sways its head and neck with the reeds blown by 

 the breeze. 



Blackbird, Red-winged {Agelams phceniceus phcrniceus) 



This bird is a little smaller than the robin. It is common 

 throughout the State during the entire summer. In the spring 

 and fall it migrates in flocks of 30 to 300. It is a sociable bird 

 and gathers in larger numbers, particularly in the fall, in its 

 favorite haunts. It is friendly vi'ith birds of other species. 



^ 9.5-9.75; $ 7.5-8 



Call no. 

 Nu Bl Adult Male, Profile. Geneseo. (September 1914) Bailey • 



The male is distinguished by its bright scarlet lesser wing- 

 coverts edged with yellow. Note a second bird, a female, in the 

 background, out of focus. 



Nu Bll Adult Female on Bent Sapling near Nest, Front View. 

 Geneseo. (May 1910) Bailey 



The female differs decidedly in color and size from the male. 

 How? Fler spotted breast and lack of red shoulders serve to 

 distinguish her at a distance. The limb on which the bird has 

 perched is close to her nest. The camera is over the nest. The 

 alarm of the bird, as shown by her pose, is due to the camera. 

 When the nest is approached, she always comes nearer to the 

 intruder and risks herself in defense of her young. 



Nu B12 Low Nesting Site in Rank Herbage 



Blackbirds nest in what is known as the herb stratum, that is, 

 in tussocks of grass or flags or among tangles of ferns and weeds 

 or in bushes occurring in all the zones of marsh vegetation but 

 preferring cat-tails. Note the location and structure of nests in 

 other pictures. Nests vary considerably as to location, but they 

 are seldom more than four or five feet from the ground, com- 

 monly nearer. This nest is in the alders fringing a marsh. 



Nu B122 Pair of Adults on Cat-tails. Renwick marsh, near Ithaca 



Allen 



This picture shows characteristic poses of the birds and also 



indicates the kind of a place where they are commonly found. 



They specially like reeds and low bushes on the margin of ponds 



and marshy streams. Which is the male? 



