BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 151 



Savannah sparrow, grass pattern 

 Least bittern, reed pattern 

 Woodcock, dead leaf pattern 

 Ruffed grouse, dead leaf pattern 

 Young gulls, rock pattern 

 Screech owl, bark pattern 

 Young killdeer, sand and gravel pattern 

 Nighthawk, ground pattern 



c Banner marks, or flash colors 



Another principle of protective coloration is what has been 

 called "flash colors," or "banner marks," consisting of bright 

 conspicuous markings which the bird can conceal at will. 

 Ordinarily, like the white rump or white outer tail feathers of 

 some birds, they are conspicuous in flight but out of sight when 

 the bird is at rest. They serve in a protective way in this 

 manner: the eye of the pursuing enemy is attracted by the most 

 conspicuous mark and pursues it. When of a sudden the bird 

 drops to the ground, the eye through the persistence of vision 

 continues to follow in the direction the bird was going long 

 enough to allow the bird to slink off and disappear. 



Meadowlark, white tail feather Nu Mf 



Gallinule, white flanks and under tail coverts Nu GcF 

 Nuthatch, black and white markings Nu NuW9 



d Ruptive markings 



Ruptive marks are likewise conspicuous in themselves but 

 serve as a protective device. They consist of conspicuous mark- 

 ings usually black and white, closely opposed: such as a white 

 ring around the neck, a black band across a white breast, etc. 

 The sharp contrasts serve to destroy the continuity of outline, 

 cut the bird into several pieces and make it appear unbirdlike. 



Killdeer, white ring Nu Ke2 



Kingfisher, white ring Nu KiB7 



Pheasant, white ring Nu PjR 



Teal, white bar Nu TeG 



e Mimicry 



The preceding principles apply to coloration alone. If at the 

 same time there occurs a modification of the shape of the bird 

 either by means of crests or "horns" or merely the position or 

 attitude assumed by the bird, the effect is called mimicry. Thus 

 when a gray screech owl compresses its feathers and raises its 

 ear tufts, it simulates in shape a broken stub and its coloration 



