FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(597) Quiraca cserulea caerulea 



{Linn.) {Lat., cerulean). 



BLUE GROSBEAK. Ad. d" — 

 Plumage as shown by the upper bird. 

 Deep rich blue, brightest on the head 

 and rump; lores and chin black; feath- 

 ers on back with black centres; wings 

 and tail chiefly blackish with blue 

 edging of the feathers; lesser wing 

 coverts and tips of greater ones chest- 

 nut. Ad. 9 — Dull colored as shown 

 by the lower bird; brownish-black 

 above and lighter below. L,, 7.00; 

 W., 3.50; T., 2.75; B., .65. Nest — 

 Of weeds and grasses, in thickets or 

 bushes; four or five plain, unmarked 

 Ijluish eggs, .85 X .62. 



Range — Breeds from Md., south- 

 ern 111. and Mo. south to Fla. and 

 eastern Tex.; winters in Central 

 America. Accidental in Wis. and 

 New England. 



full song until July ana do not leave us until September. 

 The males arrive a few days before the females, announc- 

 ing their ad^'ent by beautiful carols of loud, clear, round 

 whistles which, while having a tone all their own, come near- 

 est to those uttered by the Baltimore Oriole. This Gros- 

 beak song is almost invariably preceded at an interval of a 

 second or more, by a single, sharp, distinctive chirp. It 

 comes as an announcement that he is about to sing and for 

 every one to be prepared to listen to him. 



Not only is this Grosbeak an excellent musician but he is 

 very handsomely arrayed in contrasty black and white, re- 

 lieved by a tie of beautiful rose color and a touch of the 

 same under each wing. When he flies, the patch of white 

 across the wing feathers makes a dazzling effect, almost as 

 though the wings were cut sharply across. His mate is very, 

 very different in plumage, almost like a large sparrow, hand- 

 somely striped and streaked. He is very devoted to her and 



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