BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



By Arthur H. Howrax. 



INTRODUCTION. 



ALABAMA, by reason of its geographical position and the 

 abundance and variety of its bird life, possesses unusual 

 interest for the student of ornithology. Situated in the heart 

 of the South, its northern portions including the terminals of 

 the Appalachians and its southern border touching the Gulf 

 of Mexico, its avian fauna contains representatives of both 

 northern and southern types. In autumn the resident bird 

 population is augmented by the arrival of hosts of migrants 

 from the North, some of which pass on to tropical climes, 

 while others remain throughout the winter. In spring these 

 winter visitants leave for their breeding grounds in the North, 

 and their place is taken by summer visitants arriving from 

 their winter homes in the Tropics. 



The many interesting problems of bird distribution center- 

 ing in Alabama and the need for definite information con- 

 cerning the economic value of southern bird life led to the 

 selection of this State by the U. S. Biological Survey as a 

 special field for investigation. A biological survey of the 

 State was accordingly undertaken during parts of the years 

 1908 and 1911-1916, involving a detailed study of the distribu- 

 tion and migrations of the birds and of the distribution of the 

 mammals and plants, with special reference to a determina- 

 tion of the boundaries of the life zones.* 



Reports on the physiography and life zones of Alabama and 

 on the mammals of the State have already been published;! 

 the report on the birds is presented herewith. Prior to the 



•Most of the fleld work in this investigation was carried on by the writer with the 

 assistance of James S. Gutsell. Ernest G. Holt, James L. Peters, and Luther J. Goldman. 

 Observations were made also by C. S. Brimley in 1890 and Russell J. Thompson in 1892. 

 Every month was covered by these iield studies and practically all sections of the State 



tHowell, Arthur H., A biological survey of Alabama ; I, Physiography and life zones ; 

 n, The mammals: U. S. Dept. Agr., North Amer. Fauna No. 46, pp. 88, pis. 11 (incl. 

 map in color), figa. 19 (maps), 1921. 



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