Birds in Winter 



Winter is upon us, ljut there arc birds still here, though they do not sing much 

 and are shy enough, many of them, to need coaxing in order to catch sight of 

 them. The birds enumerated and described below are winter visitors in this lati- 

 tude. A plentiful sprinkling of crumbs on the snow some morning, or a piece of 

 meat hung to tlie low-hanging limb of a tree, will bring many of them near enough 

 for recognition. 



Let each school watch for them and keep a record of the appearance and 

 habits of such winter birds as they see. To the record may be added a drawing 

 or painting of the bird described. 



According to Birdcraft we may expect the following birds to remain in the 

 latitude of 35° to 45° north in the winter: 



Chickadee. — Five and one-half inches long. Gray above; crown, nape, chin 

 and throat black; sides of head white; wings and tail gray with white edgings; 

 bill and feet black. Sings Chick-add-dee-dee. 



Snowbird. — Six and one-half inches long; bluish slate color with lower 

 breast and belly grayish white ; outer tail feathers white ; bill, flesh white ; song, a 

 simple trill. 



Snow Bunting. — Length, seven inches ; plumage soft brown with white 

 banded wings and tail ; bill and feet black. 



Blue Jay. — Well known in most parts of the United States. 



Winter Wren — Length, about four inches , color, dark brown above, finely 

 barred with black ; tail and bill short, the latter dark and slender ; feet dark. Call- 

 note "tr-r-r-r-r-r". 



Pine Finch. — Length, four and three-fourths inches ; color, striped gener- 

 ally ; above olive brown and gray, darkest on the head and back, sometimes hav- 

 ing a sulphur yellow tinge below ; bill and feet brown. May be seen eating from 

 cones. 



Meadow Lark. — Ten to eleven inches long; color, brown above, yellow be- 

 low, with black crescent on throat ; tail black with white outer quills ; wings edged 

 with yellow ; brown and black stripes on crown ; black line behind eye ; bill stout 

 and straight. 



Tree Sparrow (winter Chip-Bird). — Six inches long. Gray stripe over eye, 

 cheeks, throat and breast; feathers edged on the back with orange and brown; 

 wings dark brown edged with paler with two white bars ; bill black above, yellow- 

 ish below; feet brownish black. 



Brown Creeper (Tree trunk bird) — Five and one-half inches long. Color, 

 brown and white striped above ; tail pale brown, underneath grayish white ; slender 

 curving bill, black above, yellowish beneath ; feet brown. Climbs round and round 

 the tree. 



Red Breasted Nuthatch. — Four and three-fourths inches long. Color, lead 

 above, crown and sides of neck black ; white stripe over eye ; under parts rust red ; 

 bill dark lead color; feet lead brown. 



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