^^ov. 1889.]. 



A^^D OOLOGIST. 



173 



The Family Turdidae in Orleans 

 County, N.Y. 



Tlie family TiirdiiM or Tlinish family is, 

 comparatively, very well represented in Or- 

 leans County. 



Tlie thrush family in Xorth America com- 

 prises twenty-six well-defined species and sub- 

 species. 



Of this number, fifteen are confined to the 

 west and south-west, and one is confined to 

 Greenland; leaving but ten of possible occur- 

 rence in Eastern United States. 



Out of this possible ten seven are known to 

 occur in Orleans County. 



Mentioning tliese in the order of their class- 

 ification (A.O.U. nomenclature) we have, first, 

 the Catbird (OnlenwopteH cwnUnemU). This 

 well-known bird is one of our most common 

 summer residents fi-om the first week in May, 

 the time of its arrival from the south, until 

 the last of September. The Catbird breeds 

 abundantly, building its nest of sticks, twigs, 

 rootlets .and leaves in a bush, low tree, or a 

 cluster of vines, generally in a thicket or 

 wooded place. The eggs are generally four or 

 five in number, and the young birds are hatched 

 about Jiuie 8-1-5. Tlic Catbird is seldom seen 

 outside of its forest home, but there it is 

 abundant. 



Xext in order we have the Brown Thrasher 

 {Harporhynchnx rufnn) which, however, is of 

 very rare occurrence here. Why this is so is 

 not known. It seems to be quite common 

 el.sewliere tlirongliout the eastern United States 

 but in this particular section of Western New 

 York it certainly is quite rare. However, a 

 specimen is occasionally seen, and a friend of 

 the writer, who resides just over the line into 

 Genesee County, secured a ne.st with eggs from 

 the thickets of Tonawanda Swamp. The song 

 of this bird has been the remark of many writers 

 for its variety and beauty, and I fear Orleans 

 ornithologists will have to rely wholly upon 

 their words. 



The Wood Thrush (Turdiis mustelimis) is a 

 very common bird of our woodland in summer. 

 Its beautiful flute-like notes are heard in this 

 locality, f(n- the first time, about May 10th, 

 although I have recorded the arrival of muste- 

 ihwK as early as April 21st (1888). It leaves 

 for the south early in September. It breeds 

 commonly, building its nest about the 20th of 

 ilay and usually laying four eggs, though quite 

 often only three. In this locality the Wood 

 Thrush is quite often imposed upon by the 

 Owbird. The nest is as a rule in the top of a 



sapling and is composed to a goodly extent of 

 leaves, although twigs, roots and grasses as 

 well are in its make-up. The name "Flute- 

 bird," derived from the striking resemblance 

 of its notes to that instrument, is also given to 

 this bird. 



Wilson's Thrush {Turdus fmeescens) arrives 

 and departs at about the same time as the 

 Wood Thrush, and like that bird is a resident 

 of the forest and thicket. It is not, however, 

 as plentiful as the Wood Thrush. Its nest is 

 usually on the ground at the base of a sapling, 

 although frequently it is placed a few feet 

 from the ground, and may contain three or 

 four eggs. 



Tlie Olive-backed Thrush (Turdus nstulatns 

 .noainsoni), next in order, differs from the 

 thrushes aheady spoken of in that it is not a 

 summer resident in Orleans County, but a 

 migrant. 



Wintering south of us and spending the 

 summer and breeding north of the United 

 States, it passes us on its way to and from its 

 breeding grounds respectively, during the 

 spring and fall. Its occurrence is rather rare, 

 and as it keeps for the most part to the tree 

 tops and does not tarry long during its migra- 

 tions, it is seldom seen. An uncommon inci- 

 dent in connection with this bird in this county 

 is the fact that it has been known to breed 

 here. Contrary to the rule of its breeding far 

 to the north, Frank H. Lattin, of Gaines, on 

 each of the dates, June 2, 1880, and June 1, 

 1881, found a nest of this bird. Both of tliese 

 nests were in small saplings, one four feet 

 from the ground, the other ten. The first 

 nest contained four eggs while the second con- 

 tained three eggs with one of the Cowbird. 

 The breeding of this bird in Orleans County 

 certainly proves a remarkably southern exten- 

 sion of its breeding habitat. The Olive-backed 

 Thrush is a sub-species of the Russet-backed 

 Thrush of the Pacific coast region. 



T'he Hermit Thrush {Turduj< aonalwchl-K 

 paUasii), far-famed and noted for its wonderful 

 and soul-stirring powers of song when in its 

 summer home, is considered a variety of the 

 Pacific coast species known as the Dwarf Her- 

 mit Thru.sh. Like the preceding species it 

 occurs in this coimty only as a migrant, and is 

 the most boreal of all the thrushes. Dvu'ing 

 the first or second week in April it may be 

 seen on the grouiul ill our forests on its way 

 nortli, and does not seem at all shy, and will 

 allow one to approach within a very few feet. 

 Again in October it passes us on its return 

 trip. It is quite rare. 



