16 
I'SEFUL r.IRDS 
Red River Valley. It may be regarded as fairly common through- 
out most of Minnesota, 1)Ut not conspicuous on account of its retir- 
ing- hal)its- 
CEDAR BIRD: CEDAR WAXWING, OR “CHERRY BIRD.” 
( Plate 3, Fig. 16.) 
This beautiful bird is about seven inches long, the tips of the 
secondary feathers in wing and frequentlv the tail feathers with 
tips resembling red sealing wax ; hence the above name. The head 
and upper parts, a warm grayish brown; a conspicuous crest; a jet 
black line across forehead and through eyes ; a }-ellow band across 
tail at its end ; yellowish below. 
It is found in ^-arying abundance over the United States and 
breeds throughout its range. The nest is characteristic, rather 
bulky but of loose construction, in which rootlets, moss, twigs, and 
lichens may appear, and is found in fruit trees or shade trees from 
six feet to hfteen or more above the ground. Fggs have been des- 
cribed as “p^Fty colored.” There may be three, four, or hve in a 
clutch and irregularly spotted with black or brownish markings. 
These birds are fond of canker worms and other caterpillars and 
are valuable allies in any orchard. One year in August I noted in 
the Red River Valley a fly-catching habit of this bird and find the 
following entry in my notes; “For almost half an hour, I watched 
six of these birds, constantly on the wing, hovering over a slough 
and catching quantities of (these) insects. They seemed never to 
grow tired, but flew slowly against the wind, deviating now^ a little 
to this side, now to that, until they reached the end of the slough, 
when back they came to repeat the same maneuver and go over 
the same ground again and again. Occasionally, they uttered the 
characteristic note of the species, but, for tlie most part, flew silent- 
ly. During the time I stood w-atching- them, the}' did not once rest.” 
Only nine out of 152 stomachs of this bird (40 of w'liich w'ere taken 
in cherry season) contained cultivated cherries, and stomachs of 
other specimens collected have been found filled wdth canker worms. 
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. 
(Plate 3, Fig. 17-) 
An attractive insect-eating summer resident, typical of the large 
family of warblers, a goodly number of which either pass through 
Minnesota in spring and fall, or nest here. A male bird is figured, — 
crown, yellow; sides of breast, chestnut; and some greenish yellow 
in the black of the upper parts ; below, w'hite ; length, about five 
inches. It reaches ^Minnesota about the middle of May. 
