Meadowlark 
143 
RUSTY BLACKBIRD 
Called also: Thrush Blackbird 
This cousin of the red-wing, whom it resembles 
in size, flight and notes, is a common migrant 
in the United States. Nesting is done farther 
north. In spring, the rusty blackbirds come 
from the South in pairs, already mated, whereas 
the red-wings and grackles travel then in flocks. 
At that time the males are a uniform glossy, 
bluish-black, and their mates a slate gray, darker 
above than below ; but after the summer moult, 
when they gather in small companies, both 
are decidedly rusty. You might mistake them 
for grackles in the spring, but never for male 
red-wings then with their bright epaulettes. 
Notice the rusty blackbird’s pale yellow eye. 
MEADOWLARK 
Called also: Old-field Lark; Meadow Starling 
Every farmer’s boy knows his father’s friend, 
the meadowlark, the brownish, mottled bird, 
larger than a robin, with a lovely yellow breast 
and black crescent on it, that keeps well hidden 
in the grass of the meadows or grain fields. 
Of course he knows, too, that it is not really 
a lark, but a starling. When the shy bird 
takes wing, note the white feathers on the 
