Birds of The Palisades Inter stale. Park 
51 
24. Barn Swallow. Hirundo erythrogastra Bodd. 
The Barn Swallow was observed only at Hessian Lake in the 
Bear Mountain locality, where it was coursing over the water in 
quest of its insect fare. This swallow is distinguished by its deeply 
forked tail, a feature revealed at times as it turns in its aerial 
maneuvers. Its prominent colors are the chestnut of the forehead, 
throat and upper breast; the purplish blue of the upper parts; and 
the salmon-whitish under parts below the breast. 
25. Scarlet Tanager. Piranga erythromelas Vieill. 
The Scarlet Tanager is one of the brilliantly colored birds of 
the region, but not so generally known as its handsome colors and 
full-voiced song might seem to warrant. Its entire plumage is 
bright scarlet, except the jet black wings and tail. As if to show 
these rich colors to fullest advantage, the bird has a trait of select- 
ing exposed positions in the full sunlight to utter its songs, fre- 
quently in the crowning spire of a tall hemlock, or the hare top of 
a dead tree. The song is so much like that of the Robin that only 
the practiced ear can distinguish the differences. 
26. Indigo Bunting. Passerina cyanea (Linn.) 
The Indigo Bunting is common in the neighborhood of Bear 
Mountain and also elsewhere in the Park. It is a handsome little 
bird, quite properly called “ Indigo bird ” because of the deep 
indigo color which marks its entire plumage. It is a frequenter of 
the busy trails and the shrubbery of the broken woods, along the 
roadsides, stream-sides, and cleared margins of the forest. Its song 
is difficult to represent, but is one of the accompaniments of the 
heated season, its song period being prolonged into late summer. 
27. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Zamdodia ludoviciana (Linn.) 
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, particularly the male, is one of the 
bird-beauties of the hardwood forest. It is noticeable because of 
its size, being nearly as large as the Robin. Its head, throat, wings 
and tail are black, the two latter being spotted with white ; and the 
breast is rose-red, a feature which suggests the name of this species. 
