i/8 A Pioneer History of Becker County. 
149. Northern Raven ( Corvus corax principalis). 
Occurs chiefly as a late fall, winter and early spring visit¬ 
ant from the north, feeding about camps and along the 
shores of lakes and rivers. 
150. American Crovt (Corvus americanus). 
Very common. 
Clarke’s Nutcracker, a western bird, has been taken as a 
rare straggler in western Minnesota and may be looked 
for in Becker County. 
15 1. Bobolink, Reed Bird, Rice Bird ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ). 
An abundant bird in all prairie meadows. Called Rice 
Bird in the south where it is very destructive in the rice 
fields ; in the north a harmless or beneficial bird. 
152. Cow Bird ( Molothrus ater). 
Common. A parasitic bird, never building a nest of its 
own, the eggs being deposited in the nests of other birds, 
usually a species smaller than the cow bird. The young 
are cared for by the foster parents. 
153. Yellow-i-ieaded Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthoccpha- 
lus). 
Abundant in all quill-reed and cat-tail swamps. A powerful 
bird, doing much harm to corn, oats and wheat but also 
feeding extensively upon grasshoppers and locusts. 
154. Red-winged Blackbird ( Agelaius phceniceus.) 
An abundant and destructive bird although the injury it 
does to grain is somewhat compensated for by the numerous 
number of injurious insects and weed seeds which it con¬ 
sumes. 
A variety known as the Thick-billed Redwing occurs as 
a migrant in late fall and early spring. 
155. Western Meadow Lark ( Sturnella magna neglecta). 
Abundant. A valuable bird to the farmer. 
156. Orchard Oriole ( Icterus spurius ). 
Brackett says, “Quite common” at Detroit in May, 1883, 
but this is so near the northern limit of its distribution 
that one would expect it to be of infrequent occurrence. 
157. Baltimore Oriole, “Hangnest,” “Golden Robin,” “Golden 
Oriole” ( Icterus galbula). 
Very common. 
