SOME OHIO BIRDS 
39 
BRONZED GRACKLE, ®>uiscalus quiscula aeneus (Ridgw.) 
This is our common. Blackbird, so abundant and well known 
throughout the state. They are always found in companies, varying 
from a few individuals to hundreds, or even thousands. They nest 
in colonies and are particularly gregarious in spring and fall, resort¬ 
ing to moist meadows and open woodlands to feed. At night, they 
return to an old established roost, usually the shade trees of a town 
or city, where they become more or less obnoxious, and from which 
it is difficult to drive them. Birds that are so highly gregarious are 
capable of doing much good or harm; therefore, a knowledge of the 
composition of their food is of great economic importance. 
This species is omnivorous and, at times, when favorite food is 
not available, can subsist on anything digestible. Animal matter 
comprises 30.3 percent of the food for the year, 27 percent of which 
is insect. Many beetles, including May beetles, rose bugs and 
weevils, as well as grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars and spiders, 
are destroyed in large numbers. As a destroyer of the white grub 
of the May beetle, it is well known, and if not molested follows close 
to the heels of the plowman, picking up the grubs as they are 
exposed by the plow. While in the nest, the food of the young is 75 
percent animal matter, and during the same period, that of the 
adults is very largely insect. Vegetable matter comprises 69.7 per¬ 
cent of the food for the year, consisting of grain, weed seeds and 
fruits. Half of the vegetable portion is corn; the greatest injury to 
this crop being done when in the milk. The injury to sprouting 
corn probably has been overestimated, and many times this bird has 
been blamed for pulling corn when, had the truth been fully known, 
valuable service was being rendered through its destruction of cut¬ 
worms and grubs. Plagues of insects following the wholesale 
destruction of Blackbirds, have been recorded since early colony 
days. Aside from the harm done to corn, some birds’ eggs are 
eaten. But little injury is done to cultivated fruit, as the larger 
part eaten is of wild varieties. The beneficial qualities well balance 
the harmful; proper control of this species is not to be condemned, 
but wholesale destruction results disastrously. 
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, Agelaiusphceniceusphceniceus (Linn.) 
More properly this should be known as the Red-shouldered 
Blackbird, since the scarlet is confined to the lesser wing covers (of 
the male.) This species is abundant wherever marsh-land occurs. 
The nesting is done in colonies, among rank growths of cat tails, 
sedges and marsh grasses. Since the draining of large areas of 
swamp lands, nests are quite commonly found in meadows or on dry 
