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Key to Illinois Birds’ Nests 
THE FOLLOWING KEY to the identification of the nests of Illinois birds was 
selected and adapted by Rev. George M. Link from an arrangement by 
Dr. A. A. Allen. We reprint it now in the hope that it may be of some 
assistance to those interested in nests found after the close of the nesting 
season. 
ete pe OUNG Orin CUSSOCKS/0l; STASS 2.2 ess fe elecel nea gate ecg v ees I 
MEME OUN Cait DULTOWS) mice tae tree oe ee scl 84s ioe sos Ean deb wlebeelagn um, 6 II 
Above ground, in bushes or trees, on cliffs, or about buildings: 
Men eT Or seMmi-Pensile Nests. Woe > wes. oe ee haw h bake eee ee edes @ III 
Not hanging: 
freoles in trees. or in bird-boxes..% vos. ore ee. IN: Sorte a IV 
Not in holes: 
en ain Oeste CKSsOl ar oe: LWIGS fy iste ote nO otk, Gls o's ol eels 6 sae as NV; 
With no sticks: 
Felted nests of cottony materials, not lichen covered........... VI 
Not felted or lichen covered: 
Soa tiinineraneiiner sla vereo! sid o6 ate is aie ty «os oe ede 2 VII 
With no mud: 
Wovereume Marl ICHel cotta erst. cycles 4 ate egereda © ose 2. VIII 
With no lichens: 
Mostly of bark, fibers, and rootlets, 
Witte OmewilhGutenorsenalraliNines 1c. 4 «ete « « «hed Sie IX 
Mostly of grasses, rootlets, straws and leaves, 
usually with horsehair in the lining: 
NOTES DHGLICA Menten te. siti. ssh mer ares ths ee el vc Sees xX 
SOMEriCa MCs Sime tanees PmNe ghar ede Ns Shi A. so oe 5 Ghee XI 
I. ON THE GROUND OR IN TUSSOCKS OF GRASS: These nests are seldom 
found except when occupied, and then can be identified by the birds. 
Only a list will be given: 
In fields: Bob-white, field sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, horned 
lark, killdeer, meadowlark, nighthawk, pheasant, savannah spar- 
row, song sparrow, spotted sandpiper, vesper sparrow, Henslow’s 
sparrow, lark sparrow. 
In woods: Brown thrasher, Louisiana water thrush, mourning 
warbler, ovenbird, song sparrow, towhee, whip-poor-will, woodcock, 
pinewoods sparrow, Kentucky warbler. 
In marshes: Bittern, black duck, black tern, coot, Florida gallinule, 
king rail, marsh hawk, northern yellow-throat, pied-billed grebe, 
short-eared owl, sora rail, swamp sparrow, Virginia rail, Wilson’s 
snipe. 
II. IN BURROWS IN THE GROUND: 
Peme Nesting in-colonies in sand banks. .... ...<.:..-. Bank swallow 
B. Nesting singly: 
Peering own burrow, no nestyat, end....5... <... - Kingfisher 
2. Utilizing some other burrow, nest of strings and feathers.... 
ee eens M Pear tee A 8a ors OR Rough-winged swallow 
III. HANGING OR SEMI-PENSILE NESTS: 
A. In reeds or swamp bushes: 
1. Open above: 
a. A platform only slightly hollowed.......... Least bittern 
pmebocenlyenollowedecass sen even ncs ont Red-winged blackbird 
2. Spherical, opening on side. .Long- and short-billed marsh wren 
B. In upland bushes and trees: 
1. Small, less than 2 inches deep, fully suspended: 
Gre URNeTTy DUSHESseee Cuee ieee a Bell’s or white-eyed vireo 
ia ipeliow) branches orasaplings. 2). 3.306952 55 Red-eyed vireo 
