Bird Biographies

								


The class of birds called PERMANENT RESIDENTS includes species which are
to be found throughout the year. Dr. Chapman states that comparatively
few species of this group are permanent residents in the strictest use
of the term. "The Bob-white, Ruffed Grouse, and several of the owls are
doubtless literally permanent residents, but it is not probable that the
Bluebirds, for example, found here during the winter are the same birds
which nested with us in the summer. Doubtless our winter Bluebirds pass
the summer farther north, while our summer Bluebirds winter farther
south, but as a species, the Bluebird is a permanent resident."

                          PERMANENT RESIDENTS


Bob-white
Ruffed Grouse
8 species of Hawks
Bald Eagle
5 species of Owls
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
[B]Red-headed Woodpecker
[A]Flicker
[A]Meadowlark
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
House Sparrow
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Cardinal
[B]Cedar Waxwing
Carolina Wren
White-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Chickadee
[A]Robin
[A]Bluebird
Starling
WINTER RESIDENTS or WINTER VISITANTS are birds that breed farther north
and move southward during the winter months to obtain food. They may
arrive in the fall and remain until spring.

                     WINTER RESIDENTS AND VISITORS


Horned Lark
American or Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Grosbeak
[B]Pine Siskin
[B]Redpoll
Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Shrike
[A]Myrtle Warbler
Winter Wren
Brown Creeper
Snowflake
Junco
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
[A]A few in winter.
[B]Rare or irregular in winter.
Grebes, Loons, Auks, Cormorants, Snowy Owls, and several species of
Gulls and Ducks may also be found during the winter months in the
vicinity of New York City.

                      DESCRIPTIONS AND BIOGRAPHIES

                              THE BLUE JAY

                         Crow Family--Corvidæ

Length: About 11½ inches; 1½ inch longer than the robin; tail, over 5

    inches long.
General Appearance: A crested grayish-blue bird, with bright blue

    wings and tail, barred and tipped with black and white. In flight,

    the long tail is conspicuous; it resembles a pointed fan.
Male and Female: Grayish-blue above, grayish-white below, lighter on

    throat and belly. Head with a conspicuous crest; forehead black;

    bill long, strong, and black. A black band that extends back of the

    crest and encircles the throat is widest across the breast. Wings

    bright blue, barred with black; the white tips of some of the

    feathers form bands and patches of white.
Note: A harsh yah, yah, yah, or jay, jay, jay, which Thoreau says is

    "a true winter sound, wholly without sentiment."[3]
Song: A pleasant, flute-like strain: Pedunkle, pedunkle, parlez-vous.