Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2

by Alfred Edmund Brehm

The KING or TYRANT SHRIKES (Tyranni) constitute a family of American birds, having small but powerful bodies, and long, pointed wings, which when closed extend half-way down the tail. The second and third quills exceed the rest in length. The large broad tail is either excised or rounded at its extremity; the legs are strong, the tarsi high, and the toes muscular; the straight and slightly conical beak terminates in a hook, and is surrounded with bristles at its base. The thick soft plumage is usually grey upon the back, and white or yellow upon the under parts of the body. The Tyrant Shrikes are found extensively throughout South America, and are especially numerous in the warmest latitudes of that continent.

THE TRUE TYRANT SHRIKE, KING BIRD, OR TYRANT FLY-CATCHER.

The TRUE TYRANT SHRIKE, KING BIRD, or TYRANT FLY-CATCHER (Tyrannus intrepidus), as the most noted member of this family is called, is about eight inches long and fourteen broad. The soft and brilliant plumage of this species is prolonged into a crest at the top of the head. The entire back is of a deep blueish grey, darkest upon the head, the feathers that form the crest being edged with bright red and yellow; the under side is greyish white, tinted with a deeper shade on the breast. The throat and neck are pure white, the quills and tail brownish black, the latter tipped with white, as are the wing-covers. The eye is dark brown, the beak black, the feet greyish blue. In the plumage of the female all these colours are much more dusky and indistinct than in that of her mate.

According to Audubon, the Tyrant Shrike is one of the most attractive birds that visit the United States during the summer months. It appears in Louisiana about the middle of March, and occasionally remains until the middle of September, but the flocks for the most part proceed north before that season, and spread themselves over every part of the country, filling the air with their quivering shrill cry, as they explore the orchards, fields, or gardens, and fearlessly approach the dwelling-houses of mankind. As the breeding season draws near, they may be seen flying merrily about at some distance from the ground, in search of a convenient spot for building, the male constantly uttering his shrill note, and keeping quite close to his mate. The nest is formed of bits of cotton, wool, tow, or similar materials, and is usually of considerable size; the interior is neatly and thickly lined with fibres and horsehair; the four or six eggs have a reddish white shell, irregularly marked with brown streaks. No sooner is the brood laid than the male bird begins to exhibit the utmost courage and devotion in tending and protecting his partner. The entire day is occupied in feeding and entertaining her, as he perches close beside her on a twig, displaying his glowing crest and white breast in all its beauty to her admiring eyes. Should an enemy or rival approach, he darts furiously down and chases the intruder to a distance, sometimes as far as a mile from the nest, and then returns rapidly to his little family. So bold and fearless is the Tyrant Shrike upon these occasions, that even Falcons scarcely venture to approach its nest; and the cats of the neighbourhood, well knowing the reception they would meet with, carefully avoid trespassing within the domains of the intrepid father.

"At this period," says Wilson, "the extreme affection of the Tyrant Shrike for his mate and young makes him suspicious of every bird that happens to pass near his residence, so that he attacks every intruder without discrimination. In the months of May, June, and part of July his life is one continued scene of broils and battles, in which, however, he generally comes off conqueror. Hawks, Crows, and Eagles all equally dread an encounter with this dauntless little champion, who, as soon as he sees one of the last approaching, launches into the air to meet him, and darts down on to his back, sometimes fixing there, to the great annoyance of the king of birds, who, if no convenient retreat be near, endeavours by various evolutions to rid himself of his merciless adversary. But the Tyrant Fly-catcher is not so easily dismounted; he teases the Eagle incessantly, charges upon him right and left, and remounts into the air, that he may descend on his enemy's back with greater force, all the while keeping up a shrill and rapid twittering, and continuing the attack sometimes for more than a mile, until he is relieved by some other of his tribe equally eager for the contest."

The Purple Swallow alone seems capable of contesting the field with this courageous opponent, and resisting its attacks. Wilson mentions having seen the Tyrant Shrike also greatly irritated by his vain efforts to get rid of the Red-headed Woodpecker, the latter dodging him round a rail, and appearing highly amused at the impotent rage of his assailant.

About August the voices of these birds are far more rarely heard, and they employ their time in picking the worms and insects from the furrows in the fields, or in gliding over the water in pursuit of flies. Like the Swallow, they drink and bathe whilst on the wing, invariably perching upon a neighbouring tree, the better to dry their plumage. The Tyrant Shrikes quit the United States before any other of the feathered summer visitors, and prosecute their migrations by night as well as by day, flying alternately with rapidly repeated strokes of the pinions, and a smooth, gliding motion, that is apparently produced without the slightest effort. The flesh of this species is delicate, and much esteemed in Louisiana. A Tyrant Shrike kept for many months by Nuttall always swallowed berries whole; grasshoppers, if too large to be so disposed of, were pounded and broken on the floor of his cage, as the bird held them in his beak. To manage the larger beetles was not so easy; these he struck repeatedly against the ground, and then turned from side to side, by throwing them dexterously into the air, after the manner of the Toucan; the insect being uniformly caught reversed as it descended, with the agility of a practised cup and ball player. After the beetle was swallowed, he remained perfectly still for some time, in order to digest his meal, tasting it distinctly some time after it entered the stomach, as was obvious from the ruminating motion of his mandible. When the soluble portion had been extracted, large pellets of the indigestible legs, wings, and shells were brought up again in half an hour's time, and ejected from the mouth after the manner of Hawks and Owls. This bird, we are further told, had the sagacity to retire under the shelter of a depending bed-quilt in the apartment about which he was allowed to run at large, if the weather was unusually cold.

THE BENTEVI.

The BENTEVI (Saurophagus sulphuratus), a well-known species, resident in Brazil, is recognisable by its comparatively long wings and slightly incised tail. Its legs are powerful, tarsi high, toes long, and armed with sickle-shaped claws; the beak, which is higher than it is broad, and terminates in a hook, is of a conical shape, and equals the head in length; its culmen is slightly rounded, and its base surrounded with bristles. These latter are particularly numerous in the region of the cheek-stripes. The length of this species is five and its breadth ten inches; the tail measures three inches. Upon the upper part of the body the plumage is of a greenish brown; the forehead and eyebrows white; the crest-like feathers upon the crown of the head are of a brimstone-yellow; the sides of the head, the bridles, and cheeks black; the wing-covers, tail-feathers, and quills are broadly edged with rust-red; the throat and fore part of the neck are white; the breast, belly, rump, and legs sulphur-yellow. In the plumage of the young the top of the head is entirely black; the wing and tail-feathers are broadly edged with rust-red; and all the colours paler than in those of the adult birds. The Bentevis are extensively met with throughout South America, particularly in well-wooded pasture-land or meadows; indeed, their loud, penetrating voices may literally be heard from every tree. We learn from Schomburghk that though they subsist principally upon insects, they also devour the nestlings of other species, and frequently visit the houses of the inhabitants in order to pilfer scraps of the meat hung out to dry. So bold are they that it is not uncommon to see them picking up their insect prey from under the very feet of the herds of cattle as they graze. Towards their feathered companions they exhibit unceasing animosity, chasing them and harrying them from spot to spot with loud spiteful cries, occasionally venturing to carry their pugnacious propensities so far as to attack some of the larger birds of prey. As the breeding season approaches, they become still more quarrelsome and noisy, until the air resounds with the voices of both the males and females as they chase each other in angry rivalry or sport among the branches, or so constantly utter their strange cry as to appear prompted by an anxious desire to outdo their companions, both in loudness and rapidity of utterance. This cry, from which the name of the species is derived, has been freely interpreted by the inhabitants of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres to mean, "Bien-te-veo," "I see you well," and in Guiana into, "Qu'est ce que dit?"