Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies, from Parrots to Bluebirds

by Chester A. Reed

4. BIRDS WITH BROWN MARKINGS MOST PROMINENT

Small brown birds (4 to 6 in.) with barred wings and tail—[WRENS]. Uniform brown above, gray below; long broad tails—[CUCKOOS]. Bright reddish brown above; spotted breast; 11½ in.—[BROWN THRASHER]. Brown body; black head, wings and tail; 7½ in.—[ORCHARD ORIOLE]. Reddish brown breast; slate back; dark head; 10 in.—[ROBIN]. Dull brown back; grayish, more or less spotted breasts—[THRUSHES]. Brown belly; black crown and stripe through eye; gray back—[NUTHATCH]. Streaked brown and white; curved bill; climbs up trees—[BROWN CREEPER]. Brownish gray; crested; yellow tip to tail; black through eye—[WAXWING]. Brown crown, throat and streaks on sides; black mask—[BAY-BREASTED WARBLER]. Brown sides; black head, throat and back; white on wings and tail—[TOWHEE]. Brown rump and tail; gray back; streaked above and below—[FOX SPARROW]. Brown shoulder, yellow breast patch; black on throat—[DICKCISSEL]. Brown shoulder; streaked above; white outer tail feathers—[VESPER SPARROW]. Brown shoulder; black cap and patch on breast—[McCOWN LONGSPUR]. Brown nape; black breast and cap; light throat—[CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR].

5. SHARPLY DEFINED BLACK AND WHITE MARKINGS

Black crown and throat; gray back; 5 in.—[CHICKADEE]. Black and white streaked bird; black crown; 5 in.—[BLACK POLL WARBLER]. Black and white streaked bird; striped crown—[BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER]. Slate head, breast and back; white below and outer tail feathers—[JUNCO]. White throat; gray breast; crown striped black and white—[WHITE-THROATED SPARROW]. Large white crown patch edged with black; light below—[WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW]. Black body; yellowish nape; white rump and on wings—[BOBOLINK]. Black crown; gray back; climbs down trees—[WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH]. Dull gray birds with no markings may be [FLYCATCHERS]. Dull brownish, streaked birds are probably species of [SPARROWS]. Plain greenish backs and dull white underparts denote [VIREOS]. Glossy blackbirds are [GRACKLES] or [CROWS]; if with red shoulders, [RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD]; with dull brown head, [COWBIRD].

CLASSIFIED TABLE OF EASTERN LAND BIRDS
Showing Divisions into Orders, Families and Genera, as Adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union.

ORDER PSITTACI. Parrots, Macaws, etc.

Family PSITTACIDÆ. Genus

CONUROPSIS [Carolina Paroquet]

ORDER COCCYGES. Cuckoos, Kingfishers, etc.

Family CUCULIDÆ. Genus