Song.—A simple chanting “chip, chip, che-che-che.”
Nest.—Either on the ground, in bushes or thistles, or in trees; of weeds, grasses, rootlets, corn husks, etc.; eggs four or five in number, plain bluish white and hardly distinguishable from those of the Bluebird; size .80 × .60.
Range.—N. A. east of the Rockies, breeding from the Gulf States north to northern U. S.; rare in the Atlantic States north to Connecticut.
LARK BUNTING
605. Calamospiza melanocorys. 7 inches
Male, black and white; female, brown and gray.
This species is often known as the White-winged Blackbird, not because it bears any resemblance to any of the Blackbirds, nor because any of the habits are the same, but simply because of its plumage. They are very gregarious and usually fly in flocks even in nesting time.
They seem to be very methodical and well trained; if one of a flock takes wing, the entire flock rises simultaneously and in a very compact body they fly until some leader chooses the next stopping place, when they as suddenly alight. They have the habit of Skylarks in mounting into the air while singing and then descending on set wings.
Song.—A very lively, sweetly modulated warble.