Washington, common P.R., less common in winter. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb. 20-Nov. 27; a few winter. Cambridge, common S.R., not common W.V. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 15; a few winter. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Jan. 24-Nov. 15; irregular W.V. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct. 15; rare W.V.
The Meadowlark is a fifer of the fields, whose high, clear whistle is one of the most welcome bird songs of early spring. In May, when nesting, it often sings an ecstatic twittering warble on the wing. The alarm calls are an unmusical dzit or yert and a string of beady, metallic notes.
The nest is placed on the ground. The 4-6 eggs are white, speckled with brown.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
Sturnella neglecta
Grayer than the Eastern Meadowlark, with disconnected tail-bars and yellow spreading to the sides of the throat.
Range. Western United States, rare east of the Mississippi. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct. 15.
With the general appearance and habits of the Eastern Meadowlark, but differing in its call-notes and song. Instead of the sharp dzit or yert and metallic twitter of the eastern bird, the western species calls chuck, chuck, followed by a rolling b-r-r-r-. The eastern bird plays the fife but the western uses the flute, and its bubbling grace-notes are easily distinguishable from the straight whistling of its eastern cousin.
ORCHARD ORIOLE
Icterus spurius. [Case 7], Figs. 10-12
Adult males are unmistakable, but females and young males in their first fall wear a non-committal costume and must be looked at sharply. In their first nesting season, young males resemble the female but have a black throat. This is a smaller, more slender bird than the Baltimore Oriole, and the female is less orange. L. 7¼.
Range. Eastern United States, nesting from the Gulf States to Massachusetts and Minnesota; winters in the tropics.