What bird is that?

by Frank M. Chapman

Range. Nests in Canada and Alaska; winters irregularly south ward to Ohio and Virginia.

Washington, very rare and irregular W.V. Ossining, regular W.V., Nov. 25-Mch. 26. Cambridge, irregular W.V., often very abundant, Oct. 25-Apl. 10. N. Ohio, rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, irregular W.V., Nov. 6-Mch. 7. SE. Minn., common W.V., Oct. 31-Apl. 7.

A winter visitor from the far North whose coming never can be foretold. Years may pass without seeing them, then late some fall, they may appear in numbers. They are usually in flocks and feed upon seeds as well as birch and alder catkins. In notes and general habits the Redpoll resembles the Goldfinch.

Holbœll's Redpoll (A. holbœlli) is a slightly larger race, with a longer, more slender bill. It is a more northern form than the preceding, and rarely visits the United States. The Greater Redpoll (A. l. rostrata ) is also larger than the common Redpoll, but has a shorter, stouter bill. It nests in Greenland and is of casual occurrence in the northern United States. The Hoary Redpoll (A. hornemanni exilipes) is a whiter bird than the preceding with no streaks on the rump and comparatively few on the underparts. It nests within the Arctic Circle and rarely visits the northern United States in winter.

Satisfactory identification of these races of the Redpoll can be made only by expert examination of specimens. The field student, however, may call any Redpoll he sees the Common Redpoll with the chances of being right largely in his favor.

GOLDFINCH
Astragalinus tristis tristis. [Case 2]. Figs. 35, 36; [Case 4], Figs. 50, 51

While he wears his 'Goldfinch' costume, the male will be known at a glance, but in winter, when he takes the dull yellow-olive dress of his mate, several glances may be required to recognize him, and this remark, of course, applies to the female at all seasons. L. 5.

Range. North America; the eastern form nests from Arkansas and northern Georgia to Canada and winters from the Northern to the Gulf States.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, very common P.R. N. Ohio, common P.R. Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., P.R., common in summer, uncommon in winter.

A beautiful, musical, cheerful bird, as sweet of disposition as he is of voice. To hear a merry troop of Goldfinches singing their spring chorus is to hear the very spirit of the season set to music. Their call-note is a questioning dearie, dearie, their flight-call per-chié-o-ree, per-chié-o-ree, as in long undulations they swing through the air. Their song is suggestive of a Canary's. They are late housekeepers, not nesting before the latter half of June, when 3-6 pale bluish white eggs are laid in a nest warmly lined with plant down.