Distinguished alike by plumage and song, the Rose-breast is one of our most notable bird citizens. His song resembles in form that of the Robin, but has a more lyrical, flowing, joyous quality, and, unlike the Robin, he often sings while flying. The call-note of both sexes is a sharp peek which, like the Cardinal's cheep, seems too small for the bird.
The Rose-breast lives and nests in woodland, particularly second-growths, building a frail nest ten to twenty feet from the ground. The 4-5 blue, brown-marked eggs are laid the latter half of May.
INDIGO BUNTING
Passerina cyanea. [Case 7], Figs. 23, 24
The male, well seen, is unmistakable. The female is very 'sparrowy' and, unless one gets a suggestion of blue in her plumage, can best be identified by her unsparrow-like, sharp pit. L. 5½.
Range. Nests from Georgia and Louisiana to Canada; winters in the tropics.
Washington, common S.R., Apl. 29-Oct. 9. Ossining, common S.R., May 4-Oct. 17. Cambridge, common S.R., May 15-Oct. 1. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 26-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., May 1-Sept. 22. SE. Minn., common S.R. Apl. 28-Oct. 2.
"July, July, summer-summer's here; morning, noontide, evening, list to me" the Indigo sings in rather hard but brilliant little voice. To me the words express the rhythm as well as the spirit of the song. We hear them most often in bushy fields and open second-growths, along hedge-rows or from briery clumps in which the bird's nest may be hidden. The pale, bluish white eggs are laid the latter half of May.
PAINTED BUNTING
Passerina ciris. [Case 6], Figs. 49, 50
The male is one of our most brilliantly colored birds, the female has the color of a Vireo but the bill of a Sparrow.
Range. Southern States north to southeastern North Carolina and southern Kansas; winters from southern Florida southward.