They never perch on trees, but frequently alight on the roof of a rancho or other elevation affording a secure footing. They are tame birds and fly reluctantly; when approached, they usually crouch down, hiding their crimson bosoms, and remain motionless in order to escape observation. In disposition they are peaceful, and so fond of society that when one becomes separated from his fellows he will unite with birds of another kind, even with Plovers or Tyrant-birds.
On the great monotonous plains, where most of the small birds are grey- or brown-plumaged, and in winter when there are no flowers to satisfy the desire of the eye for bright colour, it is delightful, while travelling, to meet with an army of these Starlings: their crimson bosoms, less bright than the hues of some tropical species, seem then to glow with a strange splendour on the sombre green of earth, and the sight produces an exhilarating effect on the mind.
[105.] ICTERUS PYRRHOPTERUS, Vieill.
(CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED HANG-NEST.)
Icterus pyrrhopterus, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 140; iid. Nomencl. p. 36; Hudson, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 88 (Buenos Ayres); Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 59; Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 356 (Salta); Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. p. 133 (Entrerios); Scl. Cat. B. xi. p. 368. Xanthornus pyrrhopterus, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 493 (Paraná, Tucuman).
Description.—Uniform black; upper lesser wing-coverts chestnut; bill black; feet dark brown: whole length 7·7 inches, wing 3·6, tail 3·8. Female similar, but smaller.
Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.
This interesting bird, the only Icterus found in the Argentine Republic, ranges south to Buenos Ayres, where it is migratory, and appears in small flocks of six or eight individuals in September; but soon after arriving these little companies break up, and the birds are subsequently found singly or in pairs in the woods along the Plata River.
The sexes are alike in colour, but the male is considerably larger; the whole plumage is an intense black, excepting a rufous spot on the shoulder, seen only when the bird is on the wing; the bill is black and curved, the body slender, and the tail long. It is a loquacious bird, most of its tones being low and pleasing; exceedingly restless in disposition, incessantly passing from tree to tree, jerking its long tail and clinging to the branches in various attitudes, while searching for insects in the decayed bark. While thus engaged it utters a great variety of chirping and guttural sounds, interspersed with short agreeable notes. It also has a song of considerable merit, low and varied in tone, with a peculiar ventriloquism in many of the notes which produce a confusing idea on the listener that the bird approaches and recedes alternately whilst uttering them. While singing the bird continues moving, but always concealed in the thick foliage, and it is probably this constant turning about of the singer, and the notes coming through leafy screens of varying density, which makes the ventriloquism and gives so much light and shade to its mysterious melody.
The first bird of this species I shot was wounded very slightly in one wing and fell into a stream; to my very great surprise it began singing its usual song while floating about on the surface, making no attempt to swim. After fishing it out it continued to sing at intervals in my hand: how strange it was to hear this bleeding captive bird warbling out soft, sweet notes which seemed to express only pleasant emotions! Yet it was evident that the bird was fully alive to its danger, for it struggled violently to escape and bit my finger savagely with its sharp beak.