Bird Neighbors | Page 8

when the majority are migrating to and from regions north of the United
States; but they are strangely unknown to all but devoted bird lovers, who seek them out
during these months that particularly favor acquaintance. Several species are erratic in
their migrations and choose a different course to return southward from the one they
travelled over in spring. A few species are summer residents, and one, at least, of this
tropical family, the myrtle warbler, winters at the north. The habits of the family are not
identical in every representative; some are more deliberate and less nervous than others; a
few, like the Canadian and Wilson's warblers, are expert flycatchers, taking their food on
the wing, but not usually returning to the same perch, like true flycatchers; and a few of
the warblers, as, for example, the black-and-white, the pine, and the worm-eating species,
have the nuthatches' habit of creeping around the bark of trees. Quite a number feed upon
the ground. All are insectivorous, though many vary their diet with blossom, fruit, or
berries, and naturally their bills are slender and sharply pointed, rarely finch-like. The
yellow-breasted chat has the greatest variety of vocal expressions. The ground warblers
are compensated for their sober, thrush-like plumage by their exquisite voices, while the
great majority of the family that are gaily dressed have notes that either resemble the trill
of mid-summer insects or, by their limited range and feeble utterance, sadly belie the
family name. Bay-breasted Warbler. Blackburnian Warbler. Blackpoll Warbler.

Black-throated Blue Warbler. Black-throated Green Warbler. Black-and-white Creeping
Warbler. Blue-winged Warbler. Canadian Warbler. Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Golden-winged Warbler. Hooded Warbler. Kentucky Warbler. Magnolia Warbler.
Mourning Warbler. Myrtle Warbler. Nashville Warbler. Palm Warbler. Parula Warbler.
Pine Warbler. Prairie Warbler. Redstart. Wilson's Warbler. Worm-eating Warbler.
Yellow Warbler. Yellow Palm Warbler. Ovenbird. Northern Water Thrush. Louisiana
Water Thrush. Maryland Yellowthroat. Yellow-breasted Chat.
Family Motacillidae: WAGTAILS AND PIPITS,
Only three birds of this family inhabit North America, and of these only one is common
enough, east of the Mississippi, to be included in this book. Terrestrial birds of open
tracts near the coast, stubble-fields, and country roadsides, with brownish plumage to
harmonize with their surroundings. The American pipit, or titlark, has a peculiar
wavering flight when, after being flushed, it reluctantly leaves the ground. Then its white
tail feathers are conspicuous. Its habit of wagging its tail when perching is not an
exclusive family trait, as the family name might imply. American Pipit, or Titlark
Family Troglodytidae: THRASHERS, WRENS, ETC.
Subfamily Miminae: THRASHERS, MOCKING-BIRDS, AND CATBIRDS
Apparently the birds that comprise this large general family are too unlike to be related,
but the missing links or intermediate species may all be found far South. The first
subfamily is comprised of distinctively American birds. Most numerous in the tropics.
Their long tails serve a double purpose-in assisting their flight and acting as an outlet for
their vivacity. Usually they inhabit scrubby undergrowth bordering woods. They rank
among our finest songsters, with ventriloquial and imitative powers added to sweetness
of tone. Brown Thrasher. Catbird. Mocking-bird.
Subfamily Troglodytinae: WRENS
Small brown birds, more or less barred with darkest brown above, much lighter below.
Usually carry their short tails erect. Wings are small, for short flight. Vivacious, busy,
excitable, easily displeased, quick to take alarm. Most of the species have scolding notes
in addition to their lyrical, gushing song, that seems much too powerful a performance for
a diminutive bird. As a rule, wrens haunt thickets or marshes, but at least one species is
thoroughly domesticated. All are insectivorous. Carolina Wren. House Wren.
Winter-Wren. Long-billed Marsh Wren. Short-billed Marsh Wren.
Family Certhiidae: CREEPERS
Only one species of this Old World family is found in America. It is a brown, much
mottled bird, that creeps spirally around and around the trunks of trees in fall and winter,
pecking at the larvae in the bark with its long, sharp bill, and doing its work with faithful
exactness but little spirit. It uses its tail as a prop in climbing, like the woodpeckers.
Brown Creeper.
Family Paridae: NUTHATCHES AND TITMICE
Two distinct subfamilies are included under this general head. The nuthatches (Sittinae)
are small, slate-colored birds, seen chiefly in winter walking up and down the barks of
trees, and sometimes running along the under side of branches upside down, like flies.
Plumage compact and smooth. Their name is derived from their habit of wedging nuts
(usually beechnuts) in the bark of trees, and then hatching them open with their strong
straight bills. White-breasted Nuthatch. Red-breasted Nuthatch.
The titmice or chickadees (Parinae) are fluffy little gray birds, the one crested. the other

with a black cap. They are also expert climbers, though not such wonderful gymnasts as
the nuthatches. These cousins are frequently seen together in winter woods or in the
evergreens about houses.