bird neighbors-第12部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A pair of phoebes become attached to a spot where they have once nested； they never stray far from it； and return to it regularly； though they may not again occupy the old nest。 This is because it soon becomes infested with lice from the hen's feathers used in lining it； for which reason too close relationship with this friendly bird…neighbor is discouraged by thrifty housekeepers。 When the baby birds have come out from the four or six little white eggs； their helpless bodies are mercilessly attacked by parasites； and are often so enfeebled that half the brood die。 The next season another nest will be built near the first； the following summer still another； until it would appear that a colony of birds had made their homes in the place。
Throughout the long summer for as the phoebe is the first flycatcher to come； so it is the last to go the bird is a tireless hunter of insects； which it catches on the wing with a sharp click of its beak like the other members of its dexterous family。
Say's Phoebe （Sayornis saya） is the Western representative of the Eastern species； which it resembles in coloring and many of its habits。 It is the bird of the open plains； a tireless hunter in midair sallies from an isolated perch； and has the same vibrating motion of the tail that the Eastern phoebe indulges in when excited。 This bird differs chiefly in its lighter coloring； but not in habits； from the black pewee of the Pacific slope。
GREAT…CRESTED FLYCATCHER （Myiarchus crinitus） Flycatcher family
Called also： CRESTED FLYCATCHER； ＇GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER； AOU 1998＇
Length 8。50 to 9 inches。 A little smaller than the robin。 Male and female Feathers of the head pointed and erect。 Upper parts dark grayish…olive； inclining to rusty brown on wings and tail。 Wing coverts crossed with two irregular bars of yellowish white。 Throat gray； shading into sulphur…yellow underneath； that also extends under the wings。 Inner vane of several tail quills rusty red。 Bristles at base of bill。 Range From Mexico； Central America； and West Indies northward to southern Canada and westward to the plains。 Most common in Mississippi basin； common also in eastern United States； south of New England。 Migrations May。 September。 Common summer resident。
The most dignified and handsomely dressed member of his family； the crested flycatcher has； nevertheless； an air of pensive melancholy about him when in repose that can be accounted for only by the pain he must feel every time he hears himself screech。 His harsh； shrill call； louder and more disagreeable than the kingbird's； cannot but rasp his ears as it does ours。 And yet it is chiefly by this piercing note； given with a rising inflection； that we know the bird is in our neighborhood； for he is somewhat of a recluse； and we must often follow the disagreeable noise to its source in the tree…tops before we can catch a glimpse of the screecher。 Perched on a high lookout； he appears morose and sluggish； in spite of his aristocratic…looking crest； trim figure； and feathers that must seem rather gay to one of his dusky tribe。 A low soliloquy； apparently born of discontent； can be overheard from the foot of his tree。 But another second； and he has dashed off in hot pursuit of an insect flying beyond our sight； and with extremely quick； dexterous evolutions in midair； he finishes the hunt with a sharp click of his bill as it closes over the unhappy victim； and then he returns to his perch。 On the wing he is exceedingly active and joyous； in the tree he appears just the reverse。 That he is a domineering fellow； quite as much of a tyrant as the notorious kingbird； that bears the greater burden of opprobrium； is shown in the fierce way he promptly dashes at a feathered stranger that may have alighted too near his perch； and pursues it beyond the bounds of justice； all the while screaming his rasping cry into the intruder's ears； that must pierce as deep as the thrusts from his relentless beak。 He has even been known to drive off woodpeckers and bluebirds from the hollows in the trees that he； like them； chooses for a nest； and appropriate the results of their labor for his scarcely less belligerent mate。 With a slight but important and indispensable addition； the stolen nest is ready to receive her four cream…colored eggs； that look as if a pen dipped in purple ink had been scratched over them。
The fact that gives the great…crested flycatcher a unique interest among all North American birds is that it invariably lines its nest with snake…skins if one can be had。 Science would scarcely be worth the studying if it did not set our imaginations to work delving for plausible reasons for Nature's strange doings。 Most of us will doubtless agree with Wilson （who made a special study of these interesting nests and never found a single one without cast snake…skins in it； even in districts where snakes were so rare they were supposed not to exist at all）； that the lining was chosen to terrorize all intruders。 The scientific mind that is unwilling to dismiss any detail of Nature's work as merely arbitrary and haphazard； is greatly exercised over the reason for the existence of crests on birds。 But； surely； may not the sight of snake…skins that first greet the eyes of the fledgling flycatchers as they emerge from the shell be a good and sufficient reason why the feathers on their little heads should stand on end？ 〃In the absence of a snake…skin； I have found an onion skin and shad scales in the nest；〃 says John Burroughs； who calls this bird 〃the wild Irishman of the flycatchers。〃
OLIVE…SIDED FLYCATCHER （Contotus borealis） Flycatcher family
Length 7 to inches。 About an inch longer than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Dusky olive or grayish brown above； head darkest。 Wings and tail blackish brown； the former sometimes； but not always； margined and tipped with dusky white。 Throat yellowish white； other under parts slightly lighter shade than above。 Olive…gray on sides。 A tuft of yellowish…white； downy feathers on flanks。 Bristles at base of bill。 Range From Labrador to Panama。 Winters in the tropics。 Nests usually north of United States； but it also breeds in the Catskills。 Migrations May。 September Resident only in northern part of Its range。
Only in the migrations may people south of Massachusetts hope to see this flycatcher； which can be distinguished from the rest of its kin by the darker under parts； and by the fluffy； yellowish…white tufts of feathers on its flanks。 Its habits have the family characteristics： it takes its food on the wing； suddenly sallying forth from its perch； darting about midair to seize its prey； then as suddenly returning to its identical point of vantage； usually in some distended； dead limb in the tree…top； it is pugnacious； bold； and tyrannical； mopish and inert when not on the hunt； but wonderfully alert and swift when in pursuit of insect or feathered foe。 The short necks of the flycatchers make their heads appear large for their bodies； a peculiarity slightly emphasized in this member of the family。 High up in some evergreen tree； well out on a branch； over which the shapeless mass of twigs and moss that serves as a nest is saddled； four or five buff…speckled eggs are laid； and by some special dispensation rarely fall out of their insecure cradle。
A sharp； loud whistle； wheuo…wheu…o…wheu…o； rings out from the throat of this olive…sided tyrant； warning all intruders off the premises； but however harshly he may treat the rest of the feathered world； he has only gentle devotion to offer his brooding mate。
LEAST FLYCATCHER （Empidonax minimus） Flycatcher family
Called also： CHEBEC
Length 5 to 5。5 inches。 About an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Gray or olive…gray above； paler on wings and lower part of back； and a more distinct olive…green on head。 Underneath grayish white； sometimes faintly suffused with pale yellow。 wings have whitish bars。 White eye…ring。 Lower half of bill horn color。 Female is slightly more yellowish underneath。 Range Eastern North America； from tropics northward to Quebec； Migrations May。 September。 Common summer resident。
This； the smallest member of its family； takes the place of the more southerly Acadian flycatcher； throughout New England and the region of the Great Lakes。 But； unlike his Southern relative； he prefers orchards and gardens close to our homes for his hunting grounds rather than the wet recesses of the forests。 Che…bec； che…bec； the diminutive olive…pated gray sprite calls out from the orchard between his aerial sallies after the passing insects that have been attracted by the decaying fruit； and chebec is the name by which many New Englanders know him。
While giving this characteristic call…note； with drooping jerking tail； trembling wings； and uplifted parti…colored bill； he looks unnerved and limp by the effort it has cost him。 But in the next instant a gnat flies past。 How quickly the bird recovers itself； and charges full…tilt at his passing dinner！ The sharp click of his little bill proves that he has not missed his aim； and after careering about in the air another minute or two； looking for more game to snap up on the wing； he will return to the same perch and take up his familiar refrain。 Without hearing this call…note one might often mistake the bird for either the wood pewee or the phoebe； for all the three are similarly clothed and have many traits in common。 The slightly large size of the phoebe and pewee is not always apparent when they are seen perching on the trees。 Unlike the 〃tuft of hay〃 to which the Acadian flycatcher's nest has been likened； the least flycatcher's home is a neat； substantial cup…shaped cradle softly lined with down or horsehair； and placed generally in an upright crotch of a tree； well above the ground。
THE CHICKADEE （Parus atricapillus） Titmouse family
Called also： BLACK…CAPPED TITMOUSE； BLACK…CAP TIT； ＇BLACK…CAPPED CHICKADEE； AOU 1998＇
Length 5 to 5。5 inches。 About an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Not crested。 Crown and nape and throat black。 Above gray； slightly tinged with brown。 A white space； beginning at base of bill； extends backwards； widening over cheeks and upper part o
