USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. I > Part 9
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The Bank Swallow (Clivicola riparia) retains its primitive breeding habits. Inasmuch as sand banks of the proper consist- ency are only found now and then, this bird is very local. In suitable places they are abundant. For their nests, they tunnel into a bank from eight inches to two feet or more. They are gray above and white beneath, with a dusky band across the breast. Their length is about five inches.
The Purple Martin (Progne subis) is simply a swallow of larger growth. Its home is usually in houses put up for its especial benefit, for the bird is a favorite with mankind. They are gre- garious, and are rarely found breeding by single pairs. Adult males are glossy purplish black. Females, and males till more than two years old, are duller above and white beneath, young males being more or less shaded on the breast and sides. They measure eight inches in length.
The Cherry Bird, or Cedar Bird ( Ampelis cedrorum), has gained an unenviable reputation as a pilferer of early small fruits, but, for all that, there is much to commend it. Many insects are annually destroyed by it, and the fruits eaten are mostly wild and of no economical importance. So far as looks go, there is not a hand- somer bird on our list. Its high cap, conspicuous ocular stripe of black, yellow tail-tip, and scarlet wing appendages, contrasted with its cinamon fore parts and ashy rump and tail, make a rich com- bination. Its length is six and a half inches.
The Red-eyed Vireo ( Vireo olivaceus) is equally at liome in the woods or among the village shade-trees. It is a vigilant seeker for insects among the foliage of deciduous trees, singing between mouthfuls as it goes on its busy way. Its song is cheerful and sweet, and, though repeated over and over again all summer long in all sorts of weather, it never gets stale. The Red Eye is one of several vireos numbered among the birds of the town. They are all small, clad in sober colors, indefatigable singers, and the authors of the little pendent nests, made of birch bark, that are often seen attached to a forked branch by the roadside. Their bills are somewhat shorter than their heads, distinctly hooked at the tip, and provided with rictal bristles. This feature resembles the Flycatchers, though a typical flycatcher bill is relatively wider than a vireo's. The Red Eye is so named because its iris is reddish
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History of Littleton.
brown. Its upper parts are olive green. Below it is white, tinged with yellow along the sides and under the tail. The crown is ashy, bordered on each side by a narrow white line between two black ones. Its length is six inches.
The Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) is oftenest found in the orchard or among village shade-trees. Its warbling song is frequently heard, though the bird is usually hidden by the foliage. Its upper parts are dull olive, brightest on the rump and ashy on the crown. There is a superciliary line of white, but no black, which serves to distinguish this species from the last at a glance. The under parts are white. The iris is dusky. Its length is five and a half inches.
The Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) is colored pre- cisely like the Warbling Vireo, but differs from it in being half an inch shorter and having the outer wing quill very short. It is one of the rarer species.
The Yellow-throated Vireo ( Vireo flavifrons) is a sylvan species that finds its northern limit at about this latitude, and is therefore not common. It is yellowish olive above, except the rump, which is ashy blue ; and yellow below. There are two white bars on each wing. Its length is six inches.
The Blue-headed Vireo ( Vireo solitarius) is commonly a citizen of mixed woods. Its clear notes are to be heard by the first of May, while there is yet not a green leaf to be seen, at least a week in advance of the rest of the family. Its upper parts are olive green, changing to yellowish on the rump and ashy on the head. Its under parts are pure white. A white line runs from the bill to and round each eye. There are also two white bars on each wing. Its length is five and a half inches.
The White-eyed Vireo (Vireo noveboracensis) is a southern variety, of hardly more than casual occurrence here. It is a denizen of shrubbery and old fences, given to scolding when interfered with. It is bright olive green above, and white below ; sides and crissum yellow. A line of yellow runs from the bill back to, and around the eyes; the wing bars are yellowish. The iris is white. Its length is five and a half inches.
The Great Northern Shrike, or Butcher Bird (Lanius borealis), is a summer resident of Canada, and only to be seen here during cold weather. It generally appears late in the fall and again in early spring, passing the season of deep snow farther south. Shrikes come singly, and spend their time about open land watching for insects from a fence stake or solitary tree. When insects fail, mice and small birds are killed. A shrike's weapon
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The Birds of Littleton.
is its bill, which resembles a vireo's, only more hooked at the tip. Its foot is that of an ordinary percher, with no special development of claws. The Northern Shrike has wings and tail black ; body ashy, darkest above, and finely barred with dusky lines below. A wide black stripe runs from the bill backward across the side of the head. The outer tail feathers are white. Its length is ten inches.
The Logger-head Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a southern species that rarely strays so far north as this. It is smaller than the last species, being about nine inches in length. The habits of the two species are identical ; and the most noticeable difference in coloration is in the black on the head, which with the Logger-head extends across the forehead. The Logger-head also has few or no cross lines on the breast. In both species the female is less dis- tinctly marked than the male, which is the sex described. The Logger-head is only seen in summer.
The Black and White Creeping Warbler (Mniotilta varia) is one of a large family of little gay-colored birds. This family, in fact, includes most of our small arboreal species. The Black and White Creeper is abundant from the first of May till well into September. It follows trunks and larger branches of trees with a sidelong movement, in search of such insects as may be secreted in crevices in the bark. Its color is black and white, streaked, in about equal proportions. Its length is five inches.
The Blue Yellow-backed Warbler ( Compsothlypis americana) is found in the woods, usually in a mixed growth. It is ashy blue above, with a dull yellow patch on the back ; the throat and breast are yellow, crossed at the jugulum by a dusky collar ; the abdomen and two wing bars are white. Its length is four and three-fourths inches.
The Blue Golden-winged Warbler (Helminthophila chrysoptera) is a rare species that inhabits swampy woods. The crown of its head and two wing bars are rich yellow; the other upper parts are slaty blue ; excepting a patch of black on the throat, the under parts are white ; the sides of the head are whitish, with a broad black mark extending from the bill backward, covering the eye. It is five inches long.
The Nashville Warbler (Helminthophila ruficapilla) usually keeps near the ground in thickets and scrub land. It is most numerous at migrating time, but though most Nashvilles go farther north, there are always some to remain through the summer. This warbler is ashy on the head, changing insensibly down the back to yellowish on the rump; a chestnut patch, which
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History of Littleton.
on the female is often obscure, marks the crown ; the under parts are yellow. Its length is four and three-fourths inches.
The Yellow Warbler (Dendroica æstiva) is a pretty follower of watercourses, where it looks like an animated nugget of gold flitting in and out among the green foliage. The male is bright yellow, streaked below with brown. The female is similar, though duller yellow, and with few brown streaks or none at all. Its length is five and a fourth inches.
The Black-throated Blue Warbler ( Dendroica cærulescens) is a woodland species of rather uncommon occurrence. It seems to prefer a lowly life among the underbrush. The male is slaty blue above, marked with scattering black streaks; the sides of the head, throat, and sides of the body are jet black; the abdomen and a triangular spot on the wing are white. The female is olive green above and dull yellow below, but is easily recognized by the white spot on the wing. Its length is five and a half inches.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) is chiefly a migrant, though it probably breeds here occasionally. It is an abundant species, very much in evidence during the autumnal movement, when they roam through groves and orchards, in flocks, for two or three weeks. At this time, old and young of both sexes look very much alike, in suits of brown above and white beneath, everywhere streaked with dusky ; the middle of the crown, a spot on the rump, and the sides are yellow. The yellow markings are the same in all conditions. Males in spring plumage have the brown of the back replaced with ashy ; the sides of the head black, with white lines above and below the eye, and the breast heavily blotched with black. Its length is five and three- fourths inches.
The Black and Yellow Warbler ( Dendroica maculosa), like the last, is chiefly a migrant. It is a frequenter of all kinds of wood- land. Its crown is ashy ; the other upper parts, together with the sides of the neck, are black; the under parts are bright yellow, crossed at the throat by a line of black, and heavily streaked by the same on the breast and sides ; the eyelids, a line running back from the eye, and a wide diagonal wing bar, are white. This de- scription applies to the male. The female is olive green, blotched with black on the back, otherwise the same as the male. This species measures five inches in lengthi.
The Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pennsylvanica) is a common resident. It prefers a young growth, such as springs up where a wood-lot has been cut off. The sexes are practically alike. The crown is clear yellow ; the back is streaked, black and
.
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The Birds of Littleton.
yellowish, with a gray effect; the wing bars are yellowish, the sides chestnut, and the under parts white. They measure five inches in length.
The Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) is known here as a migrant, or, rarely, as a resident. It is one of the last to arrive from the South, coming about the last week in May. The sexes are similar. The back is gray, streaked with black ; the wing bars, sides of the head, and under parts are white; the crown, throat, and sides of the breast are bay, the crown being a shade darker ; the forehead is black back to the eyes. The length is five inches.
The Black-poll Warbler (Dendroica striata) is another migrant that is late in appearing. While here it is fond of examining orchards and other scattering deciduous trees. At first sight it is likely to be mistaken for the Black and White Creeper, but a closer inspection reveals a decidedly grayish appearance on the back, and the black which entirely covers the crown. Its length is five and three-fourths inches.
The Orange-throated Warbler (Dendroica Blackburnice) is to be found in large growths of mixed trees. It works among the ter- minal foliage chiefly. The male is black above, with heavy wing bars and a few streaks on the back of whitish ; a spot on the crown, a superciliary line, the under eyelids, and throat are orange ; the other under parts are yellow, streaked on the sides with black. The female is gray above and yellow where the male is orange. They measure five and a half inches in length.
The Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) is a com- mon resident of pine woods. Its upper parts are bright olive green ; wings and tail ashy ; sides of head greenish yellow ; throat and breast black; the abdomen and wing bars are white. Its length is five inches.
The Pine-creeping Warbler (Dendroica vigorsi) is one of the earliest arrivals in spring, usually coming the first week in April. It is the plainest of our warblers. The male is yellowish olive above, and yellow below, with dusky wings and tail. The female is olive-gray, with a suggestion of yellow, below. This bird pre- fers to follow the large branches of trees rather than to search among the terminal foliage. It is usually found in coniferous woods, but not abundantly. Its length is five and a half inches.
The Yellow Red-poll Warbler (Dendroica palmarum) is a mi- grant that reaches us about the first of May, and again about the first of October. It feeds much upon the ground in fields, frequently rising to neighboring trees. It has a peculiar habit of
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History of Littleton.
jerking its tail, unlike other warblers of its size. The sexes agree in being olive brown on the back and wings, changing to yellowish on the rump ; the crown is chestnut; a line over the eyes, and the entire under parts, are yellow, the sides being streaked with bay. Its length is five and a fourth inchies.
The Oven Bird (Seiurus aurocapillus) is a common and very noisy denizen of mixed woods. It is large for a warbler, being thrush-like in form, and has manners peculiarly its own. It is classed with the warblers on structural grounds, but only after a long struggle among ornithologists. It is largely a ground bird, having recourse to trees for observation, or when inclined to de- liver its penetrating song, which may be written we'-che-we'-che- we'-che-we'-che, with a steady crescendo. It is oftenest seen on a prostrate log or naked branch, walking, and jerking its tail appre- hensively, pausing now and then as if to consider what it is best to do next. Its upper parts are a uniform bright olive green, except the central portion of the crown, which is brownish orange; the under parts are white, sharply spotted on the breast and sides with dark brown.
The Maryland Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas) is a fussy little warbler that follows old fences and the tangled borders of swampy places. It is as irritable as a wren, and never fails to make a great complaint when disturbed. The male is olive green above, and yellow beneath. His noticeable black mask, which covers the forehead and sides of the head, is a distinguishing mark. The female has no mask, and is less brightly, though simi- larly, colored. It is an abundant species, measuring four and a half inches in length.
The Canadian Flycatching Warbler (Sylvania canadensis) is fairly common during migration, and is sometimes found dur- ing the summer. It is a warbler with a flycatcher's broad bill, and something of a flycatcher's appetite, but with none of its tem- per. It frequents sparse woodland and well-grown sproutland. This warbler is ashy above, with the centres of its crown feathers black ; and yellow below, the upper breast being crossed by a necklace of black. Its length is five and a fourth inches.
The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a flycatching warbler like the last, but much more abundant. It is strictly arboreal, found anywhere, but more commonly in the neighbor- hood of water, which furnishes plenty of flying insects. The adult male is black, with orange-colored tracts on its wings, sides, and basal portions of the outer tail feathers. Females, and males under two years of age are ashy above, white below, and yellow
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The Birds of Littleton.
where the old male is orange. They measure five and a fourth inches in length.
The Pipit, or Titlark (Anthus pensilvanicus), is a migrant, known to breed in Labrador, and only seen here spring and fall. They are oftenest seen in autumn, after the corn is cut, running about in flocks among the corn stubble. They are rather shy, and take flight if approached. They are slender birds, with well-developed feet and legs, and long, straight hind claws. A prominent char- acteristic of the Titlark is an incessant bobbing of the tail. The upper parts are olive brown, darker on the wings and tail ; the under parts are buff, spotted with dark brown on the breast and sides. The outer tail feathers are white. Seven inches is their average length.
The House Wren ( Troglodytes aëdon) is an impudent little indi- vidual that usually takes possession of any odd chink about build- ings that will afford shelter. Sometimes it is a hole in a post, or it may be in an old chickadee's nest in the orchard, or a box put up on purpose by a thoughtful owner. This wren is quick to resent intrusion, and sputters vociferously on the slightest provo- cation. Its wings and tail are about equal in lengthi, a distinction to be noticed between this and the Winter Wren. Its color is brown, dark above and lighter beneath, everywhere barred with fine black lines. It is five inches long.
The Winter Wren (Troglodytes hyemalis) is a migrant and occasional resident, frequenting swamps and moist woods. It usually keeps close in the underbrush, and would often pass un- perceived were it not for its propensity for scolding. Its colora- tion is not materially different from the House Wren, but its tail is plainly shorter than its wings, and its length is only four inches. Both species are excellent singers, with voices all out of proportion to their dimensions.
The Short-billed Marsh Wren ( Cistothorus stellaris) lives among the reeds of water margins. Its occurrence here is unusual. The crown and back are dusky streaked with white, elsewhere brown above ; wings and tail barred, and of about equal length ; a super- ciliary line and the under parts are white with a band of brown across the breast and along the sides. It is four and a half inches long.
The Brown Creeper ( Certhia familiaris) is a common winter visitor and an occasional resident. It is an unassuming little creature, continually making a diligent hunt for food. Its habit is to alight at the base of a tree, and work steadily upward by short hitches till near the top, then to fly diagonally downward to begin
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History of Littleton.
work on new territory. The Creeper's bill is slender and curved downward, and its tail is used as a prop, being stiff like a wood- pecker's. Its upper parts are gray, very like the gray bark on which its life is spent, turning tawny on the rump. It is white beneath. It measures five and a half inches in length.
The White-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), like the Creeper, gains a livelihood by searching in the crevices of bark. But the Nuthatch has more enterprise than the Creeper, for he examines branches as well as trunks, and moves about with more show of alacrity, as often going downward as upward, and heels up as back up, such is his climbing ability. The bill is straight, and is often used to a limited extent for drilling into wood. The female is bluish ash above and white beneath ; the male has a black crown, otherwise he is the same as the female. They are five and a half inches long.
The Red-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is smaller than the last species, measuring only four and a half inches in length. The only material difference in color between them is found on the under parts, which on this nuthatch is rusty. Both are residents throughout the year.
The Chickadee ( Parus atricapillus) is an abundant resident. It is found in almost every piece of woodland, - tuneful, sprightly, busy, cheerful, and happy, regardless of season or weather. The sexes are colored alike, - sides of the head white ; crown, nape, and throat black ; gray above and whitish beneath. The length is five inches.
The Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) is a tiny bird that is to be found sparingly the year round. Spring and fall it is common. It rarely breeds in this latitude, and spends the winter with us frequently, but not always. In winter it makes one of the party headed by the Chickadees, and comprising the Brown Creeper, the Nuthatches, and the Downy Woodpecker. Its agil- ity is hardly equalled by any but its relative, the Ruby Crown, and the Humming Bird. It is olive above and dingy white beneath. Females have a yellow patch on the crown. Males have an orange zone, with lateral yellow lines on the crown. They are four inches in length.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) is a migrant seen during a week or ten days near the first of May, and for a month or so in autumn. Its size and general coloration are similar to the Golden-crown ; but the spot on its head is scarlet, and there is a white ring round the eye that is seen at once.
The Cat Bird ( Galeoscoptes carolinensis) is one of our nicest
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The Birds of Littleton.
songsters. It is an inhabitant of thickets, especially of the alders which grow by brooks. Here the Cat Bird finds close shelter for its shy ways, insects and berries for food, and an obscure place for its nest. Its color is dark slate, with black crown, and chestnut crissum. This is an abundant species that does much to make country life charming for all who love the study of birds. Its length is nearly nine inches.
The Brown Thrasher (Harporhynchus rufus) is another emi- nent songster whose lay suggests the Cat Bird's, but is more varied. The Thrasher, advertently or otherwise, weaves into the fabric of its song the notes of many other birds. It is fond of bush pastures, high or low indifferently, lives mostly upon the ground, and is rather shy. It is cinnamon red above and creamy beneath, heavily spotted on the breast with brown. It measures eleven inches in length.
The Robin (Merula migratoria) was named by the early settlers of this country because it reminded them of the English robin, - a favorite bird in the mother country. The Forefathers would have done better to apply the name to our Blue Bird, which is a true relation to the English robin. The robin is a thrush, and being a familiar bird is the best known example of its tribe. Its size and coloring need not be given.
The Wood Thrush (Turdus mustelinus) is a well-known bird up to the southern portion of this State, but is uncommon here. Like all the thrushes, it is a fine singer. Its head and back are cinnamon brown, turning to olive on the rump and tail. Below it is white, profusely spotted. Its length is eight inches.
The Olive-backed Thrush is rather common in the White Moun- tain region during the breeding season, and is an occasional sum- mer resident about Littleton. It is uniform olive above ; under parts white, shaded on the sides of the head and breast with buff, and marked on throat and breast with large dusky spots. Its length is seven and a quarter inches.
The Tawny Thrush (Turdus fuscescens), also called Wilson's Thrush, and Veery, is a common summer resident, inhabiting wooded places usually in the vicinity of water. It arrives about the tenth of May, and fills the woods with its spiral metallic notes every morning from dawn till sunrise. It is uniformly tawny above, whitish beneath, lightly streaked on the throat with olive. Its length is seven and a half inches.
The Hermit Thrush (Turdus aonalaschke) is probably our commonest thrush except the Robin. It usually divides the coun- try with the Veery, taking the wooded hills, leaving the Veery VOL. I .- 7
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History of Littleton.
the lowlands. Its song has a sweetness and fervent purity that entitles it to be called the best singer in our avifauna. It is olive on the head and back, and tawny on the rump and tail. Its under parts are white, distinctly spotted on the breast with olive brown. Its length is seven inches.
The Blue Bird (Sialia sialis) vies with the Robin in announcing the return of spring. It is a common bird on every farm, nesting in bird boxes, or in old woodpeckers' holes in the orchard, and living on easy terms with all its neighbors. The male is bright blue above and chestnut on the breast. The female is similar, but more dull. They are nearly seven inches long.
A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF LITTLETON.
Order PYGOPODES. The Divers.
FAMILY PODICIPIDA. THE GREBES.
Podilymbus podiceps. Dab-chick. Pied-billed Grebe. Colymbus holbölli. Red-necked Grebe.
auritus. Horned Grebe.
FAMILY URINATORIDAE. THE LOONS.
Urinator imber. Common Loon. 6 6 lumme. Red-throated Loon.
Order LONGIPENNES. The Long-winged Swimmers.
FAMILY LARIDA. THE GULLS.
Larus argentatus smithsonianus. The Herring Gull. 66 philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gull.
Order ANSERES. The Ducks and Geese.
FAMILY ANATIDÆE. THE DUCKS.
Mergus americanus. Fish Duck.
Lophodytes cucullatus. Hooded Merganser.
Anas obscura. Black Duck. Dusky Duck.
Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. Erismatura rubida. Ruddy Duck. Chen hyperborea. Snow Goose.
Branta canadensis. Canada Goose.
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The Birds of Littleton.
Order HERODIONIS. The Herons and Storks.
FAMILY ARDEIDA. THE HERONS.
Botaurus lentigunosus. Bittern. Stakedriver.
exilis. Least Bittern.
Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron.
virescens. Green Heron.
Nycticorax nycticorax. Night Heron.
Order PALUDICOLA. The Cranes and Rails.
FAMILY RALLIDA. THE RAILS.
Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. Fulica americanus. Coot. Mud Hen.
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