USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 41
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The woodpecker, in natural history, is a genus of birds of the order pica.
Generic character .- The bill is straight, strong, angular, and wedge-formed at the tip; the nostrils are covered with bristly feathers, reflected downwards; the tongue is long, slender, cy- lindric, boney, jagged at the end, and missile; tail of ten fea- thers, stiff, and sharp pointed. These birds live principally upon insects, to obtain which they climb trees, and are perpetually in search of those crevices in which their food is lodged. These insects they transfix with their daggered tongue, which, when it has obtained its purpose, is, by an almost invisible motion, withdrawn wholly into the mouth. This process is incessantly repeated throughout the day. Woodpeckers have few notes, little vivacity, and animation. Ten species have been emme- rated in the United States. Several of these reside in this State all the year. We shall proceed to an enumeration and description of such as we are acquainted with.
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The woodcock is about sixteen inches in length, and about twenty-four or five in breadth. Its colour is a blackish brown; its crest is of a brilliant red; its bill is black ; its chin, and the feathers of its nostrils are white; this colour passes in a stripe down the side of the neck, and spreads under the wings ; the upper half of the wings is white ; the tail is rather long and tapering ; the feathers are convex above and strong. The female is distinguished from the male by having the front of the head of a light brown colour. 'This bird resides mostly in the large forests, and is rarely seen in those parts of the country that have been cleared and settled, for a. length of time. It makes a loud cackling noise before rain.
The form of the body, wings, neck, head, bill and legs, are similar to that of the speckled woodpecker. They go in pairs, and remain here all the year. They have three or four young at a time. The woodcock is fond of corn and mast. It, however, prefers large hemlock trees, that have been girdled about a-year, to all others, no doubt on account of the larvae. The quantity of bark which it separates from the trunk, with its bill, is astonishing, and instances are not wanting of their lay- ing the trunks of large trees almost entirely bare. In such . cases, the ground all around the roots is covered with bark.
The highhole' is very common in all parts of the State. The colour of the back and wings above, is a dark umber, marked regularly and transversely, with streaks of black ; the chin, cheeks and neck are a cinnamon colour ; the head above, and the superior part of the neck, an iron grey ; the back of the head is marked with a red spot ; a large black lu- nule on the breast; belly and vent white, with a little yellowish, and marked with very numerous rounded spots of black ; shafts of the feathers are a golden yellow; rump and tail coverts, white, the latter curiously serrated with black ; tail beneath yellow, tip and all above black. Its length is ten or eleven inches, and extent sixteen or eighteen. They form bollows in old trees, in which they make their nest. The female has from four to six at a brood. They subsist on worms, insects, ber- · ries, grapes, and somtimes on Indian corn, when in its milky
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and unripe state. The highhole is migratory. It appears early in the spring, and departs in October.
The red headed woodpecker is one of the most common birds in the State. Its length is eight or nine inches, and the . extent about fifteen inches. The head and neck are a deep scarlet red ; the back, primaries, wing coverts and tail, are black, with steel blue reflections ; the rump, secondary feathers, lower parts of the back, breast, abdomen and vent, white. The young does not receive his full and perfect plumage till the succeeding spring. Like the highhole, they make a hole in some decayed tree, in which they build their nest. The female has four or five at a brood, and usually in June. „ The food of the red headed woodpecker is the larvæ of insects, berries, cher- ries, mast and corn. In some seasons they do considerable damage to corn.
They are not migratory, although seldom seen in winter. They lay up beach nuts, chesnuts, and other mast, for winter store. It is not improbable but they may at times migrate to the south. They are seen in autumn, in beach woods, gather- ing mast.
There seems to be three species of the speckled woodpecker : the large, the small, and the intermediate. They have a strong likeness, and apparently differ only in size. The first Catesby calls the hairy woodpecker, and the second, or smallest, the downy woodpecker.
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The large speckled woodpecker is about nine inchies in length, and in extent about fifteen; the head is white; the crown and broad line, which includes the eyes, and descends behind the neck to the back, black ; back of the head there is a scarlet spot ; a line of black spots from the base of the lower jaw, terminates in a broad black stripe on the shoulder; back black, divided by a broad lateral stripe of white, of which the feathers are loose, resembling hairs, not being webbed; wings black, spotted with white; the four middle tall feathers black, the others whitish ; all beneath, pure white ; nostrils concealed by numerous hairs. The female is destitute of the scarlet spot behind the head. It lives on larvæ, and occasionally on
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corn, while in the milk. This bird remains with us all winter. The female has four or five young at a brood, and usually in June.
The downy or small speckled woodpecker, frequents orchards, fruit trees, &c. It lives on the larvæ of insects. Its length is about six inches, and extent about twelve. These birds are usually seen in pairs.
The speckled woodpecker, which is intermediate, is about . seven inches in length, and about fourteen in extent. It is de- structive to corn when in the milk.
These birds continue with us during the winter. They make their nests in holes, which they form in decayed trees. The young amount usually to four.
The bluish grey woodpecker is about as large as the blue bird. It remains with us the whole year. ' It is very nimble, and can descend as well as ascend the side of a tree, moving in every possible direction. In form, it differs from all the picus tribe, in several particulars, besides those mentioned.
The humming bird is a genus of birds of the order pica. There is, we believe, but one species which frequents this State, and that is the T. colubris, or red throated humming bird. It is rather more than three inches long. Its plumage is highly splendid, and varying. It subsists on the nectar of flowers. They will suffer themselves to be approached very nearly; but on observing an attempt to take them, dart with the swiftness of an arrow. They go in pairs. We have seen them as early as the fourteenth of May.
The king fisher is about ten inches in length, and about fif- teen or sixteen inches in breadth. Its head is large ; its bill long ; its neck, tail and legs short. Its colour is blue, with some white feathers about its neck and under its wings. It has a comb of black feathers on its head, which it can ele- vate at pleasure. It lives on the borders of rivers, streams and lakes. Its subsistence is small fish, which it catches by plung- ing into the water. It darts upon its prey with unerring aim. The king fisher makes a hole in the bank of a river, stream, or lake, in which it deposites its eggs and rears its young.
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The hole extends horizontally into the bank two or three feet. The number of young which it brings forth at a brood, is four or five. It is a bird of passage, usually appearing the latter part of April, and disappearing towards the last of September. They go in couples. The young brood usually keep with the old during the season, and probably return with them to the south in autumn.
The king bird is about eight inches in length, and about thirteen in breadth. The colour of its head, the hinder part of its neck, its back, and the coverts of its wings and tail is a grey- ish brown; the chin, forepart of its neck, its breast, belly, and the under part of its wings and tail, a light grey, bordering upon white. It is very fierce, active and noisy. It attacks hawks, crows, and other birds, which approach its habitation. They come in May and depart in September. In the forepart of the season they are seen in pairs, and in the latter in families.
The hang bird, or red bird, is migratory. It arrives late in spring, and departs early in autumn. The plumage is black, with crimson shoulders, margined with yellow. The female has a less gay plumage. They visit all parts of the State. They construct their nest at the extremity of a limb, or among reeds, in marshy situations.
The golden robbin, or goldfinch, is a bird of passage, coming late in spring, and departing early in autumn. . :
The wild turkey is a native of America. In former times these birds were found in flocks, in our southern and west- ern counties, but we believe that latterly they have mostly left the State. They are still numerous in some parts of the middle, southern and western states. In its natural state, the wild turkey is larger, more vigerous, active and beautiful, than in the domestic. They breed once a-year, and produce some- times sixteen or eighteen. The young are very tender, and liable to injury, from cold, wet, and various other causes, which often prove fatal. This bird was originally a native of the southern parts of New England. Our stock of domestic turkey is probably derived from this source.
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, . Their colour is a very dark grey, intermixed with brown and black feathers. The male is darker than the female, and has a richer and more beautiful plumage.
The common ben has been introduced in most of its varieties, and has thrived as though it had been indigenous. The same remark will apply to the guinea-hen and peacock. The latter, from their inutility, are not common.
The patridge is about thirteen inches in length, being some- what less than a hen. It inhabits the forest, usually prefering thickets and sequestered places. , It is very prolific, bringing forth ten or twelve at a brood. The young follow the dam immediately on being hatched, and before the shell is wholly detached from them. The attachment of the mother, to the young, is strong and highly interesting. On the approach of an enemy, she advances towards him, and endeavours to direct · his attention to other objects, in order to allow her offspring an opportunity to secret themselves ; and whenever she has di- verted his attention towards herself, she moves off in an opposite direction, running first to the right and then to the left, and then direct from him. These movements she repeats, till she has succeeded in drawing him away to a distance. Man is the only being that she fails to mislead, and even him she will mislead, , unless he is acquainted with her arts.
The patridge remains here all the year. In spring and sum- mer they go in pairs, but in autumn and winter in small flocks. In general, these flocks consist of the male, female, and brood. They subsist on mast, berries, insects and buds. During win- ter, when the ground is covered with snow, the buds of trees seem to be their only food. The patridge is a very hardy bird. Its meat, although inferior to that of the domestic hen, is in high estimation.
The patridge is spotted. 'The ground colour is grey, inter- mixed with some white and brown, constituting a mottle. The covert feathers of the wings and tail incline most to the latter colour. The legs are blue. Experiments have been repeated- ly, but ineffectually made, to domesticate this bird. Its eggs have been introduced into the nest of the hen, and hatched, but VOL. I. 62
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the young, notwithstanding all the attention and care of the adopted mother, have abandoned her almost as soon as they gained an existence.
The patridge is distinguished, in one respect, from all our other birds, and that is this :- In spring the male selects the trunk of some fallen tree, surrounded by bushes, on which he mounts, and walking back and forth, stops at short intervals and drums. This he does by beating his wings against his body. During this operation he stands on his feet. The sound may be heard half a mile. This bird is improperly named. In some of the States it is called the pheasant, which name is more applicable. The patridge of the old world is a different bird.
The number of birds, in general, appear to have increased with the settlements.
The quail, which is also improperly named, is about seven inches long, being about half the size of the patridge. It is spotted, very nearly resembling the patridge in colour as well as shape. The quail is not a bird of passage. It may occa- sionally migrate on the approach of winter, and return in the spring, but if it does, it oftener remains here during the whole year. We have seen them in every month of the year, and in winters both severe and mild.
In spring and summer they go in pairs, but in fall and winter they assemble in small flocks. These sometimes consist of one brood, and sometimes of several.
The quail is susceptible of domestication, but when indulged with freedom, it soon betakes itself to its native solitudes.
Quails not only frequent woods and thickets, but fields .- They subsist on berries, insects, fruit, mast and buds. Their meat is considered a rare delicacy. They are found in the greatest numbers in the southern and western countries.
The field lark, or meadow lark, is about six inches in length. Its tail is short, its legs are long, its body short, round, and shaped somewhat like that of the quail. The colour of its back, and the covert feathers of its wings and tail is grey, with sothe brown and yellow. Its belly and breast are speckled .-
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It lives in meadows and thickets. It is melodious. The lark is a bird of passage. It departs in the early part of au- tumn, and returns the latter part of April, or the beginning of May. In spring they are seen in pairs, but in fall, in families of five, six, or seven. . The brood consists of four or five.
The lark builds its nest on the ground, in some thicket, or tuft of grass.
The sky lark comes late in the spring, and departs in Sep- tember.
. The robbin is somewhat smaller than the blue jay. Its head, neck, back, and the covert feathers of its wings and tail are a dark grey, bordering upon brown, and the breast and belly red. It is very melodious, particularly in spring .- Its notes are soft, sonorous, and musical, and very agreeable to the ear. They go in pairs. The young, amounting to three or four, usually remain with their parents during the season .- The robbin is a bird of passage : it arrives early in spring, and departs late in autumn. It is a hardy bird, and instances are , not wanting of its remaining with us all winter. We have seen it in December and January.
They, since the country has been improved, dwell mostly in the inhabited parts, and often near the habitation of man.
. The robbin is a harmless bird. When domesticated it is ac- tive, lively, and playful. It inhabits almost every part of North America. The species have multiplied exceedingly since the country has been cleared. This we attribute to an increase of food. The young do not receive their perfect plumage before the following season.
The robbin has been known to return to the same tree, and to have its nest on the same branch, for several years in succes- sion.
The thrush is nearly, or quite as large as the crow black bird. Its head is small ; its neck and body slender ; its tail long, and its wings short. The colour of its plumage, on its back, wings, tail and head, is a yellowish brown, intermixed with some grey ; its breast and belly are spotted, the ground being grey, interspersed with whitish spots. The thrush in-
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habits thickets. It is a bird of passage. Its notes are musi- cal. It generally sings towards evening. It seldom ventures far into the fields. It is a timerous and solitary bird, delight- ing in sequestered places. Thrushes go in pairs. The young remain with the parents till their departure.
The wood thrush (turdus melodes) is a bird of passage. It . makes its appearance late in spring, and takes its departure early in fall. They are seen in pairs.
The thrush, or mock bird (turdus polyglottus) is migratory. They go in pairs. They live in thick woods, and usually near clearings. They come late, and depart early.
'T'he common black bird, or crow black bird (turdus merula) is perfectly black. The males are distinguishable from the females by their size, and a beautiful glossy black about their necks, and on their breasts, which changes according to their position. In spring, and during incubation, they live in pairs. 'The young remain with the parents till they are able to pro- vide for themselves. The brood usually consists of three or four. In the latter part of summer, and the early part of au- tuma, they congregate in flocks. Some of these are very nu- merous. This seems to be preparatory to their departure for the south. They depart in the forepart of October.
The black bird prefers the cultivated parts of the country. It is a very mischievous bird. In May and June it commits great ravages in corn fields, by pulling up the corn. In fall it feeds on corn. Its ordinary food consists of worms, grass-hop- pers, and insects.
. The black bird is full of melody. Its notes, however, are harsh, and not very pleasing to the ear.
There are three other birds which annually visit us, which are called black birds.
The first is about as large as the robbin. Its form is like that of the crow black bird. Its colour is a very dark brown, ap- proaching to black. In spring and summer they are usually seen in pairs. In fall they gather in small flocks, at which time they pray on corn in the fields. These birds arrive later, and depart earlier than the preceding.
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The second is the red winged black bird, so called, because it has some red on its wings. It is smaller than the foregoing. It inhabits swamps, marshes, and along small streams, border- ed by meadows, and fringed with small trees. Its songs are melodious. They come late and depart early, and are com- monly seen in pairs. The female is less than the male, and has no red upon its wings.
The third does not differ much from the second in size. It has some white, tinctured with yellow, on its head, neck, back, and wings. It dwells in meadows, swamps and marshes, and , is musical. They come late and depart early. We have seen them, and the red winged black bird, on the tenth of May. .
The barn, or house swallow, arrives usually in April, and departs the latter part of September, or the forepart of Octo- ber. They live in pairs ; several of these are, however, to be seen about the same barn or house. Its colour, except the rump and vent feathers, which are red, is a dark brown, border- ing on black. The head and neck, and the covert feathers of its wings, are tinged with a delicate silky gloss. They build their nests with mud, grass and sticks, in barns and deserted houses. The young amount to three, four or five. The num- ber of swallows increase with the improvements. This is oc- casioned by an increase of food, and greater security.
The chimney swallow does not differ materially in dimen- sions from the preceding. Its colour is brown, approach- ing to black. The tail feathers are of equal length, naked and subulated, or pointed at the end. They go in pairs. They build their nests in chimneys, with twigs and cement, on the sides of the walls. The young amount to three or four. 'The chimney swallow appears in the spring, before the barn swal- low. Its flight, in autumn, is in the early part of October.
The barn and chimney swallow subsist on insects, which they catch upon the wing, and devour without lighting. They are almost constantly on the wing during the day. They fly with astonishing celerity, and seem capable of living in the air. Their manners are social. They are harmless bir !s.
The ground bank, or river swallow, is about as large as the
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preceding. It is so called, because it digs a horizontal hole in the bank of a river, stream, or lake, or other collection of wa- ter, where it makes its nest. The banks which it selects, are either perpendicular, or very steep, and consist of sand, sandy loam, argillaceous loam, or fine river alluvion. Its hole is two or three feet in length. It builds its nest at the . extremity. They go in flocks of several hundreds, nay, thousands. Each couple have their separate apartment. In some places the banks are perforated to a considerable dis- tance. In these retreats they are, in general, secure from every danger. Here they breed and bring up their young. Bank swallows invariably repair to the same place, unless disturbed.
The head, neck, back, and covert feathers of the wings and tail, are cincrous, and the chin and belly white. The ground swallow is sprightly, active, and quick on the wing. In form it very much resembles the barn swallow. Great numbers are annually to be seen in the vicinity of Schenectady. The bauks of the Mohawk, at this place, consisting of fine alluvions, seem particularly inviting.
The black martin is considerably larger than the barn swal- low. Its body and wings are much shorter in proportion to its size. The colour is a glossy black, inclining to brown. It is a gay, lively and musical bird. It is almost all the time on the wing. They go in pairs, however, when circumstances will permit, several families reside under the same roof, in separate apartments. They are fond of living near the habitation of man, and rarely fail to occupy such tenements as he prepares for them. They have from two to four at a brood, and usually hatch once while they remain with us. The martin makes its appearance in April, and takes its departure in September. It is a social and intertaining bird. Like the swallow, these birds have increased in numbers since the country has been improved. They come between the first and middle of April. On a recurrence of cold, which almost always happens, they disappear, but re-apper on its abatement.
Some very absurd copinions have been formed concerning the hybernation of the swallow. Among these, some have
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imagined that they retire to the bottoms of rivers, ponds and pools, where they bury themselves in the mud, and remain tor- pid till warm weather, in spring ; and others, that they betake themselves to the hollows of trees, or cavities in the banks of rivers, where they fall into the lethargic state, in which situation they continue till warm weather. How such ridiculous stories should ever have gained credence, is matter of surprise. Swal- lows, like other birds of delicate habits and constitutions, upon "the approach of cold weather, retire to the south, where they spend the winter. The countless numbers seen in the south- ern regions, from October to April, seem a sufficient refutation.
Swallows do not return on particular days, as some have al- leged. In their comings and goings, they are regulated by the weather. If the heats are early, and continued, they come sooner, and it is the same in respect to their departure. They cannot endure much cold. Hence, whenever there is a recur- rence of cold after their arrival, numbers die.
The pigeon is a migratory bird. In spring they pass to the north, where they spend the summer, and in autumn they re- turn to the south, where they spend the winter. The periods of their arrival and departure are not well defined. Sometimes they come as early as the latter part of March, while at other times, a month later. This seems to depend on the season, their arrival being earlier or later, according to the forward- ness or backwardness of the spring. They pass in their pe- riodical migrations, in flocks, which vary greatly in numbers. Some extend a mile or two in length, and consist of a count- less multitude, while others are small. The flocks are often seen following each other in quick succession, and at short in- tervals. These migrations frequently continue for several days.
After their arrival, they remain in flocks, for a short time, and then disperse in pairs in order to breed. They build their nests on trees, and usually have two young at a time. They hatch every month. They subsist on mast, wheat, peas, oats, rye and insects.
· The pigeon is of a light bluish cincrous colour-the neck and breast of the male is dashed with a beautiful purple, of a
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changable hue. The covert feathers of the wings and tail are. marked with some blackish spots and bands-the end of the tail feathers is tiped with white.
They are rather smaller than the domestic pigeon, and are good food. The domestic and wild pigeon do not breed together.
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