bird neighbors-第25节
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rs or the inquisitiveness of a human disturber of its peace。 But this gregarious habit and neighborly visit end even before acquaintance fairly begins； and the thrushes are off for their nesting grounds in the pine woods of New England or Labrador if they are travelling up the east coast； or to Alaska； British Columbia； or Manitoba if west of the Mississippi。 There they stay all summer； often travelling southward with the sparrows in the autumn； as in the spring。
Why they should prefer coniferous trees； unless to utilize the needles for a nest； is not understood。 Low trees and bushes are favorite building sites with them as with others of the family； though these thrushes disdain a mud lining to their nests。 Those who have heard the olive…backed thrush singing an even…song to its brooding mate compare it with the veery's； but it has a break in it and is less simple and pleasing than the latter's。
LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH （Seiurus motacilla） Wood Warbler family
Length 6 to 6。28 inches。 Just a trifle smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Grayish olive…brown upper parts； with conspicuous white line over the eye and reaching almost to the nape。 Underneath white； tinged with pale buff。 Throat and line through the middle； plain。 Other parts streaked with very dark brown； rather faintly on the breast； giving them the speckled breast of the thrushes。 Heavy； dark bill。 Range United States； westward to the plains； northward to southern New England。 Winters in the tropics。 Migrations Late April。 October。 Summer resident。
This bird； that so delighted Audubon with its high…trilled song as he tramped with indefatigable zeal through the hammocks of the Gulf States； seems to be almost the counterpart of the Northern water thrush； just as the loggerhead is the Southern counterpart of the Northern shrike。 Very many Eastern birds have their duplicates in Western species； as we all know； and it is most interesting to trace the slight external variations that different climates and diet have produced on the same bird； and thus differentiated the species。 In winter the Northern water thrush visits the cradle of its kind； the swamps of Louisiana and Florida； and； no doubt； by daily contact with its congeners there； keeps close to their cherished traditions； from which it never deviates farther than Nature compels； though it penetrate to the arctic regions during its summer journeys。
With a more southerly range； the Louisiana water thrush does not venture beyond the White Mountains and to the shores of the Great Lakes in summer； but even at the North the same woods often contain both birds； and there is opportunity to note just how much they differ。 The Southern bird is slightly the larger； possibly an inch； it is more gray； and it lacks a few of the streaks； notably on the throat； that plentifully speckle its Northern counterpart； but the habits of both of these birds appear to be identical。 Only for a few days in the spring or autumn migrations do they pass near enough to our homes for us to study them； and then we must ever be on the alert to steal a glance at them through the opera…glasses； for birds more shy than they do not visit the garden shrubbery at any season。 Only let them suspect they are being stared at； and they are under cover in a twinkling。
Where mountain streams dash through tracts of mossy； spongy ground that is carpeted with fern and moss； and overgrown with impenetrable thickets of underbrush and tangles of creepers such a place is the favorite resort of both the water thrushes。 With a rubber boot missing； clothes torn； and temper by no means unruffled； you finally stand over the Louisiana thrush's nest in the roots of an upturned tree immediately over the water； or else in a mossy root…belaced bank above a purling stream。 A liquid…trilled warble； wild and sweet； breaks the stillness； and； like Audubon； you feel amply rewarded for your pains though you may not be prepared to agree with him in thinking the song the equal of the European nightingale's。
NORTHERN WATER THRUSH （Seiurus noveboracensis） Wood Warbler family
Called also： NEW YORK WATER THRUSH； AQUATIC WOOD WAGTAIL； AQUATIC THRUSH
Length 5 to 6 inches。 A trifle smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Uniform olive or grayish brown above。 Pale buff line over the eye。 Underneath； white tinged with sulphur yellow； and streaked like a thrush with very dark brown arrow headed or oblong spots that are also seen underneath wings。 Range United States； westward to Rockies and northward through British provinces。 Winters from Gulf States southward。 Migrations Late April。 October。 Summer resident。
According to the books we have before us； a warbler； but who； to look at his speckled throat and breast； would ever take him for anything but a diminutive thrush； or； studying him from some distance through the opera…glasses as he runs in and out of the little waves along the brook or river shore； would not name him a baby sandpiper？ The rather unsteady motion of his legs； balancing of the tail； and sudden jerking of the head suggest an aquatic bird rather than a bird of the woods。 But to really know either man or beast； you must follow him to his home； and if you have pluck enough to brave the swamp and the almost impenetrable tangle of undergrowth where the water thrush chooses to nest； there 〃In the swamp in secluded recesses； a shy and hidden bird is warbling a song；〃 and this warbled song that Walt Whitman so adored gives you your first clue to the proper classification of the bird。 It has nothing in common with the serene； hymn…like voices of the true thrushes； the bird has no flute…like notes； but an emphatic smacking or chucking kind of warble。 For a few days only is this song heard about the gardens and roadsides of our country places。 Like the Louisiana water thrush； this bird never ventures near the homes of men after the spring and autumn migrations； but； on the contrary； goes as far away from them as possible； preferably to some mountain region； beside a cool and dashing brook； where a party of adventurous young climbers from a summer hotel or the lonely trout fisherman may startle it from its mossy nest on the ground。
FLICKER （Colaptes auratus） Woodpecker family
Called also： GOLDEN…WINGED WOODPECKER； CLAPE； PIGEON WOODPECKER； YELLOWHAMMER； HIGH HOLE OR HIGH…HOLDER； YARUP； WAKE…UP； YELLOW…SHAFTED WOODPECKER
Length 12 to 13 inches。 About one…fourth as large again as the robin。 Male and Female Head and neck bluish gray； with a red crescent across back of neck and a black crescent on breast。 Male has black cheek…patches； that are wanting in female。 Golden brown shading into brownish…gray； and barred with black above。 Underneath whitish； tinged with light chocolate and thickly spotted with black。 Wing linings； shafts of wing； and tail quills bright yellow。 Above tail white； conspicuous when the bird flies。 Range United States； east of Rockies； Alaska and British America； south of Hudson Bay。 Occasional on Pacific slope。 Migrations Most commonly seen from April to October。 Usually Resident。
If we were to follow the list of thirty…six aliases by which this largest and commonest of our woodpeckers is known throughout its wide range； we should find all its peculiarities of color； flight； noises； and habits indicated in its popular names。 It cannot but attract attention wherever seen； with its beautiful plumage； conspicuously yellow if its outstretched wings are looked at from below； conspicuously brown and white if seen upon the ground。 At a distance it suggests the meadowlark。 Both birds wear black； crescent breast decorations； and the flicker also has the habit of feeding upon the ground； especially in autumn； a characteristic not shared by its relations。
Early in the spring this bird of many names and many voices makes itself known by a long； strong； sonorous call； a sort of proclamation that differs from its song proper； which Audubon。 calls 〃a prolonged jovial laugh〃 （described by Mrs。 Wright as 〃Wick； wick； wick； wick！〃） and differs also from its rapidly repeated； mellow； and most musical cub； cub； cub； cub； cub； uttered during the nesting season。
Its nasal kee…yer； vigorously called out in the autumn； is less characteristic； however； than the sound it makes while associating with its fellows on the feeding ground a sound that Mr。 Frank M。 Chapman says can be closely imitated by the swishing of a willow wand。
A very ardent and ridiculous…looking lover is this bird； as； with tail stiffly spread； he sidles up to his desired mate and bows and bobs before her； then retreats and advances； bowing and bobbing again； very often with a rival lover beside him （whom he generously tolerates） trying to outdo him in grace and general attractiveness。 Not the least of the bird's qualities that must commend themselves to the bride is his unfailing good nature； genial alike in the home and in the field。
The 〃high…holders〃 have the peculiar and silly habit of boring out a number of superfluous holes for nests high up in the trees； in buildings； or hollow wooden columns； only one of which they intend to use。 Six white eggs is the proper number for a household； but Dr
