bird neighbors-第18章
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Early in the spring their song is sometimes heard before they leave us to woo and to nest in the north。 Mr。 Bicknell describes it as 〃a crisp call…note； a simple trill； and a faint； whispered warble； usually much broken； but not without sweetness。〃
WHITE…BREASTED NUTHATCH （Sitta carolinensis） Nuthatch family
Called also： TREE…MOUSE； DEVIL DOWNHEAD
Length 5。5 to 6 inches。 A trifle smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Upper parts slate…color。 Top of head and nape black。 Wings dark slate； edged with black； that fades to brown。 Tail feathers brownish black； with white bars。 Sides of head and underneath white； shading to pale reddish under the tail。 （Female's head leaden。） Body flat and compact。 Bill longer than head。 Range British provinces to Mexico。 Eastern United States。 Migrations October。 April。 Common resident。 Most prominent in winter。
〃Shrewd little haunter of woods all gray； Whom I meet on my walk of a winter day You're busy inspecting each cranny and hole In the ragged bark of yon hickory bole； You intent on your task； and I on the law Of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw！
The woodpecker well may despair of this feat Only the fly with you can compete！ So much is clear； but I fain would know How you can so reckless and fearless go； Head upward； head downward； all one to you； Zenith and nadir the same in your view？〃 Edith M。 Thomas。
Could a dozen lines well contain a fuller description or more apt characterization of a bird than these 〃To a Nuthatch〃？
With more artless inquisitiveness than fear； this lively little acrobat stops his hammering or hatcheting at your approach； and stretching himself out from the tree until it would seem he must fall off； he peers down at you； head downward； straight into your upturned opera…glasses。 If there is too much snow on the upper side of a branch； watch how he runs along underneath it like a fly； busily tapping the bark； or adroitly breaking the decayed bits with his bill； as he searches for the spider's eggs； larvae； etc。； hidden there； yet somehow； between mouthfuls； managing to call out his cheery quank！ quank！ hank！ hank！
Titmice and nuthatches； which have many similar characteristics； are often seen in the most friendly hunting parties on the same tree。 A pine woods is their dearest delight。 There； as the mercury goes down； their spirits only seem to go up higher。 In the spring they have been thought by many to migrate in flocks； whereas they are only retreating with their relations away from the haunts of men to the deep； cool woods； where they nest。 With infinite patience the nuthatch excavates a hole in a tree； lining it with feathers and moss； and often depositing as many as ten white eggs speckled with red and lilac） for a single brood。
RED…BREASTED NUTHATCH （Sitta canadensis） Nuthatch family
Called also： CANADA NUTHATCH
Length 4 to 4。75 inches。 One…third smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Lead…colored above； brownish on wings and tail。 Head； neck； and stripe passing through eye to shoulder； black。 Frontlet； chin； and shoulders white； also a white stripe over eye； meeting on brow。 Under parts light； rusty red。 Tail feathers barred with white near end； and tipped with pale brown。 Female Has crown of brownish black； and is lighter beneath than male。 Range Northern parts of North America。 Not often seen south of the most northerly States。 Migrations November。 April。 Winter resident。
The brighter coloring of this tiny； hardy bird distinguishes from the other and larger nuthatch； with whom it is usually seen； for the winter birds have a delightfully social manner； so that a colony of these Free masons is apt to contain not only both kinds of nuthatches and chickadees； but kinglets and brown creepers as well。 It shares the family habit of walking about the trees； head downward； and running along the under side of limbs like a fly。 By Thanksgiving Day the quank！ quank！ of the white…breasted species is answered by the tai…tai…tait！ of the red…breasted cousin in the orchard； where the family party is celebrating with an elaborate menu of slugs； insects' eggs； and oily seeds from the evergreen trees。
For many years this nuthatch； a more northern species than the white…breasted bird； was thought to be only a spring and autumn visitor； but latterly it is credited with habits like its congener's in nearly every particular。
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE （Lanius ludovicianus） Shrike family
Length 8。5 to 9 inches。 A little smaller than the robin。 Male and Female Upper parts gray； narrow black line across forehead； connecting small black patches on sides of head at base of bill。 Wings and tail black； plentifully marked with white； the outer tail feathers often being entirely white and conspicuous in flight。 Underneath white or very light gray。 Bill hooked and hawk…like。 Range Eastern United States to the plains。 Migrations May。 October。 Summer resident。
It is not easy； even at a slight distance； to distinguish the loggerhead from the Northern shrike。 Both have the pernicious habit of killing insects and smaller birds and impaling them on thorns； both have the peculiarity of flying； with strong； vigorous flight and much wing…flapping； close along the ground； then suddenly rising to a tree； on the lookout for prey。 Their harsh； unmusical call…notes are similar too； and their hawk…like method of dropping suddenly upon a victim on the ground below is identical。 Indeed； the same description very nearly answers for both birds。 But there is one very important difference。 While the Northern shrike is a winter visitor； the loggerhead； being his Southern counterpart； does not arrive until after the frost is out of the ground； and he can be sure of a truly warm welcome。 A lesser distiction between the only two representatives of the shrike family that frequent our neighborhood and they are two too many is in the smaller size of the loggerhead and its lighter…gray plumage。 But as both these birds select some high commanding position； like a distended branch near the tree…top； a cupola； house…peak； lightning…rod； telegraph wire； or weather…vane； the better to detect a passing dinner； it would be quite impossible at such a distance to know which shrike was sitting up there silently plotting villainies； without remembering the season when each may be expected。
NORTHERN SHRIKE （Lanius borealis） Shrike family
Called also： BUTCHER…BIRD； NINE…KILLER
Length 9。5 to 10。5 inches。 About the size of the robin。 Male Upper parts slate…gray； wing quills and tail black； edged and tipped with white； conspicuous in flight； a white spot on centre of outer wing feathers。 A black band runs from bill； through eye to side of throat。 Light gray below； tinged with brownish； and faintly marked with waving lines of darker gray。 Bill hooked and hawk…like。 Female With eye…band more obscure than male's； and with More distinct brownish cast on her plumage。 Range Northern North America。 South in winter to middle Portion of United States。 Migrations November； April。 A roving winter resident。
〃Matching the bravest of the brave among birds of prey in deeds of daring； and no less relentless than reckless； the shrike compels that sort of deference； not unmixed with indignation； we are accustomed to accord to creatures of seeming insignificance whose exploits demand much strength； great spirit； and insatiate love for carnage。 We cannot be indifferent to the marauder who takes his own wherever he finds it a feudal baron who holds his own with undisputed sway and an ogre whose victims are so many more than he can eat； that he actually keeps a private graveyard for the balance。〃 Who is honestly able to give the shrikes a better character than Dr。 Coues； just quoted？ A few offer them questionable defence by recording the large numbers of English sparrows they kill in a season； as if wanton carnage were ever justifiable。
Not even a hawk itself can produce the consternation among a flock of sparrows that the harsh； rasping voice of the butcherbird creates； for escape they well know to be difficult before the small ogre s
