St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-07-24
Our Native Birds.

The American Redstart (cOrrupte,
from rOthstert, red tally though usual,
found i'll more secluded thickets ha,
this year made its appearance in ou
village, where the shade trees are the
largest and thickest The male i.
exceedingly brilliant, and dashing
When in full plumage, he is, on til.
head neck and back, glossy blue-black
sides of breast, lining of wings and
bases of wing -quills and tail feathers,
hame-cOlOr orange: ''this rich orange
making conspicous spot on the wings
and forming a transverse outline, with
the black on the tail" In size, it is IA
little larger than the GOld-finch.
II is one of the most active of the
tly-catching- -warblers, being almost
constantly on the move. 1t is Que OF
the most difficult birds to follow and
examine have found, it not being will
ling to remain quiet but few seconds
ut time. 1t is constantly chasing
about upon the limbs of trees for in
fly on the wing. During all this time
its cleaning colors are fully displayed
and flash in fine contrast with the
green leaves of the trees. There is
energy and dash in everything it does.
1t seems never at rest. 1t is strictly
insectiverous. The color of the female,
Olive-gray where the male is black, and
clear yellow where the male is orange
red
The song of the male-female birds
have no song, simply Il call-nOte-is of
not much account, still he is ever try
ing, as he is gliding along among the
branches OF the trees in quest of insects.
The song is quaint consisting of Il
warbling whistle. flute like yet mo-
notonOus. wish could write out the
songs of these different birds, for they
all have an individuality which is
charming and interesting. My thought
in giving yonr readers these articles is
to minutely and simply describe the
| birds, that those who are interested in
these charming summer visitors may
watch for themselves and catch the
song and Judge as to their merit and
accomplishments. The songs of birds
have not been so accurately written as
that they can be perfectly initiated by
| whistle or flute.
The Redstart comes to us about the
middle of May and leaves about the
first of September. 1t spends the win
ter in Guatemala and Central America.
After the middle of July the morn
ing bird-cOncerts are of less account.
One after another of our sweet singers
become silent and by the first of Au-
gust the number is so reduced that we
can hardly say we have any concert
at all. One of the few birds that con-
tinues singing after others are through,
1t belongs to the group of fly -catchers.
| The name of GreenIet has been given
from the prevalence of green or olive
tints in their plumage.
| The male and female are so nearly
alike that as they are seen i'll the trees
you can detect no difference. About
six inches long ian inch longer than
the GOldtinch) quite slender in form,
yellowish- olive above, extending on
sides of head and neck, crown ash
below pure white; wings and tail dark,
the feathers edged with olive outside.
The head is long, the bill long and
slender. Running from the base of the
bill lengthwise of the head and over
the eye to the back of the head is a
pure white stripe about One-eighth ot
an inch wide, with narrower line O
black separating the white stripe from
the ash of the crown. The eye is
bright red.
am particular in describing thi.
bird as it is difficult to find, although
he is daily singing in many parts of Ou
village and the woods adjoining. H,
is often mistaken for song sparrow
although entirely unlike in color ano
shape. They are usually concealed
high up among the elms and maplet
that overarch our streets. The vOic'
. of the little invisible sOngster is clear
: and musical. His notes are few an,