Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-10-19

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tBy Mabel osgood Wright. Published ~ ~
National Association Of Audubon Societies. il
wnen october comes, the fall migration
Is in full swing. The trees are full OF the
hustle OF comings and goings. and the
morning sun, that now gives little
heat before O'Clock, draws many night
travels from their seclusion to preen and
spread their feathers after dew-bs h in
the grass. Aside from call-notes, more or
less musical, there Is an absence of real
song, save in the case OF the meadowlark.
wh'te-throat or song sparrow, whose
cheerfalness is unconquera BILE, and the
murmurs OF the young OF the year, who
are often impelled to try their voices be-
fore their first spring.
As the birds OF summer vanish. We turn
eagerly to those that may be with us in
the cold season, and are divided techni-
caily into two groups = the winter resi-
dents and the winter visitants. We
might naturally think that birds thar can
stand the rigors and changes OF the win
ter, even in our middle states, must be Of
large size and powerful in wing; but Is
this always so?
NO. quite the contrary. OF course, the
resident hawks and owls are large, as is
also the crow; while the flicker, jay,
meadowlark, waxwing, crossbill and
robin are stable; but how about the
purple finch, myrtle warbler, blue bird,
song sparrow, chickadee, winter wren and
the golden-crowned knigletg
This kinglet is third in the list Of our
three "least" birds, the measurements of
the other two running thus: ruby
throated hummingbird, 3.75 inches in
length, winter wren 4.O6 inches, while the
golden-crowned kingIet is 407 inches.
The ruby-throat leaves with the first
warning Of frost, but the winter wren be-
comes familiar resident about wood piles
and brush-heaps, and the tiny kinglet
may be seen in all the coolest months.
How shall we know the kinglets,
crowned by their crests OF fame and gold,
or rubys They have no conspicuous flight
like the kingbird, no azure coat like the
biuebird, or familiar call and ways like
the chickadee.
When, in early October, you see the
shadow OF . tiny bird OF dusky olive
plumsge working industriously between
you and the sky among the terminal twigs
OF an apple tree, or maybe q spruce, then
watch out! The bird that acts and looks
like one OF the tribe Of wsrblers, SO hard
to identify in autumn, and has warbler
like voice, not only may be, but most
likely is, . kingiet.
Go ~ close Is possible and watch the
restless head atop the fluffy ball OF
feathers. Does q heavy black band
margin yellow line that encloses patch
OF fiery orange on top OF the birds head?
Then 1t Is the male golden-crowned
kingiet. II the patch is only black and
yellow, then the bird is female. II the
bird has two distinct white wing bars and
. white eye ring, and does not show the
striped head markings, it is likely to DO
the ruby crowned, whose flaming crest,
being partly concealed by olive feathers,
is conspicuous only in certain lights.
These two kinglets, though so much
alike in general appearance, have very
distinctive Municipalities. Both species
breed northward from the United States,
and are, therefore, only with us as q visi-
tors, yet their special attributes belong to
different seasons. II is for the exquisite
spring song OF the ruby-crowned that we
prize him; for, liks wandering minstrel,
he sings his way from tree-top to tree-top
along the nothern route to his breeding
haunts; while, though the call Of the
sprightiy golden-crowned is an almost
insect-like chirp, its value lies in its
cheerful winter companionship. Taking
them separately, this kinglet must have
right OF way Is being the moet easy OF
identification, not only from its brilliant
crown, but from its animated little song
teesee teezee -teezee, given in an ascend
ing key and ending in sort OF litter, half
cry, half laugh. This performance is
given constantly 81 the bird searches the
smallest twigs for the insect food upon
which its high vitality depends, for, aside
from all esthetic qualities, both kinglets
are great consumers Of the insects Of
the terminal shoots OF orchards and forest
trees that larger birds can not reach.
The range of this little bird extends
over North America from the Gulf states
northwsrd to the tree limit. Its general
nesting hsunts are from the "northern
United States northward, southwark
along the Rockies in Mexico, and In the
Alieghanies to North Carolina; winters
from its southern breeding limit to Mex
leo and the Gulf states"
The observations that give the most
detailed account OF its nesting habits we're
made in Worcester county, Mass, by
William Brewster. Three nests in all
were found, the first on June Is, when
the outside was practically finished and
the birds were working at the lining.
On June % it contained nine eggs. Mr..
Brewster's description, quoted freely, is
q follows: at was placed in slender
spruce on the south side, within two feet