The nesting season of this charming bird extends to the latter part of
July, but varies with the latitude and season. Bark strips and leaves
interwoven with various vegetable substances compose the nest, which is
usually built on a horizontal or drooping branch, near its extremity and
situated at the edge of a grove near the roadside. Davie says: "All the
nests of this species which I have seen collected in Ohio are very thin
and frail structures; so thin that the eggs may often be seen from
beneath. A nest sent me from Lee county, Texas, is compactly built of
a cottony weed, a few stems of Spanish moss, and lined with fine grass
stems." Mr. L. O. Pindar states that nests found in Kentucky are
compactly built, but not very thickly lined. The eggs are beautiful,
being a bright, light emerald green, spotted, dotted, and blotched with
various shades of lilac, brownish-purple, and dark brown.
Chapman says the Summer Tanager may be easily identified, not alone by
its color but by its unique call-note, a clearly enunciated _chicky,
tucky, tuck_. Its song bears a general resemblance to that of the
Scarlet, but to some ears is much sweeter, better sustained, and more
musical. It equals in strength, according to one authority, that of the
Robin, but is uttered more hurriedly, is more "wiry," and much more
continued.
The Summer Tanager is to a greater or less extent known to farmers as
the Red Bee-Bird. Its food consists largely of hornets, wasps, and bees.
The male of this species requires several years to attain the full
plumage. Immature individuals, it is said, show a mixture of red and
yellow in relative proportions according to age. The female has more red
than the male, but the tint is peculiar, a dull Chinese orange, instead
of a pure rosy vermilion, as in the male.
An interesting study for many of our readers during the summer months
when the Tanagers are gay in their full plumage, would be to seek out,
with BIRDS in hand, the most attractive denizens of the groves,
identifying and observing them in their haunts until the entire group,
of which five species are represented in the United States, is made
familiar. When we remember that there are about three hundred and eighty
known species of Tanagers in Tropical America, it would seem a light
task to acquaint oneself with the small family at home.
THE AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.
"As stupid as a Goose!"
Yes, I know that is the way our family is usually spoken of. But then
I'm not a tame Goose, you know. We wild fellows think we know a little
more than the one which waddles about the duck-pond in your back yard.
He sticks to one old place all the time. Waddles and talks and looks the
same year after year. We migratory birds, on the other hand, fly from
place to place. Our summers are passed here, our winters there; so that
we pick up a thing or two the common Goose never dreams of.
"The laughing Goose!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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