Somewhat larger than an English sparrow; bill short, broad and rather
flat; head with pointed crest; wings long and pointed; tail short,
narrow, even; legs of moderate length. (Ridgway.)
Food: insects and fruit. Sexes usually alike. Found in trees in woods
and in shade and orchard trees.
12. Hirundinidæ: SWALLOWS.
About the size of an English, sparrow; bill short, flat, and very broad
at the head; mouth opens back nearly to the eyes; wings long and scythe
shaped; tail forked; legs short; feet weak; plumage compact and usually
lustrous. (Ridgway.)
Food: insects. Sexes usually alike, and young a little different. Found
in flocks, in the air, on roofs or fences or telegraph wires, sometimes
on trees.
13. Tanagridæ: TANAGERS.
Larger than an English sparrow; bill conical, notched, bristles; wings
longer than tail; tail of moderate length, somewhat notched; legs rather
short. (Ridgway.)
Food: insects. Sexes unlike. Found on trees in the woods.
14. Fringillidæ: FINCHES.
Mostly about the size of an English sparrow, some smaller, some larger;
bill short, high, and strong, turned down at the back corner; wings and
tail variable. (Ridgway.)
Seed and insect eaters. Found everywhere--on trees, bushes, on ground,
in woods, fields, and about houses.
15. Icteridæ: BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc.
Larger than an English sparrow; bill straight or gently curved; mouth
turned down at corners; tail rather long and rounded; legs rather short.
Includes birds of very different habits. (Ridgway.)
Food: seeds and insects. Sexes generally unlike. Found everywhere, on
trees, in marshes, in woods. Many gregarious, found in flocks, some
except in nesting season, and others all the year round.
16. Corvidæ: CROWS and JAYS.
Larger than a robin. There are two subfamilies.
CROWS: Bill longer than head; wings long and pointed; tail rather short
and even.
JAYS: Bill shorter than head; wings short and rounded. (Ridgway.)
Food: almost everything--seeds, fruit, sometimes eggs and young birds.
Found in woody places.
17. Alaudidæ: LARKS.
Larger than an English sparrow; bill short, conical, frontal feathers
extend along the side; wings pointed; claw on hind toe very long and
nearly straight. (Ridgway.)
Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. Found on ground in fields and roads.
18. Tyrannidæ: FLYCATCHERS.
Mostly larger than an English sparrow; bill broad, flattened, curved
downward at end, and notched at tip; bristles along the gape; wings and
tail variable. (Ridgway.)
Entirely insectivorous. Found in woods and fields and about houses.
19. Trochilidæ: HUMMINGBIRDS.
Our smallest birds; bill slender, sharp, and straight, usually longer
than head; wings long and pointed; legs short; feet small and weak;
claws curved and sharp. (Ridgway.)
Food: tiny insects and the honey of flowers. Sexes unlike. Found about
flowers.
20. Micropodidæ: SWIFTS.
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