Identifier: birdcraftfield00wrig (find matches)
Title: Birdcraft : a field book of two hundred song, game, and water birds
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Wright, Mabel Osgood, 1859-1934 Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, 1874-1927
Subjects: Birds -- United States
Publisher: New York : Macmillan Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
: Round, very neat, and compact; of grass and moss, lined withseed and plant down, usually in a branch crotch. Eggs: 4-6, blue-white, generally unmarked. Bange: North America generally, wintering mostly south of thenorthern boundary of the United States. The American Goldfinch, known under many titles, is asfamiliar as the Ptobin, Catbird, and Wren, but its beautyand winning ways always seem new and interesting. Insouthern Connecticut, as well as in locations further northand east, it is resident, and is revealed through its variousdisguises of plumage by its typical dipping flight. Its spring song begins early in April, though its plumagedoes not resume the perfect yellow until late May; the songremains at its height all through July and well into August,but ceases, almost abruptly, at the end of that month (fromthe 20, to the 30, according to )^Ir. Bicknell). These Goldfinches do not mate until June, and sometimesnot until the last half of the month. They always choose 140 PLATE 28.
Text Appearing After Image:
1. SXOWFLAKE.Length. 7 inches. 2. AMERICAN GlLDFIXCH.Length, 5 inches. SONG-BIRDS. Pine Siskin for their nesting-place some large maples that grow by thesouthwest wall of the garden, extending their branches overa waste field, where dandelions, thistles, wild asters, andgoldenrod hold sway. A little before this time flocks ofbirds assemble about the garden and every Jack chooses hisJill, or vice versa. There is no more cheerful and confidinggarden companion than this Goldfinch. Seen even at a dis-tance his markings are distinct, his identity complete; youdo not have to puzzle or worry, but simply enjoy his society;he does not wish your berries, but helps you remove thedandelion down from the lawn before the wind sows itbroadcast, and all the while you hear Canary-like music,but wilder and more joyous, from behind a twig latticeinstead of cage bars. The black cap gives the male a ferocious look, whollyat variance with his character, while his mate is agreeablyfeminine and gentle. These

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