Western Bird Guide / Birds of the Rockies and West to the Pacific
The numbers and names used in this book are those adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union, and are known both in this country and abroad. The lengths given are averages; our small birds often vary considerably and may be found either slightly larger or smaller than those quoted.
On some of the pages a number of sub-species are mentioned. Sub-species often cause confusion, because they are usually very similar to the original; they can best be identified by the locality in which they are found.
The nests and eggs are described, as they often lead to the identity of a bird. We would suggest that you neatly, and with ink, make a cross against the name of each bird that you see in your locality, and also that you write at the top of the page the date of the arrival and departure of each bird as you note it; these dates vary so much in different localities that we have not attempted to give them. As many will not wish to soil their books we would suggest that they have a leather-covered copy for the library and a cloth one for pocket use.
DIVING BIRDS – Order Pygopodes
GREBES – Family Colymbidæ
WESTERN GREBE
This is the largest of the grebe family. In summer the back of the neck is black, but in winter it is gray like the back.
Nest.– A floating mass of decayed rushes, sometimes attached to the upright stalks; 2 to 5 pale bluish white eggs are laid, usually much nest stained (2.40 × 1.55). Breeding in colonies.
Range.– Western North America, from the Dakotas and Manitoba to the Pacific, and north to southern Alaska.
HOLBOELL GREBE
This is next to the Western Grebe in size, both being larger than any of the others. In summer, they are very handsomely marked, as shown in the illustration, but in winter have the usual dress of gray and white.
Nest.– Similar to above, the eggs averaging smaller (2.35 × 1.25).
Range.– North America, breeding from northwestern Alaska, in the interior of Canada and North Dakota. Winters usually on the coasts.
HORNED GREBE
In winter this Grebe is one of the plainest in its dress of gray and white, but summer brings a great change, making it one of the most attractive, with its black, puffy head, and buffy white ear tufts, the front of the neck a rich chestnut color. Their food consists almost wholly of small fish.
Nest.– Is a loosely built mass of vegetation floating in the bog and water holes of the western prairies. The eggs, 3 to 7 in number, are brownish yellow (1.70 × 1.15).
Range.– Breeds from Dakota and Illinois northward; winters to the Gulf of Mexico.
EARED GREBE
This species is rarely found as far east as the Mississippi River. In summer the neck is black, lacking the chestnut color of the former. It can always be distinguished from the Horned by the upper mandible being straight on the top.
Nest.– In colonies similar to the above, laying from 3 to 8 eggs, which are usually nest stained to a brownish cream color.
Range.– From the Mississippi to the Pacific, nesting from Texas to British Columbia.
PIED-BILLED GREBE
This species cannot be mistaken for any others of the grebes in any plumage, because of its stout compressed bill and brown eyes, all the others having red eyes. In summer the bill is nearly white, with a black band encircling it; the throat is black; breast and sides brownish-gray; the eye encircled with a white ring.
Nest.– Made of a mass of decayed weeds and rushes, floating in shallow ponds or on the edges of lakes among the rushes. Five to 8 brownish white eggs are laid (1.70 × 1.18).
Range.– Whole of N. A., breeding in small colonies or pairs.
LOON; GREAT NORTHERN DIVER
In shape and motions the loons very much resemble the grebes, except in size, being much larger. The common loon is the most beautiful of them all, having a velvety black iridescent head with slashes of white on the throat and neck and spots of white on the wings and back.
Nest.– Usually built under some shelter of bushes or rushes on the edge of some of the larger ponds or lakes. The two eggs are a yellowish brown, with black spots (3.50 × 2.25).
PACIFIC LOON
This species differs from the Loon in having the crown gray, and white streaks down the back of the neck, and in the color reflections of the black on the head. It is a trifle smaller also.
Nest.– Similar to the former, the eggs being more of a greenish brown, with the black spots mostly on the larger end (3.10 × 2).
Range.– Western N. A., breeding in Alaska and British Columbia; winters along the Pacific coast to Mexico.
RED-THROATED LOON
The smallest of the Loon family. The back and head are gray, there is a large patch of chestnut on the fore-neck; under parts white. Owing to the straight top to the upper mandible the bill has a slightly up-turned appearance.
Nest.– Similar to the other Loons, placed within a few feet of the water. The eggs are an olive brown with more markings usually than the others, and mostly on the larger end (2.90 × 1.75).
Range.– Along the western coast of North America.
AUKS, MURRES AND PUFFINS – Family Alcidæ
TUFTED PUFFIN; SEA PARROT
This is the largest of the family, they are odd looking birds, with short legs, stout bodies and very large, thin bills, highly colored with red and yellow, the feet are red and the eyes are white. They stand erect upon their feet and walk with ease.
Nest.– They breed commonly on the islands of the Pacific coast, laying their single white egg in burrows or crevices of the rocks. In some sections two or three broods are raised in a season (2.80 × 1.90).
Range.– Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska.
HORNED PUFFIN
This Puffin is similar to the common Puffin of the east, excepting that the blackish band across the throat extends upwards in a point to the bill.
Nest.– The same as the above, the single egg averaging smaller (2.65 × 1.80).
Range.– Islands of the northern Pacific to the Arctic ocean.
RHINOCEROS AUKLET
These birds have a much smaller bill than the Puffins; in the summer plumage there is a small horn at the base of the bill from which it is given its name. These birds do not stand upright as do the Puffins; but sit upon their tarsus.
Nest.– A