Painted

1911

Published

1929

Volume

12

Plate

761

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Robin

Planesticus migratorius migratorius

DESCRIPTION

THRU the valley mist on this early August morning a ROBIN is half-heartedly singing. The notes lack the zest and vigor of Spring but they carry me back over half a century to a morning in April when I walked with my father in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

He stopped to talk with a "cop" on the number of birds feeding in the Long Meadow.

"Weel, it's gude ter see the Fieldfares here -- bonny as on the moors o' home. Our birds hav' no' ther red."

"He called them Fieldfares — they're Robins!"

Note that the question mark is absent. I had opinions even at the age of eight. Father explained that "Fieldfare" was the European name of a related species and tried to have me read Nuttall's description of our Robin. Without success for the bird fever did not hit me until two years later, after father's death. I have always been glad, tho, that I yielded to his wishes and learned to recite for him a poem from English Poets which I still remember. (The book was added to some bibliothief's collection, thereby illustrating a quirk in human ethics I have never understood — many will steal obiects for their collections who would not take pennies belonging to others.)

"Little bird with bosom red —
Welcome to my humble shed!
Courtly domes of high degree
Have no room for thee or me."

The author? — I have forgotten.

Robin eggs were the cornerstone of my egg collection and from the day I was nabbed when taking them from a nest in the park, Robins have been associated more often than other species with my bird adventures.

Toward noon the breeze wore from the nor'ard around into the sou'east, trailing a November fog in its skirts.

The fishing schooner Eva and Annie usually was easy to steer. She was another proposition, tho, when loaded deep with a breeze on the quarter.

"Take her while I get the lead goin'. And don' let her edge out! Nor'west won't much more'n make Minot's, tho the course is west."

That bucket certainly seemed to know the Skipper's hand was no longer on the spokes and made up her mind to have a romp all over the feathered jade green waters.

Andrews came astern.

" 'bout off 'Peaked.' There's some passengers come aboard for'ard. Friends o'yours. Better see 'em."

Five Robins had landed in the bows and were resting on hawser coils. I gathered them up, too tired to protest much; gave them freedom of the cabin, and shooed the lot out of the companionway when lights commenced twinkling in Boston town.

Your feathered form we'd love to see
Upon your favorite appletree.
We'd love to hear
Your sweet and clear
Announcement of your coming.
But do not trust the calendar;
You'll be far happier where you are;
For tho' it's spring
The frosts still sting
And wintry winds are humming!

If come you must, you'd better tote
An extra heavy overcoat,
For still there may
Arrive some day
A Marchy sort of blizzard.
And tho the snows may disappear,
The gales we have this time of year
With icy sleet
Will coat your feet
And chill you to the gizzard!

We cannot tell you how we long
To hear once more your evening song,
But while the cold
Won't lease its hold,
And snowflakes whirl and flurry,
If you will take a friendly tip
You will not make that northward trip
For some weeks yet
So do not get
In too darned big a hurry!
—Montague

The poet's prophecy came true a few years ago here in southern New England. The first three weeks of March were fair and beguiling as Cleopatra or any other ancient or modern Circe and then — "the woman scorned!" She remained in that mood for the last three days of gales and continuous snow. That fit of temper killed thousands of Robins and just about wiped out Bluebirds.

Robins adapt themselves readily to changed natural conditions and are among the most friendly of our birds. They have a self-confident, almost martial air which wins and holds our admiration. Watch one run swiftly across the lawn, stop suddenly, stand so straight as to seem balanced on its tail; then bend horizontally with saucily cocked head, listening. There is little doubt its hearing reveals the worm moving beneath, and after a few energetic jabs the victim is usually hauled forth.

Before the blizzard, sixteen pairs nested around the house. The number since has never been more than six. They are quick to note the absence of their arch enemy, the domestic cat, and often build in colonies where Grimalkin prowleth not. (The "wood cats" which wander into my orchard are presented with an opportunity of traveling on the Supernatural Unlimited.)

In some states Robins were listed under "game birds." Think of it! This ruddy vested songster with scarce meat enuf on its bones for one bite; — a game bird! — Shades of Frank Forester!

Happily, state laws on migratory birds have been superseded and since placed under federal protection their destruction is no longer allowed in the United States.

Their appeal is as wide as their range which is universal in North America.

I have picked them up under pokeberry bushes and chokecherry trees, cargoed so heavily with the fruit — with juice streaming over their vests — that they were unable to move. Since gluttony kills far more often than drunkeness, there should be an amendment to the Volstead law prohibiting over-indulgence in food by birds and other people!

A robin built its nest last spring near the top of a pile of white oak planking belonging to the Birch Valley Lumber Company of Toga, West Virginia. When a Philadelphia lumber concern sought to buy the lumber it received the following answer: — "If you should care for this car of lumber we would not accept your order unless we could hold same for two or three weeks. The truth is, a robin built a nest in the pile and has hatched out a nice family. We are going to give them a chance." Gentlemen — all!

BREEDING

NEST, a symmetrical bowl of mud reinforced with leaves and twigs frequently interwoven with twine, paper and rags, and lined with grass. Located nearly anywhere (in barns, sheds, outbuildings or house gutters) but usually on horizontal limbs of orchard trees.

EGGS, 4 or 5, plain greenish blue.

RANGE

North America. Breeds in Boreal, Transition and Upper Austral zones from tree limit in northwestern Alaska, southwestward to Wyoming, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and in Alleghenies to North Carolina. Winters from central Kansas, Ohio valley and New Jersey (irregularly further north) to Gulf coast and Florida.

Scarlet Haw

Crataegus coccinea

DESCRIPTION

A bushy tree, rarely 20 feet high, distributed from Newfoundland to Connecticut, near the sea and thru the St. Lawrence Valley to western Quebec.

robin
cactus-wren-bryant-cactus-wren-san-lucas-cactus-wren
Cactus Wren, Bryant Cactus Wren, San Lucas Cactus Wren
713-713a-713b
rock-wren-san-nicolas-rock-wren-guadalupe-rock-wren
Rock Wren, San Nicolas Rock Wren, Guadalupe Rock Wren
715-715a-715b
white-throated-wren-canyon-wren-dotted-canyon-wren
White-Throated Wren, Canyon Wren, Dotted Canyon Wren
717-717a-717b
carolina-wren-florida-wren-lomita-wren
Carolina Wren, Florida Wren, Lomita Wren
718-718a-718b
bewick-wren-vigor-wren-baird-wren
Bewick Wren, Vigor Wren, Baird Wren
719-719a-719b
san-clemente-wren-guadalupe-wren
San Clemente Wren, Guadalupe Wren
719.1-720
texas-wren-san-diego-wren-seattle-wren
Texas Wren, San Diego Wren, Seattle Wren
719c-719d-719e
house-wren-western-house-wren
House Wren, Western House Wren
721-721a
winter-wren-western-winter-wren-kadiak-winter-wren
Winter Wren, Western Winter Wren, Kadiak Winter Wren
722-722a-722b
alaska-wren-aleutain-wren
Alaska Wren, Aleutian Wren
723-723.1
short-billed-marsh-wren
Short-Billed Marsh Wren
724
long-billed-marsh-wren-tule-wren
Long-Billed Marsh Wren, Tule Wren
725-725a
worthington-marsh-wren-western-marsh-wren-prairie-marsh-wren-marian-marsh-wren
Worthington Marsh Wren, Western Marsh Wren, Prairie Marsh Wren, Marian Marsh Wren
725b-725c-725d-725e
brown-creeper-mexican-creeper
Brown Creeper, Mexican Creeper
726-726a
rocky-mountain-creeper-california-creepeer-sierra-creeper
Rocky Mountain Creeper, California Creeper, Sierra Creeper
726b-726c-726d
white-breasted-nuthatch-slender-billed-nuthatch-florida-white-breasted-nuthatch
White-Breasted Nuthatch, Slender-Billed Nuthatch, Florida White-Breasted Nuthatch
727-727a-727b
rocky-mountain-nuthatch-san-lucas-nuthatch
Rocky Mountain Nuthatch, San Lucas Nuthatch
727c-727d
red-breasted-nuthatch
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
728
brown-headed-nuthatch
Brown-Headed Nuthatch
729
pygmy-nuthatch-white-naped-nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch, White-Naped Nuthatch
730-730a
tufted-titmouse
Tufted Titmouse
731
black-crested-titmouse-sennett-titmouse
Black-Crested Titmouse, Sennett Titmouse
732-732a
plain-titmouse-gray-titmouse-ashy-titmouse
Plain Titmouse, Gray Titmouse, Ashy Titmouse
733-733a-733b
bridled-titmouse
Bridled Titmouse
734
chickadee-long-tailed-chickadee
Chickadee, Long-Tailed Chickadee
735-735a
oregon-chickadee-yukon-chickadee
Oregon Chickadee, Yukon Chickadee
735b-735c
carolina-chickadee-plumbeous-chickadee-florida-chickadee
Carolina Chickadee, Plumbeous Chickadee, Florida Chickadee
736-736a-736b
mexican-chickadee
Mexican Chickadee
737
mountain-chickadee-bailey-mountain-chickadee
Mountain Chickadee, Bailey Mountain Chickadee
738-738a
alaska-chickadee
Alaska Chickadee
739
hudsonian-chickadee-acadian-chickadee
Hudsonian Chickadee, Acadian Chickadee
740-740a
chestnut-backed-chickadee-california-chickadee-barlow-chickadee
Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, California Chickadee, Barlow Chickadee
741-741a-741b
bushtit-california-bushtit-grinda-bushtit
Bushtit, California Bushtit, Grinda Bushtit
743-743a-743b
lead-colored-bushtit-lloyds-bushtit
Lead Colored Bushtit, Lloyd Bushtit
744–745
verdin-cape-verdin
Verdin, Cape Verdin
746-746a
wrentit-pallid-wrentit
Wrentit, Pallid Wrentit
747-747a
coast-wrentit-ruddy-wrentit
Coast Wrentit, Ruddy Wrentit
747b-747c
golden-crowned-kinglet
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
748
western-goden-crowned-kinglet
Western Golden-Crowned Kinglet
748a
ruby-crowned-kinglet
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
749
sitka-kinglet
Sitka Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
749a
dusky-kinglet
Dusky Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
749b
blue-gray-gnatcatcher-western-gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Western Gnatcatcher
751-751a
plumbeous-gnatcatcher-black-tailed-gnatcatcher
Plumbeous Gnatcatcher, Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher
752-753
townsends-solitaire
Townsend’s Solitaire
754
wood-thrush
Wood Thrush
755
veery
Veery
756
willow-thrush
Willow Thrush
756a
gray-cheeked-thrush-bicknells-thrush
Gray-Cheeked Thrush, Bicknell’s Thrush
757-757a
russet-backed-thrush
Russet-Backed Thrush
758
olive-backed-thrush
Olive-Backed Thrush
758a
alaska-hermit-thrush
Alaska Hermit Thrush
759
audubons-hermit-thrush
Audubon’s Hermit Thrush
759a
hermit-thrush
Hermit Thrush
759b
dwarf-hermit-thrush-monterey-hermit-thrush-sierra-hermit-thrush
Dwarf Hermit Thrush, Monterey Hermit Thrush, Sierra Hermit Thrush
759c-759d-759e
robin
Robin
761
western-robin-southern-robin
Western Robin, Southern Robin
761a-761b
san-lucas-robin
San Lucas Robin
762
varied-thrush
Varied Thrush
763
northern-varied-thrush
Northern Varied Thrush
763a
wheatear-greenland-wheatear
Wheatear, Greenland Wheatear
765-765a
bluebird
Bluebird
766
azure-bluebird
Azure Bluebird
766a
western-bluebird
Western Bluebird
767
chestnut-backed-bluebird
Chestnut-Backed Bluebird
767a
san-pedro-bluebird
San Pedro Bluebird
767b
mountain-bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
768