. Bird notes afield; essays on the birds of the Pacific coast with a field check list . n its ecstasy of love-making, and the meddlesome, blue-fronted jay has the audac-ity to imitate its cries. There are two distinct species of the jayfamily commonly found in California, one inhabiting the low-lands especially, and known as the California jay, and theother chiefly haunting the coniferous regions, called the blue-fronted jay. The latter is a larger and more showy bird, witha conspicuous crest, which is wanting in the lowland back and head are of a smoky black color, which gradually
. Bird notes afield; essays on the birds of the Pacific coast with a field check list . n its ecstasy of love-making, and the meddlesome, blue-fronted jay has the audac-ity to imitate its cries. There are two distinct species of the jayfamily commonly found in California, one inhabiting the low-lands especially, and known as the California jay, and theother chiefly haunting the coniferous regions, called the blue-fronted jay. The latter is a larger and more showy bird, witha conspicuous crest, which is wanting in the lowland back and head are of a smoky black color, which graduallymerges into a dull blue on the upper tail-coverts and on thebreast. The wings and tail are a brilliant blue barred withblack, and a few streaks of the same mark the forehead. TheCalifornia jay is smaller and less striking in its coloring. Theunder parts are dull white, streaked with blue on the sides ofthe throat, the back is blue, varied with gray in the center,while above the eye is a well-defined streak of white. Both 1821 o c 2 n nXn > Dpi *T3 tnpaO Xmc 03 pi D H 2 m H IO rpi. MARCH IN THE PINE WOODS species are noisy, inquisitive, and vivacious in manners. Thenote of the CaHfornia jay may be described as a squawkinglaughter, while the blue-fronted jay calls a loud, rattling k^ick-kuck-k^ck-k^cJi, making the most hilarious clatter species have a great variety of subordinate calls, the mostinteresting of which is the imitation by the latter bird of the cryof the red-tailed hawk. Just why the jay should have cultivatedthis call—whether for the purpose of protection, from mimeticinstinct, or from pure love of mischief—I am unable to say,but certain it is, the imitation is so perfect that the most ex-perienced ear will oftentimes be deceived. TTiese mountainous pine forests are the home of a host ofsmaller birds. The barn and cliff swallows are once more intheir old haunts after their winters sojourn in the south, callingand chattering in high glee. Amid
Size: 1212px × 2062px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorkeel, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds
