[Citizen Bird by Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues]@TWC D-Link book
Citizen Bird

CHAPTER XVII
9/22

As these two belong to the Blackbird and Oriole family, we may as well have them now, though in the regular family procession the 'tramp' walks next to the Bobolink, who is such a vagrant himself.
"This Oriole takes his name because he was once supposed to hang his nest chiefly in the branches of orchard trees; but he is as likely to be found in the maples by the garden fence as anywhere else.
"He has a cheerful rolling song, as varied in its different tunes as that of the Song Sparrow.

It is not like a Robin's, or a Thrush's, or even like Brother Baltimore's; it is perfectly original, and before these birds leave the Orchard you must listen, to hear it for yourselves.
"Mrs.O.Oriole is a famous weaver; her grass nest, hung from a crotch, is one of the tidiest bits of basket-making in Birdland, and would do credit to human hands.

Yet she has only a beak for a shuttle or darning-needle--whichever you please to call it.

I think it is most like the needle of a sewing-machine, with the eye at the point, so that it pokes the thread through as it goes into the cloth, instead of pulling it through with the other end." The Orchard Oriole Length seven inches.
Male: black; the rump, breast, belly, and lesser wing-coverts chestnut.
Round black tail with whitish tips, and some whitish on the wings.
Female: grayish-green on the upper parts, greener on the tail, with paler bars on the wings; dull yellow on all the under parts.
The young male is like the female the first year, but a little browner on the back; next year he has a black throat; then he patches up his clothes till he looks like his father, all black and chestnut.
A Summer Citizen of the United States, west to the plains, north to some parts of the Northern States and Canada, travelling entirely south of the United States to spend the winter.
A pleasant though shy neighbor, and very good Citizen, belonging to the Ground Gleaners, Tree Trappers, and Seed Sowers.

Eats a little cultivated fruit for dessert, and should be welcome to it.
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE (THE HAMMOCK-MAKER) "The Baltimore Oriole is not so shy as his brother, and rather relies on keeping his nest out of sight than himself out of mind.


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