The Birds of Floyd County, Iowa. (Part III. Continued)

Abstract

100. Coccyzus amneeicanus armericanus (Linn.) Yellowbilled Cuckoo. This. species is a common summer resident, arriving from May 28 to June 10, depending somewhat upon the season. Nests are built shortly after the birds, arrive, and eggs are laid in late June or early July. In the woods along the Cedar River both north and south of Charles City, and in the town itself, the species is very common. 101. Coccyzus erythropthalmmus (Wils.) Black-billed Cuckoo. A species about as common as the preceding and closely associated with it. It arrives somewhat earlier, my earliest record being May 13, 1914. By the last of May it is present in considerable numbers and nesting begins before that of the Yellow-bill. In general this species frequents towns less than the preceding, thougfh this conclusion may be open to question. I have found Brewster's (Chapman, Handbk. Bds. of Eastern N. A., 1916, 320) a very reliable means of identificationi. In cases where the bird was not seen, or was seen indistinctly, I have relied upon it. All important records, lhowever, are based on sight. 102. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.) Belted Kingfisher. A common summer resident, occasionally remaining throughout the winter. It arrives in the second or third week of March and remains until late October or early November. In 1920-21, a light winter, the Kingfisher stayed throughout the year, being seen on December 27 and 30 by Howard Clarke Brown. In both cases the birds were near Cedar River. Nesting takes place in May, along the banks of streams and to a lesser extent in the walls of sandpits and other cuts. The birds are commonly seen about Willow Pond, but have not been found to nest there. They show little fear of man, ( 230 )