search | about the author | about the text
(Emberiza Schęniclus, Linn.—L'Ortolan de Roseaux, Buff.)
THIS is less than the Yellow Bunting. The eyes are hazel; the head, throat, fore part of the neck, and breast are black, excepting a white line from each corner of the bill, passing downward a little, and forming a border which reaches the back part of the neck; the upper parts of the body and the wings are reddish brown, with a streak of black down the middle of each feather; the under part of the body is white, with brownish streaks on the sides; the rump and upper tail coverts bluish ash, mixed with brown; the quills are dusky, edged with brown; the two middle feathers of the tail are black, with pale brown edges; the rest wholly black, except the two outer ones, which are almost white, the ends tipped with brown, and the bases black; the legs and feet dusky brown. The female has no collar; her throat is not so black, and her head is variegated with black and rust colour; the white on her under parts is not so pure, but of a reddish cast.
Birds of this species frequent fens and marshy places, where there is abundance of rushes, among which they nestle. The nest is composed of dry grass, and lined with the soft down of the reed; it is fixed with great art between four reed stalks, two on each side, almost close to each other, and about three feet above the water. The female lays four or five eggs, pale bluish white, veined irregularly with purple, principally at the larger end. As its chief resort is among reeds, it is supposed that the seeds of that plant are its principal food; it is however frequently seen in the higher grounds near the roads, and sometimes in corn fields. They keep near the ground, and seldom perch except among the low bushes. The male, during the time of hatching, has a soft, melodious, warbling song, whilst he sits perched among the reeds, and is frequently heard in the night time. It is a watchful, timorous bird, and very easily alarmed; in captivity it sings but little, and only when perfectly undisturbed.
They are said to be migratory in France; with us they remain the whole year, and are seldom seen in flocks of more than three or four together. That from which the foregoing figure was taken, was caught during a severe storm in the middle of winter.
Page last modified 10/6/2000.
These pages are best viewed/printed with Internet Explorer, the browser that you're not using right now....
Like this page? Let me know. Hate it? Let me know that too. Click here to offer feedback.
©1999-2002 The edited materials, images, and photographs on this site should not be reproduced without the written permission of Peter Friesen. Contact peter.friesen@plattsburgh.edu for information.
