BLACKBIRD

From Agepedia

BLACKBIRD ; a trivial name, applied to birds of different species, and distinct genera, but properly belonging to a species of the genus quiscalus, as restricted by prince C. L. Bonaparte, di Musignano, the latest and most accurate writer on ornithological nomen clature. The true blackbirds are either of a rich, glossy black, showing metallic reflections, purple, or ferruginous; being altogether free from maculation. The kinds improperly called blackbird, such as the redwing, cowbird, &c, have bright colors, and are species of icterus or troupial.All the blackbirds are gregarious and migratory, diffusing themselves in vast flocks from south to north; returning thence as the cold season approaches. They build their nests in trees, socially, and lav about five eggs. The young are unlike, the adult birds.Three species of blackbird are known in the United States; among these, the great croioblackbird (Q. major, Vie!.), is the largest, and, as its name implies, strongly resembles, in all respects, the mischievous plunderer of our cornfields. The male is 16 inches long, having a most glossy black plumage; the tail is cuneiform, and, when the wings are folded, they extend nearly five inches beyond it. The female is of a light brown color, whitish beneath, and twelve and a half inches long. This species is found in the Southern States, principally along the seacoast: it also inhabits Mexico, and is said to be common in the West Indies.The rusty grakle, or blackbird, is nine inches long. Its migrations extend from the south, where it winters, to as far north as within the arctic circle, where it breeds. According to Pennant, they arrive in the vicinity of Hudson's bay about the beginning of June, when the ground is sufficiently thawed to allow them access to the grubs and worms, upon which they chiefly feed. They sing finely until they have ceased laying, and when the young are fledged, they again resume their song. Their nests are formed of moss and grass, and placed in trees about eight feet from the ground. They pass through the Middle States, on their northern tour, early in April: in September, they collect in vast flocks, to seek their winterquarters in the south.The purple grakle, lesser or common ci'oivblackbird, (.Q. versicolor', Viel.), is the most notorious of these sable plunderers. On their first arrival in the Middle States from the south, which is in the latter part of March, they come in scattered flocks, and are most frequent in swamps, meadows, and recently ploughed ground. At this season, they consume an immense number of destructive insects, and, if they continued to feed on such food, they would be among the farmer's chief benefactors. Towards the beginning or middle of April, they begin to build upon the tall pines or cedars nearest to the fields whence they obtain their food. As many as 10 or 15 nests have been found on the same tree. The nests are about five inches in diameter, composed, externally, of long stalks and knotty grassroots, and are lined with horsehair, &c. The eggs are of a bluisholive hue, with large spots, and irregular streaks of dark brown. The period when the green blade of the young Indian corn begins to sprout above the surface of the ground is that in which the common crowblackbird commences its ravages. Vast flocks, chattering and screaming, as if anticipating the pleasures of the feast, descend upon the soil, and pluck the swelling grain from its recess. In. a few hours, the careful husbandman beholds his fair prospect of an ample harvest almost destroyed, and that, too, with but little chance of his being able to remedy the evil. It is true that the guns are commonly put in requisition, and a few volleys, fired among these insolent thieves, destroy a small part of their numbers. But they only change their place to other parts of the field, and return ere long to renew the assault with increased activity. It is not until the month of November that they begin to collect their forces, now renovated and augmented by their young, to seek the genial climate of the south for the winter. When we consider that a very ample quantity of corn is produced, notwithstanding the depredations of these and other birds, and recollect the vast number of insects they consume before their attacks upon the corn begin, we shall be inclined to agree with our great ornithologist, Wilson, that the service they render the cultivator by devouring the insects is quite an adequate compensation for the tax they levy upon the grain. If we extend our observation a little further, and remark that these birds destroy the insects before they have attained their perfect or breeding state, and that a single fly or bug is capable of laying thousands of eggs, the magnitude of the benefit they confer upon mankind may be more accurately appreciated. Nevertheless, it is perfectly right, that, during their ravages upon the grainfield, they should be driven off and destroyed. The extermination of the species is as impossible as the wish to effect it would be ridiculous. If such an event could be brought about, we should speedily be convinced, that the supreme Author of nature had devised all things in wisdom, by discovering, that, without the aid of these seemingly useless creatures, the earth would be despoiled of its vegetation, and the habitations of man become loathsome from the multiplication of voracious and disgusting worms.