BIRDS OF.LHE.VICINITY.OF NEW YORK CITY 137 Least Tern (Sterna antillarum). Formerly a common summer resident in suitable places on the coasts in this vicinity, but now occurs only as a rare migrant.
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa). A southern species, not breeding north of North Carolina, but occasionally straying farther up the coast. It has been recorded from Lake Ronkonkoma, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, III, 1886, p. 433), and Highland Falls, N. Y. (Mearns, Bull. Essex. Inst. XII, 1879, 87). Black Tern Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis). A species cf the ~ 5S interior, breeding from Kansas and Illinois to Alaska. Occurs on the Atlantic ccast as an irregular migrant, usually in the fall, sometimes in considerable numbers.
Fic. 2. TERN.
Famity RYNCHOPIDA£. Skimmers.
Black Skimmer (Rynchops nigra). A southern species, not breeding north of Maryland, but occasionally wandering up the coast after the breeding season. There are several records of its occurrence on Long Island during the summer.
OrpeR TUBINARES. TusBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.
Famity PROCELLARIIDA. FurtmMars anp SHEARWATERS.
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis). An arctic species which sometimes wanders southward to Massachusetts. One was found in an exhausted condition at Ridgewood, New Jersey, December, 1892, after a storm (Hales, Orn. and O6]., XVII, 1892, p. 30).
Cory’s Shearwater (Puffinus borealis). A pelagic species, sometimes not uncommon off our coasts from August to November. It has _ been recorded from Amagansett (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 5). to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but doubtless occurs along our coast to the southward. Braislin records two specimens shot off Fire Island Inlet, October 4, 1902 (Auk, XXI, 1004, p. 287).
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138 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis). A pelagic species, found on the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Horn to Greenland. Its breeding place is unknown. It appears off our coasts in early June and is irregularly common until November.
Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus Jherminieri). A southern species, breeding in the Bahamas and Bermudas, and rarely wandering northward to Long Island (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 173).
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus). Known from the North Atlantic southward to South Carolina. It is found off our coasts associated with the Greater Shearwater, but is much less common.
The Stormy Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) is included by Lawrence in his “Catalogue of Birds Observed on New York Island” etc., but the record is not accompanied by data, nor is there a specimen of the bird from this vicinity in the Lawrence Collection.
Leach’s Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). Breeds from Maine northward, and in the winter ranges southward to Virginia. It is rather uncommon in this vicinity.
Wilson’s Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). Nests in the islands of the Southern Seas (Kerguelen Island) in January and February and migrates northward after the breeding season, reaching the waters of our coasts in May and remaining until late September. It sometimes enters the Lower Bay of New York harbor in numbers.
Fic. 3. PErTREL.
OrpDER STEGANOPODES. ToripALMATE SWIMMERS, Famity SULIDZ. GaAwNNETS.
Booby (Sula leucogaster). Coasts and islands of tropical and sub-tropical America, north of Georgia. Accidental on Moriches Bay, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1893, p. 270).
Gannet (Sula bassana). A spring and fall migrant, usually occurring well off shore.
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HRS Or tne VICINITY OF NEW’ YORK CITY 139 Famiry PHALACROCORACIDE. Cormorants.
Cormorant (Phalacrorcorax carbo). It is not common south of Maine, and is rare in this vicinity, Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocoray auritus). A common spring and fall migrant.
Famity PELECANIDA®. PELicaNns White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Now raresor accidental on the Atlantic coast. Two specimens have been taken in this vicinity, one at Canarsie Bay, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1893, p. 270), the other, a male, at Roslyn, May 11, 1885 (Forest and Stream, XXIV, 1885, p. 328). Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Breets as far north as South Carolina and occasionally strays up the coast as far as Massachusetts. DeKay records a specimen from Sandy Hook.
OrDER ANSERES. LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS.
Famity ANATIDZE. Ducxs, GEESE AND SWANS.
American Merganser; Shelldrake (Merganser americanus). Not common from November to April.
Red-breasted Merganser; Shelldrake (Werganser serrator). On Long Island it is a very common spring and fall migrant (Dutcher, MS). Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). A not common migrant and occasional winter visitant.
Mallard (Anas boschas). An irregular transient visitant, occurring in spring, winter and fall.
*Black Duck (Anas obscura). Breeds from New Jersey to Labrador and winters from Massachusetts southward. It formerly nested in this vicinity, but now is found chiefly as a migrant, and less commonly in the winter. It still nests at some points on the Jersey coast and in a few localities on Long Island, (Dutcher, MS). (See group, second floor).
The Red-legged Black Duck, a supposed race of the Black Duck has been recorded from Long Island by Braislin (Auk, XXT, 288), but the status of this form is as yet too unsettled to make it desirable definitely to introduce it here. Gadwall 9 (Chaulelasmus streperus). A very rare migrant in this vicinity. European Widgeon (JMareca penelope). An Old World species -which occurs rarely on our coast. It has been taken at Leonia, N. J. (Chapman, Auk, VI, 1880, p. 302).
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140 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL Baldpate; American Widgeon ( \larcca americana ). An irregular transient visitant.
European Green-winged Teal (Nettion crecca). An Old World species of rare occurrence on our coasts. It is recorded from Trenton, N, J. (Abbott, Geology of New Jersey, 1868, p. 792), Hartford, Conn. (Treat, Auk, VIII, 1891, p. 112), and from Merrick, L. I., where two specimens were captured in December, 1900 (Braislin, Auk, XIX, 1902, p. 145). Green-winged Teal (Neftion carolinensis). A rather uncommon spring and fall migrant and winter resident.
Fic. 4. MALLARDS.
Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula discors). A not common spring and common fall migrant.
Shoveller; Spoonbill (Spatula clypeata). A rare and irregular transient visitant.
Pintail; Sprigtail (Dafla acuta). A common migrant. *Wood Duck; Summer Duck (Aix sponsa). The Wood Duck is a rare summer resident on some of our more retired, wooded streams and becomes more common during the migrations.
The Rufous-crested Duck (Netta rufina) is an Old World species which is known as North American only from one specimen found in Fulton Market, New York City, and supposed to have been shot on Long Island. Redhead (Aythya americana). On Long Island this species occurs as a regular migrant, in varying numbers, and is occasionally found in the winter (Dutcher, MS).
BIRDSOF- THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY rai Canvasback (Aythya vallisneria). Occurs here as a not common migrant. American Scaup Duck; Broad-bil!; Blue-bill; Black-head; Raft Duck (Aythya marila). The commonest Duck of our bays, where it is sometimes scen in great numbers. It appears from the north about October 1 and remains until its feeding grounds are frozen over, returning as soon as the ice breaks in the early spring.
Lesser Scaup Duck; Little Blue-bill; Creek Broadbill; Raft Duck (Aythya afiinis). Not as common as the preceding, with which its range in the main agrees:
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris). North America, breeding only in the interior from Iowa northward. It is here a very rare, irregular transient visitant. The last record is that of Braislin (Auk, XVI, 1809, p. I91) who mentions a specimen from Great South Bay.
Fic. 5. CANVAS-BACK. Fic. 6. REDHEAD.
American Golden-eye; Whistler (Clangula clangula americana), In favorable localities within our limits the Whistler is a not common migrant and winter resident.
Bufflehead ; Butterball (Charitonctta albeola). A not uncommon migrant and winter resident.
Old-squaw ; Old-wife ; South-southerly (Harclda hyemalis). A common winter resident.
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). Breeds from Newfoundland northward, and winters southward to New Jersey. A very rare winter visitant off our coast (Dutcher, Auk, III, 1886, p. 434; VI, 1889, p. 134). The Labrador Duck (Camptolaimus labradorius), which formerly inhabited the Atlantic Coast, breeding from Labrador northward and wintering southward to New Jersey, is doubtless now extinct. The Labrador Duck was apparently once a not uncommon winter bird on Long Island. In a paper by William Dutcher (Auk, VIII, 1891, p. 201; see also Auk, XI, 1804, pp. 41, 175, 176.) summarizing our knowledge of its life-history and enumerating the extant specimens, Mr. George N. Lawrence is quoted as saying: “I recollect that about [33]
142 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL fcrty or more years ago it was not unusual to see them in Fulton Market, and without doubt they were killed on Long Island: at one time I remember six fine males, which hung in the market until spoiled for want of a purchaser.” Only forty-two of these Ducks have been recorded as existing in collections. Of this number seven are in the American Museum. (See group, second floor). American Eider (Somateria dresseri). A rare winter visitant. King Eider (Somateria spectabilis). Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Regions, migrating southward regularly as far as eastern Long Island (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 175).
American Scoter; Black Coot (QOidemia americana). A more or less common migrant and winter resident.
White-winged Scoter; White-winged Coot (Oidemia deglandi). A common migrant and winter visitant off our coasts.
Surf Scoter (Oidemia perspicillata). Found here with the preceding species. , Ruddy Duck (Erismatura jamaicensis). A not uncommon migrant, occurring in varying numbers.
Greater Snow Goose (Chen hyperborea nivalis). An irregular transient visitant.
Fic. 7. CANADA GOOsE, 134]
IRVURIDS (WF IMENE VAKCIUNMLIEYA (OUR INVEIIE NAOKI (Cl IIA 143 American White-fronted Goose (4uscr. albiferons. gambeli). North America, breeding far northward; in winter, south to Mexico and Cuba. Rare on the Atlantic Coast. It has been recorded on Long Island from Babylon (Giraud), Great South Bay Islip and Montauk (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1893, p. 27%).
*Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). A common migrant, appearing in November and remaining until our bays are frozen. In the spring the last birds pass on their northward journey as late as early May. Hutchins’s Goose (Branta Canadensis hutchins:). A rare migrant in this vicinity.
White-bellied Brant (Byranta bernicla glaucogaster). A common bird, appearing from the north in October and remaining until when it retreats farther southward.
not concluded until May.
our bays are frozen, In April it returns, and the migration is _ Black Brant (Branta nigricans). This is a western species which is occasionally found on our coasts. It has been recorded from Egg Harbor, N. J. (Lawrence), Babylon and Islip, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, 1893, pp. 266, 271). Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis). An Old World species, occurring accidentally on our coasts. A specimen was killed on Jamaica Bay, L. I., in October, 1876 (Lawrence, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, II, 1877, p. 18). Whistling Swan (Olor Columbianus). Breeds in the far north, and winters as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. It is an exceedingly rare bird on the Atlantic coast north of the Chesapeake. A recent record is that of a bird killed at Flatlands, L. I., within the limits of Greater New York, on Dec. 24, 1901. (Braislin, Auk, XX, 1903, p. 52).
OrpeErR HERODINES. Herons, Storks, IBISES, ETC.
Famiry IBIDID. Istses.
White Ibis (Gura alba). A bird of the Southern States, which has been recorded twice from this vicinity (Raynor South and Moriches, L. i, Giraud). Glossy Ibis (Plegadis autumnalis). An Old World species of ‘irregular distribution in America.” It has been recorded once from Southampton L. I., and once from Canarsie Bay, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1893, p. 271). Famiry ARDEID/®. Herons, EGRETS, BITTERNS, ETC.
*American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). “Temperate North America, south to Guatemala and the West Indies”; breeds but rarely south of Virginia. In this vicinity it is not common during the summer. Least Bittern (Ardetta exilis). A locally common summer resident. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). With us it is a common migrant, and is probably found as a summer resident in a few localities. It is generally known by the name of “Crane.”
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144 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL American Egret (//erodias egretta). A southern species, breeding as far north as Virginia, and after the breeding season wandering northward in small numbers. It is here a rare and irregular summer visitant, occurring between August 1 and the last of September (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1884, p. 32). Comparatively recent records.of the occurrence of this species are those of Braislin (Auk, XVII, 1900, p. 69; XIX, 1902, p. 145) and Owen (Auk, XV, 1808, p. 51). Snowy Heron (Egretia candidissima). One of three individuals seen near Sayville, L. I., May 30, 1885, by William Dutcher and L. S. Foster was “carrying a long stick in its bill” (Dutcher, Auk, III, 1886, p. 435), and possibly was preparing to breed. Now an exceedingly rare bird breeding in a few isolated localities in Florida. Birds identified in life as this species are more apt to be the young of the Little Blue Heron (Braislin, Auk, XIX, 1902, p. 145). Little Blue Heron (Florida cerulea). This southern species, like the preceding, wanders northward in small numbers after the breeding season, and a few are sometimes found near New York. (See group, second floor). *Green Heron (Butorides virescens). One of our commonest Herons and known under a great variety of names. It haunts the banks of streams and ponds and places its nest of sticks in a bush or the lower branch of a tree. *Black-crowned Night Heron; Quawk (Nycticoray mycticorax ne@vius). A locally common summer resident. There is a colony containing about 500 pairs not far from New York City. The popular name “Quawk,” is derived from the call of the bird.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea). Breeds from South Carolina southward and occasionally strays up the coast as far as Massachusetts. There is but one definite record for this region, that of a specimen taken in April, near Freeport, Queens County, L. I. (Dutcher, Auk, X, 1893, p. 286).
ORDER PALUDICOL/E.CRANES, RAILS, ETC.
Famity RALLIDE. Rats, GALLINULES AND Coots.
King Rail (Rallus elegans). Breeds as far north as Connecticut and has been known to stray to Maine. It is a rare summer resident of our fresh-water marshes (Dutcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 176).
Clapper Rail; Meadow Hen; Marsh Hen (Rallus crepitans). his is an exceedingly common summer resident of the salt marshes of our coasts. Occasionally it winters in our region. (Sée group, second floor). Virginia Rail (Rallus virginianus). A locally common summer resident, a few remaining during the winter.
Sora; Carolina Rail: Rail-bird (Porzana carolina). A rare summer resident in this vicinity, but in the fall it becomes common, feeding on wild rice cf our marshes where, however, it is yearly becoming less numerous. [36]