Vol. XXI, pp. 119-124 April 11, 1908 
PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 
* 
NOTES ON THE WINTER BIRDS OF NORTHERN 
LOUISIANA. 
BY ARTHUR H. HOWELL. 
During a recent trip in northern Louisiana in the interests of 
the Biological Survey, about 200 specimens of birds were col- 
lected, and many notes on their distribution and abundance 
secured . 
Upon working over this material several species and subspe- 
cies not recorded in the most recent State list* were found, and 
many apparently new facts with regard to the distribution of 
species were brought to light. It seems desirable, therefore, to 
publish a list of all the species observed. 
The localities visited are as follows : Clarks, Caldwell Parish, 
in the heavily timbered portion of the State, January 6-8, 1908; 
Alexandria, January 9; Lecompte, 15 miles south of Alexan- 
dria, January 11-15 and February 10-12; Natchitoches, Jan- 
uary 16-22; Mansfield, DeSoto Parish, January 23-25; Shreve- 
port,t January 27-31 ; Belcher, Bossier Parish, February 3-7. 
The following species and subspecies are here recorded for the 
first time from Louisiana: 
Sturnella neglecta. 
Agelaius phceniceus arctolegus. 
Cuttirniculus savannarum bimaculatus. 
Melospiza lincolni. 
Toxostoma rufum longicaudum. 
Penthestes carolinensis agilis. 
Planesticus migratorvus achrustenis. 
*See " The Avifauna of Louisiana," by Geo. E. Beyer, Proc. Louisiana Soe. of Nat- 
uralists, 1897-1899 (1900), pp. 75-120. 
+A11 the records from Shreveportwere made on Mr. Henry Carlton's farm in Bossier 
Parish about 5 miles east of Shreveport. 
16— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXI, 1908. (119) 
120 Howell — Notes on Winter Birds of Northern Louisiana. 
The only previous record of the Northern Flicker (Colaptes a. 
luteus) from Louisiana appears to he that given by P. A. Taver- 
ner (under the name Colaptes auratus) of a tagged Iowa bird 
shot at Many, Louisiana, December 25, 1905.* 
The specimens collected have been identified by H. C. Ober- 
holser of the Biological Survey. 
Ardea herodias Linn. 
One seen in a swamp at Lecompte, January 1 1 . 
Gallinago delicata (Ord). 
Two seen at Shreveport, January 28 and 29. 
Oxyechus vociferus (Linn.). 
A Hock of 50 or 60 fed in the fields at Lecompte and a flock of 100 or 
more in the fields near Shreveport. 
Colinus virginianus (Linn.). 
Common at Natchitoches, Shreveport, and Belcher; one flock seen at 
Clarks. Two specimens, Chirks and Shreveport. The quail of this 
region appear smaller in life than birds from the northeastern States but 
comparison of specimens reveals no differences of importance. 
Zenaidura carolinensis (Linn.). 
Scarce. Only two small flocks seen — one at Lecompte and one at 
Natchitoches. 
Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied. 
Common at all localities visited. 
Catharista urubu (Vieillot). 
Common at Alexandria, Lecompte, and Natchitoches ; oneseenat Clarks. 
Circus hudsonius (Linn.). 
One seen at Lecompte, January 13 and 15. 
Falco sparverius Linn. 
Scarce; seen at Clarks, Lecompte, Natchitoches, and Mansfield. 
Syrnium varium alleni Ridgway. 
( >ne seen at Lecompte. There is a specimen of this form in the Biological 
Survey Collection from Eldorado, Louisiana. 
Otus asio floridanus (Ridgway). 
Scarce; heard at Shreveport and Belcher. 
Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). 
One seen at Clarks, two at Lecompte. 
Dryobates villosus auduboni (Swainson). 
Three specimens, Natchitoches, January 17, 20, 21. 
Dryobates borealis (Vieillot). 
( )ne taken at Clarks. 
Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.). 
A few observed a) each locality visited. 
•Auk. XXIU, L906, p. 232. 
Howell — Notes on Winter Birds of Northern Louisiana. 121 
Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.). 
Rather common at Lecompte; a few at ('larks and Belcher. 
Melanerpes carolinus (Linn.). 
Numerous at Lecompte; a few at Natchitoches, Mansfield, Shreveport, 
and Belcher. 
Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs. 
Occurs in small numbers in all timbered regions ; particularly common 
at Lecompte. Five specimens, four from Lecompte, one from Belcher. 
Taken also at Mansfield, April 27, 1907. 
Sayornis phoebe (Latham). 
A few seen at each locality visited. 
Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). 
Common at Lecompte and Belcher; rather uncommon at other localities. 
Three specimens, Belcher. 
Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm. 
Common in open farming country ; one specimen, Shreveport. 
Molothrus ater (Bodd.). 
A few noted at nearly all localities visited. 
Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus (Linn.). 
Common at Natchitoches, Shreveport, and Belcher; 10 specimens from 
these localities. Observed in small numbers at Lecompte and Mansfield. 
At this season the males greatly outnumber the females. This was espe- 
cially true of the large flocks seen at Belcher in February which were 
composed almost entirely of males. 
Agelaius phoeniceus arctolegus Oberholser. 
Two specimens, Natchitoches, January 20, and Belcher, February 4. 
Sturnella magna magna (Linn.). 
Common in open country. Seven specimens from the following locali- 
ties: Clarks, 1; Lecompte, 1; Shreveport, 5. 
Sturnella magna argutula Bangs. 
Four specimens: Lecompte, 1 ; Natchitoches, 1 ; Belcher, 2. 
Sturnella neglecta And. 
One specimen from Lecompte, January 13, and one from Shreveport, 
January 29. Probahly not uncommon in the northwestern part of the 
State, though no songs were heard and identification in the field was 
therefore impossible. 
Euphagus carolinus (Mull.). 
A flock of about 30 seen at Lecompte, January 15. None seen at other 
localities except a single specimen shot from a flock of E. cyanocephalus 
at Natchitoches. 
Euphagus cyanocephalus (Wagler). 
Abundant near Shreveport, January 27-31; small flocks seen at 
Natchitoches and Belcher. 
122 Howell — Notes on Winter Birds qf Northern Louisiana. 
Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway. 
Small (lucks seen at ('larks, January 5 and 6; a few were observed at 
Belcher, February 5, tl^ inn to roust with other blackbirds. 
Carpodacus purpureus (Gmelin). 
Scarce; a few seen at ('larks, Lecompte, and Shreveport. 
Astragalinus tristls (Linn.). 
A few at each locality visited. 
Pooecetes gramineus gramineus (Gmelin). 
Common at Natchitoches, January 17-21; not seen elsewhere except a 
few at Mansfield, January 24. Six specimens from above localities. 
Passerculus sandwichensis savanna (Wilson). 
( lommon at Lecompte in January ; seen in small numbers at Alexandria, 
Natchitoches, and Shreveport. Fourteen specimens from above localities. 
Coturniculus savannarum bimaculatus (Swainson). 
One taken at Natchitoches, January 21 ; the only one seen. 
Ammodramus Iecontei (And.). 
One taken at Natchitoches, January 17. 
Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forster). 
A small Hock seen at Natchitoches, January 17, and a few at Shreve- 
port, January 27. One specimen, Natchitoches. 
Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmelin). 
Common at nearly all localities visited. 
Spizella soci&lis (Wilson). 
A few seen at ('larks, January 7, and a few at Mansfield, January 23. 
Spizella pusilla pusiila (Wilson). 
Abundant at Natchitoches, January 17-21; fairly common at Mansfield; 
rare at other localities visited. Seven specimens from various localities. 
Spizella pusilla arenacea Chadboiirne. 
Two specimens: Natchitoches, January 17, and Belcher, February (». 
Although not included in Mr. Beyer's list, this form had been recorded 
from Mandeville, Louisiana, by Mr. F. M. Chapman.* 
Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 
A few observed at (larks, Lecompte, and Mansfield. 
Peucaea aestivalis bachmani ( And. ). 
Not observed on the present trip; it was common at Mansfield, how- 
ever, in late April and early May, 1907. 
Melospiza melodia (Wilson). 
A few were observed at nearly every locality visited, but they were 
now here common. 
Melospiza lincolni (And.). 
One taken at Mansfield, January 24. Tins appears to lie the first 
record of its occurrence in the State. 
*Aul<, VIII, L891, p. 318. 
Howell — Notes on Winter Birds of Northern Louisiana. 123 
Melospiza georgiana (Latham). 
Fairly common about the cultivated fields at nearly every locality 
visited. 
Passerella iliaca (Merrem). 
A few seen at (darks, Natchitoches, Shreveport, and Belcher. 
Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linn.). 
Present in small numbers at nearly all localities. 
Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). 
Common at all localities. Thirteen specimens, which show no approach 
to C. c. magnirostris Bangs. 
Ampelis cedrorum (Yieillot). 
Abundant at Alexandria and Natchitoches. Their principal food at 
this season is hackberries ( Celt is), and the birds visit the hackberry groves 
in immense numbers. They present an easy mark for the amateur gunner, 
and in some localities thousands are shot daily for food. As I stood under 
a tree in which a large flock of waxwings was feeding, skinned hack- 
berries were falling to the ground like hail. The birds' mouths, gul- 
lets and entire intestinal tracts were filled with entire hackberries. Appar- 
ently some of the berries are swallowed whole while others are partially 
skinned. 
Lanius ludovicianus migrans Palmer. 
Fairly common at all localities visited. Seventeen specimens, from 
every locality excepting Clarks ; all prove to be typical migrans. 
Lanivireo solitarius (Wilson). 
One taken January If, at Lecompte. 
Dendroica coronata (Linn.). 
Common at all localities, both in timber and fields. They have a 
special liking for swamps, feeding in brush close to the water. 
Dendroica vigorsi (And.). 
Observed in small numbers at Clarks, Natchitoches, Mansfield, and 
Belcher. 
Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla (Swainson). 
One taken at Lecompte, January f 1 ; another seen there January 14. 
Anthus pensilvanicus (Latham). 
Observed at all localities visited. Most abundant at Alexandria, 
Lecompte, and Shreveport, at each of which localities flocks of 200 or 
more were seen. 
Mimus polyglottos (Linn.). 
Common at all localities visited ; four specimens. 
Toxostoma rufum rufum (Linn.). 
Two specimens, Clarks and Belcher. Rather common at Lecompte. A 
few observed also at Natchitoches, Mansfield, and Shreveport. 
124 Howell — Notes on Winter Birds of Northern Louisiana. 
Toxostoma rufum Iongicaudum (Baird).* 
Five specimens (Lecompte, 4; Belcher, 1) have been identified by Mr. 
Oberholser as this form. 
Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham). 
Fairly common at all localities; 12 specimens. 
Thryomanes bewicki (And.). 
Observed in small numbers at all localities visited excepting Clarks and 
Lecompte. Seven specimens: Alexandria, 1; Natchitoches, 2; Mans- 
field, 1 ; Shreveport, 1 ; Belcher, 2. 
Nannus hyemalis (Vieillot). 
Two specimens, Clarks, January 6, and Lecompte, January 14. One 
seen at Mansfield. 
Sitta carolinensis Latham. 
A pair taken at Belcher, February 4. 
Bseolophus bicolor (Linn.). 
Fairly common in all timbered regions; 8 specimens. 
Penthestes carolinensis agilis (Hennett). 
Fairly common at all localities visited ; six specimens from five localities 
all prove to be of this form. 
Regulus calendula (Linn.). 
Bather common at all localities visited. 
Hylocichla guttata pallasi (Cabanis). 
Common in all timbered regions; fifteen specimens, from all localities 
visited except Alexandria. 
Planesticus migratorius (Linn.). 
Present at all localities visited; very abundant at Natchitoches, January 
17 and 18. They are attracted by groves of hackberry trees, the fruit of 
which furnishes their principal food at this season. They become very 
fat and are much prized for food, many thousands being shot by the local 
hunters. 
The habit of roosting at night in the canebrakes also leads to their 
destruction, for they are often sought out by men and boys with lanterns, 
who knock down and kill hundreds of the birds with clubs. Three speci- 
mens: Alexandria, Lecompte, and Natchitoches. 
Planesticus migratorius achrusterus (Batchelder). 
Six of the seven Robins taken at Natchitoches prove to be of this form. 
Sialia sialis (Linn. ). 
Observed in small numbers at nearly all localities. 
* 11 [arporhynchus] longicauda Baird, Rep. Pacific It. U. Surveys, IX, 1858, p. 353.