Old Squaw

( Originally Published Early 1900's )

Equally well marked is the Old Squaw, Old Wife, or South Southerly (Harelda hyemalis), which may be known among other characters by the very long, narrow middle tail-feathers, which are held at an angle of 60 degrees when the bird is sitting on the water. It is found throughout Arctic Europe, Asia, and North America, ranging south in winter to southern Europe, central Asia, and China, and in the New World nearly across the United States. It is an extremely swift flyer and it is also a very noisy bird, continually scolding or "talking."