Part 25

All Shrikes are similar in nature and plumage, being grayish above and white below, with black wings, tail and ear patches, and with white outer tail feathers and bases of primaries; the present species may be known by its larger size (length over 10 inches) and wavy dusky lines on the breast. They are bold and cruel birds, feeding upon insects, small rodents and small birds, in the capture of which they display great cunning and courage; as they have weak feet, in order to tear their prey to pieces with their hooked bill, they impale it upon thorns. They nest in thickets and tangled underbrush, making their nests of vines, grasses, catkins, etc., matted together into a rude structure. During April or May they lay from four to six grayish white eggs, spotted and blotched with yellowish brown and umber; size 1.05 × .75.

622. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus ludovicianus._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to New England and Illinois; winters in Southern States.

Like the last but smaller (length 9 inches), not marked below and with the ear patches sharply defined. They nest in hedges or thickly tangled brush, showing a predilection for dense thorn bushes, where they place their piles of weeds, grasses, feathers and rubbish; the four or five eggs are laid in April or May; they are like those of the last, but smaller, averaging .96 × .72.

[Illustration 378: 619--620.] [Illustration: Light gray.] [Illustration: Grayish white.] [Illustration: Grayish white.] [Illustration: Northern Shrike.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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[Illustration 379: I. E. Hess. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE AND NEST.]

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622a. WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides._

Range.--North America, west of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and the Saskatchewan; winters south to Mexico.

Like the last but paler and the rump white. Their nesting habits and eggs are in every respect like those of the Loggerhead Shrike.

622b. CALIFORNIA SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus gambeli._

Range.--Pacific coast north to British Columbia.

Similar to the eastern form but with the breast washed with brownish and with indistinct wavy bars. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the others.

622c. ISLAND SHRIKE. _Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi._

Range.--Santa Barbara Islands, California. Like the last but smaller and darker. Eggs not distinguishable.

VIREOS. Family VIREONDIDÆ

623. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. _Vireosylva calidris barbatula._

Range.--A Central American species, breeding in Cuba, Bahamas and southern Florida.

Like the Red-eyed Vireo but with a dusky streak on either side of the chin. They build pensile nests of strips of bark and fibres, swung from the forks of branches. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the next species, being white, more or less specked about the large end with reddish brown and umber. Size .78 × .55.

[Illustration 380: Loggerhead Shrike.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: 622a--622b.] [Illustration: deco.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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[Illustration 381: YOUNG SHRIKES (All ready for flight).]

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624. RED-EYED VIREO. _Vireosylva olivacea_.

Range.--United States, east of the Rockies, breeding north to Labrador, Manitoba and British Columbia.

This is the most common of the Vireos in the greater part of its range and is a most persistent songster, frequenting groves, open woods or roadsides. Their eyes are brown, scarcely if any more red than those of any other species and I have yet to see one with red eyes outside of mounted museum specimens. They swing their nests from the forks of trees at any elevation from the ground but usually below ten feet, and I have found them where the bottom rested on the ground; they are made of strips of bark, fibre, etc., and often have pieces of string or paper woven into the sides; they are one of the most beautiful of bird homes and are woven so strongly that old nests hang to the branches for several seasons. Their three or four eggs, often accompanied by one of the Cowbirds, are laid in May or June; they are white, sparingly specked with blackish brown. Size .85 × .55.

625. YELLOW-GREEN VIREO. _Vireosylva flavoviridis._

Range.--Southern Texas and southward to South America.

Similar to the Red-eye but greener above and more yellowish on the sides. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs indistinguishable from those of that species.

626. PHILADELPHIA VIREO. _Vireosylva philadelphica_.

Range.--Eastern United States breeding from northern New England and Manitoba northward.

This species is much smaller than the Red-eye (length 5 in.) and is yellowish below, and without black edges to the gray crown. Their eggs do not differ from those of the Red-eyed Vireo except in size, averaging .70 × .50.

627. WARBLING VIREO. _Vireosylva gilva gilva._

Range.--North America east to the Plains, breeding north to Labrador.

This Vireo is nearly as abundant as the Red-eye but is not generally as well known, probably because it is usually higher in the trees and more concealed from view. Their nests are like those of the Red-eye, but smaller and usually placed higher in the trees. The birds are even more persistent singers, than are the latter but the song is more musical and delivered in a more even manner, as they creep about among the foliage, peering under every leaf for lurking insects. The eggs are pure white, spotted with brown or reddish brown. Size .72 × .52.

[Illustration 382: Red-eyed Vireo.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: 626-627.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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[Illustration 383: C. A. Reed. RED-EYED VIREO ON NEST.]

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627a. WESTERN WARBLING VIREO. _Vireosylva gilva swainsoni._

Range.--Western United States, breeding from Mexico to British Columbia.

This species is like the last but said to be a trifle smaller and paler color. Its nesting habits and eggs are precisely like those of the eastern form.

628. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. _Lanivireo flavifrons._

Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba and New Brunswick.

This handsome bird is wholly unlike any others of the Vireos, having a bright yellow throat and breast; the upper parts are greenish and the wings and tail gray, the latter with two white bars. They are fairly common breeding birds in northern United States, placing their handsome basket-like structures in forks of branches and at any elevation from the ground; the nests are like those of the preceding Vireos but are frequently adorned on the outside with lichens, thereby adding materially to their natural beauty. The four or five eggs are pinkish or creamy white, speckled about the large end with reddish brown. Size .80 × .60.

629. BLUE-HEADED VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius solitarius._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from southern New England and the northern states north to Hudson Bay; winters in the Gulf States and southward.

A beautiful Vireo with a slaty blue crown and nape, greenish back, white wing bars and underparts, the flanks being washed with greenish yellow; a conspicuous mark is the white eye ring and loral spot. They build firm, pensile, basket-like nests of strips of birch and grapevine bark, lined with fine grasses and hair, suspended from forks, usually at low elevation and often in pine or fir trees (of some twenty nests that I have found in New England all have been in low branches of conifers). Their three or four white eggs are specked with reddish brown. Size .80 × .60.

629a. CASSIN'S VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius cassini._

Range.--United States west of the Rockies; north to British Columbia.

Similar to the last but with the back grayish.

629b. PLUMBEOUS VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region, breeding from Mexico to Dakota and Wyoming.

Like the Blue-headed Vireo but with the yellowish wholly replaced by leaden gray.

[Illustration: Yellow-throated Vireo.] [Illustration 384: Creamy white.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: Blue-headed Vireo.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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629c. MOUNTAIN VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius alticola._

Range.--Mountains of Carolina and Georgia; winters in Florida.

Said to be larger and darker than _solitarius_ proper. From all accounts, the habits, nests or eggs of this species differ in no wise from many of those of the northern Solitary Vireo, whose nests show great variations in size and material.

629d. SAN LUCAS VIREO. _Lanivireo solitarius lucasanus._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

Similar to cassini but with the flanks more yellow. Their nesting habits or eggs will not differ from the others.

630. BLACK-CAPPED VIREO. _Vireo atricapillus._

Range.--Central Texas north to Kansas; winters in Mexico.

This peculiar Vireo has a black crown and sides of head, broken by a white eye ring and loral stripe; upper parts greenish, below white. They appear to be fairly common in certain localities of their restricted range, and nest at low elevations in mesquites or oaks, placing the nests in forks the same as other Vireos; they are of the ordinary Vireo architecture, lined with grasses. The three or four eggs are pure white, unmarked. Size .70 × .50. Data.--Comal Co., Texas, May 21, 1888, 4 eggs. Nest located in a scrub Spanish oak, 5 feet from the ground.

631. WHITE-EYED VIREO. _Vireo griseus griseus._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to northern United States.

This Vireo has white eyes, as implied by its name, is yellowish green on the sides and with two prominent bars. They have no song, like the other Vireos, but a strange medley of notes resembling those of the Chat or Shrike. They nest near the ground in tangled thickets, making large nests for the size of the birds and not always suspended; they are made of weeds, leaves, grass, bark or any trash. Their three or four eggs are laid late in May or early in June; they are white, sparingly speckled with brown; size .75 × .55.

631a. KEY WEST VIREO. _Vireo griseus maynardi._

Range.--Southern Florida.

This grayer and paler variety nests in the same manner and the eggs are not distinct from those of the last form.

[Illustration 385: Black-capped Vireo.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White-eyed Vireo.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]

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631b. BERMUDA VIREO. _Vireo griseus bermudianus._

Range.--Bermudas.

This variety is said to be slightly smaller and to have no yellow on the sides. Its eggs are probably the same as those of the others.

631c. SMALL WHITE-EYED VIREO. _Vireo griseus micrus._

Range.--Eastern Mexico north to southern Texas.

Said to be slightly smaller and grayer than the common White-eyed Vireo. Its eggs will not differ.

632. HUTTON'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni huttoni._

Range.--Resident on the California coast; chiefly in the southern parts.

A similar species to _noveboracensis_ but with the under parts tinged with yellow. These birds are quite common but shy, nesting at any height from the ground in open woods or groves; the nests are made of grasses and moss and swung from forked limbs; the three or four eggs are pure white, finely specked with reddish brown. Size .70 × .50.

632a. STEPHEN'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni stephensi._

Range.--Northwestern Mexico and the boundary of the United States.

This variety, which is more yellowish than the last, appears to be rather uncommon but as far as I can learn its habits and nesting do not differ from those of the other Vireos; the eggs are white, specked with brown. Size .70 × .50.

632c. ANTHONY'S VIREO. _Vireo huttoni obscurus._

Range.--Pacific coast from Oregon (and Cal. in winter) to British Columbia.

The nesting habits and eggs of this darker and smaller variety are the same in all respects as those of the Hutton's Vireo.

633. BELL'S VIREO. _Vireo belli belli._

Range.--Interior of the United States, breeding from Texas to Minnesota and Dakota.

The nesting habits of this smaller species are just the same as those of the larger varieties, they suspending their small grass-woven baskets in the forks of bushes or trees and usually at a low elevation. Their nests are handsome and compact little structures, being often made almost wholly of strips of bark lined with very fine grasses. The eggs are white, specked with reddish brown. Size .70 × .50. Data.--Austin, Texas, June 16, 1898. Nest of strips of bark, fibres and grasses, neatly woven and swung from the fork of a low bush, 2 feet from the ground.

[Illustration 386: White.] [Illustration: 629a--632.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: 633a-634.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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633a. LEAST VIREO. _Vireo belli pusillus._

Range.--Western Mexico, Arizona and southern California.

This Vireo is slightly smaller and grayer than the last; they are quite common in southern Arizona, nesting the same as Bell's at low elevations in bushes or small trees. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of _belli_.

634. GRAY VIREO. _Vireo vicinior._

Range.--Southwestern United States from western Texas, southern California and Nevada southward.

This species is grayish above and grayish white below, with white eye ring, lores and wing bar. They are not uncommon birds in the Huachuca Mts. of southern Arizona, where they nest in bushes at low elevations, making the semi-pensile structures of woven strips of bark and grasses, lined with fine round grasses attached by the rim to a fork and sometimes stayed on the side by convenient twigs. Eggs white, specked with brown. Size .72 × .53.

HONEY CREEPERS. Family COEREBIDÆ

635. BAHAMA HONEY CREEPER. _Cœreba bahamensis_.

Range.--Bahamas, casually to southern Florida and the Keys.

This peculiar curved-billed species is dark brown above, with the underparts, superciliary line and spot at base of primaries, whitish; the rump and a breast patch are yellow. They nest at low elevations in bushes or trees usually in tangled thickets, making a large dome-shaped nest of grasses, leaves and fibres and, during May or June, lay from three to five pale creamy white eggs, speckled sparingly all over the surface and more abundantly at the large end with reddish brown. Size .65 × .50.

WARBLERS. Family MNIOTILTIDÆ

Warblers as a family may be classed as the most beautiful, interesting and useful birds that we have. With few exceptions, they only return from their winter quarters as the trees shoot forth their leaves or flowers, they feed largely among the foliage upon small, and mostly injurious, insects. They are very active and always flitting from branch to branch, showing their handsome plumage to the best advantage. Their songs are simple but effectively delivered and the nests are of a high order of architecture.

636. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. _Mniotilta varia._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf States north to the Hudson Bay region; winters from our southern borders to South America.

This striped black and white Warbler is usually seen creeping about tree trunks and branches after the manner of a Nuthatch. They are very active gleaners and of inestimable value to man. They nest on the ground in woods or swamps, making their nest of strips of bark and grass, placed among the leaves usually beside stones, stumps or fallen trees. Their three to five eggs are white, finely specked and wreathed with reddish brown. Size .65 × .50. Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 3, 1889. Nest of strips of bark on the ground in an old decayed stump.

[Illustration 387: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: Black and White Warbler.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]

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637. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. _Prothonotaria citrea._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, north in the interior to Iowa and Illinois.

This species is often known as the Golden Swamp Warbler because of the rich golden yellow of the head and underparts. They frequent and nest in the vicinity of swamps or ponds, nesting in the cavities of trees or stubs at low elevations, filling the cavity with leaves, moss and grasses, neatly cupped to receive the four to seven eggs, which are creamy or pinkish white, profusely spotted with reddish brown and chestnut. Size .72 × .55. Data.--Quincy, Mo., June 1, 1897. 5 eggs. Nest in hole of a dead stub 6 feet up, in timber some distance from water; made of moss and grasses, lined with hair.

638. SWAINSON'S WARBLER. _Helinaia swainsoni._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to Virginia and Indiana, and west to eastern Texas; winters in Mexico and the West Indies.

This species is brownish above and white below, with a whitish superciliary stripe. It has been found breeding most numerously in thickets and tangled underbush about swamps and pools in any locality. Their nests are either in bushes or attached to upright rushes over water after the manner of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, being made of leaves, moss, rootlets, etc., lined with fine grasses or hair, and deeply cupped for the reception of the three or four unmarked white or bluish white eggs which are laid during May or June. Size .75 × .58. Data.--Near Charlestown, S. C., May 12, 1888, 3 eggs. Nest in canes 4 feet from ground, made of strips of rushes, sweet gum and water oak leaves, lined with pine needles.

639. WORM-EATING WARBLER. _Helmitheros vermivorus._

Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding north to southern New England and Illinois; winters south of our borders.

This bird can be identified in all plumages by the three light buff and two black stripes on the crown and narrower black stripes through the eye. Their habits are similar to those of the Oven-bird, they

[Illustration 388: Creamy white.] [Illustration: Prothonotary Warbler.] [Illustration: Bluish white.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: Swainson's Warbler. Worm-eating Warbler.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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feeding largely upon the ground amid dead leaves. They are quite abundant in most localities in their range, nesting in hollows on the ground in open woods or shrubbery on hill sides; the nest is made of leaves, grasses and rootlets, lined with hair or finer grasses, and is usually placed under the shelter of some small bush. They lay (in May, June or July) three to six eggs, white, marked or blotched either sparingly or heavily with chestnut or lavender. Size .70 × .52.

640. BACHMAN'S WARBLER. _Vermivora bachmani._

Range.--Southeastern United States, along the Gulf coast to Louisiana and north to Virginia and Missouri.

This species is one of the rarest of the Warblers, but is now much more abundant than twenty years ago, when it had apparently disappeared. They are greenish above, and yellow below, and on the forehead and shoulder, and with black patches on the crown and breast. They have been found breeding in Missouri, nesting on the ground like others of this genus; the eggs are white wreathed about the large end and sparingly specked over the whole surface with reddish brown and chestnut. Size .65 × .50.

641. BLUE-WINGED WARBLER. _Vermivora pinus._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to southern New England and in the Mississippi Valley to Minnesota; winters south of our borders.

This common species has the crown and underparts yellow, line through the eye black, and white wing bars and spots on outer tail feathers. They breed most abundantly in the northern half of their United States range, placing their nests on the ground in thickets or on the edge of woods; the nests are made of strips of bark, usually grapevine, and leaves, and are usually high and deeply cupped, they are almost always placed among the upright shoots of young bushes. The eggs are white, finely specked with reddish brown with great variations as to markings. Size .65 × .50. Data.--Old Saybrook, Conn., June 1, 1900. 5 eggs. Nest composed chiefly of dry beech leaves and strips of cedar bark, lined with shreds of bark and fine grass; situated on the ground among a bunch of weeds in the woods.

[Illustration 389: Bachman's Warbler. Lawrence's Warbler. Brewster's Warbler.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]

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642. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. _Vermivora chrysoptera._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to the southern parts of the British Provinces, winters south of the United States.

This is a very handsome species with black throat and ear patches, and yellow crown and wing bars, the upper parts being gray and the lower white. They frequent low fields or hillsides where they nest among weeds or vines, making the nest of strips of bark, grasses and fibres, and locating it close to the ground in clumps of weeds, low bushes or briers. The three to five eggs are white with a very great diversity of markings, either heavily or minutely spotted or wreathed with chestnut and gray. Size .62 × .50.

643. LUCY'S WARBLER. _Vermivora luciæ._

Range.--Western Mexico, north commonly to Arizona and casually to southern Utah.

This small gray and white Warbler is especially distinguished by a chestnut rump and patch in center of the crown. Besides nesting in forks of low bushes, this species is said to place the domiciles in almost any crevice or nook that suits their fancy, such as loose bark on tree trunks, holes in trees, or other birds' nests. The eggs which are usually laid during May are white, sparingly specked and wreathed with reddish brown. Size .60 × .50.

644. VIRGINIA'S WARBLER. _Vermivora virginiæ._

Range.--Western Mexico, north to Arizona and New Mexico, and also less commonly to Colorado.

This species is similar to the last but has the rump and a patch on the breast, yellow. They are found quite abundantly in some localities, usually on mountain ranges, nesting in hollows on the ground beside rocks, stumps or in crevices among the rocks; the nests are made of fine strips of bark and grasses, skillfully woven together, and the three to five eggs are pure white, specked and wreathed with reddish brown. Size .62 × .50.

[Illustration 390: Golden-winged Warbler.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: Lucy's Warbler. Virginia Warbler.] [Illustration: left hand margin.]

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645. NASHVILLE WARBLER. _Vermivora rubricapilla rubricapilla._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from New York and Illinois north to Hudson Bay and Labrador; winters south of our borders.

This small species is yellow below and greenish above, with an ashy gray head and neck, enclosing a chestnut crown patch. They breed abundantly in New England, usually on side hills covered with clumps of young pines, the nests being placed flush with the surface of the ground and usually covered with overhanging grass; they are made of grasses and pine needles, the eggs are white, finely specked with bright reddish brown. Size .60 × .45. Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 23, 1895. Nest of pine needles and grasses in hollow in the moss on a scrubby pine hillside.

645a. CALAVERAS WARBLER. _Vermivora rubricapilla gutturalis._

Range.--Western United States, breeding on ranges from California and Idaho north to British Columbia; winters in Mexico.

A slightly brighter colored form of the last species. Their habits are the same and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern bird.

646. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. _Vermivora celata celata._

Range.--North America, chiefly in the interior, breeding north of the United States except in the Rockies south to Arizona and New Mexico; winters in the Gulf States and southward.

This plainly clad, greenish colored species has a concealed patch of orange brown on the crown. They have been found breeding about Hudson Bay and in the Mackenzie River district, placing their nests in hollows on the ground, usually on the side of banks or hills and concealed by small tufts of grass or bushes. The three or four eggs are white, speckled with reddish brown. Size .64 × .45.

646a. LUTESCENT WARBLER. _Vermivora celata lutescens._

Range.--Pacific coast, breeding from California to Alaska; winters in Mexico.

Similar to the last but more yellowish below. They make their nests of leaves, rootlets, moss, etc., lined with hair, and placed on the ground, concealed by tufts of grass or by bushes. The eggs are like those of the last. Data.--Danville, Cal., April 21, 1898. Nest on the ground on a side hill; among weeds in the shade of a large oak.

[Illustration 391: White.] [Illustration: Nashville Warbler. Orange-crowned Warbler.] [Illustration: White.] [Illustration: right hand margin.]

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646b. DUSKY WARBLER. _Vermivora celata sordida._

Range.--Santa Barbara Islands, off California.

Said to be duller colored and darker than the others. The eggs cannot be distinguished.

647. TENNESSEE WARBLER. _Vermivora peregrina._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the northern tier of states, northward; winters to northern South America.