Chapter 9 of 12 · 3937 words · ~20 min read

Part 9

A dusky, olive-green bird, obscurely streaked below; without wing-bars or white patches in tail. L. 5.

_Range._ Chiefly the interior, nests from Manitoba northward; winters in Florida and the Gulf States.

Washington, casual T.V., two records, Oct. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, rare T.V., in fall. Oct. 5-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, rare T.V., Apl. 27-May 21. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., May 1-21; July 28-Oct. 7. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 25-; Aug. 18-Oct. 16.

The Orange-crown is a rare fall migrant in the North Atlantic States, but common in Florida and southern Georgia in the winter. It frequents the upper branches of trees though, as with most members of its genus, it nests on the ground. Its call-note is a sharp, characteristic _chip_; its song is said to resemble that of the Chipping Sparrow.

TENNESSEE WARBLER

_Vermivora peregrina. Case 8, Fig. 64_

Adult male in spring with a grayish blue crown and white underparts; female and young bright olive-green above, yellowish below; no wing-bars. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England northward; winters in the tropics.

Washington, T.V., rare in May; occasionally common, Aug. 31-Nov. 30. Ossining, rare T.V., May 22-27; Aug. 22-Oct. 2. Cambridge, rare T.V., May 15-25; Sept. N. Ohio, common T.V., May 4-25; Sept. 10-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 30-June 6; July 29-Oct. 9. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 30-; Sept. 30-.

A dull-colored little Warbler which we know as a rather rare migrant, associated with the traveling companies of its family on their northward and southward journeys. The song is described by Mrs. Farwell as noticeable but not musical and resembling that of the Chipping Sparrow.

NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER

_Compsothlypis americana usneæ. Case 7, Fig. 39_

A small, bluish Warbler with a yellow patch on the back, a dark band on the breast, and white wing-bars. L. 4-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from Virginia and Louisiana to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, T.V., but dates not distinguishable from those of _americana_. Ossining, common T.V., May 2-28; Sept. 21-Oct. 7. Cambridge, common T.V., May 1-28; Sept. 10-30. N. Ohio, not common T.V., May 1-18. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., May 3-28; Aug. 25-Oct. 1. SE. Minn., common T. V., May 5-Sept. 9.

A common migrant, traveling with other Wood Warblers, but in summer usually restricted to swampy localities where usnea moss flourishes. Of, or rather _in_ this, it makes its nest, laying 4-5 white, brown-marked eggs the latter half of May. To describe its song as several wheezy notes running into a little trill, conveys no idea of pleasing character. It is easily recognized and, in time, acquires associations with what, to bird-lovers, is the most delightful season of the year.

The Southern Parula Warbler (_C. a. americana_) is a slightly smaller race with less black about the lores and on the breast in the male. It summers in the Southeastern States north to Virginia, and winters in the tropics. Its habits resemble those of the northern race, but it nests in the hanging, gray tillandsia or Spanish 'moss' instead of in usnea.

CAPE MAY WARBLER

_Dendroica tigrina. Case 8, Figs. 65, 66_

Male with chestnut cheek-patches and a white patch on the wing; female and young streaked below, the rump more yellow than the back; tail-feathers with terminal spots. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England northward; winters in the tropics.

Washington, sometimes very common, usually uncommon T.V., May 1-20; Aug. 4-Oct. 17. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., Aug. 20-Oct. 1. Cambridge, rare T.V., May 15-25; Aug. 25. N. Ohio, not common T.V., May 4-18. Glen Ellyn, irregular T.V., Apl. 30-May 21; Sept. 8-15. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 8.

This beautiful Warbler was formerly considered one of our rarer migrants, but of recent years it appears to be increasing in numbers. On its nesting ground the bird is said to frequent the upper branches of tall evergreens (though one of the few nests which has been found was within three feet of the ground), but when migrating it may be found in the trees of lawns, orchards, and woodland and I have seen it among poke-berries. The Cape May's song is a thin squeak which is compared to the songs of the Black and White and also Blackpoll Warblers.

YELLOW WARBLER

_Dendroica æstiva æstiva. Case 8, Figs. 40, 41_

A small yellow bird streaked below with brownish; inner webs of tail-feathers yellow. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from Missouri and South Carolina to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., abundant T.V., Apl. 4-Sept. 28. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 27. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Apl. 14-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, not very common S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 6. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept. 10.

Show me willows over water and any day in May or June I'll show you a Yellow Warbler. Shade and fruit trees also attract him and he may build his cotton-padded nest in their branches or in the shrubbery below. The song is a simple _we-chee, chee, chee, chee, cher-wee_, resembling that of the Chestnut-side, but has its own distinctive tone which permits of ready identification, once it has been learned. The bluish white eggs, thickly marked with shades of brown, are laid the latter half of May.

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER

_Dendroica cærulescens cærulescens. Case 6, Figs. 58, 59_

The male is unmistakable; the female may be known by the white spot at the base of the outer wing-feathers. L. 5-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern Connecticut, the mountains of Pennsylvania, and southern Michigan north to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, very common T.V., Apl. 19-May 30; Aug. 4-Oct. 9. Ossining, common T.V., Apl. 25-May 28; Aug. 26-Oct. 10. Cambridge, rather common. T.V., May 10-25; Sept. 20-Oct. 10. N. Ohio, common. T.V., Apl. 27-May 29; Sept. 5-Oct. 16. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 29-May 29; Aug. 25-Oct. 10. SE. Minn., uncommon T.V., May 11.

A true Wood Warbler, traveling through the trees with the scattered bands of other members of his family as he journeys to and from his summer home. This, in the northern part of his nesting range, is in coniferous forests, in the southern part, deciduous forests. In both, however, the birds require heavy undergrowth in which their bark-covered nest is built within a foot or two of the ground. The grayish white, brown-marked eggs are laid in late May or early June. Miss Paddock in "Warblers of North America" describes the Black-throated Blue's song as "an insect-like buzzing note repeated three or four times with a rising inflection."

Cairn's Warbler (_D. c. cairnsi_) is a nearly related race having, in the male, black centers to the feathers of the back. It nests in the upper parts of the Alleghanies, from Maryland to Georgia, and winters in the West Indies.

MYRTLE WARBLER

_Dendroica coronata. Case 5, Fig. 27_

The yellow rump is always evident, but in fall and winter the whole plumage is duller, more brownish and the yellow patches at the sides of the breast and in the crown are less conspicuous. A rather large Warbler. L. 5-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England and northern Minnesota to Canada; winters from Kansas and southern New England to the tropics.

Washington, abundant W.V., Aug. 7-May 23. Ossining, common T.V., Apl. 13-May 28; Aug. 16-Nov. 11; a few winter. Cambridge, abundant T.V., Apl. 12-May 20; Sept. 1-Nov. 1; a few winter. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 12-May 20; Sept. 15-Nov. 3. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 8-May 28; Sept. 25-Dec. 29. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 6-; Sept. 9-Oct. 28.

A hardy Warbler which, like the Tree Swallow, can substitute bayberries for insects. When the former are available some individuals remain in the North, enduring our winters without apparent discomfort. Its call-note, _tchep_, is as distinctive as its markings, and this fact connected with its general distribution and abundance, makes it one of the best known members of this little-known family.

Thayer in "Warblers of North America" describes its common song as "a loud silvery 'sleigh-bell' trill, a vivid, sprightly utterance."

It nests in coniferous forests, building from four to twenty feet from the ground and laying 3-5 white eggs marked with shades of brown, in late May or early June.

MAGNOLIA WARBLER

_Dendroica magnolia. Case 8, Fig. 42_

The female is duller than the male, but both have the crown gray, a white stripe behind the eye, a yellow rump and the white tail-patches near the middle of the tail, making the tail, when seen from below, appear white, broadly banded with black. L. 5

_Range'_ Nests from northern Massachusetts and northern Michigan, and in the Alleghanies, from West Virginia to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common T.V., Apl. 22-May 30; Aug. 15-Oct. 6. Ossining, common T.V., May 9-28; Aug. 13-Oct. 11. Cambridge, T.V., rather common, May 12-25; not uncommon, Sept. 10-25. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 28-May 27; Sept. 1-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., May 3-June 5; Aug. 12-Oct. 9. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 6-; Aug. 12-Sept. 9.

A common migrant distinguished by the beauty of his costume even in this family of gayly clad birds. When traveling, the Magnolia may be found in woods and woody growth of varied character, but when nesting, it shows a fondness for spruce forests, building in small spruces usually within six feet of the ground.

The Magnolia's song resembles the Yellow Warbler's in tone. Thayer in "Warblers of North America" describes it as "peculiar and easily remembered; _weeto: weeto-weeeéte-eet_, or _witchi, witchi, witchi tit_, the first four notes deliberate and even and comparatively low in tone, the last three hurried and higher pitched, with decided emphasis on the antepenult _weet_ or _witch_."

The eggs, laid in the first half of June, are white marked with brown.

CERULEAN WARBLER

_Dendroica rara. Case 8, Figs. 46, 47_

The adult male will be recognized at sight, but the female and young must be looked at sharply. The whitish or yellowish line over the eye, in connection with the white wing-bars make a fair field-mark. L. 4-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from Texas and Alabama to Minnesota and western New York; locally from North Carolina to Delaware.

Washington, several records in May, one in fall. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 20. Glen Ellyn, not common, local S.R., May 8-Aug. 19. SE. Minn., rare S.R.

A tree-top Warbler of deciduous forests, nesting from 25 to 60 feet above the ground. Its song bears a marked resemblance to that of the Parula and its call-note is said to be like the _tchep_ of the Myrtle Warbler. The white eggs, heavily blotched with brown, are laid in May.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER

_Dendroica pensylvanica. Case 8, Figs. 43, 44_

Adults are distinguished by their chestnut sides, yellow crown and wing-bars, but the young are wholly different, silky white below, yellowish green above. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from northern New Jersey and, in the Alleghanies, South Carolina, north to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, abundant T.V., Apl. 19-May 30; Aug. 10-Oct. 14. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May 2-Sept. 24. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 5-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, T.V., May 2-25. Glen Ellyn, rare S.R., common T.V., May 1-Sept. 26. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 3-Sept. 15.

Scrubby second growths undergrown with bushes, roadside borders of trees and bushes, and the brushy margins of woods are all resorts of the Chestnut-side. Here he attracts our attention by his rather loud, frequently uttered song, which strongly suggests that of the Yellow Warbler. The nest is built within a few feet of the ground and the white, brown-marked eggs are laid the latter part of May.

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER

_Dendroica castanea. Case 8, Figs. 69, 70_

The adult male is unmistakable; the female has chestnut on sides and crown, a grayish streaked back and white wing-bars; the young bird in the fall cannot, in the field, be certainly distinguished from the young Blackpoll, but has the underparts tinted with buff instead of with yellow. L. 5-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England into Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, sometimes abundant, usually uncommon T.V., May 2-27; Aug. 29-Nov. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., May 14-28; Aug. 5-Sept. 26. Cambridge, rather rare T.V., May 15-25; Sept. 12-28. N. Ohio, common T.V., May 4-23; Sept. 7-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common; T.V., May 8-June 5; Aug. 13-Oct. 4. SE. Minn., uncommon T.V., May 13-; Aug. 18-Sept. 15.

The Bay-breast is one of the rarer members of its family. Most of us know it only as a migrant passing northward in May and southward in September, when it may be found in woodlands associated with other migrating Warblers. Its song resembles that of the Black and White Warbler. Mrs. Farwell describes it as "a poor, weak, monotonous saw-filing note." The nest has been found in hemlocks 15-20 feet from the ground. The white eggs, finely marked with shades of brown, are laid in June.

BLACK-POLL WARBLER

_Dendroica striata. Case 8, Figs. 71, 72_

In the spring, a black cap, white cheeks and a gray, black streaked back distinguish the male; a gray, black-streaked back, the female. In the fall, young and old are olive-green, streaked with black above; yellowish white below, and thus closely resembles the young Bay-breast. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England and northern Michigan into Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, abundant T.V., Apl. 28-June 16; Aug. 31-Oct. 20. Ossining, common T.V., May 7-June 6; Aug. 30-Oct. 16. Cambridge, abundant T.V., May 12-June 5; Sept. 8-Oct. 20. N. Ohio, common T.V., May 6-June 2; Sept. 1-Oct. 16. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., May 2-June 8; Aug. 23-Sept. 27. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 8-; Aug. 27-.

Toward the end of the May Warbler 'waves' the Blackpolls come in force. They are excessively fat and, perhaps for this reason, move rather slowly for a Warbler. They are Wood Warblers, but at this season may overflow into the trees of our lawns and orchards. Mrs. Farwell describes the Blackpoll's song as "a succession of hesitating, staccato, unmusical notes varying greatly in volume. The notes separated, not combined in twos, as in the Black and White Warbler's song." When nesting this Warbler frequents stunted spruce forests, placing its nest in these trees a few feet above the ground, and laying 4-5 white, brown-marked eggs the latter part of June.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER

_Dendroica fusca. Case 8, Figs. 67, 68_

The orange breast, fiery in the spring male, duller in the female and fall males, is distinctive. L. 5-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from Massachusetts (locally) and central Minnesota north to Canada and southward in the Alleghanies to Georgia; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common T.V., Apl. 30-June 3; Aug. 14-Oct. 7. Ossining, common T.V., May 10-29; Aug. 15-Oct. 15. Cambridge, T.V., uncommon, May 12-22; rare, Sept. 15-30. N. Ohio, common T.V., May 4-June 8; Aug. 12-Sept. 22. SE. Minn., common T.V., May 3-; Sept. 4.

The remoteness of their homes prevents us from making the acquaintance of the brilliantly plumaged birds of the tropics, but among them all we will find none more beautiful than this flame-breasted Warbler, which each spring comes from his tropical winter home almost to our doors. In the summer he seeks the seclusion of coniferous forests and the higher branches of spruce or hemlock. There his nest is made sometimes 80 or more feet above the ground, and in late May or early June the white eggs, spotted, speckled and blotched with brown, are laid. The Blackburnian's song is described by Miss Paddock in "Warblers of North America" as "very shrill and fine, growing even more shrill and wiry as it rises toward the end."

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER

_Dendroica dominica dominica. Case 5, Fig. 18_

A gray Warbler with a yellow throat. L. 5-1/4.

_Range._ Southeastern States, nesting north to Maryland; wintering from central Florida southward.

Washington, rare S.R., rather common late in July and Aug.; Apl. 19-Sept. 4.

The loud, ringing _ching-ching-ching, chicker, cherwee_ of the Yellow-throated Warbler is one of the characteristic bird songs of spring in southern woods. The bird usually sings from the upper branches of tall trees, often cypresses, in Florida, but further north, from pines, where he can be far more easily heard than seen. The nest is placed 30-40 feet from the ground and the white eggs, thickly marked with shades of brown, are laid in April.

The Sycamore Warbler (_D. d. albilora, Case 5, Fig. 19_) is a nearly related race of the Yellow-throat which inhabits the Mississippi Valley nesting as far north as southern Michigan and wintering in the tropics. It differs from the Atlantic coast form in having a smaller bill and no yellow in front of the eye. As its name implies, it favors sycamore trees.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

_Dendroica virens virens. Case 6, Fig. 62_

The female has a yellow throat and a band of black spots on the breast, but both sexes may be known by the yellow cheeks and the large amount of white in the tail. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from Long Island and northern Ohio north to Canada and south in the Alleghanies to Georgia.

Washington, very common T.V., Apl. 22-May 30; Aug. 26-Oct. 21. Ossining, common T.V., Apl. 30-June 3; Sept. 1-Oct. 26; a few breed. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 1-Oct. 15. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 25-May 24; Sept. 1-Oct. 16; a few breed. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 29-June 6; Aug. 22-Oct. 12. SE. Minn., common T.V., uncommon S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 22.

The quiet little _zee-zee, zee-ee-zee_ of the Black-throated Green announces the arrival of the vanguard of true Wood Warblers, which for the succeeding two weeks will pass in countless numbers through our woodlands, still almost leafless. At this time we may find him wherever trees grow, but his real summer home is coniferous forests, especially of hemlocks, in which he often builds his nests 15-20 feet above the ground. The eggs, laid in late May or early June, are white spotted and speckled with brown.

A southern form of this Warbler (_D. v. waynei_) has been described from the vicinity of Charleston, S.C.

KIRTLAND'S WARBLER

_Dendroica kirtlandi. Case 8, Fig. 45_

A large Warbler, pale yellow below; crown slaty; back brownish streaked with black.

_Range._ Nests in Oscoda, Crawford and Roscommon Counties, Michigan, winters in the Bahamas; in migration has been found within the area from Minneapolis, Minn., to Toronto, Ont., south to St. Louis, Mo., and Fort Myer, Va., and south-eastward.

Washington, one record, Sept. 25, 1887. N. Ohio, rare T.V., May 9 and 11. Glen Ellyn, one record, May 7, 1894. SE. Minn., one record, Minneapolis, May 13.

Kirtland's Warbler has one of the smallest nesting areas of any North American bird and consequently is one of our rarest species. In the summer it lives among the jack-pines of north central Michigan, nesting on the ground beneath them. When migrating, it may be found usually near the ground, where it may be identified by its habit of tail-wagging. Its song is described by Wood in "Warblers of North America" as belonging to the whistling type with the clear, ringing quality of the Oriole's. The 3-5 eggs, laid early in June, are white speckled with brown in a wreath at the larger end.

PINE WARBLER

_Dendroica vigorsi vigorsi. Case 4, Fig. 57; Case 6, Fig. 60_

The male is bright greenish yellow below, sometimes duskily streaked; the female is tinged with brown above, below is soiled whitish, tinged with yellow. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from the Gulf States to Canada; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward.

Washington, quite uncommon S.R., Mch. 20-Oct. 29, abundant in fall. Ossining, casual. Cambridge, locally common S.R., Apl. 10-Oct. 20; occasional W.V. N. Ohio, rare T.V., Apl. 29-May 15. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., spring records only, Apl. 17-May 24. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 26-.

Pine Warblers seem almost as much a part of pine woods as the trees themselves. They feed on the ground below the pines, they glean from the bark of the trunk, or from the clusters of 'needles' on the topmost boughs, the very peace of the pines is expressed in their calm, even, musical trill; and where there are no pines there are no Pine Warblers. During the migration, it is true, they may be found elsewhere, but at that season they are travelers, and travelers cannot always be responsible for their surroundings. Their nest, of course, is always built in pines, usually from 30-50 feet above the ground. The eggs laid in March in the South, and early June in the North, are white wreathed with brown at the larger end.

YELLOW PALM WARBLER

_Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. Case 6, Fig. 61_

Underparts bright yellow streaked with reddish brown; cap reddish brown; line over the eye yellow. L. 5-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from Maine northward; winters from North Carolina to the Florida Keys; west to Louisiana.

Washington, T.V., common. Mch. 31-Apl. 29; Sept. 4-Oct. 28. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., Apl. 11-May 5; Sept. 20-Nov. 8. Cambridge, usually common, sometimes abundant, T.V., Apl. 15-May 5; Oct. 1-15.

A tail-wagging Warbler that frequents bushy places, weedy fields and open pine woods and gardens, living near the ground where it may be easily seen. Its call-note, _chip_, is distinctive and one learns in time to recognize it. Its song is a trill, clear and sweet, but by no means loud.

The Palm Warbler (_D. p. palmarum_) is the Mississippi Valley form of the Atlantic coast race, from which it differs in having the line over the eye white instead of yellow; the yellow of the underparts paler and confined to the throat and breast. It is not infrequent during the fall migration in the North Atlantic States and, in Florida, is far more common than the Yellow Palm.

Washington, rare T.V., Apl. 22-May 18; Sept. 18-Oct. 11. Ossining. T.V., Apl. 29; Sept. 30-Oct. 12. Cambridge, uncommon T.V. in fall, Sept. 15-Oct. 10. N. Ohio, tolerably common T.V., Apl. 24-May 20; Sept. 10-Oct. 16. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 23-May 19; Sept. 4-Oct. 18. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 23; Sept. 17-Oct. 3.

Both races nest on the ground.

PRAIRIE WARBLER

_Dendroica discolor. Case 8, Fig. 48_

A small Warbler with a reddish brown patch in the back, yellowish wing-bars, and much white in the tail. L. 4-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from Florida and northern Mississippi to Michigan and New Hampshire.

Washington, very common S.R., Apl. 12-Sept. 20. Ossining, rare S.R., May 2-Sept. 14. Cambridge, locally common S.R., May 8-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, rare, Apl. 29, May 9, and 14.

Scrubby second growths, hillsides with scattered cedars and barberries, and, sometimes, bushy places in the pines are the haunts of the miscalled Prairie Warbler. Common and generally distributed in the South, it is local in the North and not always found in districts which seem to supply all its wants. Its song is composed of six or seven minute _zees_, the next to the last one usually the highest. The nest is generally built within 4 feet of the ground, the eggs, laid in May, are white marked with shades of brown, often wreathed about the larger end.

OVEN-BIRD

_Seiurus aurocapillus. Case 6, Fig. 64_

An olive brownish bird, white streaked with black below, with an orange, black-bordered crown and no white on wings or in tail. L. 6-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from Georgia and Missouri to Canada; winters from Florida southward.

Washington, very common S.R., Apl. 10-Oct. 17. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 27-Oct. 10. Cambridge, very common S.R., May 6-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Apl. 22-Oct. 1. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., common T.V., Apl. 28-Sept. 30. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept. 22.