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.]
Page 385
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.]
Page 386
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.]
Page 387
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.]
Page 388
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.]
Page 389
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.]
Page 390
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.
This species has greenish upper parts, white lower parts and
superciliary line, and gray crown and nape. They nest either on the
ground or at low elevations in bushes, making the structure of grasses
and fibres, lined with hair; they are found on wild, tangled hillsides
and mountain ranges. The eggs are pure white, sparingly specked with
reddish brown. Size .62 × .45.
648. PARULA WARBLER. _Compsothlypis americana americana._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding in the southern half.
The upper parts of this handsome species are bluish gray with a greenish
patch in the middle of the back; the throat and breast are yellow with a
patch of black and chestnut. They are abundant birds in suitable
localities, breeding in swamps, especially those with old or dead trees
covered with hanging moss (usnea). The nests may be found at any height
from the ground, and are usually made by turning and gathering up the
ends of the hanging moss to form a pocket, which is lined with fine
grass or hair. The four to six eggs are white or creamy white, wreathed
with specks of reddish brown and chestnut. Size .64 × .44.
648a. NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER. _Compsothlypis americana usneæ._
Range.--Northern half of eastern United States and southern Canada;
winters from the Gulf States southward.
The nesting habits of the northern form of the Blue-yellow-backed
Warbler are in all respects like those of the last, and like them, where
moss grown swamps are not to be found, they have been known to construct
nests of moss suspended from branches of trees, or to nest in bunches of
dead leaves. Data.--Oxford, Mass., June 7, 1895. Nest in a dead pine
swamp; made in end of hanging moss about 6 feet from the ground. Large
colony breeding.
[Illustration 392: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Tennessee Warblers. Olive Warblers.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 391
649. SENNETT'S WARBLER. _Compsothlypis piti ayumi nigrilora._
Range.--Eastern Mexico, north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
This species is similar to the Parula but is more extensively yellow
below, and has black lores and ear coverts. Their habits are the same as
those of the last and their nests are generally placed in hanging moss,
and are also said to have been found hollowed out in the mistletoe which
grows on many trees in southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The eggs
cannot be distinguished from those of the last.
650. CAPE MAY WARBLER. _Dendroica tigrina._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from northern New England and
Manitoba northward; winters south of the United States.
This beautiful Warbler is yellow below and on the rump, streaked on the
breast and sides with black; the ear coverts and sometimes the throat
are chestnut. They are very local in their distribution both during
migrations and in their breeding grounds. They nest in the outer
branches of trees, preferably conifers, making the nest of slender
twigs, rootlets, grasses, etc., lined with hair; the four or five eggs
are white, variously specked with reddish brown and lilac; size .65 ×
.48.
651. OLIVE WARBLER. _Peucedramus olivaceus._
Range.--Mountains of New Mexico and Arizona southward.
This peculiar species may readily be recognized by its saffron or
orange-brown colored head and neck, with broad black bar through the
eye. They nest at high elevations in coniferous trees on the mountain
sides, placing their nests either on the horizontal boughs or forks at
the end of them. The nests are very beautiful structures made of moss,
lichens, fine rootlets and grasses and setting high on the limb like
those of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The eggs are grayish white with a
bluish tinge, thickly speckled with blackish; size .64 × .48.
Data.--Huachuca Mts., Arizona, June 21, 1901. Nest in a sugar pine near
extremity of branch, 25 feet from the ground and 20 feet out from the
trunk of the tree; composed of lichens and fine rootlets, lined with
plant down.
[Illustration 393: White.]
[Illustration: Parula Warbler. Sennett's Warbler.]
[Illustration: Grayish blue.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 392
652. YELLOW WARBLER. _Dendroica æstiva æstiva._
Range.--Breeds in the whole or North America; winters south of our
borders.
This well known and very common species is wholly yellow, being more or
less greenish on the back, wings and tail, and the male is streaked on
the sides with chestnut. They nest anywhere in trees or bushes, either
in woods, pastures, parks or dooryards, and their sprightly song is much
in evidence throughout the summer. The nests are usually placed in
upright crotches or forks, and are made of vegetable fibres and fine
grasses compactly woven together and lined with plant down and hair; the
eggs, which are laid in May or June, are greenish white, boldly specked
in endless patterns with shades of brown and lilac; size .65 × .50.
652a. SONORA YELLOW WARBLER. _Dendroica æstiva sonorana._
Range.--Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas, southward.
This form is brighter yellow, especially above, than the last. The
nesting habits are the same and the eggs indistinguishable from those of
the preceding.
652b. ALASKA YELLOW WARBLER. _Dendroica æstiva rubiginosa._
Range.--Breeds in Alaska and on the coast south to Vancouver; winters
south of the United States.
Similar to the common Yellow Warbler but slightly darker above; its eggs
and nesting habits are the same.
[Illustration 394: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Cape May Warblers. Yellow Warblers.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 393
[Illustration 395: J. B. Pardoe.
NEST OF YELLOW WARBLER.]
Page 394
653. MANGROVE WARBLER. Dendroica bryanti castaneiceps.
Range.--Southern Lower California
and western Mexico and
Central America.
This species is very similar to
the Yellow Warbler but the entire
head and neck of the male
are yellowish chestnut. Their
nesting habits or eggs do not vary in any essential
particular from those of the common Yellow-birds
of the United States.
654. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. _Dendroica cærulescens cærulescens._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from
northern United States northward; winters in
the Gulf States and southward.
These black-throated bluish-backed Warblers
are abundant in swampy woodland both during
migrations and at their breeding grounds; either
sex can readily be identified in any plumage, by
the presence of a small white spot at the base of
the primaries. They nest in underbrush or low
bushes only a few inches above the ground, making
the nests of bark strips, moss rootlets, etc.,
lined with fine grasses or hair;
the eggs are pale buffy white
more or less dotted with pale
brownish; size .65 × .50. Data.--Warren,
Pa., June 9, 1891. 3
eggs. Nest one foot from the
ground in brush; made of fine
pieces of rotten wood, laurel bark and lined with
fine grasses.
654a. CAIRNS WARBLER. _Dendroica cærulescens cairnsi._
Range.--Mountain ranges of North Carolina to Georgia.
A darker form whose habits and eggs are identical with those of the last.
[Illustration 396: Mangrove Warblers. Black-throated Blue Warblers.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Buffy white.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 395
655. MYRTLE WARBLER. _Dendroica coronata._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from northern United States
northward. Winters in the southern half of eastern United States.
This beautiful gray, white and black Warbler can readily be identified
by its yellow rump, side patches and crown patch. It is one of our most
common species during migrations when it is found west to the Rockies
and casually farther. They nest on the lower branches of coniferous
trees, making their homes of rootlets, plant fibres and grasses; during
June or the latter part of May, three or four eggs are laid; they are
white, spotted with several shades of brown and lilac; size .70 × .50.
Data.--Lancaster, N. H., June 7, 1888. Nest in a small spruce, about 6
feet up; made of fine twigs, lined with feathers.
656. AUDUBON'S WARBLER. _Dendroica auduboni auduboni._
Range.--Mountain ranges of western United States from British Columbia
to Mexico.
This bird resembles the last in the location of the yellow patches but
has a yellow instead of a white throat, and is otherwise differently
marked. They are as abundant in suitable localities as are the Myrtle
Warblers in the east, nesting on the outer branches of coniferous trees
at any height from the ground. The nests are made of bark strips,
rootlets, plant fibre, grasses and pine needles, the three to five eggs
are greenish or bluish white marked with brown and lilac; size .68 ×
.52. The one figured is from a beautiful set of four in Mr. C. W.
Crandall's collection, and the ground color is a delicate shade of blue.
Data.--Spanaway, Washington, April 23, 1902. Nest on the limb of a large
fir in a clump of three in prairie country.
656a. BLACK-FRONTED WARBLER. _Dendroica auduboni nigrifrons._
Range.--Mountains of southern Arizona and Mexico.
Similar to the preceding, but with the forehead and ear coverts black.
Their nests and eggs are in no way different from those of Audubon's
Warbler.
[Illustration 397: White.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Myrtle Warblers. Audubon's Warblers.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 396
657. MAGNOLIA WARBLER. _Dendroica magnolia._
Range.--North America east of the Rockies, breeding from northern United
States to Hudson Bay region and in the Alleghanies, south to
Pennsylvania. Winters south of our borders. This species, which is one
of the most beautiful of the Warblers, is entirely yellow below and on
the rump, the breast and sides being heavily streaked with black; a
large patch on the back and the ear coverts are black. They build in
coniferous trees at any elevation from the ground, making their nests of
rootlets and grass stems, usually lined with hair; the eggs are dull
white, specked with pale reddish brown; size .65 × .48.
Data.--Worcester, Mass., May 30, 1895. 4 eggs. Nest of fine rootlets and
grasses about 30 feet up on the end of a limb of a pine overhanging a
brook.
658. CERULEAN WARBLER. _Dendroica cærulea_.
Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding chiefly in the
northern half of the Mississippi Valley, rare east of the Alleghanies
and casual in New England. These beautiful Warblers are light blue gray
above, streaked with black on back, white below, with a grayish blue
band on breast and streaks on the sides; they have two wide white wing
bars and spots on the outer tail feathers. They are found chiefly in the
higher trees where they glean on the foliage; they build also usually
above twenty feet from the ground in any kind of tree, placing the nests
well out on the horizontal limbs, generally in a fork. The nests are
made of fine strips of bark, fibres, rootlets, etc., lined with hair;
the eggs are white or pale bluish white, specked with reddish brown;
size .62 × .48. Data.--Fargo, Ontario, June 2, 1901. Nest in a burr oak,
18 feet from the ground on a horizontal limb.
[Illustration 398: Magnolia Warblers. Cerulean Warblers.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: No caption.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]