mask bordered by yellow instead of white, and the black on the forehead
extends diagonally across the head from in front of one eye to the rear
of the other. Their habits are like those of the other Yellow-throats
and the nests are similar to those of the latter, which are frequently
placed in cane over the water. Nests found by Mr. Walter E. Bryant were
situated in clumps of "cat-tails" between two and three feet above the
water; the nests were made of dry strips of these leaves, lined with
fibres; the eggs were like those of the common Yellow-throats but
larger; size .75 × .56.
682.1. RIO GRANDE YELLOW-THROAT. _Chamæthlypis poliocephala._
Range.--Mexico north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
This Yellow-throat has the crown and ear coverts gray, only the lores
and forehead being black. The nests and eggs of these birds, which are
fairly common about Brownsville, Texas, do not differ from those of the
other Yellow-throats.
683. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. _Icteria virens virens._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf coast north to
southern New England and Minnesota.
This strange but handsome species is very common in underbrush and
thickets in the south; they are usually shy and endeavor, with success,
to keep out of sight, but their strange song and calls, consisting of
various whistles and squawks mingled together, are often heard. Their
nests are built in bushes or briars at low elevations, being made of
grass, strips of bark and leaves, lined with finer grass; their eggs are
white, sharply speckled and spotted with various shades of brown and
lavender; size .90 × .70.
683a. LONG-TAILED CHAT. _Icteria virens longicauda._
Range.--United States west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico to
British Columbia.
This bird is said to be grayer and to have a slightly longer tail than
the last. Its nesting habits and eggs are precisely the same.
[Illustration 415: Rio Grande Yellow-throat. Yellow-breasted Chat.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 414
684. HOODED WARBLER. _Wilsonia citrina._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to southern New England
and Michigan; winters south of our borders.
This yellow and greenish species can be identified by its black head,
neck and throat, with the large yellow patch about the eye and the
forehead. The members of this genus are active fly-catchers, darting
into the air after passing insects in the manner of the Flycatchers.
They frequent tangled thickets where they build their nests within a few
inches of the ground, making them of leaves, bark and grass, lined with
hair; the four or five eggs are white, specked with reddish brown and
neutral tints; size .70 × .50. Data.--Doddridge Co., Mo., May 29, 1897.
Nest one foot from the ground in a small bush; made of leaves, strips of
bark and fine grasses.
685. WILSON'S WARBLER. _Wilsonia pusilla pusilla_.
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from northern United States
northward; south to Central America in winter.
These handsome little black-capped flycatching Warblers are abundant
during migrations, especially in the spring, being found on the edges of
woods and in orchards. They nest on the ground, usually on the edges of
swamps, embedding their nests in the ground under the shelter of low
branches or on the edges of banks; the nest is of bark strips, fibres
and leaves, and the eggs are white, specked with reddish brown; size .60
× .50.
685a. PILEOLATED WARBLER. _Wilsonia pusilla pileolata._
Range.--Western United States, breeding in the Rocky Mountain region
from Mexico to Alaska; winters south of the United States.
Similar to the eastern form but the yellow underparts and greenish back
are brighter. Like the last species, this form nests on the ground or
very close to it, in weeds or rank undergrowth, in swamps. Their eggs
which are laid in May or June are not distinguishable from those of the
last.
[Illustration 416: Hooded Warblers. Wilson's Warblers.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 415
685b. GOLDEN PILEOLATED WARBLER. _Wilsonia pusilla chryseola._
Range.--Pacific coast of North America, breeding from southern
California in mountain ranges north to British Columbia.
686. CANADIAN WARBLER. _Wilsonia canadensis._
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from Mass., New York, and
Michigan north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters in Central America.
This handsome Warbler is plain gray above and yellow below, with a black
stripe down the sides of the neck and across the breast in a broken
band. They frequent swamps or open woods with a heavy growth of
underbrush, where
they build their nests on or very close to the ground. I have always
found them in Massachusetts nesting about the roots of laurels, the
nests being made of strips of bark, leaves and grass; in June or the
latter part of May they lay from three to five white eggs, specked and
wreathed with reddish brown and neutral tints; size .68 × .50.
Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 10, 1891. Nest on the ground under laurel
roots in swampy woods; made entirely of strips of laurel bark lined with
fine grass.
687. American Redstart. _Setophaga ruticilla._
Range.--North America, chiefly east of the Rockies, breeding in the
northern half of the United States and north to Labrador and Alaska;
winters south of our borders.
The male of this handsome, active and well known species is black with a
white belly, and orange patches on the sides, wings and bases of outer
tail feathers. They breed abundantly in swamps, open woods or thickets
by the roadside, placing their nests in trees or bushes at elevations of
from three to thirty feet above ground and usually in an upright fork.
The nests are very compactly made of fibres and grasses, felted
together, and lined with hair. Their eggs are white, variously blotched
and spotted with brown and gray; size .65 × .50. Data.--Chili, N. Y.,
June 1, 1894. Nest, a cup-shaped structure of plant fibres lined with
fine grasses and hair; 4 feet from the ground in the crotch of a small
chestnut.
[Illustration 417: White.]
[Illustration: Canadian Warblers. American Redstart.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 416
[Illustration 418: C. A. REED.
MALE REDSTART FEEDING YOUNG.]
Pgee 417
688. PAINTED REDSTART. _Setophaga picta._
Range.--Southern New Mexico and Arizona, southward.
This beautiful Redstart is black with a large white patch on the wing
coverts, white outer tail feathers, and with the belly and middle of the
breast bright red. These active birds, which have all the habits and
mannerisms of the common species, nest on the ground in thickets or
shrubbery usually near water, and generally conceal their homes under
overhanging stones or stumps; the nests are made of fine shreds of bark
and grasses, lined with hair; the eggs are white, dotted with reddish
brown; size .65 x .48. Data.--Chiricahua Mts., Arizona, May 31, 1900.
Nest of fine bark and grass under a small bush on the ground.
689. RED-BELLIED REDSTART. _Setophaga miniata._
Range.--Mexico; admitted to our avifauna on the authority of Giraud as
having occurred in Texas.
This species is similar to the last, but has a chestnut crown patch,
more red on the underparts, and less white on the tail; it is not
probable that their nesting habits or eggs differ from the last.
690. RED-FACED WARBLER. _Cardellina rubrifrons._
Range.--Southern Arizona and New Mexico, southward.
This attractive little Warbler is quite common in mountain ranges of the
southern Arizona. They nest on the ground on the side hills, concealing
the slight structure of grasses and rootlets under overhanging shrubs or
stones. Their eggs are specked and blotched with light reddish brown and
lavender. Size .64 x .48. Data.--Chiricahua Mts., Arizona, May 31, 1902.
Nest in a depression under a tuft of grass growing about 8 feet up on
the side of a bank.
[Illustration 419: White.]
[Illustration: Painted Redstart. Red-faced Warblers.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 418
WAGTAILS. Family MOTACILLIDÆ
694. WHITE WAGTAIL. _Motacilla alba._
Range.--An Old World species; accidental in Greenland.
These birds are abundant throughout Europe, nesting on the ground, in
stone walls, or in the crevices of old buildings, etc., the nests being
made of grass, rootlets, leaves, etc.; the eggs are grayish white,
finely specked with blackish gray. Size .75 × .55.
695. SWINHOE'S WAGTAIL. _Motacilla ocularis._
Range.--Eastern Asia; accidental in Lower California and probably
Alaska.
696. ALASKA YELLOW WAGTAIL. _Budytes flavus alascensis._
Range.--Eastern Asia; abundant on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska in the
summer.
These handsome Wagtails are common in summer on the coasts and islands
of Bering Sea, nesting on the ground under tufts of grass or beside
stones, usually in marshy ground. Their eggs number from four to six and
are white, profusely spotted with various shades of brown and gray. Size
.75 × .55. Data.--Kamchatka, June 20, 1896. Nest on the ground; made of
fine rootlets, grass and moss, lined neatly with animal fur.
697. PIPIT. _Anthus rubescens._
Range.--North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, and in the Rocky
Mountains south to Colorado, winters in southern United States and
southward.
The Titlarks are abundant birds in the United States during migrations,
being found in flocks in fields and cultivated ground. Their nests,
which are placed on the ground in meadows or marshes under tufts of
grass, are made of moss and grasses; the four to six eggs are dark
grayish, heavily spotted and blotched with brown and blackish. Size .75
× .55.
698. MEADOW PIPIT. _Anthus pratensis._
Range.--Whole of Europe; accidental in Greenland.
This species is similar to the American Pipit and like that species
nests on the ground; they are very abundant and are found in meadows,
woods or thickets in the vicinity of houses. Their nests are made
chiefly of grasses, lined with hair; the eggs are from four to six in
number and are grayish, very heavily spotted and blotched with grayish
brown. Size .78 × .58.
[Illustration 420: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: American Pipit. Sprague's Pipit.]
[Illustration: Gray.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 419
699. RED-THROATED PIPIT. _Anthus cervinus._
Range.--An Old World species; accidental in the Aleutians and Lower
California.
The nesting habits of this bird are like those of the others of the
genus.
700. SPRAGUE'S PIPIT. _Anthus spraguei._
Range.--Interior of North America, breeding from Wyoming north to
Saskatchewan. Winters in the plains of Mexico.
These birds are common on the prairies and breed abundantly on the
plains of the interior of northern United States and Manitoba. They have
a flight song which is said to be fully equal to that of the famous
European Skylark. They nest on the ground under tufts of grass or
up-turned sods, lining the hollow with fine grasses; their three or four
eggs are grayish white, finely specked with grayish black or purplish.
Size .85 × .60. Data.--Crescent Lake, Canada. Nest of fine dried
grasses, built in the ground at the side of a sod.
DIPPERS. Family CINCLIDÆ
701. DIPPER. _Cinclus mexicanus unicolor._
Range.--Mountains of western North America from Alaska to Central
America.
These short-tailed, grayish colored birds are among the strangest of
feathered creatures; they frequent the sides of mountain streams where
they feed upon aquatic insects and small fish. Although they do not have
webbed feet, they swim on or under water with the greatest of ease and
rapidity, using their wings as paddles. They have a thrush-like bill and
the teetering habits of the Sandpiper, and they are said to be one of
the sweetest of songsters. They nest among the rocks along the banks of
swiftly flowing streams, and sometimes beneath falls; the nests are
large round structures of green moss, lined with fine grass and with the
entrance on the side. The eggs are pure white, four or five in number,
and laid during May or June. Size 1.00 × .70.
WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. Family TROGLODYTIDÆ
702. SAGE THRASHER. _Oreoscoptes montanus._
Range.--Plains and valleys of western United States, east of the Sierra
Nevadas, from Montana to Mexico.
This species is abundant in the sage regions of the west, nesting on the
ground or at low elevations in sage or other bushes. Their nests are
made of twigs, rootlets and bark strips, lined with fine rootlets; the
three or four eggs are a handsome greenish blue, brightly spotted with
reddish brown and gray. Size .95 × .70. Data.--Salt Lake Co., Utah, May
11, 1900. Nest placed in a sage bush; made of twigs of the same and
lined with bark strips. Collector, W. H. Parker, (Crandall collection.)
[Illustration 421: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Sage Thrasher.]
[Illustration: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 420
703. MOCKINGBIRD. _Mimus polyglottos polyglottos_.
Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to New Jersey and
Illinois.
These noted birds are very common in the south where they are found, and
nest about houses in open woods, fields, and along roadways; their nests
are rude, bulky structures of twigs, grasses, leaves, etc., placed in
trees or bushes at low elevations; the three to five eggs are usually
dull greenish blue, boldly spotted with brownish. Size .95 × .72.
703a. WESTERN MOCKINGBIRD. _Mimus polyglottos leucopterus._
Range.--Southwestern United States from Texas to California, and
southward.
This subspecies is as common in its range, and its habits are the same
as those of the eastern bird. The nests and eggs are identical with
those of the last, and like that variety they frequently nest in odd
places as do all common birds when they become familiar with
civilization.
704. CATBIRD. _Dumetella carolinensis._
Range.--North America, breeding from the Gulf States to the
Saskatchewan; rare on the Pacific coast; winters in the Gulf States and
southward.
This well known mimic is abundant in the temperate portions of its
range, frequenting open woods, swamps, hillsides and hedges. Their nests
are usually low down in bushes or trees, and are constructed similarly
to those of the Mockingbird, of twigs and rootlets; a tangled mass of
vines and briers is a favorite place for them to locate their home.
Their eggs are laid in the latter part of May or during June, and are
from three to five in number and a bright bluish green in color,
unmarked. Size .95 × .70.
[Illustration 422: Dull greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Mockingbird.]
[Illustration: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: Catbird.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 421
705. BROWN THRASHER. _Toxostoma rufum_.
Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the Gulf States north to
Canada. Winters in the Gulf States and southward.
This large, handsome songster is found breeding in just such localities
as are preferred by the Catbird and the two are often found nesting in
the same hedge or thicket. The nests, too, are similar but that of the
Thrasher is usually more bulky; besides building in bushes they
frequently nest on the ground, lining the hollow under some bush with
fine rootlets. Their three to five eggs are laid during May or June;
they are whitish or pale greenish white, profusely dotted with reddish
brown. Size 1.05 × .80.
706. SENNETT'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma longirostre sennetti._
Range.--Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Very similar to the last but darker above and with the spots on the
breast blacker and more distinct. This species which is very abundant in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley nests the same as the last species in thick
hedges and the eggs are very similar to those of the Brown Thrasher, but
in a large series, average more sparingly marked over the whole surface
and with a more definite wreath about the large end. Data.--Corpus
Christi, Texas, May 12, 1899. Nest of twigs and vines in a bush in
thicket. Six feet from the ground.
707. CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. _Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre._
Range.--Mexico, north to southern Texas and eastern New Mexico.
This species is a uniform ashy gray above and soiled white below; the
bill is stout and decurved. These birds are as numerous in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley as are the Sennett's Thrasher, frequenting thickets where
they breed in scrubby bushes and cacti. Their nests are rather larger
and more deeply cupped than are those of the last species and the eggs
can easily be distinguished. They have a ground color of light bluish
green, minutely dotted evenly all over the surface with reddish brown.
Size 1.10 × .80. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, April 6, 1900. 5 eggs. Nest
of sticks and thorns on a cactus in a thicket; 6 feet from the ground.
[Illustration 423: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Brown Thrasher.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: 707a--708--710.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 422
707a. PALMER'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma curvirostre palmeri._
Range.--Very abundant in southern Arizona and southward into Mexico.
The nesting habits and eggs of these birds are exactly like those of the
last; they show a preference for placing their nests of sticks and
thorny twigs upon cacti at elevations below five feet from the ground.
Like the last, they generally raise two broods a season.
708. BENDIRE'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma bendirei._
Range.--Southern Arizona and Mexico; north locally to southern Colorado.
This species is not as abundant in the deserts of southern Arizona as
are the last species with which they associate. They nest at low
elevations in mesquites or cacti, laying their first sets in March and
early April and usually raising two broods a season; their three or four
eggs are dull whitish, spotted and blotched with brownish drab and lilac
gray. Size 1.00 × .72. Data.--Tucson, Arizona, April 15, 1896. Nest 3
feet up in a cholla cactus; made of large sticks lined with fine
grasses.
709. SAN LUCAS THRASHER. _Toxostoma cinereum cinereum._
Range.--Southern Lower California.
This species is similar to _curvirostre_ but the under parts are spotted
with dusky. Their habits and nests are similar to those of the other
Thrashers and the three or four eggs are pale greenish white, spotted
with reddish brown. Size 1.08 × .75. Data.--Santa Anita, June 3, 1896. 3
eggs. Nest in a cactus.
709a. MEARNS'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma cinereum mearnsi._
Range.--Northern Lower California.
This species is described as darker than the last and with larger,
blacker spots on the breast and underparts.
710. CALIFORNIA THRASHER. _Toxostoma redivivum._
Range.--Southern half of California, west of the Sierra Nevadas.
This species is more brownish than the other curve-billed species and
has a much longer and more curved bill. They are common in the under
brush of hillsides and ravines, where they locate their nests at low
elevations. Their nests are made of sticks and grass, lined with
rootlets, and the three or four eggs are bluish green with spots of
russet brown. Size 1.12 × .82. Data.--San Diego, Cal., Feb. 7, 1897.
Nest of sticks and rootlets in a grease-wood bush 4 feet from the
ground. Collector, Chas. W. Brown.
[Illustration 424: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish white.]
[Illustration: Bluish green.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 423
711. LECONTE'S THRASHER. _Toxostoma lecontei lecontei._
Range.--Desert regions of southwestern United States, chiefly in the
valleys of the Gila and Colorado Rivers.
This species is much paler than the last and has a shorter bill. It is
fairly common but locally distributed in its range and nests at low
elevations in bushes or cacti. The three or four eggs are pale greenish
blue, sparingly dotted with reddish brown. Size 1.10 × .75.
Data.--Phoenix, Arizona, April 2, 1897. 3 eggs. Large nest of dry twigs,
rootlets, etc., lined with bits of rabbit hair and feathers; 4 feet from
the ground in a small shrub.
711a. DESERT THRASHER. _Toxostoma lecontei arenicola._
Range.--Northern Lower California.
This form of the last is said to differ in being darker above. It is a
very locally confined race, chiefly about Rosalia Bay, Lower California.
Its eggs will not be distinctive.
712. CRISSAL THRASHER. _Toxostoma crissale._
Range.--Southwestern United States from western Texas to eastern
California; north to southern Utah and Nevada.
This species may be known from any other of the curve-billed Thrashers
by its grayish underparts and bright chestnut under tail coverts. These
sweet songsters are abundant in suitable localities, nesting at low
elevations in chaparral. Their nests are large, and bulkily made of
sticks and rootlets; the eggs range from two to four in number and are
pale greenish blue, unmarked. Size 1.10 × .75.
713. CACTUS WREN. _Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi._
Range.--Southwestern United States from Texas to eastern California;
north to southern Nevada and Utah.
This species is the largest of the Wrens, being 8.5 inches in length.
They are very common in cactus and chaparrel districts, where they nest
at low elevations in bushes or cacti, making large purse-shaped
structures of grasses and thorny twigs, lined with feathers and with a
small entrance at one end. They raise two or three broods a year, the
first set of eggs being laid early in April; the eggs are creamy white,
dotted, so thickly as to obscure the ground color, with pale reddish
brown. Size .95 × .65. Data.--Placentia, Cal., April 15, 1901. Nest in
cactus about 6 feet from the ground; made of grasses and lined with
feathers and rabbit fur; nest 8 inches in diameter, 18 inches long.
[Illustration 425: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 711--712.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Cactus Wren.]
[Illustration: Creamy white.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 424
713a. BRYANT'S CACTUS WREN. _Heleodytes brunneicapillus bryanti._
Range.--Northern Lower California and coast of southern California.
The nesting habits of this variety differ in no respect from those of
the last.
713b. SAN LUCAS CACTUS WREN. _Heleodytes brunneicapillus affinis._
Range.--Southern Lower California.
Eggs indistinguishable from those of the last.
715. ROCK WREN. _Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus._
Range.--United States, west of the plains, breeding north to British
Columbia, and south to Mexico; winters in southwestern United States and
southward.
This species appears to be quite abundant on rocky hillsides throughout
its range; like most of the Wrens they draw attention to themselves by
their loud and varied song. They nest in crevices or beneath overhanging
rocks, making the nest out of any trash that may be handy, such as
weeds, grass, wool, bark, rootlets, etc.; their eggs range from four to
eight in number and are pure white, finely specked with reddish brown.
Size .72 × .50.
716. GUADALUPE ROCK WREN. _Salpinctes guadeloupensis._
Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.
A similar but darker and browner species than the Rock Wren. It breeds
in abundance throughout the island from which it takes its name, placing
its nests in crevices among the boulders or cavities of fallen tree
trunks and, as is often done by the last species, lining the pathway to
the nest with small pebbles. The eggs, which are laid from January to
April, resemble, in all respects, those of the common Rock Wren.
717. WHITE-THROATED WREN. _Catherpes mexicanus albifrons._
Range.--Northeastern Mexico and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
The habits of the White-throated Wren are the same as those of the Canon
Wren, which variety is more common and better known; the eggs of this
species are not distinguishable from those of the next.