1. THE MYRTLE WARBLER
OR
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
Length: A little over 5½ inches, one of the larger warblers.
Male: The grayish upper parts, white under parts, (both streaked with
black), and the black cheeks of the Myrtle Warbler remind one of the
Black and White Creeping Warbler. Its _four patches of yellow_,--on
the _crown_, _rump_, and on _each side_ are distinctive. The wings
and tail are brownish-gray; wings, with _two white bars_; tail with
graduated patches of white _near end_ of outside feathers; white
throat and belly.
Female: Browner above; breast less heavily streaked with black.
Notes: The notes and song of this warbler are described by Mr. Forbush
as follows: "The Myrtle Warbler has a variety of notes, but the one
usually uttered spring and fall is a soft chirp or _chup_, which, at
a little distance, exactly resembles the sound produced by a large
drop of water as it strikes the ground or leaf-mold. These sounds
are so similar that after storms in the woods I have often found it
difficult to distinguish the note of this warbler from the splash of
the large drops that were still falling from the trees. The song is
a rather weak warble, very sweet, and often of long duration.... It
has quite as many variations as the song of any warbler that I now
recall."[142]
Range: Breeds in the forest-belt of Canada and Alaska, south to
Minnesota, Michigan, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts,
and the mountains of New York, winters from Kansas, New Jersey,
southern New England to West Indies, Mexico, and Panama, and from
central Oregon to southern California.
The Myrtle or Yellow-rumped Warbler is found in North America except in
the western United States. It is so abundant and so distinctly marked as
to be better known than many warblers. "Trim of form and graceful of
motion, when seeking its food it combines the methods of the wrens,
creepers, and flycatchers. This bird is so small and nimble that it
successfully attacks insects too minute to be prey for larger birds.
Flies are the largest item of food; in fact only a few flycatchers and
swallows eat as many flies as this bird."[143]
The Myrtle Warbler is especially fond of bayberries and may be found,
even in winter, where these berries are to be obtained. New Jersey and
Cape Cod are favorite feeding places.