The popular name of this species of an attractive family is Yellow
Throated Greenlet, and our young readers will find much pleasure in
watching its pretty movements and listening to its really delightful
song whenever they visit the places where it loves to spend the happy
hours of summer. In some respects it is the most remarkable of all
the species of the family found in the United States. "The Birds
of Illinois," a book that may be profitably studied by the young
naturalist, states that it is decidedly the finest singer, has the
loudest notes of admonition and reproof, and is the handsomest in
plumage, and hence the more attractive to the student.
A recognized observer says he has found it only in the woods, and
mostly in the luxuriant forests of the bottom lands. The writer's
experience accords with that of Audubon and Wilson, the best
authorities in their day, but the habits of birds vary greatly with
locality, and in other parts of the country, notably in New England,
it is very familiar, delighting in the companionship of man. It breeds
in eastern North America, and winters in Florida, Cuba and Central
America.
The Vireo makes a very deep nest, suspended by its upper edge,
between the forks of a horizontal branch. The eggs are white,
generally with a few reddish brown blotches. All authorities agree as
to the great beauty of the nest, though they differ as to its exact
location. It is a woodland bird, loving tall trees and running water,
"haunting the same places as the Solitary Vireo." During migration the
Yellow-throat is seen in orchards and in the trees along side-walks
and lawns, mingling his golden colors with the rich green of June
leaves.
The Vireos, or Greenlets, are like the Warblers in appearance and
habits. We have no birds, says Torrey, that are more unsparing of
their music; they sing from morning till night, and--some of them, at
least--continue theirs till the very end of the season. The song of
the Yellow-throat is rather too monotonous and persistent. It is hard
sometimes not to get out of patience with its ceasless and noisy
iteration of its simple tune; especially if you are doing your utmost
to catch the notes of some rarer and more refined songster. This is
true also of some other birds, whose occasional silence would add much
to their attractiveness.