_Vireosylva olivasceus. Case 6, Fig. 66_
An olive-green bird, silky white below, a white
line, bordered by black over the red eye, a
grayish cap and no white band on the wings. L.
6-1/4.
_Range._ Nests from the Gulf to Canada; winters in
the tropics.
Washington, very common S.R., Apl. 21-Oct. 17.
Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 29-Oct. 19. Cambridge,
abundant S.R., May 10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, abundant
S.R., Apl. 27-Oct. 1. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., May
5-Oct. 5. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 5-Sept. 15.
A tireless soliloquist, the Red-eyed Vireo repeats from our shade and
fruit trees in endless succession the broken phrases of his monotonous,
rambling recitation. He sings all day and he sings throughout the
summer, pausing only to sleep or to swallow the caterpillar he hunts
while singing. Patient, persistent mediocrity is expressed by the
Red-eye's song, and only his nasal, petulant call-note, _whang_,
suggests that he is not altogether satisfied with life as he finds it.
The nest, like that of our other Vireos, is a deep cup hung from between
a crotch from 5 to about 40 feet above the ground. The 3-4 eggs, which
are laid in late May, are white spotted with reddish brown.