_Motacilla coronata_, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 333. _Sylvia
coronata_, LATH.; VIEILLOT; WILS.; NUTT.; AUD. Orn. Biog. II, pl.
cliii. _Sylvicola coronata_, SWAINS.; BON.; AUD. Birds, Am. II,
pl. lxxvi.—JONES, Nat. Bermuda, 59 (abundant in April). _Dendroica
coronata_, GRAY, Genera, 1842, 2.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 272;
Rev. 187.—MARCH, P. A. N. Sc. 1863, 292 (Jamaica, in summer;
breeding).—GUNDL. Cab. Jour. 1861, 326 (Cuba; common).—COOPER &
SUCKLEY, P. R. R. XII, ii, 1859, 180 (Puget Sound).—SAMUELS,
226.—DALL & BANNISTER (Alaska).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 89.
_Rhimanphus cor._ CAB. Jour. 1855, 473 (Cuba). _Motacilla
canadensis_, LINN. 12th ed. 1766, 334 (_Ficedula canadensis
cinerea_, Br. III, 524, pl xxvii, fig. 1). _Parus virginianus_,
LINN. 12th ed. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 342. _Motacilla umbria, cincta,
pinguis_, GM. _Sylvia xanthopygia_, VIEILL. _Sylvia xanthoroa_,
VIEILL.
Localities quoted: _S. Greenland_, REINHARDT, Ibis, 1861, 5.
_Cordova_, SCL. P. Z. S. 1856, 291. _Xalapa_, IB. 1859, 363.
_Guatemala_, SCL. & SALV. 1859, 11. _Panama_, LAWR. Ann. N. Y.
Lyc. VIII, 63. _Cuba_, winter, CAB. Jour. III, 473. _Bahamas_,
winter, BRYANT, Bost. Pr. VII, 1859. _Jamaica_, GOSSE, Birds Jam.
155. _St. Domingo_, SALLÉ, P. Z. S. 1857, 231. _Costa Rica_, LAWR.
_Orizaba_, winter, SUMICHRAST.
SP. CHAR. Above bluish-ash, streaked with black. Under parts white.
The forepart of breast and the sides black, the feathers mostly edged
narrowly with white. Crown, rump, and sides of breast yellow. Cheeks
and lores black. The eyelids and a superciliary stripe, two bands on
the wing and spots on the outer three tail-feathers, white. _Female_
of duller plumage and browner above. Length, 5.65; wing, 3.00; tail,
2.50.
HAB. Eastern Province of North America, and northward, extending
sparsely along United States boundary to Pacific Ocean; Denver City,
Colorado; Fort Yukon; Greenland; Eastern Mexico to Panama R. R.;
Western West Indies and Bermuda. Breeds in Jamaica!
Autumnal and winter birds are very much duller and more obscurely
colored, the upper parts of an umber cast with the streaks almost
obsolete; the black of the breast wanting or but just indicated, and
the yellow patches on crown almost concealed by the brown tips to the
feathers, and those on side of breast quite dull.
A spring male (52,283) from Washington is remarkable in having the
adjoining series of feathers down the middle of the back with their
inner webs broadly edged with yellow. In this respect it differs from
all others that we have noticed.
HABITS. The Yellow-crowned Wood Warbler is one of the most common
species of this genus, as well as one of the most widely distributed.
It is found, at different seasons, throughout the eastern part of the
continent, as far west as the Great Plains, extending at the far north
to the Pacific Ocean. It has been found in Greenland, three specimens
having been taken within twenty years, and on the shores of the Arctic
Ocean, and during the winter in the West India Islands, Mexico, and
Central America. Specimens from Florida and Fort Steilacoom, Panama,
Guatemala, and Jamaica, and from Fort Rae, Anderson River, and the
Yukon, in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, attest its
wide distribution. In Jamaica, in the neighborhood of Spanishtown,
this species has been known to breed. In view of the fact that this
bird is regarded, with good reason, as one of our most northern
species, breeding to the very shores of the frozen seas, the
occurrence seems erratic and remarkable. Yet it is not without
corresponding vagaries in other species, the _cærulescens_ breeding in
Cuba and the _tigrina_ in St. Domingo and Jamaica.
Mr. Paine, of East Randolph, Vt., states that these Warblers arrive in
his vicinity about the first of May, and remain there nearly two
weeks, and then all pass north. They do not return on their southern
flight until the last of September, when they remain about three
weeks. It is a very active, restless bird, chirping continually and
very sharply as it flies around in search of insects, but has not, so
far as he knows, any song.
In Southern Illinois, as Mr. Ridgway informs me, this bird is a common
winter sojourner, remaining late in spring with the migratory species.
It is very abundant throughout the winter in woods, orchards, and
door-yards.
Mr. Salvin found this species frequenting the more open districts
about Duenas, Guatemala, apparently preferring scattered bushes to the
denser underwood, and was an abundant species there throughout the
winter season.
It is but quite recently that we have known with certainty its place
and manner of breeding. Neither Wilson, Nuttall, nor Audubon appear to
have met with its nest, though the latter received one from Professor
McCulloch of Halifax.
In the summer of 1855, early in July, I obtained a nest of this
species in Parsboro’, Nova Scotia. It was built in a low bush, in the
midst of a small village, and contained six eggs. The parents were
very shy, and it was with great difficulty that one of them was
secured for identification. Though late in the season, incubation had
but just commenced.
The nest was built on a horizontal branch, the smaller twigs of which
were so interlaced as to admit of its being built upon them, though
their extremities were interwoven into its rim. The nest was small for
the bird, being only two inches in depth and four and a half in
diameter. The cavity is one and a half inches deep and two and a half
wide. Its base and external portions consist of fine, light, dry
stalks of wild grasses, and slender twigs and roots. Of the last the
firm, strong rim of the nest is exclusively woven. Within, the nest is
composed of soft, fine grasses, downy feathers, and the fine hair of
the smaller mammals.
Mr. Audubon, who observed very closely the habits of these birds
during a winter in Florida, describes them as very social among
themselves, skipping along the piazza, balancing themselves in the air
opposite the sides of the house in search of spiders and insects,
diving through the low bushes of the garden after larvæ and worms, and
at night roosting among the orange-trees. In his visit to Maine he
found them very abundant in early May. The woods seemed alive with
them, and wherever he landed, on his way to Labrador, he found them in
great numbers.
[Illustration: PLATE XIII.
1. Dendroica auduboni, _Towns._ ♂ Rocky Mts., 11965.
2. “ blackburniæ, _Gm._ ♂ Pa., 939.
3. “ “ “ ♀ Pa., 944.
4. Dendroica castanea, _Wils._ ♂ Pa., 2231.
5. “ “ “ ♀ Pa., 949.
6. “ pinus, _Wils._ ♂ Pa., 2942.
7. Dendroica pennsylvanica, _Linn._ ♂ Pa., 2233.
8. “ “ “ ♂ _juv._, Ill., 60883.
9. “ striata, _Forst._ ♂ Pa., 1545.
10. Dendroica cærulea, _Wils._ ♂ Ohio, 7349.
11. “ “ “ ♀ Mo., 6980.
12. “ striata, _Forst._ ♀ Pa., 978.]
This Warbler is an expert flycatcher, feeds chiefly on insects, and is
a great devourer of small caterpillars; but in the winter its food is
largely composed of berries, especially those of the _Myrica
cerifera_. It will also feed on grass-seeds. In the warmer wintry days
in Florida, when insects are abundant, Mr. Audubon states that these
birds are particularly active in their pursuit, and the trees seem
full of them. At this time they emit, at each movement, a single note,
_twēēt_, so very peculiar that they may be at once recognized by the
cry.
Wilson states that these Warblers appear in Pennsylvania, from the
North, early in October, and stay there several weeks. Some of them
remain in the Southern States all winter. They feed with great avidity
upon the berries of the red cedar.
In Western Massachusetts it is a very abundant spring and autumn
visitant, making but a brief stay in spring, but passing northward in
large numbers. In autumn it remains longer, and passes south more
leisurely. Mr. B. P. Mann found its nest and eggs in Concord, but this
was probably an exceptional instance. In Eastern Maine it arrives May
25, and, as Mr. Boardman thinks, remains to breed. Both Dr. Suckley
and Dr. Cooper met with this species in Washington Territory, where it
is very rare.
No writers have observed or noted the song of this bird, except Mr. T.
M. Trippe (American Nat., II. p. 171), who states that during its
spring migrations it has a very sweet song or warble, uttered at short
intervals.
It reaches the high northern latitudes late in May, and leaves that
region in September. The observations of Mr. McFarlane show that the
nests of this bird are moderately common at Anderson River, and are
generally built in low spruce-trees four or five feet from the ground.
In one or two instances it was placed on the ground.
The eggs of this Warbler vary from .72 to .80 of an inch in length,
and from .50 to .55 in breadth. Their ground-color is white, often
tinged with a bluish shade, and blotched and spotted with
reddish-brown, purple, and darker shades of brown. They are of a
rounded oval shape.
Dendroica auduboni, BAIRD.