(_Helminthophila chrysoptera._)
This member of the large family of warblers is considered rare, or only
common in certain localities of its range, which is eastern United
States in summer and Central America in winter. Its common names are
blue golden-winged warbler, and golden-winged swamp warbler. It makes
its appearance in May, when it may occasionally be seen about orchards.
It soon retires into dense underbrush, however, and few persons who are
not woodsmen ever get more than a glimpse of it. It breeds all through
its range, but only casually north of Massachusetts. It builds its nest
on or near the ground, in a plant tuft. It is made of grass, and is
deep and bulky. The eggs are four or five, white, with reddish dots.
Ridgway says that June, 1885, he found these birds breeding along the
southern edge of Calhoun Prairie, Richland county, Illinois, and Mr.
H. K. Coale states that on May 11, 1884, in a wood on the Kankakee
river, in Starke county, Indiana, he found the golden-winged warbler
quite common. Eight were seen--all males, which were singing. Some were
flushed from the ground and flew up to the nearest small tree, where
they sat motionless next the trunk. The locality was a moist situation,
overgrown with young trees and bushes.