The Vireos are a difficult group for the beginner. They are dull in
color, they come at a time when other birds are abundant, and they do
not, for the most part, have particularly noticeable songs. In
identifying the Vireos it is well to remember that _all of them move
deliberately_, turning the head from side to side pensively, and
crawling about the branches in a very characteristic fashion. No Vireo
has any white in the tail, as have many of the otherwise similarly
colored warblers. Note that the first three species have no wing-bars;
the other three have two wing-bars.
RED-EYED VIREO
_Vireosylva olivacea_ (Linnæus)
Other Name.—Preacher Bird.
Description.—Size of English Sparrow. _Adults_: Top of head blue-gray;
line above eye white, bordered above with a blackish line; line
through eye blackish; rest of upperparts olive-green; underparts
whitish, washed with olive-green and pale yellowish on sides; eyes
reddish or red-brown. _Young_: Similar, but duller. _Length_: 6¼
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from late
April or early May to late September and October.
Nest.—A pensile cup made of vegetable fibers, cobwebs, and so forth,
_lined with grape-vine bark_, placed on a branch of a low sapling,
usually from 5 to 10 feet from the ground. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, with
a few dark brown spots.
[Illustration: Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo]
The oft-repeated song of this bird, which is delivered all during the
warm hours of the summer days, has been responsible for the name
“Preacher Bird.” This song, given while the bird searches for food among
the leaves, is repeated at intervals of a few seconds, sometimes
apparently for hours at a stretch. Look for the Red-eye in shady
woodlands where there are deciduous trees. The harsh note of alarm is
not unlike the well-known cry of the Catbird.
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
_Vireosylva philadelphica_ Cassin
Description.—Like the Red-eyed Vireo, but smaller, with slightly
shorter bill, greener upperparts, and rather decidedly yellower
underparts.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and little-known migrant in late
April and early May and in September, found usually in alder thickets
in the company of various species of the warbler family.
This species is not easy to identify in the field. Its song, which is
like the Red-eye’s, but more rapidly delivered, may be heard in the
spring; but in the fall, the chances are the bird will pass unnoticed
since neither its song nor its color in any way attracts attention. All
records are desirable.
WARBLING VIREO
_Vireosylva gilva gilva_ (Vieillot)
Description.—Like the Red-eye, but smaller, less strikingly marked,
the top of head being almost the same color as the back, the sides
less tinged with yellow. _Length_: 5¾ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common summer resident from late April to
late September; usually found in or near towns.
Nest.—A pensile cup, made much like the Red-eye’s, but found high in
shade trees, in towns, or along country roadsides. _Eggs_: 3 or 4,
white, with a few small spots.
Dull, plain in appearance, this is one of our most perfectly named
birds, for its song is a _warble_—a somewhat unmusical, wheezy, lisping
warble, usually delivered from the shade of a big tree.
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
_Lanivireo flavifrons_ (Vieillot)
Description.—About the size of the Red-eye, but with line in front of
and around the eye, and chin, throat, and breast, clear light yellow;
_two prominent white wing-bars_, and the blackish tertials strongly
edged with white. The sexes are similar. _Length_: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common but somewhat irregular summer
resident from late April and May to September.
Nest.—A deep, pensile cup, swung from a branch high in a large
deciduous tree standing at the edge of a woodland or in an open field.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, buffy white, with a few red-brown spots.
The song of this species, which is deliberate, and alto in quality, has
been written _Mary, Mary, come ’ere_, the _’ere_ with a downward
inflection.
[Illustration: Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo]
WHITE-EYED VIREO
_Vireo griseus griseus_ (Boddaert)
Description.—Smaller than the Red-eye and with a more sprightly
manner. Line above and around eye _yellow_; wing with two yellowish or
white bars; sides yellowish; breast and belly grayish; chin and throat
white; _eyes white_, rather noticeable in the field. _Length_: 5¼
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An extremely rare migrant in the western part;
east of the mountains somewhat commoner, particularly along the
Susquehanna and Delaware drainage, where it sometimes nests.
Nest.—A neat, pensile cup, placed in a low bush or tree, usually not
far from the ground. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown
spots.
The song which may be written _pit, pit-a-ta-chee-whēēr_, does not
suggest a vireo at all. Remember that this bird will be found among low,
thick bushes.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO
_Lanivireo solitarius solitarius_ (Wilson)
Description.—Size of the Red-eye, but upper part of head rich
blue-gray, with a _prominent line in front of and around eye, white_;
_wings with two noticeable bars_; sides yellow, irregularly washed
with olive-green; chin, throat, breast, and belly, white. _Length_: A
little over 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant and summer resident. It
is the first of the vireos to arrive in spring, appearing in mid- or
latter April and remaining until October. It nests only at high
altitudes in the mountains or in the northern counties.
Nest.—A neat and beautifully built pensile cup, swung on a horizontal
hemlock, witch hazel, or alder bough, usually deep in the woodlands.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, with a few small black spots.
The song of this handsome vireo is rich and beautiful—easily the most
musical of all our vireo songs. It is to be heard chiefly in the depths
of the coniferous woodlands. Unusually elaborate and prolonged songs are
sometimes given in the spring. Remember the prominent _white eye-ring_
of this species.
BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER
_Mniotilta varia_ (Linnæus)
Other Names.—Black and White Creeper; Black and White Creeping
Warbler.
Description.—Black and white all over, the colors about evenly
balanced, giving the bird in the field a streaked appearance,
noticeable particularly in the male. Since no other warbler is thus
streaked with black and white _all over_, it is thought that this
description is sufficient. _Females and young_: Duller, the young with
buffy washings on sides. _Length_: 5⅓ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident from late April
and early May to September. It is rather local as a summer resident
though it may occur in any suitable woodland.
Nest.—A cup of rootlets and fine grasses placed on the ground at the
base of a sapling or a fallen bough or log, usually in rather open
woodland. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white, with a neat wreath of fine red-brown
spots about the larger end.
[Illustration: Black and White Warbler]
This bird is nearly always seen creeping about the trunks and larger
branches of trees, and its boldly streaked plumage is unmistakable. Its
song, which has been written _wee-see, wee-see, wee-see, wee-see_, is
wiry and unmusical, and the untrained ear will probably not catch it.
Look for this bird in any woodland, particularly where there are
deciduous trees.
The southern Prothonotary Warbler (_Protonotaria citrea_) is rarely
recorded in the southern counties. This species has blue-gray wings and
tail, _no wing-bars_, and the head and breast are rich orange-yellow.
Records are desirable.
The Yellow-throated Warbler (_Dendroica dominica dominica_) is a
long-billed species which looks a good deal like a Black and White
Warbler with a yellow throat; it occurs in the southernmost counties. It
may be found as a nesting bird.
WORM-EATING WARBLER
_Helmitheros vermivorus_ (Gmelin)
Description.—Crown and superciliary buffy brown; prominent black
streak at either side of crown; black streak through the eye;
underparts buffy, the centers of the under tail-coverts darker;
upperparts olive-green, much as in a vireo. _Female and young_:
Similar but duller. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—In southern and particularly southwestern
Pennsylvania this species is a fairly common summer resident from
early May to mid-September. It is found chiefly in deciduous woodlands
along streams. It is rare in central and northern counties.
Nest.—A neatly built cup of rootlets, hair, and vegetable fiber,
placed on the ground, usually at the base of a sapling. _Eggs_: 4 or
5, white, finely speckled with reddish brown.
[Illustration: Worm-eating Warbler]
The song of this comparatively little-known species is very much like
that of a Chipping Sparrow. If you hear a Chipping Sparrow in the woods,
you had better look for the bird; you may make a startling discovery,
since Chipping Sparrows are rarely found away from human dwellings in
Pennsylvania.
The Worm-eating Warbler is nearly always found near the ground, and it
is usually necessary to keep quiet so as to let the bird approach if you
wish to have a good look at it.
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER
_Vermivora pinus_ (Linnæus)
Other Name.—Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.
Description.—_Adult male_: Front of head, breast, and belly bright,
clear yellow; sharp black line through eye; back of head and back
olive-green; wings and tail blue-gray, the wings _with two noticeable
white bands_; the tail with white spots at tips of inner webs of outer
feathers. _Female_: Much duller, the whole top of the head being
greenish, as a rule. _Length_: 4¾ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A _decidedly local_ summer resident from early
May until mid-September, to be found in all but the mountainous
counties.
Nest.—A cup made of leaves, lined with fine grasses, placed at the
base of a weed or a little bush, usually in a low meadow or at the
edge of an alder swamp. _Eggs_: 3 to 5, white, spotted with reddish
brown, chiefly at the larger end.
[Illustration: Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler]
The characteristic song of this bird may be written _zwee-chee_, the
former syllable with an inhalant, the latter an exhalant quality. Later
in the summer other songs are given which combine this song with many
_chips_. Look for the Blue-wing near the ground in a swampy situation,
among alders, or willows. In the fall it sometimes occurs in the higher
woodlands along with other migrating species.
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
_Vermivora chrysoptera_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Male_: Top of head yellow; line through eye, and chin
and throat, black; an area from lower mandible back to neck, white;
back of head, neck, wings, and tail, gray; wing, with lesser and most
of greater coverts, pale yellow; outer feathers of tail with white
spots on inner webs; breast and belly white, the sides washed with
grayish. _Female_: Similar, but duller, the black of the head being
replaced with gray. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather uncommon and local summer resident
from early May to September, found in low meadows or in bushy edges of
woodlands.
Nest.—Of leaves, lined with finer materials and often somewhat arched
over with leaves, placed at the base of a bush. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white,
speckled with brown.
The song may be written _see, zee, zee, zee_.
The Brewster’s and Lawrence’s Warblers, hybrid forms which result from
the interbreeding of the Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers,
sometimes occur in Pennsylvania. The typical Brewster’s Warbler has the
white underparts and yellow-marked wings of the Golden-wing. The breast
and belly of Lawrence’s Warblers are yellow, and there are two prominent
white wing-bars as in the Blue-wing.
NASHVILLE WARBLER
_Vermivora ruficapilla ruficapilla_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Upper part of head blue-gray, with a partly
concealed rufous crown-patch _and noticeable white eye-ring_; chin,
throat, breast, and belly clear, strong yellow; upperparts
olive-green, without markings in wings or tail. _Female_: Duller.
_Immature_: Almost unmarked, the eye-ring being buffy and not
noticeable, the sides being washed with buffy. _Length_: 4¾ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular and often abundant migrant in May and
September; rare and very local as a summer resident in northern
counties and at high altitudes.
Nest.—On the ground, near a log or at the base of a sapling. _Eggs_: 4
or 5, white, speckled with red-brown.
[Illustration: Nashville Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler]
The song is a series of _chips_, introduced by the syllables _wee-see,
wee-see, wee-see_.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
_Vermivora celata celata_ (Say)
Description.—Olive-green above; crown with more or less concealed dull
orange patch, not easily seen in the field; underparts and obscure
ring about eye dull yellow; sides irregularly streaked with
olive-green; sexes similar. _Young birds_: Duller. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—The Orange-crown is one of our little-known
warblers which may be considerably commoner than we suppose. It occurs
as a migrant in May and September, and is to be found chiefly in
swampy situations, principally among alders.
The song, which is not often heard in Pennsylvania, according to my
experience, is considerably like that of a Nashville or Tennessee
Warbler, being a series of _chips_, but the tempo is different. All such
songs should be thoroughly investigated to make certain some rare bird
is not passed by. (See illustration, page 131.)
TENNESSEE WARBLER
_Vermivora peregrina_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown clear gray; prominent white
superciliary; line through eye black; underparts white, washed along
sides with faint yellow; upperparts olive-green; wings unmarked; outer
tail-feathers marked with white along the inner margin. _Female_:
Similar, but crown tinged with greenish. _Immature_: Olive-green
above, brightest on rump; dull yellowish below, brightest on the under
tail-coverts. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in May and September, apparently
fairly regular and common in spring among the mountains, rare east of
the mountains, but equally abundant everywhere in the fall.
The song of this bird is a series of chips, the tempo of which changes
twice, the most rapid part of the song coming at the last. This bird is
like a vireo in color but not in actions. Young birds are sometimes
exceedingly common in the fall.
[Illustration: Tennessee Warbler
Parula Warbler]
PARULA WARBLER; BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER
_Compsothlypis americana pusilla_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Head, all but chin and throat, blue-gray,
extending down to upper back, scapulars, wings, and tail; _back dull
yellow_; wings with two prominent white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers
with white along inner vanes; chin, throat, and lower breast clear
yellow, a dusky band across upper breast which is bordered below with
reddish brown; belly, sides, and under tail-coverts white. There is an
almost complete, but not particularly noticeable, white eye-ring.
_Female_: Similar, but less brightly colored; breast usually without
much trace of the dusky and reddish brown band. _Young birds_: Similar
to the female. _Length_: 4¾ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Common as a migrant during May and September;
rather local as a summer resident, having been known to nest at
several points in the State.
Nest.—Generally built of and among tree moss, in a conifer or other
tree, usually from 20 to 40 feet from the ground. _Eggs_: 4 or 5,
white, speckled with brown at the larger end.
The thin, squeaky song of this species is not noticeable. It might be
written _pit see, pit see, pit see see_. A thin, insect-like, ascending
trill is also occasionally given; this trill resembles one of the songs
of the Redstart.
CAPE MAY WARBLER
_Dendroica tigrina_ (Gmelin)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown black, the feathers tipped with gray
toward the back of the head; patch about eye, including ear-coverts,
rich orange-brown; fore part of superciliary, chin and throat, sides
of neck, breast, sides and rump, clear yellow; lower throat, breast,
and sides strikingly streaked with black; wing with two wing-bars
which are so broad that they merge, forming a white patch; outer
tail-feathers with white spots on inner vanes at tip. _Female_: Much
duller, the brown of the side of the head being replaced with
olive-green, the yellow of rump and underparts dull, sometimes hardly
noticeable, the wing-bars narrow and obscure. _Young birds_: Like
their parents, but duller, the white wing-patch in the young male
usually being evident. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, rare, as a rule, in the spring, when
it is seen during May. It is often abundant in the fall, from early
September through October, and sometimes later.
This very handsome warbler can hardly be called a songster. The song is
thin and squeaky, sometimes like the shrill squeaking of a large
insect—_see, see, see, see, see_, it might be written, the syllables
becoming louder toward the end. Usually the song is given from a rather
high perch. The heavily streaked breast is a pretty good field-mark for
any age or plumage of this bird.
[Illustration: Yellow Warbler
Cape May Warbler]
YELLOW WARBLER
_Dendroica æstiva æstiva_ (Gmelin)
Other Names.—Summer Yellow Bird; Wild Canary (erroneous).
Description.—_Adult male_: Head and underparts bright yellow, the
breast, sides, and belly streaked with reddish brown; back, wings, and
tail dull yellowish green, brightest on rump, and obscurely streaked;
wing with two yellow wing-bars, and the inner webs of all the
tail-feathers but the central pair, yellow, showing plainly in flight.
_Female_: Similar, but much duller, the underparts almost altogether
without streaks. _Length_: A little over 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from
late April and early May to early September.
Nest.—A neat, usually deep cup, made of vegetable fiber lined with
wool, feathers, and soft materials, held in place with a few
horsehairs. _Eggs_: 3 to 5, white or bluish white, spotted with gray,
chiefly about the larger end.
The Yellow Warbler’s fondness for lilac bushes and other shrubbery about
our yards leads him to be a favorite and familiar bird. His bright
though unmusical song is almost incessant during the days of early
spring, when much time is spent, prior to building the nest, in chasing
about, sparring with rival males, or in courting. During these pursuits
the yellow inner vanes of the tail-feathers are likely to be plainly
seen.
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
_Dendroica cærulescens cærulescens_ (Gmelin)
Description.—_Male_: Upperparts dark gray-blue, lightest on forehead
and crown; face, throat, upper breast, and sides solid black; belly
and under tail-coverts white; base of primaries with a white spot,
rather obscure in some individuals; tips of inner vanes of outer
tail-feathers white. _Female_: Dull greenish gray above, pale buffy
gray below, with _white spot at the base of the primaries_ which is
always characteristic of this species in any plumage. The female has
an obscure whitish line above the eye. _Length_: 5¼ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in May and September. Found as
a summer resident in the northern and more mountainous counties where
it occurs almost wherever there is a rhododendron growth.
Nest.—A neat but rather shallow cup, usually placed in rhododendron 2
to 3 feet from the ground, often in the deepest part of the woodland.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, white or creamy white, spotted about larger end with
reddish brown.
[Illustration: Myrtle Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler]
The song of this species is deliberate and rich, though droning and
insect-like rather than musical. It might be written zuree, _zuree,
zuree, zeee_, or _zwee, zwee, zwee, zwee_. The colors of the male are
unmistakable, but the dull-colored female and young will puzzle many a
beginner. Remember the white patch at the base of the primaries. Look
for the bird in midsummer, in rhododendron thickets.
MYRTLE WARBLER; YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
_Dendroica coronata coronata_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male in spring_: Crown-patch, patches at sides of
chest, and rump, clear yellow; white line above eye; rest of
upperparts blue-gray; back streaked with black; wings with two white
wing-bars; outer tail-feathers tipped with white on the inner webs;
chin and throat white; sides of breast black, merging into streaks
along the sides; belly and under tail-coverts white. _Adult female_:
Similar, but browner, and the black breast-patches replaced with
streaks. _Immature and adults in winter_: Brownish, the yellow patches
on crown, sides of chest, and rump, obscure. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in late April and May and
September and October; occasional as a winter resident; it has been
noted thus principally at Erie.
The Myrtle Warbler is usually not shy and may be identified easily. In
its winter range it spends much of its time on or near the ground, where
it eats many seeds. While with us it is usually seen in the lower trees
and bushes, where a good view may be obtained of the upperparts with the
bright yellow rump-patch. The song is not noticeable; it does not have
any particularly accented notes, and will not be of much use in
identifying the bird. Myrtle Warblers are to be found in any sort of
woodland; they have no preference for coniferous trees during migration,
though they nest in them in Canada.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER
_Dendroica magnolia_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown blue-gray; line above eye and spot
under eye, white; area in front of and behind eye, black; back, wings,
and tail blackish; wing with large white patch; tail with the _bases_
of the inner webs of all but the inner pair of feathers _white_; rump
and underparts yellow, breast and sides heavily streaked with black;
under tail-coverts white. _Adult female_: Similar, but duller, the
underparts less heavily streaked. _Immature_: Dull olive-greenish
above, without noticeable superciliary or spot under eye, but with two
wing-bars and markings on the tail same as in adult; underparts
yellow, obscurely streaked along the sides with black; under
tail-coverts white. _Length_: 5¹/₁₀ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—As a migrant abundant in May and September,
particularly the latter, when hordes of young birds are migrating. As
a summer resident rather rare and local, found principally among or
near hemlock growth, chiefly in the northern and more mountainous
counties.
Nest.—A shallow, neat cup, made of fine twigs, lined with finer
materials and hair, placed a few feet from the ground, often in a
hemlock sapling. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, white or creamy, with red-brown spots
at larger end.
This very active warbler may be “squeaked up” easily. As it dashes
about, the white band at the base of the tail usually shows plainly, for
it spreads its tail widely at times. The song is a brief unmusical
effort which ends with a chopped-off falling inflection. (See
illustration, page 136.)
CERULEAN WARBLER
_Dendroica cerulea_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Light gray-blue above, with a distinct
white line over the eye, two prominent white wing bars, and obscure
black streaking on the back; inner webs of outer tail-feathers tipped
with white; underparts white, a band of gray or gray-blue usually
completely encircling the breast; sides streaked with black. _Female_:
Glossy green-blue on the head, dull grayish green on the rest of the
upperparts, the wings and tail marked much as in the male; underparts
dull yellowish white. _Length_: 4½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant summer resident from early May to
mid-September, locally, in the southwestern counties; elsewhere it is
rare and irregular.
Nest.—A shallow, neat cup of lichens, vegetable fiber, and
tree-flowers, saddled on a horizontal limb from 20 to 50 feet from the
ground, often in a beech tree. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, spotted with
grayish, especially at larger end.
The song of this handsome bird may be written _cheery, cheery, cheery,
chee_. It is rather rapidly given, with a rising inflection at the end.
The Cerulean Warbler usually stays high in the trees.
[Illustration: Magnolia Warbler
Cerulean Warbler]
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
_Dendroica pensylvanica_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown pale yellow; line through eye black;
back greenish or yellowish white, strikingly streaked with black;
wings with two white wing-bars; inner webs of outer tail-feathers
tipped with white; underparts white or grayish white, the sides marked
with a _broad streak of chestnut very noticeable in the field_.
_Female_: Similar, but duller, the chestnut of the sides being almost
obsolete at times, the top of the head streaked. Immature birds are
not easy to identify; they are plain yellowish green above and whitish
below; the eye is encircled with a whitish ring, which is quite
noticeable, and the wings are marked with two prominent wing-bars.
_Length_: A little over 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant during May and
September; as a summer resident, local and sometimes abundant in the
northerly and more mountainous counties. It is to be looked for
anywhere in the State as a nesting bird—wherever there are
thicket-covered hillsides.
Nest.—A rather well-made cup which is sometimes semi-pensile, placed 2
to 3 feet from the ground in a low bush or in a blackberry vine. It is
composed of weed-stalks, vegetable fibers, and other soft materials.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, wreathed about the larger end with fine
chestnut-brown spots.
It has been said that the bright, varied song of this bird ends with the
syllables _Miss Beecher_. It is not amiss to bear in mind such a
characterization, for though the bird never gives such syllables
distinctly, when the song is once learned the name will always jump to
mind the minute it is heard. Look for these active birds in thickets on
hillsides.
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER
_Dendroica castanea_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Mask across forehead and face, including
the ear-coverts and entirely surrounding the eyes, blackish brown;
prominent round patch on side of neck, buffy white; back of head,
chin, throat, upper breast, and sides, rich reddish brown; back
grayish, streaked with black, the wings with two prominent white
wing-bars, the inner webs of the outer tail-feathers white at tips;
lower breast, belly, and under tail-coverts white or creamy white.
_Adult female_: Has but little suggestion of the reddish brown on
head, breast, or sides, and the black of the face appears in a few
streaks; two prominent wing-bars and the suggestion of reddish color
on the sides are characteristic. _Young birds_: Obscure, being
olive-green above, dull yellowish below, and, as a rule, having a
trace of reddish brown; two prominent wing-bars; face and breast of a
decidedly yellowish tone. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, common in the spring during May,
sometimes staying quite late, and abundant in the fall, the young
fairly swarming through the trees in September and early October.
[Illustration: Bay-breasted Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler]
The buffy white patches on the sides of the neck of the adult male are
excellent field-marks, and gleam like beacons when the red-brown cannot
be distinguished. Young birds may easily be confused with immature
Black-poll Warblers, however, and also look a little like vireos. The
young Bay-breast is a yellower bird than the young Black-poll, however,
and is somewhat more deliberate.
The song is a thin, wiry warble which does not lend itself readily to
syllabization. Look for these birds in woodlands not far from streams,
in spring. In autumn the young are to be found almost anywhere, even in
the towns, and they are frequently to be seen searching for insects
among rank weeds or low bushes.
BLACK-POLL WARBLER
_Dendroica striata_ (J. R. Forster)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown black; sides of head below eye,
white, showing plainly in the field; black line from lower mandible to
side of breast; neck, back, and wings greenish gray, streaked with
black, the wings with two white bars, the tail with the inner webs of
the outer feathers white; underparts white; sides of neck and breast
and the sides heavily streaked with black. _Adult female_: Lacks the
black crown and white facial patch, is dull olive-green all over,
yellower on the breast, is noticeably streaked with black, even over
top of head, and has two noticeable wing-bars. _Immature_: Plain
olive-green above, obscurely streaked; dull yellowish below, with an
indefinite line above eye and two prominent wing-bars. If specimens
have been taken, the young Black-poll may be distinguished from the
young Bay-breast by its _yellowish_ rather than dusky feet. This mark
may sometimes be seen in the field, since the birds are unsuspicious
and may easily be observed. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, fairly common _in late spring_, from
about the middle of May on for three weeks; in the fall abundant,
particularly the young birds, which during latter September may
outnumber all other species combined.
[Illustration: Black-poll Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler]
The droll, unmusical song of the spring Black-poll will escape all but
the sharpest ears. _Ee, ee, ee, eee, eee, eeee_, it seems to be, the
latter syllables becoming louder. The first song I ever heard I listened
to for a quarter of an hour before I could locate the singer among the
leafy tops of some high elms. Once caught within the range of the
binoculars, his colors were unmistakable, but it seemed scarcely
possible that the slight, ventriloquistic song could be coming from him.
Remember that this bird comes late in spring. Its head pattern, at a
distance, is somewhat like that of the Chickadee.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
_Dendroica fusca_ (Müller)
Description.—_Adult male_: Above black; center of forehead, line above
eye, patch on side of neck, and spot under eye, bright orange-yellow;
back with two lateral streaks of yellow; wings with two wide white
wing-bars which so merge as to form a patch which extends into the
white edging of the tertials; tail-feathers edged with whitish,
particularly at the base, and inner webs of outer tail-feathers tipped
with white; chin, throat, and breast, bright, rich orange, fading into
yellowish on belly, and to whitish on under tail-coverts; breast
heavily streaked with black. _Female_: Similar, but duller, the black
of the upperparts being replaced with grayish. Young birds resemble
the female but are less conspicuously marked, the breast usually being
dull buffy yellow without any trace of orange, the wings marked with
two white bars, not with a white patch. _Length_: 5¼ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant throughout, noticeable in
mid-spring. As a nesting bird, found only in the higher and more
northern counties, and usually among conifers, where in midsummer the
birds are so infrequently seen that their presence is often unknown.
Nest.—A neat cup made of fine twigs, lined with finer materials.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, creamy white, wreathed about larger end or speckled
all over finely with brown. The nest is usually placed high in a
hemlock.
The color scheme of this gem among warblers is much the same as that of
the Baltimore Oriole, and a full-plumaged male among the spring blossoms
of an apple tree is a sight which can hardly be rivaled for sheer color
and delicacy. The song is a disappointing, wiry lisp, usually delivered
from the top of the tree, and so slight and unmusical as to pass
unnoticed as a rule.
If you expect to see this bird in its summer home, you will have to look
up a great deal into the tops of the hemlocks.
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
_Dendroica virens virens_ (Gmelin)
Description.—_Adult male_: Top of head and line through eye,
olive-green; sides of head clear yellow; chin, throat, and upper
breast, black; back, wings, and tail, olive-green, back streaked
obscurely with black; wings with two white wing-bars; outer
tail-feathers with white on inner webs; belly and sides white, washed
with yellowish, the sides streaked with black. _Female and young_:
Similar, but duller, having very little black on the throat, and being
somewhat more yellowish on belly. _Length_: A little over 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—As a migrant abundant during May and September;
as a summer resident found in the more northern and mountainous
counties _where there is hemlock growth_.
Nest.—A deep, neat cup, made of fine hemlock twigs and lined with
finer materials, including fur, saddled on a hemlock bough from 5 to
30 feet from the ground. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown
about the larger end.
[Illustration: Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler]
In the hemlock shade, during summer, sounds the plaintive and musical
song of this bird, which may be diagrammed thus, _dēē dēē dēē
dēē, dèē dēē_. This bird is to be looked for anywhere in sturdy
hemlock growth; during migration it may be seen near the ground in lower
growth; during the summer, however, males often sing from favorite
perches high in the trees.
PINE WARBLER
_Dendroica pinus pinus_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Olive-green above, with yellow superciliary
not clearly defined; _two prominent white wing-bars_ and the tips of
the inner webs of the outer tail-feathers white; underparts dull
yellow; an obscure line of olive-green from lower mandible leading
back to side of chest where streaking of sides begins. _Female_:
Similar but a little duller. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A summer resident rather locally distributed;
found chiefly in the southern and central mountainous counties and
more or less restricted as a nesting bird to areas in which pine trees
grow. Sometimes arrives very early in spring.
Nest.—A cup made of twigs and fine weed-stalks, lined with finer
material, placed near the tip of a pine bough, often at great height.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, spotted with brown.
The Pine Warbler’s rather dull coloration and resemblance to other
species of the family would make it a difficult bird to identify were it
not that it _is virtually always found among pine trees_. Its bright
chipping song, which resembles that of the Chipping Sparrow a good deal,
is delivered from the tip of a pine bough, and at such times the yellow
breast and white wing-bars are evident. At Mont Alto, Franklin County,
and in certain sections of Huntingdon County, I have found this bird
abundant.
PALM WARBLER AND YELLOW PALM WARBLER
_Dendroica palmarum palmarum_ (Gmelin)
and
_Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea_ Ridgway
Two forms of the Palm Warbler occur in Pennsylvania, both as migrants.
They are usually seen near the ground and are especially noticeable in
the spring when they appear among the first of the smaller birds.
Description.—_Adult male Palm Warbler_: Crown rufous; rest of
upper-parts dull olive-green, brightest on rump; wings with two white
wing-bars; outer tail-feathers marked with white; dusky line through
eye; distinct yellow line above eye; chin, throat, and breast dull
yellow, streaked with olive-green; belly and under tail-coverts
whitish. _Female and young_: Similar, but duller. The Yellow Palm
Warbler is much brighter, though similar in general appearance. The
entire underparts are yellow, _including the under tail-coverts_, and
the breast and sides are streaked with reddish brown.
Range in Pennsylvania.—The Palm Warbler occurs as an early spring and
mid-fall migrant in western Pennsylvania, west of the mountains. The
Yellow Palm Warbler occurs in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth.
At Harrisburg, the Yellow Palm Warbler occurs among the earliest
spring migrants.
[Illustration: Palm Warbler
Prairie Warbler]
The Palm Warblers both have the habit of wagging their tails. They are
often seen near the ground, or in low bushes, and are usually not
difficult to observe. Their songs are a broken series of _chips_, given
in a rather subdued voice.
PRAIRIE WARBLER
_Dendroica discolor_ (Vieillot)
Description.—_Adult male_: Upperparts olive green, back with patch of
rufous brown; wing-bars yellowish; outer tail-feathers with white
patches at tips; line over eye, face, and underparts yellow; lores and
line under eye black; sides heavily streaked with black. _Adult
female_: Similar, but duller, the back sometimes without reddish
brown. _Immature_: Much duller than adults. _Length_: 4¾ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant east of the Alleghany
Mountains in late April and May and in September; it has been known to
nest in Lancaster County.
Nest.—A compact cup of plant fibers and down, lined with hairs,
fibers, and rootlets, placed low in bushes. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white,
spotted with brown, chiefly in a wreath at larger end.
The Prairie Warbler is to be looked for in old pastures, or
brush-covered hillsides, or in low pine or cedar growth. It is rather
retiring in disposition. Its song is a series of _zees_ rapidly
repeated. In summer this species is decidedly local in distribution.
OVENBIRD
_Seiurus aurocapillus aurocapillus_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male_: Crown-patch orange-brown, bordered on
either side by a black stripe; rest of upperparts dull olive-green; a
rather prominent white eye-ring; underparts white, washed with buffy
along sides, and heavily streaked on breast and sides with black.
_Female and young_: Similar but duller. _Length_: A little over 6
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from
early April to November; found in open woodlands.
Nest.—A neat cup of leaves, grasses, and weed-stalks, _arched over the
top_ with the same materials, in the shape of an old-fashioned oven.
[Illustration: Ovenbird]
Beneath the ferns and the low bushes a small bird walks daintily among
the leaves, jerking its tail a little as it pauses to search for food.
As it turns, we glimpse the eye-ring and its heavily streaked
underparts. In a moment it puts back its head and sings _teecher, tee
cher, tee cher, tee cher_, the notes becoming louder toward the end.
Occasionally the Ovenbird sings a flight-song, a brilliant repetition of
its usual song, embellished with additional notes and phrases, and
enlivened by enthusiasm.
NORTHERN WATER-THRUSH
_Seiurus noveboracensis noveboracensis_ (Gmelin)
Description.—Upperparts, including wings and tail, olive, without
wing-bars or marks on tail; line over eye, buffy or yellowish;
underparts whitish, tinged with pale yellow; throat, breast, sides,
and belly streaked with black. The sexes are alike and young birds are
like adults; in fall, the underparts are more yellowish than in
spring. _Length_: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather regular and fairly common migrant
throughout, from latter April to mid-May, and during the first half of
September; summer resident in the northerly counties and at high
altitudes.
Nest.—Built among the roots of a fallen tree in a damp forest, or in a
wooded swamp, lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and moss. _Eggs_: 4
or 5, white, spotted with brown, chiefly at larger end.
[Illustration: Northern Water-Thrush]
The Water-Thrushes wag their tails in a characteristic fashion as they
walk among the ferns and mosses, or seek their food at the edge of a
woodland pool or thickly up-grown stream. They are not particularly shy,
and may sometimes be “squeaked up” very close. Their song is loud,
bright, and clearly patterned, and has been ably written _hurry, hurry,
hurry, pretty, pretty, pretty_. It is usually not to be found along
swift, shallow woodland streams, but seems to prefer more quiet, even
stagnant, water.
LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH
_Seiurus motacilla_ (Vieillot)
Description.—Like the Northern Water-Thrush, but a little larger, the
line over the eye whiter and more conspicuous, _the underparts white_,
tinged with buffy, not with yellow, and streaked with blackish on the
breast and sides, _not on the throat or belly_. _Length_: 6¼ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common but local summer resident in
central and southern Pennsylvania.
Nest.—Built along the bank of a stream, sometimes not far from the
water’s edge, of leaves, lined with grasses and rootlets. There is
often a neat pavement of leaves in front of and below the nest.
_Eggs_: 4 to 6, white, spotted and flecked all over with brown.
The Louisiana Water-Thrush’s home is the wooded ravine, where a swift
stream speeds down its rocky bed amid fallen trunks and mossy ledges.
Here the shy birds dash about with swift, erratic flight, walk among the
mosses, teetering as they go, or singing their remarkably loud, ringing
song when they are not disturbed. The song is louder, more ringing, and
less abrupt in closing than is that of the Northern Water-Thrush.
KENTUCKY WARBLER
_Oporornis formosus_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Male_: Crown and area below eye and on side of throat,
black, crown-feathers tipped with gray; line from bill, which extends
over and back of eye, yellow; rest of upperparts olive-green; wings
and tail unmarked; underparts bright, clear yellow. _Female_: Similar,
but duller, the black areas inclined to be grayish and not clearly
defined. _Length_: About 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common summer resident in southeastern
and southwestern counties from about May 1 to September 5. It is a
bird of the Carolinian faunal zone, which is probably gradually
extending its range northward.
Nest.—On or near the ground, rather bulky, and made of leaves and
roots, lined with rootlets and other fine materials. _Eggs_: 4 or 5,
white, rather evenly spotted or speckled with brown. Nests of this
species are often difficult to find.
[Illustration: Kentucky Warbler]
In southwestern Pennsylvania, where I first became acquainted with the
species, the Kentucky Warbler lives in damp, dense woodlands, usually in
ravines. Its song is a strikingly smooth and sweet-voiced, rolling
_tootle, tootle, tootle, tootle_, which has a penetrating quality. In
singing, the males often sit upon the lower branches of the great trees;
they search for their food chiefly on the ground. The black area on the
face and the bold yellow line about the eye are striking field-marks.
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
_Oporornis agilis_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Head, neck, and breast, ashy gray, with
_prominent white eye-ring_; rest of upperparts olive-green; wings and
tail unmarked; underparts yellow; sides washed with olive-green.
_Female and young_: Similar to adult male, but uniform olive-green
above, the lighter eye-ring _not_ noticeable, the throat and breast
light brownish gray. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, very rare in spring, during latter
May, and somewhat commoner from latter August to about the end of
September.
[Illustration: Mourning Warbler
Connecticut Warbler]
This rare bird does not often sing in Pennsylvania. Look for it among
high weed-growth in fall and among undergrowth in damp woods.
MOURNING WARBLER
_Oporornis philadelphia_ (Wilson)
Description.—_Adult male_: Much like the Connecticut Warbler, but
without eye-ring, and throat blackish, _blending into a fan-shaped
black area on breast_. _Female and young_: Similar, but with
upperparts olive-green, slightly grayer on head, and throat and breast
gray, lightest on throat. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather uncommon migrant during May and from
mid-August to the end of September. As a summer resident it occurs
only in the northern and higher counties.
Nest.—A rather bulky structure, among weeds, on or near the ground,
made of grasses, plant-fiber, and old leaves, lined with hair or fern
rootlets. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, white, spotted with brown at larger end.
Look for this beautiful warbler in dense weed-growth or in brush along
lowland streams. It is not particularly shy, but is very difficult to
see because it slips away so easily among the shadows. The song, which
is not heard in the fall, as a rule, has been written _trú ee, trú ee,
trú ee, trú, too_. The voice rises on the first three parts of the song,
and falls on the last two.
MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT
_Geothlypis trichas trichas_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male_: A mask of black across forehead; cheeks and
ear-coverts bordered behind by gray; rest of upperparts olive-green,
unmarked; throat and breast bright yellow, fading to white on belly
and brownish on sides; under tail-coverts yellow. _Female_: Similar,
but without the black mask, the forehead sometimes tinged with reddish
brown. _Adult males in the fall_: Browner above and on sides.
_Immature males_: Black facial mask obscured by grayish edgings.
_Length_: 5⅓ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident from late
April to about the end of September.
Nest.—On or near the ground, of grasses, leaves, and bark strips,
lined with finer materials, in a swamp or low meadow. _Eggs_: 3 to 5,
white, sparsely speckled with brown, often chiefly at the larger end.
[Illustration: Maryland Yellow-throat]
This warbler is so common that it should be known by all. Look for it
along up-grown streams where weeds are thick and deep, or along the
margins of marshes. The song has been written _witchity, witchity,
witchity_, but this is sometimes varied considerably. The call-note is a
harsh, rather loud tschack. The facial mask of the male is to be
confused with no bird other than the rather rare Kentucky Warbler which
is to be found _on wooded hillsides_, not in deep weeds along streams
and pools. The Yellow-throat gives a flight-song, and also has a Red
Squirrel-like, long-drawn-out series of chips, not often heard. If you
make it a point to visit a marshy spot in late summer or early fall, you
will almost certainly see these birds in the deep weeds, sedges, or
cat-tails.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
_Icteria virens virens_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Larger than an English Sparrow; the largest of our
warbler tribe. _Adults_: Upperparts olive-green, grayer on crown;
wings and tail unmarked; line from bill over and around eye, and line
on side of throat, white; throat and breast rich yellow; sides
grayish; belly and under tail-coverts white. Young birds in first
flight plumage are much streaked. _Length_: 7½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A decidedly local summer resident from May 1 to
mid-September—common in some sections, absent in others, usually found
in central and southern counties.
Nest.—A bulky, well-built structure made of weed-stalks, grasses, and
leaves, neatly and deeply cupped, placed in a small bush or bramble
thicket a short distance from the ground. _Eggs_: 3 to 6, white,
evenly speckled with brown.
The Chat has his own ideas about singing. He fluffs out his feathers,
mounts a tree above the brush-covered hillside where his nest is hidden,
and begins an odd performance. He clucks, he squeals, then repeats
several times a loud, deep whistle. Perhaps, in his enthusiasm, he flies
upward, to somersault back to the leaves in reckless fashion. He spreads
the feathers of his dandelion-yellow throat and twirls his head as he
sings. It seems that surely he will lose some of his feathers while he
flops about.
[Illustration: Yellow-breasted Chat]
You cannot intrude upon his concert. He hears the snap of a twig, the
song ceases, and perhaps you will catch only a glimpse of the
olive-green back.
The nests, which are large enough to be noticeable, are sometimes very
poorly hidden, and may be found by looking through the interlaced
branches of low bushes or thickets.
HOODED WARBLER
_Wilsonia citrina_ (Boddaert)
Description.—_Adult male_: Forehead and sides of head rich yellow;
crown, hind neck, and throat black; rest of upperparts olive-green;
outer tail-feathers white on their inner webs; rest of underparts
bright yellow. _Young male_: Similar, but the black feathers of head
tipped with yellow. _Adult female_: Like adult male, but duller, the
black of the head largely replaced by gray. _Length_: A little over 5½
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common summer resident in central and
southern counties from about May 1 to mid-September.
Nest.—A neat, deeply cupped structure of grasses, fibers, rootlets,
and cobwebs, placed from 3 to 15 feet from the ground in a slender
sapling or on a small branch of a larger tree. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white,
thinly wreathed with brown about the larger end.
The flashing white inner webs of the outer tail-feathers of this species
are an excellent field-mark. Wherever the bird is found, it is easily
observed, though it is very active. Its song I have written as _too-wit,
too-wit, too-wee-oh_, given in a sprightly manner. Look for it in
luxuriant, young tree-growth on partially shaded hillsides. In the fall
Hooded Warblers may be silent, but they usually flash their tails as
they become excited over our presence. The somewhat similarly colored
Wilson’s Warbler has no black on the throat.
[Illustration: Hooded Warbler
Canadian Warbler]
WILSON’S WARBLER
_Wilsonia pusilla pusilla_ (Wilson)
Other Names.—Black-capped Warbler; Wilson’s Black-cap.
Description.—_Male_: Forehead and underparts bright yellow; crown
glossy black; upperparts olive-green; wings and tail unmarked. _Female
and young_: Similar, but duller, the female with only a suggestion of
the black cap, the young altogether without it. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant from May 10 to June 10
and from early to latter September. It appears to me to be less common
in spring than in fall.
The jaunty Wilson’s Warbler, with his odd, unmusical, chipping song, has
the habit of tilting or jerking his tail and flirting his wings in a
very characteristic manner. Look for him in vines or low trees. He is in
color a warbler, but in insect-pursuing tactics a flycatcher. As he
tumbles after a gnat, his wide bill snaps audibly.
[Illustration: Wilson’s Warbler
Redstart]
CANADIAN WARBLER
_Wilsonia canadensis_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male_: Upperparts gray, darkest on crown; line
from bill to eye, and underparts, yellow; marks on sides of neck
black, and a necklace of black spots across breast; under tail-coverts
white. _Female_: Similar, but duller, with no black on head, and only
a suggestion of the black necklace. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant in May and September,
found chiefly in low, bushy growth. As a summer resident, found only
in more northerly and mountainous counties, usually in damp woodlands.
Nest.—Of leaves, lined with rootlets and other fine materials, placed
at the base of a tree or in a bank. _Eggs_: 4 or 5, white spotted with
brown.
The nervous, sprightly song of this little-seen bird ends with a
decisive, upward _tsip_. If you can catch a glimpse of the singer you
will see that his song is a fair representation of the bird, for he is
energetic, nervous, and erratic in his movements. He is adept as a
flycatcher. (For illustration, see page 146.)
REDSTART
_Setophaga ruticilla_ (Linnæus)
Description.—_Adult male_: Glossy blue-black, with basal half of the
wing-feathers and basal two-thirds of tail-feathers orange-pink, the
sides of breast and flanks bright rosy orange, and the belly white.
_Adult female_: Grayish above, white below; wings, tail, and sides of
breast with the same pattern as male, but marked with yellow, not
orange-pink. _Young males_: Like the females, but more or less mottled
with black. During the young male’s first breeding season he looks
much like the female; with the succeeding moult he assumes the plumage
of the full adult. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from early
May to October, commoner in summer in more northerly and mountainous
counties.
Nest.—A deep, firm, neat cup of fibers, cobwebs, and bark, saddled
into the large crotch of a sapling from 5 to 20 feet from the ground.
_Eggs_: 3 to 5, white, speckled with gray or brown, chiefly at larger
end.
Here is a bird well worth finding. It is common and confiding, but its
gorgeous plumage never fails to produce a gasp of amazement. As though
the Redstart felt the need of making the most of his beautiful attire,
he spreads his wings and tail, flashing them as he bustles about the
twigs, fans them widely as he tumbles after an insect, and pauses in the
sunshine a moment between his foraging expeditions. Even the female
spreads her yellow-marked wings.
The song is not musical; it is wheezy and wiry, and not easily
syllabized. It often ends with a decisive downward note.
Look for the Redstart in open woodlands.
PIPIT; TITLARK
_Anthus spinoletta rubescens_ (Tunstall)
Description.—A little larger than an English Sparrow. Grayish brown
above, the edge of outer tail-feathers _white_; a buffy line over the
eye; underparts buffy; breast and sides streaked with dark brown. If
the bird be in the hand, the hind toe-nail, which is very long, will
be noted. _Length_: 6½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather irregular migrant from early April to
mid-May and from late September to late October, sometimes fairly
common, and often occurring in flocks; occasional in mild winters.
Here is a bird utterly unknown to the average citizen of Pennsylvania.
It lives in the open fields or on bald hill-tops. The Pipit walks
daintily, after the manner of a Horned Lark, and if frightened springs
into the air, to bound away, uttering its simple call-note, _tsit-tsit,
tsit-tsit_, as it disappears high in air. It almost constantly moves its
tail in a wagging manner. The white-edged outer feathers should be
noted.
[Illustration: Pipit]
MOCKINGBIRD
_Mimus polyglottos polyglottos_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Length of Robin, but slenderer. Light gray above, with
whitish line above eye; wings and tail dark brown-gray, the primaries
basally white, the outer tail-feathers white; underparts grayish
white; eye pale yellow. _Length_: 10½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Rare and irregular in the southernmost
counties, where it may occur at any time of the year. It occasionally
nests.
Nest.—Bulky, of twigs, lined with rootlets, placed in a bush or low
tree. _Eggs_: 4 to 6, pale green-blue, spotted and blotched all over
with brown.
The Mocker’s song is world-famous. It is a remarkable medley of
bird-songs, varied with a few original whistles and cries. While
singing, this bird often leaps into the air, to tumble back to his perch
with loosely flashing wings and tail. He sometimes sings for hours at
night. While rare in Pennsylvania, he seems to be extending his range
gradually northward.
[Illustration: Mockingbird]
CATBIRD
_Dumetella carolinensis_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Smaller than Robin; slate gray with blackish crown, tail
and wings, and rich red-brown under tail-coverts. _Length_: Almost 9
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from late
April to early October, especially common in more cultivated
districts; usually rare in wilder woodlands.
Nest.—A large, bulky structure of twigs, lined with rootlets or
grape-vine bark. _Eggs_: 3 to 5, deep blue-green, glossy. Nests are
placed in thickets or bushy trees, from 3 to 15 feet from the ground.
The Catbird’s colors, call-notes, and manners are easily remembered. He
is plainly attired; his cat-like call is familiar; and his jaunty
appearance in yard or orchard is instantly recognizable. His song, while
varied and pleasing in spots, is interspersed with squeaks and chuckles
which are not musical. As he sings, his tail droops, but when he is
bustling about on every-day business he is given to changing his
attitude with the passing instants—now he is fluffy, now sleek; up goes
his tail; he jumps; he flashes his wings, droops them and spreads his
tail. It takes many an insect and berry to keep so active an organism
alive.
[Illustration: Catbird]
BROWN THRASHER
_Toxostoma rufa rufa_ (Linnæus)
Other Name.—Brown Thrush (erroneous).
Description.—Size of Robin, with longer tail. Rich, bright red-brown
above, the wing-bars whitish, and a rather noticeably buffy line above
eye; underparts whitish, heavily streaked with black, save on throat
and middle of belly; eyes yellow. _Length_: 11½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from
mid-April to mid-October.
Nest.—Large and strong, of twigs, lined with rootlets and strips of
weed-stalks, usually placed in a bush a few feet from the ground.
_Eggs_: 3 to 6, whitish, thickly and finely peppered with brown and
gray.
[Illustration: Brown Thrasher]
The Brown Thrasher, with its short wings and long, brown tail, is a big
relative of the wrens and is _not a thrush_. He lives in brushy
pastures, where his rich, varied song, wherein all phrases are repeated
twice as the music progresses, is given from a high bough. Disturb him
in his thicket home and he scolds with a harsh _chuck_, coming close to
peer with his startlingly golden eyes. Rightly has this bird been called
the “Mocker of the North,” for its song is a succession of excellent
imitations of many bird-songs, together with a few which are of the
Thrasher’s own invention.
CAROLINA WREN
_Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus_ (Latham)
Other Name.—Teakettle Bird.
Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow, but largest of our wrens.
Rich red-brown above; prominent whitish or buffy line above eye;
concealed white spots on rump; wings and tail barred with blackish;
underparts buffy, lightest on throat, sometimes somewhat barred on
flanks and under tail-coverts. _Length_: 5½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A local permanent resident in the southernmost
counties; its range is apparently gradually extending northward.
Nest.—Large, loosely made, of leaves, twigs, weed-stalks, and débris,
often almost completely domed over and neatly cupped, placed in a shed
or in a crevice in an old log or tree-trunk. _Eggs_: 4 to 6, white,
rather heavily spotted with reddish brown.
The song of this big wren has given it the common name, “Teakettle
Bird.” It is not so friendly as the House Wren, and often prefers the
woodlands along streams to the towns. Yet I have known it to nest in
nooks in sheds and barns, and even in boxes which had been piled at the
edge of a dump-heap.
[Illustration: Carolina Wren
Bewick’s Wren]
BEWICK’S WREN
_Thryomanes bewickii bewickii_ (Audubon)
Description.—Dark gray-brown above, with whitish line over eye; wings
and tail barred with black; outer tail-feathers _broadly tipped with
gray_; underparts grayish; flanks brownish. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rare, irregular, and local summer resident in
southern, central, and southwestern counties, where it occurs in
sections in which the House Wren is not found, from early April to
October, and perhaps occasionally in winter.
Nest.—Built under or about buildings, often near the ground, of
leaves, grasses, weed-stalks, and similar materials, lined with finer
materials. _Eggs_: 4 to 6, white, thinly spotted and often wreathed
with reddish brown.
This little-known bird is all too rare. It likes the dwellings of man
and in some localities is a familiar bird.
HOUSE WREN
_Troglodytes aëdon aëdon_ Vieillot
Other Name.—Jenny Wren.
Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow; tail usually held erect.
Brownish gray, brightest on rump and tail, the wings and tail finely
barred with black; underparts grayish; sides, flanks, and under
tail-coverts barred with blackish. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from
mid-April to latter September; commonest near the habitations of man,
as a rule.
Nest.—A bulky mass of twigs, lined with feathers, generally filling
the cavity in tree, bird-box, or crevice where the structure is
placed. _Eggs_: 5 to 9, pinkish white, finely spotted and wreathed
with reddish brown. Nests are often built in very odd situations, such
as the pockets of overalls which have been hung in old sheds.
The House Wren is destined to be popular because he nests in bird-boxes,
even though they be poorly constructed and improperly placed. So intent
is he upon rearing a brood that he builds in almost any sort of crevice,
and so fond of gathering and hoarding twigs is he that he fills cavities
just for amusement. Such a “fake” nest, which I examined, held three
nails, two hairpins, a safety-pin, a dozen matches (which were partly
burned), and innumerable twigs!
[Illustration: House Wren
Winter Wren]
His marital customs, which have just been brought to light of day, are
to be talked of in lowered voice. Apparently there is no such thing as a
faithful husband, or wife, for that matter, among the House Wren tribe.
Mother or father may leave at any time and consequences will take care
of themselves.
Hue and cry about the House Wren’s habit of puncturing the eggs of the
other birds in the neighborhood seem not to be greatly affecting this
sturdy, interesting little creature’s popularity.
WINTER WREN
_Nannus troglodytes hiemalis_ (Vieillot)
Description.—A chubby, small wren, with ludicrously short tail.
Upperparts deep brown, barred on wings and tail with black; buffy line
over eye; underparts buffy, barred and speckled with black, whitish,
and brown. _Length_: 4 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant from early April to
mid-May and from mid-September to October 20 or later; a summer
resident in the mountainous counties; occasional in winter.
Nest.—Of moss and plant-down, finely built, placed on or near the
ground in a tree-trunk or mossy bank. _Eggs_: 5 to 7, white, thinly
peppered with brown.
The remarkably long and rippling song of this diminutive bird will
arouse interest and wonder at once. Catch sight of the mouse-like
performer, and he may dive for the underbrush. The alarm-cry is a
double-syllabled harsh note which resembles the throaty _chup_ of a Song
Sparrow. In migration, the Winter Wren will be seen about the roots of
trees or along little streams; in summer, look for him in deep hemlock
forests.
SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN
_Cistothorus stellaris_ (Naumann)
Description.—Small, even for a wren. Upperparts _brownish buffy_,
streaked with black and white; wings and tail barred; underparts
white; under tail-coverts, flanks, and zone about breast, buffy brown.
_Length_: 4 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rare and local migrant and summer resident
from early May to October.
Nest.—Spherical, of grasses, built on or near ground among grasses in
marshy situations, the entrance to one side. _Eggs_: 5 to 8, white.
I have seen this bird in only a few places in Pennsylvania. It is to be
looked for in grassy marshes, but does not seem to like cat-tails,
preferring coarse, rank grass which grows in water or on damp ground.
The song, as I heard it, sounded like _dick, putt, jik, plick, tick,
tick, tick_. These wrens may be fairly common in a certain locality, but
unless they are singing or are literally _kicked_ from the grass, they
will not be seen. All records are desirable.
[Illustration: Long-billed Marsh Wren
Short-billed Marsh Wren]
LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN
_Telmatodytes palustris palustris_ (Wilson)
Description.—Crown brown, bordered on sides with black; white line
over eye; middle of back _black streaked with white_, rest of back
brown; wings and tail barred with black; underparts white; sides
reddish brown. _Length_: About 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident in suitably
marshy situations from latter April to early October. It is very local
in occurrence.
Nest.—A globular, strongly built structure of grasses and cat-tail
leaves, made _while the materials are damp_, and placed among weeds or
rushes a few feet from ground or water; the entrance is on the side.
_Eggs_: 5 to 9, dark brown, or light brown, heavily and finely spotted
with darker brown.
To find these wrens, wade out into the very heart of the marsh. Here the
clackety songs of the nervous creatures announce to us that we are near
the nest. We find three or four of these, but discover no eggs. Patient
hunting finally reveals a set of eggs after we have located perhaps a
dozen “dummy” nests.
BROWN CREEPER
_Certhia familiaris americana_ Bonaparte
Description.—Climbs a tree-trunk like a woodpecker; smaller than an
English Sparrow; bill curved like a wren’s. Plumage brown above,
considerably streaked and otherwise marked with white, grayish, and
darker brown; underparts grayish white; tail-feathers pointed and
somewhat barred. _Length_: 4½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in March and April and in
September and October; occasional, sometimes common, in winter; a
summer resident only at high altitudes or in northern counties.
Nest.—Of bark-strips, fibers, plant-down, and the like, placed under
loose or curled bark, at from 6 to 20 feet from the ground, usually in
a dense, low, woodland or wooded swamp. _Eggs_: 4 to 7, white, spotted
with brown.
The Brown Creeper’s fine, lisping call is not always heard, even by the
keenest ear. Its song is a delicate, warbler-like bit which I have
syllabized as _dee-dee, diddily, de-dwee_. This bird begins his
trunk-searching at the base of the tree; he ascends spirally, searching
carefully as he jerks along and when he gets to the upper branches, he
dives to the base of the next tree, to begin his ascent again.
[Illustration: Brown Creeper]
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
_Sitta carolinensis cookei_ Oberholser
Description.—Size of English Sparrow, but with long, pointed bill,
short tail, and short, strong feet. _Adult male_: Crown glossy
blue-black; rest of upperparts blue-gray; outer tail-feathers
blackish, tipped with black and white; wings with indistinct bars, and
the tertials marked with black spots; sides of head and underparts
white; under tail-coverts mottled with reddish brown. _Female_:
Similar, but top of head grayish, not black. _Length_: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common, permanent resident throughout.
Nest.—Of hair, mosses, feathers, and shredded bark, placed in a cavity
at from 15 to 60 feet from the ground, usually in a forest tree.
_Eggs_: 5 to 9, white, spotted evenly and thickly with reddish brown.
[Illustration: Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch]
The Nuthatch’s habit of perching and hopping, upside down, on
tree-trunks is unmistakable. Actually, he seems to prefer to eat his
food thus, making it proper to say, perhaps, that he _eats his
caterpillars_ _up_. He may realize that the creepers, woodpeckers, and
Black and White Warblers, working upward as they do, find the insects
which can be seen from below or from the side, while he prefers to
investigate the crannies that these other birds may pass by.
This neighborly winter bird visits the food-counter regularly and is
very fond of suet. He has the habit of hiding food in the bark of trees.
I once saw a Nuthatch thus hoarding sunflower seeds. At least a full
hour he worked, hiding dozens of the little kernels. He was watched _and
followed_ by a pair of lazy Downy Woodpeckers who deliberately ate the
seeds as fast as the Nuthatch could hide them. The Nuthatch, it
appeared, has great faith in his ability to hide food where it cannot be
found—so great a faith, in fact, that he did not properly guard his
store.
He calls _drrr, drrr, drrr_ in a nasal voice, as he busies himself with
pounding at a bit of food. As he looks out from the trunk his neck is
bent from his body at even more than a right angle, yet he does not seem
to tire of these strained attitudes.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
_Sitta canadensis_ Linnæus
Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow. _Male_: Crown and wide line
through eye to back of head, glossy black; line over eye white; rest
of upperparts bluish gray, the outer tail-feathers blackish with white
spots near their tips; underparts pale reddish buff, save on throat
which is whitish. _Female_: Similar, but duller, the black of the head
replaced with gray. _Length_: 4½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in late April and May, and more or
less throughout the fall; occasional in winter, sometimes abundant.
Nests rarely in northern counties and at high altitudes.
Nest.—Of mosses, hair, and such soft materials, in a cavity, often in
a conifer. _Eggs_: 4 to 7, white, speckled with brown and gray.
The Red-breasted Nuthatch’s mouselike body seems strangely small as it
moves about the great trunk of a high hemlock, far from the ground. As
it disappears behind the tree, we hear its querulous, complaining _nă,
nă, nă_, as it searches for insects. During migration it is often to be
seen about the outer twigs where it sometimes hangs upside down, like a
Chickadee. On the tree-trunks its actions are much the same as those of
its larger relative, the White-breasted Nuthatch. (See illustration,
page 153.)
TUFTED TITMOUSE
_Bæolophus bicolor_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Size of English Sparrow; with prominent crest. Upperparts
gray, forehead dark brown, a light spot in front of and above eye;
underparts grayish white, the sides washed with reddish brown.
_Length_: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common permanent resident in southern and
middle counties, gradually extending its range northward.
Nest.—Mass of leaves, mosses, hair, and feathers, placed in a cavity,
at from 10 to 30 feet from the ground. _Eggs_: 5 to 8, white, spotted
and blotched with reddish brown.
A small _gray_ bird with a noticeable crest is likely to be the Tufted
Tit. He is fond of the lower branches and is almost never seen perching
on a tree-top, where the Cedar Waxwing, another crested species, prefers
to watch for passing insects.
[Illustration: Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee]
The song, which is a musical whistle, may be written _wheedle, wheedle,
wheedle_. He has other call-notes which resemble those of the Chickadee.
In his nest he gives a snake-like hiss.
Like the Chickadee, the Tufted Tit is an acrobat. He pounds away at a
rolled leaf, or at a beechnut, hanging upside down on a slender twig. He
may carry food about with him in his feet, but nesting material is
gathered with the bill.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
_Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow. Top of head and throat
black; cheeks white; rest of upperparts grayish; underparts grayish
white, washed with brownish on sides. _Length_: 5 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common permanent resident, usually more
numerous about towns in winter than in summer.
Nest.—Of fur, plant-down, and feathers, couched in moss and bark
strips, placed in a cavity in a tree, usually from 5 to 15 feet from
the ground. The birds often dig their own nest-cavity. _Eggs_: 5 to 9,
white, spotted with brown, often chiefly at larger end.
The friendly, jolly Chickadee is one of our most popular birds. He calls
his name plainly, and his color-pattern is distinctive. In spring he has
a plaintive love-call which sounds like _phee-bee_. An imitation of this
whistle often brings the bird very close.
In winter, Chickadees may visit the lunch-counter daily; but in summer,
when the duties of family-rearing are pressing, they may not be seen for
weeks at a time. For this reason they are frequently considered as
winter birds.
In late summer and autumn the family groups wander about among the
trees, searching for caterpillars and insect eggs, and calling sociably
to one another.
The Carolina Chickadee (_Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis_), a
slightly smaller species, with almost precisely the same coloration as
the Black-capped Chickadee, is to be found locally in the southernmost
counties.
GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET
_Regulus regulus satrapa_ Lichtenstein
Description.—Size very small, one of our smallest birds; tail somewhat
forked. _Male_: Center of crown red-orange, bordered with yellow which
sometimes conceals the orange, and with black; line above eye whitish;
rest of upperparts olive-gray; wings with an indistinct bar; tail and
rump with greenish edgings; underparts pale gray, washed with olive
and dull yellowish. _Length_: 4 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and winter resident from about
the first of October to the end of April. It has been known to nest in
the higher mountains but it is exceedingly rare as a summer bird.
[Illustration: Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet]
The Golden-crowned Kinglet is most noticeable as a winter bird when many
of our familiar species are to the southward. It is a tiny bit of
feathers, and as it perches on its slender legs it seems to be too
fragile to endure the snow and cold weather. The call-note is a short
lisping _tsee_, repeated three or four times. In spring it gives a song
which starts with several wiry notes resembling one note given by the
Chickadee and ending with an abbreviated series of _chips_.
Golden-crowns like to hunt for food in coniferous trees.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
_Corthylio calendula calendula_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Size very small, tail somewhat forked. _Adult male_:
Grayish olive above, grayest on head, greenest on rump; crown with
brilliant red patch which is sometimes concealed; wings with two
indistinct bars; underparts soiled white, washed with faint yellowish
and olive. _Length_: 4½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, usually common, from mid-April to
mid-May, and from mid-September to latter October.
The song of the tiny Ruby-crown is amazingly loud and brilliant, and as
the little creature sings, it may lift and fan out its startling crest.
It is usually to be found in small trees or thickets, where it flits
about, snapping up insects, and it often comes close at hand, when its
bright eyes have a staring quality. Occasionally, it flicks its wings.
Its alarm-note may be written _chŭ-dah_, rapidly given.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
_Polioptila cærulea cærulea_ (Linnæus)
Description.—Size very small, with long tail and short wings. _Male_:
Upperparts blue-gray, a line across forehead and above eye white,
bordered above by narrow black line; central tail-feathers black, the
outer ones white; underparts soiled whitish. _Female_: Similar, the
black of the head duller or missing. _Length_: 4½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather local summer resident in southern
counties.
Nest.—A beautifully made structure of fur, plant-fibers, and bark,
covered with lichens and dried flower petals, held in place with
cobwebs, from 15 to 40 feet from the ground on a horizontal branch.
_Eggs_: 3 to 5, pale blue, rather heavily spotted with brown.
[Illustration: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher]
This dainty little creature is restless; his tail wags or shakes almost
constantly as he pursues insects. His usual cry is a complaining _new,
new_, whined as he hops about among the foliage. Both birds assist in
covering the nest with lichens, which they gather from nearby
tree-trunks, and which they bind into the structure with cobwebs so that
it is firm and neat. The male may, at times, be rather noisy about the
family secrets, and if we patiently watch him as he flits through the
branches, he may lead us to the nest.
WOOD THRUSH
_Hylocichla mustelina_ (Gmelin)
Description.—Smaller than Robin. Rich brown above, brightest on head
and neck, with noticeable whitish eye-ring; below white, marked all
over _with round black spots_; eyes large, very dark brown. _Length_:
8 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Common migrant and summer resident from about
the first of May to October. It is not found in dense hemlock woods in
the wilder districts, nor at higher altitudes.
Nest.—A firm, neat cup of grasses, weed-stalks, paper, string, and
leaves, lined with finer materials, with an inner wall of mud, placed
from 5 to 20 feet from the ground in a tree. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, pale
blue, much like those of the Robin in color, but smaller.
[Illustration: Wood Thrush]
This is the largest, brightest, and most strikingly marked of our
thrushes, and he is the only one whose underparts are marked _all over
with round black spots_.
The Wood Thrush lives in shady lawns as well as in wilder woodlands. He
is often a familiar dooryard bird, hopping about on the grass or singing
from a low perch. The song is delivered in sections, with pauses of a
few seconds between. Some of the notes are rich and deep; others are
high and flute-like; others tremble like a twanged banjo string. The
alarm-note is loud and sharp.
WILSON’S THRUSH; VEERY
_Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens_ (Stephens)
Description.—Smaller than Robin. Uniform brown above; throat and belly
white; sides of throat and breast washed with buffy, and marked with
indistinct rows of short, brown streaks; sides white, faintly washed
with gray-brown; eye-ring not noticeable in field. _Length_: 7½
inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant throughout in later April and
May and in September. Nests in the more northerly counties and in the
mountains. It is common as a summer resident in suitable damp
woodlands.
Nest.—On the ground, made largely of leaves, lined with rootlets and
small grasses. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, delicate greenish blue.
Go to a wooded swamp or to low, thick woodlands to find this elusive
bird. If you keep quiet for a time, you may see his brown back as he
flashes through the undergrowth. Make a slight disturbance, and he may
call _zeu_ in a penetrating tone. He may sing his remarkable ringing
song which, in liquid, tinkling, descending spirals, sounds a little
like _veery, veery, veery, veery_. If you become familiar with him, you
will see him hopping over the ground like a Wood Thrush; he snaps up an
insect here and there, or flops the damp leaves over looking for food.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH
_Hylocichla minima aliciæ_ (Baird)
Description.—Upperparts olive, unmarked, not even a whitish eye-ring
being noticeable in the field; _sides of head dull grayish_; sides of
throat and breast faintly washed with buff, the breast marked with a
few dark streaks, which lie in rows; throat and belly white; sides
gray. _Length_: 7½ inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular migrant, though not often recorded,
during May and in late September and early October.
This bird is difficult to identify in Pennsylvania. It does not often
sing, and it is shy. Probably it is commoner than we suppose, but the
thrushes look so much alike that we are afraid to record the species
unless we have a specimen in hand. It resembles most closely the
Olive-backed Thrush; it differs in having a dull whitish eye-ring and
grayish cheeks, which in the Olive-back are distinctly buffy. Records of
this species should be made with a good glass. The song, which may
occasionally be given here, is like a Veery’s.
OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH
_Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni_ (Tschudi)
Description.—Upperparts olive; _eye-ring and sides of head buffy_, the
color spreading more or less over the face, throat, and breast; throat
streaked and breast somewhat spotted with blackish; belly white; sides
grayish. _Length_: A little over 7 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant in late April and early May
and in September and October; rare as a summer resident, found only at
high altitudes in the mountains.
Nest.—Deeply cupped, compact, and neat, of grasses, moss, rootlets,
and twigs, placed in a forest tree from 6 to 20 feet from the ground.
_Eggs_: 3 or 4, pale blue, spotted or blotched with red-brown.
[Illustration: Olive-backed Thrush]
The Olive-back’s song is a little like the Wood Thrush’s, but is longer,
and it usually ascends the scale, in this respect differing from the
Veery’s. Its buffy eye-ring is usually a dependable field-mark. The
alarm-note may be written _pert_, pronounced in front of the teeth.
HERMIT THRUSH
_Hylocichla guttata faxoni_ Bangs and Penard
Description.—Underparts olive-brown, with a somewhat noticeable buffy
eye-ring, and a _noticeably red-brown tail_, which is the most
dependable field-mark; throat and breast washed with buffy, the breast
marked with rows of short, blackish, rounded streaks; belly white;
sides grayish brown. _Length_: A little over 7 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant, appearing early in spring
often during March, and remaining late in fall, often until November
or even Christmas; it is casual in winter. As a nesting bird it is
rather rare, occurring in the northern counties and at high altitudes.
Nest.—Usually on the ground, of leaves, rootlets, grasses, and moss,
lined with finer materials. _Eggs_: 3 or 4, greenish blue.
The Hermit Thrush’s red-brown tail is usually a good field-mark because
it shows plainly, even as the bird flies away. It should not be confused
with the Fox Sparrow, however, which has a brown back and bright
red-brown tail, and which, curiously enough, occurs as an early spring,
or late fall migrant, at about the same time as the Hermit Thrush.
The song of the Hermit Thrush is thought by some to be the highest point
attained in American bird-music. It may be described as an elaborated
and refined Wood Thrush song, given in deliberate, easy manner, often in
the evening, and sometimes virtually at nightfall.
ROBIN
_Turdus migratorius migratorius_ Linnaeus
Description.—_Adult male_: Head blackish; partial white eye-ring; rest
of upperparts gray, darker on wings and tail; outer tail-feathers
narrowly tipped with white; throat white, streaked with black; breast
and sides brownish red, sometimes somewhat barred with whitish; belly
and undertail-coverts white, the latter sometimes marked with grayish.
Eyes dark brown. _Female_: Duller. _Young_: The breasts are spotted
with black. _Length_: 10 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident, appearing
early in spring, sometimes in February or March, and lingering often
until November; casual in winter, when it is likely to be seen in
flocks.
Nest.—A firm, neatly cupped structure of grasses, weed stalks, string,
and so forth, with an inner lining of mud, placed in trees, on
window-sills, under porches, and sometimes on the ground. _Eggs_: 3 or
4, pale blue.
[Illustration: Robin]
The quiet, homelike beauty of the Robin appeals to every American. As
the trim bird runs about the dew-drenched lawn, he seems to impart to us
his own belief in the goodness of life. He pauses to listen for an
earthworm as it scratches its way along its dark tunnel; but if he does
not catch the worm, he looks up brightly, runs nimbly a few feet further
on, and listens again, firm in his knowledge that he will sooner or
later come into his own and catch a worm perhaps even longer than the
one he missed. The spotted breasts of the young bespeak kinship with the
thrushes.
BLUEBIRD
_Sialis sialis sialis_ (Linnaeus)
Description.—A little larger than an English Sparrow. _Adult male_:
Rich, deep, glossy blue above; throat, breast, and sides reddish
brown; belly and under tail-coverts white. _Female_: Similar, but
upperparts largely gray, bluest on wings and tail. _Young_: Similar to
female, but with spotted breast. _Length_: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident from early
March until November; casual in winter. It is to be found chiefly in
more cultivated districts.
Nest.—Of grasses, in a cavity in a tree or bird-box, from 5 to 20 feet
from the ground.
[Illustration: Bluebird]
The soft, brief warble of the Bluebird in spring, and the gentle
farewell it sings in the fall as it flies over, are to be classed among
the sweetest of bird music, to my way of thinking. The Bluebird is not
only beautiful in song and in color, but it is decidedly beneficial, and
since it rears two or three broods of young a year, when it can, it
destroys much insect life in feeding the hungry young which eat
proportionately more than their parents.
The Bluebird’s interesting habit of lifting its wing after alighting, or
as it sings, is characteristic.