What Bird is That? (eBook)

WOOD WARBLERS. FAMILY MNIOTILTIDÆ

 
 BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER
 Mniotilta varia. Case 6, Fig. 57

The female is less conspicuously striped than the male, but both are quite unlike any of our other birds. L. 5¼.

Range. Nests from Georgia and Louisiana to Canada; winters from Florida southward.

Washington, abundant T.V., less common S.R., Apl. 8-Oct. 18. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 18-Oct. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., Apl. 25-Sept. 5. N. Ohio, common T.V., a few S.R., Apl. 22-Sept. 26. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., Apl. 28-May 28; Aug. 11-Sept. 27. SE. Minn., common T.V., uncommon S.R., Apl. 23-Oct. 12.

This species and the three Nuthatches are our only birds that creep down as well as up; but the Nuthatches wear no body stripes and are otherwise too unlike the Creeper to be confused with him. The Downy Woodpecker 'hitches' himself upward advancing by jerks; the Brown Creeper, true to its name, creeps. The nest is built on the ground and the white, brown-marked eggs are laid in April in the South, in May in the North.

 
 
 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
 Protonotaria citrea. Case 5, Fig. 29

The female is duller than the male, but is too like him to be mistaken for the mate of any other Warbler, while he is in a class by himself. L. 5½.

Range. Nests from Florida to Delaware and southeastern Minnesota; winters in the tropics.

Washington, of irregular occurrence in May. N. Ohio, one record, May 9. Glen Ellyn, rare, spring only, May 13-15. SE. Minn., common S.R., of Mississippi bottoms, May 7-Aug. 16.

No description or illustration prepares one for the gleaming beauty of the Golden Swamp Warbler. Cypress swamps or willow-bordered sloughs, where it may nest in the opening in old stubs, are its chosen haunts, and in such places it is sometimes found in numbers. The white eggs, thickly marked with brown, are laid in May.

 
 
 SWAINSON'S WARBLER
 Helinaia swainsoni. Case 5, Fig. 28

No wing-bars, plain brown above, white below. L. 5.

Range. In summer from Florida and Louisiana north to southern Illinois and southeastern Virginia; winters in the tropics.

Comparatively few bird students have seen this retiring Warbler in its haunts. "Water, tangled thickets, patches of cane, and a rank growth of semi-aquatic plants," Brewster states, seem indispensable to its existence. Its song in general effect, the same writer says, recalls that of the Northern Water-Thrush. The nest is built in bushes, canes, etc., and the white eggs are laid in May.

 
 
 WORM-EATING WARBLER
 Helmitheros vermivorus. Case 7, Fig. 31

Head striped with black and buff; body unstreaked, no wing-bars. L. 5½.

Range. Nests from South Carolina and Missouri to Connecticut and Iowa; winters in the tropics.

Washington, quite common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept. 15. Ossining, common S.R., May 7-Aug. 23. Cambridge, A.V., one instance, Sept.

Comparatively few bird students can claim close acquaintance with this slow-moving, dull-colored bird who lives on or near the ground, usually in dry woodlands. Its song, resembling that of the Chipping Sparrow, will attract only an attentive ear, while its local distribution further prevents it from being more commonly known. It nests on the ground, the white, brown-marked eggs being laid in May.

 
 
 BACHMAN'S WARBLER
 Vermivora bachmani. Case 5, Figs. 20, 21

All but the central pair of feathers with white spots near the end; no wing-bars; size small, the bill sharply pointed and slightly decurved. L. 4½.

Range. In summer known from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri; in winter recorded only from Cuba.

When migrating, this little-known species associates with other bird travelers and may be found high or low. When nesting, it frequents swampy woods and, although it usually sings from the tree-tops, it builds in bushes within a few feet of the ground, laying 3-4 white eggs in the latter half of April or in May. Its song has been compared to that of both the Parula Warbler and the Chipping Sparrow.

 
 
 BLUE-WINGED WARBLER
 Vermivora pinus. Case 7, Fig. 35

Outer tail-feathers white near the end; two white wing-bars; female duller than the male.

Range. Nests from Missouri and Virginia north to Minnesota and Connecticut; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather uncommon T.V., Apl. 26-May 22; Aug. 13-Sept. 2; a few breed. Ossining, common S.R., May 4-Sept. 7. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, irregular, possibly S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 1.

In second growths, among birches, and at the border of the woods one may hear the wheezy, lazy, swee-chee of the Blue-wing. I make it a rule to see the singer always with the hope that he may prove to be the rare Brewster's Warbler, which usually sings like the Blue-wing, but in color is nearer the Golden-wing, being, in fact, like the Golden-wing but with the underparts and cheeks white unmarked with black. It appears to be a hybrid between the Blue-wing and Golden-wing. (Case 7, Fig. 38.)

A much rarer supposed hybrid between these two Warblers is known as Lawrence's Warbler. It is yellow below, like the Blue-wing, but has the black throat and cheeks of the Golden-wing. Some individuals sing like the Blue-wing, others like the Golden-wing, and this is true also of Brewster's Warbler. (Case 7, Fig. 37.)

The Blue-wing nests on the ground, laying 4-5 white delicately speckled eggs the latter part of May.

 
 
 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
 Vermivora chrysoptera. Case 7, Figs. 34, 36

A gray bird with a yellow patch on the wings and a black or blackish breast.

Range. Nests from northern New Jersey and southern Iowa north to Massachusetts and central Minnesota and south in the mountains to northern Georgia; winters in the tropics.

Washington, uncommon, T.V., May 1-30; Aug. 8-21. Ossining, rare S.R., May 8-Aug. 25. Cambridge, rather common S.R., May 12-Aug. 25. N. Ohio, rare T.V., Glen Ellyn, irregular, not common T.V., May 4-18; Aug. 16-Sept. 24. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 5-Sept. 9.

The Golden-wing's zee-zee-zee-zee resembles the Blue-wing's song in tone but the syllables are all on one note. When nesting, the Golden-wing prefers second growths, and birches, but when migrating it may be found in the woods with others of its family. The nest is made on the ground, and the eggs, which resemble those of the Blue-wing, but are more heavily marked, are laid in May or early June.

 
 
 NASHVILLE WARBLER
 Vermivora rubricapilla rubricapilla. Case 7, Fig. 33

No wing-bars or white in the tail; adult with a partly concealed chestnut patch in the gray crown; eye-ring white. L. 4¾.

Range. Nests from northern Pennsylvania and Nebraska to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, uncommon T.V., Apl. 28-May 19; Sept. 5-Oct. 2. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., May 7-27; Aug. 11-Oct. 4; may breed. Cambridge, rather common S.R., May 5-Sept. 15; abundant T.V. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl. 28-May 27; Sept. 1-Oct. 16. Glen Ellyn, regular T.V., Apl. 27-May 25; Aug. 20-Oct. 19. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 1-Sept. 29.

Thayer in "Warblers of North America" says that the Nashville is one of the most agile and restless of the gleaning Warblers. It prefers birches, but is found in rather open growths of other trees. Its commoner song consists of a string of six or eight or more lively rapid notes, running into a rolling twitter. It has also a flight-song.

The nest is placed on the ground; the eggs, which are laid in May or early June, are white, spotted with reddish brown.

 
 
 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
 Vermivora celata celata. Case 7, Fig. 32

A dusky, olive-green bird, obscurely streaked below; without wing-bars or white patches in tail. L. 5.

Range. Chiefly the interior, nests from Manitoba northward; winters in Florida and the Gulf States.

Washington, casual T.V., two records, Oct. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, rare T.V., in fall. Oct. 5-Nov. 15. N. Ohio, rare T.V., Apl. 27-May 21. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., May 1-21; July 28-Oct. 7. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 25-; Aug. 18-Oct. 16.

The Orange-crown is a rare fall migrant in the North Atlantic States, but common in Florida and southern Georgia in the winter. It frequents the upper branches of trees though, as with most members of its genus, it nests on the ground. Its call-note is a sharp, characteristic chip; its song is said to resemble that of the Chipping Sparrow.

 
 
 TENNESSEE WARBLER
 Vermivora peregrina. Case 8, Fig. 64

Adult male in spring with a grayish blue crown and white underparts; female and young...