Part 30

You will find these birds in damp woods or swamps, or less often in parks or open woods. They are usually seen at low elevations in scrubby underbrush. Their notes are very peculiar and will draw attention to them anywhere.

Song.—A deep grating whistle with a sharply rising inflection, “zee-zee-zwee.”

Nest.—In deep, swampy woods, especially common in laurel; of grapevine bark and rootlets lined with fine black roots and hair; the four eggs are white or buffy white with reddish brown spots and blotches.

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from Connecticut (sparingly) and Michigan north to Labrador and Hudson Bay; winters in Central America. 654a. Cairns Warbler (cairnsi) is said to be darker on the back; found in the southern Alleghanies.

MYRTLE WARBLER 655. Dendroica coronata. 5½ inches

Yellow patches on crown, sides and rump; outer tail feathers with large white spots; female duller and browner.

During migrations these pretty birds are very abundant in the United States. They usually travel in large flocks so that a small piece of woodland is literally flooded with them when they pause in the flight to feed upon insects or small berries. They are often known as Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Song.—A clear, broken trill or warble.

Nest.—Usually in coniferous trees, though sometimes in others, and at low elevations; of plant fibres and grasses; the four or five eggs are white, spotted and blotched with reddish brown (.70 × .54).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from northern New England and Minnesota northward; winters south of the U. S.

MAGNOLIA WARBLER 657. Dendroica magnolia. 5 inches.

Male, with black ear patch, back, and necklace; female, with the black replaced with grayish; both sexes have a yellow rump and white spots midway of the tail feathers.

One of the prettiest of the Warblers and one of the least timid. I have often had one or more of these birds follow me the whole length of a piece of woods apparently out of curiosity, coming down to the nearest twigs within arms’ reach of me. Birch woods are their favorites during migrations, although a few of them will be found almost anywhere.

Song.—A short, rapidly uttered warble.

Nest.—Usually in coniferous trees, far out on the longer branches, where they are often difficult to get at, of rootlets lined with fine black rootlets and hair; four or five white eggs with small spots of chestnut around the large end (.60 × .48).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from Massachusetts and Michigan northward; winters south of the U. S.

CERULEAN WARBLER 658. Dendroica cærulea. 5 inches

Above grayish blue with black streaks, below white with a bluish breast band and streaks on the sides; female washed with greenish above and yellowish below; both have white patches near the ends of the tail feathers.

These dainty little Warblers are not abundant anywhere, but seem to be most so in the central states. They are birds of the tree tops, rarely coming down so that they can be distinctly seen. They may be more common than supposed, for so small a body at such heights can readily be overlooked.

Song.—A little warbling trill, “zee-zee-ze-ee-eep.”

Nest.—In the higher outer branches of large trees usually in deep woods; compactly made of dry grasses and cobwebs, adorned with a few lichens; eggs white specked at the large end with brownish (.65 × .50).

Range.—Interior portions of the U. S., breeding north to Michigan and Minnesota; east to western New York and, rarely, southern New England; winters in northern South America.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER 659. Dendroica pennsylvanica. 5 inches

Yellow crown, black line through eye and on side of throat and broad chestnut stripe on sides; female, paler and with less chestnut; young greenish yellow above and with no chestnut.

Nearly every swamp or bush-covered pasture within their range shelters one or more pairs of these Warblers. While they sometimes feed in the tree tops, they are birds of the lower foliage and are usually seen in low bushes.

Song.—Similar to that of the Yellow Warbler but more choppy.

Nest.—In low bushes or weeds, and often in sweet fern or briars; similar to that of the Yellow Warbler but coarser, being made more with grasses than with fibres, situated in upright forks or attached to several weed stalks; eggs white, specked around the large end with reddish brown (.68 × .50).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from New Jersey and Ohio north to Manitoba and New Brunswick; winters south of U. S.