Part 35

CANADIAN WARBLER 686. Wilsonia canadensis. 5½ inches

Male, with a necklace of black spots, white eye ring and lores; female, and young, with only a slight indication of the necklace.

These Warblers travel northward in company with many other kinds, always keeping in the underbrush near the ground, except when they come out into orchards and parks. Like the two last, they are very lively, rarely remaining still for more than a few seconds, before they must dash after some tempting morsel that is flying by.

Song.—A loud liquid warble, most nearly resembling that of the Water-Thrush; call, a sharp, querulous chip.

Nest.—Of rootlets and strips of bark, under roots of trees or shrubs or at the foot of stumps in the moss; the four eggs are white with a wreath of chestnut spots around the large end (.68 × .50).

Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding from Massachusetts and Michigan northward; winters in northern South America.

AMERICAN REDSTART 687. Setophaga ruticilla. 5½ inches

Male, black, orange and white; female, grayish, yellow and white; it requires two or three years to attain the black plumage of the male, in the intermediate stages they are sometimes strangely mottled.

In the northeastern half of the United States, these are one of the commonest and most active of the species. Both the males and females seem to be proud of their handsome plumage and are continually spreading and closing their tails. They are equally happy whether in the tree tops or near the ground, and are as often found in the one place as the other.

Song.—“Che-wee, che-wee, che-wee,” very similar to that of the Yellow Warbler and also the Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Nest.—Of plant fibres and grasses in forks of bushes or trees, usually at greater heights than those of the Yellow Warbler; eggs whitish specked with brown.

Range.—N. A., rare west of the Rockies, breeding from North Carolina and Missouri northward; winters south of the U. S.

AMERICAN PIPIT; TITLARK 697. Anthus rubescens. 6½ inches

These are Arctic birds that spend the winter months in the United States. We find them in flocks along roadsides or in fields, feeding upon weed seeds. They are shy and take wing readily, uttering sharp whistles as they wheel about in the air. They are always restless and stay in a place but a short time. They nest on the ground in northern Canada. Eggs grayish, profusely specked with brown.

SPRAGUE PIPIT 700. Anthus spraguei. 6¼ inches

Upper parts streaked with buff and blackish; below pale buffy with black markings. These birds are found on the Plains from the Dakotas to Hudson Bay in summer, migrating to Mexico in winter. They resemble the European Skylark in their habit of soaring to a great height while singing. Their song is very melodious, resembling that of the Bobolink. Their nests are depressions in the ground, lined with grasses. Eggs grayish, finely specked with purplish gray (.87 × .67).

SAGE THRASHER 702. Oreoscoptes montanus. 8¾ inches

This species is often known as the Mountain Mockingbird because of the brilliance of its song, a very varied performance, long continued and mocking that of many other species. They inhabit sage-brush regions and are partial to the lower portions of the country, although frequently met in open mountains. They are not shy and can readily be located by their voices.

Nest.—In bushes, especially the sage and cactus; a loose structure made of bark strips, small twigs and coarse grasses, lined with fine rootlets. The three or four eggs have a rich greenish-blue ground, spotted with bright reddish brown (.95 × .70).

Range.—Sage-brush regions of western United States from the Plains to the Pacific; winters in Mexico and Lower California.

MOCKINGBIRD 703. Mimus polyglottos. 10½ inches

General colors, gray and white; bases of primaries and outer tail feathers with white.

This is the great vocalist of the south, and by many is considered to be the most versatile singer in America. It is found in gardens, pastures and open woods. All its habits are similar to our Catbird, and like that species, it is given to imitating the notes of other birds.

Song.—An indescribable medley, sometimes very sweet and pleasing, at others, harsh and unmusical.

Nest.—Usually built in impenetrable thickets or hedges, or again in more open situation in the garden; made of twigs and rootlets, lined with black rootlets; the four or five eggs are bluish green with blotches of reddish brown (95 × .70).

Range.—Southern U. S., breeding north to New Jersey (and casually farther) and Ohio; winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf states. 703a. Western Mockingbird (leucopterus) is found in southwestern U. S., north to Indian Territory and California.

CATBIRD 704. Dumetella carolinensis. 9 inches

General color dark gray with a black cap and chestnut under tail coverts.