The Bird Book Part 95

670. KIRTLAND'S WARBLER. _Dendroica kirtlandi._

Range.--Eastern United States; apt to be found in any of the South Atlantic, Middle or Central States, and in Ontario, Canada. Winters in the Bahamas where by far the greater number of specimens have been found.

This very rare Warbler is bluish gray above, streaked with black, and yellow below with the throat and sides streaked. Until the summer of 1903, the locality where they bred was a mystery. The capture of a specimen, in June, in Oscodo Co., Michigan, led to the search for the nests by N. A. Wood, taxidermist for the Michigan Museum at Ann Arbor.

He was successful in his quest and found two nests with young and one egg. The nest in which the egg was found contained two young birds also.

It was in a depression in the ground at the foot of a Jack pine tree and only a few feet from a cart road. The nest was made of strips of bark and vegetable fibres, lined with gra.s.s and pine needles. The egg is white, sprinkled with brown in a wreath about the large end. Size .72 .56. It is estimated that there were thirteen pairs of the birds in this colony.

[Ill.u.s.tration 406: Hermit Warblers. Kirtland's Warblers.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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671. PINE WARBLER. _Dendroica vigorsi._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to southern British Provinces; winters in the Gulf States and southward.

This common eastern species is greenish above and dull yellowish below, streaked with dusky on the sides. They are almost exclusively found in pine woods, either light or heavy growth, where they can always be located by their peculiar, musical lisping trill. They nest high in these trees, placing their nests in thick bunches of needles, so that they are very difficult to locate. They nest from March in the south to May in the northern states, laying three or four dull whitish eggs, specked or blotched with shades of brown and lilac; size .68 .52.

Data.--Worcester, Ma.s.s., May 28, 1891. Nest 30 feet up in a pine; made of pine needles and rootlets.

672. PALM WARBLER. _Dendroica palmarum palmarum._

Range.--Interior of North America, breeding about Hudson Bay and northward and wintering in the lower Mississippi Valley and the West Indies.

This species is brownish yellow above and yellow on the throat and breast, the crown and streaks on the sides are chestnut. They are found during migrations on or near the ground on the edges of woods or thickets and along roadsides; have a peculiar habit of "teetering" their tail which will readily identify them. They nest on the ground in, or on the edges of swampy places, lining the hollow with gra.s.ses and rootlets.

In May or June they lay three or four eggs which are creamy white, variously specked with brown and lilac; size .68 .52.

672a. YELLOW PALM WARBLER. _Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from Nova Scotia, northward.

This is the common Yellow Redpoll Warbler of the eastern states, and is very abundant during migrations. Their habits are the same, if not identical with the interior species. Their nests are also like those of the last, placed on the ground and the eggs are indistinguishable.

[Ill.u.s.tration 407: Dull white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Creamy white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pine Warblers. Palm Warblers.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 406

[Ill.u.s.tration 408: C. A. Reed.

PRAIRIE WARBLER NEST.]

Page 407

673. PRAIRIE WARBLER. _Dendroica discolor._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf to Ma.s.sachusetts and Ontario; winters in southern Florida and the West Indies.

A species readily recognized by its bright yellow underparts and the black stripes on the face and sides; several bright chestnut spots are in the middle of the greenish back. These birds will be found on dry scrubby hillsides and valleys, where they nest in low bushes, and the male will be found in the tops of the tallest lookout trees delivering his quaint and very peculiar lisping song. Their nests are handsomely made of vegetable fibres and gra.s.ses, closely woven together and lined with hair; this structure is placed in the top of low bushes so that it is well concealed by the upper foliage. Their three to five eggs are whitish, specked and spotted with shades of brown and neutral tints; size .64 .48. Data.--Worcester, Ma.s.s., June 23, 1891. Nest in the top of a young walnut, two feet from ground; made of plant fibres and gra.s.ses. Four eggs.

674. OVEN-BIRD. _Seiurus aurocapillus._

Range.--North America east of the Rockies, breeding from the middle portions of the United States, north to Labrador and Alaska. Winters from the Gulf States southward.

This species is fully as often known as the Golden-crowned Thrush, because of its brownish orange crown bordered with black. They are woodland birds exclusively and nest on the ground, arching the top over with rootlets or leaves, the nest proper being made of gra.s.ses and leaf skeletons. As they are concealed so effectually, the nests are usually found by flus.h.i.+ng the bird. The four to six eggs are white, slightly glossy and spotted, blotched or wreathed with reddish brown and lilac; size .80 .60. Data.--Old Saybrook, Conn., June 19, 1899. Domed nest with a side entrance on the ground in woods.

[Ill.u.s.tration 409: Whitish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Prairie Warblers. Oven-bird.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 408

[Ill.u.s.tration 410: C. A. Reed.

ARCHED NEST OF OVEN-BIRD.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: J. B. Canfield.

NEST AND EGGS OF LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH.]

Page 409

675. WATER-THRUSH. _Seiurus novebora censis noveboracensis._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from northern United States north to Hudson Bay and Newfoundland. Winters from the Gulf to South America.

This species is uniform brownish olive above and white below, streaked heavily with blackish; it has a whitish superciliary line. It is known in most of the United States only as a migrant, being found in moist woods or swampy places. They nest in such localities in their breeding range, placing their nests among the cavities of rootlets and stumps, the nest being made of moss, leaves and rootlets. Their eggs are white, profusely specked and blotched with reddish brown and lavender gray.

Size .80 .60. Data.--Listowell, Ontario, May 28, 1895. Nest in a turned-up root over water; made of moss, gra.s.s and hair. Collector, Wm.

L. Kells. This set of five is in the collection of Mr. C. W. Crandall.

675a. GRINNELL'S WATER-THRUSH. _Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis._

Range.--Western North America, migrating between the Mississippi Valley and the Rockies; breeds from northern United States north to Alaska; winters in the south.

This sub-species is said to be very slightly larger, darker on the back, and paler below. Their nesting habits and eggs are identical with those of the last.

676. LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH. _Seiurus motacilla._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf, north to southern New England, Ontario and Minnesota; winters south of our borders.

This species is similar to the last but is larger, grayer and less distinctly streaked on the underparts. They nest in swampy places, concealing their home in nooks among roots of trees or under overhanging banks, the nest being made of leaves, moss, mud, gra.s.ses, etc., making a bulky structure. The eggs, which are laid in May and number from four to six, are white, spotted and blotched with chestnut and neutral tints.

Size .76 .62.