Part 16

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.