An Introduction to the Birds of Pennsylvania

by George Miksch Sutton

THE VIREOS

The Vireos are a difficult group for the beginner. They are dull in color, they come at a time when other birds are abundant, and they do not, for the most part, have particularly noticeable songs. In identifying the Vireos it is well to remember that all of them move deliberately, turning the head from side to side pensively, and crawling about the branches in a very characteristic fashion. No Vireo has any white in the tail, as have many of the otherwise similarly colored warblers. Note that the first three species have no wing-bars; the other three have two wing-bars.

RED-EYED VIREO
Vireosylva olivacea (Linnæus)

Other Name.—Preacher Bird.

Description.—Size of English Sparrow. Adults: Top of head blue-gray; line above eye white, bordered above with a blackish line; line through eye blackish; rest of upperparts olive-green; underparts whitish, washed with olive-green and pale yellowish on sides; eyes reddish or red-brown. Young: Similar, but duller. Length: 6¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident from late April or early May to late September and October.

Nest.—A pensile cup made of vegetable fibers, cobwebs, and so forth, lined with grape-vine bark, placed on a branch of a low sapling, usually from 5 to 10 feet from the ground. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo

The oft-repeated song of this bird, which is delivered all during the warm hours of the summer days, has been responsible for the name “Preacher Bird.” This song, given while the bird searches for food among the leaves, is repeated at intervals of a few seconds, sometimes apparently for hours at a stretch. Look for the Red-eye in shady woodlands where there are deciduous trees. The harsh note of alarm is not unlike the well-known cry of the Catbird.

PHILADELPHIA VIREO
Vireosylva philadelphica Cassin

Description.—Like the Red-eyed Vireo, but smaller, with slightly shorter bill, greener upperparts, and rather decidedly yellower underparts.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather rare and little-known migrant in late April and early May and in September, found usually in alder thickets in the company of various species of the warbler family.

This species is not easy to identify in the field. Its song, which is like the Red-eye’s, but more rapidly delivered, may be heard in the spring; but in the fall, the chances are the bird will pass unnoticed since neither its song nor its color in any way attracts attention. All records are desirable.

WARBLING VIREO
Vireosylva gilva gilva (Vieillot)

Description.—Like the Red-eye, but smaller, less strikingly marked, the top of head being almost the same color as the back, the sides less tinged with yellow. Length: 5¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common summer resident from late April to late September; usually found in or near towns.

Nest.—A pensile cup, made much like the Red-eye’s, but found high in shade trees, in towns, or along country roadsides. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small spots.

Dull, plain in appearance, this is one of our most perfectly named birds, for its song is a warble—a somewhat unmusical, wheezy, lisping warble, usually delivered from the shade of a big tree.

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
Lanivireo flavifrons (Vieillot)

Description.—About the size of the Red-eye, but with line in front of and around the eye, and chin, throat, and breast, clear light yellow; two prominent white wing-bars, and the blackish tertials strongly edged with white. The sexes are similar. Length: 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Fairly common but somewhat irregular summer resident from late April and May to September.

Nest.—A deep, pensile cup, swung from a branch high in a large deciduous tree standing at the edge of a woodland or in an open field. Eggs: 3 or 4, buffy white, with a few red-brown spots.

The song of this species, which is deliberate, and alto in quality, has been written Mary, Mary, come ’ere, the ’ere with a downward inflection.

Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo

WHITE-EYED VIREO
Vireo griseus griseus (Boddaert)

Description.—Smaller than the Red-eye and with a more sprightly manner. Line above and around eye yellow; wing with two yellowish or white bars; sides yellowish; breast and belly grayish; chin and throat white; eyes white, rather noticeable in the field. Length: 5¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An extremely rare migrant in the western part; east of the mountains somewhat commoner, particularly along the Susquehanna and Delaware drainage, where it sometimes nests.

Nest.—A neat, pensile cup, placed in a low bush or tree, usually not far from the ground. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few dark brown spots.

The song which may be written pit, pit-a-ta-chee-whēēr, does not suggest a vireo at all. Remember that this bird will be found among low, thick bushes.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO
Lanivireo solitarius solitarius (Wilson)

Description.—Size of the Red-eye, but upper part of head rich blue-gray, with a prominent line in front of and around eye, white; wings with two noticeable bars; sides yellow, irregularly washed with olive-green; chin, throat, breast, and belly, white. Length: A little over 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant and summer resident. It is the first of the vireos to arrive in spring, appearing in mid- or latter April and remaining until October. It nests only at high altitudes in the mountains or in the northern counties.

Nest.—A neat and beautifully built pensile cup, swung on a horizontal hemlock, witch hazel, or alder bough, usually deep in the woodlands. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, with a few small black spots.

The song of this handsome vireo is rich and beautiful—easily the most musical of all our vireo songs. It is to be heard chiefly in the depths of the coniferous woodlands. Unusually elaborate and prolonged songs are sometimes given in the spring. Remember the prominent white eye-ring of this species.

BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER
Mniotilta varia (Linnæus)

Other Names.—Black and White Creeper; Black and White Creeping Warbler.

Description.—Black and white all over, the colors about evenly balanced, giving the bird in the field a streaked appearance, noticeable particularly in the male. Since no other warbler is thus streaked with black and white all over, it is thought that this description is sufficient. Females and young: Duller, the young with buffy washings on sides. Length: 5⅓ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident from late April and early May to September. It is rather local as a summer resident though it may occur in any suitable woodland.

Nest.—A cup of rootlets and fine grasses placed on the ground at the base of a sapling or a fallen bough or log, usually in rather open woodland. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, with a neat wreath of fine red-brown spots about the larger end.

Black and White Warbler

This bird is nearly always seen creeping about the trunks and larger branches of trees, and its boldly streaked plumage is unmistakable. Its song, which has been written wee-see, wee-see, wee-see, wee-see, is wiry and unmusical, and the untrained ear will probably not catch it. Look for this bird in any woodland, particularly where there are deciduous trees.

The southern Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is rarely recorded in the southern counties. This species has blue-gray wings and tail, no wing-bars, and the head and breast are rich orange-yellow. Records are desirable.

The Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica dominica) is a long-billed species which looks a good deal like a Black and White Warbler with a yellow throat; it occurs in the southernmost counties. It may be found as a nesting bird.

WORM-EATING WARBLER
Helmitheros vermivorus (Gmelin)

Description.—Crown and superciliary buffy brown; prominent black streak at either side of crown; black streak through the eye; underparts buffy, the centers of the under tail-coverts darker; upperparts olive-green, much as in a vireo. Female and young: Similar but duller. Length: 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—In southern and particularly southwestern Pennsylvania this species is a fairly common summer resident from early May to mid-September. It is found chiefly in deciduous woodlands along streams. It is rare in central and northern counties.

Nest.—A neatly built cup of rootlets, hair, and vegetable fiber, placed on the ground, usually at the base of a sapling. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, finely speckled with reddish brown.

Worm-eating Warbler

The song of this comparatively little-known species is very much like that of a Chipping Sparrow. If you hear a Chipping Sparrow in the woods, you had better look for the bird; you may make a startling discovery, since Chipping Sparrows are rarely found away from human dwellings in Pennsylvania.

The Worm-eating Warbler is nearly always found near the ground, and it is usually necessary to keep quiet so as to let the bird approach if you wish to have a good look at it.

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER
Vermivora pinus (Linnæus)

Other Name.—Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.

Description.—Adult male: Front of head, breast, and belly bright, clear yellow; sharp black line through eye; back of head and back olive-green; wings and tail blue-gray, the wings with two noticeable white bands; the tail with white spots at tips of inner webs of outer feathers. Female: Much duller, the whole top of the head being greenish, as a rule. Length: 4¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A decidedly local summer resident from early May until mid-September, to be found in all but the mountainous counties.

Nest.—A cup made of leaves, lined with fine grasses, placed at the base of a weed or a little bush, usually in a low meadow or at the edge of an alder swamp. Eggs: 3 to 5, white, spotted with reddish brown, chiefly at the larger end.

Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler

The characteristic song of this bird may be written zwee-chee, the former syllable with an inhalant, the latter an exhalant quality. Later in the summer other songs are given which combine this song with many chips. Look for the Blue-wing near the ground in a swampy situation, among alders, or willows. In the fall it sometimes occurs in the higher woodlands along with other migrating species.

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
Vermivora chrysoptera (Linnæus)

Description.—Male: Top of head yellow; line through eye, and chin and throat, black; an area from lower mandible back to neck, white; back of head, neck, wings, and tail, gray; wing, with lesser and most of greater coverts, pale yellow; outer feathers of tail with white spots on inner webs; breast and belly white, the sides washed with grayish. Female: Similar, but duller, the black of the head being replaced with gray. Length: 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather uncommon and local summer resident from early May to September, found in low meadows or in bushy edges of woodlands.

Nest.—Of leaves, lined with finer materials and often somewhat arched over with leaves, placed at the base of a bush. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown.

The song may be written see, zee, zee, zee.

The Brewster’s and Lawrence’s Warblers, hybrid forms which result from the interbreeding of the Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers, sometimes occur in Pennsylvania. The typical Brewster’s Warbler has the white underparts and yellow-marked wings of the Golden-wing. The breast and belly of Lawrence’s Warblers are yellow, and there are two prominent white wing-bars as in the Blue-wing.

NASHVILLE WARBLER
Vermivora ruficapilla ruficapilla (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Upper part of head blue-gray, with a partly concealed rufous crown-patch and noticeable white eye-ring; chin, throat, breast, and belly clear, strong yellow; upperparts olive-green, without markings in wings or tail. Female: Duller. Immature: Almost unmarked, the eye-ring being buffy and not noticeable, the sides being washed with buffy. Length: 4¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular and often abundant migrant in May and September; rare and very local as a summer resident in northern counties and at high altitudes.

Nest.—On the ground, near a log or at the base of a sapling. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with red-brown.

Nashville Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler

The song is a series of chips, introduced by the syllables wee-see, wee-see, wee-see.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Vermivora celata celata (Say)

Description.—Olive-green above; crown with more or less concealed dull orange patch, not easily seen in the field; underparts and obscure ring about eye dull yellow; sides irregularly streaked with olive-green; sexes similar. Young birds: Duller. Length: 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—The Orange-crown is one of our little-known warblers which may be considerably commoner than we suppose. It occurs as a migrant in May and September, and is to be found chiefly in swampy situations, principally among alders.

The song, which is not often heard in Pennsylvania, according to my experience, is considerably like that of a Nashville or Tennessee Warbler, being a series of chips, but the tempo is different. All such songs should be thoroughly investigated to make certain some rare bird is not passed by. (See illustration, [page 131].)

TENNESSEE WARBLER
Vermivora peregrina (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Crown clear gray; prominent white superciliary; line through eye black; underparts white, washed along sides with faint yellow; upperparts olive-green; wings unmarked; outer tail-feathers marked with white along the inner margin. Female: Similar, but crown tinged with greenish. Immature: Olive-green above, brightest on rump; dull yellowish below, brightest on the under tail-coverts. Length: 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in May and September, apparently fairly regular and common in spring among the mountains, rare east of the mountains, but equally abundant everywhere in the fall.

The song of this bird is a series of chips, the tempo of which changes twice, the most rapid part of the song coming at the last. This bird is like a vireo in color but not in actions. Young birds are sometimes exceedingly common in the fall.

Tennessee Warbler
Parula Warbler

PARULA WARBLER; BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER
Compsothlypis americana pusilla (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Head, all but chin and throat, blue-gray, extending down to upper back, scapulars, wings, and tail; back dull yellow; wings with two prominent white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers with white along inner vanes; chin, throat, and lower breast clear yellow, a dusky band across upper breast which is bordered below with reddish brown; belly, sides, and under tail-coverts white. There is an almost complete, but not particularly noticeable, white eye-ring. Female: Similar, but less brightly colored; breast usually without much trace of the dusky and reddish brown band. Young birds: Similar to the female. Length: 4¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Common as a migrant during May and September; rather local as a summer resident, having been known to nest at several points in the State.

Nest.—Generally built of and among tree moss, in a conifer or other tree, usually from 20 to 40 feet from the ground. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown at the larger end.

The thin, squeaky song of this species is not noticeable. It might be written pit see, pit see, pit see see. A thin, insect-like, ascending trill is also occasionally given; this trill resembles one of the songs of the Redstart.

CAPE MAY WARBLER
Dendroica tigrina (Gmelin)

Description.—Adult male: Crown black, the feathers tipped with gray toward the back of the head; patch about eye, including ear-coverts, rich orange-brown; fore part of superciliary, chin and throat, sides of neck, breast, sides and rump, clear yellow; lower throat, breast, and sides strikingly streaked with black; wing with two wing-bars which are so broad that they merge, forming a white patch; outer tail-feathers with white spots on inner vanes at tip. Female: Much duller, the brown of the side of the head being replaced with olive-green, the yellow of rump and underparts dull, sometimes hardly noticeable, the wing-bars narrow and obscure. Young birds: Like their parents, but duller, the white wing-patch in the young male usually being evident. Length: 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, rare, as a rule, in the spring, when it is seen during May. It is often abundant in the fall, from early September through October, and sometimes later.

This very handsome warbler can hardly be called a songster. The song is thin and squeaky, sometimes like the shrill squeaking of a large insect—see, see, see, see, see, it might be written, the syllables becoming louder toward the end. Usually the song is given from a rather high perch. The heavily streaked breast is a pretty good field-mark for any age or plumage of this bird.

Yellow Warbler
Cape May Warbler

YELLOW WARBLER
Dendroica æstiva æstiva (Gmelin)

Other Names.—Summer Yellow Bird; Wild Canary (erroneous).

Description.—Adult male: Head and underparts bright yellow, the breast, sides, and belly streaked with reddish brown; back, wings, and tail dull yellowish green, brightest on rump, and obscurely streaked; wing with two yellow wing-bars, and the inner webs of all the tail-feathers but the central pair, yellow, showing plainly in flight. Female: Similar, but much duller, the underparts almost altogether without streaks. Length: A little over 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant and summer resident from late April and early May to early September.

Nest.—A neat, usually deep cup, made of vegetable fiber lined with wool, feathers, and soft materials, held in place with a few horsehairs. Eggs: 3 to 5, white or bluish white, spotted with gray, chiefly about the larger end.

The Yellow Warbler’s fondness for lilac bushes and other shrubbery about our yards leads him to be a favorite and familiar bird. His bright though unmusical song is almost incessant during the days of early spring, when much time is spent, prior to building the nest, in chasing about, sparring with rival males, or in courting. During these pursuits the yellow inner vanes of the tail-feathers are likely to be plainly seen.

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
Dendroica cærulescens cærulescens (Gmelin)

Description.—Male: Upperparts dark gray-blue, lightest on forehead and crown; face, throat, upper breast, and sides solid black; belly and under tail-coverts white; base of primaries with a white spot, rather obscure in some individuals; tips of inner vanes of outer tail-feathers white. Female: Dull greenish gray above, pale buffy gray below, with white spot at the base of the primaries which is always characteristic of this species in any plumage. The female has an obscure whitish line above the eye. Length: 5¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in May and September. Found as a summer resident in the northern and more mountainous counties where it occurs almost wherever there is a rhododendron growth.

Nest.—A neat but rather shallow cup, usually placed in rhododendron 2 to 3 feet from the ground, often in the deepest part of the woodland. Eggs: 3 or 4, white or creamy white, spotted about larger end with reddish brown.

Myrtle Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler

The song of this species is deliberate and rich, though droning and insect-like rather than musical. It might be written zuree, zuree, zuree, zeee, or zwee, zwee, zwee, zwee. The colors of the male are unmistakable, but the dull-colored female and young will puzzle many a beginner. Remember the white patch at the base of the primaries. Look for the bird in midsummer, in rhododendron thickets.

MYRTLE WARBLER; YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
Dendroica coronata coronata (Linnæus)

Description.—Adult male in spring: Crown-patch, patches at sides of chest, and rump, clear yellow; white line above eye; rest of upperparts blue-gray; back streaked with black; wings with two white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers tipped with white on the inner webs; chin and throat white; sides of breast black, merging into streaks along the sides; belly and under tail-coverts white. Adult female: Similar, but browner, and the black breast-patches replaced with streaks. Immature and adults in winter: Brownish, the yellow patches on crown, sides of chest, and rump, obscure. Length: 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in late April and May and September and October; occasional as a winter resident; it has been noted thus principally at Erie.

The Myrtle Warbler is usually not shy and may be identified easily. In its winter range it spends much of its time on or near the ground, where it eats many seeds. While with us it is usually seen in the lower trees and bushes, where a good view may be obtained of the upperparts with the bright yellow rump-patch. The song is not noticeable; it does not have any particularly accented notes, and will not be of much use in identifying the bird. Myrtle Warblers are to be found in any sort of woodland; they have no preference for coniferous trees during migration, though they nest in them in Canada.

MAGNOLIA WARBLER
Dendroica magnolia (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Crown blue-gray; line above eye and spot under eye, white; area in front of and behind eye, black; back, wings, and tail blackish; wing with large white patch; tail with the bases of the inner webs of all but the inner pair of feathers white; rump and underparts yellow, breast and sides heavily streaked with black; under tail-coverts white. Adult female: Similar, but duller, the underparts less heavily streaked. Immature: Dull olive-greenish above, without noticeable superciliary or spot under eye, but with two wing-bars and markings on the tail same as in adult; underparts yellow, obscurely streaked along the sides with black; under tail-coverts white. Length: 5¹/₁₀ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—As a migrant abundant in May and September, particularly the latter, when hordes of young birds are migrating. As a summer resident rather rare and local, found principally among or near hemlock growth, chiefly in the northern and more mountainous counties.

Nest.—A shallow, neat cup, made of fine twigs, lined with finer materials and hair, placed a few feet from the ground, often in a hemlock sapling. Eggs: 3 or 4, white or creamy, with red-brown spots at larger end.

This very active warbler may be “squeaked up” easily. As it dashes about, the white band at the base of the tail usually shows plainly, for it spreads its tail widely at times. The song is a brief unmusical effort which ends with a chopped-off falling inflection. (See illustration, [page 136].)

CERULEAN WARBLER
Dendroica cerulea (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Light gray-blue above, with a distinct white line over the eye, two prominent white wing bars, and obscure black streaking on the back; inner webs of outer tail-feathers tipped with white; underparts white, a band of gray or gray-blue usually completely encircling the breast; sides streaked with black. Female: Glossy green-blue on the head, dull grayish green on the rest of the upperparts, the wings and tail marked much as in the male; underparts dull yellowish white. Length: 4½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant summer resident from early May to mid-September, locally, in the southwestern counties; elsewhere it is rare and irregular.

Nest.—A shallow, neat cup of lichens, vegetable fiber, and tree-flowers, saddled on a horizontal limb from 20 to 50 feet from the ground, often in a beech tree. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, spotted with grayish, especially at larger end.

The song of this handsome bird may be written cheery, cheery, cheery, chee. It is rather rapidly given, with a rising inflection at the end. The Cerulean Warbler usually stays high in the trees.

Magnolia Warbler
Cerulean Warbler

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
Dendroica pensylvanica (Linnæus)

Description.—Adult male: Crown pale yellow; line through eye black; back greenish or yellowish white, strikingly streaked with black; wings with two white wing-bars; inner webs of outer tail-feathers tipped with white; underparts white or grayish white, the sides marked with a broad streak of chestnut very noticeable in the field. Female: Similar, but duller, the chestnut of the sides being almost obsolete at times, the top of the head streaked. Immature birds are not easy to identify; they are plain yellowish green above and whitish below; the eye is encircled with a whitish ring, which is quite noticeable, and the wings are marked with two prominent wing-bars. Length: A little over 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant during May and September; as a summer resident, local and sometimes abundant in the northerly and more mountainous counties. It is to be looked for anywhere in the State as a nesting bird—wherever there are thicket-covered hillsides.

Nest.—A rather well-made cup which is sometimes semi-pensile, placed 2 to 3 feet from the ground in a low bush or in a blackberry vine. It is composed of weed-stalks, vegetable fibers, and other soft materials. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, wreathed about the larger end with fine chestnut-brown spots.

It has been said that the bright, varied song of this bird ends with the syllables Miss Beecher. It is not amiss to bear in mind such a characterization, for though the bird never gives such syllables distinctly, when the song is once learned the name will always jump to mind the minute it is heard. Look for these active birds in thickets on hillsides.

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER
Dendroica castanea (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Mask across forehead and face, including the ear-coverts and entirely surrounding the eyes, blackish brown; prominent round patch on side of neck, buffy white; back of head, chin, throat, upper breast, and sides, rich reddish brown; back grayish, streaked with black, the wings with two prominent white wing-bars, the inner webs of the outer tail-feathers white at tips; lower breast, belly, and under tail-coverts white or creamy white. Adult female: Has but little suggestion of the reddish brown on head, breast, or sides, and the black of the face appears in a few streaks; two prominent wing-bars and the suggestion of reddish color on the sides are characteristic. Young birds: Obscure, being olive-green above, dull yellowish below, and, as a rule, having a trace of reddish brown; two prominent wing-bars; face and breast of a decidedly yellowish tone. Length: 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, common in the spring during May, sometimes staying quite late, and abundant in the fall, the young fairly swarming through the trees in September and early October.

Bay-breasted Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler

The buffy white patches on the sides of the neck of the adult male are excellent field-marks, and gleam like beacons when the red-brown cannot be distinguished. Young birds may easily be confused with immature Black-poll Warblers, however, and also look a little like vireos. The young Bay-breast is a yellower bird than the young Black-poll, however, and is somewhat more deliberate.

The song is a thin, wiry warble which does not lend itself readily to syllabization. Look for these birds in woodlands not far from streams, in spring. In autumn the young are to be found almost anywhere, even in the towns, and they are frequently to be seen searching for insects among rank weeds or low bushes.

BLACK-POLL WARBLER
Dendroica striata (J. R. Forster)

Description.—Adult male: Crown black; sides of head below eye, white, showing plainly in the field; black line from lower mandible to side of breast; neck, back, and wings greenish gray, streaked with black, the wings with two white bars, the tail with the inner webs of the outer feathers white; underparts white; sides of neck and breast and the sides heavily streaked with black. Adult female: Lacks the black crown and white facial patch, is dull olive-green all over, yellower on the breast, is noticeably streaked with black, even over top of head, and has two noticeable wing-bars. Immature: Plain olive-green above, obscurely streaked; dull yellowish below, with an indefinite line above eye and two prominent wing-bars. If specimens have been taken, the young Black-poll may be distinguished from the young Bay-breast by its yellowish rather than dusky feet. This mark may sometimes be seen in the field, since the birds are unsuspicious and may easily be observed. Length: 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, fairly common in late spring, from about the middle of May on for three weeks; in the fall abundant, particularly the young birds, which during latter September may outnumber all other species combined.

Black-poll Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler

The droll, unmusical song of the spring Black-poll will escape all but the sharpest ears. Ee, ee, ee, eee, eee, eeee, it seems to be, the latter syllables becoming louder. The first song I ever heard I listened to for a quarter of an hour before I could locate the singer among the leafy tops of some high elms. Once caught within the range of the binoculars, his colors were unmistakable, but it seemed scarcely possible that the slight, ventriloquistic song could be coming from him.

Remember that this bird comes late in spring. Its head pattern, at a distance, is somewhat like that of the Chickadee.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
Dendroica fusca (Müller)

Description.—Adult male: Above black; center of forehead, line above eye, patch on side of neck, and spot under eye, bright orange-yellow; back with two lateral streaks of yellow; wings with two wide white wing-bars which so merge as to form a patch which extends into the white edging of the tertials; tail-feathers edged with whitish, particularly at the base, and inner webs of outer tail-feathers tipped with white; chin, throat, and breast, bright, rich orange, fading into yellowish on belly, and to whitish on under tail-coverts; breast heavily streaked with black. Female: Similar, but duller, the black of the upperparts being replaced with grayish. Young birds resemble the female but are less conspicuously marked, the breast usually being dull buffy yellow without any trace of orange, the wings marked with two white bars, not with a white patch. Length: 5¼ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant throughout, noticeable in mid-spring. As a nesting bird, found only in the higher and more northern counties, and usually among conifers, where in midsummer the birds are so infrequently seen that their presence is often unknown.

Nest.—A neat cup made of fine twigs, lined with finer materials. Eggs: 3 or 4, creamy white, wreathed about larger end or speckled all over finely with brown. The nest is usually placed high in a hemlock.

The color scheme of this gem among warblers is much the same as that of the Baltimore Oriole, and a full-plumaged male among the spring blossoms of an apple tree is a sight which can hardly be rivaled for sheer color and delicacy. The song is a disappointing, wiry lisp, usually delivered from the top of the tree, and so slight and unmusical as to pass unnoticed as a rule.

If you expect to see this bird in its summer home, you will have to look up a great deal into the tops of the hemlocks.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
Dendroica virens virens (Gmelin)

Description.—Adult male: Top of head and line through eye, olive-green; sides of head clear yellow; chin, throat, and upper breast, black; back, wings, and tail, olive-green, back streaked obscurely with black; wings with two white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers with white on inner webs; belly and sides white, washed with yellowish, the sides streaked with black. Female and young: Similar, but duller, having very little black on the throat, and being somewhat more yellowish on belly. Length: A little over 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—As a migrant abundant during May and September; as a summer resident found in the more northern and mountainous counties where there is hemlock growth.

Nest.—A deep, neat cup, made of fine hemlock twigs and lined with finer materials, including fur, saddled on a hemlock bough from 5 to 30 feet from the ground. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled with brown about the larger end.

Black-throated Green Warbler
Pine Warbler

In the hemlock shade, during summer, sounds the plaintive and musical song of this bird, which may be diagrammed thus, dēē dēē dēē dēē, dèē dēē. This bird is to be looked for anywhere in sturdy hemlock growth; during migration it may be seen near the ground in lower growth; during the summer, however, males often sing from favorite perches high in the trees.

PINE WARBLER
Dendroica pinus pinus (Wilson)

Description.—Adult male: Olive-green above, with yellow superciliary not clearly defined; two prominent white wing-bars and the tips of the inner webs of the outer tail-feathers white; underparts dull yellow; an obscure line of olive-green from lower mandible leading back to side of chest where streaking of sides begins. Female: Similar but a little duller. Length: 5½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A summer resident rather locally distributed; found chiefly in the southern and central mountainous counties and more or less restricted as a nesting bird to areas in which pine trees grow. Sometimes arrives very early in spring.

Nest.—A cup made of twigs and fine weed-stalks, lined with finer material, placed near the tip of a pine bough, often at great height. Eggs: 3 or 4, white, spotted with brown.

The Pine Warbler’s rather dull coloration and resemblance to other species of the family would make it a difficult bird to identify were it not that it is virtually always found among pine trees. Its bright chipping song, which resembles that of the Chipping Sparrow a good deal, is delivered from the tip of a pine bough, and at such times the yellow breast and white wing-bars are evident. At Mont Alto, Franklin County, and in certain sections of Huntingdon County, I have found this bird abundant.

PALM WARBLER AND YELLOW PALM WARBLER
Dendroica palmarum palmarum (Gmelin)
and
Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea Ridgway

Two forms of the Palm Warbler occur in Pennsylvania, both as migrants. They are usually seen near the ground and are especially noticeable in the spring when they appear among the first of the smaller birds.

Description.—Adult male Palm Warbler: Crown rufous; rest of upper-parts dull olive-green, brightest on rump; wings with two white wing-bars; outer tail-feathers marked with white; dusky line through eye; distinct yellow line above eye; chin, throat, and breast dull yellow, streaked with olive-green; belly and under tail-coverts whitish. Female and young: Similar, but duller. The Yellow Palm Warbler is much brighter, though similar in general appearance. The entire underparts are yellow, including the under tail-coverts, and the breast and sides are streaked with reddish brown.

Range in Pennsylvania.—The Palm Warbler occurs as an early spring and mid-fall migrant in western Pennsylvania, west of the mountains. The Yellow Palm Warbler occurs in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth. At Harrisburg, the Yellow Palm Warbler occurs among the earliest spring migrants.

Palm Warbler
Prairie Warbler

The Palm Warblers both have the habit of wagging their tails. They are often seen near the ground, or in low bushes, and are usually not difficult to observe. Their songs are a broken series of chips, given in a rather subdued voice.

PRAIRIE WARBLER
Dendroica discolor (Vieillot)

Description.—Adult male: Upperparts olive green, back with patch of rufous brown; wing-bars yellowish; outer tail-feathers with white patches at tips; line over eye, face, and underparts yellow; lores and line under eye black; sides heavily streaked with black. Adult female: Similar, but duller, the back sometimes without reddish brown. Immature: Much duller than adults. Length: 4¾ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant east of the Alleghany Mountains in late April and May and in September; it has been known to nest in Lancaster County.

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.

Ovenbird

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.

Northern Water-Thrush

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.

Kentucky Warbler

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.

Mourning Warbler
Connecticut Warbler

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.

Maryland Yellow-throat

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.

Yellow-breasted Chat

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.

Hooded Warbler
Canadian Warbler

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.

Wilson’s Warbler
Redstart

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.

Pipit

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.

Mockingbird

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.

Catbird

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.

Brown Thrasher

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.

Carolina Wren
Bewick’s Wren

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.

The House Wren is destined to be popular because he nests in bird-boxes, even though they be poorly constructed and improperly placed. So intent is he upon rearing a brood that he builds in almost any sort of crevice, and so fond of gathering and hoarding twigs is he that he fills cavities just for amusement. Such a “fake” nest, which I examined, held three nails, two hairpins, a safety-pin, a dozen matches (which were partly burned), and innumerable twigs!

House Wren
Winter Wren

His marital customs, which have just been brought to light of day, are to be talked of in lowered voice. Apparently there is no such thing as a faithful husband, or wife, for that matter, among the House Wren tribe. Mother or father may leave at any time and consequences will take care of themselves.

Hue and cry about the House Wren’s habit of puncturing the eggs of the other birds in the neighborhood seem not to be greatly affecting this sturdy, interesting little creature’s popularity.

WINTER WREN
Nannus troglodytes hiemalis (Vieillot)

Description.—A chubby, small wren, with ludicrously short tail. Upperparts deep brown, barred on wings and tail with black; buffy line over eye; underparts buffy, barred and speckled with black, whitish, and brown. Length: 4 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant from early April to mid-May and from mid-September to October 20 or later; a summer resident in the mountainous counties; occasional in winter.

Nest.—Of moss and plant-down, finely built, placed on or near the ground in a tree-trunk or mossy bank. Eggs: 5 to 7, white, thinly peppered with brown.

The remarkably long and rippling song of this diminutive bird will arouse interest and wonder at once. Catch sight of the mouse-like performer, and he may dive for the underbrush. The alarm-cry is a double-syllabled harsh note which resembles the throaty chup of a Song Sparrow. In migration, the Winter Wren will be seen about the roots of trees or along little streams; in summer, look for him in deep hemlock forests.

SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN
Cistothorus stellaris (Naumann)

Description.—Small, even for a wren. Upperparts brownish buffy, streaked with black and white; wings and tail barred; underparts white; under tail-coverts, flanks, and zone about breast, buffy brown. Length: 4 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rare and local migrant and summer resident from early May to October.

Nest.—Spherical, of grasses, built on or near ground among grasses in marshy situations, the entrance to one side. Eggs: 5 to 8, white.

I have seen this bird in only a few places in Pennsylvania. It is to be looked for in grassy marshes, but does not seem to like cat-tails, preferring coarse, rank grass which grows in water or on damp ground. The song, as I heard it, sounded like dick, putt, jik, plick, tick, tick, tick. These wrens may be fairly common in a certain locality, but unless they are singing or are literally kicked from the grass, they will not be seen. All records are desirable.

Long-billed Marsh Wren
Short-billed Marsh Wren

LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN
Telmatodytes palustris palustris (Wilson)

Description.—Crown brown, bordered on sides with black; white line over eye; middle of back black streaked with white, rest of back brown; wings and tail barred with black; underparts white; sides reddish brown. Length: About 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant and summer resident in suitably marshy situations from latter April to early October. It is very local in occurrence.

Nest.—A globular, strongly built structure of grasses and cat-tail leaves, made while the materials are damp, and placed among weeds or rushes a few feet from ground or water; the entrance is on the side. Eggs: 5 to 9, dark brown, or light brown, heavily and finely spotted with darker brown.

To find these wrens, wade out into the very heart of the marsh. Here the clackety songs of the nervous creatures announce to us that we are near the nest. We find three or four of these, but discover no eggs. Patient hunting finally reveals a set of eggs after we have located perhaps a dozen “dummy” nests.

BROWN CREEPER
Certhia familiaris americana Bonaparte

Description.—Climbs a tree-trunk like a woodpecker; smaller than an English Sparrow; bill curved like a wren’s. Plumage brown above, considerably streaked and otherwise marked with white, grayish, and darker brown; underparts grayish white; tail-feathers pointed and somewhat barred. Length: 4½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant in March and April and in September and October; occasional, sometimes common, in winter; a summer resident only at high altitudes or in northern counties.

Nest.—Of bark-strips, fibers, plant-down, and the like, placed under loose or curled bark, at from 6 to 20 feet from the ground, usually in a dense, low, woodland or wooded swamp. Eggs: 4 to 7, white, spotted with brown.

The Brown Creeper’s fine, lisping call is not always heard, even by the keenest ear. Its song is a delicate, warbler-like bit which I have syllabized as dee-dee, diddily, de-dwee. This bird begins his trunk-searching at the base of the tree; he ascends spirally, searching carefully as he jerks along and when he gets to the upper branches, he dives to the base of the next tree, to begin his ascent again.

Brown Creeper

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Sitta carolinensis cookei Oberholser

Description.—Size of English Sparrow, but with long, pointed bill, short tail, and short, strong feet. Adult male: Crown glossy blue-black; rest of upperparts blue-gray; outer tail-feathers blackish, tipped with black and white; wings with indistinct bars, and the tertials marked with black spots; sides of head and underparts white; under tail-coverts mottled with reddish brown. Female: Similar, but top of head grayish, not black. Length: 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common, permanent resident throughout.

Nest.—Of hair, mosses, feathers, and shredded bark, placed in a cavity at from 15 to 60 feet from the ground, usually in a forest tree. Eggs: 5 to 9, white, spotted evenly and thickly with reddish brown.

Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch

The Nuthatch’s habit of perching and hopping, upside down, on tree-trunks is unmistakable. Actually, he seems to prefer to eat his food thus, making it proper to say, perhaps, that he eats his caterpillars up. He may realize that the creepers, woodpeckers, and Black and White Warblers, working upward as they do, find the insects which can be seen from below or from the side, while he prefers to investigate the crannies that these other birds may pass by.

This neighborly winter bird visits the food-counter regularly and is very fond of suet. He has the habit of hiding food in the bark of trees. I once saw a Nuthatch thus hoarding sunflower seeds. At least a full hour he worked, hiding dozens of the little kernels. He was watched and followed by a pair of lazy Downy Woodpeckers who deliberately ate the seeds as fast as the Nuthatch could hide them. The Nuthatch, it appeared, has great faith in his ability to hide food where it cannot be found—so great a faith, in fact, that he did not properly guard his store.

He calls drrr, drrr, drrr in a nasal voice, as he busies himself with pounding at a bit of food. As he looks out from the trunk his neck is bent from his body at even more than a right angle, yet he does not seem to tire of these strained attitudes.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Sitta canadensis Linnæus

Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow. Male: Crown and wide line through eye to back of head, glossy black; line over eye white; rest of upperparts bluish gray, the outer tail-feathers blackish with white spots near their tips; underparts pale reddish buff, save on throat which is whitish. Female: Similar, but duller, the black of the head replaced with gray. Length: 4½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant in late April and May, and more or less throughout the fall; occasional in winter, sometimes abundant. Nests rarely in northern counties and at high altitudes.

Nest.—Of mosses, hair, and such soft materials, in a cavity, often in a conifer. Eggs: 4 to 7, white, speckled with brown and gray.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch’s mouselike body seems strangely small as it moves about the great trunk of a high hemlock, far from the ground. As it disappears behind the tree, we hear its querulous, complaining nă, nă, nă, as it searches for insects. During migration it is often to be seen about the outer twigs where it sometimes hangs upside down, like a Chickadee. On the tree-trunks its actions are much the same as those of its larger relative, the White-breasted Nuthatch. (See illustration, [page 153].)

TUFTED TITMOUSE
Bæolophus bicolor (Linnæus)

Description.—Size of English Sparrow; with prominent crest. Upperparts gray, forehead dark brown, a light spot in front of and above eye; underparts grayish white, the sides washed with reddish brown. Length: 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common permanent resident in southern and middle counties, gradually extending its range northward.

Nest.—Mass of leaves, mosses, hair, and feathers, placed in a cavity, at from 10 to 30 feet from the ground. Eggs: 5 to 8, white, spotted and blotched with reddish brown.

A small gray bird with a noticeable crest is likely to be the Tufted Tit. He is fond of the lower branches and is almost never seen perching on a tree-top, where the Cedar Waxwing, another crested species, prefers to watch for passing insects.

Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee

The song, which is a musical whistle, may be written wheedle, wheedle, wheedle. He has other call-notes which resemble those of the Chickadee. In his nest he gives a snake-like hiss.

Like the Chickadee, the Tufted Tit is an acrobat. He pounds away at a rolled leaf, or at a beechnut, hanging upside down on a slender twig. He may carry food about with him in his feet, but nesting material is gathered with the bill.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus (Linnæus)

Description.—Smaller than English Sparrow. Top of head and throat black; cheeks white; rest of upperparts grayish; underparts grayish white, washed with brownish on sides. Length: 5 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common permanent resident, usually more numerous about towns in winter than in summer.

Nest.—Of fur, plant-down, and feathers, couched in moss and bark strips, placed in a cavity in a tree, usually from 5 to 15 feet from the ground. The birds often dig their own nest-cavity. Eggs: 5 to 9, white, spotted with brown, often chiefly at larger end.

The friendly, jolly Chickadee is one of our most popular birds. He calls his name plainly, and his color-pattern is distinctive. In spring he has a plaintive love-call which sounds like phee-bee. An imitation of this whistle often brings the bird very close.

In winter, Chickadees may visit the lunch-counter daily; but in summer, when the duties of family-rearing are pressing, they may not be seen for weeks at a time. For this reason they are frequently considered as winter birds.

In late summer and autumn the family groups wander about among the trees, searching for caterpillars and insect eggs, and calling sociably to one another.

The Carolina Chickadee (Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis), a slightly smaller species, with almost precisely the same coloration as the Black-capped Chickadee, is to be found locally in the southernmost counties.

GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET
Regulus regulus satrapa Lichtenstein

Description.—Size very small, one of our smallest birds; tail somewhat forked. Male: Center of crown red-orange, bordered with yellow which sometimes conceals the orange, and with black; line above eye whitish; rest of upperparts olive-gray; wings with an indistinct bar; tail and rump with greenish edgings; underparts pale gray, washed with olive and dull yellowish. Length: 4 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and winter resident from about the first of October to the end of April. It has been known to nest in the higher mountains but it is exceedingly rare as a summer bird.

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The Golden-crowned Kinglet is most noticeable as a winter bird when many of our familiar species are to the southward. It is a tiny bit of feathers, and as it perches on its slender legs it seems to be too fragile to endure the snow and cold weather. The call-note is a short lisping tsee, repeated three or four times. In spring it gives a song which starts with several wiry notes resembling one note given by the Chickadee and ending with an abbreviated series of chips. Golden-crowns like to hunt for food in coniferous trees.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
Corthylio calendula calendula (Linnæus)

Description.—Size very small, tail somewhat forked. Adult male: Grayish olive above, grayest on head, greenest on rump; crown with brilliant red patch which is sometimes concealed; wings with two indistinct bars; underparts soiled white, washed with faint yellowish and olive. Length: 4½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, usually common, from mid-April to mid-May, and from mid-September to latter October.

The song of the tiny Ruby-crown is amazingly loud and brilliant, and as the little creature sings, it may lift and fan out its startling crest. It is usually to be found in small trees or thickets, where it flits about, snapping up insects, and it often comes close at hand, when its bright eyes have a staring quality. Occasionally, it flicks its wings. Its alarm-note may be written chŭ-dah, rapidly given.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
Polioptila cærulea cærulea (Linnæus)

Description.—Size very small, with long tail and short wings. Male: Upperparts blue-gray, a line across forehead and above eye white, bordered above by narrow black line; central tail-feathers black, the outer ones white; underparts soiled whitish. Female: Similar, the black of the head duller or missing. Length: 4½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A rather local summer resident in southern counties.

Nest.—A beautifully made structure of fur, plant-fibers, and bark, covered with lichens and dried flower petals, held in place with cobwebs, from 15 to 40 feet from the ground on a horizontal branch. Eggs: 3 to 5, pale blue, rather heavily spotted with brown.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

This dainty little creature is restless; his tail wags or shakes almost constantly as he pursues insects. His usual cry is a complaining new, new, whined as he hops about among the foliage. Both birds assist in covering the nest with lichens, which they gather from nearby tree-trunks, and which they bind into the structure with cobwebs so that it is firm and neat. The male may, at times, be rather noisy about the family secrets, and if we patiently watch him as he flits through the branches, he may lead us to the nest.

WOOD THRUSH
Hylocichla mustelina (Gmelin)

Description.—Smaller than Robin. Rich brown above, brightest on head and neck, with noticeable whitish eye-ring; below white, marked all over with round black spots; eyes large, very dark brown. Length: 8 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Common migrant and summer resident from about the first of May to October. It is not found in dense hemlock woods in the wilder districts, nor at higher altitudes.

Nest.—A firm, neat cup of grasses, weed-stalks, paper, string, and leaves, lined with finer materials, with an inner wall of mud, placed from 5 to 20 feet from the ground in a tree. Eggs: 3 or 4, pale blue, much like those of the Robin in color, but smaller.

Wood Thrush

This is the largest, brightest, and most strikingly marked of our thrushes, and he is the only one whose underparts are marked all over with round black spots.

The Wood Thrush lives in shady lawns as well as in wilder woodlands. He is often a familiar dooryard bird, hopping about on the grass or singing from a low perch. The song is delivered in sections, with pauses of a few seconds between. Some of the notes are rich and deep; others are high and flute-like; others tremble like a twanged banjo string. The alarm-note is loud and sharp.

WILSON’S THRUSH; VEERY
Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens (Stephens)

Description.—Smaller than Robin. Uniform brown above; throat and belly white; sides of throat and breast washed with buffy, and marked with indistinct rows of short, brown streaks; sides white, faintly washed with gray-brown; eye-ring not noticeable in field. Length: 7½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant throughout in later April and May and in September. Nests in the more northerly counties and in the mountains. It is common as a summer resident in suitable damp woodlands.

Nest.—On the ground, made largely of leaves, lined with rootlets and small grasses. Eggs: 3 or 4, delicate greenish blue.

Go to a wooded swamp or to low, thick woodlands to find this elusive bird. If you keep quiet for a time, you may see his brown back as he flashes through the undergrowth. Make a slight disturbance, and he may call zeu in a penetrating tone. He may sing his remarkable ringing song which, in liquid, tinkling, descending spirals, sounds a little like veery, veery, veery, veery. If you become familiar with him, you will see him hopping over the ground like a Wood Thrush; he snaps up an insect here and there, or flops the damp leaves over looking for food.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH
Hylocichla minima aliciæ (Baird)

Description.—Upperparts olive, unmarked, not even a whitish eye-ring being noticeable in the field; sides of head dull grayish; sides of throat and breast faintly washed with buff, the breast marked with a few dark streaks, which lie in rows; throat and belly white; sides gray. Length: 7½ inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A regular migrant, though not often recorded, during May and in late September and early October.

This bird is difficult to identify in Pennsylvania. It does not often sing, and it is shy. Probably it is commoner than we suppose, but the thrushes look so much alike that we are afraid to record the species unless we have a specimen in hand. It resembles most closely the Olive-backed Thrush; it differs in having a dull whitish eye-ring and grayish cheeks, which in the Olive-back are distinctly buffy. Records of this species should be made with a good glass. The song, which may occasionally be given here, is like a Veery’s.

OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH
Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni (Tschudi)

Description.—Upperparts olive; eye-ring and sides of head buffy, the color spreading more or less over the face, throat, and breast; throat streaked and breast somewhat spotted with blackish; belly white; sides grayish. Length: A little over 7 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant migrant in late April and early May and in September and October; rare as a summer resident, found only at high altitudes in the mountains.

Nest.—Deeply cupped, compact, and neat, of grasses, moss, rootlets, and twigs, placed in a forest tree from 6 to 20 feet from the ground. Eggs: 3 or 4, pale blue, spotted or blotched with red-brown.

Olive-backed Thrush

The Olive-back’s song is a little like the Wood Thrush’s, but is longer, and it usually ascends the scale, in this respect differing from the Veery’s. Its buffy eye-ring is usually a dependable field-mark. The alarm-note may be written pert, pronounced in front of the teeth.

HERMIT THRUSH
Hylocichla guttata faxoni Bangs and Penard

Description.—Underparts olive-brown, with a somewhat noticeable buffy eye-ring, and a noticeably red-brown tail, which is the most dependable field-mark; throat and breast washed with buffy, the breast marked with rows of short, blackish, rounded streaks; belly white; sides grayish brown. Length: A little over 7 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant, appearing early in spring often during March, and remaining late in fall, often until November or even Christmas; it is casual in winter. As a nesting bird it is rather rare, occurring in the northern counties and at high altitudes.

Nest.—Usually on the ground, of leaves, rootlets, grasses, and moss, lined with finer materials. Eggs: 3 or 4, greenish blue.

The Hermit Thrush’s red-brown tail is usually a good field-mark because it shows plainly, even as the bird flies away. It should not be confused with the Fox Sparrow, however, which has a brown back and bright red-brown tail, and which, curiously enough, occurs as an early spring, or late fall migrant, at about the same time as the Hermit Thrush.

The song of the Hermit Thrush is thought by some to be the highest point attained in American bird-music. It may be described as an elaborated and refined Wood Thrush song, given in deliberate, easy manner, often in the evening, and sometimes virtually at nightfall.

ROBIN
Turdus migratorius migratorius Linnaeus

Description.—Adult male: Head blackish; partial white eye-ring; rest of upperparts gray, darker on wings and tail; outer tail-feathers narrowly tipped with white; throat white, streaked with black; breast and sides brownish red, sometimes somewhat barred with whitish; belly and undertail-coverts white, the latter sometimes marked with grayish. Eyes dark brown. Female: Duller. Young: The breasts are spotted with black. Length: 10 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Abundant migrant and summer resident, appearing early in spring, sometimes in February or March, and lingering often until November; casual in winter, when it is likely to be seen in flocks.

Nest.—A firm, neatly cupped structure of grasses, weed stalks, string, and so forth, with an inner lining of mud, placed in trees, on window-sills, under porches, and sometimes on the ground. Eggs: 3 or 4, pale blue.

Robin

The quiet, homelike beauty of the Robin appeals to every American. As the trim bird runs about the dew-drenched lawn, he seems to impart to us his own belief in the goodness of life. He pauses to listen for an earthworm as it scratches its way along its dark tunnel; but if he does not catch the worm, he looks up brightly, runs nimbly a few feet further on, and listens again, firm in his knowledge that he will sooner or later come into his own and catch a worm perhaps even longer than the one he missed. The spotted breasts of the young bespeak kinship with the thrushes.

BLUEBIRD
Sialis sialis sialis (Linnaeus)

Description.—A little larger than an English Sparrow. Adult male: Rich, deep, glossy blue above; throat, breast, and sides reddish brown; belly and under tail-coverts white. Female: Similar, but upperparts largely gray, bluest on wings and tail. Young: Similar to female, but with spotted breast. Length: 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A common migrant and summer resident from early March until November; casual in winter. It is to be found chiefly in more cultivated districts.

Nest.—Of grasses, in a cavity in a tree or bird-box, from 5 to 20 feet from the ground.

Bluebird

The soft, brief warble of the Bluebird in spring, and the gentle farewell it sings in the fall as it flies over, are to be classed among the sweetest of bird music, to my way of thinking. The Bluebird is not only beautiful in song and in color, but it is decidedly beneficial, and since it rears two or three broods of young a year, when it can, it destroys much insect life in feeding the hungry young which eat proportionately more than their parents.

The Bluebird’s interesting habit of lifting its wing after alighting, or as it sings, is characteristic.