Notes on the Birds of Iowa.
JOHN V. CRONE, MARATHON, IOWA, COMPILER.
The Vireonidæ, our family for special study this quarter, is quite well represented in Iowa, the reports embracing definite notes from sixteen counties, and upon seven different species. No doubt the notes would have been more profuse were it not for the fact that ornithologists are somewhat tardy in becoming acquainted with the different varieties of our smaller birds.
624. Vireo olivaceus. (Linn.)
RED-EYED VIREO.
The Red-eyed Greenlet is of wide distribution, not being confined to the U. S.
In Iowa it appears to be quite generally found. However, the notes show a dearth of either the birds or enthusiastic ornithologists in the west and northwest portions of the state, since it is reported from only one county,—Pottawattamie—in that region, while there are profuse notes on the species from fifteen in the eastern and central parts.
It arrives in the state in late April and early May, breeds during late May and all of June and leaves during the latter part of August or September.
It is a more numerous migrant than summer resident; but is not rare by any means during the breeding season, being reported as “common” or “abundant” by nearly all who mention the numbers found through the period of nidification. Assuming all those who reported on the species to be equally versed in our favorite science, the numbers vary considerably with locality. Most likely this is due to the topography of the country in question.
The nest is pensile—a trite statement to most lovers of birds, yet new to some of our readers perhaps—and is a beautiful and interesting structure. The site varies considerably in elevation as will be seen from the following quotations: “under thirty feet in elm and ash trees;” “swung from the low branch of some bush or tree, between five and ten feet from the ground;” “low branches of large trees or near the tops of saplings;” “near ground between five and twenty feet up;” “lowest limb of maple tree, seven feet up;” “suspended from the fork of a slender limb, usually a few feet up; sometimes quite high;” “almost any height from the ground.”
The “little basket” is “deeper and narrower than that of V. gilvus.” It is “built of interwoven vegetable materials, hempen fibers and the soft inner bark of trees,” a preference being noticed by Mr. Shoemaker for the inner bark of the dead elm and ash. Mr. Giddings reports a nest “composed of grass, pieces of hornet’s nests and spider webs. The hornet’s nest had furnished fully one-half of all the nest. It was lined with hair and fine grass.” Another nest described by Mr. D. L. Savage, was “composed of fibers from the milkweed. Grass and cobwebs were profusely used on the outside.” It was “pensile and cup-shaped and lined with reddish fibers.”
The worst that can be gleaned from the reports on our little Greenlet is, that it, innocently and unwittingly no doubt, helps to sustain that despicable pest, the Cowbird.
Mr. D. L. Savage and Mr. Law each report sets of ¼ V. olivaceous and 1-1 Molothrus ater. In the nest before mentioned Mr. Giddings found on June 12, 1895, two eggs of the Vireo, and one of the Cowbird. The next day there were three eggs of the Vireo, and two of the Cowbird. He finds the Vireo much imposed upon by the Cowbird. Mr. C. C. Smith says, “With the exception of the Chipping Sparrow, perhaps no bird is so much imposed upon as this Vireo. I think that the Vireo will desert the nest if the egg of the Cowbird is deposited first because one will often find one or two eggs of the Cowbird in a deserted nest of the Vireo. Two or three eggs of the Vireo with from one, two or three of the Cowbird is the usual number. I have seen the following combinations, 624 1-4 and 495 1-1; 624 1-3 and 495 1-1; 624 1-3 and 495 1-2; 624 1-3 and 495 1-3.”
Evidently the Red-eye is not much in fear of man, since Mr. Heaton finds it a regular resident in his door yard where it is under observation at all times; and Mr. Barstch has found it nesting in the cities of Burlington, Decorah and Iowa City.
The species has a “loud, clear song that can be heard in any woodland.” It is “one of our best and most persistent songsters continuing during its entire stay.” It “may,” says Mr. Smith, “be heard at all hours of the day. Its song is rather monotonous and is uttered as the bird flits about among the foliage. It has also a characteristic alarm note which is uttered when the person gets too near its home; and the note is nearly always a sign of the near proximity of the nest.”
626. V. philadelphicus. (Cass.)
PHILADELPHIA VIREO.
This species is reported from only two counties—Scott and Jackson. Mr. Giddings thinks it may breed in Jackson county, since he has noted it there during the breeding season. He finds it very rare, having seen the bird only a few times. He first saw the species for the season of 1895, on June 1st.
Mr. J. H. Brown finds it not uncommon in Scott county. In some seasons he finds it a quite common migrant. He agrees with Mr. Davie that it is very like V. gilvus, but finds it much more quiet during migrations, “seeming to prefer tree-tops and rural districts.” He finds it rather erratic, being common one year and perhaps rare the next.
Mr. Davie says, in his Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds, that the species is “not common wherever found;” but that “in portions of the Mississippi valley it is more common than in the eastern states occurring regularly and in considerable numbers during the spring and fall migrations.” The I. O. A. needs to take this species especially in hand and develop information concerning it.
627. V. gilvus. (Vieill.)
WARBLING VIREO.
This species does not seem to be so widely and generally distributed as the Red-eye, or else it is not so well known. It is reported from twelve of the sixteen counties heard from. “Common is the word most often used in connection with its numbers. The compiler judges that next to the Red-eye, it is the most numerous species in Iowa. The dates of its occurrence are from April to September. June seems to be almost exclusively its nesting season. Davie reports it as nesting in May and June, but it must nest in May farther south, since none of the notes report it earlier than June 12th. The compiler finds its commonest date of nidification to be about June 20th.
The nesting site is higher than that of the Red-eye, or any other reported. “Frequently nests in tops of maples in door yards as high as forty feet;” “usually thirty or forty feet;” “generally higher than that of the Red-eyed Vireo;” “usually placed at a considerable height;” “high among trees;” “usually in horizontal crotch at greatest possible distance from crotch of tree.”
All that can be gleaned from the reports about the nest itself, is that it is pensile, cup-shaped and lined with fine grass. The nest in the prairie groves of Buena Vista county is generally composed of coarse grass and bark strips, very neat though rather rough on outside, and is lined with down from the seed of the cottonwood tree.
Mr. Brown finds that the species seems to prefer the vicinity of towns in migrations, but of groves and open woods for breeding. Mr. Peck notes that it “nests about houses and along the edges of woods.” With Mr. Smith it “inhabits the shade trees along the street.” Mr. D. L. Savage finds it nesting “near the abode of man.”
Those who are acquainted with the Bronzed Grackle will call to mind how, when one of these is aroused, it will utter its loud and excited cries, soon calling around it others who join in throwing imprecations upon the intruder, and follow him from tree to tree. The compiler has often found the nest of gilvus by thus disturbing the Grackles, who in turn are scolded by the Vireos, if the domain of the latter is intruded upon. The note of the Vireo in such cases when it fears the safety of its nest, somewhat resembles the cry of a cat.
Mr. R. M. Anderson found a nest in much the same way, by climbing to a Robin’s nest which chanced to be near that of the Greenlet.
Reports upon the habits of the species are somewhat meager. Mr. Bartsch refers us to the beautiful lines appended to the description of the species by Coues, but I fear that these same beautiful lines are not accessible unless one is near a college library, or so fortunate as to own a copy of Mr. Coues’ valuable work.
The following from the pen of our honorary member, Mr. William Savage, will be interesting to all. “He seems to be always cheerful if we may judge by his song; but he is not safe from marauders. Snakes, cats, weasels and minks often lay waste his possessions. June 15, 1895, I found a nest containing three eggs. In a few days three little scrawny young birds were wriggling in the nest making fruitless efforts to raise their heads as I approached. The next day one was gone and the day following, the other two had shared the fate of the first. I cut the sprig of hazel off that held the nest and made it a point to pass that way frequently. Soon I discovered the murderer, a beautiful snake, about sixteen inches long—what we term the house snake—suspended in the hazel bush, with his head and neck protruding over the very place where the nest had been. (It is needless to say I slew him.)” The nest which Mr. Savage mentions was four feet up.
Mr. Anderson found a nest five feet up. The bird was a close sitter and allowed herself to be caught in his hand.
It is reported as a lively and pleasant singer almost as much so as the Red-eye but with a sweeter song. Mr. Smith writes that it sings during May and June, then is silent to August 15, when it again sings till its departure. Mr. Bryan notes it as a beautiful singer and interesting species.
628. V. flavifrons. (Vieill.)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Flavifrons is reported as being not so common as the Warbling and Red-eyed species. Probably there would be a contest between it and bellii for third rank in numbers. It is perhaps more evenly distributed than the latter and not quite so plentiful where found.
Like most others of its tribe it reaches the state in late April and early May, but the reports indicate that it is somewhat early in its arrival. Its stay seems to be briefer also, since it is reported as being last seen as early as August 10.
The nesting site is chosen at a considerable elevation, usually, though Mr. Law reports one from Dallas county in a hazel bush one foot up. Others mentioned are “in hickory tree fourteen and one-half feet up;” “an oak, twenty-five feet up;” “near the top of a high tree;” “in burr-oak tree twenty feet from the ground;” “ten to fifteen feet up.” “The nest,” says Mr. Peck, “is a beautiful structure. It is covered with lichens much like a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher’s, and is very hard to find.”
Mr. Anderson mentions a nest composed of dry grass, cottony substances, thin pieces of bark and moss, and almost covered with bits of newspaper in two languages; which latter item leads the analytical mind of our correspondent to inquire whether the bird may not possibly be a linguist. The nest was lined with reddish strips of grape-vine bark. This nest was located in the same tree as those of a Robin and Mourning Dove, and contained four eggs of the Vireo and one of the Cowbird.
A nest reported by Mr. D. L. Savage was outwardly composed of spiders’ webs and fibers of wild grape-vine bark, then a coating of newspaper and a lining of fine grass.
The Yellow-throated is “a large, stout species,” robust built, and “the brightest colored of our Vireos.”
While the song is described as being “slow, almost slovenly,” and “with a peculiar languid drawl,” and lacking the animated delivery of olivaceus and gilvus, yet it is much admired by Mr. Heaton, and the bird is considered a fine songster by Mr. Giddings.
The female is a close sitter, leaving the nest reluctantly and even in some cases requiring to be displaced by the hand. It is not averse to making its home near the abode of man. Mr. Wm. Savage reports one pair, who, when robbed of their treasures, presumably by the Blue Jays, tore the old nest to pieces and rebuilt in a tree only six feet from the door of his office and fifteen feet up. He finds one pair every year breeding in a grove of about two acres near the house. He notes, though, that even so close a proximity to the dwelling of man does not free the species from the “piratical tyranny of the Kingbird.”
Mr. Woods finds “four rosy eggs” to be the usual complement, and that they average larger than those of the Red-eye and Warbling. Mr. Smith reports a set which average 80x59, 82x60, 80x60 and 82x59.
One case is reported where the bird left the nest which was found before the eggs were laid, although it was not in any way disturbed. Mr. Anderson says that “the birds scold with great vehemence when a person comes near the nest and continue as long as he remains in the vicinity even though some distance away.”
629. V. solitarius. (Wils.)
BLUE-HEADED VIREO.
Mr. Brown reports solitarius as a not uncommon migrant in Scott county. He says that it is retiring and hurried, there seldom being more than a few days between the first arrival and the departure of the bulk. He finds it usually in large woods.
In Black Hawk Co., Mr. Peck finds it a sometimes abundant, but usually not very common migrant. It appears early in spring, in company with the hardiest of the warblers while on its way to its breeding grounds, chiefly north of the U. S.
Mr. Bartsch has never observed the bird at Burlington but took two specimens at Iowa City on the 6th of May, 1895. In actions he found them quite similar to the Yellow-throated.
Mr. Anderson has taken two females of this migrant species in Winnebago Co.; one May 14, 1892, and one Sept. 18, 1894.
631. V. noveboracensis. (Gmel.)
WHITE-EYED VIREO.
Mr. Bryan has seen this variety of the Greenlets quite common in the edge of the woods along Squaw Creek in Story Co. He also has specimens taken in Mahaska Co.
Mr. Wm. Savage reports it as a resident in VanBuren Co., but not very common.
Mr. Brown says that while not much seen in summer it is a not uncommon summer resident and fairly plentiful in spring.
Mr. Bartsch writes as follows: “Only two of these birds have come under my observation; one at Burlington some years ago, and one at Iowa City last spring. This bird prefers the low, dense willows and especially small trees overgrown by a dense mass of grape-vines. Had it not been for the lively and pleasing manner with which they delivered their clear, ringing song, I should have overlooked them in a tangle of green.”
Mr. D. L. Savage sends the following valuable notes in this connection: “Not common. Have never found a nest, although I have noted the birds in migrations, and also quite late in the spring.” Mr. Walter G. Savage, VanBuren Co., found a nest with two eggs, July 18, 1894. Nest was placed in hazel bush eighteen inches up and composed of pieces of rotten chips—such as the Chickadee pecks out of its hole—moss, small pieces of leaves, cobwebs and lined with very fine grass and inner bark fibers of wild grape-vine.
633. V. bellii. (Aud.)
BELL’S VIREO.
The notes on this Vireo are not voluminous enough for the compiler to derive from them any general conclusions as to numbers, dates and nesting site.
Mr. Law finds it abundant in Dallas Co., but less so in Winnebago. He has found the species breeding in the former, and Mr. Fred Hamlin took a set of three incubated eggs on June 23, 1894. One of these was situated in a hazel bush one foot up.
Mr. Woods finds it of common occurrence in Fayette Co., but not abundant. “The eggs average a trifle smaller than the other species.”
Mr. Peck, writing from Black Hawk Co., reports it abundant everywhere among thickets and underbrush in summer. The nest, which is small, he finds situated two to six feet from the ground. Noted as a late migrant, breeding far into August. It “is almost as quarrelsome,” he says, “as the Yellow-throated. Its song is lively and shrill and distinguishable at a great distance.”
Mr. D. L. Savage says, “Not uncommon, favorable locations being in bramble bushes and thickets of undergrowth. It has a rollicsome little song which always brings gladness with it. I have never had the good fortune to find a nest, although I have searched repeatedly for it, while the old birds were making quite an ado. It must be well concealed.”
Mr. Bryan writes that he has seen it quite numerous in Mahaska Co., along wood-roads; and has secured one nest in a hazel bush in a river pasture.
Mr. Irons says that the well known voice of this little bird is a familiar sound in the woodlands of Pottawattamie Co.
Mr. Brown finds it a quite common summer resident in Scott Co., nesting in late May and early June, usually at the low elevation of from two and one-half to ten feet. “A quiet, retiring species and much more common in the small brush patches in prairie districts than in the vicinity of water courses or heavy woods.”
Mr. Giddings’ notes from his recent personal experience with the species are in full as follows: “A common summer resident in this (Jackson) Co. Not much known except to the ornithologist and collector. The home of this species is in the thickets of brush and bramble, where it builds its nest unknown to those who pass close by. The nest is suspended from the fork of some small bush within a few feet of the ground, composed of dead leaves, grass and strips of grape-vine bark. Generally somewhat ragged on the outside. Four eggs seem to be the usual number and I never found any other in complete sets. Nests mostly well concealed and hard to find. I have found the best way is to get down and creep on the ground, and by looking up, the nest can often be found quite easily.
“This species is, to me, the most interesting of the Vireos, and I hardly ever tire of listening to its lively song, or watch it flit from bush to bush. Near my place is a thicket of hazel, black-berry, sumach, and a few small oak trees interspersed; just the place for Bell’s Vireo, and I can hear it singing at most any time during the summer from my doorstep.
“June 9, 1895, I started out to find some nests and soon succeeded in finding two. The first was hung from a small hazel bush, four feet above the ground and contained two eggs. Nest measured 3 in. deep; 3 in. in diameter outside; cavity 1¾x1¼. June 11, 4 eggs; they averaged .68x.50, pure white, quite well spotted with red. The second nest was in a place where the bushes were quite low; was hung from fork of hazel bush three feet from ground. The nest was composed of leaves, grass, bark of grape-vine and plant down, lined with fine grass and hair. Measured four inches deep; 2¾ in. in diameter on the outside; 1½ in. deep by 1¾ in. inside. Contained four eggs above the average size and pure white with a very few small red spots. Eggs measured .74x.52 average, with scarcely any difference in them.
“I have not found this bird imposed upon by the Cowbird.”
Our readers will realize that to cultivate the acquaintance of the little Greenlets is to gain health, pleasure and profit—health from walks in the leafy woodlands and exercise in the fragrant air; pleasure from the music of their voices and study of their ways; and profit from health, pleasure and the priceless teachings of Nature.
The ...
Iowa Ornithologist.
A Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study of Ornithology and Oology.
DAVID L. SAVAGE,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
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