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.