Hab. Northern Ohio, and Bahamas.
In addition to the type which is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, a second specimen was obtained by Dr. Samuel Cabot, of Boston, taken at sea between the islands of Abaco and Cuba. It must, however, be considered as one of the rarest of American birds.
Habits. Kirtland’s Warbler is so far known by only a few rare specimens as a bird of North America, and its biography is utterly unknown. The first specimen of this species, so far as is known, was obtained by Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, O., in May, 1851. It was shot by that naturalist in woods near that city, and was by him given to Professor Baird, who described it in the Annals of the New York Lyceum. It appears to be closely allied to both the D. coronata and D. auduboni, and yet to be a specifically distinct bird. A second specimen, in the cabinet of Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., of Boston, was obtained at sea, between the islands of Cuba and Abaco. A third specimen was obtained June 9, 1860, near Cleveland, and is in the collection of Mr. R. K. Winslow, of that city. Another specimen is also reported as having been obtained in the same neighborhood, but not preserved; and Dr. Hoy, of Racine, Wis., is confident that he has seen it in the neighborhood of that place. At present all that we can give in regard to its history, habits, or distribution must be inferred from these few and meagre facts.
YELLOW RED-POLL WARBLER.
Motacilla palmarum, Gmel. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 951 (based on Palm Warbler, Latham, Syn. II, p. 498, No. 131. St. Domingo). Sylvia p. Lath.; Vieillot, II, pl. lxxiii.—Bon.; D’Orb. Sagra’s Cuba, Ois. 1840, 61, pl. viii. Sylvicola p. Sallé, P. Z. S. 1857, 231 (St. Domingo). Dendroica p. Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 288; Rev. 207.—Sclater, Catal. 1861, 33, No. 199.—Ib. P. Z. S. 1861, 71 (Jamaica; April).—Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. VII, 1859 (Bahamas).—Ib. 1867, 91 (Hayti).—Brewer, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1867, 139.—Gundlach, Cab. Jour. 1861, 326 (Cuba; very common).—Samuels, 240. Sylvia petechia, Wils. VI, pl. xxviii, fig. 4.—Bon.; Nutt.; Aud. Orn. Biog. II, pl. clxiii, clxiv. Sylvicola petechia, Swains.; Aud. Birds Am. II, pl. xc. Sylvicola ruficapilla, Bon. Rhimanphus ruf. Cab. Jour. III, 1855, 473 (Cuba; winter).
Sp. Char. Adult in spring. Head above chestnut-red; rest of upper parts brownish olive-gray; the feathers with darker centres, the color brightening on the rump, upper tail-coverts, and outer margins of wing and tail-feathers, to greenish-yellow. A streak from nostrils over the eye, and under parts generally, including the tail-coverts, bright yellow; paler on the body. A maxillary line; breast and sides finely but rather obsoletely streaked with reddish-brown. Cheeks brownish (in highest spring plumage chestnut like the head); the eyelids and a spot under the eye olive-brown. Lores dusky. A white spot on the inner web of the outer two tail-feathers, at the end. Length, 5 inches; wing, 2.42; tail, 2.25. Sexes nearly alike.
Autumnal males are more reddish above; under parts tinged with brown, the axillars yellow.
Hab. Eastern Province of North America to Fort Simpson and Hudson’s Bay; Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, and St. Domingo in winter. Not noted from Mexico or Central America.
This species varies considerably in different stages, but can generally be recognized. Immature specimens resemble those of P. tigrina, but differ in the chestnut crown, browner back, less bright rump, brighter yellow of under tail-coverts, smaller blotches on tail, no white bands on the wings, etc., as well as in the shape of the bill.