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.