bird neighbors-第34章

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perabundant　vivacity　and　a　fairly　reliable　aid　to　identification。　The　tail　is　jerked；　wagged；　and　flirted　like　a　baton　in　the　hands　of　an　inexperienced　leader　of　an　orchestra。　One　need　not　go　to　the　woods　to　look　for　the　restless　little　sprite　that　comes　northward　when　the　early　April　foliage　is　as　yellow　and　green　as　its　feathers。　It　prefers　the　fields　and　roadsides；　and　before　there　are　leaves　enough　on　the　undergrowth　to　conceal　it　we　may　come　to　know　it　as　well　as　it　is　possible　to　know　any　bird　whose　home　life　is　passed　so　far　away。　Usually　it　is　the　first　warbler　one　sees　in　the　spring　in　New　York　and　New　England。　With　all　the　alertness　of　a　flycatcher；　it　will　dart　into　the　air　after　insects　that　fly　near　the　ground；　keeping　up　a　constant　chip；　chip；　fine　and　shrill；　at　one　end　of　the　small　body；　and　the　liveliest　sort　of　tail　motions　at　the　other。　The　pine　warbler　often　bears　it　company。

With　the　first　suspicion　of　warm　weather；　off　goes　this　hardy　little　fellow　that　apparently　loves　the　cold　almost　well　enough　to　stay　north　all　the　year　like　its　cousin；　the　myrtle　warbler。　It　builds　a　particularly　deep　nest；　of　the　usual　warbler　construction；　on　the　ground；　but　its　eggs　are　rosy　rather　than　the　bluish　white　of　others。

In　the　Southern　States　the　bird　becomes　particularly　neighborly；　and　is　said　to　enter　the　streets　and　gardens　of　towns　with　a　chippy's　familiarity。

Palm　Warbler　or　Redpoll　Warbler　（Dendroica　palmarum）　differs　from　the　preceding　chiefly　in　its　slightly　smaller　size；　the　more　grayish…brown　tint　in　its　olive　upper　parts；　and　the　uneven　shade　of　yellow　underneath　that　varies　from　clear　yellow　to　soiled　whitish。　It　is　the　Western　counterpart　of　the　yellow　redpoll；　and　is　most　common　in　the　Mississippi　Valley。　Strangely　enough；　however；　it　is　this　warbler；　and　not　hypochrysea；　that　goes　out　of　its　way　to　winter　in　Florida；　where　it　is　abundant　all　winter。


YELLOW　WARBLER　（Dendroica　aestiva）　Wood　Warbler　family

Called　also：　SUMMER　YELLOWBIRD；　GOLDEN　WARBLER；　YELLOW　POLL

Length　　4。75　to　5。2　inches。　Over　an　inch　shorter　than　the　　　English　sparrow。　Male　　Upper　parts　olive…yellow；　brightest　on　the　crown；　under　　　parts　bright　yellow；　streaked　with　reddish　brown。　Wings　and　　　tail　dusky　olive…brown；　edged　with　yellow。　Female　　Similar；　but　reddish…brown　streakings　less　distinct。　Range　　North　America；　except　Southwestern　States；　where　the　　　prothonotary　warbler　reigns　in　its　stead。　Nests　from　Gulf　　　States　to　Fur　Countries。　Winters　south　of　the　Gulf　States。　As　　　far　as　northern　parts　of　South　America。　Migrations　　May。　September。　Common　summer　resident。

This　exquisite　little　creature　of　perpetual　summer　（though　to　find　it　it　must　travel　back　and　forth　between　two　continents）　comes　out　of　the　south　with　the　golden　days　of　spring。　From　much　living　in　the　sunshine　through　countless　generations；　its　feathers　have　finally　become　the　color　of　sunshine　itself；　and　in　disposition；　as　well；　it　is　nothing　if　not　sunny　and　bright。　Not　the　least　of　its　attractions　is　that　it　is　exceedingly　common　everywhere：　in　the　shrubbery　of　our　lawns；　in　gardens　and　orchards；　by　the　road　and　brookside；　in　the　edges　of　woods　　everywhere　we　catch　its　glint　of　brightness　through　the　long　summer　days；　and　hear　its　simple；　sweet；　and　happy　song　until　the　end　of　July。

Because　both　birds　are　so　conspicuously　yellow；　no　doubt　this　warbler　is　quite　generally　confused　with　the　goldfinch；　but　their　distinctions　are　clear　enough　to　any　but　the　most　superficial　glance。　In　the　first　place；　the　yellow　warbler　is　a　smaller　bird　than　the　goldfinch；　it　has　neither　black　crown；　wings；　nor　tail；　and　it　does　have　reddish…brown　streaks　on　its　breast　that　are　sufficiently　obsolete　to　make　the　coloring　of　that　part　look　simply　dull　at　a　little　distance。　The　goldfinch's　bill　is　heavy；　in　order　that　it　may　crack　seeds；　whereas　the　yellow　warbler's　is　slender；　to　enable　it　to　pick　minute　insects　from　the　foliage。　The　goldfinch's　wavy；　curved　flight　is　unique；　and　that　of　his　〃double〃　differs　not　a　whit　from　that　of　all　nervous；　flitting　warblers。　Surely　no　one　familiar　with　the　rich；　full；　canary…like　song　of　the　〃wild　canary；〃　as　the　goldfinch　is　called；　could　confuse　it　with　the　mild　〃Weechee；　chee；　cher…wee〃　of　the　summer　yellowbird。　Another　distinction；　not　always　infallible；　but　nearly　so；　is　that　when　seen　feeding；　the　goldfinch　is　generally　below　the　line　of　vision；　while　the　yellow　warbler　is　either　on　it　or　not　far　above　it；　as　it　rarely　goes　over　twelve　feet　from　the　ground。

No　doubt；　the　particularly　mild；　sweet　amiability　of　the　yellow　warbler　is　responsible　for　the　persistent　visitations　of　the　cowbird；　from　which　it　is　a　conspicuous　sufferer。　In　the　exquisite；　neat　little　matted　cradle　of　glistening　milk…weed　flax；　lined　with　down　from　the　fronds　of　fern；　the　skulking　housebreaker　deposits　her　surreptitious　egg　for　the　little　yellow　mother…bird　to　hatch　and　tend。　But　amiability　is　not　the　only　prominent　trait　in　the　female　yellow　warbler's　character。　She　is　clever　as　well；　and　quickly　builds　a　new　bottom　on　her　nest；　thus　sealing　up　the　cowbird's　egg；　and　depositing　her　own　on　the　soft；　spongy　floor　above　it。　This　operation　has　been　known　to　be　twice　repeated；　until　the　nest　became　three　stories　high；　when　a　persistent　cowbird　made　such　unusual　architecture　necessary。　

The　most　common　nesting　place　of　the　yellow　warbler　is　in　low　willows　along　the　shores　of　streams。


YELLOW…BREASTED　CHAT　（Icteria　virens）　Wood　Warbler　family

Called　also：　POLYGLOT　CHAT；　YELLOW　MOCKING　BIRD

Length　　7。5　inches。　A　trifle　over　an　inch　longer　than　the　　　English　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Uniform　olive…green　above。　Throat；　breast；　and　　　under　side　of　wings　bright；　clear　yellow。　Underneath　white。　　　Sides　grayish。　White　line　over　the　eye；　reaching　to　base　of　　　bill　and　forming　partial　eye…ring。　Also　white　line　on　sides　of　　　throat。　Bill　and　feet　black。　Range　　North　America；　from　Ontario　to　Central　America　and　　　westward　to　the　plains。　Most　common　in　Middle　Atlantic　States。　Migrations　　Early　May。　Late　August　or　September。　Summer　　　resident。

This　largest　of　the　warblers　might　be　mistaken　for　a　dozen　birds　collectively　in　as　many　minutes；　but　when　it　is　known　that　the　jumble　of　whistles；　parts　of　songs；　chuckles；　clucks；　barks；　quacks；　whines；　and　wails　proceed　from　a　single　throat；　the　yellow…breasted　chat　becomes　a　marked　specimen　forthwith　　a　conspicuous　individual　never　to　be　confused　with　any　other　member　of　the　feathered　tribe。　It　is　indeed　absolutely　unique。　The　catbird　and　the　mocking…bird　are　rare　mimics；　but　while　the　chat　is　not　their　equal　in　this　respect；　it　has　a　large　repertoire　of　weird；　uncanny　cries　all　its　own　　a　power　of　throwing　its　voice；　like　a　human　ventriloquist；　into　unexpected　corners　of　the　thicket　or　meadow。　In　addition　to　its　extraordinary　vocal　feats；　it　can　turn　somersaults　and　do　other　clown…like　stunts　as　well　as　any　variety　actor　on　the　Bowery　stage。

Only　by　creeping　cautiously　towards　the　roadside　tangle；　where　this　〃rollicking　polyglot〃　is　entertaining　himself　and　his　mate；　brooding　over　her　speckled　eggs　in　a　bulky　nest　set　in　a　most　inaccessible　briery　part　of　the　thicket；　can　you　hope　to　hear　him　rattle　through　his　variety　performance。　Walk　boldly　or　noisily　past　his　retreat；　and　there　is　〃silence　there　and　nothing　more。〃　But　two　very　bright　eyes　peer　out　at　you　through　the　undergrowth；　where　the　trim；　elegant…looking　bird　watches　you　with　quizzical　suspicion　until　you　quietly　seat　yourself　assume　silent　indifference。　〃Whew；　whew！〃　he　begins；　and　then　immediately；　with　evident　intent　to　amuse；　he　rattles　off　an　indescribable；　eccentric　medley　until　your　ears　are　tired　listening。　With　bill　uplifted；　tail　drooping；　wings　fluttering　at　his　side；　he　cuts　an　absurd　figure　enough；　but　not　so　comical　as　when　he　rises　into　the　air；　trailing　his　legs　behind　him　stork…fashion。　This　surely　is　the　clown　among　birds。　But　any　though　he　is；　he　is　as　capable　of　devotion　to　his　Columbine　as　Punchinello；　and　remains　faithfully　mated　year　after　year。　However　much　of　a　tease　and　a　deceiver　he　may　be　to　the　passer…by　along　the　roadside；　in　the　privacy　of　the　domestic　circle　he　shows　truly　lovable　traits。

He　has　the　habit　of　singing　in　his　unmusical　way　on　moonlight　nights。　Probably　his　ventriloquial　powers　are　cultivated　not　for　popular　entertainment；　but　to　lure　intruders　away　from　his　nest。


MARYLAND　YELLOWTHROAT　（Geothlypis　trichas）　Wood　Warbler　family

Called　also：　BLACK…MASKED　GROUND　WARBLER；　＇COMMON　YELLOWTHROAT；　　　AOU　1998＇

Length　　5。33　inches。　Just　an　inch　shorter　than　the　typical　　　English　sparrow。　Male　　Olive…gray　on　head；　shading　to　olive…green　on　all　the　　　other　upper　parts。　Forehead；　cheeks；　and　sides　of　head　black；　　　like　a　mask；　and　bordered　behind　by　a　grayish　line。　Throat　and　　　breast　bright　yellow；　growing　steadily　paler　underneath。　Female　　Either　totally　lacks　black　mask　or　its　place　is　　　Indicated　by　only　a　dusky　tint。　She　is　smaller　and　duller。　Range　　Eastern　North　America；　west　to　the　plains；　most　common　　　east　of　the　Alleghanies。　Nests　from　the　Gulf　States　to　Labrador　　　and　Manitoba；　winters　south　of　Gulf　States　to　Panama。　Migrations　　May。　September。　Common　summer　resident。

〃Given　a　piece　of　marshy　ground　with　an　abundance　of　skunk　cabbage　and　a　fairly　dense　growth　of　saplings；　and　near　by　a　tangle　of　green　brier　and　blackberry；　and　you　will　be　pretty　sure　to　have　it　tenanted　by　a　pair　of　yellowthroats；〃　says　Dr。　Abbott；　who　found　several　of　their　nests　in　skunk…cabbage　plants；　which　he　says　are　favorite　cradles。　No　animal　cares　to　touch　this　plant　if　it　can　be　avoided；　but　have　the　birds　themselves　no　sense　of　smell？

Before　and　after　the　nesting　season　these　active　birds；　plump　of　form；　elegant　of　attire；　forceful；　but　not　bold；　enter　the　scrubby　pastures　near　our　houses　and　the　shrubbery　of　old…　fashioned；　overgrown　gardens；　and　peer　out　at　the　human　wanderer　therein　with　a　charming　curiosity。　The　bright　eyes　of　the　male　masquerader　shine　through　his　black　mask；　where　he　intently　watches　you　from　the　tangle　of　syringa　and　snowball　bushes；　and　as　he　flies　into　the　laburnum　with　its　golden　chain　of　blossoms　that　pale　before　the　yellow　of　his　throat　and　breast；　you　are　so　impressed　with　his　grace　and　elegance　that　you　follow　too　audaciously；　he　thinks；　and　off　he　goes。　And　yet　this　is　a　bird　that　seems　to　delight　in　being　pursued。　It　never　goes　so　far　away　that　you　are　not　tempted　to　follow　it；　though　it　be　through　dense　undergrowth　and　swampy　thickets；　and　it　always　gives　you　just　glimpse　enough　of　its　beauties　and　graces　before　it　flies　ahead；　to　invite　the　hope　of　a　closer　inspection　next　time。　When　it　dives　into　the　deepest　part　of　the　tangle；　where　you　can　imagine　it　hunting　about　among　the　roots　and　fallen　leaves　for　the　larvae；　caterpillars；　spiders；　and　other　insects　on　which　it　feeds；　it　sometimes　amuses　itself　with　a　simple　little　song　between　the　hunts。　But　the　bird's　indifference；　you　feel　sure；　arises　from　preoccupation　rather　than　rudeness。

If；　however；　your　visit　to　the　undergrowth　is　unfortunately　timed　and　there　happens　to　be　a　bulky　nest　in　process　of　construction　on　the　ground；　a　quickly　repeated；　vigorous　chit；　pit；　quit；　impatiently　inquires　the　reason　for　your　bold　intrusion。　Wit