bird neighbors-第34部分
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where it nests。 All the flycatchers seem to make a noise with so much struggle； such convulsive jerkings of head and tail； and flutterings of the wings that； considering the scanty success of their musical attempts； it is surprising they try to lift their voices at all when the effort almost literally lifts them off their feet。
While this little flycatcher is no less erratic than its Acadian cousin； its nest is never slovenly。 One couple had their home in a wild…grape bower in Pennsylvania； a Virginia creeper in New Jersey supported another cradle that was fully twenty feet above the ground； but in Labrador； where the bird has its chosen breeding grounds； the bulky nest is said to be invariably placed either in the moss by the brookside or in some old stump； should the locality be too swampy。
BLACK…THROATED GREEN WARBLER （Dendroica virens） Wood Warbler family
Length 5 inches。 Over an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Back and crown of head bright yellowish olive…green。 Forehead； band over eye； cheeks； and sides of neck rich yellow。 Throat； upper breast； and stripe along sides black。 Underneath yellowish white。 Wings and tail brownish olive； the former with two white bars； the latter with much white in outer quills。 In autumn； plumage resembling the female's。 Female Similar； chin yellowish； throat and breast dusky； the black being mixed with yellowish。 Range Eastern North America； from Hudson Bay to Central America and Mexico。 Nests north of Illinois and New York。 Winters in tropics。 Migrations May。 October。 Common summer resident north of New Jersey。
There can be little difficulty in naming a bird so brilliantly and distinctly marked as this green； gold； and black warbler； that lifts up a few pure； sweet； tender notes； loud enough to attract attention when he visits the garden。 〃See…see； see…saw；〃 he sings； but there is a tone of anxiety betrayed in the simple； sylvan strain that always seems as if the bird needed reassuring； possibly due to the rising inflection； like an interrogative； of the last notes。
However abundant about our homes during the migrations； this warbler； true to the family instinct； retreats to the woods to nest not always so far away as Canada； the nesting ground of most warblers； for in many Northern States the bird is commonly found throughout the summer。 Doubtless it prefers tall evergreen trees for its mossy； grassy nest； but it is not always particular； so that the tree be a tall one with a convenient fork in an upper branch。
Early in September increased numbers emerge from the woods； the plumage of the male being less brilliant than when we saw it last； as if the family cares of the summer had proved too taxing。 For nearly a month longer they hunt incessantly； with much flitting about the leaves and twigs at the ends of branches in the shrubbery and evergreens； for the tiny insects that the warblers must devour by the million during their all too brief visit。
BIRDS CONSPICUOUSLY YELLOW AND ORANGE
Yellow…throated Vireo American Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak Blue…winged Warbler Canadian Warbler Hooded Warbler Kentucky Warbler Magnolia Warbler Mourning Warbler Nashville Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Wilson's Warbler or Blackcap Yellow Warbler or Summer Yellowbird Yellow Redpoll Warbler Yellow…breasted Chat Maryland Yellowthroat Blackburnian Warbler Redstart Baltimore Oriole
Look also among the Yellowish Olive Birds in the preceding group； and among the Brown Birds for the Meadowlark and Flicker。 See also Parula Warbler （Slate） and Yellow…bellied Woodpecker （Black and White）。
BIRDS CONSPICUOUSLY YELLOW AND ORANGE
YELLOW…THROATED VIREO （Vireo flavifrons） Vireo or Greenlet family
Length 5。5。 to 6 inches。 A little smaller than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Lemon…yellow on throat； upper breast； line around the eye and forehead。 Yellow； shading into olive…green； on head； back； and shoulders。 Underneath white。 Tail dark brownish； edged with white。 Wings a lighter shade； with two white bands across； and some quills edged with white。 Range North America； from Newfoundland to Gulf of Mexico； and westward to the Rockies。 Winters in the tropics。 Migrations May。 September。 Spring and autumn migrant； more rarely resident。
This is undoubtedly the beauty of the vireo family a group of neat； active； stoutly built； and vigorous little birds of yellow； greenish； and white plumage； birds that love the trees； and whose feathers reflect the coloring of the leaves they hide； hunt； and nest among。 〃We have no birds；〃 says Bradford Torrey； 〃so unsparing of their music： they sing from morning till night。〃
The yellow…throated vireo partakes of all the family characteristics； but； in addition to these； it eclipses all its relatives in the brilliancy of its coloring and in the art of nest…building； which it has brought to a state of hopeless perfection。 No envious bird need try to excel the exquisite finish of its workmanship。 Happily； it has wit enough to build its pensile nest high above the reach of small boys； usually suspending it from a branch overhanging running water that threatens too precipitous a bath to tempt the young climbers。
However common in the city parks and suburban gardens this bird may be during the migrations； it delights in a secluded retreat overgrown with tall trees and near a stream； such as is dear to the solitary vireo as well when the nesting time approaches。 High up in the trees we hear its rather sad； persistent strain； that is more in harmony with the dim forest than with the gay flower garden； where； if the truth must be told； its song is both monotonous and depressing。 Mr。 Bicknell says it is the only vireo that sings as it flies。
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH （Spinus tristis） Finch family
Called also： WILD CANARY； YELLOWBIRD； THISTLE BIRD
Length 5 to 5。2 inches。 About an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male In summer plumage： Bright yellow； except on crown of head； frontlet； wings； and tail； which are black。 Whitish markings on wings give effect of bands。 Tail with white on inner webs。 In winter plumage： Head yellow…olive； no frontlet； black drab； with reddish tinge； shoulders and throat yellow； soiled brownish white underneath。 Female Brownish olive above； yellowish white beneath。 Range North America； from the tropics to the Fur Countries and westward to the Columbia River and California。 Common throughout its range。 Migrations May…October。 Common summer resident； frequently Seen throughout the winter as well。
An old field； overgrown with thistles and tall； stalky wild flowers； is the paradise of the goldfinches； summer or winter。 Here they congregate in happy companies while the sunshine and goldenrod are as bright as their feathers； and cling to the swaying slender stems that furnish an abundant harvest； daintily。 lunching upon the fluffy seeds of thistle blossoms； pecking at the mullein…stalks； and swinging airily among the asters and Michaelmas daisies； or； when snow covers the same field with a glistening crust； above which the brown stalks offer only a meagre dinner； the same birds； now sombrely clad in winter feathers； cling to the swaying stems with cheerful fortitude。
At your approach； the busy company rises on the wing； and with peculiar； wavy flight rise and fall through the air； marking each undulation with a cluster of notes； sweet and clear； that come floating downward from the blue ether； where the birds seem to bound along exultant in their motion and song alike。
In the spring the plumage of the goldfinch； which has been drab and brown through the winter months； is moulted or shed a change that transforms the bird from a sombre Puritan into the gayest of cavaliers； and seems to wonderfully exalt his spirits。 He bursts into a wild； sweet； incoherent melody that might be the outpouring from two or three throats at once instead of one； expressing his rapture somewhat after the manner of the canary； although his song lacks the variety and the finish of his caged namesake。 What tone of sadness in his music the man found who applied the adjective tristis to his scientific name it is difficult to imagine when listening to the notes that come bubbling up from the bird's happy heart。
With plumage so lovely and song so delicious and dreamy； it is small wonder that numbers of our goldfinches are caught and caged； however inferior their song may be to the European species recently introduced into this country。 Heard in Central Park； New York； where they were set at liberty； the European goldfinches seemed to sing with more abandon； perhaps； but with no more sweetness than their American cousins。 The song remains at its best all through the summer months； for the bird is a long wooer。 It is nearly July before he mates； and not until the tardy cedar birds are house…building in the orchard do the happy pair begin to carry grass； moss； and plant…down to a crotch of some tall tree convenient to a field of such wild flowers as will furnish food to a growing family。 Doubtless the birds wait for this food to be in proper condition before they undertake parental duties at all the most plausible excuse for their late nesting。 The cares evolving from four to six pale…blue eggs will suffice to quiet the father's song for the winter by the first of September； and fade all the glory out of his shining coat。 As pretty a sight as any garden offers is when a family of goldfinches alights on the top of a sunflower to feast upon the oily seeds a perfect harmony of brown and gold。
EVENING GROSBEAK （Coccothraustes vespertinus） Finch family
Length 8 inches。 Two inches shorter than the robin。 Male Forehead； shoulders； and underneath clear yellow： dull yellow on lower back； sides of the head； throat； and breast olive…brown。 Crown； tail； and wings black； the latter with white secondary feathers。 Bill heavy and blunt； and yellow。 Female Brownish gray； more less suffused with yellow。 Wings and tail blackish； with some white feathers。 Range Interior of North America。 Resident from Manitoba northward。 Common winter visitor in northwestern United States and Mississippi Valley； casual winter visitor in northe
