bird neighbors-第35部分
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nter visitor in northwestern United States and Mississippi Valley； casual winter visitor in northern Atlantic States。
In the winter of 1889…90 Eastern people had the rare treat of becoming acquainted with this common bird of the Northwest； that； in one of its erratic travels； chose to visit New England and the Atlantic States； as far south as Delaware； in great numbers。 Those who saw the evening grosbeaks then remember how beautiful their yellow plumage a rare winter tint looked in the snow…covered trees； where small companies of the gentle and ever tame visitors enjoyed the buds and seeds of the maples； elders； and evergreens。 Possibly evening grosbeaks were in vogue for the next season's millinery； or perhaps Eastern ornithologists had a sudden zeal to investigate their structural anatomy。 At any rate； these birds； whose very tameness； that showed slight acquaintance with mankind； should have touched the coldest heart； received the warmest kind of a reception from hot shot。 The few birds that escaped to the solitudes of Manitoba could not be expected to tempt other travellers eastward by an account of their visit。 The bird is quite likely to remain rare in the East。
But in the Mississippi Valley and throughout the northwest； companies of from six to sixty may be regularly counted upon as winter neighbors on almost every farm。 Here the females keep up a busy chatting； like a company of cedar birds； and the males punctuate their pauses with a single shrill note that gives little indication of their vocal powers。 But in the solitude of the northern forests the love…song is said to resemble the robin's at the start。 Unhappily； after a most promising beginning； the bird suddenly stops； as if he were out of breath。
BLUE…WINGED WARBLER （Helminthophila pinus） Wood Warbler family
Called also： BLUE…WINGED YELLOW WARBLER
Length 4。75 inches。 An inch and a half shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Crown of head and all under parts bright yellow。 Back olive…green。 Wings and tail bluish slate； the former with white bars； and three outer tail quills with large white patches on their inner webs。 Female Paler and more olive。 Range Eastern United States； from southern New England and Minnesota； the northern limit of its nesting range； to Mexico And Central America； where it winters。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。
In the naming of warblers； bluish slate is the shade intended when blue is mentioned； so that if you see a dainty little olive and yellow bird with slate…colored wings and tail hunting for spiders in the blossoming orchard or during the early autumn you will have seen the beautiful blue…winged warbler。 It has a rather leisurely way of hunting； unlike the nervous； restless flitting about from twig to twig that is characteristic of many of its many cousins。 The search is thorough bark； stems； blossoms； leaves are inspected for larvae and spiders； with many pretty motions of head and body。 Sometimes； hanging with head downward； the bird suggests a yellow titmouse。 After blossom time a pair of these warblers； that have done serviceable work in the orchard in their all too brief stay； hurry off to dense woods to nest。 They are usually to be seen in pairs at all seasons。 Not to 〃high coniferous trees in northern forests；〃 the Mecca of innumerable warblers but to scrubby； second growth of woodland borders； or lower trees in the heart of the woods； do these dainty birds retreat。 There they build the usual warbler nest of twigs； bits of bark； leaves； and grasses； but with this peculiarity： the numerous leaves with which the nest is wrapped all have their stems pointing upward。 Mr。 Frank Chapman has admirably defined their song as consisting of 〃two drawled； wheezy notes swee…chee； the first inhaled； the second exhaled。〃
CANADIAN WARBLER （Sylvania canadensis） Wood Warbler family
Called also： CANADIAN FLYCATCHER； SPOTTED CANADIAN WARBLER； ＇CANADA WARBLER； AOU 1998＇
Length 5 to 5。6 inches。 About an inch shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Immaculate bluish ash above； without marks on wings or tail； crown spotted with arrow…shaped black marks。 Cheeks； line from bill to eye； and underneath clear yellow。 Black streaks forming a necklace across the breast。 Female Paler； with necklace indistinct。 Range North America； from Manitoba and Labrador to tropics。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident； most abundant in migrations。
Since about one…third of all the song…birds met with in a year's rambles are apt to be warblers； the novice cannot devote his first attention to a better group； confusing though it is by reason of its size and the repetition of the same colors in so many bewildering combinations。 Monotony； however； is unknown in the warbler family。 Whoever can rightly name every warbler； male and female； on sight is uniquely accomplished。
The jet necklace worn on this bird's breast is its best mark of identification。 Its form is particularly slender and graceful； as might be expected in a bird so active； one to whom a hundred tiny insects barely afford a dinner that must often be caught piecemeal as it flies past。 To satisfy its appetite； which cannot but be dainty in so thoroughly charming a bird； it lives in low； boggy woods； in such retreats as Wilson's black…capped warbler selects for a like reason。 Neither of these two 〃flycatcher〃 warblers depends altogether on catching insects on the wing； countless thousands are picked off the under sides of leaves and about the stems of twigs in true warbler fashion。
The Canadian's song is particularly loud； sweet； and vivacious。 It is hazardous for any one without long field practice to try to name any warbler by its song alone； but possibly this one's animated music is as characteristic as any。
The nest is built on the ground on a mossy bank or elevated into the root crannies of some large tree； where there is much water in the woods。 Bits of bark； dead wood； moss； and fine rootlets； all carefully wrapped with leaves； go to make the pretty cradle。 Unhappily； the little Canada warblers are often cheated out of their natural rights； like so many other delightful songbirds； by the greedy interloper that the cowbird deposits in their nest。
HOODED WARBLER （Sylvania mitrata） Wood Warbler family
Length 5 to 5。75 inches。 About an inch shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Head； neck； chin； and throat black like a hood in mature male specimens only。 Hood restricted； or altogether wanting in female and young。 Upper parts rich olive。 Forehead； cheeks； and underneath yellow。 Some conspicuous white on tail feathers。 Female Duller； and with restricted cowl。 Range United States east of Rockies； and from southern Michigan and southern New England to West Indies and tropical America； where it winters。 Very local。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。
This beautifully marked； sprightly little warbler might be mistaken in his immaturity for the yellowthroat； and as it is said to take him nearly three years to grow his hood； with the completed cowl and cape； there is surely sufficient reason here for the despair that often seizes the novice in attempting to distinguish the perplexing warblers。 Like its Southern counterpart； the hooded warbler prefers wet woods and low trees rather than high ones； for much of its food consists of insects attracted by the dampness； and many of them must be taken on the wing。 Because of its tireless activity the bird's figure is particularly slender and graceful a trait； too； to which we owe all the glimpses of it we are likely to get throughout the summer。 It has a curious habit of spreading its tail； as if it wished you to take special notice of the white spots that adorn it； not flirting it； as the redstart does his more gorgeous one； but simply opening it like a fan as it flies and darts about。
Its song； which is particularly sweet and graceful； and with more variation than most warblers' music； has been translated 〃Che…we…eo…tsip； tsip； che…we…eo；〃 again interpreted by Mr。 Chapman as 〃You must come to the woods； or you won't see me。〃
KENTUCKY WARBLER （Geothlypis formosa） Wood Warbler family
Length 5。5 inches。 Nearly an inch shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Upper parts olive…green； under parts yellow； a yellow line from the bill passes over and around the eye。 Crown of head； patch below the eye； and line defining throat； black。 Female Similar； but paler； and with grayish instead of black markings。 Range United States eastward from the Rockies； and from Iowa and Connecticut to Central； America； where it winters。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。
No bird is common at the extreme limits of its range； and so this warbler has a reputation for rarity among the New England ornithologists that would surprise people in the middle South and Southwest。 After all that may be said in the books； a bird is either common or rare to the individual who may or may not have happened to become acquainted with it in any part of its chosen territory。 Plenty of people in Kentucky； where we might judge from its name this bird is supposed to be most numerous； have never seen or heard of it； while a student on the Hudson River； within sight of New York； knows it intimately。 It also nests regularly in certain parts of the Connecticut Valley。 〃Who is my neighbor？〃 is often a question difficult indeed to answer where birds are concerned。 In the chapter； 〃Spring at the Capital；〃 which； with every reading of 〃Wake Robin；〃 inspires the bird…lover with fresh zeal； Mr。 Burroughs writes of the Kentucky warbler： 〃I meet with him in low； damp places； in the woods； usually on the steep sides of some little run。 I hear at intervals a clear； strong； bell…like whistle or warble； and presently catch a glimpse of the bird as he jumps up from the ground to take an insect or worm from the under side of a leaf。 This is his characteristic movement。 He belongs to the class of ground warblers； and his range is very low； indeed lower than that of any other species with which I am acquainted。〃
Like the ovenbird and comparatively few others； for most birds hop over the ground； the Kentucky warbler walks rapidly about； looking for insects under the fallen leaves； and
