- Female:
- Olive above. Below dusky, eye stripe gray.
- Song:
- An insect-like sound, "zee-zee-zee!"
- Season:
- May and September.
- Breeds:
- North from northern New Jersey and northern Indiana, and southward along the Alleghanies to South Carolina.
- Eggs and Nest:
- Same as last species.
- Range:
- Eastern United States, north to southern New England, southwestern Ohio, and southern Minnesota.
The Golden-winged Warbler seems to be considered rare, or only locally common, in many parts of its range. It comes about the orchard sparingly in May, but has a habit of retiring very suddenly into dense underbrush, which renders its identification difficult. Its name also is very delusive; for, if you go out to search for a gorgeous bird with canary-yellow wings, you will never suspect this bird, with small golden splashes on the wing coverts only, of being the Golden-winged Warbler.
All Warblers depend upon their markings rather than song for their identity, which renders the majority of the tribe of greater interest to the scientist than to the novice.
In fact, until you have named four or five of the commonest species as landmarks, you will be considerably confused, and feel oftentimes inclined to scold the brilliant beauties, and tell them that they are bores, like gaily dressed people who have no conversational ability; and also that fine feathers do not make fine voices, but quite the reverse. Then some gloomy recess in the pines will be lighted by the flitting birds, like sun motes filtering through the branches, and all is forgiven, and you will say, "I know, at least, that these are Warblers," which, after all, is some. thing.
Nashville Warbler: Helminthophila ruficapilla.
Yellow-winged Sparrow.
- Length:
- About 5 inches
- Male and Female:
- No bars on wings or tail. Clear yellow below. which remains constant all the season. Above olive-green, brightening on the rump and shoulders. Slate-gray head and neck, obscure chestnut spot on poll; wings and tail brownish. Bill and feet dark. Female dull olive.
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