bird neighbors-第31章

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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　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　acco