bird neighbors-第44章
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sh 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 poking his inquisitive beak into every cranny where a spider may be lurking。 The bird has a pretty； conscious way of flying up to a perch； a few feet above the ground； as a tenor might advance towards the footlights of a stage； to pour forth his clear； penetrating whistle； that in the nesting season especially is repeated over； and over again with tireless persistency。
MAGNOLIA WARBLER （Dendroica maculosa） Wood Warbler family
Called also： BLACK…AND…YELLOW WARBLER； SPOTTED WARBLER； BLUE…HEADED YELLOW…RUMPED WARBLER
Length 4。75 to 5 inches。 About an inch and a half smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Crown of head slate…color； bordered on either side by a white line； a black line； apparently running through the eye； and a yellow line below it； merging into the yellow throat。 Lower back and under parts yellow。 Back； wings； and tail blackish olive。 Large white patch on the wings； and the middle of the tail…quills white。 Throat and sides heavily streaked with black。 Female Has greener back； is paler； and has less distinct markings。 Range North America； from Hudson Bay to Panama。 Summers from northern Michigan and northern New England northward； winters in Central America and Cuba。 Migrations May。 October。 Spring and summer migrant。
In spite of the bird's name； one need not look for it in the glossy magnolia trees of the southern gardens more than in the shrubbery on New England lawns； and during the migrations it is quite as likely to be found in one place as in the other。 Its true preference； however； is for the spruces and hemlocks of its nesting ground in the northern forests。 For these it deserts us after a brief hunt about the tender； young spring foliage and blossoms； where the early worm lies concealed； and before we have become so well acquainted with its handsome clothes that we will instantly recognize it in the duller ones it wears on its return trip in the autumn。 The position of the white marks on the tail feathers of this warbler； however； is the clue by which
