bird neighbors-第47章
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g up the cowbird's egg； and depositing her own on the soft； spongy floor above it。 This operation has been known to be twice repeated； until the nest became three stories high； when a persistent cowbird made such unusual architecture necessary。
The most common nesting place of the yellow warbler is in low willows along the shores of streams。
YELLOW…BREASTED CHAT （Icteria virens） Wood Warbler family
Called also： POLYGLOT CHAT； YELLOW MOCKING BIRD
Length 7。5 inches。 A trifle over an inch longer than the English sparrow。 Male and Female Uniform olive…green above。 Throat； breast； and under side of wings bright； clear yellow。 Underneath white。 Sides grayish。 White line over the eye； reaching to base of bill and forming partial eye…ring。 Also white line on sides of throat。 Bill and feet black。 Range North America； from Ontario to Central America and westward to the plains。 Most common in Middle Atlantic States。 Migrations Early May。 Late August or September。 Summer resident。
This largest of the warblers might be mistaken for a dozen birds collectively in as many minutes； but when it is known that the jumble of whistles； parts of songs； chuckles； clucks； barks； quacks； whines； and wails proceed from a single throat； the yellow…breasted chat becomes a marked specimen forthwith a conspicuous individual never to be confused with any other member of the feathered tribe。 It is indeed absolutely unique。 The catbird and the mocking…bird are rare mimics； but while the chat is not their equal in this respect； it has a large repertoire of weird； uncanny cries all its own a power of throwing its voice； like a human ventriloquist； into unexpected corners of the thicket or meadow。 In addition to its extraordinary vocal feats； it can turn somersaults and do other clown…like stunts as well as any variety actor on the Bowery stage。
Only by creeping cautiously towards the roadside tangle； where this 〃rollicking polyglot〃 is entertaining himself and his mate； brooding over her speckled eggs in a bulky nest set in a most inaccessible briery part of the thicket； can you hope to hear him rattle through his variety performance。 Walk boldly or noisily past his retreat； and there is 〃silence there and nothing more。〃 But two very bright eyes peer out at you through the undergrowth； where the trim； elegant…looking bird watches you with quizzical suspicion until you quietly seat yourself assume silent indifference。 〃Whew； whew！〃 he begins； and then immediately； with evident intent to amuse； he rattles off an indescribable； eccentric medley until your ears are tired listening。 With bill uplifted； tail drooping； wings fluttering at his side； he cuts an absurd figure enough； but not so comical as when he rises into the air； trailing his legs behind him stork…fashion。 This surely is the clown among birds。 But any though he is； he is as capable of devotion to his Columbine as Punchinello； and remains faithfully mated year after year。 However much of a tease and a deceiver he may be to the passer…by along the roadside； in the privacy of the domestic circle he shows truly lovable traits。
He has the habit of singing in his unmusical way on moonlight nights。 Probably his ventriloquial powers are cultivated not for popular entertainment； but to lure intruders away from his nest。
MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT （Geothlypis trichas） Wood Warbler family
Called also： BLACK…MASKED GROUND WARBLER； ＇COMMON YELLOWTHROAT； AOU 1998＇
Length 5。33 inches。 Just an inch shorter than the typical English sparrow。 Male Olive…gray on head； shading to olive…green on all the other upper parts。 Forehead； cheeks； and sides of head black； like a mask； and bordered behind by a grayish line。 Throat and breast bright yellow； growing steadily paler underneath。 Female Either totally lacks black mask or its place is Indicated by only a dusky tint。 She is smaller and duller。 Range Eastern North America； west to the plains； most common east of the Alleghanies。 Nests from the Gulf States to Labrador and Manitoba； winters south of Gulf States to Panama。 Migrations May。 September。 Common summer resident。
〃Given a piece of marshy ground with an abundance of skunk cabbage and a fairly dense growth of saplings； and near by a tangle of green brier and blackberry； and you will be pretty sure to have it tenanted by a pair of yellowthroats；〃 says Dr。 Abbott； who found several of their nests in skunk…cabbage plants； which he says are favorite cradles。 No animal cares to touch this plant if it can be avoided； but have the birds themselves no sense of smell？
Before and after the nesting season these active birds； plump of form； elegant of attire； forceful； but not bold； enter the scrubby pastures near our houses and the shrubbery of old… fashioned； overgrown gardens； and peer out at the human wanderer therein with a charming curiosity。 The bright eyes of the male masquerader shine through his black mask； where he intently watches you from the tangle of syringa and snowball bushes； and as he flies into the laburnum with its golden chain of blossoms that pale before the yellow of his throat and breast； you are so impressed with his grace and elegance that you follow too audaciously； he thinks； and off he goes。 And yet this is a bird that seems to delight in being pursued。 It never goes so far away that you are not tempted to follow it； though it be through dense undergrowth and swampy thickets； and it always gives you just glimpse enough of its beauties and graces before it flies ahead； to invite the hope of a closer inspection next time。 When it dives into the deepest part of the tangle； where you can imagine it hunting about among the roots and fallen leaves for the larvae； caterpillars； spiders； and other insects on which it feeds； it sometimes amuses itself with a simple little song between the hunts。 But the bird's indifference； you feel sure； arises from preoccupation rather than rudeness。
If； however； your visit to the undergrowth is unfortunately timed and there happens to be a bulky nest in process of construction on the ground； a quickly repeated； vigorous chit； pit； quit； impatiently inquires the reason for your bold intrusion。 Withdraw discreetly and listen to the love…song that is presently poured out to reassure his plain little maskless mate。 The music is delivered with all the force and energy of his vigorous nature and penetrates to a surprising distance。 〃Follow me； follow me； follow me；〃 many people hear him say； others write the syllables； 〃Wichity； wichity； wichity； wichity〃； and still others write them； 〃I beseech you； I beseech you； I beseech you；〃 though the tones of this self…assertive bird rather command than entreat。 Mr。 Frank Chapman says of the yellowthroats： 〃They sing throughout the summer； and in August add a flight…song to their repertoire。 This is usually uttered toward evening； when the bird springs several feet into the air； hovers for a second； and then drops back to the bushes。〃
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER （Dendroica blackburnia） Wood Warbler family
Called also： HEMLOCK WARBLER； ORANGE…THROATED WARBLER； TORCH…BIRD
Length 4。5 to 5。5 inches。 An inch and a half smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Head black； striped with orange…flame； throat and breast orange； shading through yellow to white underneath； wings； tail； and part of back black； with white markings。 Female Olive…brown above； shading into yellow on breast； and paler under parts。 Range Eastern North America to plains。 Winters in tropics。 Migrations May。 September。 Spring and autumn migrant。
〃The orange…throated warbler would seem to be his right name； his characteristic cognomen；〃 says John Burroughs； in ever…delightful 〃Wake Robin〃； 〃but no； he is doomed to wear the name of some discoverer； perhaps the first who robbed his nest or rifled him of his mate Blackburn； hence； Blackburnian warbler。 The burn seems appropriate enough； for in these dark evergreens his throat and breast show like flame。 He has a very fine warble； suggesting that of the redstart； but not especially musical。〃
No foliage is dense enough to hide； and no autumnal tint too brilliant to outshine this luminous little bird that in May； as it migrates northward to i
