bird neighbors-第42章
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diet of insects； attracted by the fruit in orchards and gardens。
Never far from the ground； on two or more parallel branches； the shallow； unsubstantial nest is laid。 Some one has cleverly described it as 〃a tuft of hay caught by the limb from a load driven under it；〃 but this description omits all mention of the quantities of blossoms that must be gathered to line the cradle for the tiny； cream white eggs spotted with brown。
YELLOW…BELLIED FLYCATCHER （Empidonax flaviventris） Flycatcher family
Length 5 to 5。6 inches。 About an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Rather dark； but true olive…green above。 Throat and breast yellowish olive； shading into pale yellow underneath； including wing linings and under tail coverts。 Wings have yellowish bars。 Whitish ring around eye。 Upper part of bill black； under part whitish or flesh…colored。 Female Smaller； with brighter yellow under parts and more decidedly yellow wing…bars。 Range North America； from Labrador to Panama； and westward from the Atlantic to the plains。 Winters in Central America。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。 More commonly a migrant only。
This is the most yellow of the small flycatchers and the only Eastern species with a yellow instead of a white throat。 Without hearing its call…note； 〃pse…ek…pse…ek；〃 which it abruptly sneezes rather than utters； it is quite impossible； as it darts among the trees； to tell it from the Acadian flycatcher； with which even Audubon confounded it。 Both these little birds choose the same sort of retreats well…timbered woods near a stream that attracts myriads of insects to its spongy shores and both are rather shy and solitary。 The yellow…bellied species has a far more northerly range； however； than its Southern relative or even the small green…crested flycatcher。 It is rare in the Middle States； not common even in New England； except in the migrations； but from the Canada border northward its soft； plaintive whistle； which is its love…song； may be heard in every forest 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…oli
