Family Virconiiiic- -Blue-Headed Vireo 83 



FAMILY VIREONID^E. 



35. BLUE-HEADED VIREO 

 SOLITARY VIREO 

 BLUE-HEADED OR SOLITARY GREENLET 



{Vireo solitaries .^) 



Upper parts olive-green, passing into ash on the head ; wings and 

 tail brown ; wings with two white bars ; under parts in general 

 white ; sides of breast and belly greenish yellow. Beak broad 

 and strong, dark ; feet dark. Bird about two-thirds the size 

 of a sparrow. Sexes similar. 



THE solitary vireo may be distinguished from 

 other vireos at a glance by the bluish head. It is 

 to be sought in woodlands, and therefore, though 

 not very rare, is less well known than its relatives. 

 It breeds usually in northern New England ; it 

 passes through Massachusetts on its way north in 

 late April or early May, and returns in September 

 or early October. It sometimes, however, remains 

 to breed with us. 



Its nest is said to resemble that of the yellow- 

 throated vireo ; it is always built in the woods, 

 sometimes in swampy ones. 



The song is said to be a musical mellow warble, 

 and the bird sings all day long. This, however, is 



