JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 635 



i/ 



297. Lanivireo solitarius (WiLS.). 



BLUE-HEADED VIREO. 



Vireo solitarius (Wils.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 264. 



Distr.: United States and British Provinces east of the Rocky 



Mountains, south in winter to Cuba and Central America; breeds 



from southern New England, Wisconsin, and Minnesota northward. 



Adult: Crown and sides of head, slaty or plumbeous; eye ring, 



white; back and rump, olive green; throat, breast, and middle of 



belly, white; sides of body, olive, 

 shading into olive yellow on flanks; 

 greater and middle wing coverts, 

 tipped with white, forming wing 

 bars; inner secondaries, edged with 

 white; first primary, very short and 

 small, less than % inch long; tail 

 feathers, more or less edged with 

 white. Sexes similar. 



Length, 5.50; wing, 2.95; tail, 

 2.18; bill, .37. 



The Blue-headed Vireo is a common migrant in Illinois in May 

 and September and a more or less common summer resident in 

 Wisconsin. The song is a melodious warble, somewhat similar but 

 softer than that of the Red-eyed Vireo. 



Kumlien and Hollister say: " A common migrant in May and Sep- 

 tember and a regular summer resident in limited numbers. Dr. 

 Hoy reported it as nesting at Racine and we have noted it as a sum- 

 mer resident at Madison, Two Rivers, Milwaukee, and Jefferson. 

 We have, however, found but one nest (Bark River woods, Jefferson 

 County) and this. contained young almost able to fly." (Birds of Wis- 

 consin, 1903, p. 108.) 



The nest is built in the lower branches of a small tree or in large 

 bushes. The eggs are 3 or 4, pure white, with a few scattered spots 

 of black and brown, chiefly at the larger end, and measure about 

 79 x .55 inches. 



