192 



637. Prothonotary Warbler. Protonotaria citrea. L, 5-50. A golden yellow war- 

 bler, bright rich chrome or golden on head and most of underparts and with greyish 

 wings, tail, and rump. There is little plumage variation. 



Distinctions. The only warbler with an intense even golden head, neck and breast 

 without wing-bars. The Pine and Wilson's Warbler have green or black crowns; the 

 Yellow Warbler is without the grey wings and tail and is lemon yellow rather than 

 orange or golden. 



Field Marks. The Prothonotary is too rare a species in Canada to record from 

 living specimens. 



Nesting. In a hole in a stub or stump in nest of rootlets, fine twigs and moss, plant 

 down, or feathers. 



Distribution. Mississippi valley north barely to Canadian boundary which it only 

 crosses accidentally in the lower Great Lakes region. 



This is only included in the Canadian list on the basis of a few accidental 

 occurrences in the lower Great Lakes region. It is a bird of drowned lands, 

 and of bushes standing in dead water. 



Genus — Vermivora, Worm-eating Warblers. 



The genus Vermivora is a group of small slightly built warblers in 

 which the following characters are most easily recognized. The bill is 

 small, sharply pointed, almost spine-like, and the culmen line is straight or 

 almost concave rather than convex or slightly arched (Figure 57, p. 27). 

 The tails are solidly coloured and without white spots. 



639. Worm-eating Warbler. Helmitheros vermivorus. L, 5-51. Dull olive above; 

 head buffy with conspicuously contrasting dark brown lines through the eye and bor- 

 dering crown. There is little plumage variation. 



Distinctions. The only warbler with this distinctive dark and buffy head marking. 

 The bill is rather heavy for a warbler of tliis genus. 



Field Marks. Too rare in Canada to trust to sight record for identification. 



Nesting. On ground; nest of rootlets, leaves, and bark. 



Distribution. Eastern United States; only one record in Canada, in southern Ontario. 



A bird of wooded banks or swampy thickets, feeding near the ground. 



641. Blue- winged Warbler. Vermivora pinus. L, 4-80. A green warbler with 

 yellow forehead, throat, breast, and underparts; a fine black line through eye and blue- 

 grey wings and tail. Two white wing-bars. Female similar but duller. Little plumage 

 variation. 



Distinctions. The bright yellow face and underparts with black eye stripe and blue- 

 grey wings with white bars are distinctive. 



Field Marks. Too rare in Canada to rely on field marks for identification. 



Nesting. On ground generally in or at the border of second growth in nest of bark 

 and leaves lined with fine strips of bark and tendrils, firmly wrapped with leaves. 



Distribution. Eastern North America; regularly stopping south of the Canadian 

 border and only accidentally crossing it in southern Ontario. 



Though taken only once in Canada this is a most interesting species as 

 it hybridizes with the next species, the Golden-Winged, forming puzzling 

 hybrids that were long regarded as separate species under the names of 

 Lawrence's and Brewster's Warblers. 



642. Golden-winged Warbler. Vermivora chrysoptera. L, 5-10. A blue-grey 

 warbler; male, white or very light grey below darkening on the flanks, with yellow cap 

 and wing-patch and black cheeks and throat. Female Similar to male but somewhat 

 reduced in brightness and the blacks represented by dark grey. There is little age or 

 seasonal plumage variation. 



Distinctions. The blue-grey body, yellow wing patch, and black throat and eye- 

 patches are distinctive. 



