198 



The Black-poll Warbler is one of the latest warblers to arrive in the 

 spring, usually after most of the other migrant hordes have gone north. 



662. Blackburnian Warbler, fr. — la fauvette de blackburn. Dendroicafusca. 

 L, 5-25. Plate XLII A. The black upperparts and flaming orange throat are distinctive 

 in the case of the adult male. In the female the orange colour of the throat though faint is 

 easily recognizable. The young in the autumn are like the adult female although the young 

 females are duller in colour, the throat and breast only retaining a faint yellow colouring. 



Distinctions. Adult and autumn males are unmistakable. Autumn females may be 

 confused with autumn Black-polls and Bay-breasts but the clearer yellow on the throat, 

 the absence of a greenish tinge below, and the dark ear coverts with conspicuous buff eye- 

 brow line are diagnostic characters. 



Field Marks. The bright orange or warm yellow confined to throat and breast and 

 orange-yellow or buff eyebrow stripe, in contrast to the dark cheeks and crown, make the 

 best field marks. 



Nesting. In coniferous trees 10 to 14 feet or more above the ground in nest of fine 

 twigs and grasses lined with grasses and tendrils. 



Distribution. Eastern North America west to the prairie provinces; breeding mostly 

 north of dense settlement. 



The male Blackburnian has the bright plumage commonly associated 

 with the tropics rather than with our colder climates. The species asso- 

 ciates with many other warblers in the treetops of the open woods or orchard. 



667. Black-throated Green Warbler, fr. — la fauvette a poitrine noibE' 

 Dendroica virens. L, 5-10. Plate XLII B. 



Distinctions. A green warbler with bright yellow cheeks and sharply contrasting black 

 throat and breast. In females and juvenile males the black is almost wanting or indicated 

 only by vague interrupted black suffusions which are stronger on the breast. In young 

 females the black is reduced to dull cloudings at the sides of the breast and flanks. In all 

 plumages the underparts are white and the back and crown clear, even green. Bright 

 yellow predominates on the cheeks. 



Field Marks. For juveniles, the green back, yellow cheeks, and white below. For 

 adults, the black throat and breast contrasting with yellow face and white below. 



Nesting. In coniferous trees 5 to 30 feet above the ground in nest of small twigs and 

 moss lined with rootlets, fine grasses, and tendrils. 



Distribution. North America, west to the mountains. Breeding in eastern Canada 

 wherever cedar or evergreen thickets are found except in extreme southern portions. 



A striking bird, fond of scrubby evergreen when available but is also 

 found in the orchard and in hardwood tree-tops. 



670. Kirtland's Warbler. Dendroica kirtlandi. L, 5-75. Blue-grey above heavily 

 striped with black on back, and finely striped on crown. All below, except under tail, 

 pale yellow with black stripes on sides of breast and flanks. Females and juveniles 

 similar but duller, and breast stripes broken and forming spots. 



Distinctions. Kirtland's Warbler resembles the Canadian Warbler, but is larger; 

 the yellow is paler and the black stripes are on the flanks and do not tend to make 

 necklace suspended from the ears as in that species; and the back is marked with black 

 instead of being clear grey. The only other warbler that might be mistaken for it is the 

 Magnolia but the black does not cross the breast as it does in adult Magnolias, and there is 

 no yeUow or greenish on the back or rump. 



Field Marks. The species is too rare to be accepted on eye identification alone. 



Nesting. On ground at foot of pme or oak trees in nest of soft bark, strips of vegetable 

 fibre, and grass lined with fine grass, pine needles, and hair. 



Distribution. Winters in the Bahama islands. The only known breeding station is a 

 limited section of the jack-pine plains in the northern part of the lower peninsula of 

 Michigan. The species has only been taken twice in Canada, both specimens being taken 

 in the lower Great Lakes region. Its nest should be looked for in the Bruce peninsula of 

 Ontario and around the Great Lakes west to the lake Superior country. 



