538 LAND BIRDS 



representative of the Audubon warbler " because its range 

 is extended eastward to the Rocky Mountains. But it 

 certainly seems more like a Western representative of the 

 Myrtle Warbler, with its white throat and its early mi- 

 gration. East and West it is one of the first of its family 

 to start for the breeding grounds in the spring. 



656. AUDUBON W ARBLER. — Den droica auduboni. 

 Family ; The Wood Warblers. 



LengtJi: 5.12-6.00. 



Adult Male in Spring and Summer : Throat and rump yellow ; upper 

 parts bluish slate, streaked with black ; large white patches on wing- 

 coverts ; tail black, with patch of white ; under parts with patches of 

 white, yellow, and black. 



Adult Female in Sjmng and Summer: Similar, but colors duller, and 

 with less black on under parts; u})per parts tinged with brown; 

 yellow crown patch restricted and partly tipped with brownish gray ; 

 wing-bands narrower ; chest and sides grayish, marked with black ; 

 color-patches restricted. 



Adult Male in Fall and Winter : Duller and browner than summer 

 males. 



Adult Female in Fall and Winter : Similar to winter male, but smaller 

 and duller. 



Young: Upper parts streaked dark and light brownish gray; under 

 parts light and streaked. 



Geographical Distribution: Western North America, north as far as 

 British Columbia ; east to eastern base of Rocky ^rountains ; winters 

 in valleys of Western United States, and south to Guatemala. 



California. Brecdiiig Range : In Transition zone along the Sierra Nevada 

 from the San Bernardino mountains to Shasta County. 



Breeding Season : May and June. 



Nest: Usually in pines or spruces, 4 to 5 feet from the ground ; com- 

 posed of shreds of bark, pine needles, and fine rootlets; lined with 

 hair and feathers. 



Fggs : 4 or 5 ; greenish, speckled with black, brown, and purple. Size 

 0.67 X 0.52. 



Mrs. Bailey calls this bird " the whirligig of perpetual 

 motion/' and the name fits. A flash of yellow, black. 



