(516 MICIIIGAIM BIRD LIFE. 



igan it has been found tluis far only in the valleys of streams where these 

 trees abound. Nevertheless, it has been sought for carefully in many 

 regions in middle Michigan where sycamores are abundant, but thus far 

 without success. 



The closely related Yellow-throated Warbler, D. dominica, does not 

 occur in Michigan, although the name occurs in Stockwell's list of Michigan 

 birds (Forest and Stream, VIII, 17, 261), and the species was erroneously 

 included in the second edition of Professor Cook's list of 1893. This bird 

 nests at the south among the upper branches of high trees (often pines), 

 where it builds a bulky nest and lays four eggs, with a grayish white ground 

 color, dotted with pale hlac. ProLably the nest and eggs of the Sycamore 

 Warbler resemble those of its near relative. 



According to Ridgway the song of the Sycamore Warbler "is somewhat 

 like that of the Indigo-bird, and it requires a practiced ear to distin- 

 guish them; the tone is remarkably similar, but there is a difference in 

 the modulation, which, after one becomes thoroughly acquainted with it 

 renders it distinguishable. In its motions this warbler partakes much of 

 the character of a creeper, often ascending or descending trunks of trees 

 or following their branches much in the manner of Mniotilta." According 

 to Dr. Gibbs " The song is a very characteristic one and bears no resemblance 

 to anything I have ever heard. It may be expressed by the syllables 

 'tee-o-tee-o-tee-o, tow-tee,' accented on the second tee and with a rising 

 inflection on the final syllable. This song is repeated at intervals of 15 

 seconds, and kept up for an hour or more" (Forest and Stream, July 30, 

 1885). 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult male: Upper iiarts clear gray with the exception of the forehead, wliicii is black; 

 a narrow white line from base of upper mandible to and over the eye, becoming broader 

 behind the eye, where it often blends with a large white patch on the side of the neck; 

 a white spot on the lower eyelid; lores, cheeks, and a line along the side of the neck deep 

 black, continued into a series of black spots and streaks along the sides of breast and 

 belly; chin, and throat golden yellow, sharply bounded on the sides by black and below 

 by the pure white of the upper breast; rest of under j^arts white; two white wing-bars; 

 two outer tail-feathers with terminal half of inner webs white. 



Length 4.50 to 5.50 inches; wing 2.50 to 2.70; tail 2 to 2.20. Sexes alike in color and 



281. Black-throated Green Warbler. Dendroica virens (Gmrl.). (667) 



Synonyms: Evergreen Warbler, (Ireen Black-throat. — Motacilla virens, (Imcl., 17S1). 

 Sylvia or Sylvicola virens of the older writers, Dendroica virens of tlie more recent. 



Fig. 139. 



The velvet-black throat, breast and sides, and bright yellow cheeks 

 and face, are sufficiently characteristic in the adult male. In addition, 

 the upper parts are rich olive green and there are two ))road white wing-bars 

 and conspicuous white tail markings. 



Distribution. — Eastern North America to the Plains, north to Hudson 

 Bay Territory ; breeding from Connecticut and northern Illinois northward, 

 and south along the Alleghanies to South Carolina. In winter south to 

 Cuba and Panama. 



This is one of our most abundant war])lers during migration and is 

 resident in considei-able numl)ei's dui-ing summer in a huge ])art of the 



