G22 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



than we now know of, very possibly extending into northern Wisconsin 

 and Minnesota, as well as over much of the area between Lake Superior 

 and Hudson Bay, and possibly stretching eastward toward Labrador 

 and westward to or into Manitoba. 



During migration the bird is known to frequent low growths, but has 

 not been noticed to spend much time upon the ground, or to show any 

 marked fondness for evergreens. On its nesting grounds it frequents 

 regions characterized by the presence of jack-pines, larger Norway pines, 

 and, where these have been cut off, "more or less thick growths of small 

 jack-pines, yellow oak and poplar." The ground is covered with a mat of 

 wintergreen (Gautheria), sweetfern and trailing arbutus. Burnt stubs 

 give evidence of forest fires and there is a variety of small shrubs and 

 young trees which varies with the locality. In this region Kirtland's 

 Warbler may be found anywhere, the males perched on the branches or 

 tops of low trees, rendering their clear loud song at frequent intervals, 

 while the nest is placed on the ground and completely hidden among 

 the vines and herbage. Mr. Wood describes the nest as about two inches 

 in diameter inside, and the same in depth, very neat and compact, and 

 composed of strips of soft bark and vegetable fibre, thickly lined with fine 

 dead grass, pine needles and a few horse hairs. The single egg, taken from 

 a nest in which were two young birds about ten days old, is described as 

 "a delicate pinkish white (since the contents are removed it has faded to 

 dull white), thinly sprinkled with several shades of brown spots, forming 

 a sort of wreath at the larger end." This egg is .72 bv .56 inches. 



In the Oologist, Vol. 21, 1904, No. 10, Mr. E. Arnolddescribes two nests 

 and eggs, taken in Oscoda county, Michigan in 1904, as follows: "On 

 June 15th I took a male and female and beautiful nest and four fresh eggs. 

 These, so far as I know, are the first full sets of this bird known to science. 

 The nests were on the ground, in dead vegetation of deer- vines, winter- 

 green and various vines. The female is a very close sitter and the nests 

 very hard to find. Dendroica kirtlandi is confined during the breeding 

 season to the jack-pine plains. The nest is sunk in the ground and always 

 well concealed by surrounding vines and vegetation. The female on the 

 eggs allowed me to stand within six inches of the nest and to almost touch 

 her; I could have put my hat over her on the nest. The male is a beautiful 

 singer and very noticeable." 



Prof. Lynds Jones, who studied two migrant Kirtland's Warblers near 

 Oberlin, Ohio on May 7 and 9, 1900 says: "The song was loud and clear, 

 given with all the vigor of a wren or kinglet, and the body being straightened 

 to almost a perpendicular direction and beak pointed sti-aight up. * * * 

 The song is a doubly phrased one, the first part slightly longer and a little 

 less rapidly uttered. I have written it thus; ter ter ter tee; tswee te chu. " 

 (Wilson Bulletin, No. 32, July 1900). 



Mr. Wood, in his description of the bird's habits on its nesting ground, 

 speaks of its song as "loud, clear, joyous and full of sweet melody. This 

 song may be described as follows: 'weche chee-chee-chee-r-r-r.' The 

 r-sound is quite prolonged and loud. The first two notes are low, then the 

 notes gradually increase in volume to the end. I heard this song repeated 

 at intervals of about thirty seconds and from different directions. * * * 

 Finally I saw the singer flit from a bush to a yellow oak scrub and light 

 but three feet above the ground. As I watched him he sat ciuite erect, 

 threw forward his head and the wonderful song rang out. This song was 

 remarkable because of its volume and rich melody." Another male which 



