672 MICHICAN BIRD LIFE. 



on the back and pale olive-green on tlie rump; a whitish stripe from nostril over eye, but 

 without any dark line above it; side of head and nec-k grayish-buff, this color extending 

 aloiii; t lie sides of breast ami body, where it becomes slightly more yellowisli, but never really 

 yellow; rest of under parts jjure white or buffy white; wings and tail plain grayish, the 

 exposed edges of feathers glossed with olive-green, but no spots or bars; bill pale brownish, 

 lighter below; iris brown. Young l)irds resemble the adults closely, but are pure white 

 below, except the under tail-coverts which are yellowish; the greater wing-coverts tipped 

 with buffy. 



Length 5 to 5.50 inches; wing 2.(15 to 2.95; tail 2.10 to 2.40; culinen about .42. 



258. Yellow-throated Vireo. Lanivireo flavifrons {VieilL). (628) 



Synonyms: Yellow-throated Greenlet. — Vireo flavifrons, VieilL, 1807, A. O. IT. Check- 

 list, 1886, and most other authors. — Lanivireo flavifrons, Lawr., 1856. 



The two white wing-bars and bright yellow throat and lireast are dis- 

 tinctive. The first primary is not spurious. 



Distribution. — Eastern United States, north to Ontario and Manitoba, 

 south in winter to Colombia. Breeds from Florida and the Gulf States 

 northward. 



This, our most brightly colored vireo, is generally distributed throughout 

 the state, occurring everywhere during migration and nesting with some fre- 

 quency in most sections of the state, but apparently more abundantly toward 

 the north. It shows a decided preference for heavy hardwood timber, and 

 according to many observers nests in oak woods in wet groimd. According 

 to the writer's experience it is fully as often found in orchards and along the 

 edges of second growth woods, and its nest is as often placed in such situa- 

 tions as in the deep forest. Its clear flute-like song and its loud harsh 

 scolding notes are characteristic sounds of the summer woods and the 

 bird is not likely to pass unnoticed wherever it is at all common. 



The nest does not differ essentially from that of its relatives, but in 

 our experience is more lavishly decorated with odd and striking materials 

 than that of any other. Not infrequently one is found half covered with 

 bits of birch bark, insect cocoons, spiders' egg-sacs, and tufts of cotton 

 or bits of paper, making it a decidedly conspicuous nest. We have found 

 the nest at times within six feet of the ground and again at a height of 

 forty or fifty feet; ordinarily it is placed from ten to twenty feet uj). We 

 have never seen one which was not distinctly pensile and if ovei- built 

 otherwise it must be a rare exception. 



The eggs are similar to those of the vireos already described, but aside 

 from their somewhat larger size the spots are likely to be rather larger 

 and browner. The eggs are commonly three or foui-, and average .79 

 by .58 inches. 



Like all the other meml)ers of the family this bird is a voracious insect 

 eater and its work is entirely beneficial to the agricidturist. It does eat 

 a few wild fruits, but so far as we are aware no case of injury to any culti- 

 vated fruit has been recorded. 



By many the song of this liird is considered finer than that of the other 

 vireos. ProlnU)ly there is much individual variation, for the writer has 

 heard Solitary Vireos which he could not distinguish from the Yellow- 

 throat by the song, while occasional Yellow-throats have clearer, louder 

 and sweeter songs than any other species of his acquaintance, liicknell 

 says this is the only vireo which he has known to sing while on the wing. 



The Yellow-throated Vireo is a little late in ari'iving from the south, 

 seldom being heard, even in the southern pai't of tlio state, before the first 



