LXXX 



Myrtle Warbler; Yellow-rumped Warbler; Yellow- 

 crowned Warbler ; Myrtle Bird 

 655. Dendroica aestiva aestiva 



You may identify this migrant Warbler by its four 

 spots of yellow ; the central crown patch, the rump patch 

 and two on either side of the breast. The general color- 

 ing of the Myrtle Warbler is slaty-blue; the belly is 

 white and the throat also is white. It has a white line 

 over the eye and a white bar directly beneath it that 

 accentuates the eye and gives it a prominence not seen 

 in many birds. The length of the bird is about five and 

 one-half inches. The Audubon Warbler is marked the 

 same with additional yellow on the throat. (Fig. 124.) 



The Myrtle Warbler breeds in Canada and Minne- 

 sota. It winters from the southern half of the United 

 States to Panama. It is the only Warbler found near 

 Kansas City during the entire winter. It is a trim-made 

 bird and is very graceful in its movements. While feed- 

 ing it has the combined traits of a Flycatcher, Wren and 

 Nuthatch, and is fond of insects, bayberries and the seed 

 of the poison oak. 



Like all birds whose diet consists of a mixture of 

 insects and berries this bird is a less typical migrant 

 than most of the Warbler family. The Myrtle Warbler 

 is one of the most abundant migrating Warblers, and 

 may be seen in April and October in almost any place 

 where patches of trees and climbing vines are plentiful. 

 It is usually mixed in with Sparrows and other small 

 birds. 



The nest is usually built in low bushes, rarely on 

 the ground. The eggs, four in number, are cream-col- 

 ored or buff. This Warbler is rather friendly during 

 migration ; the picture in this collection was secured with 

 the bird within six feet of the camera. 



The Warbler family is found only in North and 

 South America, and is one of the largest, comprising 

 about one hundred and fifty-five species, half of this num- 



212 



