The Orange Crowned Warbler {Vermivora ceiata) 



By W. L. McAtee 



Length : About 5 inches. 



Range: Eastern North America, breeding as far north as the Yukon and 

 Mackenzie Rivers and southward through the Rocky Mountains ; wintering in 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf States and Mexico. Rare east of the Alleghenies, 

 north of Virginia. 



Description. — Adult: Above ashy olive-green, clearing and brighter on 

 the rump; crown with patch almost concealed, of orange-red (Saturn red) 

 feathers; wings and tail fuscous with some olive edging; below greenish-yellow, 

 dingy or vaguely streaked with olive on breast and sides. Immature: Without 

 orange of crown; more ashy above; duller below; eye-ring whitish. 



Recognition Marks. — Small warbler size ; orange crown-patch is distinctive, 

 but seldom seen in life; under parts duller and greener than last, not so white 

 as next species ; no contrast between general color of head and back. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground among clumps or 

 bushes, of coarse strips of bark, grasses and plant-stems, lined with fur and 

 hair. Eggs, 4-6, white or creamy-white, finely speckled with reddish brown, and 

 with fainter markings of purplish slate (Kennicott). .-Xv. size. .64 x .40 

 (16.3x11.7). 



H. ceiata is one of the rarer migrant Warblers, of which comparatively 

 little seems to be known. In its breeding haunts, which extend up to well 

 within the Arctic Circle, it is found to be a bird of the undergrowth and open 

 thickets ; but during its migration it is at least as likely to be seen in the 

 tree-tops along with the stricter denizens of the woods. A few of us report 

 seeing the species every year or so, and a conscientious shot even,' fourth year 

 confirms the record. 



Dr. Wheaton once came upon a male in full song. He describes the 

 notes as loud, emphatic, and rather monotonous, consisting of the syllables. 

 chicky-tick, tick, tick, tick. Professor Lynds Jones renders the song, dice. chee. 

 chec, chw, chw, and says that the first three syllables are rapidly uttered and the 

 last two more slowly. 



To those people who reside in the temperate regions of the United States 

 it is a very disappointing law of Nature that takes many of our beautiful and 

 sweet tempered little birds into the far North for the purpose of raising their 

 young. As a result of this natural law it is very difficult for students of bird- 

 life to become acquainted with many of the warblers. Their habits and the 

 characteristics of color and voice must be studied during the periods of northern 

 and southern migrations. The study is rendered more difficult, as they remain 

 but a few hours or a few days at the longest, while they are en route. Also, 

 while hurrying along on their journey, they fre((nent only the foliage of bush 



478 



