WARBLERS 



145 



that of the side of head overlaid by olive-green tips to 

 the feathers, and that of the throat replaced by nearly 

 iniiform lemon-yellow, with black appearing as spots 

 or blotches on sides of chest; black streaks of back, 

 etc., concealed. Anui.T Fem.vle: Very similar in 

 coloration to the autumn and winter adult male, but 

 black streaks on upper parts much narrower ( sometimes 

 nearly obsolete, usually mere shaft-lines), the streaks 

 on sides also usually narrower, sometimes indistinct ; 

 crown, sometimes blackish, and throat often blotched 

 with black, occasionally extensively so. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest : Usually in willows about 



4 feet from ground ; constructed of decayed plant 

 fibers, leaves, and roots and lined with rootlets, hair, 

 and plant down. Eggs : 3 or 4, spotted mainly around 

 larger end with brown, lavender, and burnt-umber. 



Distribution. — Western North America ; breeding 

 from mountains of southern California to Alaska, east- 

 ward to eastern Oregon, northwestern Idaho, etc. ; 

 during migration eastward to Rocky Mountains, west- 

 ern Texas and southward over western and central 

 Mexico to highlands of Guatemala, 'I'res Marias Islands, 

 and extremity of Lower California; occasionally east- 

 ward to South Carolina. 



Tile Townsend \\ arbler is perhaps our most 

 bcautifitl Warbler of the West. 1\) nic, its 

 beauty is increased by its shyness. ( )ne does 

 not get a good chance to study this restless bird, 

 because, W'arbler-Hke, it is always moving, espe- 

 cially among the firs and hemlocks which, because 

 of their height and density, are not at all favor- 

 able for bird study. 



I have never found the Townsend Warbler 

 nesting, but I see it occasionally through Oregon 

 and California during the winter season when it 

 is always on the travel. During the season of 

 migration, one may often see this bird traveling 

 with a flock of Auduhon W'arlilers. 



Mr. William L. Dawson characterizes the 

 song and the hunting actions of the Townsend 

 Warbler as follows : " The song ran, dzivce, 



d~i\.'cc. dci<'cc, dzzvcc, dz'occtscc. the first four 

 notes drowsy and drawling, the fourth prolonged, 

 ;md the remainder somewhat furry and squeaky. 

 The bird hunted patiently through the long 

 needles of the pine, under what would seem to 

 rui observer great difficulties. Once he espied 

 an especially desirable tidbit on the under side 

 (if ;i needle-beset branch. The bird leaned over 

 .ind peered beneath, until he quite lost his balance 

 and turned a somersault in the air. But he re- 

 turned to the charge again and again, now 

 creeping cautiously around to the under si.de, 

 now clinging to the pine needles themselves, and 

 again fluttering bravelv in the midst, tintil he 

 succeeded in exhausting the little pocket of prov- 

 ender, whatever it was." 



William L. Finlev, 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (J nat. size) 

 The " most beautiful warbler of tlie West." -Finley 



