THE SYCAMi >RE WARBLER. 157 



The song of the Blackburnian Warbler is of the squeaky order and 

 the notes, altho penetrating enough and undertaken with considerable energy, 

 lack volume and fade out to a fairy whisper before the song is done. 

 "Ssu-witts, ssu-witts, ssu-witts, ssu-witts, ssu-witts, ssu-zvitts, ssu-witts, 

 ssu-witts" is one attempt to express this duodecimo songster. 



No. 70. 



SYCAMORE WARBLER. 



A. O. U. No. 663a. Dendroica dominica aibilora Ridgw. 



Synonyms. — White-browed Warbler; White-browed Yellow-throated 

 Warbler. 



Description. — Adults: Above bluish-gray; on forehead interspersed with 

 black; a short median frontal line, a superciliary stripe reaching to nostril, and 

 the lower eyelid, white; throat bright yellow, bordered on side by extensive black 

 cheek-patch, which includes lores and is produced behind on lower neck ; behind 

 this on neck a white area continuous with superciliary stripe; remaining under 

 parts white, heavily streaked with black on sides ; black streaks gathered on each 

 side into a loose chain connecting with black of cheeks; wings and tail dusky, 

 with bluish or ashy edgings, the former with two broad white bars formed in the 

 usual fashion ; subterminal white blotches on two outer pairs of rectrices ; bill and 

 feet dark. Immature : Similar to adult, but much tinged with brown above and 

 below; black of head subdued, and yellow of throat paler. Length 4.50-5.50 

 (114.3-139.7) ; av. of six Columbus specimens: wing 2.47 (62.7) ; tail 1.83 (46.5 I : 

 bill .44 (i 1. 2). 



Recognition Marks. — Medium size; lemon-yellow throat bordered by black- 

 on sides, and abruptly by white below; white superciliary line. 



Nest, usually placed at a considerable height in sycamore or other trees, near 

 water; of weed-stalks, twigs, and grasses, lined with plant-down, etc. Bggs,_ 4 

 or 5, white or grayish white, speckled and spotted distinctly or obscurely with 

 reddish- or olive-brown, sometimes gathered in wreath about larger end. Av. 

 size, .69 x .53 ( 17.5 x 13.5). 



General Range.— Mississippi and Ohio Valleys west to the Plains, north to 

 Lake Erie and southern Michigan, east to western North Carolina; in winter 

 south to southern Mexico and Central America. 



Range in Ohio. — Formerly abundant, now less common ; along wooded 

 streams, principally in southern; south-central, and western portions, but locally 

 wherever sycamore trees abound. Breeds. 



IN view of the recent changes in the status of this species, it is well 

 to recall Dr. Wheaton's words penned in Columbus some twenty-five years 

 ago: "Not rare summer resident: common during the spring migration. 



