Notes on a few American Warblers.



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The Blue Yellow-Backecl, or Pamla Warbler [Compsothypis

americana], is also a blue-grey and yellow bird. It has a very

indistinct band of dark colour, which is sometimes reddish-brown>

across its yellow waistcoat; two white patches or bars on the wings,

and two or three at the end of the tail help to distinguish it. Parulas

are wonderfully graceful little birds; they are oftenest seen fluttering

about near the outside twigs and branches of tall trees. They live

chiefly on insects. They nest in Canada, where we often saw them,

and they winter in Florida, where we also met them. Their song is

a sweet “ thready ” little warble.


The Bedstart, or Yellow-tailed Warbler [Setophaga ruticilla],

is a lovely little bird in the breeding season, for then his colouring is

rich pinkish orange, with a shiny metallic-black head, a white breast

shading to orange, black wings lined with orange, and a black and

orange tail. During the rest of the year you may see a dull

brownish-black bird which is difficult to recognise as your brilliant

springtime acquaintance. The hens are yellow where the cocks are

orange, the young are most like the hen. This Redstart has an odd

sharp little note which it repeats several times in succession. It feeds

on insects, dashing out at them with sudden short flight, spreading

its tail like a Fantail Warbler. This bird, it is said, takes two years

to reach its perfect plumage.


The Myrtle Warbler [Dendroica coronata] has a grey-bluish

back, the under parts are mottled and streaked with black, and it has

two white bars on its wings, but the surest way of distinguishing it

is by looking out for its four yellow patches, one on its head, one on

its back and one on either side. It is a very common bird in Florida,

but migrates as far as Canada.when the nesting-time comes. Myrtle

Warblers live chiefly on myrtle and juniper berries and the like,

and if food is plentiful and the weather fairly mild some birds may

remain north even through the winter.


The Black-throated Blue Warbler [Dendroica cceruleseens] is

rather more a grey-blue bird than a really blue one, with a light grey

head shading to dark above the tail, with black breast, sides, throat

and cheeks, while the under parts are pure white; a conspicuous

white spot on the wings is a help towards identification. The nest is

generally placed in low bushes, and in rather damp places in woods.



