BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



active birds, constantly gleaning the leaves for food. The prevailing 

 colors are black, yellow, and olive-green, although gray, chestnut and 

 other colors occur in some species. There is great variation with age, 

 sex, and season, the females being generally dull and difficult to dis- 

 tinguish. The bill and feet are delicately formed. The length is gen- 

 erally between four and five inches. 



164. Caleveras Warbler; Helminthophila ruhricapilla gutturalis 

 (Ridgw.). 



This is the western race of the Nashville warbler, being more bril- 

 liantly colored than the eastern variety. Head and neck ashy gray, 

 generally with a concealed crown-patch of chestnut; back olive-green; 

 below entirely bright yellow. Female similar, but duller. Never very 

 common, but breeds in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 



165. Lutescent Warbler; Helminthophila celata lutescens 

 (Ridgw.). 



This is the western race of the orange-crowned warbler. Similar to 

 the preceding, but head olive-green like back, instead of gray, and lower 

 parts greenish yellow. An obscure crown-patch of orange brown. The 

 female is dull olive-greenish, paler below. This is a common and gen- 

 erally distributed species throughout the State, but rather secluded in its 

 haunts, living in the shrubbery of the canons. A race form known as 

 the Dusky Warbler inhabits Santa Barbara Island and winters on the 

 adjacent coast. 



1 66. Yellow Warbler, Summer Warbler ; Dendroica cesiiva 

 (Gmel). 



Sometimes called, without reason, "wild canary." A beautiful and 

 familiar species. Above bright yellow, the back tinged with olive-green. 

 Below bright yellow, streaked more or less distinctly with light brown. 

 Female similar, but duller, without the streaks below. The female 

 lutescent warbler and female summer warbler are often very similar in 

 color. The former species, however, has a dull grayish brown tail, 

 unvaried, while the latter bird has the outer webs grayish brown and 

 the inner webs yellow. An abundant summer resident everywhere, 

 nesting in villages as well as in the woodland. 



1 67. Myrtle or Yellow-rumped Warbler ; Dendroica coronata 

 (Linn.). 



Adult male in summer, above bluish slate, the back streaked with 

 black; crown and rump bright yellow; throat white; breast black, with 

 bright yellow patches on the sides. The females and winter birds are 

 duller, the back is more or less tinged with brown, and the breast white 



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