WOOD WARBLERS. 347 



641. Helminthophila pinus {Linn.). Blue-winged Warbler. 



(Fig. 95.) Ad. 6 . — Crown and entire under parts bright yellow, a hlach line 

 through the eye; back and rump hright olive-green; wings and tail bluish 

 gray ; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white or yellowish white ; 

 outer three tail-feathers with large white patches on their inner webs, fourth 

 feather with a much smaller patch. Ad. 9 . — Similar, but yellow on the head 

 confined to the forehead ; under parts duller. L., 4-80 ; W., 2-40 ; T., 1-80 ; B. 

 from N., -33. 



Reniarlcs. — The only variation of note in the plumage of otherwise typical 

 specimens of this species occurs in the color of the wing-bars, which in some 

 specimens are tinged with yellow. A specimen in Mr. Brewster's collection 

 (No. 25,511, Seymour, Conn., June 11, 1889, E. A. Eames) shows this variation 

 caiTied to an extreme, and has the wing-bars as broadly yellow as in H. chrys- 

 optera., though in every other respect it is typical pinus. Between this spe- 

 cies and II. chrysoptera there exists a complete set of intergrades, which are 

 variously called H. leucohronchialis and H. lawrencei. They are generally 

 considered to be hybrids, and it has also been suggested that dichromatisui 

 may aid in producing their coloration. Their relationships will be found dis- 

 cussed under the following references : Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vi, 

 1881, p. 218; Kidgway, Auk, ii, 1885, p. 359; Manual JST. A. Birds, 1887, 

 p. 486. 



Range. — Eastern United States ; breeds as far north as southern Minnesota 

 and Connecticut; winters in the tropics. 



Washington, rather uncommon T. V., Apl. 28 to May 25 ; Aug. 5 to Sept. ; 

 a few breed. Sing Sing, common S. E., May 4 to Sept. 7. 



Nest^ of bark and leaves, lined with fine strips of bark and tendrils, and 

 firmly wrapped with numerous leaves, whose stems point upward, on the 

 ground, generally in or at the border of second growth. Eggs., four to six, 

 white, thinly speckled with rufous, cinnamon-brown, or rufous-brown, 

 •(52 X -50. 



This species may be found in scrubby second growths, woodland 

 borders, or even the lower trees of dense woods. Its movements are 

 rather slow and leisurely, and, like a Chickadee, it may sometimes be 

 seen hanging' head downward while searching for food. 



It is at times a rather persistent songster, and its peculiar song is 

 not likely to be mistaken for that of any other Warbler. As a rule, 

 it consists of the two drawled, wheezy notes swee-chee ; the first inhaled, 

 the second exhaled. A less common song, uttered later in the season, 

 is wee, cfn-cM-cM-chl, chur, chee-chicr, and is sometimes accompanied 

 by peculiar kik notes. 



Helminthophila leucobronchialis (Brewst.). Brewster's War- 

 bler. Ad. <j . — Forehead and fore part of the crown yellow, a black line 

 from the bill through the eye: rest of the upper parts bluish gray; wing- 

 bars broadly yellow ; tail like the back, three to four outer feathers marked 

 with white ; under parts pure white, faintly washed with yellow on the 

 breast. Fall specimens are more heavily washed with yellow, and the upper 



