THE WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT. 



along the shaded banks of streams, but may possibly be found along more 

 open margins, consorting with Pipits, with which it shares a restless habit of 

 jdting, or curtseying, whimsically. 



No. 8i. 



WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT. 



-A. O. U. Ko. 68i a. Geothlvpis trichas occidentalis Brewster. 



Description. — Adult male in siring and siunnicr: Above grayish olive-green, 

 briglitcr I less gray) on ui:)per tail-coverts and tail, inclining to brownish on 

 crown and hindncck; an obliquely descending facial mask of black involving 

 forehead, lores, space about eyes, cheeks and (more narrowly) sides of neck; 

 along the posterior margin of this mask a narrow sharply contrasting area of 

 clear ash or white; chin, throat and breast rich yellow (inclining to gamboge); 

 sides of breast and sides heavily shaded with olive-gray and breast more or less 

 washed with same; lower breast and below between yellow and palest olive-gray; 

 under tail-coverts and l)end of wing clear yellow. Adult male in autumn: 

 Occiput more decidedly brown; npperparts clearer olive-green. Young male in 

 first autumn: Mask of aduh merely indicated Iiy black underlying sooty-brown on 

 sides of head ; coloration of underparts duller. .Idult female in spring: Like adult 

 male but without black mask and ashy edging; crown and sides of head olive 

 gray; forehead tinged with brown; region above and about eye notably paler; 

 coloration of underparts duller and paler, sometimes clearly yellow- on under 

 tail-coverts alone. Young female in first autumn: Similar to adult but under- 

 parts still duller and dingier, breast and sides heavily washed with brownish 

 olive. Length of adult about 5.00 (127); wing 2.26 (57.5): tail 2.19 fsS-S) ; 

 bill .44 (11.3) ; tarsus .83 (21). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; black mask and white Idlct of male 

 distinctive. The female is a much more difficult bird to recognize — perhaps best 

 known by peculiar sordid olive-brownish-yellow shade of underparts. The pale 

 orbital area also assists, but one nuist live with these birds to know* them 

 infallibly. 



Nesting. — Xest: of coarse grasses lined with fine grass and horse-hair: 

 placed 1-2 feet liigh in tussock of grass or rank herbage, usually near water; 

 outside 4j/^ wide by 35^ deep, inside 2!4 Ijy i5<2. Bggs:^^ or 3, dotted and 

 spotted or, rarely, streaked with blackish and lavender. Av. Size, .70 x .56 

 (17.8X 14.2). Season: May 20-June 10; one brood. 



General Range. — Western United States and British Columbia, except 

 Pacific coast district, east to western portions of the Great Plains; breeding 

 .southward into Mexico and northern Lower California; in winter south to Cape 

 St. Lucas and western Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident east of the Cascade Mountains; 

 found chiefly in rye-grass districts and in vicinity of water. 



