THE GOLDEN WARBLER. 209 



No. 85. 

 GOLDEN WARBLER. 



A. O. L'. No. 685 b. Wilsonia pusilla chryseola Ridgw. 



Synonym. — Golden I'ii.kolatku WarhlER (properly so-calk'(l, but the bird, 

 because of its local abundance deserves the shorter name. Moreover, altho 

 "golden" is the commonest color aniDng the Warblers, the name has not been 

 j)re-empted ) . 



Description. — "Similar to IV. />. pileolata. but slightly smaller and much 

 more brightly colored ; olive-green of upperparts much more yellowish, almost 

 olive-yellow in extreme examples ; yellow of forehead and superciliary region 

 (especially the former) inclining more or less to orange; yellow of underparts 

 purer, more intense" (Ridgway). Length of adult males (skins) 4.35 (iio); 

 wing 2.18 (55.4) tail 1.93 (49.1 ) ; bill .33 (8.3) ; tarsus .72 (18.2). 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding; brighter. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a shapely and thick-walled mass of dead lea\es, grasses 

 and vegetable fibers, lined with coiled grasses or hair, on the ground or con- 

 cealed at moderate heights in weeds, bushes, evergreen saplings, etc. Eggs: 3-5, 

 white or creamy white, speckled and spotted with reddish brown markings, well 

 distributed or gathered about larger end. Av. size .59 x .48 (15 x 12.2). 

 Season: May 15-30; one brood. 



General Range. — Pacific Coast district from southern California to southern 

 ISritish Columbia. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident in western Washington; common 

 in well-watered forests at lower levels and in thickets from sea-level to higher 

 mountain valleys. 



Migrations. — Spring: Arrives Puget Sound April 25-]\Iay 5. fall: lUaine, 

 Sept. 15. 



Authorities. — j\Ixiodioctes fiiisilhis Bonap., Baird, Rep. Pac. K. R. Surv. IX. 

 pt. II.. 1858. p. 294 (part). C&S. L'. Ra. B. E. 



Specimens. — U. of W'. E. 



THIS dainty little \Varbler is one of the most characteristic and well 

 distributed birds of western Washington. Its summer range embraces all 

 shady and moist woods having varied undergrowth ; and it is at home alike on 

 the sides of the western Cascades, in the swampy bottoms tributary to Puget 

 Sound, or under the dense spruce forests of the Pacific slope. It is certainly one 

 of the most abundant birds in the last-named section, and its golden flitlings 

 not only dominate the fern levels but extend upward into the mossy arms of 

 the evergreens. .^ brilliant dress does not appear to endanger the life of this 

 little despot, for he is quite too insignificant for notice among the Knights of 

 Claw and Jaw, and so he flashes in and out, scolds, sings, and meditates, by 

 turns, without molestation. 



