46 The Birds of Albany County 



There is nothing specially remarkable about the presence of 

 a Mockingbird in this vicinity, as they have bred sparingly in 

 recent years in one locality in Massachusetts, and are regular, 

 though rare visitants to southern Connecticut and New Jersey. 



Family Mniotiltidas 



American Redstart. — Setophaga ruticilla. 5.40 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Entire upper parts, throat and breast black; 

 sides reddish-orange; wings and tail barred with salmon; 

 belly white. 



This brilliant little black and orange Warbler is generally 

 one of the first of its family to be identified by the beginner 

 in ornithological lore. Aside from its striking coloration, its 

 habit of spreading its tail like a tiny fan and its flycatcher 

 manners render identification easy. Its high-pitched, wiry 

 and rather unmusical song is one of the familiar sounds in our 

 woods during the last of May. Clearings where second 

 growth abound are its favorite haunts, though it is often seen 

 along roadsides. The female is an olive and yellow edition 

 of the male. 



The nest is very similar to the Yellow Warbler's, but is 

 generally placed higher, in trees. I once found a beautiful 

 nest in the fork of a white birch; it was composed of white 

 vegetable fiber and lined with white cow's hair, giving a 

 remarkable example of protective coloration in nest building. 



