BIRDS OF NEW YORK 373 



ance in other localities where it was formerly unknown. This shifting of 

 its centers of abundance is difficult to explain, but I have noticed in certain 

 small parks and about many groves and on certain streets where it has 

 been carefully watched, this species has disappeared the next season after 

 it was unsuccessful in rearing young, due to its having been parasitized by 

 the Cowbird. Probably this cause and other unfavorable circumstances 

 like the destruction of its brood by Screech owls or unfavorable weather 

 conditions, left no descendants to repeople the accustomed grove. Wherever 

 the Yellow-throated vireo is present, he can scarcely be overlooked, on 

 account of his loud and characteristic song which will surely attract the 

 attention of all nature lovers. His food habits entitle him to the strictest 

 protection of the agriculturist. 



Lanivireo solitarius solitarius (Wilson) 

 Blue-headed Vireo 



Plate 91 



Muscicapa solitaria Wilson. Amer. Orn. 1810. 2: 143, pi. 17, fig. 6 

 Vireo solitarius DeKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 121, fig. 76 

 Lanivireo solitarius solitarius A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. 

 p. 300. No. 629 



lanivireo, " shrike-vireo "; sotitdrius, Lat., solitary 



Description. Top and sides of the head bluish gray; upper parts other- 

 wise olive green somewhat mixed with gray on the back; wings and tail 

 dusky, slightly edged on the outer webs with greenish, the secondaries 

 and outer tail feathers narrowly margined with white; 2 distinct white 

 wing bars; throat and central portion of abdomen clear white; sides greenish 

 yellow slightly overwashed with olive; line from nostril to eye and eye 

 ring pure white; iris brown; bill and feet dark plumbeous. 



Length 5.25-5.75 inches; extent 8.5; wing 2.75-3; tail 2.3; bill .4; 

 stout; tarsus .73. 



Distribution. The Blue-headed vireo breeds in eastern North America, 

 from southern Alberta, southern Mackenzie, southern Quebec and Cape 

 Breton island southward to North Dakota, Michigan and the mountains 

 of Pennsylvania. Winters from South Carolina to Texas and southward 

 to Guatemala. In New York this species is a summer resident of the 



