74 Land Birds of New England 



27. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER 



(Dendroica blackburnice. ) 



Male : upper parts black, with white markings on wings and tail 

 and on back ; crown, cheeks, throat, and forebreast flame- 

 colored ; remaining under parts yellow-white, streaked along 

 the sides with black. Beak slender, dark. Female : upper 

 parts brownish olive streaked with black ; throat and fore- 

 breast dull orange or yellow ; remaining under parts yellow- 

 white streaked with black ; wings dusky, with two white bars ; 

 tail with large white blotches. 



THIS exquisite being is said to be abundant at 

 times among spruces and hemlocks and in mixed 

 woods. It is, however, extremely local, and I am 

 not aware that it is to be found in Wellesley. It 

 passes through southern New England in late mid- 

 May and again in September, although a few 

 remain to breed in Massachusetts. 



The nest is usually placed in coniferous woods, 

 on the horizontal bough of a pine or hemlock, at a 

 considerable distance from the ground. 



The song is very simple, consisting merely of 

 five or six loud notes. 



