202 



Distinctions. This species is so like the Mourning Warbler that at times they can 

 be separated only with difficulty. Adult males, having a conspicuous eye-ring ana per- 

 fectly even grey throat and breast, are distinctive enough. Females can be told by the 

 eye-ring and by having the top of the head strongly suffused with the olive of the back 

 and not showing clear grey. Juveniles when they show the eye-ring are usually quite 

 distinctive, though Mourning Warblers of similar age have an indication of it. When the 

 eye-ring is not conclusive evidence the difference in the colour of the throat and breast, 

 a buffy olive instead of an even lightening and greying of the pure yellow below, is a good 

 guide. 



Field Marks. The evenly grey throat and white eye-ring of adults and the buffy 

 oMve throat and buff eye-ring of the juveniles. Both this bird and the Mourning Warbler 

 walk instead of hop. 



Nesting. On ground in nest of dry grass. 



Distribution. Eastern North America west of the Alleghanies. It appears to breed 

 along the edge of settlement in Canada but data is lacking. It is regular in migrations 

 only locally along the shores of lake Erie and lake Ontario. 



The Connecticut is one of the rarest of our regular warblers. It is 



a late arrival in the spring and is so retiring that it is seldom seen in the 



autumn. There is not sufficient data to determine whether it is very local 



. in its migratory range or has been overlooked. It is to be looked for near 



the ground in waste brush. 



679. Mourning Warbler. FR. LA FAUVETTE DE PHILADELPHIE. Oporornis phil- 

 adelphia. L, 5-63. A greenish warbler. Male: clear lemon-yellow below; whole head, 

 neck, and breast bluish-grey with semi-concealed black spots on breast and throat giving 

 a fancied resemblance to crape which suggests the common name. The female is similar 

 but the grey lighter and without the crape markings on breast, thus resembling the male of 

 the Connecticut. Juveniles have the grey of the crown, etc., replaced with the body 

 green and the yellow of the underparts extends up neck to throat slightly modified by 

 lighter and greyish tinges. 



Distinctions. The Mourning Warbler can usually be distinguished by the crape on 

 the breast or by suggestions of it, the greyness of the crown, and the lack of eye-ring, 

 though juveniles sometimes have faint eye-rings. See previous species. 



Field Marks. The black crape of the breast and lack of eye-ring for adults and the 

 lack of sharp distinction between the breast, throat, and underbody yellows for juveniles. 



Nesting. On or near ground in nest of strips of bark and other fibrous materials lined 

 with hair. 



Distribution. Eastern North America mostly west of the Alleghanies. Breeds along 

 the northern bounds of settlement west through the wooded sections of the prairie provinces. 



One of the late spring warblers and one of the earliest to return in the 

 autumn, going through before many observers are on the watch for migrant 

 warblers and thus usually slipping by unobserved. The latter half of August 

 is the time to watch for the Mourning Warblers. By the first of September 

 most of them have gone. 



681. Maryland Yellow- throat. FR. LA FAUVETTE TRICHAS. Geothlypis trichas. 

 L, 5-33. Plate XLIIIB. 



Distinctions. The adult male with its black mask is easily recognized and needs no 

 special characterization. Juvenile males have sufficient indications of the mask to be 

 easily recognizable. Adult females and juveniles are very much alike. They can 

 be recognized by their even coloration above, warm yellow throat, buffy white 

 underparts washed with darker on flanks, and under tail coverts yellowish. They are 

 most likely to be mistaken for the Mourning or Connecticut juveniles but the sharp division 

 between throat and cheek colours, the brightness of the throat, and the general warmer 

 yellow tint will separate them. They have been confused with the Nashville and the 

 Tennessee but the grey rather than buffy or ruddy-olive head and crown of the former 

 and the nearly white breast instead of distinct yellow of the latter should make separation 

 easy. 



