BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 267 



FAMILY MNIOTILTIDJE. WOOD-WARBLERS. 



THE WOOD-WARBLERS. 



Nearly forty species and subspecies of this family have been observed during recent 

 years in Pennsylvania, either as spring and fall migrants, summer residents or strag- 

 gling and accidental visitors. Sometimes, though not often, duringmild winters gen- 

 erally in November or December solitary Myrtle, Yellow Palm and Pine Warblers, 

 particularly the Myrtle, are found in sheltered localities (to the southward) mostly 

 in company with some of the sparrow tribe. I have, on two occasions, seen Yellow- 

 rumps with Chickadees, and once, late in November, I shot a Pine Warbler in a 

 cedar tree where a small flock of Waxwings and two or three Robins were feeding. 

 The birds of this group, with a few exceptions, are small averaging about 5 inches 

 in length and 8 inches in extent neat and trim in build, active, energetic in move- 

 ment, and entertaining in song. They have brown eyes, and their slender, naked 

 tarsi, in species, not otherwise particularized in the descriptions, are brownish. The 

 usually blackish, and in most species slender, tapering, and awl-like bill will greatly 

 aid in recognizing a warbler from members of the following families : Fringillidas 

 (bill conical, commissure more or lessangulated) ; Vireonidce (bill distinctly notched 

 and hooked); Tanagridce (bill stout, much like a sparrow's, with lobe and tooth 

 near middle of commissure) ; Hirundinidce (bill short, broad, flat and gape reaching 

 to eyes). The Redstart (& ruticilla), Hooded (61 mitrata), Canadian (61 canaden- 

 .s), and Wilson's (61 pusilla) flycatching warblers, have long stiff rictal bristles 

 and wide (at base) bills, slightly notched and somewhat hooked like the Tyrannidce. 

 This flycatcher-like bill is most perfect in the Redstart ; but the similarity of bills 

 in these birds need give the beginner no concern as the showy dress of these warb- 

 lers is greatly different from that of the Tyrannidce. Less than a dozen species of 

 this family are generally dispersed throughout the state during the summer season, 

 but in some localities, particularly in the timbered and higher mountain ranges, 

 other species reside and rear their young, often in such secluded places, that our 

 most enthusiastic, tireless and successful field-naturalists have, in many instances, 

 failed to discover the nests. From repeated visits which I have made in June, July 

 and the early part of August, to the pine, hemlock and hard wooded forests, or in ex- 

 tensive laurel thickets, and about the numerous ravines and bushy, swampy places, 

 along the sinuous, placid or turbulent streams in our mountainous regions. I am 

 quite confident that several species which are commonly recorded as breeding con- 

 siderably north of the Keystone commonwealth, breed regularly, though sparingly, 

 within our limits. 



The following list on the next four pages gives names of species which are posi- 

 tively known to nest in Pennsylvania, and others that are believed, from evidence 

 which is deemed sufficient, to breed occasionally, at least, within our borders. 



One * indicates species whose nests, eggs or young (not fully grown) have been 

 taken by the author. 



Two** indicate species which have been seen during the breeding season by the 

 author, but the nests, eggs or young have not been taken by him. The other species 

 included in the list are mentioned on the authority of different observers, to whom 

 credit is given in the column headed " Remarks." 



A indicates column to which the bird belongs. 



The fifth column contains a condensed description of nesting materials, which are 

 generally used, the sites chosen, etc. 



Descriptions of eggs of all species, and nesting materials and breeding sites of those 

 marked (R) have been compiled from Ridgway's Manual of N. A. Birds. 



