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PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 



637. Protonotaria citrea. 5^4 inches. 



Whole head and underparts intense yellow, almost 

 orange on the head of the male; tail with white spots 

 near the tip; female, duller. 



A common species in the interior, found in bushy 

 swamps and the willows around the borders of pools 

 and lakes; they are found in the latter localities with 

 Tree Swallows and often Chickadees all nesting in 

 holes in hollow stubs along the bank, they being one of 

 the few members of this family to make use of such 

 locations for their nests. 



Song. A loud, ringing "tweet, tweet, tweet." 



Nest. In hollow stubs near or over water, the cav- 

 ity of the stump being partially filled with moss, leaves 

 ^^^ and grasses hollowed on the top to receive the four to 

 ^p- six creamy-white eggs which are heavily spotted over 

 the entire surface with reddish brown (.72 x .55). 



Range. Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf north 

 to Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota; winters in Central 

 America. 



