DESCRIPTIVE LIST 269 



The Red-eyed Vireo is a constant and persevering singer, and one of the few 

 birds that sings in the middle of the day; the song-period, however, does not extend 

 beyond the heat of early summer. Its diet is strictly insects, and it seems when 

 hopping about among the branches to keep a lookout mainly for those forms which 

 may be above its head, as it is continually looking upward. Like all other vireos, 

 it will stop work to scold the moment an intruder comes near its nest. 



266. Vireosylva philadelphica (Cass.). PHILADELPHIA VIREO. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts light olive-green; the crown sometimes grayish; a whitish line 

 over the eye; wings and tail edged with olive-green; no wing-bars; first primary nearly as long as 

 second; entire underparts nearly uniform, pale, greenish yellow. L., 4.75; W., 2.60; T., 1.95; B. 

 from N., .26. 



Remarks. The pale, greenish-yellow color spread almost uniformly over the entire underparts 

 distinguishes this bird from our other Vireos. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States; wintering in 

 Central America. 



Range in North Carolina. So far, only known as a rare transient in the mountains. 



The Philadelphia Vireo is known in this State only as a rare migrant in Bun- 

 combe County, where it was once taken by Cairns. (See Smithwick, Catalogue of 

 the Birds of North Carolina, 1897.) 



267. Vireosylva gilva gilva (VieilL}. WARBLING VIREO. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts ashy olive-green; no wing-bars; wings and tail edged with 

 the color of the back; first primary very short, not more than 1.00 in length; underparts white; 

 slightly washed with yellowish. L., 5.80; W., 2.85; T., 2.14; B. from N., .30. (Chap., Birds 

 of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America; wintering in Mexico. 



Range in North Carolina. Summer visitor in at least parts of the mountain region. 



The Warbling Vireo is recorded by Cairns as a rather rare summer visitor in 

 Buncombe County, and is given by Minot Davis as having arrived there on April 

 21, in 1899. He also adds the statement that it is local, and breeds. 



In general habits this species differs little from the Red-eyed Vireo; the nest, 

 however, is said to average higher from the ground and the eggs are a trifle smaller. 

 The song is somewhat similar, but is more continuous. 



Genus Lanivireo (Baird) 



Rather stout vireos, with comparatively long wings. We have two species, one 

 being represented by two subspecies. 



KEY TO SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 



1. Superciliary line, orbital ring and anterior underparts yellow. Yellow-throated Vireo. 



1. Superciliary line, orbital ring, and underparts white. See 2. 



2. Crown bluish ash, in contrast to olive-green of back. Wing less than 3 inches. Blue-heidsd 



Vireo. 



2. Crown and back more or less uniform blackish-plumbeous, not contrasting. Wing more than 

 3 inches. Mountain Solitary Vireo. 



268. Lanivireo flavifrons (Vieill). YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. 



Description. Rich olive-green above, becoming ashy on rump; bright yellow below, except 

 belly, which is white. Wing-bars white. Superciliary line and orbital ring yellow. Extreme 

 measurements of 48 Raleigh specimens: L., 5.35-5.75; W., 2.90-3.15; T., 1.85-2.15. 

 Range.- Eastern United States, south in winter to Central America 

 Range in North Carolina. Whole State in summer, breeding throughout its range. 



