150 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Dendroica dominica albilora Baiid. 



SYCAMOEE WABBLER. 



Popular synonyms. 'Whito-cheeked Warblor; White-browed ydlow-throated Warbler. 



Dendroica or Vrndrosca dominica. I 



7>ndro;caori>cndra;rasMpe)-faioso.l-*-ll quotations for localities west of the AUegha- 



,, , . o 7 • I I- I nies and in midale America. 



Syhna or Sylvicola pensihs. j 



Dendroica dominica var. albilora Baikd.Ridgw. Am. Nat. vii, 1873, 60G.— CoUKs, Check 

 List, 1873, No. 88a.— B. B. & K. Hist. N. Am. B. i. 1874, 241. pi. 14. Hg. 7. 



Dendrceca dominica albilora Rmow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 103a. 



Hab. Mississippi Valley in summer.north to the Great Lakes, east to West Virginia, 

 and west to eastern K.ansas; winters in Mexico (both coasts), Guatemala and Honduras. 



Sp. Chae. Adult (sexes alike). Above ash-gray, without streaks, the forehead or 

 sides of crown, or both, black. Wings blackish, the middle and greater coverts broadly 

 tipped with white and edged with ash-gray; remiges edged with ash-gray. Tail dusky, 

 the feathers edged with ash-gray, the inner webs of three outer reetriees with a large 

 white patch covering the terminal portion — on the lateral feathers occupying nearly half 

 of the web. A white superciliary stripe, sometimes tinged with yellow anteriorly; a 

 crescentic spot beneath eye, and large space on side of neck immediately behind auricu- 

 lars, also white. Lores and auriculars deep black, this continued down each side of the 

 throat, but on sides of breast broken into stripes which extend along sides to the flanks. 

 Chin, throat, and jugulum bright gamboge-yellow, the first white anteriorly. Rest of 

 lower parts except as described, white. Bill deep black; iris brown; legs and feet 

 brownish. Wing about 2.50-2.G5; tail, 2.00-2.25; exposed eulmen, .4&-.48; tarsus, .C5-.70. 



The plumage of the adult in fall and early winter differs from 

 the spring livei-y, as described above, only in having the ash-gray, 

 and also the white of the abdomen, slightly tinged with brownish. 

 The young in first autumn are essentially similar to autumnal 

 adults, but have the brownish wash or discoloration more distinct, 

 and the markings consequently less sharply defined. 



The Sycamore Warbler is a common summer resident in tlie 

 bottom-lands, where, according to the writer's experience, it lives 

 chiefly in the large sycamore trees along or near water courses. 

 On this account it is a difficult bird to obtain during the breeding 

 season, the male usually keeping in the topmost branches of the 

 tallest trees, out of gunshot, and often, practically, out of sight, 

 although his presence is betrayed by his loud, very unwarbler-like 

 song. The song of tliis species is so much like that of the Indigo 

 Bird that it requires a practiced ear to distinguish them ; the tone 

 is remarkably similar, but there is a difference in the modulation 

 which after one becomes thoroughly acquainted with it renders it 

 distinguishable. In its motions, this warbler partakes much of the 

 character of a creeper, often ascending or descending trunks of trees 

 or following their branches, much in the manner of a Mniotilta. 



