294 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



Greensboro; his collection contains specimens taken August 

 10, 1887, and August 11, 1890, and his notes state that he 

 collected the species in July also. Brimley observed it there 

 August 30 and September 5, 1890. At Guntersville, June 13, 

 1913, 1 collected a single breeding male, the only one observed, 

 and Holt took one at Attalla, June 12, 1913, also doubtless 

 breeding. Golsan has found the nest of this species once near 

 Autaugaville (about June 20, 1903),* and Dean reports the 

 bird as a breeder at Anniston. Several were seen at Florence, 

 May 4, 1912, and at Leighton, April 21 to 25, 1914, but the 

 species is not known to breed at those localities. 



The earliest record of the bird's arrival in spring is at 

 Leighton, April 6 (1893) , but usually it does not arrive before 

 the middle of the month. It was first noted at Greensboro, 

 April 12 (1890) and April 14 (1888) ; Sylacauga, April 18 

 (1908) ; Barachias, April 15 (1909) ; Sand Mountain (near 

 Carpenter), April 12 (1914), and Anniston, April 14 (1916). 

 Fall migration begins very early, even by the last of July. 



General habits. — The yellow warbler is a bird of the open, 

 cultivated country and takes up its abode in orchards, small 

 groves, and in shade trees along village streets; it is found 

 also in swampy thickets and is especially partial to willows 

 fringing the streams. A sociable, unsuspicious bird, it seems 

 to enjoy the society of man. It feeds chiefly in the lower 

 branches of trees and in shrubbery. The song is a loud and 

 cheery whistle, resembling the syllables siveet, sweet, sweet, 

 sweet, sweetie, delivered with considerable vigor. The nest 

 is placed in bushes, saplings, or trees, usually from 3 to 8 feet 

 above the ground but sometimes higher; it is a compact, well- 

 built structure of grayish plant fibers, fine grasses, and plant 

 down, lined with soft, cottony plant down, and feathers. This 

 warbler is often imposed upon by the cowbird, and when this 

 occurs the bird very often builds an addition to the nest, cover- 

 ing the eggs of the cowbird, and lays another clutch of its own. 

 Food habits.^-Forhush states that the yellow warbler is 

 almost entirely insectivorous; it feeds extensively on cater- 

 pillars, including cankerworms and other measuring worms, 

 and captures bark beetles, boring beetles, and weevils.f 



•Golsan and Holt, The Auk, voL 31, p. 231, 1914. 



tFortush, B. H., Useful Birds and their Protection, pp. 195-196, 1907. 



