WARBLERS 299 



CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: Dendroica pensylvcmica 



(Linnaeus). 



State records. — The chestnut-sided warbler is a common 

 migrant both in spring and fall, apparently more abundant 

 during the latter season. It passes north in spring from the 

 middle of April to the middle of May and in autumn is seen 

 from the last of August to the middle of October. Saunders 

 found it uncommon at Hollins between April 25 and May 3 

 (1908) ; Avery observed it at Greensboro, May 4 (1890) and 

 April 27 (1891) ; Dean noted it at Anniston, April 16 and 23 

 (1916) ; and Graves saw one on Sand Mountain, May 2 

 (1914) . I collected one at Barachias, April 23, 1912, and the 

 next day saw another. Holt observed the species there April 

 29 and 30, 1913, and took a specimen at York, May 2, 1912. 

 I saw several at Florence, May 4 and 7 (1912), and one at 

 Muscle Shoals, April 24 (1914). 



In the fall migration Avery noted the bird at Greensboro, 

 August 29 to October 14, 1890 ; and August 25 and September 

 5 and 25, 1891. I collected an immature bird at Scottsboro, 

 September 2, and another at Huntsville, September 7 (1908). 

 Golsan took specimens at Autaugaville, October 1 and 2 

 (1915). At Orange Beach, September 20 (1911), Gutsell 

 found the species abundant in a dense thicket bordering a 

 swamp. 



General habits. — This species dwells in scrubby pastures 

 and second growth woodland and is believed to have increased 

 in numbers since the days of Wilson and Audubon. Brewster 

 says of the birds as observed in eastern Massachusetts : "They 

 nest chiefly on the edges of upland woods, in neglected fields 

 and pastures, along the courses of brooks, and on country 

 roadsides. In general terms they may be said to occupy most 

 of the country which the yellow warblers avoid, but in a few 

 localities the two species breed together in the same thickets."! 

 The song bears considerable resemblance to that of the yellow 

 warbler; it is described by Langille as "a warble in a some- 

 what whistling tone, the notes resembling the syllables, 



tBrewster, Wm., Birds of the Cambridge Begion of Massachusetts, p. 337, 1906. 



