The Tolmie Warbler 



and a longer one on lower lid; remaining plumage bright greenish yellow to olive-green, 

 clearest yellow, canary to olive-yellow, on breast and remaining underparts, centrally, 

 and on bend of wing, shading through yellowish olive-green on sides to olive-green of 

 upperparts; outer primary edged with white on outer web. Bill dusky brown above, paler 

 below; feet and legs light brown; iris brown. Adult male in fall and whiter: Similar, 

 but feathers of hind-neck and crown tipped with dull brown; ashy skirtings of throat 

 and chest more extensive, sometimes nearly concealing the black. Adult female in 

 spring: Like male but slate of hood replaced by dull brownish gray (deep mouse-gray 

 to deep neutral gray) above, and by pale brownish gray (smoke-gray) on chin, throat, 

 and chest. Adult female in autumn: As in spring, but brown of head more intense. 

 Immature male and female: Like adult female in autumn, and not certainly distinguish- 

 able, although males incline toward slaty on breast, and females are of a buffier brown. 

 Length of adult male (female smaller) about 139.7 (5.50); av. of 10 adult males in coll. 

 of Mus. Vert. Zool., wing 58.6 (2.31); tail 52.7 (2.07); bill 10.4 (.41); tarsus 20.5 (.81). 

 Av. of 10 females, wing 56.6 (2.23); tail 52.1 (2.05); bill 10.2 (.40); tarsus 19.3 (.76). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; slaty hood of male distinctive; contrast 

 of color between chest and breast apparent in any plumage. A frequenter of thickets. 

 With a sharp tsick or chuck note of alarm. 



Nesting. — Nest: A cup of coarse twisted grasses; lined with fine grasses and 

 (if possible) black horsehair; placed low in bushes, sometimes practically on the ground. 

 Eggs: 3 to 5, usually 4; dull white, handsomely spotted and blotched, or self-toned, 

 chiefly at larger end in wreath or cap, with blackish brown or chocolate and under- 

 lying vinaceous gray. Av. size, 17.8x13.7 (.70 x .54). Season: June; one brood. 



General Range. — Western North America, breeding from central British 

 Columbia, central Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southwestern South Dakota, 

 south to central California, central Arizona, and northern New Mexico. Wintering 

 from Lower California and Mexico south to Colombia; casual a few degrees easterly 

 during migrations. 



Distribution in California. — Summer resident, locally common in Tran- 

 sitional areas, south along the Sierras to the latitude of Independence (Kenawyer's, 

 south fork of the Kings River, July 8, 1913), and along the desert ranges to Grapevine 

 Mountain (A. K. Fisher); in the Coast ranges south to San Francisco Bay, and even, 

 sparingly, to Los Gatos, Santa Clara County (Van Denburgh); also a common migrant 

 throughout the State. One winter record, apparently of a derelict: Los Angeles, 

 Dec. 17, 1914 (Wyman). 



Authorities. — Heermann (Trichas tolmiei) , Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, 

 ii., 1853, p. 263 (Calif.); Cones, Birds Colo. Vail., 1878, p. 312 (syn., habits, etc.); 

 Wythe, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 123 (desc. habits, nest, eggs, young birds, etc.). 



BRL'SHY hillsides not too remote from water, or dense shrubbery 

 partially shaded by trees, afford ideal cover for this handsome warbler 

 and his all but invisible spouse. Mere chaparral will not do either, 

 for the bird loves moisture, and a certain tang in the atmosphere, found 

 in California in the humid coastal counties and on the middle levels of 

 the northern Sierras. Variety, also, is his delight; and after temperature, 

 variety in cover seems to be the bird's requirement; and a great con- 

 fusion of shrubs, willow, alder, ceanothus, chokecherry, service-berry, 



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