26o 
SINGING BIRDS. 
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 
Helminthophila chrysoptera. 
Char. Above, bluish gray; crowu yellow; side of head yellowish 
white, with broad patch of black from bill through eyes ; two wing-bars, 
yellow ; blotches on tail white ; beneath, white tiiiged with yellow ; throat 
black ; sides tinged with gray. Length about 5 inches. 
Nest. Amid a tuft of long grass, in moist meadow' or damp margin of 
woods ; constructed of shreds of bark, roots, etc., lined with fine grass. 
Eggs. 4-6; white spotted with brown and lilac; 0.65 X 0.50. 
This scarce species appears only a few days in Pennsylvania 
about the last of April or beginning of May. It darts actively 
through the leafy branches, and like the Titmouse examines the 
stems for insects, and often walks with the head downwards ; 
its notes and actions are also a good deal similar, in common 
with the Worm-eating Warbler. I have never yet seen ,lt in 
Massachusetts, and if it really does proceed north to breed, it 
must follow a western route. 
The Golden-wing still remains a somewhat “scarce” bird, but it 
occurs regularly in Connecticut and southern Massachusetts, and 
in some few localities is often quite numerous. Its general breeding 
area lies north of latitude 40°, though nests have been found among 
the hills of Georgia and North Carolina. To the westward it breeds 
in Ohio, southern Michigan, Wi.sconsin, and Minnesota, and in the 
vicinity of London, Ontario, where Saunders reports it quite com- 
mon. It winters south to Central America. 
