329 
Flycatching Warblers 
The genera Wilsonia and Setophaga are rather 
small, lightly built warblers with bills slightly 
flattened and furnished with fine, projecting, bristles 
about the gape (Figure 301). Bill of Flycatching 
Warblers. 
685. Black-capped Warbler. (Including Pileolated and Golden Pileolated 
Warblers). Wilson's warbler, wilson’s black -capped warbler. Wilsonia pusilla. 
L, 5. Plate LXXIV A. A small green Warbler. Male 
is all bright yellow below with a sharply defined black 
cap on crown (Figure 302). The sexes are similar, but 
some juvenile females are entirely without the cap, and 
in others it is present but less perfect than in adults. 
Distinctions, The black cap and all-green and yellow 
coloration are distinctive of the adults and young males. 
When without the cap the vague yellow eyebrow stripe is 
characteristic. Birds without the black cap may resemble 
a small Yellow Warbler, but the inner webs of the tail 
feathers are never yellow. 
Field Marks. The small size, all-bright yellow and 
green, with black cap or traces of it, or having yellow 
eyebrow-line when the cap is absent. 
Nesting. On the ground, in nest made almost wholly 
of fine grass, lined with a few hairs; nest deeply cupped 
and quite substantial for a Warbler. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada, across the Dominion, north to the tree limits. 
SUBSPECIES. Three subspecies are recognized in Canada. Wilson’s Warbler 
Wilsonia pusilla pusilla is the eastern form extending westward to Manitoba and probably 
northwestward into Mackenzie district. The Pileolated Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 
C " lata is slightly larger and a perceptibly brighter yellow (less green). It extends from 
atchewan to the west coast. The Golden Pileolated Warbler Wilsonia pusilla ckryseola 
is between the above two former in size and resembles pileolata in colour f but is still brighter 
yellow above. It is a bird of the extreme southwestern coast of British Columbia and 
southward. There is much mixing together of these birds in migration and pusilla may be 
found nearly to the west coast and birds with chryseola characters well inland. 
A very pretty little golden Warbler usually found in willow or similar 
thickets near water. 
Wilson’s Warbler; natural size. 
Figure 301 
686. Canada Warbler. Canadian flycatcher. Wilsonia canadensis. L, 5-61. 
Male : even grey above slightly marked with black on crown; all below bright yellow except 
undertail-coverts which are white, yellow preloral line 
and eye-ring; black lores extending down sides of neck 
and forming a necklace of short stripes across upper- 
breast leaving throat clear yellow (Figure 303). Female 
is similar, but necklace and black reduced, though usually 
remaining strong enough to retain the easily recognized 
specific character. Juveniles are like the female, but the 
necklace almost obliterated, showing only in vague, 
suffused, and interrupted cloudings. 
Distinctions. The even grey above without mark- 
ings and yellow below with the black necklace marks 
either sharp, dim, or suggested. 
Field Marks. See distinctions. 
Nesting. In mossy banks or under roots in nest of 
strips of bark and bits of dead wood wrapped in leaves 
and lined with fine rootlets. 
Canada Warbler; natural size. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Canada, west to Manitoba and north- 
west to lake Athabaska. Occasionally in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. 
