358 
PASSERIFORMES 
Field Marks. A dull green warbler, yellow on breast with greyish brown wings, white 
wing-bars. Canadian specimens are usually somewhat soiled and bedraggled in appear- 
ance. Almost invariably found in pine trees. 
Nesting. In pine trees, 10 to 80 feet above the ground, in nest of strips of bark, 
leaves, plant fibres, etc. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Canada, rare or casual west to Alberta. 
670. Kirtland’s Warbler, la fauvette de kirtland. Dendroica kirtlandi. L , 
5 ■ 75. Blue-grey above heavily striped with black on back, and finely striped on crown 
(Figure 447). All below, except undertail, pale 
yellow with black stripes on sides of breast and 
flanks. Females and juveniles similar but duller, 
and breast stripes broken and forming spots. 
Distinctions. Kirtland’s Warbler resembles 
the Canadian Warbler, but is larger; the yellow 
is paler, the black stripes are on the flanks and 
do not tend to make necklace suspended from 
the ears as in that species; and the back is marked 
with black instead of being clear grey. The only 
other warbler that might be mistaken for it is the 
Magnolia but the black does not cross the breast 
as it does in adult Magnolias, and there is no 
yellow or greenish on the back or rump. 
Field Marks. The species is too rare to be accepted on eye identification alone. 
Nesting. On ground at foot of pine or oak trees in nest of soft bark, strips of vegetable 
fibre, and grass lined with fine grass, pine needles, and hair. 
Distribution. Winters in the Bahama Islands. The only known breeding station is a 
limited section of the jack-pine plains in the northern part of the lower peninsula of 
Michigan. The species has only been taken twice in Canada, both specimens being taken 
in the lower Great Lakes region. Its nest should be looked for in Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, 
and around the Great Lakes west to the Lake Superior country. 
In the winter this species is confined within a limited oceanic island 
habitat and is an instance of the difficulties in the way of abnormally 
increasing the numbers of native species. It is evident that we can never 
have in the north a greater number of Kirtland’s Warblers than can live 
through the winter on the Bahama Islands. 
673. Prairie Warbler, la fauvette des prairies. Dendroica discolor. L, 4-75. 
A green and yellow warbler. Throat, cheeks, and all underparts of male bright yellow; 
a black line through the eye, a black wedge below the ear 
coverts, and a succession of biack lines along the sides of the 
breast and flanks (Figure 448). Middle of back has a saddle 
of reddish spots. Female similar but occasionally almost or 
quite without the reddish on back. Juveniles similar but 
colours reduced and veiled, the underparts yellow, brightest 
on breast, and the black lines on the face, side of breast, and 
flanks only indicated. 
Distinctions. The fine black facial marks against bright 
yellow, their sharp continuation along flanks, and the reddish 
back spots are the best distinguishing features of adults. 
In juveniles the underparts brightest on breast rather than 
throat or elsewhere and the indications of stripes on the 
sides instead of in the middle of breast make the easiest 
recognition characters. 
Field Marks. Too rare in Canada to be recorded by sight unless the observer has 
had considerable experience. 
Nesting. In briery bushes, in nest of plant fibres and plant-down lined with rootlets 
and long hairs. 
Distribution. Eastern United States, north rarely, though perhaps locally regular 
across the Canadian border in the lower Great Lakes region. It has lately been found 
nesting near the south end of Georgian Bay. 
The Prairie Warbler prefers dry, sandy, or open second growth wastes. 
Prairie Warbler (male); 
natural size. 
Figure 447 
Kirtland 's Warbler (male); natura size. 
