BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
289 
Dendroica virens (Gmel.) 
Black-throated Green Warbler. 
Description (Plate 97 , male). 
Length about 5 ; extent about 8. 
Male , in spring .—Top of head, neck behind, scapulars back and rump bright 
yellowish olive-green ; wings and tail dusky; wings have two white bars and con¬ 
siderable white edging, and the outer tail feathers are principally white. In some 
specimens the back has a few concealed blackish streaks ; a dusky streak from maxilla 
back through eye and auriculars, and another one below it. Forehead, superciliary 
stripes* (the latter extending to nape), sides of head and neck rich yellow; chin, 
throat and upper breast jet black, which is continued along sides in streaks; rest of 
under parts yellowish-white. Bill and legs blackish, paler in young and autumnal 
specimens. 
Female .—Similar to male but duller and the jet black of chin, throat and breast is 
absent, or at least largely hidden by yellowish and whitish ends of feathers; but 
black always is more or less evident on forebreast. 
Young .—In fall resembles greatly the female. 
Habitat .—Eastern North America to the plains, north to Hudson’s Bay territory, 
breeding from the northern United States northward. In winter, south to Cuba and 
Panama. 
The Black-throated Green Warbler is a common and familiar visitor oc¬ 
curring- generally throughout the state when migrating, and as a summer 
resident it is frequently met with in the wooded regions of our higher 
mountain ranges. Although this warbler often visits orchard and other 
trees about the habitations of man, it is to be found most abundantly 
during migrations in woodland. It frequents the tops of the forest 
monarchs, as well as the lower limbs of trees and bushes. Although 
these sprightly and showily-attired birds may be observed in any or all 
kinds of trees in the woods, I have noticed that where hickory and oak 
trees are growing, there you will generally find the present species most 
numerous. Prof. August Kock informs me that this bird breeds regular 
in Lycoming county, in the neighborhood of Williamsport. Dr. Van 
Pleet says it breeds rather plentifully in Clinton, Clearfield and North¬ 
umberland counties. Prof. H. J. Roddy, of Millersville, has captured 
specimens at Bush mountain, Centre county, late in July, so young as to 
warrant him in believing that they hatched in that immediate vicinity. 
Mr. Sennett tells me this bird breeds in Crawford county, and I am quite 
■certain that it is a native in all our northern tier of counties, as well as 
in many of the counties to the southward. Food consists largely of 
aphides, spiders, beetles, flies, larvae, etc. Arrives in southern Pennsyl¬ 
vania usually about the last week in April, and occasionally straggling 
individuals are found along our southern borders as late as the middle of 
October. 
19 Birds. 
