WOOD WARBLERS 
421 
668 Dendroica townsendi (Towns.). Townsend Warbler. 
Adult male in spring and summer. — Head and throat black, except for 
bright yellow superciliary and malar streak 
bordering throat; breast bright yellow fading 
to white on middle of belly ; sides streaked 
with black; back bright olive green, with 
black arrow-point streaks; wings and tail 
blackish, wing with two white bars, tail with 
inner webs of three lateral feathers white at 
ends. Adult female in spring and summer: 
like winter male, but black streaking of 
upper parts and sides restricted or obsolete; 
crown sometimes blackish; throat often blotched with black. Adult male 
in fall and winter : like summer male, but black obscured ; crown and hind 
neck with olive green edges to feathers; cheek patch with olive green tips 
to feathers; throat lemon yellow ; chest and sides spotted with black. 
Adult female in fall and winter: like summer female, but upper parts 
slightly brownish, streaks indistinct; sides and flanks brownish. Young 
male in first fall and winter: like adult winter male, but streaks on crown 
and back obsolete, and yellow of throat paler. Young female in first fall 
and winter: like adult fall female, but yellow paler, and markings less 
distinct. Male: length (skins) 4.21-4.80, wing 2.56-2.72, tail 1.89-2.01, 
bill .32-35. Female: length (skins) 4.25-4.92, wing 2.48-2.60, tail 1.93- 
1.97, bill .32-39. 
Remarks. — The wide band of black or olive on the sides of the head, 
green back and bright yellow breast, are enough to distinguish townsendi 
in any plumage. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Boreal zones in western North 
America, from Yukon valley to Oregon, and east to Montana; migrates to 
Colorado, western Texas, and south to Guatemala; accidental in Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 
Nest. — Attributed to townsendi by Bendire, in willows, about 4 feet 
from the ground, made of rotten plant fibers and roots, lined with rootlets, 
hair, and plant down. Eggs: 3, pinkish white, spotted mainly about the 
larger end with brown, lavender, and dark amber. 
The Townsend warbler is a difficult bird to study, as it affects the 
tops of lofty firs and spruces, hurrying from one to the other in 
what may well appear unseemly haste to the observer below. 
Dr. Merrill ascribes to it a virens-Yike drawled dee'-dee-dee-dS dS. 
669. Dendroica occidentalis (Towns.). Hermit Warbler. 
Adult male in spring and summer. — Top and sides of head bright yellow , 
crown spotted with black, occiput usually mainly or wholly black; throat 
black; rest of under parts white, some¬ 
times streaked on sides ; hind neck streaked 
black and olive green ; rest of upper parts 
gray , tinged with olive green and streaked 
with black; wings and tail black, wings 
crossed by two white bands ; tail with two 
outer pairs of feathers largely white. Adult 
female in spring and summer: like winter 
male, but forehead and crown largely yel¬ 
low ; streaks on back restricted ; body less 
brownish; throat and chest often with 
Fig. 531. 
