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middle of the tail…quills white。 Throat and sides heavily streaked with black。 Female Has greener back； is paler； and has less distinct markings。 Range North America； from Hudson Bay to Panama。 Summers from northern Michigan and northern New England northward； winters in Central America and Cuba。 Migrations May。 October。 Spring and summer migrant。
In spite of the bird's name； one need not look for it in the glossy magnolia trees of the southern gardens more than in the shrubbery on New England lawns； and during the migrations it is quite as likely to be found in one place as in the other。 Its true preference； however； is for the spruces and hemlocks of its nesting ground in the northern forests。 For these it deserts us after a brief hunt about the tender； young spring foliage and blossoms； where the early worm lies concealed； and before we have become so well acquainted with its handsome clothes that we will instantly recognize it in the duller ones it wears on its return trip in the autumn。 The position of the white marks on the tail feathers of this warbler； however； is the clue by which it may be identified at any season or any stage of its growth。 If the white bar runs across the middle of the warbler's tail； you can be sure of the identity of the bird。 A nervous and restless hunter； it nevertheless seems less shy than many of its kin。 Another pleasing characteristic is that it brings back with it in October the loud； clear； rapid whistle with which it has entertained its nesting mate in the Canada woods through the summer。
MOURNING WARBLER （Geothlypis philadelphia） Wood Warbler family
Called also： MOURNING GROUND WARBLER
Length 5 to 5。6 inches。 About an inch smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Gray head and throat； the breast gray； the feathers with black edges that make them look crinkled； like crape。 The black markings converge into a spot on upper breast。 Upper parts； except head； olive。 Underneath rich yellow。 Female Similar； but duller； throat and breast buff and dusky where the male is black。 Back olive…green。 Range 〃Eastern North America； breeds from eastern Nebraska； northern New York； and Nova Scotia northward； and south ward along the Alleghanies to Pennsylvania。 Winters in the tropics。〃 Chapman。 Migrations May。 September。 Spring and autumn migrant。
Since Audubon met with but one of these birds in his incessant trampings； and Wilson secured only an immature； imperfectly marked specimen for his collection； the novice may feel no disappointment if he fails to make the acquaintance of this 〃gay and agreeable widow。〃 And yet the shy and wary bird is not unknown in Central Park； New York City。 Even where its clear； whistled song strikes the ear with a startling novelty that invites to instant pursuit of the singer； you may look long and diligently through the undergrowth without finding it。 Dr。 Merriam says the whistle resembles the syllables 〃true； true； true； tru； too； the voice rising on the first three syllables and falling on the last two。〃 In the nesting season this song is repeated over and over again with a persistency worthy of a Kentucky warbler。 It is delivered from a perch within a few feet of the ground； as high as the bird seems ever inclined to ascend。
NASHVILLE WARBLER （Helminthophila ruficapilla） Wood Warbler family
Length 4。75 to 5 inches。 About an inch and a half smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Olive…green above； yellow underneath。 Slate…gray head and neck。 Partially concealed chestnut patch on crown。 Wings and tail olive…brown and without markings。 Female Dull olive and paler； with brownish wash underneath。 Range North America； westward to the plains； north to the Fur Countries； and south to Central America and Mexico。 Nests north of Illinois and northern New England； winters in tropics。 Migrations April。 September or October。
It must not be thought that this beautiful warbler confines itself to backyards in the city of Nashville simply because Wilson discovered it near there and gave it a local name； for the bird's actual range reaches from the fur trader's camp near Hudson Bay to the adobe villages of Mexico and Central America； and over two thousand miles east and west in the United States。 It chooses open rather than dense woods and tree…bordered fields。 It seems to have a liking for hemlocks and pine trees； especially if near a stream that attracts insects to its shores； and Dr。 Warren notes that in Pennsylvania he finds small flocks of these warblers in the autumn migration； feeding in the willowy trees near little rivers and ponds。 Only in the northern parts of the United States is their nest ever found； for the northern British provinces are their preferred nesting ground。 One seen in the White Mountains was built on a mossy； rocky edge； directly on the ground at the foot of a pine tree； and made of rootlets； moss； needles from the trees overhead； and several layers of leaves outside； with a lining of fine grasses that cradled four white； speckled eggs。
Audubon likened the bird's feeble note to the breaking of twigs。
PINE WARBLER （Dendroica vigorsii） Wood Warbler family
Called also： PINE…CREEPING WARBLER
Length 5。5 to 6 inches。 A trifle smaller than the English sparrow。 Male Yellowish olive above； clear yellow below； shading to grayish white； with obscure dark streaks on side of breast。 Two whitish wing…bars； two outer tail feathers partly white。 Female Duller； grayish white only faintly tinged with yellow underneath。 Range North America； east of the Rockies； north to Manitoba； And south to Florida and the Bahamas。 Winters from southern Illinois southward。 Migrations March or April。 October or later。 Common summer resident。
The pine warbler closely presses the myrtle warbler for the first place in the ranks of the family migrants； but as the latter bird often stays north all winter； it is usually given the palm。 Here is a warbler； let it be recorded； that is fittingly named； for it is a denizen of pine woods only； most common in the long stretches of pine forests at the south and in New York and New England； and correspondingly uncommon wherever the woodsman's axe has laid the pine trees low throughout its range。 Its 〃simple； sweet； and drowsy song；〃 writes Mr。 Parkhurst； is always associated 〃with the smell of pines on a sultry day。〃 It recalls that of the junco and the social sparrow or chippy。
Creeping over the bark of trees and peering into every crevice like a nuthatch； running along the limbs； not often hopping nervously or flitting like the warblers； darting into the air for a passing insect； or descending to the ground to feed on seeds and berries； the pine warbler has； by a curious combination； the movements that seem to characterize several different birds。
It is one of the largest and hardiest members of its family； but not remarkable for its beauty。 It is a sociable traveller； cheerfully escorting other warblers northward； and welcoming to its band both the yellow redpolls and the myrtle warblers。 These birds are very often seen together in the pine and other evergreen trees in our lawns and in the large city parks。
PRAIRIE WARBLER （Dendroica discolor） Wood Warbler family
Length 4。75 to 5 inches。 About an inch and a half shorter than the English sparrow。 Male Olive…green above； shading to yellowish on the head； and with brick…red spots on back between the shoulders。 A yellow line over the eye； wing…bars and all under parts bright yellow； heavily streaked with black on the sides。 Line through the eye and crescent below it； black。 Much white in outer tail feathers。 Female Paler； upper parts more grayish olive； and markings Less distinct than male's。 Range Eastern half of the United States。 Nests as far north as New England and Michigan。 Winters from Florida southward。 Migrations May。 September。 Summer resident。
Doubtless this diminutive bird was given its name because it prefers open country rather than the woods the scrubby undergrowth of oaks； young evergreens； and bushes that border clearings being as good a place as any to look for it； and not the wind…swept； treeless tracts of the wild West。 Its range is southerly。 The Southern and Middle States are where it is most abundant。 Here is a wood warbler that is not a bird of the woods less so； in fact； than either the summer yellowbird （yellow warbler） or the palm warbler； that are eminently neighborly and fond of pasture lands and roadside thickets。 But the prairie warblers are rather more retiring little sprites than their cousins； and it is not often we get a close enough view of them to note the brick…red spots on their backs； which are their distinguishing marks。 They have a most unkind preference for briery bushes； that discourage human intimacy。 In such forbidding retreats they build their nest of plant…fibre； rootlets； and twigs； lined with plant…down and hair。
The song of an individual prairie warbler makes only a slight impression。 It consists 〃of a series of six or seven quickly repeated tees； the next to the last one being the highest〃 （Chapman）。 But the united voices of a dozen or more of these pretty little birds； that often sing together； afford something appr