Evening star., 1948-01-26
This and That
By Charles Z. Trucewell
Arlington, Va.

Arlington, Va
Dear Sir:
"I am a constant reader of your column and
have learned much about bird life in the WASH
ington area
THE myrtle warbler, which customarily does
not stay in this region in winter, is here this
winter in large numbers
"At least he is here in Arlington. One friend
Of mine has been feeding flock of 20 or more
Another has banded quite a number.
Il have about 10 frequent visitors to my
hanging Ginner with peanut butter cups and
seed imbedded in suet cups, which they love.
Might not your correspondent from CATH
ersburg have been speaking of the myrtle
warbler
THE birds winter coloring fits the cor
respondents description, especially as regards
the bright yellow rump. I cannot find yellow
rump mentioned anywhere in my bird books
for the gclden-Crowned kinglet.
However, must admit the two birds are In
other ways much alike, except that the kinelet
is visibly smaller, in fact he is such a mite
likened to the chickadee in size, whereas the
warbler is almost sparrow sized.
Sincerely, C. r. T."
II X
The myrtle warbler is 51a inches long, and
is often a winter resident in New York and
New England.
without doubt, the exceptionally severe win
ter in New York and vicinity has driven some
of these birds farther south, to the delight of
local bird watchers.
One authority says: "The color contrasts in
the plumage Of the myrtle warbler make it
one of the best known members of it's species.
The patch of bright yellow which is very
conspicuous just above the birds tail serves
as positive Identification mark, and gives the
bird its common alternative name of yellow
rumped warbler.
Again, it Is the only warbler with white
throat, excepting the chestnut-sided which
plainly shows any yellow in its plun1age.
Furthermore. 1t moves with more deliber
alton than is characteristic of many members
of this essentially restless and somewhat nerv-
ous family; while its habit of feeding much In
shrubbery and hedges brings 1t frequently with
in easy observation.
Finally, its stay in its northern range Is very
much more prolonged than is that of most
other warblers, for it arrives in the latitude of
New York city about the last of April and
remains until about the Goth of November.
During that month the myrtle is of very
common occurrence along the southern shore Of
Long Island, where 1t feeds on the stunted and
then leafless brush cheerfully unn,indful of its
bleak surroundings
This fine bird gets its name from its fondness
for myrtle berries, or bayberries.
1t had two common call notes, one of
sweet" with note of interrogation, and the
Otner q SORT OF Sielgnpell Ilnkle, aS SOME nave
called It, This latter however, Is heard only
in summer.
The myrtle warbler has, for its summer plu-
mage, upper parts of buish-gray. streaked with
black; the under parts. white, black and yellow.
It's winter plurnage Is as follows: Upper parts
gray-brown; under parts, brownish- white, with
black streaks. Bill, shorter than head, slender,
tapering to tip WINGS long and pointed tail,
nearly even.
The wintering female is similar to the male,
but smaller, and darker.
With unusual wintering conditions in vari-
GUS parts of the country we may expect, over
the years, more Of the rare birds to come to
| washington and vicinity. for all-in-an our
weather may be said so far to have been COM
paratiyely mild at least In comparison with
| some In the North.
The Western yellow -rmped warbler resem-
| bles our myrtle warbler. but it has broad
white wing patch, sure identification.