  In our minds this bird, for some reason which is not very clear, is always associated with the Blackcap. They are almost identical in habits and live in similar situations, but at the same time, although both species may often be found breeding together, the one is generally common in localities where the other is scarce and vice versa. It is rather a late arrival, rarely appearing in numbers before the end of April, and has never been known to winter in these islands. BLACKCAP The nest also resembles that of the Blackcap in structure, and though the present species never lays the reddish type of egg common to the Blackcap, its eggs are very similar to the creamy variety of the latter, but the markings are as a rule more blotchy and the clear-cut small spots are far fewer. “Garden” Warbler is to some extent a misnomer, as it is seldom found in gardens, preferring woods and coppices in the open country, and not visiting the currant bushes anything like so frequently as the Blackcap. The sexes are alike and are of a uniform olive brown, rather darker on the wings and tail. Under parts buffish white. There is a pale streak over the eye and a greyish area on the lores. The young are almost indistinguishable from their parents. Length 5·75 in.; wing 3 in. Except that it is scarcer and more local, its distribution in our islands is similar to that of the Blackcap. |
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