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Range (Eastern United States breeds) (XVI)

Eastern United States; breeds from the Gulf States to northern Illinois, southern Ontario, and New Jersey, and wanders rarely to Minnesota and Maine; winters from Florida southward.

Washington, rather common S. R., Apl. 5 to Sept.

Nest, of tendrils, fine strips of bark, and fine grasses firmly interwoven and covered externally with lichens, on a horizontal branch or in a crotch, ten to sixty, usually thirty feet up. Eggs, four to five, bluish white, thickly spotted and speckled with cinnamon-, rufous-brown, or umber, 56 x 46. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher frequents rather densely foliaged trees, generally in the woods, showing a preference for the upper branches. He is a bird of strong character, and always seems to me like a miniature Mockingbird with some of the habits of Kinglets. His exquisitely finished song is quite as remarkable as the ordinary performance of his large prototype, but is possessed of so little volume as to be inaudible unless one is quite near the singer. His characteristic call-note-a rather sudden ting, like the twang of a banjo string -can be heard at a greater distance.