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Yellow-breasted Chat
Adult--Upper parts olive green; white line from the bill to the eye; white ring round the eye; throat, breast, and upper part of belly bright yellow; lower part of belly white, shading into gray at the sides. Length--7.44. Young birds are brownish gray, lighter on the breast, the yellow showing when they attain their full size.
Breeding Range--The Eastern States, from southern New England southward.
The nest is large and compact, built of leaves, grass, and thin strips of bark, with the lining of fine grass. It is placed usually within four or five feet of the ground in the crotch of a small shrub, and occasionally in a tangle of vines. Number of eggs from 3 to 5; they are white or pinkish white, rather sparsely and evenly marked with reddish brown spots; the spots are rarely confined to the larger end. Size--.92 x .72.
A chat's nest may be found hidden in the dense undergrowth of a clearing, in swampy places, or in any kind of open thicket.
It seems curious that, while the Chat is so crafty in hiding himself from view, he manifests but little skill in concealing his nest. By any one who does not object to penetrating the dense thickets of briers and undergrowth, the nest may be easily found, for it is large and usually but poorly concealed by leaves. The builder appears to rely almost entirely on the natural fence of growing barbed wire for protection from human enemies. The bird seems to glide off its nest without being seen or heard, and makes scarcely any commotion if the nest be disturbed. Young chats may be reared by hand and become fairly tame, but unfortunately they show too great an independence of spirit, and do not appear particularly desirous of human companionship.
During the breeding season, which begins about the middle of May, the chats may be heard giving voice to their varied notes, which can be readily imitated and will immediately attract the inquisitive bird. The song is frequently performed while the bird is in mid-air, not flying in an orthodox way, but flapping its wings in a most extraordinary manner, presenting more the appearance of a large moth than a bird. In the vicinity of New York the nesting season commences about the second week in May.