| | | | | | |
Cowering | | | | | | | | x | | |
Head scratching and | | | | | | | | | | |
Preening | | | | | | | | | x | |
Hopping to rim of | | | | | | | | | | |
nest | | | | | | | | | x | |
Fledging | | | | | | | | | | |x[G]
--------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----+----

[G] This is the commonest fledging day.

_Parental Behavior_

No eggshells were found in nests on the days of hatching. Presumably
they had been removed by the parents. Nolan (1960:234) indicates
immediate disposition of the eggshell after hatching. Lawrence
(1953:62) suggests that conspicuous removal of eggshells by the female
Red-eyed Vireo informs the male that the young have hatched.

Both sexes brood and the exchange of partners resembles that described
for the incubation period. Decrease in brooding in the daytime begins
about the sixth day of nestling life. Nolan (1960:235) reports a sharp
decrease in brooding when the oldest nestlings are seven days old.
Brooding decreases notably on the sixth day of nestling life in the
Red-eyed Vireo (Lawrence, 1953:62). Nice (1929:17), Hensley
(1950:244), and Nolan (1960:235) report that the female Bell Vireo
assumes a slightly greater role in brooding than the male.

Apparent sun-shading was noted at nest 3-b (1959) at 2:00 p.m. on
June 17, 1959, on the fifth day of the nestling period. The nest
contained three young. An adult flew to the nest; while standing on
its rim the bird dipped its head into the nest six times, afterward
appeared to be eating a fecal sac, than shifted position to the
unattached portion of the rim, gaped three times, thereupon spread its
wings, and sat motionless 35 minutes. In this attitude it formed an
effective shield sheltering the young from direct sunlight penetrating
the thin foliage of the honey locust in which the nest was situated.
The temperature at this time was 95 deg. F., but the sky was partly
cloudy. By 2:30 p.m. the sky had become overcast and the sun passed
behind a cloud. Although sunlight no longer fell directly upon the
nest, the bird remained in the shielding posture for another five
minutes before flying from its perch. Sun-shading was not observed at
either of the other nests containing young; dense overhead vegetation
protected those