JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



665 



Genus SEIURUS Swainson. 



326. Seiurus aurocapillus (LiNN.). 

 OVEN-BIRD. 



Distr.: Eastern North America, west to the eastern slope of the 

 Rocky Mountains; breeds from northern Mississippi and Kansas 

 northward to northern Quebec, Hudson Bay, and Alaska; south in 

 winter to the West Indies, Central America, and Colombia, S. A. 



Adult: Crown, with broad stripe of orange brown in the centre, 

 bordered by narrow stripes of black; sides of head, dull olive brown; 

 throat, white, with narrow black stripe; sides, upper parts, wings 

 and tail, brownish olive; wings, without bars; under parts, white, 

 heavily streaked on breast and sides with black; no white on tail. 



Sexes, similar. 



Length, 6.05; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.25; bill, .45; tarsus, .82. 



The Oven-bird is a common summer resident in wooded districts 

 of Illinois and Wisconsin from May until the latter part of September. 

 It has a delightful warbling song far different from its usual familiar 

 notes, but which is apparently reserved for -special occasions, as 

 it is not often heard and rarely or never, except after sundown. 

 The more common song may be described as wee-chee, wee-chee, wee- 

 chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee repeated 

 rapidly and with gradually increasing power. 



Nidification begins in May. The nest is a covered, oven-like 

 structure on the ground, with the entrance on the side often concealed 

 by vegetation, and composed of grass, weeds, and leaves. The eggs 

 are 4 or 5, dull white, unevenly spotted and speckled with brown, 

 and measure about .79 x .60 inches. 



