201 



Nesting. In a mossy bank or in the roots of a turned-up tree, usually near or over 

 water, in nest of moss lined with tendrils and fine rootlets. 



Distribution. North America north to the Mmits of settlement. Breeds in Canada 

 wherever found except in the extreme southern parts. 



SUBSPECIES. The Water-thrush is divided into an eastern and a western sub- 

 species, the Eastern Water-thrush C. n. noveboracensis, the type form, ranges westward to 

 southern Ontario where it intergrades with Grinnell's Water-thrush S. n. notabilis which 

 occupies the coimtry to the west. 



The favourite home of the Water-thrush is in wet cedar swamps. 



676. Louisiana Water-thrush. Seiurus motacilla. L, 6-28. Dark olive brown 

 above, buffy-white below finely streaked with sharp dark disconnected lines from upper 

 neck to breast and flanks. A sharp, white line over the eye and a fine blended dark line 

 through it. 



Distinctions. Easily separatedfrom the Ovenbird by lack of coloured crown streak; 

 very similar to the Northern Water-thrush but separable by shghtly larger size, buffy 

 rather than yellowish underparts, and by the whiteness of the face markings. 



Field Marks. The Louisiana Water-thrush has the jerking tail habit of the Northern 

 Waterthrush and can only be distinguished from it in life by attention to the differences 

 given above. 



Nesting. Similar to that of the Water-thrush. 



Distribution. Eastern United States, only appearing in Canada in southwestern 

 Ontario. 



Very similar to the Northern Water-thrush in habits as well as in 

 colour and form. It is, however, a bird of more southern distribution than 

 it and is of only rare occurrence in Canada. 



Genera — Oporornis and Geothlypis. Ground Warblers. 



L, 5 -40-5 -56. 



The Ground Warblers are rather larger than the Woodland Warblers 

 but considerably smaller than the Wagtail Warblers and have compara- 

 tively stout legs and short wings. Their colours are largely green and 

 bright yellow. They inhabit low shrubbery and are seldom seen far above 

 the ground. 



677. Kentucky Warbler, fr. — la fauvette du Kentucky. Oporornis formosus 

 L, 5-40. Greenish above; all underparts clear yellow; forehead black, shading off on mid 

 crown; bright yellow eyebrow line hooking around eye. A sharp black patch extends 

 from base of bill, including lores and most of ear coverts, to side of neck. Female and 

 autumn birds similar but duller, the black face mark being more or less veiled though still 

 visible. 



Distinctions. Colom-ed much like the Prairie Warbler but with the black leaving 

 only a narrow eyebrow line in front of the eye instead of a largely yellow cheek and without 

 flank stripes. Somewhat similar to the Canadian Warbler but with back greenish instead 

 of grey and without breast markings of any kind. 



Field Marks. Too rare in Canada to be identified in life by sight. 



Nesting. On or near groimd in bulky nest of twigs and rootlets firmly wrapped with 

 several thicknesses of leaves and lined with fine rootlets. 



Distribution. Eastern United States, not reaching the Canadian border except as 

 an accidental straggler. 



This species has been taken in Canada on only a few occasions. It 

 can be reasonably looked for only in the most southern sections in the 

 region of the lower Great Lakes. 



678. Connecticut Warbler. Opororms a^ihs. L, 5-40. A greenish warbler. Male: 

 clear lemon yellow below; face and throat to upper breast even bluish-grey with a fine 

 white eye-ring. The female is similar but grey paler. Juveniles have the grey replaced 

 by a hghter buffy shade of the back coloration. 



