462 Birds of Colorado 



Grinnell's Water -Thrush. Seiurus noveboracensis notahilis. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 675a— Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 20-4 ; 

 Minot 80, p. 227 ; Cooke 97, pp. 116, 169 ; 04, p. 105 ; Henderson 03, 

 p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Chapman 07, p. 234. 



Description. — Adult — Above tliroughout brown, with a slight tinge 

 of olive ; a conspicuous line above the eye white with a tinge of bufiy ; 

 under-parts white with a faint wash of yellowish, heavily streaked 

 throughout with black ; iris brown, bill dusky, leg pale brown. Length 

 (of a female) 5-20 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 2-20 ; cuknen -50 ; tarsus -75. 



The sexes are alike, and the seasonal variation is very slight. This, 

 the western subspecies, is distinguished from the typical form by its 

 longer bill, browner upper- and whiter under-parts. 



Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from Alaska to 

 Minnesota and Nebraska ; on migration southwards, through the 

 south-eastern Atlantic states to the West Indies, Mexico, Central and 

 South America. 



Grinnell's Water-Tlirush is only a straggler on migration in Colorado. 

 It was noticed at Denver May 12th, 1873, by Henshaw ; at Fort Lyon, 

 May 6th, 1886, by Thorne ; at Boulder by Minot and at Loveland by 

 Cooke, wliile Aiken observed it near Cafion City in May, 1873, and 

 obtained a specimen, now in the Colorado College Museum, near Limon 

 May 23rd, 1900 ; he also informs me he saw six examples at Butte 

 on May 3rd, 1908. There is another example in the State collection at 

 Denver, obtamed May 14th, 1904, at Boulder by Bragg (Henderson). 



Habits. — ^Like the Oven-Bird, this species is for the 

 most part a ground-bird and a walker, haunting swamps 

 and deep woodland bogs, and giving vent to a sudden 

 and loud vivid song. It is generally regarded as the 

 most notable musician among the Warblers. 



Genus OPORORNIS. 



Bill as in Dendroica with the rictal bristles weak, sometimes obsolete ; 

 wings comparatively long and pointed, about 3^ times the length of 

 the tarsus ; plumage green, yellow and slate, without spots or bars 

 on the wings and tail. 



Four species, all breeding in the United States. 



For key, see p. 439. 



Connecticut Warbler. Oporornis agilis. 

 A.O.U. Checklist no 678— Colorado Records — Aiken 00, p. 298 ; 

 Cooke 97, p. 219 ; 04, p. 110; Chapman 07, p. 241. 



