Covered or Arched Nests on Ground 



The places chosen for nesting are the pine or oak woods, 

 or scrubby open ground, seldom far from trees. The nests 

 are very difficult to find, owing not only to the fact that they are 

 carefully covered, but the bird, instead of flying up directly from 

 the nest, runs along the ground for some distance before taking 

 flight. From April to July nests may be found. 



674. Golden-crowned Thrush; Oven-bird: Seiurus 

 aurocapilius (Linn.) 



Adult — Upper parts brownish olive; crown dull orange with 

 dark hne on either side; under parts white, slightly tinged 

 with yellow, with numerous dark spots forming lines from 

 the throat downwards. Length — 6. 17. 



Breeding Range — From Virginia and Kentucky northward, and 

 in the higher regions of the Carolinas. 



The arched or domed nest is formed of dead leaves, skeleton 

 leaves, and roots, with the lining mostly of fine hair-like roots, 

 and sometimes hair; the opening is at the side, and is fairly large, 

 about three inches high; the nest is placed among dead leaves, 

 either on a bank or on the level ground in dry woods. The eggs 

 vary in number from 3 to 6, sets of 5 being the most common; 

 they are pinkish white, with either few or many fine specks of 

 light chocolate colour or sometimes blotches of reddish or lilac, 

 chiefly at the larger end. Size — .78 x .58. See Fig. 12, Plate C. 



This thrush-like warbler may be found throughout our 

 woods — perhaps the most common of the woodland birds, and 

 certainly the one most frequently seen during the earlier part 

 of the breeding season; he is easily identified by his size, 

 being much smaller than any of the thrushes except Bicknell's 

 thrush (which is but little larger) ; by the dull orange crown, the 

 feathers on the head being elevated when the bird becomes 

 excited, and by the fact that he walks. 



When the nest is threatened these birds become greatly 

 excited, coming close to the intruder, and then feigning broken 

 wings and general demoralisation, uttering all the time a rather 

 sharp and piteous note; the nest is carefully hidden amongst the 

 dead leaves and young spring growth, and is somewhat difficult to 

 find. It is often completed several days before the eggs are laid. 



7i 



