Descriptive List 



299 



Genus Seiurus (Swains.) 



The genus Seiurus is composed of a few rather large warblers, which are more 

 plainly colored than is usual in this family. Unlike our other warblers, these are 

 essentially ground-loving birds. They walk, instead of hopping like the other spe- 

 cies. They are all whitish below, with streaked breasts. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



Crown orange-brown with a black .streak on each side. Oven-bird. 

 Crown plain brownish Hke back. See 2. 



Superciliary stripe buffy; underparts tinged with pale yellow. Waler-Thrush. 

 Superciliary stripe white; underparts buffy-white, flanks and crissuin buff. Louisiana Waler- 

 Thrush. 



^ 302. Seiurus aurocapillus (Linn). Oven-bird. 



Description: Ads. — Center of the crown pale rufous or ochraceous-buff, bordered on either side 

 by black lines; rest of the upperparts, wings, and tail l^rownish olive-preen; no wing-b.ars or tail- 

 patches; underparts white; the sides of the throat, the breast, and sides streaked with black. 

 L., 6.17; W., 3.00; T., 2.15; B. from N., ..3.5, (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) _ _ 



Ranqe. — Eastern North America, breeding from North Carolina northward; winters in Mexico, 

 Central America, and the West Indies. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State during the migi'ations, and to a large extent also in 

 summer. 



Fig. 242. OVEN-BIED. 



The Oven-l)ird, also called the Golden-crowned Thrush, is a summer resident in 

 North Carolina. It arrives in April and has been recorded as late as October 23. 

 While here it frequents dense, shady woods, where one may constantly hear its 

 sweet, impulsive song. 



In the mountains this is one of the most characteristic and abundant birds of 

 the dense woods, breeding commonly in suitable situations during May and June. 

 The nest is built on the ground, of leaves, grasses and fibers, and is lined with 

 hair and fine grass. In form it is dome-shaped with the entrance on one side. 

 The eggs number four or five, and are white, spotted and speckled with brown 

 and gray, the markings becoming more prominent at the larger end. Size 

 .75 X .57. 



