200 



reduced and veiled, the underparts yellow, brightest on breast, and the black lines on the 

 face, side of breast, and flanks only indicated. 



Distinctions. The fine black, facial marks against bright yellow, their sharp con- 

 tinuation along flanks, and the reddish back spots are the best distinguishing features of 

 adults. In juveniles the underparts brightest on breast rather than throat or elsewhere and 

 the indications of stripes on the sides instead of in the middle of breast make the easiest 

 recognition characters. 



Field Marks. Too rare in Canada to be recorded by sight unless the observer has had 

 considerable experience. 



Nesting. In briery bushes, in nest of plant fibres and plant down lined with rootlets 

 and long hairs. 



Distribution. Eastern United States, north rarely, though perhaps locally regular 

 across the Canadian border in the lower Great Lakes region. 



The Prairie Warbler prefers dry, sandy, or open second growth wastes. 

 From the data on its occurrence in Canada it should be looked for nesting 

 in the neighbourhood of the lower end of lake Huron. 



GENUS SEIURUS. WAGTAIL WARBLERS. L, 6-04 6-17. 



Birds of the genus Seiurus look more like Thrushes than Warblers as is 

 indicated by the popular names of Golden-crowned and Water Thrushes 

 that are sometimes given them. They are, however, true warblers of 

 woodland habits; ground birds, walking instead of hopping; of large size 

 for warblers; brown or dark olive coloration above, white below with the 

 breast heavily streaked. They can be mistaken for thrushes either in life 

 or in the hand but by attention to specific characters they can be easily 

 distinguished. 



674. Ovenbird. GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH. FB. LA GRIVE COURONNEE. Seiurus 

 aurocapittus. L, 6-17. Plate XLIII A. 



Distinctions. The partly concealed dull golden erown patch bordered with brown will 

 always determine this species. 



Field Marks. Though very thrush-like, there is generally little probability of actual 

 confusion between this species and the thrushes. Its pure white throat, foreneck, and 

 underparts with little or no suffusion of other colour and the sharply contrasting stripes 

 rather than spots of the breast are easily distinctive. 



Nesting. On ground, in a bulky structure of coarse grasses, weed stalks, leaves, and 

 rootlets; covered over with leaves and with the entrance at the side, like an oven, from 

 whence the specific name is derived. 



Distribution. Wooded sections of North America east of the Rockies, north to beyond 

 settlements; breeds in Canada wherever found. 



It is a woodland bird, usually common wherever open timber is 

 interspersed in the heavier woods. Its common song Teacher teacher 

 teacher teacher, beginning low and ending very loud is a familiar woodland 

 sound and once heard will be remembered. 



675. Northern Water-thrush. WATER-THRUSH. FR. LA GRIVE DES RUISSEAUX. 

 Seiurus noveboracensis. L, 6-04. Dark olive brown above, yellowish white finely and 

 sharply streaked with dark below, disconnected lines on throat, breast, and flanks. A 

 buffy blended line over the eye and a fine, sharp, dark one through it. 



Distinctions. Easily distinguished from the Oven-bird by the finer, more evenly 

 distributed striping, darker coloration, yellowish underparts, and the lack of crown 

 patch. From the Louisiana Water-thrush it may be told by the buffy instead of white 

 line over the eye, the yellowish instead of buffy or creamy underparts, and the presence 

 of spots on the throat. 



Field Marks. The Water-thrushes can be told in life by their habitual upward jerking 

 of the tail as they walk or stand, much similar to the actions of the common Spotted 

 Sandpiper. The two Water-thrushes can be told apart by the difference in the colour 

 details given above. 



