64 O VEN-BIRD. 



Oven-bird; Golden-crowned Thrush: Seiurus auro- 

 capillus. 



Length about 6 inches. 



Upper parts brownish olive -green. 



Under parts white, the breast and sides spotted with black 

 like a thrush. 



Center of the crown golden-brown, bordered by black lines. 



Resident (abundant) from April 20 to October 15; winters 

 in the West Indies and Central America. 



This is one of the commonest birds of our woods, 

 and although classed among the Warblers, he has 

 none of their proverbial restlessness or fancy for tree- 

 tops, but spends most of his time on the ground 

 scratching among the dead leaves for bugs and 

 worms. He is known by his walk for he is one of 

 the few birds that do not hop and by the thrush- 

 like markings on his breast. He is so abundant that 

 in May and June the woods ring with his peculiar 

 chant, a rapid crescendo resembling chee-chee-cte- 

 CHEE-CHEE. He also has a wonderful flight song 

 which we hear but rarely, and only in nesting-time. 

 Miss Merriam writes of it, " Though you think you 

 know the Golden-crown, you have not realized what 

 manner of bird he is until you have heard his famous 

 love-song. It is as if a musician who has been play- 

 ing scales had suddenly changed to an impassioned 

 rhapsody. His ecstasy carries him off his feet and 

 he flies higher and higher into the air, pouring out his 

 rapturous love-song. I have often heard fragments 

 of this song in the stillness of the night, when it is 

 peculiarly poetic, as if the bird's joyous dreams had 

 aroused him." 



Dr. Richmond says, " This love-song may some- 

 times be heard in the Soldiers' Home woods. Late 



