212 



A ground-haunting bird. On migration to be looked for in low, 

 scrubby, and sandy wastes. In breeding season in mossy bogs. 



673. Prairie Warbler, fr. — la pau vkttk des pres. Dendroica discolor. L, 4-75. 

 A green and yellow Warbler. Throat, cheeks, and all underparts of male bright yellow: 

 a black line through the eye, a black wedge below the ear-coverts, and a succession of 

 black lines along the sides of the breast and flanks. Middle of back has a saddle of reddish 

 spots. Female similar but occasionally almost or quite without the reddish on back. 

 Juveniles similar but colours 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 continua- 

 tion 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. 



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. Bills similar to those of the Warblers, the greater 

 size of the bird being considered (Figure 59, p. 27). They can be mistaken 

 for Thrushes either in life or in the hand, but by attention to specific charac- 

 ters they can be easily distinguished. 



674. Ovenbird. golden-crowned thrush, pr. — la grive couronn£e. Seiurus 

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



Distinctions. The partly concealed dull golden crown 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 the 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, and 

 giving the bird its specific name. 



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 inter- 

 spersed 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. 



