Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



665 



Genus SEIURUS Swainson. 

 326. Seiurus aurocapillus (Linn.). 



Oven-bird. 



Distr.: Eastern North America, west to the eastern slope of the 

 Rocky Mountains; breeds from northern Mississippi and Kansas 

 northward to northern Quebec, Hudson Bay, and Alaska; south in 

 winter to the West Indies, Central America, and Colombia, S. A. 



Adult: Crown, with broad stripe of orange brown in the centre, 

 bordered by narrow stripes of black; sides of head, dull olive brown; 

 throat, white, with narrow black stripe; sides, upper parts, wings 

 and tail, brownish olive; wings, without bars; -under parts, white, 

 heavily streaked on breast and sides with black; no white on tail. 



Sexes, similar. 



Length, 6.05; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.25; bill, .45; tarsus, .82. 



The Oven-bird is a common summer resident in wooded districts 

 of Illinois and Wisconsin from May until the latter part of September. 

 It has a delightful warbling song far different from its usual familiar 

 notes, but which is apparently reserved for special occasions, as 

 it is not often heard and rarely or never, except after sundown. 

 The more common song may be described as wee-chee, wee-chee, wee- 

 chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee, wee-chee repeated 

 rapidly and with gradually increasing power. 



Nidification begins in May. The nest is a covered, oven-like 

 structure on the ground, with the entrance on the side often concealed 

 by vegetation, and composed of grass, weeds, and leaves. The eggs 

 are 4 or 5, dull white, unevenly spotted and speckled with brown, 

 and measure about .79 x .60 inches. 



