BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 69 



Osprey (continued) 



Call no. 



Nu Os8 Adult over Nest. Gardineis island Chapman 



Nu Os9 Adult with Wings and Tail Spread About to Alight on Nest. 

 Gardiners island. (June 9, 1911) Harper 



Observe specially how the wings are used in directing the 

 bird's course and in retarding its movement. The feet are 

 dropped ready to land. 



Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) 



The ovenbird is known also as the teacher bird and as the 

 golden-crowned thrush. It belongs with the group of warblers. 

 The name ovenbird is given to it because it builds a roofed nest 

 like an old-fashioned oven. The name teacher bird is derived 

 from its call, while the term golden-crowned thrush is derived 

 from the color of the crown. This bird is fairly abundant in the 

 drier woods. 6.2 



Nu Ov2 Adult at Nest. (June 8, 1900) Chapman 



The nest is rather bulky, is placed upon the ground often as 

 here at the foot of a small sapling or under a recumbent dead 

 twig, and is built of brown leaves and grass of the preceding 

 year. The nest is not easily discovered. Where is the entrance? 



Nu Ov3 Nest with Eggs in Brush Surrounded by Growth of Swamp 

 Saxifrage, Skunk Cabbage, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Other 

 Plants. Potters swamp, Branchport. (June 6, 1909) 



Bnrtch 



While such swamps are not the usual nesting places of the 

 ovenbird, a number of nests have been found in Potters swamp. 

 Note how perfectly the nest is concealed. One might easily 

 overlook it in passing. 



Owl, Barn (Ahtco pratincola) 



The name monkey-faced owl is given this bird because of its 

 odd visage. It is unusually helpful and feeds almost exclusively 

 on squirrels, reptiles, mice and insects. It frequents barns. Its 

 habits are nocturnal. It is considered somewhat rare in New 

 York as it is more a southern bird, though it is found in many 

 parts of the State. 15-18 



