324 
T Distinctions. The yellow underparts and red cap are unmistakable in all spring birds, 
In'autumn the vaguely striped underparts, brown back, and yellow undertail -coverts are 
The Nashville Warbler is the only other Warbler 
with a reddish cap, but it is pure yellow instead of 
only yellowish below and has no streaking anywhere. 
Field Marks. The habitual, sandpiper-like up- 
ward jerk of the tail will distinguish this from other 
Warblers with yellow underparts. The bright yellow 
confined to the undertail-coverts, light throat, and 
vaguely striped buff breast of the juveniles will assist 
in separation of the species from comparable forms. 
Nesting. On or near the ground in boggy ground 
or sphagnum barrens in nest of coarse grass lined 
with feathers. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Can- 
ada, west to Manitoba, casually (?) to Alberta, and 
north to Mackenzie valley. 
SUBSPECIES. The subspecies of Palm Warbler occurring in western Canada is 
the Interior Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum palmarum. 
Water-Thrushes or Wag-tail 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 282, page 313). They may be mis- 
taken for Thrushes either in life or in the hand, but by attention to 
specific characters they can be easily distinguished. 
674. Oven-bird, golden-crowned thrxjsh. Seiurus aurocapillus. L, 6-17. Plate 
LXXII B. A large, thrush-like, ground-frequenting Warbler. Above, uniform olive 
brown, white below sharply and regularly streaked with dark brown across breast. A 
partly concealed median stripe or spot of dull yellow or old-gold between two brown lines 
on crown. All plumages alike. 
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 Thnishes. 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, 
giving the bird its specific name. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada, west to the foot of the mountains; north 
to Great Slave lake. 
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 wood- 
land sound and once heard will be remembered. 
675. Northern Water-Thrush (Including GrinneU’s Water-Thrush), water- 
thrush. 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. 
distinctive. 
Figure 295 
Palm Warbler (male); natural size. 
