360 
PASSERIFORMES 
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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. 
675. Northern Water-Thrush, water-thrush, la fauvette des ruisseaux du 
nord. Seiurus noveboracensis. L, 6-04. Dark olive-brown above, yellowish wliite 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. 
Distinctions. Easily distinguished from the Oven-bird by its finer, more generally 
distributed striping and general yellowish colour below; its darker colour above (sooty 
brown rather than olive-brown); its decided 
Figure 450 
Northern Water-Thrush (male); natural’size. 
face marks, especially strong superciliary line 
and the solid dark (nearly black) crown (Fig- 
ure 450). From any of the true thrushes it 
may be separated by its smaller size, darker, 
almost black, coloration above and yellowish 
below, and its distinct face marks. No true 
thrush has a distinct superciliary line or eye- 
bar. 
Field Marks. The Water-Thrushes may be 
known by their tlirush-like look, small size, and 
dark coloration and the habitual upward 
jerking of the tail (like some sandpipers) as 
they walk or stand. 
Nesting. On mossy bank or in turned-up 
roots of a tree, usually near or over water, in 
nest of moss lined with tendrils and fine 
rootlets. 
Distribution. North America. Across Canada, except southwestern British Colum- 
bia; north to tree limit. 
SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies are recognized. The Northeastern Water-Thrush 
(la Fauvette des ruisseaux du Nord-Est) Seiurus noveboracensis noveboracensis should not 
occur west of Ontario. Grinnell’s Water-Thrush (la Fauvette des ruisseaux de GrinneU) 
Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis is more sooty and less olive above; less yellow below; and 
should occupy the remainder of the specific range in Canada. The distinctions, however, 
are so fine that there is considerable difficulty in defining the ranges of the two forms and 
the ordinary observer can well disregard them. 
The favourite haunt of the Water-Thrush is in wet cedar swamps 
or the thick undergrowth bordering woodland streams. Its voice is loud 
and clear and it has a weird, fascinating sound in admirable keeping with 
the mystery of its surroundings. 
676. Louisiana Water-Thrush, large-billed water-thrush, la fauvette des 
ruisseaux de la louisiane. Seiurus motacilla. L, 6-28. Dark olive-brown above, 
buffy white below finely streaked with sharp, dark, disconnected lines from upperneck to 
breast and flanks. A sharp, white line over the eye and a fine, blended dark line through it. 
Distinctions. Easily separated from the Oven-bird by lack of dull orange crown 
streak; very similar to the Northern Water-Thrush but separated by slightly larger size, 
comparatively larger bill, pale buffy rather than yellowish underparts, and by the white- 
ness of the face markings. 
Field Marks. The Louisiana Water-Thrush has the jerking tail habit of the Northern 
Water-Thrush and can be distinguished from it in life only by attention to the differences 
given above. 
Nesting. Similar to that of the Northern Water-Thrush. 
Distribution. Eastern United States, appearing in Canada only occasionally in 
southwestern Ontario. 
Very similar to the Northern Water-Thrush in habits as well as in 
color and form. It is, however, a bird of more southern distribution and 
is of only rare occurrence in Canada. 
