File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20047321583).jpg

Title: Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations
Identifier: commercialpoultr11 (find matches)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Warren, Benjamin Harry, 1858-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg : E. K. Meyers, State Printer
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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294 BUWS OF FENNSYLVANIA. ' I I* streaks, which oxtend from bill and enclose a golden or brownish-oranj^e space; white ring around eye ; beneath white ; breast and sides streaked with dusky or black. The young at tirst have no stripes on top of head, and lower parts are light- dull brownish-yellow, with obscure dusky streaks. i/rt6i««<.—Eastern North America, north to Hudson's Ba^'territory and Alaska, breeding from Kansas, tlie Ohio Valley and Virginia, northward. In winter, south- ern Florida, the West Indies and Central America. This bird is a common summer resident, arriving^ here g-enerally a))out the 25th of April and remaining until about the last week of Septem- ber. Occasionally, but rarely, are birds of this species observed in the southern counties after the second week of October. Durinf^r mij^rations it is often found in thickets, and occasionally is seen in yards and gardens. In the summer months it rarely is observed to leave its favorite retreats in dark and unfrequented localities in forests. The Oven-bird very care- fully hides its rather bulky and loosely built nest in old leaves, by the side of a lo^^f or under the projecting edges of brush heaps; in addition to such protections, and to further conceal its treasures from the curious eyes of egg-collectors or other predatory animals, the top is usually covered over or roofed by the birds, who gain an entrance through an opening in the side. The eggs, four to six, are creamy-white, spotted with reddish-brown. They measure about .80 of an inch long and .60 of an inch wdde. The song of this bird is exceeding loud, shrill and monotonous. Birds of this genus, when walking on the ground, have the habit of wagging their tails like the Spotted Sandpiper. The Oven-bird subsists chiefly on various forms of insect life, such as bee- tles, earthworms, crickets, flies, spiders and larvne; it also sometimes feeds on small seeds. Seiurus noveboracensis (Gmel.). ^Vator Thrush ; VVat^r Waj^tail; Small-billetl VValor-Thrush. Description (Plate 95). Length about H ; extent about 9 ; eyes brown ; bill small (rather slender as com- pared with next species), a half inch or less in length along culmen ; upper parts uniform and dark olive-brown ; below yellowish thickly and sharply streaked ex- cept on belly and under tail-<'overts with dark olive-brown ; these streaks on breast in some specimens are quite black ; a yellowish superciliary line. I(ahit<it.~-F.AHtern United States to Illinois, and northward to Arctic America, breeding from the northern United States, northward. South in winter to the West Indies and northern South America. The Water Thrush is common and very generally distributed throughout Pennsylvania during migrations, or late in April, May, Sep- tember and frequently individuals are found lingering as they pass southward, to winter it is said beyond the southern boundaries oi the United States, in our southern counties late in October. Generally, however, the Water Wagtail, as many term tliis bird, is not found here after the last week in September. Lik(^ the sandpipers this bird may Plate 72. i
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I Winter Wrea. 2. Cat-bird.

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