Range. Nests from northern New England to Canada, south in the mountains, to West Virginia; winters in the tropics.
Washington, common T.V., Apl. 22-June 2; July 21-Oct. 6. Ossining, tolerably common T.V., May 11-21; July 28-Oct. 3. Cambridge, abundant T.V., May 8-June 1; Aug. 10-Oct. 10. N. Ohio, common, T.V., Apl. 26-May 25; Sept. 1-15.
The two Water-Thrushes and the Oven-bird are walking Warblers, and the Water-Thrushes, furthermore, are teeterers, nervously tipping tail and body with apparently exhaustless energy. When migrating, the Northern Water-Thrush often seeks refuge beneath the shrubbery of our lawns, but when nesting it frequents the borders of streams in deep woods, building its home on the ground or in the roots of an upturned tree. Its call-note is a sharp chink; its song a hurried rush of loud musical notes, closing abruptly. The 4-5 eggs, laid in the latter half of May or early June, are white with numerous brown markings chiefly about the larger end.
Grinnell's Water-Thrush (S. n. notabilis), a slightly larger and darker form, nests in the Northwest and is casually found as a migrant on the Atlantic coast.
LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH
Seiurus motacilla. [Case 5], Fig. 5
Line over eye and underparts white, the latter tinted with buff (not with yellow, as in the preceding species); the throat white unmarked; no white in wings or tail. L. 6¼.
Range. Nests from Georgia and Texas to southern New England and southeastern Minnesota; winters in the tropics.
Washington, rare S.R., Apl. 2-Sept. 14. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 9-Aug. 24. N. Ohio, tolerably common S.R., Mch. 28-Sept. 15. SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., Apl. 17-Aug. 26.
A shy spirit of woodland brooks, the Louisiana Water-Thrush resembles the Northern Water-Thrush in habits but is more difficult to see; its call-note is louder, its song, wilder, more ringing. Like the Oven-bird it also has a flight, or 'ecstasy'-song. It nests in a bank or among the roots of a fallen tree, laying 4-6 eggs, white with numerous brown markings, in late April or early May.
KENTUCKY WARBLER
Oporornis formosus. [Case 8], Fig. 52