_Seiurus_, SWAINSON, Zoöl. Jour. III, 1827, 171. (Sufficiently
distinct from _Sciurus_.) (Type, _Motacilla aurocapilla_, L.)
_Henicocichla_, GRAY, List of Genera, 1840.
[Line drawing: _Seiurus aurocapillus._
1433]
GEN. CHAR. Bill rather sylvicoline, compressed, with a distinct notch.
Gonys ascending. Rictal bristles very short. Wings moderate, about
three quarters of an inch longer than the tail; first quill scarcely
shorter than the second. Tail slightly rounded; feathers acuminate.
Tarsi about as long as the skull, considerably exceeding the middle
toe. Under tail-coverts reaching within about half an inch of the end
of the tail. Color above olivaceous; beneath whitish, thickly streaked
on the breast and sides. Wings and tail immaculate. Nests on the
ground, often arched or sheltered by position or dry leaves. Eggs
white, marked with red, brown, and purple.
This genus is decidedly sylvicoline in general appearance, although
the spots on the breast resemble somewhat those of the Thrushes. The
three species may be grouped as follows:—
A. Middle of crown brownish-orange, bordered by blackish. No
white superciliary streak … _S. aurocapillus._
B. Crown like the back. A well-defined superciliary light
stripe.
Thickly streaked beneath, including crissum. Ground-color and
superciliary stripe yellowish. Bill small … _S. noveboracensis._
Sparsely streaked beneath; throat and crissum immaculate.
Ground-color and superciliary stripe white. Bill very large …
_S. ludovicianus._
Seiurus aurocapillus, SWAINS.