Alternate name: Teacherbird

Family: Parulidae, Wood Warblers view all from this family

Description 6" (15 cm). A terrestrial, thrush-like warbler. Olive green above, white below with dark streaks; conspicuous eye ring; orange-brown crown bordered with black stripes; pinkish legs.

Habitat Mature, dry forests with little undergrowth.

Nesting 4 or 5 brown-spotted white eggs in a domed or oven-shaped nest of dead leaves and plant fibers, lined with grass. Nest is placed on the ground, with a side entrance.

Range Breeds from west-central Canada east to Maritimes, and south to northern Gulf Coast states, and South Carolina. Winters from Gulf Coast and Florida to South America.

Voice   Loud staccato song-teacher, teacher, teacher-with geographical variation in emphasis. Flight song, often given at night, is bubbling and exuberant series of jumbled notes ending with the familiar teacher, teacher.

Discussion This warbler gets its name from its peculiar ground nest, which resembles a miniature Dutch oven. A male frequently has more than one mate (as many as three in one instance); it also has been observed that two males, as well as the female, may feed the young.