New World Warblers (Parulidae)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) - HBW 15, p. 766

French: Paruline couronnée German: Pieperwaldsänger Spanish: Reinita Hornera

Taxonomy: Motacilla aurocapilla Linnaeus, 1766, "on the coast of Hispaniola, about ten leagues [c. 56 km] from land".
Rather distinct in many ways from the other two members of genus. Recent studies of mitochondrial DNA indicate that this species is sister to all other true parulids, and has been proposed that it be placed in its own monotypic genus, retaining current name of genus (of which it is the original type). Proposed race canivirens (described from Georgia, in SE USA) considered indistinguishable from nominate. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

aurocapilla ( Linnaeus, 1766) - breeds S Canada (S Northwest Territories and NE British Columbia E to S Quebec and Nova Scotia) and S in E USA to N Louisiana and N Georgia; migrates to non-breeding grounds in region from S Texas and Florida S through Middle America to Panama and in Caribbean, occasionally S to N Colombia and Venezuela.
cinereus A. H. Miller, 1942 - breeds lower E slope of Rocky Mts and adjacent Great Plains, from S Alberta and Montana S to Colorado; migrates to W Middle America.
furvior Batchelder, 1918 - breeds Newfoundland, in SE Canada; migrates mainly to Cuba, Bahamas and E Middle America.