OVEN-BIRD. A bird that builds a domed nest somewhat like an old-fashioned outdoor oven. The name belongs primarily to certain species of South American tree-creepers of the genus Furnarius and family Dendrocolaptidar, which are small, non-oscine, passerine birds with short wings, feeble power of flight, and plain brownish colors. These birds are numerous in Argentina, and are familiar about village gar dens and fauns. Both sexes take part in the construction of the nest, which is generally in an exposed situation, 'ion:di:ably large and of the shape of a dome, with a small entrance on one sidle. It is made of clay, mixed with a little hair or grass, well plastered together, and be comes quite firm as the clay dries in the sun. Its building sometimes requires several mouths. Internally, it is divided into two chambers by a partition reaching nearly to the roof, the eggs white) being placed in the inner chamber on a bed of soft grass and feathers. The outer chamber seems to be intended for the male. Such nests are made by Farm:Hits ruins (the hornero or 'baker') and some ethers, and a new one is con structed each year; but other species of the same genus nest quite differently.
In the United States the name 'oven-bird' is given to the golden-crowned 'water-thrush' (q.v.)
(Sriurns aurocapillus), one of the larger wood warblers. It is rather more than six inches long, olive green above, white, streaked with black, beneath, and with the centre of the crown pale rufous. During the summer it is found through out North America, except west of the Rocky Alountains, and it winters from Florida and Texas southward. The nest is rather large, roofed over, with the entrance on one side. It is composed of rootlets, grasses, leaves, etc., and is made on the ground. The eggs are four or five, white, spotted with brown. The oven-hird is re markable for uttering a sweet, chattering song in the air at twilight, after the manner of the skylark; but it is better known by its customary accelerated call. Another peculiarity of the bird is that it walks with a see-sawing motion accom panied by a rhythmical nodding of the head. Con suit for the South American oven-bird, Hudson, The Naluntli st in 1,a Plata (London, 1s92); Fclater and Hudson, Ornithology ( Lou don, 1888) : Newton. Dictionary of Birds (New York, 1893-96) : and for the American oven-bird, standard ornithologies and Burroughs. Wake Robin, (Boston. (872. and later).