Bird Description

Fairly common breeder in a variety of deciduous and coniferous forests. W. migration route in spring , e. in fall with many flying long distances at sea. A much sought-after species, that often walks on the ground or stays hidden in tangles and field edges on migration. Seemingly habitat specific, it is often in fields with wragweed and lots of COYE; it is the bigger bird with strong flight that doesn't drag its tail. Often freezes briefly and then walks off, not to be seen again. On the breeding grounds blasts out its song from sparsely leaved trees, its round body the shape of the leaves. IThrows its voice and invariably avoids detection until it moves. Explosive rolling song accelerating in pace. ID: Large and pot-bellied with a short neck and long wings for long flight to S Am. Long pink legs and large bill. Besides shape, always start with bold complete round white eyering that makes eye stand out. All have yellow underparts, olive upperparts with a hood. Adult hood is gray, some ? having black on lower border. 1st-w has browner hood with pale or buffy throat.