Overview

Ovenbird: Medium, ground walking warbler, olive-brown upperparts, heavily spotted white underparts. Head has dull orange central crown stripe edged in black, and a white eye-ring. Wings, tail are olive-green. Name is from its covered nest, the dome and side entrance make it resemble a dutch oven.

Range and Habitat

Ovenbird: Breeds from west-central Canada east to Maritimes, and south to the northern Gulf Coast states and South Carolina. Spends winters from the Gulf Coast and Florida to South America. Preferred habitats include mature, dry forests with little undergrowth.

Breeding and Nesting

Ovenbird: Three to six white eggs, flecked with gray or brown, are laid in a domed or oven-shaped nest with a side entrance. Nest is made of dead leaves and plant fibers, lined with grass, and built on the ground. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Ovenbird: Feeds on insects, spiders, snails, and worms; also eats seeds and other vegetation during winter; forages while walking on the ground.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water, Fruit, Nut Pieces

Vocalization

Ovenbird: Emits a loud staccato song of "teacher, teacher, teacher" with geographical variation in emphasis. The flight song, often given at night, is a bubbling and exuberant series of jumbled notes ending with the familiar "teacher, teacher."

Similar Species

Ovenbird: Louisiana and Northern waterthrushes have a white to yellow stripe behind eyes, and lack eye-rings and black borders on crowns.