Seiurus aurocapilla
Ovenbird
The Ovenbird is a small warbler with dull olive-green upperparts and white underparts heavily streaked with black. Its distinctive feature is a tawny-orange crown stripe bordered by black lines. The bird has a dark brown bill and pink legs.
Males and females look similar, though females tend to be slightly duller. Juveniles initially show browner plumage with less distinct markings but soon molt to resemble adults.
Length
12cm to 15cm
Wingspan
19cm to 23cm
Weight
18g to 28g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Olive Brown
Secondary Colour
White Black
Beak Colour
Brown
Leg Colour
Pink
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Ovenbirds inhabit mature deciduous and mixed forests across eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the northern Caribbean. They prefer areas with closed canopies and open understories.
During winter, they migrate to southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean islands. In the United States, they are common summer residents in eastern states and parts of the Midwest.
Sea level to 1,500 meters
Temperate, Subtropical
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Ovenbirds primarily feed on insects and other small invertebrates found in leaf litter. Their diet includes ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders.
They forage by walking slowly on the forest floor, picking prey from leaves and soil with their sharp bills.
Ovenbirds are primarily ground-dwelling birds, walking deliberately on the forest floor while bobbing their tails. They forage by picking insects from leaf litter.
During the breeding season, males become territorial, singing from elevated perches to defend their areas.
The Ovenbird's song is a loud, ringing 'teacher-teacher-teacher' that increases in volume. This distinctive vocalization gives rise to its alternative name, 'Teacher Bird.'
They also have a flight song, a complex series of musical notes and trills given during a display flight.
Ovenbirds form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically runs from May to July. Males establish territories and attract females with their loud songs.
The female builds a unique, dome-shaped nest on the ground, resembling a Dutch oven (hence the bird's name). The nest is made of leaves, grasses, and bark, with a side entrance. She lays 3-6 white eggs with brown speckles.
Incubation lasts about 12 days and is performed solely by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 7-10 days but remain dependent on adults for another 2-3 weeks.
The Ovenbird typically lives for 1 to 3 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 11 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While currently listed as Least Concern, Ovenbirds face threats from habitat loss due to forest fragmentation and urbanization.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving large tracts of mature deciduous forests, crucial for their breeding success.
Teacher Bird
Main predators include hawks, owls, squirrels, and snakes. Domestic cats also pose a significant threat, especially in areas near human habitation.
Your feedback helps us improve our content
No ratings yet - be the first to rate this bird!
Sign in to be the first to review
website: BirdLife International. 2021. Seiurus aurocapilla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22721779A139133223.
View sourcereport: Pardieck et al. 2018; Partners in Flight 2019; Rosenberg et al. 2019
website, 2019: Partners in Flight
View sourcewebsite: Historical Longevity Records of North American Birds
View source