Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla
Also known as: Oven-Bird
Habitat
Ground
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
19 g
About This Species
Search the leaf litter of mature deciduous and mixed forest, where this ground-nesting warbler walks rather than hops while flipping leaves in search of insects. Its loud, repetitive teacher-teacher-teacher song is often heard well before the bird is seen, since it favours shaded understorey over open perches. Late spring through summer, during the breeding season in North American woodlands, offers the best combination of song activity and visibility.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Stay on trails and keep at least several metres from any spot where a bird appears agitated or is carrying food, since its ground nests are extremely vulnerable to trampling and predation if disturbed.
- Migratory birds and their nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and Canada, making deliberate nest disturbance illegal.
- Avoid using recorded calls to draw the bird in during breeding season, as repeated playback can pull adults away from incubation or feeding duties.
LCAvesPasseriformesParulidae
Seasonal Activity
2,629,294 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Parulidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 19 g
Photo
no rights reserved, uploaded by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago
CC0-1.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.