Species BirdsOvenbird

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

CommonBird
Illustration of Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

The Ovenbird is a ground-walking warbler named for its domed, oven-shaped nest built on the forest floor, with a side entrance like an old Dutch oven. It walks with a deliberate, jerky head-bobbing gait through leaf litter, searching for invertebrates. Its emphatic, loud 'teacher-teacher-teacher' song accelerates in volume and is one of the defining sounds of eastern deciduous forests.

Habitat
Mature deciduous and mixed forests with leaf-litter floor
Diet
Earthworms, insects, snails, and forest floor invertebrates
How common
Common

Best time to see a Ovenbird

The best time to see a Ovenbird is April–June, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 20,731 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Ovenbird? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Ovenbird sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Ovenbird? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a Ovenbird is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love birds? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More birds

Pacific Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Loon
Pacific Loon
Gavia pacifica
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Empidonax difficilis
Painted Bunting
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
Painted Redstart
Painted Redstart
Myioborus pictus
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Setophaga palmarum
Parasitic Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticus
Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos