Ovenbird

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.

INTERESTING FACTS

Studies estimate that half of all adults die each year with much of the mortality due to the hazards of migration.
The female performs a crippled-bird display to distract predators when flushed from the nest.
The Ovenbird gets its name from its covered nest. The dome and side entrance make it resemble a Dutch oven.
A group of ovenbirds are collectively known as a "stew" of ovenbirds.

The Ovenbird has a tremendous range estimated at roughly 5,200,000 square kilometers. This bird can be found in a wide range of areas including Canada and the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, large areas of South America, and has vagrant populations in Greenland, and the UK. It appears in forest areas in subtropical, temperate and tropical locations. The global population of this bird is estimated to be around 24,000,000 individuals. Currently, it is not believed that the population trends for this species will soon approach the minimum levels that could suggest a potential decline in population. Due to this, population trends for the Ovenbird have a present evaluation level of Least Concern.