Ovenbird
The ovenbird, commonly found In the Caribbean Islands, northern Venezuela, and Florida, along with other places, is a songbird. It is also a migratory species of bird that is named after its oven-type nest.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Parulidae |
| Genus | Seiurus |
| Scientific Name | Seiurus aurocapilla |
Quick Information
| Description | Size: 4.3-6.3 in (10.9-16 cm) Wingspan: 7.5–10.2 in (19.05-25.9 cm) Weight: 0.50-1.02 oz (18.9-28.9 g) Color: The upperpart is olive brown and the underpart is white but there are black streaks, white rings around the eyes, and the black stripes underneath the cheek, horn-colored beak and legs are pink |
| Distribution | Central America and eastern Northern America |
| Habitat | Lowland, mixed and deciduous forests |
| Sounds & Calls | “churr-tee” “churr-tee”, “chik”, and “siiii” |
| Lifespan | Around 11 years |
| Diet | Snails, earthworms, spiders, and other insects |
| Adaptations | Right at the time of their migration, they gain weight that helps them migrate in a certain way |
| Predators | Cowbirds, chipmunks, and broad-winged hawks, and barred owls |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Behavior
- Male ovenbirds are extremely territorial
- The birds are solitary during the winter migration
- They have a certain pattern of hopping, dashing and foraging
Mating and Reproduction
Male and female ovenbirds choose either mixed or deciduous forests for their mating when after a brief courtship, the female bird builds an oven-shaped nest with leaves, bark, stems, and hairs. The location of the nest is 60-70 ft interior from the border of the forest. The female lays 3-6 eggs per brood. Sizing around 0.9 in (each egg) and white in color with some reddish-brown spots. All eggs are incubated for 11-14 days.
Life-cycle
Young hatchlings are born with eyes closed and covered in brown colored down. Both their parents feed them. They young ones take their first flights after 8-11 days of birth.
Interesting Facts
- The famous poet Robert Frost has a poem named after the bird “ The Oven Bird”.
- The well known American poet Robert Bly also used the reference of the bird by mentioning “The Nimble Oven Bird”, in his poem known as “The Slim Fir Seeds”.
- The genus name Seiurus is a combination of two Greek words like “SEIO” and “Oura”. These two words mean ‘to shake’ and ‘ tail’ respectably. The scientific name Aurocapilla means ‘golden hairs’ in Latin.
References
- https://bwdmagazine.com/learn/identification/ovenbird/
- https://abcbirds.org/bird/ovenbird/
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ovenbird/lifehistory#
- https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ovenbi1/cur/introduction
Published on June 13th 2019 by Sahana Kanjilal under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 9th May 2023.
