Perch Supply
Wood-warblers (Parulidae)

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla. Insects, snails and worms from leaf litter.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
Scientific name
Seiurus aurocapilla
Length
4.3–5.5 in
Weight
0.6–1 oz
Nest
Domed 'oven' of leaves on the forest floor
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
3–6 eggs
Incubation
11–14 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Olive-brown above with a heavily streaked breast
  • Orange crown bordered in black
  • Walks the forest floor on pink legs

Voice

A ringing, accelerating 'teacher-teacher-TEACHER'.

Diet and feeding

Insects, snails and worms from leaf litter.

What do ovenbirds eat? · Best feeder for ovenbirds

Ovenbirds by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaWinter visitor—
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederJune–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederJune–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasWinter visitor—
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do ovenbirds eat?

Insects, snails and worms from leaf litter. At feeders: none — deep leaf litter is the habitat.

How big is a Ovenbird?

4.3–5.5 in long and 0.6–1 oz.

Do ovenbirds use birdhouses?

No. Domed 'oven' of leaves on the forest floor.

Sources

  1. Ovenbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Ovenbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Ovenbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.