An olive-brown ovenbird with a spotted chest walking on pine needles. — Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla

A small forest warbler that walks on the ground and builds a domed nest shaped like an old-fashioned oven.

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About the Ovenbird

Ovenbirds are 4.3 to 5.5 inches long, with olive-brown backs, a white eye ring and an orange stripe on the head. They breed in shady forests with lots of dead leaves across Canada and the eastern and central United States, and they winter in the Caribbean, Central and South America. They eat mostly insects, walking with jerky steps as they hunt among the leaves.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Seiurus aurocapilla^[1]
Size: 4.3 to 5.5 inches long; 7.5- to 10-inch wingspan.^[1]
Lifespan: Most live 1 to 3 years; up to 11.^[1]
Diet: Mostly insects, plus some seeds and fruit.^[1]
Habitat: Shady forests with lots of leaf litter.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds in Canada and the eastern and central U.S.; winters in the Caribbean and Central and South America.^[1]
Group life: Pairs in the breeding season. Active during the day.^[1]
Babies: 3 to 6 eggs that hatch in about two weeks.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

The ovenbird's domed nest looks like an old mud oven.^[1]
Ovenbirds walk instead of hopping like most warblers.^[1]
Young ovenbirds leave the nest before they can fly.^[1]

Vocabulary

warbler: A small, often colorful songbird that eats insects.
leaf litter: Fallen leaves on the forest floor.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
clutch: A group of eggs laid at one time.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Ovenbird.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/ovenbird (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Seiurus aurocapilla (Ovenbird).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721779/139133223 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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