The Ovenbird is relatively distinctive, especially if the bold, complete white eye ring and crown stripes can be observed. It is most similar to the Northern Waterthrush, but lacks that species’ buffy-white supercilium and narrow dark eyeline; these features, plus the lack of a complete white eye ring, give the Northern Waterthrush a very different face pattern from that of the Ovenbird. Besides face pattern, the Ovenbird can further be identified by the bolder and blacker spots and streaks on the whiter underparts.
The uniform olive-brown upperparts and dark-spotted whitish underparts is somewhat reminiscent of the various species of Catharus thrushes, especially Hermit, Swainson’s, and Gray-cheeked Thrushes. These species all lack the complete white eye ring and distinctive crown pattern of the Ovenbird, and are noticeably larger.
| The loud, emphatic, ringing song of the Ovenbird, consisting of a repeated series of 8-10 two-parted notes, is a characteristic sound of the forests of much of northeastern B.C. Variations include TEE-cher, TEE-cher, TEE-cher, TEE-cher, TEE-cher,…, with the emphasis on the first syllable of each two-parted note, as well as a less frequently-heard variation in which the emphasis is placed on the second syllable: tee-CHER, tee-CHER, tee-CHER, tee-CHER…. The song usually builds in strength throughout, becoming louder and more emphatic towards the end. Occasionally, birds sing a simple repeated series of single notes: teach-teach-teach-teach… During the height of the breeding season, males occasionally engage in a flight song during which they sing a loud, varied, jumbled, rambling series of notes that often begins with a series of whink or ple-bleep notes and ends with several whit-chew notes; a similar song (‘attenuated song’) is also sometimes given from a perch within the canopy. The most commonly-heard call is a loud, sharp tsick or chut that is somewhat reminiscent of the call note of the Fox Sparrow; this call is sometimes given in rapid series when agitated. Also gives a variety of softer, quieter calls as well as a high, thin seee flight call. Source: Van Horn and Donovan (1994); Dunn and Garrett (1997) |
Courtship
Pair formation occurs on the breeding grounds and is accomplished primarily through the male’s song. Males typically sing from a somewhat concealed perch within the canopy and rarely sing from more exposed locations; this species occasionally sings while walking on the ground within the forest. Within a given territory, males tend to prefer to sing from the largest, most mature trees available. An infrequent flight display is sometimes given during which the male gives an extended, jumbled ‘flight song’ (see ‘Vocalizations’) while climbing in the air 3-20 m above the canopy. Once the male has reached the apex of the display flight, he flutters and hovers with the wings and tail spread before abruptly dropping back into the canopy once the singing has ended.
Nest
Nest construction typically begins within a week of the arrival of the female on the breeding grounds (usually late May), although it may be delayed during particularly cold weather. The female builds the nest alone over the course of 4-5 days. The well-hidden, domed nest is placed on or very near the ground and is constructed of grasses, leaves, moss, conifer needles, plant stems, and strips of bark and features a side entrance; the nest is not easily visible from above due to a cover of dry leaves and small sticks that is placed on the top of the dome. The floor of the internal chamber is lined with rootlets and fine hairs such as deer hair and/or horse hair. The entire dome is approximately 16-23 cm wide and 11-13 cm in height. Some nests, including several documented from B.C., are built without the typical domed covering.
Eggs
A single clutch of (3) 4-5 (6) eggs is laid within 1-3 days of the completion of the nest in late May or early June, and is incubated by the female for 11-14 days before hatching. The smooth, white, slightly glossy eggs are speckled and spotted with hazel, lilac-grey, and reddish-brown, often with the markings concentrated and forming a wreath around the large end of the egg. Eggs are apparently present in B.C. between late May and late June. This species is an occasional host for Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism, despite the different habitat types utilized by these two species.
Young
The young are fully altricial upon hatching, with a sparse covering of dark grey to brownish down, a pink mouth, and pale yellow gape flanges. The young are tended by both parents while in the nest, although only the female participates in brooding. The young remain in the nest for 8-10 days. After fledging, the parents divide up the brood and continue to tend to them for ~3 weeks before the young disperse and become independent. Nestlings and dependent young are present in B.C. between mid-June and mid-July.
Source: Van Horn and Donovan (1994); Baicich and Harrison (1997); Dunn and Garrett (1997); Campbell et al. (2001)
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Although this species regularly perches in and and sings from low to mid-level branches in the forest understory, most foraging is done on the ground. The Ovenbird walks with a characteristic gait when foraging on the ground, constantly bobbing its head and flicking its elevated tail. It usually acquires food by gleaning or probing for invertebrates such as insects, spiders, small snails, and earthworms, sometimes flipping over dead leaves to investigate their undersides. Most prey is captured on the ground or among the leaf litter, although some food items are secured from the surface of low leaves and herbaceous vegetation or captured in the air during brief aerial sallies. When not foraging on the ground, this species will occasionally venture into shrubs or low branches, but rarely forages at heights greater than 8 m from the ground (except during spruce budworm outbreaks, when foraging occurs much higher into the canopy).
Source: Curson et al. (1994); Van Horn and Donovan (1994); Dunn and Garrett (1997)
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