July 4, 2002
Photo Gallery of Wing Island Birds - Archives
Ovenbird
| A bird of the forest floor, the Ovenbird looks similar to a thrush, but in fact belongs to the warbler family. Ovenbirds need a large expanse of land to breed, a minimum of 50 acres, and with the large tracts of contiguous forest diminishing, the Ovenbirds numbers are disappearing also. They build their dome-shaped nests, hence the name Ovenbird, right on the ground. A nickname for this species is "teacher bird" for their loud "teacher, teacher, teacher" call that resonates throughout the forest. This bird breeds in eastern North America, from Canada to the southeastern states, and winters from the southern U.S. to Colombia. Banding records have shown Ovenbirds can live seven years. |