Ovenbird Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesOvenbird
Adult
Rather chunky for a warbler with bold black spots on the chest, a white eyering, and a black and orange striped crown.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 06, 2017Adult
Note bold black spots on the chest and black and orange striped crown, although crown color can be difficult to see.
© Frank Lehman / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 12, 2017Adult
Song is a loud "teacher, teacher, teacher" that increases in volume as it goes on.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 01, 2009Adult
Chunky, wide-eyed warbler with bold spotting on the chest, olive-brown upperparts and striped crown.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 10, 2015Adult
Territorial males are very vocal, singing a loud "teacher, teacher, teacher" from tree branches, occasionally quite high up in the canopy.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 01, 2020Adult
Typically forages on the ground in forest understory and leaf litter, walking with a hesitating gait.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 08, 2011Adult
Breeds in closed-canopy forests, particularly deciduous and mixed deciduous-evergreen woods. Forages on the ground, often walking with a herky-jerky, wandering stroll.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2013Adult
Note white eyering in otherwise unmarked face.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 11, 2012Adult
Forages mainly by walking slowly through the leaf litter looking for concealed insects.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 08, 2011Similar SpeciesNorthern Waterthrush
Adult
Northern Waterthrushes are darker brown above whereas Ovenbirds are golden-olive. They have a strong whitish eyebrow stripe and lack the Ovenbird’s eyering and strong black-and-orange crown stripes.
© Paul Tavares / Macaulay LibraryMatanzas, February 13, 2017Similar SpeciesLouisiana Waterthrush
Adult
Louisiana Waterthrushes are darker brown than Ovenbirds, which are golden-olive above. They also have a strong white eyebrow stripe, lacking the Ovenbird’s eyering and strong black-and-orange crown stripes.
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 12, 2017Similar SpeciesSwainson's Thrush
Adult (Olive-backed)
Swainson's Thrushes are larger and lankier than Ovenbirds, with rounded heads, longer tails, and less sharply pointed bills. The breast is spotted on Swainson's but streaked on Ovenbirds.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, May 14, 2016Similar SpeciesSong Sparrow
Adult
Song Sparrows have thicker, conical bills instead of the Ovenbird’s straight, pointed bill. Song Sparrows also show a more complex face pattern without a white eyering or orange crown stripes.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryWashington, December 28, 2010Search species and articles
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