Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla
General Description
The Ovenbird is a plump-looking, 15 centimeter-long bird with a thin pointed bill and pinkish legs. They are russet-crowned bordered by darks stripes, with a bold white eye ring, olive dorsum, and white venter with bold dark streaks or spots (NGS 1983).
Distribution
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 574
Montana CountiesBig Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone
Habitat
Mature deciduous or coniferous/deciduous forests. (Van Horn and Donovan, The Birds of North America, No. 88, 1994).
Food Habits
Forest invertebrates. (Van Horn and Donovan 1994).
Reproductive Characteristics
Breeding in mature forests, they build on the ground a unique, camouflaged, domed nest of leaves and grass that looks oven-like. Subelliptical to short subelliptical shaped eggs. Ground colored with markings - white background, speckled with hazel, lilac gray and reddish brown. Clutch size ranges 3 - 6 eggs. (Van Horn and Donovan 1994). Nesting has been observed in June and young were seen in July.