Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapilla Apr–Nov

Look for movement on the ground and the rustling of dead leaves in closed-canopy forests. Especially during late spring and early summer, this bird is active in foraging for insects and other invertebrates. They get very absorbed in their search, which allows for observation at relatively close range. A rotund bird with olive green feathers on top and a rusty stripe on top of the head bordered by two narrower black stripes, its white chest is marked by dark elongated spots. The name comes from the unusual nest structure they build on the ground, which looks like a dome made out of twigs, similar in shape to a traditional clay oven.