Ovenbird, Kaskey Park, UPenn, Philadelphia

An ovenbird, foraging for food in some mulch, photo clearly showing dark-spotted white breast, olive-brown back, crown stripe, and eye ring

May 6th, 2011, by Alex Zorach

I photographed this Ovenbird while birdwatching in Kaskey Park, on the University of Pennsylvania's campus in Philadelphia. I rarely get the opportunity to closely view ovenbirds, which are relatively secretive birds that nest in extensive tracts of mature forests. These birds nest on the ground, so they have a tendency to be rather stealthy. However, in migration, they can be found in more open habitats like this small, urban park, where they are easier to photograph.

This photo shows the unmistakeable plumage markings of the ovenbird: an orange crown patch bordered by dark stripes, large eye with a bold white eye-ring, bold black spots on its white breast, plain olive-brown back, and its characteristic build and posture, with a relatively short tail.

This photo also captures the fact that this bird is camoflaged: naturally adapted to blend in on the forest floor, with lots of leaf litter, the ovenbird stands out a bit in the bare mulch of this city park, but only a bit.