Feathered Friday: the Ovenbird

Was just out in the woodlands behind my property, enjoying the ending day with Bridget, my dog, listening to the melodic songs of a Hermit Thrush and the more strident "stylings" (ha!)  of the Ovenbird.  If you're following my posts, you know that I introduce each species as a family member. For instance, the Hermit Thrush belongs to the Thrush Family or Family Turdidae . . . as does the American Robin . . . as does the Eastern Bluebird. The idea is that if you learn to identify the family to which a bird belongs, then identifying the specific species becomes easier.   Or so in most cases.

But this isn't one of those cases.

For example,  based solely on his appearance, many people new to "birding" might  guess the Ovenbird is a member of the thrush family.  At one time, I too thought so. (To compare the two birds, check my post of May 4 on the Hermit Thrush). However, the Ovenbird is actually a warbler . . . and thus belongs to the Family Parulidae.  (See last week's post on the Common Yellowthroat to meet a member of Parulidae). 

To my mind, warblers are colorful little birds (most possess some extent of yellow plumage) that spend much of their time flitting among the high branches of tree crowns.  But then there's the Ovenbird, who spends much of his time on the woodland floor scratching the leaf litter for insects. Yet he's a warbler.  Go figure.

I'm no ornithologist and so don't know the characteristics (genetic) that make an Ovenbird a warbler, but warbler he is, even if not typical.  No one ever said learning to identify birds is easy . . . but it is rewarding and fun!

So until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart (and head)!

Georgia Anne