Although I’ve painted hundreds of birds over the years, this is my first Ovenbird! They are undeniably classy. At a quick glance one might look a little more like a thrush than a warbler. That is probably due to them being on the bigger side for a warbler plus having a streaky breast and somewhat brownish tones. It is one of the birds I hear much more often than I see. Their “Teacher-Teacher-Teacher” call lets me know to start searching in case I’ll be lucky enough to get a good look.
Ovenbirds like spending a lot of time in the leaf litter hunting for insects. Unlike most warblers, they nest on the ground, which unfortunately leaves them more at risk from predators. When I’ve visited the Michigan State Bird Banding Station to get photos up close, they seem to have gigantic eyes. I assume that’s to collect more light in the underbrush they like foraging in. Whatever the adaptive reason, they sure look endearing! I love their streaks, olive back, orange mini-stripe and those awesome pink feet. It was an absolute blast to paint this little guy.
Let me know if you’re interested in buying the original watercolor of this or another painting. Prints and licensing are also available for some of my work.
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