Ovenbird Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: There are certain bird songs that bring up strong emotions. For me, the song of a Western Meadowlark is one of those, as it reminds me of the sounds I heard fishing back as a boy. Another is a more recent impact, the song of a singing Ovenbird. I took up birding and photography in 2000, and at the time, I had no idea such a thing as an Ovenbird existed. What makes them special for me is that they're one of the first birds I learned to easily identify by song. Nothing signifies "Spring" and the arrival of many of the summer songbirds than hearing forested areas come alive with the songs of Ovenbirds. The photo below typifies what I think of when I think of Ovenbirds, a tiny little bird, singing his heart out as if trying to single-handedly usher in the summer. Taken on May 6th, 2017 at Newton Hills State Park in South Dakota. You may sense a theme in the photos below! While I've heard and seen Ovenbirds in other parts of the state, Newton Hills is where I've seen (and heard, and photographed) the most, by far.

Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapillus


Ovenbird 1 June 3rd, 2006 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 2 June 5th, 2007 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 3 June 3rd, 2006 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 4 June 5th, 2007 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Ovenbird 5 June 3rd, 2006 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 6 June 5th, 2007 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 7 May 16th, 2007 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 8 May 16th, 2007 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Ovenbird 9 May 16th, 2011 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 10 May 16th, 2011 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 11 May 17th, 2013 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird 12 May 17th, 2013 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Ovenbird 13 September 5th, 2012 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird_14 May 8th, 2015 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird_15 May 6th, 2017 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird_16 May 6th, 2017 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Ovenbird_17 May 6th, 2017 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Ovenbird_18 July 13th, 2019 Roby Canyon, Black Hills, South Dakota	Ovenbird_19 May 8th, 2015 Beaver Creek Nature Area, South Dakota