The female and the male are similar. The back is olive-brown, the belly is white with stripes. She has a white circle around her eye. Its orange cap edged with black earned it its French name, which translate to "Crowned Warbler". The top of the beak is black and the underside pink. This warbler measures about 17 centimeters, has a wingspan of about 23 cm and weighs up to 28 grams, which is about the weight of a small asparagus! This warbler lives about 9 years.

Ovenbirds are insectivores and tend to forage on the ground. Ovenbirds have virtually unique songs between individuals, although humans do not really distinguish the differences. Males living nearby will sing together, as if communicating. Each, in turn, sing up to 40 times!