Thursday, August 31, 2017

Blackpoll Warbler


Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 



If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.



Blackpoll Warbler





Common Name: Blackpoll Warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga striata
Conservation Status: Least Concern, though declining by about 88% in the last 50 years due to logging and extracting industries; current estimated population at 60 million
Size: 5.5 inches

Description: crown is black; no eyering; white cheek; face is pale yellow with a dark eyeline; short straight yellow bill; black chin; white throat; two white wing bars; breast and belly are white; flanks and back have black stripes; very distinctive yellow legs; In late summer the plumage turns to a greenish-yellow above with dark streaking down the back and faint streaking on white underparts
Male/Female: females look more like late summer males without the yellow
Range: Alaska and Northern Canada to Northwestern South America
Migration: considered the longest migration of any New World Warbler, 1500 miles of which is non-stop over water; migration stops are typically in the Eastern United States
Season for Arizona: very rare to Arizona with less than 15 historical records
Habitat: spruce and tamarack boreal forests; during migration usually evergreen and deciduous forests; however the photos here are all from Sweetwater Wetlands in mesquite, hackberry, and willow
Community Behavior: solitary during breeding season, joins mixed warbler flocks at other times
Feeding Behavior: forages by gleaning in low growing foliage with occasional hawking around branches
Diet: Insects, including locusts, caterpillars, mosquitoes, ants, termites, gnats, and flies; during migration will also eat fruit (hence the hackberry at Sweetwater Wetlands)
Nesting Behavior: open cup nest on large branch near tree trunk often spruce or fir; 3-4 days to build nest; 4 inches across and 2.5 inches deep; 3-5 whitish to pale green eggs with brown and purple blotches; incubation period 11-12 days; nestling period 8-10 days
Where to Find in Southern Arizona: check ABA’s Birding News on a daily basis
Comments: song very high pitched, up to 10,000 Hz so difficult to hear

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