Red Faced 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.

Red Faced Warbler

Common Name: Red Faced Warbler

Scientific Name: Cardellina rubrifrons

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, population trends are unknown; Red Faced Warblers are sensitive to disturbance during breeding; global estimates are 700,000

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Size: 5.5 inches

Description: red face, chin, throat, and upper belly; black cap that extends down sides of head; short thick dark bill; single white wing bar; pale white rump; whitish belly and undertail coverts; long gray tail

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Male/Female: nearly identical; female may have a slightly paler face

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Range: Southeast Arizona/New Mexico to Honduras

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Migration: summers in Arizona and Mexico, winters in Central America

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Season for Arizona: April through September

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Habitat: higher elevation (6400 to 9000 feet) pine-oak forests; shaded canyons near water

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Community Behavior: solitary or with other Red Faced Warblers or Painted Redstarts

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Feeding Behavior: gleans insects primarily from tips of mid-tree branches hopping quickly from branch to branch; will sally out to snatch flies

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Diet: forages mostly on terrestrial invertebrates including spiders, ants, and caterpillars;

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Nesting Behavior: nests in small hole in ground beneath logs or plants; open cup of bark, leaves, or pine needles lined with grass and hair; 3-4 pinkish-white eggs with fine brown speckles; incubation is 13-15 days; nestling is 11-13 days; both parents feed the young

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: Mount Lemmon especially Incinerator Ridge, Marshall Gulch, and Bear Wallow; also Huachuca Canyon, Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon; this is a priority find for out-of-state birders

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Comments: either sex solicits copulations; both male and female quiver their wings during courtship with the male showing off its white rump patch; may have multiple partners during the breeding season