Rare Birds to Southern Arizona: Black and White Warbler

While still under "stay at home" orders, and having completed the series on Wildlife of The Azure Gate, I thought a new series on Rare Birds to Southern Arizona might be fun.

So here (in alphabetical order) are photos I've taken over the past 18 years of Rare Birds to Southern Arizona:

Black and White Warbler taken at Sweetwater Wetlands

Sweetwater Warblers

Sweetwater Wetlands can be one of the very best birding sites in Southern Arizona. It would certainly be a mistake to go there just looking for waterbirds. At any time of the year you can find a few warblers and other songbirds. The past couple of weeks has produced the following warblers: Black and White, Black Throated Gray, Black Throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut Sided, Orange Crowned, Tennessee, Townsend's, Yellow, and Yellow Rumped Warblers. Yep, 10 in all.

I missed out on the Chestnut Sided and Black Throated Blue -- much to my disappointment. But that's often the case when looking for rare birds. It reminds me of a Daryl Zero quote:

"Now, a few words on looking for things. When you go looking for something specific, your chances of finding it are very bad. Because of all the things in the world, you're only looking for one of them. When you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good. Because of all the things in the world, you're sure to find some of them."

I did see the Townsend's but was unable to get a photo. I saw the Black and White twice but photos were not good. And I saw the Yellow very briefly though did manage a so-so photo.

Not very good Black and White Warbler photo

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Common Yellowthroat Female

Common Yellowthroat Male

Orange Crowned Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler Juvenile

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black and White 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.

Black and White Warbler

Common Name: Black and White Warbler

Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, though declined by 33% over the past 50 years; disappearing in its Mid-West US range; global estimates of 20 million

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Size: 5.1 inches

Description: crown is black and white striped; supercilium is white; white eyering; black cheek; long slightly curved black bill; black throat in male; two white wing bars; breast and belly are white; flanks have black stripes; nape is striped; back is mostly black; tail is fairly long with white spots; heavier and longer hind claw to help them move around on bark

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Male/Female: males and females appear somewhat similar though males have a black throat and are generally darker with higher contrast

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Range: Northwest Territory to Peru; excluding Western North America

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Migration: breeds in Central and Eastern United States and Canada, winters in Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America

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Season for Arizona: Spring and Fall

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Habitat: broad leaf or mixed mature woodland near water

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Community Behavior: solitary or small mixed warbler flock; combative and will attack other species or other Black and White Warblers that enter their territory

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Feeding Behavior: forages like nuthatches creeping up or down tree trunks and larger branches of older trees, especially cottonwoods

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Diet: insects, caterpillars, beetles, ants, flies, bugs, and spiders; also moth and butterfly larvae

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Nesting Behavior: cup nest on the ground with 4 or 5 creamy white eggs with bluish spots; incubation period is 10-12 days; nestling period is 8-10 days

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: a rare transient to Arizona; check Sweetwater Wetlands; but also watch for reports on ABA Birding News

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Comments: This is one of the more easily seen warblers when present because of its feeding behavior since it is on open tree trunks and branches instead of being buried in clumps of leaves or pine needles; once called the “Black and White Creeper" 

Black and White Warbler: Sweetwater Wetlands

The Black and White Warbler is an uncommon visitor to Southern Arizona. Rarely found west of East Texas, it's feeding behavior is more like a creeper than typical warblers. If in the area it is relatively easy to find and photograph because it feeds essentially from the trunks and larger limbs of older trees.

Such was the case on Sunday at Sweetwater Wetlands here in Tucson. Here are a few photos:

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Black and White Warbler

Today I am starting a series on Warblers of Southern Arizona. I will start in alphabetical order. First up:

Black and White Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks:
black and white striped crown; long slightly curved bill; broad white supercilium; no other color but black or white; black large arrowhead marks on white under tail coverts.

Frequency: Rare

Season: Spring and Fall

Normal Range: Eastern United States

Habitat: Trunk and limbs near water

Feeding Behavior:

Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch

General Behavior:

Creeping in large (old) deciduous or mixed forest trees

Where to Find:

Sweetwater Wetlands

Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve

Santa Cruz River (Ina Road, Sasco Road)

Tanque Verde Wash

Chance of Finding:
In an area recently reported: 25%; It is conspicuous because of its creeping behavior.
In an area not recently reported: slim

Black and White Warbler

Great Day at Sweetwater Wetlands

Yesterday I headed over to Sweetwater Wetlands to see if I could find the Black and White Warbler that has been reported off and on for the past few weeks. 

I have been working on a book about the Warblers of Arizona. The Black and White Warbler is typically an eastern United States warbler. However it occasionally finds its way into Southern Arizona so I want it in my book. I've tried several times before both at Sweetwater and Tanque Verde Wash where it has also been reported, but each time without luck.

It is definitely helpful to know something about a particular bird's behavior before going in search for it. Does it typically forage only it the tops of pine trees, like the Olive Warbler for example, or near the ground in brush like MacGillivray's Warbler. Is it buried in leaves or pine needles like Grace's Warbler? Or is it often found on the trunk or branches like the Black and White or Painted Redstart.

So, knowing where to look isn't just about geography, it is about habitat behavior. And of equal importance are patience and persistence.

Yesterday I found this little guy gleaning bugs off the bark of several tall trees near one of the ponds at Sweetwater. It reminded me at first of the Brown Creeper. 

Here are a few of those photos:

Las Cienegas Revisited

I've been busy working on my new book: "A Photographic Journey to Finding Birds in Southern Arizona." So, I've been remiss in getting posts out. To catch up, today another trip to Empire Gulch in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. I've been trying to get as many of the warblers as I can in preparation for the book. I've got 18 of the 22 warblers found in Southern Arizona. Here are a few from my latest trip to Empire Gulch:

Black and White Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler

MacGillivray's Warbler