Rare Birds to Southern Arizona: Blackpoll Warbler

The Blackpoll Warbler summers in most of Canada, migration through the Eastern half of the United States where in winters in the northern half of South America. Occasionally, one decides to rest in Southern Arizona. This photo was taken at Sweetwater Wetlands.

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

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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

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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

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Male/Female: females look more like late summer males without the yellow

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Range: Alaska and Northern Canada to Northwestern South America

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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

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Season for Arizona: very rare to Arizona with less than 15 historical records

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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

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Community Behavior: solitary during breeding season, joins mixed warbler flocks at other times

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Feeding Behavior: forages by gleaning in low growing foliage with occasional hawking around branches

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Diet: Insects, including locusts, caterpillars, mosquitoes, ants, termites, gnats, and flies; during migration will also eat fruit (hence the hackberry at Sweetwater Wetlands)

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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

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: check ABA’s Birding News on a daily basis

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Comments: song very high pitched, up to 10,000 Hz so difficult to hear

Blackpoll Warbler at Sweetwater Wetlands

Success! Didn't take long (2 minutes) to find the Blackpoll Warbler. And he was fairly cooperative. So got some nice photos. 

The Blackpoll winters in South America and spends its summers across much of Northern Canada. Like most warblers their diet is mostly insects. But unlike most warblers they tend to perch in dense foliage near the tops of trees to forage. However, during migration they adapt to whatever the environment offers. Since Sweetwater provides excellent foraging opportunities in brush and small trees he is a little easier to find and photograph.

Here are a few of those photos: