Rufous Capped Warbler

Before we get started with today's post I would like to welcome Turkmenistan to our Blog. Turkmenistan is the 134th country to visit our Blog since we started in 2008.

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.)

Rufous Capped Warbler

Common Name: Rufous Capped Warbler

Scientific Name: Basileuterus rufifrons

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, population trends are unknown, current population estimates are between 500,000 and 5,000,000

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Size: 5.25 inches

Description: stocky warbler shaped more like a sparrow than typical warbler; rufous head and cheek; bold white supercilium; no eyering; white malar; short stout bill; yellow throat and upper breast; gray and white belly; olive-gray back and wings; no wing bar; long “cocked” tail like a wren

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Male/Female: identical

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Range: Southeast Arizona to Columbia

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Migration: one of the few non-migrating warblers

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Season for Arizona: year round

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Habitat: dense habitat in mountain foothills and canyons near water

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Community Behavior: solitary or with other Rufous Capped Warbler family members

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Feeding Behavior: forages more like a wren than a typical warbler, on ground in dense brush

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Diet: forages mostly on terrestrial invertebrates including spiders, ants, and caterpillars; not known to flycatch

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Nesting Behavior: nothing is known about their nesting behavior

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: very rare bird to the United States; look in very specific locations: Hunter Canyon in the Huachucas, Florida Canyon in the Santa Ritas, Pena Blanca Lake and Pena Blanca Canyon in the Pajaritos

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Comments: very little is known of this rare bird

Best Wildlife Photos of 2016: Rufous Capped Warbler

The Rufous Capped Warbler is another rare visitor to the US. When it comes, it comes in much smaller numbers than the Red Faced Warbler. There are just four locations where it has been seen over the years: Hunter Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, and Pena Blanca Canyon and Pena Blanca Lake in the Coronado National Forest (all not more than 40 miles from the US/Mexico border.

This photo was taken at Pena Blanca Lake:

Rufous Capped Warbler

Warblers of Southern Arizona: Rufous Capped Warbler

Continuing my series on Warblers of Southern Arizona, in alphabetical order, next up:

Rufous Capped Warbler

Distinctive Identification Marks: Large warbler with sparrow-like shape; very long cocked tail; strong white supercilium; rufous cap and cheeks; bright yellow throat and upper breast; white malar;

Frequency: Rare

Season: Any

Range: Extreme Southeast Arizona in the United States; otherwise Mexico, Central and South America

Habitat:

Lower Tree and Brush

Ground

Nesting:
Nests on sides of steep banks

Feeding Behavior:

Gleaning: perched bird takes prey from branch
Eats mostly insects

General Behavior:

Skulking

Wren-like behavior

Where to Find: Pena Blanca Lake and Pena Blanca Canyon (Pajarito Mountains), Florida Canyon (Santa Rita Mountains), Hunter Canyon (Huachuca Mountains)

Chance of Finding: While this is a rare bird to the United States, it resides year round in the four locations mentioned above. Knowing exactly where to look in those four locations increases the odds to 50%.

Rufous Capped Warbler at Pena Blanca Lake

After breakfast this morning I headed down to Pena Blanca Lake to see if I could find the Rufous Capped Warbler.

The RCW is very rare to the United States. Yet, there are four places in Southern Arizona were it can be found. 1) Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita's; 2) Hunter Canyon in the Huachucha's; 3) Pena Blanca Lake in the Pajarito Mountains; and 4) Pena Blanca Canyon in the Pajarito Mountains. Even in those places it is either a solitary bird or in a pair.

These four locations are the only locations being reported in the US.

So, off I went to Pena Blanca Lake. As soon as I got to the cove on the northwest side of the lake there he was. He came down the hillside on the south side of the cove. There is a lot of green vegetation still on the hillside and in front of the cattails. (The cattails themselves are pretty much spent).  He spent two minutes in that vegetation and then headed back up the hillside. I was unable to relocate him again.

Here are a few photos: