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There are no flock members in this family.
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Vermivora chrysoptera- Golden-winged Warbler
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View range map of Golden-winged Warbler here.
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- The Golden-winged Warbler is a small eastern warbler found in early-successional habitats of north eastern United States and south eastern Canada. These habitats last only briefly and this species is being displaced in reforested areas by the Blue-winged Warbler, with which this species hybridizes extensively. These hybrids are known as Brewster's or Lawrence's Warblers.
- A neotropical migrant, the Golden-winged Warbler winters in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
- The Golden-winged Warbler feeds on insects, often opening curled leaves to capture the insects hidden inside.
- Pair formation takes place shortly after the birds arrive on the breeding grounds. The nest is usually constructed within 10 days of arrival, but this may be delayed in wet weather. The female selects the nest site, usually on the ground in shaded edge habitat. An open cup of grass and dead leaves is constructed by the female and 4-5 white eggs are laid. The female incubates the eggs for about 10 days.
- Little is known about the development of the chicks. The chicks are fed by both parents until approximately 31 days of age after which they disperse.
- Changes in populations of Golden-winged Warblers have been closely linked to human land use. Current reforestation of former farm lands benefits this species initially, but this habitat must be maintained in an early successional state by prescribed burns. Competition with the Blue-winged Warbler causes regional declines of this species as does parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
- Millions of migrant birds die annually when they collide with antennas, buildings and other structures. Turn of lights and cover windows during migration to save lives. Learn more here.
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View range map of Kirtland's Warbler here.
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- The Kirtland's Warbler is one of North America's rarest birds. Among Wood-Warblers, only the critically endangered, possibly extinct Bachman's Warbler is rarer. Breeding only in young jack pine forests in Michigan, the Kirtland's Warbler is an extreme habitat specialist. The entire population winters in the Bahamas. Rarely seen during migration, the Kirtland's Warbler is thought to fly nonstop on its south bound and north bound migrations.
- Kirtland's Warblers gather insects by foraging on the ground or gleaning from vegetation. Like many neotropical migrant warblers, the Kirtland's Warbler will also feed on soft fruits during the winter.
- Pair formation takes place once the birds reach the breeding grounds. The female constructs a nest of grasses, woody plants and pine needles on the ground at the base of a jack pine and concealed by grass and other low growing vegetation. She lays 3-6 buff eggs which she incubates for about 14 days. Both parents remove the egg shells right after hatching, taking them far from the nest. This is because they may attract predators. The female broods the chicks much of the time initially, and the male brings most of the food.
- The chicks fledge after about 9 days and hide in the vegetation on the ground, appearing like fallen pine cones. The parents continue to feed the chicks for up to 44 days, but they will gradually find most of their own food. The family will split up, the female taking half the chicks and caring for them, while the male cares for the remaining half. If it is early in the breeding season the pair will begin another clutch while they are still feeding the first brood.
- The Kirtland's Warbler has suffered extensively from Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism. The Brown-headed Cowbird occupied the Kirtland's Warbler's range in the 1880s following deforestation, and has become ever more abundant since. The cowbird lays its eggs in the warbler nest and leaves the host to raise the chicks. The cowbird chicks are bigger and hatch first, disposing of the warbler eggs or killing the warbler hatchlings. Cowbird parasitism reduced breeding success of the Kirtland's Warbler by 40-55% when nests were parasitized and 70% of nests were found to contain at least one cowbird egg.
- Loss of suitable breeding habitat sent this species into further decline. In 1957 three areas of land in State Forests were set aside to be managed for Kirtland's Warbler habitat. Prescribed burns and cutting of trees to maintain the young forests required by this species were carried out.
- Numbers of Kirtland's Warblers dropped by 60% between 1961-1971 and after this capturing of cowbirds was carried out to relieve the pressure on breeding Kirtland's Warblers. This proved extremely successful, but the numbers of cowbirds did not decline and large numbers must be captured annually.
- Additional protection for the Kirtland's Warbler came with the passing of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and more habitat was protected and managed for this species. Numbers have grown since, but the population is not self sustaining, depending on the removal of cowbirds and continued management of its breeding habitat.
- Millions of migrant birds die annually when they collide with antennas, buildings and other structures. Turn of lights and cover windows during migration to save lives. Learn more here.
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View range map of Yellow-rumped Warbler here.
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- A generalist among warblers, the Yellow-rumped Warbler has a broad breeding range stretching from Alaska to Guatemala in the west and across the northern United States and southern Canada. During the winter this species is common in the southern United States, Mexico and the western Caribbean.
- While it requires coniferous forests for breeding, the Yellow-rumped warbler is found in many habitats during winter and will consume substantial amounts of fruit at this time.
- The Yellow-rumped warbler was formerly considered to be two separate species, the Audubon's Warbler in the west and the Myrtle Warbler in the east. These hybridize freely where their ranges meet and on this basis and genetic similarities they are now considered one species.
- The Yellow-rumped Warbler gleans for insects and also captures them in flight by aerial hawking. During the winter it may live entirely on fruits.
- The breeding behavior of this species is not well studied. Breeding density is low and nests difficult to locate. The female constructs a nest of grasses and pine needles in a coniferous tree. 3-6 eggs are laid and incubated for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge after approximately two weeks.
- This species is doing well and has benefitted from planting of conifer plantations.
- Like all migratory birds, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is at risk from collision with antennas, buildings and other structures. This danger may be greatly reduced by turning off lights in tall buildings during migration. Learn more about this problem and how you can help here.
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View range map of Common Yellowthroat here.
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- The Common Yellowthroat is a widespread member of the wood-warbler family. This species breeds throughout the United States and Canada and as far north as Alaska. With its distinctive black mask and cheery song, this bird is easily located in thick tangled vegetation in a variety of habitats. Wetlands are preferred but even prairies and pine forests may be used.
- The Common Yellowthroat forages on the ground for insects and spiders, and also gleans from vegetation.
- A nest of grasses and leaves is constructed by the female, usually on the ground or in low vegetation, and concealed among sedges and grasses. About 4 eggs are incubated for 12 days by the female. The chicks fledge after 14 days and are fed by both parents, or just the male if the female begins a second clutch.
- Parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds is common among this species. Nests which contain cowbird eggs produce four times as many cowbirds as Common Yellowthroats. The Brown-headed Cowbird is expanding its range due to habitat fragmentation and its impact on warbler populations continues to grow.
- All nocturnal migrants are especially vulnerable to collisions with antennas, buildings and other structures. A three year study found that 2710 Common Yellowthroats (and thousands of other birds) were killed in collision with a single television transmission tower in Florida. To learn more about this danger and how you can help visit Fatal Light Awareness Program.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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There are no flock members in this family.
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Cardinalis cardinalis- Northern Cardinal
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View range map of Northern Cardinal here.
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- The beautiful bright red Northern Cardinal is a common bird in parks and back yards in eastern and central United States, parts of Canada and Mexico. This popular species frequents back yard feeders and has been introduced in California, Hawaii and Bermuda. The Northern Cardinal is the State Bird of seven US states.
- The Northern Cardinal is an omnivore with a diet of seeds, insects and fruits. This opportunistic feeder forages for seeds on the ground, insects in trees and fruits from trees and shrubs.
- Both the bright red male and the more brownish female Northern Cardinals sing.
- Many pairs remain together year round; others form into flocks during the winter. The female constructs the nest in a small tree or shrub or among tangled vines. The cup of grass is placed in the fork of a branch. Usual clutch size is 2 or 3 eggs, and these are incubated by the female for approximately 12 days. The male feeds the female during incubation and brooding of the chicks. The chicks are fed exclusively soft insects in the first few days.
- The Northern Cardinal is a frequent cowbird host. Brown-headed Cowbirds parasitize Northern Cardinal nests by laying their own eggs in the nest and leaving the hosts to raise their chicks. Northern Cardinals frequently abandon parasitized nests or remove cowbird eggs, so the success of the cowbirds is limited.
- The chicks fledge after about 10 days and the parents continue to care for them until they are about 30 days old.
- Northern Cardinals have benefitted from human alterations of the landscape. Conversion of woodlands to agricultural fields and suburbs provided greater nesting habitat for this species. Winter feeders have allowed the Northern Cardinal to expand its range northwards.
- Join Project FeederWatch or Urban Birds to help scientists learn more about this species. Or participate in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count held every February.
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Passerina ciris- Painted Bunting
View range map of Painted Bunting here.
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- The spectacular coloring of the male Painted Bunting makes it one of the most colorful birds in North America. The male does not attain this bright plumage until the second fall of its life. Until then he is similarly colored to the female Painted Bunting who is also beautiful in her greenish yellow plumage.
- There are two distinct geographically isolated populations of Painted Buntings. The eastern population in coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida, and the western population found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Arkansas, and Louisiana have different migration patterns. The western population breaks its migration in Arizona and southern Mexico where the birds undergo a seasonal molt of their plumage. They then continue on into Central America where they spend the winter. Eastern populations molt before leaving the breeding grounds, and heading for Central America.
- During the breeding season the Painted Bunting is found in woodlands, including wooded yards, old agricultural habitats and roadside thickets.
- The Painted Bunting forages on the ground for seeds, except during the breeding season when it eats mostly insects.
- The female constructs a woven cup of grasses which is placed in low vegetation. Occasionally an old nest may be reused. 3-4 grey speckled eggs are laid, and incubated for 11 days by the female. The female cares for the chicks alone until they fledge at about 9 days of age. She continues to care for them until they are about 30 days of age, but they will gradually learn to find most of their food themselves.
- Historically the Painted Bunting was a popular cage bird, and thousands were captured for this purpose during the 1800s. Painted Buntings are still captured in large numbers on their wintering grounds in Central America.
- Habitat loss has its greatest impact in the eastern population which is smaller and has a more limited distribution. During the 1930s the practice of clearing roadside vegetation caused a dramatic decline in numbers. Development of coastal swamp thickets and woodland edge habitat has greatly diminished the availability of suitable breeding habitat.
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