Kirtland's Warbler

Kirtland's Warbler male; Osceola Co., MI, June

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Kirtland's Warbler female at the nest with young; Osceola Co. MI, late June.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A rare bird of the Michigan jack pine forests, the Kirtland's Warbler is dependant upon fire to provide the small trees and open areas that meet its rigid habitat requirements for nesting.

Description

• Small songbird; large warbler.
• Bluish gray face and back.
• Yellow throat, chest, and belly.
• Black stripes down sides.
• White crescents above and below eyes.
• Constantly pumps its tail.
• Two white wingbars.

• Size: 14-15 cm (6-6 in)
• Weight: 14 g (0.49 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, female paler and lacks black in front of eyes present on male.

Sound

Song clear and emphatic "chip-chip-che-way-o."

Conservation Status

Endangered species. Fire suppression led to decline in suitable habitat for nesting. Nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbird caused further decline in species. Extensive measures currently taken to provide adequate nesting habitat and to control cowbird numbers.

Other Names

Paruline de Kirtland (French)

Cool Facts

• The Kirtland's Warbler requires areas with small jack pines for nesting. The jack pine requires fire to open its cones and spread its seeds. The warbler first appears in an area about six years after a fire when the new growth is dense and is about 1.5 to 2.0 meters (5.0-6.5 feet) high. After about 15 years, when the trees are 3.0 to 5.0 meters (10.0 to 16.5 feet) high, the warbler leaves the area.
• The female Kirtland's Warbler is more selective than the male in her choice of habitat, and the best areas attract more females than males. The last residents of a tract that is getting too old are always unmated males.

Sources used to construct this page:

Mayfield, Harold F. 1992. Kirtland?s Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii).In The Birds of North America, No. 19 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists? Union.