Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler, male, Chambers Co. TX; April

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Blackpoll Warbler, female, Chambers Co. TX; April

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

One of the most common birds of the northern boreal forest, the Blackpoll Warbler flies all the way to South America to spend the winter.

Description

• Small songbird.
• Breeding male with black cap, white cheek, black mustache stripe, and white throat.
• White chest with thin black stripes down sides.
• Two white wingbars.
• Fall birds greenish on back and chest, with faint chest stripes.

• Size: 14 cm (6 in)
• Wingspan: 21-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Weight: 12-13 g (0.42-0.46 ounces)

Sex Differences

Breeding male with black cap and white cheeks, female lacks cap and is duller.

Sound

Song a very high-pitched "tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit, tsit."

Conservation Status

Common and widespread. Some declines have been noted, but more data are needed.

Other Names

Paruline rayée (French)
Chipe gorra negra (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The song of the male Blackpoll Warbler is one of the highest-pitched of all birds.
• Part of the fall migratory route of the Blackpoll Warbler is over the Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, or northern South America. This route averages 3,000 km (1,864 mi) over water, requiring a potentially nonstop flight of up to 88 hours. To accomplish this flight, the Blackpoll Warbler nearly doubles its body mass and takes advantage of a shift in prevailing wind direction to direct it to its destination.

Sources used to construct this page:

Hunt, P. D., and B. C. Eliason. 1999. Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata). In The Birds of North America, No. 431 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.