The Blackburnian warbler is a small New World warbler. They breed in eastern North America, from southern Canada, westwards to the southern Canadian Prairies, the Great Lakes region and New England, to North Carolina. They are migratory, wintering in southern Central America and South America, and are very rare vagrants to western Europe. The common name honors the English botanist Anna Blackburne.
Region
Eastern North America and northern Andes
Typical Environment
Breeds across eastern North America, from southern Canada through the Great Lakes and New England into the Appalachian Mountains. Prefers mature coniferous and mixed forests, especially spruce–fir and hemlock stands, often foraging near the canopy. During migration it occurs in a variety of wooded habitats, including parks and forest edges. Winters in montane cloud forests from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador and northern Peru, using humid, mossy forests and mixed-species flocks.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Breeding males are unmistakable with a flame-orange throat and face, making them one of the most striking North American warblers. They forage high in the canopy and can be hard to spot despite their bright colors. The species depends on mature coniferous and mixed forests; losses of eastern hemlock from the hemlock woolly adelgid may affect some breeding habitats. It is a long-distance migrant that winters chiefly in the Andean highlands of northern South America.
Temperament
active and canopy-oriented
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile darting in the canopy
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs during breeding, defending small territories in mature forests. Nests are cup-shaped and placed high on conifer branches; the species is generally monogamous. During migration and on wintering grounds, it often joins mixed-species flocks and forages alongside tanagers and other warblers.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a thin, high, accelerating series of buzzy notes that often rises in pitch and ends in a very high hiss: “zip-zip-zip-zi-zi-ZEE.” Call notes include a sharp, high “tsip” frequently given during foraging and migration.
Plumage
Breeding males show a vivid orange throat and face bordered by black, with a black cap, boldly streaked black-and-white upperparts, and two bright white wing bars; underparts are whitish with dark flank streaks. Females and nonbreeding birds are duller with yellow-orange to yellow throat, olive upperparts, and less contrast. Both sexes are slim, with fine plumage streaking and crisp wing bars.
Diet
Primarily gleans caterpillars, moths, flies, beetles, and spiders from foliage and twigs high in the canopy. It also hawks small insects in brief sallies. During migration and on wintering grounds, it will occasionally take small fruits or nectar when insects are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly in the upper canopy of mature coniferous and mixed forests, especially spruce, fir, and hemlock. In migration it uses a range of wooded habitats, including parks, forest edges, and second growth, but still prefers taller trees.
