The blue-winged warbler is a fairly common migratory New World warbler, 11.5 cm (4.5 in) long and weighing 8.5 g (0.30 oz). It breeds in eastern North America in southern Ontario and the eastern United States and winters in southern Central America. Its breeding range is extending northwards, where it is replacing the very closely related golden-winged warbler.
Region
Eastern North America (breeding) and southern Central America (wintering)
Typical Environment
Breeds from southern Ontario and the Lower Great Lakes through the Appalachians and into the central-eastern United States, especially in early-successional shrublands and regenerating clearcuts. Prefers brushy fields, hedgerows, and powerline rights-of-way with dense low growth. Winters primarily in southern Central America from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. During migration it uses a variety of wooded edges and thickets. Habitat availability strongly influences local abundance.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This bright yellow warbler often hybridizes with the closely related golden-winged warbler, producing the well-known Brewster's and Lawrence's warblers. It favors shrubby, early-successional habitats such as old fields and powerline corridors and has been expanding its breeding range northward. Nests are typically placed low in dense shrubs or on the ground, making them vulnerable to brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds.
Lawrence's warbler
South Padre Island - Texas
Temperament
active and somewhat skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, low flights between shrubs
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs during the breeding season and territorial around the nest. Builds a cup nest low in dense shrubbery or on the ground, typically laying 4–5 eggs. Hybridization with golden-winged warblers occurs where ranges overlap, and nests may be parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds. Outside breeding, it may join mixed-species flocks during migration and on the wintering grounds.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a distinctive two-part buzzy phrase, often rendered as 'bee-bzzzz' with the second note longer and harsher. An alternate song may sound like a series of high 'zee' notes followed by a buzz. Calls are sharp chips used in contact and alarm.
Plumage
Bright yellow head and underparts with blue-gray wings and back; clean, crisp feathering with two bold white wing bars and whitish outer tail feathers.
Diet
Primarily consumes caterpillars, leafhoppers, sawflies, and other small arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. Frequently probes into rolled leaves and buds to extract larvae. Occasionally hawks small insects in short sallies and may take small berries in late summer or on wintering grounds.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense shrubs, saplings, and the lower canopy of young forests and old fields. Edge habitats and regenerating clearcuts provide abundant foliage for gleaning. In winter, uses scrub, second-growth, and forest edges.
