The Colima warbler is a New World warbler. It is mainly found in the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountains of central Mexico, though its range just barely extends into adjacent southwestern Texas in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park.
Region
Sierra Madre of Mexico and Big Bend, Texas
Typical Environment
The Colima warbler is primarily found in the high-elevation pine-oak and madrone woodlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental in central-western to northeastern Mexico. Its range just reaches the United States in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas, where it breeds locally. It favors steep canyons, brushy slopes, and mixed oak-pine with dense understory. During the nonbreeding season it retreats to lower elevations in Mexico, using wooded and shrubby habitats nearby.
Altitude Range
1500–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Best known in the U.S. from a small breeding population in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, where hikers seek it along high-elevation trails. Its species name, crissalis, refers to the distinctive cinnamon-colored undertail coverts (crissum). It nests on the ground, well-hidden under tufts of grass or rocks, and often pumps its tail while foraging. Its song is a bright, tinkling series reminiscent of Virginia’s Warbler but richer and more emphatic.
Temperament
secretive and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Breeds in pairs that defend small territories in dense, brushy woodland. The nest is placed on the ground, well concealed under grasses, rocks, or low shrubs. Both adults feed the young, and pairs are presumed monogamous within a season.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A bright, tinkling series of clear chips and trills, often delivered from mid-level perches on canyon slopes. Calls include sharp chip notes and thin seets. The song can resemble Virginia’s Warbler but is typically stronger and more sustained.
