The Pirre warbler is a species of bird in the family Parulidae. It is found in the borderline area of Panama and Colombia . Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Darién and adjacent Chocó
Typical Environment
It inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests on and around Cerro Pirre and the Serranía del Darién in eastern Panama, extending into adjacent Chocó Department in northwestern Colombia. The species favors mature cloud forest with dense understory, mossy ravines, and forested ridgelines. It occasionally uses secondary growth near intact forest. Its range is highly localized and fragmented, with birds typically remaining within continuous canopy cover.
Altitude Range
900–1600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named after Cerro Pirre in Panama, the Pirre warbler is a little-known New World warbler confined to a small swath of montane forest spanning eastern Panama and adjacent Colombia. It often joins mixed-species flocks, but can be quite skulking in dense understory. Ongoing habitat loss within its narrow elevational band places it at considerable risk.
Temperament
secretive but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or family groups, and frequently participates in mixed-species foraging flocks. Likely territorial during the breeding season, nesting in concealed cup nests low in dense vegetation or on banks. Pairs maintain close contact calls while moving through understory tangles.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched, accelerating chips and trills delivered from cover. Calls are sharp tsip or seep notes used for contact within pairs and flocks.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with clean yellow underparts and a contrastingly striped head. The crown shows a pale median stripe flanked by dark lateral crown stripes, with a yellowish supercilium. Wings are plain without wingbars; tail is relatively short.
Diet
Feeds primarily on insects and other small arthropods gleaned from leaves, moss, and twigs. It probes dead leaf clusters and vine tangles and occasionally snatches prey in short sallies. Small berries may be taken opportunistically, especially when insect prey is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory and midstory of humid montane forest, along shaded trails, ravines, and forest edges adjoining intact canopy. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks moving along ridgelines and stream corridors.
