Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae), female
Lucy's Warbler, Female

Lucy's Warbler

Leiothlypis luciae

In the arid landscapes of North America, one might encounter the diminutive Lucy's Warbler, Leiothlypis luciae. This species holds the distinction of being the smallest New World warbler, with a length ranging from 9 to 12 cm and a weight between 5.1 to 7.9 grams. Its understated plumage is the palest among its kin, with a soft gray adorning its head and upperparts, and a whitish belly. A distinctive white eyering and a small, pointed bill grace its visage. Both sexes boast a rufous rump, a telltale field mark, while the adult males are further adorned with a small rusty patch atop their crown. The juveniles present a paler aspect, with a tawny rump and buffy wingbars.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify Lucy's Warbler, look for its rufous rump and the white eyering, which are key features. The male's rusty crown patch can also aid in identification, particularly during the breeding season. Their small size and pale coloration can make them less conspicuous, so keen observation is required.

Habitat

Lucy's Warbler is a denizen of the riparian mesquite groves and brushy expanses of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Remarkably, it can also be found nesting in the driest vegetated stretches of the Sonoran Desert, a testament to its adaptability.

Distribution

This warbler's range extends across the southwestern United States and into northwestern Mexico. It is a migratory bird, retreating to western Mexico during the winter months.

Behaviour

Lucy's Warbler is a cavity nester, a rarity among warblers, with a preference for natural cavities in cacti or trees, or those excavated by other birds such as woodpeckers or verdins. They have been known to accept man-made nest boxes, and in some cases, even repurpose hollowed-out gourds. They nest in close-knit communities, sometimes with up to 12 pairs per hectare. During migration, they travel to western Mexico to spend the winter.

Diet and Feeding

An insectivorous bird, Lucy's Warbler actively forages for caterpillars, beetles, and leafhoppers. They exhibit a particular behavior when catching caterpillars, shaking them to remove prickly hairs before consumption.

Conservation status

Lucy's Warbler is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, habitat loss due to development of riparian areas within its range poses a significant threat. Additionally, parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird has an impact, albeit to a lesser extent. Populations are observed to be in decline throughout its breeding range.

Lucy's Warbler Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Lucy's Warblers on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More New World Warblers

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.