Cape May Warbler

The Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina, is a small, mid-sized New World warbler, notable for its distinctive markings and behavior. Adult males boast a brown back and a dark brown crown, with a bright yellow throat and nape. Their face is adorned with a chestnut patch, framed in yellow, set against a black eyestripe. The underparts are a striking yellow, streaked with black. A narrow white wing bar is also present, adding to their striking appearance.

Identification Tips

To identify the Cape May warbler, look for the adult male's unique head pattern, yellowish rump, and the white wing bar. Females and immature males are more subdued in color, resembling paler versions of the adult male but still retain the yellowish rump and white wing bar. The bird's length ranges from 12–14 cm, with a wingspan of 19–22 cm, and a body mass between 9–17.3 g.

Habitat

The preferred breeding habitat for the Cape May warbler is the edge of coniferous woodlands, where they nest in dense foliage close to the trunk of trees, often choosing the black spruce.

Distribution

Breeding across southern Canada, the Great Lakes region, and New England, the Cape May warbler is a migratory bird wintering in the West Indies. It is an uncommon migrant in Cape May, New Jersey, and a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

Behaviour

This warbler is primarily insectivorous, adept at picking insects from the tips of conifer branches or sallying forth to catch them mid-air. Uniquely among warblers, it has a tubular tongue, which it uses to feed on berry juice and nectar during the winter months.

Song & Calls

The song of the Cape May warbler is a series of high-pitched "tsi" notes repeated in quick succession. Its call is a thin "sip," typically delivered from high perches.

Breeding

The Cape May warbler lays 4–9 eggs in a cup nest, with the potential for larger clutches in years when the spruce budworm is abundant, to which their breeding success is closely linked.

Similar Species

While the Cape May warbler has a distinctive appearance, it may be confused with other warblers. However, its unique head pattern, yellowish rump, and white wing bar can help distinguish it from similar species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Cape May warbler consists mainly of insects, with a particular preference for spruce budworms. In the winter, they adapt to feed on berry juice and nectar, thanks to their specialized tubular tongue.

Conservation status

The Cape May warbler is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers.