Black-throated Green Warbler

The Black-throated Green Warbler, a member of the New World warbler family, is a diminutive and sprightly songbird. It boasts an olive-green crown and back, with a striking yellow face accented by olive markings. The species is characterized by a slender, pointed bill and white wing bars. The underparts are pale, adorned with black streaks along the flanks. Adult males are distinguished by their black throat and upper breast, while females exhibit a more subdued pale throat with black markings on their breast.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify this warbler, look for the following key features:

• Length: 4.3–4.7 inches (11–12 cm)
• Weight: 0.3–0.4 ounces (8.5–11.3 g)
• Wingspan: 6.7–7.9 inches (17–20 cm)
• Males: Black throat and upper breast
• Females: Pale throat with black breast markings

Habitat

The Black-throated Green Warbler selects breeding grounds in coniferous and mixed forests across eastern North America and western Canada, as well as cypress swamps along the southern Atlantic coast. Their nests are open cups, typically nestled close to the trunk of a tree.

Distribution

These warblers are migratory birds, wintering in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and southern Florida. They are also known to visit the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatán, and there have been occasional sightings as far south as Ecuador.

Behaviour

In their quest for sustenance, Black-throated Green Warblers forage actively within the vegetation. They exhibit a gleaning behavior, sometimes hovering to pick insects off leaves and branches, and they are also adept at catching insects in mid-flight, a technique known as hawking.

Song & calls

The Black-throated Green Warbler's song is a distinctive buzzed series of notes, often transcribed as zee-zee-zee-zooo-zeet or zoo-zee-zoo-zoo-zeet. Its call is a sharp and concise tsip.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily insectivorous, these warblers feast on a variety of insects. They will, however, occasionally indulge in berries when available.

Conservation status

The Black-throated Green 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. However, they are susceptible to nest parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird, which can impact their breeding success.