Golden-winged Warbler

Credit: Tom Hince

Vermivora chrysoptera

Description

• Typical warbler size bird (12 cm)
• Male has a slate-gray back and nape and a white chest and abdomen. The crown and forehead are bright yellow and contrast with a black cheek and throat patch. Thin white lines separate the crown from the cheek patch and the cheek patch from the throat patch. The slate-gray wings have a yellow patch.
• On females, the cheek and throat patch are gray and the back and chest may have a hint of yellow or olive.
• Lifespan of up to 8 years

Food

• Feeds on insects, such as caterpillars and spiders usually in tree tops with some feeding in lower shrubs.

Habits and Reproduction

• Mid May returns from wintering grounds in Central America and the north coast of South America.
• Nest on or near ground usually in a grass, fern, or weed clump or at the base of shrubs, such as alders.
• 4-5 eggs, one brood per year but will re-nest if eggs are lost.
• Nests in loose colonies of 2-6 pairs.
• Stops singing usually by mid June when it is feeding their young.

Habitat

• Early succession forest or shrub habitat, such as alder thickets.

Threats

• Brown-headed Cowbirds lay their eggs in golden-winged nests and the young cowbirds out compete the young warblers (brood parasitism).
• Cross breeding with Blue-winged Warblers.
• Loss of winter habitat.

Conservation Actions

• If you’re a coffee drinker, try to buy shade grown, preferably organic coffee. You’ll help protect over wintering habitat for many of our song birds.

Range Map