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Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

COSEWIC Status: Threatened

COSSARO Status: Special Concern

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

The committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is a committee of experts who determine the national status of native species thought to be at risk of disappearing from Canada. Members include academics, specialists, Aboriginal people or government, & biologists.

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Species at Risk Status

Threatened

This species is likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.

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Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario

The committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario reviews the COSEWIC status reports for species that occur in Ontario, then makes recommendations on the appropriate provincial status of the species. Provincial status is identified on the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List.

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Species at Risk Status

Special Concern

This is a species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

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Credit: Tom Hince

Have you seen this species at risk? Report your sighting.

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.

Thanks to the official sponsors of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (Bird Studies Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Ontario Field Ornithologists, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) for supplying Atlas data, and to the thousands of volunteer participants who gathered data for the project.