Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

[order] Passeriformes | [family] Parulidae | [latin] Dendroica striata | [UK] Blackpoll Warbler | [FR] Paruline rayee | [DE] Kappenwaldsanger | [ES] Chipe Estriado | [IT] Dendroica striata | [NL] Witwangzanger

Subspecies

Physical charateristics

The summer male Blackpoll Warblers have dark-streaked brown backs, white faces and black crowns. Their underparts are white with black streaks, and they display two white wing bars. The adult females essentially resemble washed-out versions of the summer males, and in particular, the females lack the strong head patterns, and their crowns and faces are shades of gray. Non-breeding birds of this species have greenish heads, dark-streaked greenish upperparts and yellowish breasts, with the yellow extending to the belly in young birds. Their wing bars are always present.

Listen to the sound of Blackpoll Warbler

[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/B/Blackpoll Warbler.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

Range

These birds breed in northern North America, from Alaska, through most of Canada, and into the Great Lakes region and New England.

Habitat

Breeds in boreal coniferous forest (primarily spruce) and woodland, mixed coniferous-deciduous second growth, tall shrubs, and alder thickets; in migration and winter found in a variety of forest, woodland, scrub and brushy habitats.

Reproduction

The nest is made from twigs, bark, weeds, moss and dried grasses and lined with feathers, hair, and roots arranged in a circular direction. The nest is concealed in forks of spruces or dwarf pines and is located anywhere from 1-5 meter above ground. Throughout the months of June and July, 4-5 cream or white eggs, spotted with brown, are laid. Incubation is performed by the female and lasts 11-12 days. Both parents feed the young which leave the nest 11-12 days after hatching. The fully grown young will obtain their full plumage during the next spring migration.

Feeding habits

They birds are insectivorous, but will opt for berries in winter. They often forage high in trees, and sometimes catch insects while in flight.

Conservation

This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 6,300,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 21,000,000 individuals (Rich et al. 2003). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Migration

These birds are migratory, wintering in northwestern South America. They are rare vagrants to western Europe, although their northerly range and long-distance migration make them one of the more frequent transatlantic passerine wanderers.

Distribution map

Literature

Title Autumn stopover ecology of the Blackpoll
Warbler (Dendroica striata) in thorn scrub forest
of the Dominican Republic

Author(s): Steven C. Latta and Christopher Brown

Abstract: We used mist-netting, color-banding, resighting, a..[more]..

Source: Can. J. Zool. 77: 1147-1156 (1999)

Title TRANSOCEANIC MIGRATION OF THE BLACKPOLL WARBLER:
SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND RESPONSE TO
CRITICISMS BY MURRAY

Author(s): IAN C. T. NISBET & al.

Abstract: The hypothesis that Blackpoll Warblers (Dendroica ..[more]..

Source: j. Field Ornithol., 66(4):612-622

Title FEMALE SITE FIDELITY AND POLYGYNY IN THE BLACKPOLL WARBLER (DENDROICA STRIATA)

Author(s): BONITA C. ELIASON

Abstract: From 1980 to 1982, 8-30% of male Blackpoll Warbler..[more]..

Source: The Auk 103: 782-790