black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.5 inches

• small, active, insect-eating bird

• Long thin bill

• Creeps along treetrunks and branches like a nuthatch

• White supercilium, malar streak and central crown stripe

• Black back with white streaks

• Black wings with white wing bars

• Streaked breast and flanks

• Spotted undertail coverts

• Black legs

Male:

• Black crown, cheek, and throat (throat white in fall and winter)

• White flanks with black streaks

• Immature male has grayish cheeks and white throat

Female:

• White throat, grayish cheeks

• Buffy flanks with black streaks

Similar species:

The black-and-white warbler is perhaps the easiest warbler to identify
with its distinctive nuthatch-like feeding strategy and contrasting black
and white plumage. The male blackpoll warbler is also black and white
but lacks the white supercilium and doesn't creep along trunks and
branches.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 4-5
Length of Incubation: 10 days
Days to Fledge: 8-12
Number of Broods: ?
Diet: Primarily insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May R
      Su - Summer: June, July, August R
      Fall: September, October, November R

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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