A sky-blue warbler that nests almost entirely in the highest treetops of mature eastern forests. Population has crashed by over 70% since the 1960s — one of the steepest declines of any songbird.

Native status: Native; vulnerable

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in); wingspan 17–22 cm
Weight8–13 g
LifespanWild typically 3 years; oldest documented 7
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyParulidae

§ Encyclopedia

The cerulean warbler is a small songbird in the family Parulidae. It is a long-distance migrant, breeding in eastern North American hardwood forests and wintering on the Eastern slope of the Andes in South America during non-breeding season, preferring subtropical forests.

Source: Wikipedia — Cerulean warbler Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Males: sky-blue with white belly, fine streaks on flanks. Females: blue-gray-green back, white below.

Similar species. Northern Parula (yellow throat). Other warblers lack the sky-blue color.

Voice. Buzzy ascending song; high "chip" calls.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects (caterpillars especially), spiders.

Behavior. Forages high in canopy of mature deciduous forest. Declining 70%+ since 1966 due to Andean coffee deforestation and Appalachian mountain mining.

§ Range

Eastern North American forests in summer; winters in northern Andes

§ Habitat

Mature deciduous forest canopy, especially with structural diversity

§ Threats

Mountaintop coal mining in central Appalachians, Andean coffee deforestation, mature forest loss across range.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the cerulean warbler is currently classified as Vulnerable.

§ What helps

Buy shade-grown Andean coffee. Support Appalachian forest protection. Donate to American Bird Conservancy.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • American Bird Conservancy
  • National Audubon Society
  • IUCN Red List 2018