A small warbler with distinctive blackish "mourning" cap and breast in males.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The mourning warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Mourning warblers are neotropical migrants native to eastern and central North America and wintering in Central and South America. They tend to be found in dense second growth forests. They are very similar to the MacGillivray's warbler in appearance, especially in females and immature birds, but their breeding range does not overlap into the west.
Source: Wikipedia — Mourning warbler Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Gray hood with a black crepe-like patch on the breast (males), olive back, yellow belly. Usually lacks eye-arcs, or shows only faint broken ones.
Similar species. MacGillivray's (West) has bold eye-arcs; Connecticut has a complete white eye ring and walks rather than hops.
Voice. A rich, rolling 'churry-churry-churry-chorry-chorry' dropping in pitch at the end.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects (caterpillars primary), spiders, occasional berries on migration.
Behavior. A skulker of dense second growth, regenerating clearcuts, and brushy edges; forages low and is often detected only by song.
§ Range
Boreal Canada in summer
§ Habitat
Brushy areas, regenerating forest
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the mourning warbler is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support boreal conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Mourning warbler
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Geothlypis philadelphia
- IUCN Red List — search for Geothlypis philadelphia
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Geothlypis philadelphia
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
