A small yellow warbler specialized for pine forests. Among the few warblers that doesn't migrate to tropical America.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The pine warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family Parulidae. It is a permanent resident in the southeastern United States and also breeds in southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States, where it is migratory. Unlike other wood-warblers, in addition to insects the pine warbler also sometimes consumes seeds.
Source: Wikipedia — Pine warbler Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Plain-faced yellow warbler with an olive back, two white wing bars, blurry breast streaking, and white belly/vent. Fall and female birds can be very drab brownish.
Similar species. Drab fall birds suggest Bay-breasted or Blackpoll, but those have streaked backs and crisper markings; Pine has an unmarked back and a long tail.
Voice. A musical, even, slightly liquid trill, more melodic and slower than a Chipping Sparrow's.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects (caterpillars primary), spiders, occasional berries on migration.
Behavior. A sluggish forager that creeps along pine branches and trunks; the only warbler that regularly eats large quantities of seeds and visits feeders in winter. Strongly tied to pines.
§ Range
Southeastern US
§ Habitat
Mature pine forests
§ Threats
Pine forest loss, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the pine warbler is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support southern pine forest conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pine warbler
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Setophaga pinus
- IUCN Red List — search for Setophaga pinus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Setophaga pinus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
