BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER – (Setophaga nigrescens) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Black-throated Gray Warbler male has a black cap, throat and face, with a large white band alongside the throat. There is a white superciliary band extending down the nape. Back and tail are grey, wings are black with white bands. Flanks are white with two black lines. Under parts are white. Bill, legs and feet are black. Eyes are black. Female is a washed out version of the male, with a white throat. Bird length is around 12 cm (5 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-nigrescens
NAME: ‘Warbler’ means ‘to sing with trills and quavers’. Latin genus name ‘Setophaga’ means ‘to eat moths’, in reference to the bird’s diet. Latin species name ‘nigrescens’ means ‘blackish’.
HABITAT: Semi-arid open mixed woodlands.
DIET: Insects for the most part.
NESTING: Nest is a cup-like structure built in a tree. Around four creamy eggs are laid, incubated by female, chicks fed by both parents. Parents will fake an injury (broken wing tactic) to try and lure potential predators away from the nest.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in south west British Columbia and western USA. Winters in western Mexico.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-throated_gray_warbler – /media/File:Dendroica_nigrescens_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: In spite of a steady population decline over last few decades, species not currently at risk.
Vagrancy: In biology this means an animal going way outside its normal range. For birds, this can happen when there are storms and they get blown off course. On other times, the bird simply wanders in a different direction than usual. Here’s an article about vagrancy in birds.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Blackpoll Warbler, Black and White Warbler
REFERENCES: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBX03070 (Montana Field Guide)
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/303/overview/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.aspx
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-throated-gray-warbler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-throated_gray_warbler
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/lifehistory
http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/black-throated_gray_warbler
https://birds.outdoornebraska.gov/black-throated-gray-warbler/
http://birdvancouver.com/b_black-throated_gray_warbler.html
DESCRIPTION: The Black-throated Gray Warbler male has a black cap, throat and face, with a large white band alongside the throat. There is a white superciliary band extending down the nape. Back and tail are grey, wings are black with white bands. Flanks are white with two black lines. Under parts are white. Bill, legs and feet are black. Eyes are black. Female is a washed out version of the male, with a white throat. Bird length is around 12 cm (5 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-nigrescens
NAME: ‘Warbler’ means ‘to sing with trills and quavers’. Latin genus name ‘Setophaga’ means ‘to eat moths’, in reference to the bird’s diet. Latin species name ‘nigrescens’ means ‘blackish’.
HABITAT: Semi-arid open mixed woodlands.
DIET: Insects for the most part.
NESTING: Nest is a cup-like structure built in a tree. Around four creamy eggs are laid, incubated by female, chicks fed by both parents. Parents will fake an injury (broken wing tactic) to try and lure potential predators away from the nest.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in south west British Columbia and western USA. Winters in western Mexico.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-throated_gray_warbler – /media/File:Dendroica_nigrescens_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: In spite of a steady population decline over last few decades, species not currently at risk.
Vagrancy: In biology this means an animal going way outside its normal range. For birds, this can happen when there are storms and they get blown off course. On other times, the bird simply wanders in a different direction than usual. Here’s an article about vagrancy in birds.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Blackpoll Warbler, Black and White Warbler
REFERENCES: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBX03070 (Montana Field Guide)
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/303/overview/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.aspx
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-throated-gray-warbler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-throated_gray_warbler
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/lifehistory
http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/black-throated_gray_warbler
https://birds.outdoornebraska.gov/black-throated-gray-warbler/
http://birdvancouver.com/b_black-throated_gray_warbler.html
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| Black-throated gray warbler male, by Dominic Sherony |
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| Black-throated gray warbler female, WA by cdbtx |