PINE WARBLER

PINE WARBLER(Setophaga pinus) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Pine Warbler male has yellow-green top parts and light yellow under parts. There are two white wing bars. It has a long notched tail. The eyes are black, and the bill, legs and feet are dark grey. Females and juveniles have olive-brown upper parts. The bird is about 12 cm (5 inches) long.
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-pinus
NAME: The English name ‘Pine’ (and Latin ‘Pinus’) refers to the bird’s habitat. The name ‘Warbler’ refers to the melodious songs of this bird. The Latin genus name ‘Setophaga’ means ‘moth eater’.
HABITAT: Pine forests (as its name implies).
DIET: Exceptionally for a warbler,  feeds on pine seeds in addition to insects and invertebrates.  Attracted to bird feeders for this reason.
NESTING: The nest is a cup structure built in a pine tree. Four to five grey-white eggs are laid, incubated by both parents, who also both feed the chicks.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in eastern Canada and northeast USA. Winters in southeast USA.
Distribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_warbler#/media/File:Dendroica_pinus_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings occasional or ‘accidental’.
CONSERVATION: Numbers around 13 million, not considered at risk.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/pine-warbler
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/pine-warbler (Missouri Department of Conservation)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Warbler/id
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-warbler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_warbler

Pine Warbler fluffing its feathers to keep warm – Mar. 2, 2013 – © Wanda Bailey
Pine warbler, PEI, by Wanda Bailey
Pine Warbler in Souris, PEI – Jan. 12, 2013 – © Wanda Bailey
Pine warbler, PEI, by Wanda Bailey