SWAINSON'S WARBLER
SWAINSON’S WARBLER – (Limnothlypis swainsonii) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Swainson’s Warbler head cap, back, wings and tail are greenish brown, with a whitish eyebrow band starting from bill base. Under parts are grey. Bill is brown. Eyes are dark, legs and feet are pinkish. Sexes are similar. Bird length is about 13 cm (5 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Limnothlypis-swainsonii
NAME: ‘Warbler’ means ‘to sing with trills and quavers’. The name ‘Swainson’s’ was given to this bird in honour of British ornithologist William John Swainson. Latin genus name ‘Limnothlypis’ means ‘marsh’ and ‘finch’.
HABITAT: Swampy forests.
DIET: Insects for the most part.
NESTING: Nest is an open cut near or above water in dense vegetation. Three or four white eggs are laid, incubated by female. Both parents feed the young.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in southeast USA (except Florida). Winters in the Yucatan Peninsula and parts of the Caribbean.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainson%27s_warbler – /media/File:Limnothlypis_swainsonii_map.
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ (spring and summer) so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: Population stable, currently not 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: Northern Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler
REFERENCES: https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/swainsons-warbler/ (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swainsons-warbler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainson%27s_warbler
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/739/overview/Swainsons_Warbler.aspx
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Warbler/lifehistory
https://www.suttoncenter.org/research/avian-ecology-across-oklahoma-habitats/swainsons-warbler/
https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/swainsons-warbler.html (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)
DESCRIPTION: The Swainson’s Warbler head cap, back, wings and tail are greenish brown, with a whitish eyebrow band starting from bill base. Under parts are grey. Bill is brown. Eyes are dark, legs and feet are pinkish. Sexes are similar. Bird length is about 13 cm (5 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Limnothlypis-swainsonii
NAME: ‘Warbler’ means ‘to sing with trills and quavers’. The name ‘Swainson’s’ was given to this bird in honour of British ornithologist William John Swainson. Latin genus name ‘Limnothlypis’ means ‘marsh’ and ‘finch’.
HABITAT: Swampy forests.
DIET: Insects for the most part.
NESTING: Nest is an open cut near or above water in dense vegetation. Three or four white eggs are laid, incubated by female. Both parents feed the young.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in southeast USA (except Florida). Winters in the Yucatan Peninsula and parts of the Caribbean.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainson%27s_warbler – /media/File:Limnothlypis_swainsonii_map.
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ (spring and summer) so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: Population stable, currently not 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: Northern Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler
REFERENCES: https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/swainsons-warbler/ (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swainsons-warbler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainson%27s_warbler
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/739/overview/Swainsons_Warbler.aspx
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Warbler/lifehistory
https://www.suttoncenter.org/research/avian-ecology-across-oklahoma-habitats/swainsons-warbler/
https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/swainsons-warbler.html (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)
 |
| Swainson's warbler, by Joseph Hood |
 |
| Swainson's warbler, Greer, USA, by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren |