Blackburnian Warbler

setophaga fusca

A gem of the spruce forests, the Blackburnian Warbler is a breathtaking wood-warbler celebrated for its brilliant, glowing throat. This tiny migratory songbird breeds in the mature coniferous and mixed forests of eastern North America and winters in the Andes of South America. Its high-pitched, ascending song is a quintessential sound of the boreal canopy in early summer, where it flits actively among the outermost branches searching for insects. Birdwatchers treasure sightings of this stunning species, which often requires straining one's neck to view its canopy-dwelling activities.

Habitat: Typically found high in the canopy of mature coniferous forests, especially those dominated by hemlocks, spruces, and pines.

Appearance

The breeding male is unmistakable, boasting a brilliant, fiery orange-yellow throat and face, offset by a black crown, cheek patch, and back with white streaks. Females and non-breeding males are more subdued but still display a pale yellow version of this facial pattern, accompanied by olive-green tones on the back and distinct white wing bars on dark wings. It is a small songbird, measuring around 11 to 13 centimeters in length with a slender, pointed bill and a short tail.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyParulidaeGenusSetophaga

Blackburnian Warbler

Interesting facts

During migration, some individuals fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, a journey of up to 18 hours or more.

The species was named after Anna Blackburne, an English botanist and naturalist of the 18th century.

They are colloquially known as 'fire-throats' due to the brilliant, almost glowing orange plumage on the male's neck and head.

Special abilities

Highly adapted to foraging at the absolute tops of mature coniferous trees, occupying a feeding niche higher than most other warblers.

Sings an extremely high-pitched song that reaches frequencies up to 10 kHz, sitting right at the upper limit of human hearing.

Navigates thousands of kilometers annually between North American breeding grounds and South American wintering territories using stellar cues and geomagnetic sensing.

Measurements & details

Length: 11-13 cm
Wingspan: 20-22 cm
Weight: 0.008-0.013 kg
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-5
Incubation: 11-12 days
Migration Distance: 8000 km

Diet & Feeding

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and flies gleaned from the outer foliage of trees.

Age differences: Chicks are fed soft-bodied insect larvae and spiders, while adults may occasionally consume berries or nectar during winter migration.