Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca
(Parulidae)

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5.0” long. In spring the Blackburnian Warbler male has a fiery orange throat and upper breast. The black back has white streaks. The male has a broad white wing patch and white undertail coverts sometimes tinged with a wash of yellow. There are large white tail spots. The belly is white with black streaks on the flanks. There is an orange stripe on crown and a distinctive dark triangular ear patch on an orange face. The female has more muted colors, especially more yellow in place of orange. Females may be confused with female Yellow-throated Warblers but the Yellow-throated Warbler has a gray unstreaked back and a white patch on the sides of the neck bordered by black.

 

The Blackburnian Warbler is an uncommon in migration. It might be seen at any time throughout May. In fall it may be seen in September through mid October. It is more likely to see this bird in tall mature trees in the highlands rather than the lowlands.

 

An old nickname for the Blackburnian Warbler was “Firethroat”. It forages high in trees and is generally solitary or in pairs. The song is a series of high pitched notes with the last note very high like “tsip, tsip,tsip, titi, tzeeee”.

 

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